Harrisburg, PA

 My son had a Volleyball tournament in Harrisburg PA this past weekend - I didn't have much time for birding but always hopeful when visiting a new area.  There was a creek behind the hotel so I spent some time hoping to see Wilson's Snipe since the creel matched their habitat but only saw Song Sparrows, 2 Kingfishers, Robins and Cardinals.  I also saw some Chicakdees that I photographed hoping they were Carolina Chickadees but only upload BOC photos to Whats this Bird and seems they are Black Capped Chickadees at this point.  I might try uploading better photos when I have a chance.  Otherwise some some Red Tailed Hawks, crows, an unidentified hawk and presumably a juvenile Bald Eagle while driving around/ back home.  We saw some Turkey Vultures around - most were around a "mountain ridge" on the way back.

Sage Thrasher Part 2, Robert Moses, TOBAY Beach, Jones Beach West End

 I had some time before work this morning so headed out to Robert Moses to see if I can see the Sage Thrasher again - it was a little too easy compared to other people's reports - the bird was just sitting in the bushes with a birder right next to it in his car...pointing a camera at it showing me exactly where it was.  On a side note, the other birder had Jersey plates so I assumed he drove here just for the Sage Thrasher.  He seemed to be "camped out" there to get good looks/ photos.  I took a quick documentary shots knowing they wouldn't compare to quality of photos I took the first time. I didn't spend much time looking at the Sage Thrasher and walked to the wooden walkway that goes over the dune.  I did a brief seawatch and was pleasantly surprised by the number of birds over the ocean.  Lots of loons, some scoters (made out a White Winged Scoter in flight) and there was an impressive east to west movement of gulls.

I drove down Ocean Parkway heading towards Jones Beach since last week there were 3 Marbled Godwits at the Jones Coast Guard.  Along the way, I saw a couple of Great Egrets in the marsh.  I stopped at TOBAY Beach where I continued seawatching - there seemed to be less gulls, not sure if that was because they decreased in their flight or if it was related to the location.  I did see one peculiar gull that had a black back - it also had grey-ish legs.  It also had a softer type face.  I'm still not sure what it was so I have to assume if was a Lesser Black Backed Gull with something going on with the legs.

 I did a quick stop at Field 10 where the highlight was a Kingfisher and some Juncos.

As I got close to the Coast Guard area, I saw what I asusmed was a Cooper's Hawk perched.  There seemed to be some around  - one flew right in front of my car as I was driving, as well as some Northenr Harriers.  At the Jones Beach Coast Guard, the spit/ sandbar seemed very low/ not much showing until I got a better look and saw a bunch of sandpipers mixed in with Brants and Gulls.  I got out of the car and walked over to the edge of the upper deck.  I noticed some crows, which I assumed were Fish Crows - one was on the sandbar.  There were lots of Brant, Gulls and Dunlins! as well as several Oystercatchers, Black Bellied Plovers and some Red Breasted Mergansers close by.  I was hoping to see the Marbled Godwits since they're one of my favorite birds, but was still nice to see other sandpipers out in full force.

Sage Thrasher, Robert Moses State Park

 For a while now, there has been a Sage Thrasher on Long Island's south shore.  It was first seen at Smith Point some time ago, then disappeared and if it is the same one, reappeared at Robert Moses.  It seemed everyone else had seen it but me because I wasn't able to get over there some reason or another.  There were many reports that it would hide for hours and when it was visible, would either be out in the open on the ground or hiding in bushes (in the southwest corner of Field 5)  I had a little time Saturday - a quick chance to go see it so I took advantage and hopped in the car..  It had been reported earlier in the morning so I figured I had a good chance.  When I got there it was very windy and no other birder was on the scene.  I assumed I wouldn't be lucky but scanned the bushes with my bins only to find out the bird was right in front of me - eye level in the bushes.  I got a couple photos noting how much it resembles a Mockingbird.  After I got in the car to leave, it came out and was on the ground and didn't seem to care about the wind.  I got a few mote photos which I think came out very well because it was a little cloudy.  I saw another birder looking for it on the other side of the lot by dumpsters so I honked the horn a bunch of times to get his attention and pointed out the bird.  This was a lifebird for me - not the prettiest but still a rarity for Long Island.

