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DVOC Field Trip Report
by Chris Walters

January 17,18,19, 2009
Montauk, NY

This is the Montauk/Long Island Field Trip Report for January 17-19, 2009, which had highlights of WESTERN GREBE, SNOWY OWLS (3), KING EIDER, LAPLAND LONGSPURS (23), RAZORBILL, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS, EURASIAN TEAL, WOODCOCK (flying alongside the vehicles), ICELAND and LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS, MERLIN, and SNOW BUNTINGS.

This year our five Club participants took over a bed & breakfast on Shelter Island, overcoming a starting temperature of 7 degrees to what became pleasant winter birding conditions the rest of the weekend.

The weekend produced 95 species. One hot spot was the raptor show at Hackensack Meadows: Snowy Owl, Rough-legged Hawks, Bald Eagles, Harriers, Red-tails, and Kestrel were all present. We actually had Snowy Owl at two other locations on this year's trip; another hot spot was Jones Beach which produced for us a King Eider, Merlin, and flock of 23 Lapland Longspurs mixed in with Horned Larks and Snow Buntings feeding patiently on a lawn in front of us. In all, a great time was had by all.