Bay · Hampton Bays
Shinnecock Bay — Ponquogue Bridge
The western gateway to the East End's winter bird circuit. Brant rafts, merganser strings, and the Purple Sandpiper flock on the jetty boulders are reliable from November through March.
Access & parking
The Ponquogue Bridge crosses Shinnecock Bay; the marine park and boat ramp on the north side give access to the flats and the bay pilings. The ocean jetty at Shinnecock Inlet is a pelagic sea-watch in winter.
Parking: Free municipal parking at the north base of the bridge; resident sticker at Ponquogue Beach in season.
Restrooms: Seasonal restrooms at the Ponquogue Beach pavilion.
Difficulty: Stroller-friendly
When to go
Seasons: Fall Migration, Winter
Time of day: dawn
Target species
- Brant (Branta bernicla)
- American Black Duck (Anas rubripes)
- Greater Scaup (Aythya marila)
- Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator)
- Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus)
- Purple Sandpiper (Calidris maritima)
Rarities reported here
- Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus)
Photography tips
Purple Sandpipers on the jetty rocks need a rainproof housing in winter. The spray off the ocean side will coat anything unshielded inside minutes.
eBird hotspot
Open this hotspot on the Cornell Lab of Ornithology eBird database →
Nearby birds
Other bay sites worth pairing on a day trip:
- Cedar Point County Park · East Hampton
- North Sea — Robins Island Viewpoint · North Sea
Looking for the broader fauna calendar (whales, seals, sea turtles)? /wildlife covers every species on the East End.