Shorebirds are still filtering through our area on the East Pond with the majority being Dunilns. However, with a little luck I have been finding some late goodies in *Western Sandpipers*, *Semipalmated Sandpipers*, *White-rumped Sandpipers* and *PECTORAL SANDPIPERS*. Some photos are posted to my blog ( http://birdingdude.blogspot.com/2013/11/jamaica-bay-shorebird-migration.html) including linking to a very interesting read on a recent study on the *"Timekeeping of birds relating to early migration"*. Worth reading.
Waterfowl numbers continue to build slowly but surely with Buffleheads showing up now on the pond. One interesting observation has been the number of Canada Geese build up with over 800 as of yesterday. I don't recall seeing this many on the East Pond this early and I am sure the lack of a viable West Pond has something to do with this. The behavior of the Snow Geese has also been a bit peculiar; they are not staying long on the pond at all and seem quite spooked. A far contrast from a few weeks ago when they would fly in and settle on the pond staying for some time knowing that I was on the pond scoping them out. I am not sure what has made them so unsettled. Another note, on Sunday I noticed that access to the berm on the North End of the East Pond was off limits with the gate closed at the Crossbay entrance. I have put in an inquiry to National Parks Service about this because that gate was a temporary fixture in place when Hurricane Sandy repair efforts were underway by MTA. As far as I know, it should not be utilized by Transit because that road is Gateway property up to the MTA area. However as some of you may remember our very own Mike Feder during the summer was asked to leave by MTA security when attempting to access the East Pond from that end. I had asked NPS to address that issue and we had no further incidents. This gate closing could be legitimate *(I would want to know the reasons)* or MTA flexing their muscles again. I'll keep the list serve posted on what I learn especially for those Queens CBC folks who would need access to scout as well as on count day. Cheers From The Bay! Andrew Baksh Queens, NY www.birdingdude.blogspot.com -- 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/ --
