The Thick-billed Murre at Shinnecock Inlet was in sight from about 8:00 to 9:30 this morning and then again briefly just after 1:30. At least one Razorbill was in the inlet in the morning, providing closer looks than the Murre. To my knowledge, the Common Murre was not seen. 2 or 3 Red-necked Grebes were reported at the mouth of the inlet and further out. A bit odd was a Ruddy Duck with Common Eiders (where the inlet meets the bay).
The American White Pelican was present for a while in Mecox Bay's Hayground Cove, before flying out around 11:20. I t was best viewed when someone came out to feed the swans. It was the only big white bird that stayed put. Without such intervention, it can easily be hidden by the many swans, especially if sleeping with head and bill tucked in. With the prospects of better Alcid pictures not looking good as the afternoon progressed (none in sight and dimming sun), I decided to do the wild goose chase thing. None were visible as I arrived at Doctor's Path (Riverhead). I went over to Northville Turnpike (Rt. 105), where I found a small flock (by standards of that area) in the field to the east. The Barnacle Goose was a quick find. Within a few minutes, flock after flock and overall huge numbers of geese began coming in from a southwest direction, and landing in the large field on the west side of 105. A few minutes after that, small groups from the east side of 105 (and eventually all of them) joined the larger group. I was hoping to photograph the Barnacle flying by. I photographed one random flock to test the lighting. Never got the Barnacle, but looking at the pictures when I got home revealed a Greater White-fronted Goose (pure dump luck there). Possibly, this is the one I saw in the west field and reported to the What's App a few minutes later. Steve Walter Bayside, NY -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm 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://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
