Jane and I were out and about on the coast today as well as a long walk
at Deer Hill WMA.
Mild weather continues and I was in my T-shirt all day. But winter sea
ducks are all moving through. Black, Surf, and White-winged Scoters,
Red-throated and Common Loons, Horned and Red-necked Grebes, Long-tailed
Ducks, and Red-breasted Mergansers were all easily seen. A single Black
Guillemot was the only alcid however. And heat haze prevented seeing too
far offshore, but a few Northern Gannets were certainly flying.
In Hampton Harbor this morning, there were two FORSTER'S TERNS
continuing at low tide. There have been a few now since last Sunday
when Leo McKillop had 32!!! On Eel Pond in Rye, we had 3 AMERICAN COOT
(our first of the year) and a Pied-billed Grebe. Of more interest were
3 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS in Henry's Pool in Hampton. We actually had a
decent number of shorebirds for the day with 9 species:
Black-bellied Plover - At least a couple of dozen in Hampton harbor
Semipalmated Plover - Max count of 70 roosting on Hampton beach
Killdeer - 1 at Deer Hill WMA
Greater Yellowlegs - Lots on Meadow Pond
Lesser Yellowlegs - 3 with Greater Yellowlegs at Henry's Pool
Semipalmated Sandpiper - 4 lingering on Hampton Beach
White-rumped Sandpiper - 1 juvenile on Hampton Beach.
PURPLE SANDPIPER - 1 out of place (and a bit early) bird roosting in
salt marsh with Dunlin at north end of Hampton harbor. This is my
earliest fall record by 2 days; however, I've had 5 records from October
26-31 over the years.
Dunlin - Lots in Hampton harbor
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER - 3 in Henry's Pool. Two basic and one molting
juvenile. I think.
https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/625373592
