The winter waterfowl count is an annual count happening in NY State since 1955, volunteers traverse shorelines of oceans, bays, lakes, rivers, where there is water there is a count! The count is organized by the New York State Ornithological Association (NYSOA).
I participated in counting the shoreline from Coney Island to Brighton Beach in very good company, led by my friend Ryan and their keen eyes for Alcids, Seagulls, and Grebes. Winds were sustained at 25-30mph the entirety of the walk, making looking through any optics shaky, the waves were big and birds bobbed in and out of view as they rode them. The conditions were rough, but one bright spot is that the sun was out until the very end. Had it been grey, it would have been that much colder.
We had some good sights, the wind and shaking made photos a challenge.
We began at W 37th street and so did this parade of sanderlings-- which are not counted as part of the count. Its really just ducks, grebes, geese, and loons. 
Speaking of eiders, Coney Island has an amazing showing of common eider this year. The shellfish are just splendid here and this common eider knows it! How fantastic it is to see them in such abundance here in a number of locations along our count. 
The nicest place to see them is the fishing pier, where you can be close, even above them as they dive and forage. 
The pier also provides a nice lookout spot for others, this close white-winged scoter was a treat. Along our route, and from the pier we sighted all three scoter species, white-winged, black, and surf. 
Not part of the count, but you ALWAYS must admire them when you see them: Purple Sandpipers. They love rocks with waves hitting them, but the waves today were something else, so they took refuge on the leeside of the rock groynes. They still got splashed plenty but the wind and waves were more forgiving. The light, not so favorable for photos! 
Little, perfectly round borb. 
Splashing? Grains of sand? A little of both? 
These little purple sandpipers are special, we are the more southern part of their winter range, these are birds of the high Arctic during the breeding season only migrating to New England and the North Eastern United States in the winter, favoring rocky shorelines. So rock groynes, and the rocks along the Belt Parkway out to the Bay and Harbor are perfect places to find them and view them at close range w/o disturbing them. 
Also not countable, a Northern Gannet. Saw far less of them this winter than we did last, but we were lucky and had one close one and of course enjoyed the view. We also enjoyed some (very very distant) views of razorbill, I thank Ryan for letting me get my eyes on one through their scope. 
Before leaving, YAY, a red-necked grebe! Here's a picture I got in battling against a wave and a diving bird. It was a good walk, we had some great birds and in lovely numbers. It also was nice that it was all in great company too!
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