I woke up to the sound of crows squawking at a red tail; my first birds of the new year.

Inspired by yesterday’s posts of numerous alcids I decided to drive to Jone’s Beach and see if any were still around. I started at the Coast Guard station. Hundreds of Brant, a lone oyster catcher on the sandy spit, along with a few red-breasted mergansers and black scoters. There was also a merlin perched on the drive in.

I drove to the West End and walked out to the beach. The surf was pretty choppy, and the birds were just a little too far for the camera. Dozens of Bonaparte’s Gulls were in feeding frenzies along with numerous red-throated loons. I got very lucky and briefly saw one dovekie flying. There were a few groups of Razorbills as well. While walking to the jetty about 100 dunlins along with a handful of sanderlings flew over my head. At the jetty there more Razorbills and Bonaparte’s; an impressive number of individual birds. On the trek back to my car some folks found a piping plover. I ended my beautiful day at the beach with 29 species and lots of long-distance photos.