Coastal birds

We spent Saturday birding Jones Beach and Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge in search of wintering waterfowl and other migrants. One of our first encounters was with a Blue goose, actually a darker morph of the Snow goose. The goose was far too concerned with grazing along the roadside to be worried about several photographers stalking it. It's companions were not other Snow geese but rather a contingent of our more familiar Canada geese. As numerous as the Canadas were, they were far outnumbered by the migrant geese from much further north...the Brant. Literally thousands of brant filled the inland ponds at Jones Beach, while out in the ocean, an even greater number of Black and Surf scoters were riding the surf. Estimates from knowledgeble birders placed the number of these birds anywhere from 10,000 to 15,000. At the tower, we were at first thwarted in our attempts to find the Peregrine falcons which often frequent the building, but shortly thereafter, we did spot two fine specimens circling and eventually alighting on the very top of the monument. The sighting of the day had to be the spectacularly plumed Harlequin duck. These ducks have to be among the most gorgeous of avian world.

We finished off the day with a walk to the West Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. Adding to the day's count were large numbers of Show geese, a Redhead, several Buffleheads, Hooded and Red-breasted mergansers, Pintails, and a Cooper's hawk which swept through the area as we searched for our final few birds in the day's fading light. Another fine day in another wonderful venue.