Yup, that is what my iPhone weather said when I got home, which jibes with what I observed.... namely 44 deg F and 20+ mph winds, with a smattering of misty drizzle.
So if you were one of the 14 on this morning's field trip, you deserve a medal for toughness. We did see some good birds, but my count total was only 20 species observed and called out by me, and observed by at least some of you. (My personal species count would have been about 30...but for instance with gulls, I decided to hold off on them for a future class when we are closer to them and less stressed by the weather).
Okay, 20 species makes it easy to focus on the highlights. Mine was certainly the number of Gannets so close to shore. It appeared they were flying north over the surf line at a rate of approximately 10 per minute. So had we watched for only them for 2 1/2 hrs, we would have counted roughly 1,500 Gannets....not bad.
Other highlights were: 2 Brant seen close through the scope by all, about 20 Red-breasted Mergansers, 5+ Osprey with 2 calling close overhead, a single Sharp-shinned Hawk and Northern Flicker, and vocally - singing Cardinals, Carolina Chickadees, Tufted Titmice and House Finches.
Our 2 primary missed target birds were Piping Plover and Brown-headed Nuthatch (although at least I heard one of the later at the end of our trip).
Next week we meet at the Prime Hook Refuge Headquarters at 8 am, Wed, 4/15....if your taxes are done. Will we see more birds next week?...Most probably....But a spring Northeaster could make today's weather seem not so bad.
Have a great week, and do enjoy birding, as new birds are arriving every day...... Bill
So if you were one of the 14 on this morning's field trip, you deserve a medal for toughness. We did see some good birds, but my count total was only 20 species observed and called out by me, and observed by at least some of you. (My personal species count would have been about 30...but for instance with gulls, I decided to hold off on them for a future class when we are closer to them and less stressed by the weather).
Okay, 20 species makes it easy to focus on the highlights. Mine was certainly the number of Gannets so close to shore. It appeared they were flying north over the surf line at a rate of approximately 10 per minute. So had we watched for only them for 2 1/2 hrs, we would have counted roughly 1,500 Gannets....not bad.
Other highlights were: 2 Brant seen close through the scope by all, about 20 Red-breasted Mergansers, 5+ Osprey with 2 calling close overhead, a single Sharp-shinned Hawk and Northern Flicker, and vocally - singing Cardinals, Carolina Chickadees, Tufted Titmice and House Finches.
Our 2 primary missed target birds were Piping Plover and Brown-headed Nuthatch (although at least I heard one of the later at the end of our trip).
Next week we meet at the Prime Hook Refuge Headquarters at 8 am, Wed, 4/15....if your taxes are done. Will we see more birds next week?...Most probably....But a spring Northeaster could make today's weather seem not so bad.
Have a great week, and do enjoy birding, as new birds are arriving every day...... Bill
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