Long Island SNOWIES

One of two Snowy Owls seen from Dune Road, Suffolk County NY on 12/26/13.
One of two Snowy Owls seen from Dune Road, Suffolk County NY on 12/26/13.

Tricia and I were back on Long Island this week to spend Christmas with our families. The day after Christmas, I went birding out east with with Tricia’s Brother-in-law Bill. We basically started out at Cupsogue County Park (a spot I’ve been wanting to get to, having seen many reports of good birds there), and then we headed east on Dune Road. The highlight of the day was locating two (!!!) SNOWY OWLS. Both owls could be seen easily from the car on the beach side of Dune Road and the light was nice which made for some nice photos. Aside from the Snowies, we did pretty well, identifying 28 species and seeing a few more than that; I did not have my scope with me which meant leaving some of the more distant birds unidentified. The birding on Long Island is pretty amazing, the birding hotspots seem endless. Thanks once again to Bill for showing me around; it was a super day of birding.

Here is my species list for the outing:

I have this as a Red-throated Loon, Eastern Long Island 12/26/13.
I have this as a Red-throated Loon, Eastern Long Island 12/26/13.

Canada Goose
Mute Swan
American Black Duck
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Red-throated Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Northern Gannet
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Northern Harrier
Black-bellied Plover
Ruddy Turnstone
Sanderling
Dunlin
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Mourning Dove  9
Snowy Owl
American Crow
American Robin
European Starling
Snow Bunting

Always a favorite, we had a large flock of Snow Buntings on Dune Road. There were close to 100 birds in the flock, by far the most I've ever seen.
Always a favorite, we had a large flock of Snow Buntings on Dune Road. There were close to 100 birds in the flock, by far the most I’ve ever seen.
This was the first Snowy Owl of the day, located on Dune Road, just east of Tiana Beach, 12/26/13.
This was the first Snowy Owl of the day, located on Dune Road, just east of Tiana Beach, 12/26/13.
I was happy to see some shorebirds! It's been a while. We did alright at Cupsogue County Park for shorebirds getting these Sanderlings...
I was happy to see some shorebirds! It’s been a while. We did alright at Cupsogue County Park for shorebirds getting these Sanderlings…
…a single Ruddy Turnstone...
…a single Ruddy Turnstone…
…and several Black-bellied Plovers. All at Cupsogue County Park, 12/26/13.
…and several Black-bellied Plovers. All at Cupsogue County Park, 12/26/13.

 

 

 

 

4 thoughts on “Long Island SNOWIES”

  1. WOW!!!!! I sure do hope to see another snowy owl this year so I can get a picture! What a blessed birding day for you!

    1. I was super excited about it – it was perfect, getting a great look up the dunes right from the car.

  2. You are as usual correct, It is indeed a Red-throated Loon. Glad you had a great birding experience on Long Island.

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