Western Kingbird, Red Headed Woodpecker

 There were reports of a continuing Western Kingbird at the Jones West End turnaround so I went over and was aided by another birder, Mike V, who directed me to the bird - got decent looks at it.  Other birders were in the area looking for a Evening Grosbeak that was reported a day earlier but apparently was not refound.  Looking at the e-bird report from the day before it seemed to have flown out over the dunes.  I told a few of the birders looking for it about that.  There were also reports of a long continuing juvenile Red Headed Woodpecker at Sunken Meadow so I went over and found it quickly at it's spot by the bridge by the march/ parking lot.  I wasted some time checking for a likely Ash Throated Flycatcher that was reported the day before but didn't see it.  Although I saw some cool birds, it wasn't the big day I was hoping for.

Bullock's Oriole, Stillwell Woods, Syosset

 There were sightings of a Bullock's Oriole that I was initially skeptical of because I didn't know the original finder personally - I had assumed he saw a Baltimore Oriole in non-breeding plumage, but the finder noted the Bullock's was with a female Baltimore Oriole.  Other birders confirmed that they refound the Bullock's - I was very cranky because I didn't have an opportunity to go check it out until today.  I had about an hour window in the morning so rushed over where I found other birders who informed me I missed the Bullock's Oriole pop up a while ago but wasn't seen.  I didn't have much time so I searched frantically where the other birders weren't looking.  My strategy didn't work because the Oriole flew over a field and popped up another time when I wasn't around.  (curse words here)  I had to give up and go home.  Luckily I got another chance to go back later and seemed like the same story where the bird was seen before I got there but was "hiding" again.  There was a bunch of birders by "the tree" who said the oriole was last seen in some "wine glass?" berry shrubs about 10 feet away.  Most of the other birders then left and there only about 4 or 5 other birders lingering.  My only hope of seeing it was using some "technology methods" so I did and the Oriole popped up about 6 feet right in front of me - looked fantastic - could've got a front shot photo of it but went back into the shrubs.  After that the other birders and I had some half decent views of it as it was eating the berries.  This was a lifer for me - a good lesson that with birding persistence and patience (I'm not known for those qualities) sometimes pay off.

Massapequa Preserve: JUST SPARROWS!!!

 I had some time before work this morning so walked over the preserve "just to go birding".  I heard Yellow Rumped Warblers and saw some as well as a Ruby Crowned Kinglet but the nicest things I saw were a good amount of Swamp Sparrows by the "Doris Place Pond".  They were also vocal chirping to each other.  I also saw some White Throated Sparrows incluyding one that had a nice yellow lore?.  When I got home, I heard some Juncos in my yard.  I briefly saw some the other day, but still haven't got a good look at them yet in my yard.  They're always nice to see.  I'm considering buying bird seed like I did last winter - never know what might show up.

Jones Beach West End: Godwit no, Dickcissel yes

 I went to the Jones Coast Guard area early Sunday morning hoping to at least see the continuing Marbled Godwits that have been reported - no luck - only saw Oystercatchers, Black Bellied PLovers, Sanderlings? and my FOS Brants.  I did find a Red Breasted Nuthatch by the beginning of Fisherman's path  - there didn't seem too many of them last year. 

I went over to the Nature Center at West End 2 to try to find a continuing Dickcissel - upon arriving, I saw a small group of photographers camped out so went towards their direction but on the deck of the nature center.  I did see the Dickcissel fairly well from my vantage point - didn't get the best photos.  I did hear it "sing" a little which I think was my first time hearing one.  There was a new update around the nature center which featured native grasses and plants - I was actually impressed how nice it looked and how it attracted a variety of sparrows.  On the way out, I saw a Common Yellowthroat.