Despite the wind, Jones Beach had decent diversity and activity this morning. Highlights include Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Indigo Bunting, Field Sparrow, and the continuing Mourning Warbler. 4 additional warbler species were seen: Blackpoll, Palm, Black-throated Blue (male), and of course Yellow-rumped. Plenty of raptors were on seen, competing for prey, and one Cooper's Hawk was seen clutching a bird with bright yellow feathers. We initially feared that the victim was the Mourning until it was rediscovered, and although some birders snapped pictures I doubt we'll get a positive ID on the hawk's kill. The Mourning and the BTB were both seen along the fence line behind the coast guard hedgerow, and were quite cooperative for borders who arrived on site later.
The parking lots at Tobay featured 5 third/fourth-cycle Lesser Black-backed Gulls and one possible first-cycle individual among the local species. A Turkey Vulture was seen flying west low along the Ocean Parkway at this location. The hidden pools featured a number of Green-winged Teal and a handful of Wood Ducks. I'm typing this email from Hempstead Lake, where there is currently nothing notable to report. Cheers! -Tim H -- 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/ --
