It’s worth noting that a close look at the recent photographs taken of Common Murre at Shinnecock suggest more than one individual was involved. Aside from the photo evidence, it’s conceivable that several birds have been venturing inshore given the abundance and quality of available food along the coast. This is also evidenced by the historic numbers of Razorbills currently being reported. Hopefully the report of a deceased Common Murre at Triton Lane isn’t indicative of a more troubling event and it would be worthwhile to keep an eye out along the beaches and associated wrack lines.
Regarding the live birds, subtle plumage markings on the head as well as the configuration, definition and length of the dark post ocular stripe on the Shinnecock Common Murres show a range of variation (at least 2 or 3 birds photographed). This exemplifies the importance of thoroughly documenting birds (written descriptions, photos, etc.) within eBird checklists rather than simply writing “continuing bird,” which in this case didn’t always apply. Yet another example of where photography has yielded an interesting discovery. Best, Derek Rogers East Quogue > On Jan 15, 2019, at 9:43 PM, JOHN TURNER <[email protected]> wrote: > > It would be worthwhile to know if it had been shot. > > > On Tue, Jan 15, 2019 at 09:15 PM, Paul R Sweet wrote: > > If anyone picks this bird up we would like to have the specimen. > > Thanks, Paul > > Paul Sweet | Department of Ornithology | American Museum of Natural History | > Central Park West @ 79th St | NY 10024 | Tel 212 769 5780 | Mob 718 757 5941 > > On Jan 15, 2019, at 7:38 PM, David Barrett <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Relevant to the COMMON MURRE not being seen at Shinnecock Inlet, Joe >> Girgente today found and photographed a deceased COMMON MURRE to the west of >> the inlet at Triton Beach and reported it on the Queens and Long Island >> alerts: >> >> https://twitter.com/BirdQueens/status/1085255871377170441 >> >> David Barrett >> @BirdQueens on Twitter >> >>> On Tue, Jan 15, 2019 at 7:25 PM Steve Walter <[email protected]> wrote: >>> 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: >>> Welcome and Basics >>> Rules and Information >>> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave >>> Archives: >>> The Mail Archive >>> Surfbirds >>> ABA >>> Please submit your observations to eBird! >>> -- >> >> -- >> NYSbirds-L List Info: >> Welcome and Basics >> Rules and Information >> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave >> Archives: >> The Mail Archive >> Surfbirds >> ABA >> Please submit your observations to eBird! >> -- > > -- > NYSbirds-L List Info: > Welcome and Basics > Rules and Information > Subscribe, Configuration and Leave > Archives: > The Mail Archive > Surfbirds > ABA > Please submit your observations to eBird! > -- > -- > NYSbirds-L List Info: > Welcome and Basics > Rules and Information > Subscribe, Configuration and Leave > Archives: > The Mail Archive > Surfbirds > ABA > Please submit your observations to eBird! > -- -- 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/ --
