We are in the summer doldrums of birding. Especially with the heat wave that we are currently experiencing. That said, it didn’t stop Bruce Nott from finding two exciting birds this week at the Newburgh Waterfront: a Lesser Black-backed Gull and a LAUGHING GULL. I ran for the birds Saturday morning and while I was successful with the Lesser Black-backed, I dipped on the Laughing.
On Sunday I birded the black dirt, including Liberty Marsh, where I first heard, and then saw my first Least Bittern of the year. It sounded like the bird was pretty deep in the marsh, but when I eventually found it, while it was a little bit out there, it was in plain sight and scope views were excellent. Photos not so much, but that’s how it goes sometimes (I’ve included a doc-shot at the bottom of this post). Regardless, I was out and about and taking photos as usual this weekend, so I hope you enjoy this week’s Sunday Shots.
Hi Matt, I wonder if the Least Bittern you saw is the same one I saw! I saw it at 6:30 AM on the same day, right from the viewing platform. I would have missed it had I not heard it insistently calling it’s goo-goo-goo calls. Then I started hunting, and saw it step out of the reeds less than 100 yards from the platform, continuing its calls. Luckily by that time most of the fog had lifted. Richard
Had to be Richard! I saw your report later in the day yesterday and thought the same thing. Nice bird, I’m glad it cooperated for us both! Matt