The last two days have been productive at Hamlin Beach. Today the highlight was an adult, basic-plumaged PACIFIC LOON that flew in from the east and landed just west of the overlook at Area #4 a little after 10 a.m. For about five minutes it swam in towards shore, then dove, at which point I completely lost track of it. Dave Tetlow arrived shortly after, and about 45 minutes later we relocated the loon further east and further out. The placid conditions at this time helped immensely in seeing birds on the water at distance. We watched the loon for about another 30 minutes until it suddenly picked up and flew well off to the east, where it landed again farther out again. When I checked again in the afternoon, the lake breeze had produced a fair amount of chop, and I was unable to see the Pacific Loon (or much else on the water) in about 15 minutes of looking.
Other nice birds today included a juvenile BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE, the fourth here in the last three days; an adult basic-plumaged FORSTER'S TERN; and a N. ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW. Yesterday, there was a nice variety & volume of waterfowl. Highlights included a cooperative juvenile POMARINE JAEGER, first spotted by Dave Tetlow, which made a close pass heading west after having sat out in front of the overlook for a while; three juvenile BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES; a YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO that sat up in an oak tree near the shelter, allowing extended views; a PARASITIC JAEGER; and a good count of 60 RED-NECKED GREBES, including an interesting leucistic individual. Both days have produced all three SCOTERS - good numbers of WHITE-WINGED and SURF, and a handful of BLACK each day. Other waterfowl have included BRANT and good numbers of LONG-TAILED DUCK (579 on Saturday). Passerines have included 2 LAPLAND LONGSPURS yesterday, 3 SNOW BUNTINGS and a couple of dozen PINE SISKINS today, and small numbers of AMERICAN PIPITS and HORNED LARKS each day. Cheers, Andy Guthrie Hamlin, NY -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
