Registrar: Evelyn Huang
Participants: 18
Weather: 45°–55° F; mostly sunny, light NE winds
Bird Species: 56
The group met at 9 am at the parking lot of the National Wildlife Refuge and proceeded to the trail along the West Pond that begins at the Visitor Center. Although the morning started out very chilly and windy, we were rewarded by seeing a huge blizzard of migrating Brants, both in the bay and on the pond as well as flying overhead. Many of us speculated as to the numbers, with estimates reaching well over ten thousand.
At the viewing areas around the West Pond, we saw many waterfowl species, including Northern Shovelers, American Wigeons, Buffleheads, Pied-billed Grebes, Greater Scaups, Hooded Mergansers, and Green-winged Teals. Among the gulls we were surprised to find two Black-headed Gulls, an adult and an immature. Other species included Great Egrets, a Great Blue Heron, and a Greater Yellowlegs.
It warmed considerably, with the sun coming out as we finished our circuit of the West Pond and had lunch at the picnic tables by the parking lot.
We then walked across Cross Bay Boulevard to check out the East Pond, where we found the water levels extremely high. We only made it to the first lookout, but it was a good spot where we found more ducks, including Northern Pintails, more Green-winged Teals, Gadwalls, and a Red-breasted Merganser. Along the far shore, we also saw some shorebirds, including Dunlins, Killdeer, and Greater Yellowlegs. Some of us were a bit appalled to see a Greater Black-backed Gull attack, kill, and proceed to eat a Ruddy Duck. As we were scanning the water, a Northern Harrier swooped overhead and caused a massive flight of gulls to lift off.
We ended the walk a little after 2 pm at the East Pond, after getting looks at some fairly faraway Ring-necked Ducks.
Many thanks to Joseph DiCostanzo for leading such an enjoyable and informative walk.
Species Lists
Birds
Brant
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Northern Shoveler
Gadwall
American Wigeon
Mallard
American Black Duck
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Ring-necked Duck
Greater Scaup
Bufflehead
Hooded Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Pied-billed Grebe
American Coot
Killdeer
Dunlin
Pectoral Sandpiper
Greater Yellowlegs
Black-headed Gull
Laughing Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper’s Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Peregrine Falcon
Eastern Phoebe
American Crow
Fish Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Carolina Wren
European Starling
Northern Mockingbird
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
House Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-throated Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
Yellow-rumped Warbler
