Long-billed Dowitcher at Santapogue Creek - 6th Dec

Over a month ago a group of Long-billed Dowitchers appeared at a site on the south shore of Long Island, the creek at Santapogue. Today I finally got down there to see for myself, and very quickly found a group of 11 birds. Also present were 8 Greater Yellowlegs. While watching the shorebirds my attention was drawn first to the distinctive call of a group of 6 Fish Crows flying overhead, and then the raucous calls of several flocks of Monk Parakeets.

Long-billed Dowitcher

Several noisy flocks of Monk Parakeets passed by as the sun started to warm everything up...

...I later found them feeding on leaf buds on trees lining the local side streets.