Montauk birding In January 2015

We had our kickoff of GSBAS weekend field trips at Montauk Point this weekend. Eight hardy  birders showed up on a cold windy day. the temperatures were in the teens with the winds out of the WNW at 10 knots increasing to 15 to 20. It was cold but not as cold as we have had on other trips.

Birding at the point was pretty quiet excepting for the steady stream of  Common Eiders flying from the west to the east all morning long. There were thousands of them, they were every where you looked. Seeing masses of birds is one of the reasons we go to Montauk in January, the seabirds tend to congregate and put on a show.

On our way to Dune Rd after finishing Montauk, Bob Grover spotted a large bird soaring overhead. We all pulled over to look at what was determined to be a Golden eagle, treat number one. That is a great find for Long Island. Later on Dune Rd, we pulled into Triton Lane and someone pointed out a Snowy Owl to us, treat number two. A little further down Dune Rd we spotted an American Bittern sunning itself in a roadside ditch, treat number three. 

A great finish to a great day of winter birding with a hardy bunch of birders.