Purple Sandpipers in Brooklyn

Just finsished setting up my new blog so I decided to try a quick post here. This morning I went over to the Lower New York Bay along the I guess east side of the Verrazano Narrows just to the south of the Verrazano Bridge to look for Purple Sandpiper again. Earlier in the week the wind was gusting to 40mph and the waves were smashing into the sea wall making it difficult to look for the birds. Today the wind was calm as were the seas. And as if that wasn't going to help the birds literally were waiting for me when I got there. As I walked up to the railing along the sea wall and started looking at a Great Black-backed Gull, I caught some movement in the rocks about 30 feet away and found myself looking at a Purple Sandpiper. I moved towards the bird and soon found 6 more in the rocks with it! What a great way to finally come across this species after being skunked time and time again on Lake Michigan.

Purple Sandpiper in Brooklyn, NY. 12/05/07

I spent about an hour photographing the birds, and in that time had another flock of 15-20 birds fly past me. What awesome birds! There were also numerous Brant and Ring-billed Gull. A lone 2nd winter GBBG mentioned above, American Black Ducks, Red-breasted Mergansers and the usual city fare.