Those of you who know the area near the handballs courts at Riis Park in Queens
might be dismayed to know that NPS is out there tinkering in the area.
I don't have a handle yet (working on it) on what they are doing but
yesterday,I was dismayed to see a small section of the dunes which had a nice
cover of beach grass had been leveled. If you are shrugging your shoulders,
then this may get your attention. This is the area that in the past served as a
good migrant trap. Western Kingbirds have been found there and not too long ago
Patricia Lindsay pulled out a Henslow's Sparrow. On that same day, an American
Bittern was flushed from exactly the same area that is now leveled. These are
just a few of the good birds seen there. The dunes and beach grass had
survived Hurricane Sandy so I have no idea the reason behind this effort. I
shudder to think it might be some sort of "restoration effort."
And now for the birds - Yesterday's coastal birding in Queens saw an increase
in American Oystercatchers (many at Breezy, Fort Tilden and Riis Park), and the
arrival of Piping Plovers (3). The latter all seen at Breezy Point.
Additionally, a lone Osprey was sighted coming off the Ocean heading over the
Breezy Point 4 wheel drive access road.
Continuing from last week, the spectacular flight/massing of Scoters and
Gannets continued off Breezy Point Tip. Following the fish which must be really
good, Gannets in the hundreds were fishing on the bayside instead of out on the
Ocean. I am not surprised at Rob and Heydi seeing them from Deadhorse Bay. The
Gannets were close enough to hear their calls and the noise as they hit the
water. Based on reports from Long Island today, it appears that some of these
birds might have ended up in places like Jones Beach.
Despite spending most of my day on the coast, it was not until Jamaica Bay
Wildlife Refuge that I ran into a lone Laughing Gull. Seen on the south end of
the east pond. From the overlook, I scanned the pond and picked up many of the
usuals including 2 continuing Canvasbacks. A Bald Eagle put in a surprise (?)
appearance and caused the waterfowl to reshuffle.
While sifting through the reshuffled waterfowl, I came across a flock of
Green-winged Teals. Within the flock, I found a drake Eurasian x American
Green-winged Teal. It was too far away for any decent Digiscope shots but the
vertical and horizontal stripes were very evident. Views of this bird was
shared with Bob Hayes and a photographer (Dan).
Today, I covered several spots working on a few locations where I have been
trying to carefully document the turnover. Several sites saw an increase in
American Oystercatchers, especially in the Rockaways but nothing else of note.
No other Piping Plovers were recorded along the beach despite covering several
known PIPL nesting sites.
The only birds seen today that I considered new arrivals were two
Golden-crowned Kinglets, which were heard and seen early this morning at
Idlewild Preserve.
If anyone knows what might be taking place at Riis Park requiring the leveling
of dune habitat, please contact me offline. I will be writing to NPS, to find
out what is going on.
Cheers,
--------
"I prefer to be true to myself, even at the hazard of incurring the ridicule of
others, rather than to be false, and to incur my own abhorrence." ~ Frederick
Douglass
風 Swift as the wind
林 Quiet as the forest
火 Conquer like the fire
山 Steady as the mountain
Sun Tzu The Art of War
> (__/)
> (= '.'=)
> (") _ (")
> Sent from somewhere in the field using my mobile device!
Andrew Baksh
www.birdingdude.blogspot.com
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