Operation Razorbill
Breezy Point, NYC
Tuesday 8 January 2019
44 °F
Today before school I visited Breezy Point Tip in Queens to search for my life bird Razorbill (a bird related to the puffins), which have been seen here in numbers recently. It is quite a trek to get out there — 2 subways, a bus, and an uber! The weather conditions were subpar, at best — it was chilly and misting. Read on to see if I found my bird!
As soon as I arrived onto the beach, I could tell that despite the weather, there was a lot of bird activity over the sea — a good sign. These NORTHERN GANNETS were cool to find:
Then, a group of smallish, awkward, penguin-like birds came flying low and fast over the water. Once I gained a view of their unique bills, I knew I had indeed found my life bird RAZORBILLS!!! Success!
More RAZORBILLS flew by:
Drake LONG-TAILED DUCK, the first time I have ever seen this species in its spectacular, truly long-tailed plumage!
BLACK SCOTERS:
There were over 220 SANDERLINGS on the beach, an impressive number for wintertime:
PURPLE SANDPIPER was a nice find on the jetty:
And I loved seeing the uniquely beautiful drake COMMON EIDER within this raft of the species:
GREAT CORMORANTS roosting on a structure at the end of the jetty:
COMMON LOON:
RED-THROATED LOON:
This was my view for the day. Bleak, but peaceful as the wind (for once) was not blowing at a gale force out there.
A YELLOW-RUMPED WARBER on the walk back from the beach was nice:
And a surprisingly-late FIELD SPARROW was another very cool find!
Later, I tried to look for an Evening Grosbeak which has been reported just two blocks away from the Manhattan School of Music, but my search was unfortunately in vain. A TUFTED TITMOUSE was present though:
As well as one of the two PEREGRINE FALCONS which nest atop the Riverside Church, here seen perched on a gargoyle:
What a wonderful day of birding! Bird-of-the-day of course goes to my life bird Razorbill, with runner-up to the magnificently-plumaged Long-tailed Duck and the Peregrine Falcon.
Good birding,
Henry
World Life List: 962 Species (1 life bird today: Razorbill)
