Faunathon 2014

Today was a Faunathon Day, an excuse for birders to do what they do anyway (i.e. look for birds) but non-stop along with butterflies, reptiles and mammals. Although May 18th should still be well within the window of spring bird migration, some rather strong north winds and slightly cool temperatures kept things down. As it turned out, there just three of us on the East Quogue team (Lorna, Eileen and myself) although we did run into other faunathoners in a few other places.

We started the day at the overlook on Pike's Beach in Westhampton Dunes, did some Dune Road birding between Quogue and Shinnecock Inlet, went inland to Hunter's Garden and the Bicycle Path area, ending up at ex-Grumman, a.k.a. EPCAL. The best birds were undoubtedly the grassland birds seen at EPCAL: Grasshopper Sparrow, Eastern Meadlowlark, Horned Lark and American Kestrel; also a gorgeous male Orchard Oriole at the fence on Grumman Blvd. Our only American Bluebird of the day was on the fence between the Bicycle Path and the neighborhood farm field. Warblers were few and far between:  Blackburnian, Blackpoll, Yellow-rumped and N. Parula were the only migrants (the others were Blue-wing, Yellow, Common Yellowthroat, Pine and Ovenbird). As usual, Hunter's Garden was great for Scarlet Tanager, E. Wood-pewee and Red-eyed Vireo and there was a single halting Wood Thrush song. Down at the shore, the main attraction was large numbers of Ruddy Turnstones with a few Red Knots, Short-billed Dowitchers, Semipalmated and Least Sandpipers, Dunlin, Willets, American Oystercatchers and several plovers (Piping, Semi-palmated, Black-bellied and Killdeer). Good look at a Clapper Rail. Osprey everywhere and modest numbers of Common and Least Terns. At Shinnecock Inlet there was a fair-sized flock of Black Scoters on the ocean.

Our reptile and mammal count was not impressive: Box Turtle (first one I've seen this season), Gray Squirrel, Eastern Chipmunk,  White-tailed Deer and Eastern Woodchuck. With all the wind, it was not a good day for IDing butterflies but it was possible to pick out Tiger and Spicebush Swallowtails, Red-spotted Purple, and Common Sootywing. When I get a more complete report on the day's activities, I'll pass it on.

Eric Salzman