Warm Winter Birding

On a fall like day, with temperatures in the fifties  we did our year end weekend walk at Montauk and environs. Normally we are dressed for the single digits but not today. It was almost  shirtsleeve birding today.

 To start, we were greeted at the entrance to the parking lot by a Western Kingbird. It has been spending the last week or so in  the parking lot and surrounding areas.

At the overlook the number of seabirds was down but the variety was good. We did see Common Eiders, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Northern Gannets and both Red-throated and Common Loons. We saw  Numerous Razorbills, the most we have ever seen on any visit. And while we were looking at the seabirds a small flock of six Cave Swallows flew past the overlook. Not a bad start.

At East Lake Drive we saw an Iceland Gull, a pair of Purple Sandpipers and got some up close looks at more Razorbills. Then on to Hook pond in East Hampton to see the pair of Tundra Swans, not a bad finish to a great day. Overall we had forty one species of birds seen for the day.