Mecox & Gabreski

Took a ride with Eileen Schwinn down to Mecox Bay and then back via Gabreski airport. The Seapoose or artificial inlet at Mecox appeared to have been recently opened and then quickly filled back in. There were a few flats with shorebirds including Red Knots and Short-billed Dowitcher (both missed on Sunday's Linnaean trip), a number of Black-bellied Plovers, three Piping Plovers, several Semipalmated Plovers and handfuls of o ther shore birds. The only terns were Leasts.

At Gabreski, there were Eastern Bluebirds (male and female), Pine Warbler on a fence (rare good looks at this species), Prairie Warblers (heard multiple times), Chipping Sparrows, Eastern Towhee, N. Mockingbirds, Gray Catbird, a Ruby-throated Hummingbird and a soaring Turkey Vulture. Our target bird, Vesper Sparrow, was seen dropping down from the perimeter fence and flitting about on the ground; it was ID'd only by the white sides to its tail (but that character was good enough).

Back at the ranch, the Clapper Rail is still clapping merrily away and a Yellow-billed Cuckoo continues to call from somewhere in the woods back of the house.

Pete Wilson reports that he had a Green-tailed Towhee at his place in Bridgehampton. Alas, he didn't realize what a first-class rarity this was and was slow to report it; the bird has long since flown the coop (he promises to call right away next time if it comes back!).

The photograph above is a picture that Eileen took at Mecox of what appears to be a female Purple Martin with a vertical wing stripe!



Eric Salzman

14 Randall Lane
P.O. Box 775
East Quogue NY 11942
phone: 718 522-3387
E-mail: es@ericsalzman.com
Web: www.ericsalzman.com