whistle from overhead

A series of long high-pitched overhead whistles heard overhead and then afterwards over Shinnecock Bay were intriguing. I never could get a glimpse of the bird in a still dark and overcast sky but the sound made me think of one of the larger shorebirds in migration. I don't seem to be able find anything comparable on-line (the Upland Sandpiper was the closest).

It was definitely distinct from the Osprey's distinctive whistles; is there another whistling raptor? The Osprey's loud whistling on our side -- especially very lat in the evening and also early on a cloud-covered morning -- may be young birds from the one or other of the Pine Neck nests perhaps looking to establish breeding territories or find mates on our side of the creek.  

Clapper Rail sitting silently (he hasn't called for several days now) on a grass-and mud hummock in the open-water pool in the middle of the marsh along with a Snowy Egret and a juvenile Night Heron (hunched like a Black-crowned but with small spots on the back plumage like a Yellow-crowned). Most of the birds that are still singing are year-rounders trying to establish a late brood.

Common and Royal Terns fishing on the creek. Fish are jumping suggesting that the baby blues (Blue Snappers) are already here.

A reader asks if my East Quogue breeding bird list refers to 2017 only or all the years up to and including 2017. He also wants to know how it is possible to obtain such a list. Here is my reply: "A reasonable question. I just meant this year 2017 but I have many years of observations behind it. We have 10 1/2 acres including frontage on Weesuck Creek and Shinnecock Bay as well as salt marsh, two tidal ponds, shrub habitat and oak/pine/hickory woodlands; I have been out for a walk around the place almost every morning since the beginning of May (I do this circuit every year from the beginning of May to the end of October. Secondly, I know the local bird songs and when birds sing or call from the same place every morning, I get pretty familiar with the layout of the land. Singing or calling males are the first clue. The presence of females is a second clue. Adult birds carrying food (i.e. not gulping it down themselves) means that they are feeding nestlings. Finally, I see young birds with the adults, often being fed by them. So this list is not based on nests but on the territorial presence of breeding adults which then produce young. As I specified, not all these birds will be breeding on the actual property (although many are) but in the area."

Eric Salzman