at the peak

May 16 should be close to the peak of spring migration and this morning's birding pretty well lived up to the expectation. The day was scheduled to begin with a visit to Cupsogue where Steve Biasetti -- we ran into him at Hunters Gardens yesterday -- reported an early-morning fallout of warblers in the beach pines yesterday morning. However we were sidetracked by a call from Mike Higgiston to Eileen Schwinn reporting on action in the Quogue Wildlife Refuge. And indeed there were at least three Canada Warblers and at least two Wilson's Warblers as well as a Magnolia Warbler at that venerable spot. Add these three warblers to the six on the East Quogue property early this morning (Yellow, Yellowthroat, Pine, Parula, Blackpoll, Ovenbird) and you get a total of nine -- about the best we have had this season. Additionally, that honorary warbler, Red-eyed Vireo was present and singing in both locations.

Afterwards, we headed out to Cupsogue but if there was a fallout there it had already dispersed by the time of our arrival. As a consolation prize, we worked our way back east along Dune Road where some numbers of horseshoe crab matings were in progress attended by fair numbers of Black-bellied Plovers, Ruddy Turnstones, Sanderlings, Dunlin, Short-billed Dowitchers and Least Sandpipers. Also seen: Piping Plover, Semipalmated Plover and the first Least Terns observed this year (apparently these birds have just arrived). A big surprise was the presence of a dozen or more Common Eiders in the bay back of the inlet along with a single Red-breasted Merganser and several dozen Brant opposite the inlet and also scattered in other places in the bay. There were also Common Loon flyovers including a calling bird, always a thrill.

Eric Salzman