 |
| Ignore the Elevation (it is erroneous) on the chart. Mid-Sound water temperature was 44F. |
Note that the CTNL New London CBC circle extends far out into LISound and crosses into NY waters... and similarly the Napatree CBC (RINT) touches three states...
=================
From: Frank Mantlik <mantlik@sbcglobal.net>
Date: December 28, 2013 at 11:48:05 AM EST
To: CT Birds <ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org>
Subject: [CT Birds] Highlights New London Ferry
From Frank Mantlik, with J . Marshall, T. Green, T. Robben, D. Rottino, P. Wolter, S. Zagorski,
12/28 New London, 7am. New London to Orient, NY Ferry, and return-as part of New London & Orient CBCs:
NewLondonCT CBC Highlights - 1 COMMON MURRE (NY waters, photos), 3 RAZORBILLS, 1 alcid sp., 7 BLACK SCOTERS, Surf Scoters, Peregrine Falcon, 8 Am. Coots.
OrientNY CBC Highlights - 16 Northern Gannets, 2 RAZORBILLS, 1 alcid sp., 27 Common Eiders, 250 WW Scoters, 10 Surf Scoters, ICELAND GULL (1st-cycle at ferry dock), Peregrine Falcon, Merlin, Cooper's Hawk, 15 Horned Larks, 32 Brown-headed Cowbirds.
Sent from my iPhone
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Note that historically Thick-billed Murre used to be considered more common than Common Murre in waters from NY up through SE Canada. In NY, for example, Bull (1998) described Thick-billed Murre as a "rare and irregular winter visitant", but Common Murre as a "very rare off LI [and] unreported anywhere else". Part of the increase in Common Murre's in the last decade is probably because of its recovery in the Bay of Fundy where recolonization began around 1992 and continued with a Machias Seal Island colony in 2003. Thick-billed Murre, on the other hand, has been in decline since about 1932, before which it was a fairly common winter visitor to Long Island Sound and the Hudson River (and it was called Brunnich's Murre in those days). Thick-billed Murre populations fell steeply between the 1960s and 1980s also because of egg harvesting and hunting of adult Thick-billed Murres in Greenland.
Wikipedia also mentions that, "Before 1950 large numbers appeared on the North American Great Lakes in early winter, passing up the St. Lawrence River from the East coast. Such irruptions have not been seen since 1952."
===============
From Bob Dewire: The New London area Bird
Count was held on December 28th. Total species were 122. Highlights
included AMERICAN BITTERN at Groton New London Airport marshes, LONG-BILLED
DOWITCHER also in marshes along edge of airport, COMMON MURRE seen from Orient
Point/New London ferry (photos), 2 SNOWY OWLS, one on a small island off
Millstone Point and one at airport visible from Bluff Point, EASTERN
PHOEBE along power lines in Waterford, and BALTIMORE ORIOLE at Mason's
Island.
===============
From: "do-not-reply@ebird.org" <do-not-reply@ebird.org>
To: mantlik@sbcglobal.net
Sent: Monday, December 30, 2013 12:03 AM
Subject: eBird Report - Orient CBC by Ferry, Dec 28, 2013
To: mantlik@sbcglobal.net
Sent: Monday, December 30, 2013 12:03 AM
Subject: eBird Report - Orient CBC by Ferry, Dec 28, 2013
Orient CBC by Ferry, Suffolk, US-NY
Dec 28, 2013 8:06 AM - 9:27 AM
Protocol: Traveling
12.0 mile(s)
Comments: Orient NY CBC by ferry (7:00am MV John H.) from New London, CT, and return; plus birding /scoping from ferry deck while docked at Orient from 8:25-9:06. Return voyage left Orient 9:06; we left Count circle 9:27. We used "Count Circle" app to determine when we were within Count circle; all in NY waters. Observers: Frank Mantlik (capt), Tina Green, John Marshall, Tom Robben, Dan Rottino, Paul Wolter, Sara Zagorski. Weather: Cold (30-38F), clear start, sunny, bright, wind from SW 5-15 mph; skies became mostly cloudy by 9:30am.
The 7am ride was chilly as we headed into the wind. Spotting birds on the water was somewhat difficult due to the chop, facing into the wind, and the sun glare. The return trip was ideal, with going with the wind, and bright overcast sun at our backs; probably little escaped our watchful eyes on the return trip.
Highlights were Common Eiders, Northern Gannets, Razorbills, Iceland Gull, Cooper's Hawk, Peregrine, Merlin, Horned Larks, Cowbirds, and 2 Harbor Seals.
26 species (+1 other taxa)
Canada Goose 1
American Black Duck 4
Common Eider 27 Several scattered small flocks, all visible from ferry deck while at Orient dock. Males and females.
Surf Scoter 11
White-winged Scoter 250 large numbers scattered all through bay off Orient Point dock to Lighthouse.
Long-tailed Duck 100
Common Goldeneye 1
Red-breasted Merganser 30
Red-throated Loon 5
Common Loon 2
Northern Gannet 16 including 14 foraging from the air over the rips between Orient Lighthouse and Plum Island.
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Great Cormorant 7 All on or near Orient Lighthouse
Cooper's Hawk 1 flying over, landed in tree near ferry dock
Red-tailed Hawk 1 perched in tree at Orient Pt SP, viewed with scope from ferry deck
Razorbill 2 Singles seen in flight and/or on water, all near Orient Lighthouse/passage between lighthouse and Plum Is. Large football-shaped alcids, black above, white below, with broad, stout bills. FM obtained photos of one in flight, which will be embedded.
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large alcid sp. 1 Seen by all in flight on return cruise after we left Orient dock and cleared Lighthouse. Probably a Razorbill, but couldn't be certain.
Ring-billed Gull 10
Herring Gull 60
Iceland Gull 1 !st-winter bird in water right next to ferry upon arrival at Orient. It stayed nearby the whole time we were at dock. Photos from deck above.
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Great Black-backed Gull 4
Mourning Dove 1
Merlin 1 flew past ferry as we were coming in to Orient just north of lighthouse; it went to near where PEFA was harassing a gull.
Peregrine Falcon 1 Harassing a gull in flight over water just north of Orient Lighthouse, as we were coming in to L.I.
American Crow 2
Horned Lark 15 flock seen in flight near ferry dock, from deck of ferry while docked.
European Starling 40
Brown-headed Cowbird 32 flock flying past near Orient ferry dock.
View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
New London, CT CBC - Saturday, Dec. 28, 2013
New London (CT) - Orient (NY) Ferry 7:00am (MV John H.), with return from Orient 9:00am on same boat.
Participants/birders:
Frank Mantlik
Tina Green
John Marshall
Tom Robben
Dan Rottino
Paul Wolter
Sara Zagorski
Weather: Cold (30-38F), clear start, sunny, bright, wind from SW 5-15 mph; skies became mostly cloudy by 9:30am.
The 7am ride was chilly as we headed into the wind. Spotting birds on the water was somewhat difficult due to the chop, facing into the wind, and the sun glare. The return trip was ideal, with going with the wind, and bright overcast sun at our backs; probably little escaped our watchful eyes on the return trip.
