Friday, October 28, 2016

Jones Beach, Robert Moses, Uplands Farm, Stillwell Woods

Although Jones Beach had some birds, I didn't find anything noteworthy besides White Crowned Sparrows and lots of Comorants flying over.  At Robert Moses I saw a Cooper's Hawk flipping a Golden Crowned Kinglet as it was dying before it made a meal of it.  At Uplands Farm I saw a Sharp Shinned Hawk and a Crow squaring off.

The biggest surprise of the day was Stillwell Preserve where half the field was overgrown...I saw 12 Eastern Meadolarks fly in - nice to see so many at once!

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Jones Beach West End

I was hoping to find a Vesper Sparrow today but long story short, it wasn't meant to be.  The good news was that there was a moderate "fall out" today but mostly Yellow Rumps, mix of sparrows and kinglets.  I did see several White Crowned Sparrows - notably 2 near the curve by the stadium entrance (Zachs Bay).

Tuesday, October 25, 2016

Jones Bech West End

Highlights were several Purple Finches, Field and White Crowned Sparrows and a Meadowlark by the turnaround.  I heard of a report of a Vesper Sparrow as I was leaving but didn't have time to properly search for it.

Sunday, October 23, 2016

Jones Beach West End: Mourning Warbler

There was a reported Mourning Warbler reported the day before so I headed to Jones Beach to find it - it was found on the Coast Guard property and then later moved to the fence by the hedgerow giving good looks.  It was a nice surprise to see it well, especially a bird that has a reputation for being skulky.  Other highlights were a Black Throated Blue, Yellow Billed Cuckoo by the fisherman's path, Palm Warblers and an Indigo Bunting.  Cooper's Hawks and Merlin continue to plague songbirds - a Cooper's Hawk was seen grabbing a small yellowis bird - at first thought to be the Mourning Warbler.

Mourning Warbler
Mourning Warbler
Mourning Warbler

Friday, October 21, 2016

Jones Beach Coast Guard Station

What seemed at first to be a mediocre day quickly became exciting - besides 3 continuing Western Willetts, highlights were a Winter Wren, a banded Royal Tern, and a MARBLED GODWIT that I wished for!

Marbled Godwit
Royal Tern

Thursday, October 20, 2016

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Jones Beach West End

There was a noticeable increase in Savannah Sparrows - they might have actually outnumbered Yellow Rumps.  In the swale I found a group of 5 Horned Larks, a Northern Harrier, and a Palm Warbler.  Tree Swallows continue to mass in preparation for migration.

At home I saw 2 Yellow Rumps in the white birch trees across the street.

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Massapequa Preserve, Jones Beach West End

At Massapequa Preserve I saw a Blue Headed Vireo and the winter resident Pintail in the stream.

At Jones Beach West End I saw another Blue Headed Vireo, female Baltimore Oriole, Field Sparrows, Red Knots and a ton of Tree Swallows and Yellow Rumped Warblers everywhere.

Monday, October 17, 2016

Friday, October 14, 2016

Jones Beach West End, Yellow Cote Road, Uplands Farm Sanctuary, Cold Spring Harbor

I checked out these locations hoping to see sparrows or some lifer flycatcher....most of it was disappointing.  I did see Juncos, White Crowned Sparrow, Kinglets, a Pine Warbler and a Blackpoll up close.

Pine Warbler
Blackpoll

Friday, October 7, 2016

Fuchs Pond, Gardiners County Park, Massapequa Preserve, Mill Pond, Jones Beach West End

I first checked out the pond by the Chalet motel in Centerport - highlights were Gadwall, Night Herons, Green Wing Teal and a likely Pintail.  I went to Fuchs Pond for a reported Yellow Bellied Flycatcher but came up empty - instead saw lots of Blackpolls, Kingfishers, Kinglets, and Red Eyed Vireos.  Next, I went to Gardiners County Park for reported Nelson's Sparrows and also struck out but did see a Pipit on the beach.  Massapequa Preserve was quiet but did see a Swamp Sparrow.  Things started to perk up when I got to Mill Pond in Bellmore - lots of Blackpolls, a few Yellow Rumps, Parula, and Black Throated Blues were on the edge of the lake.

At the Jones Beach Coast Guard I was hoping for an interesting shorebird like a godwit but the only highlight was a banded Oystercatcher.  I carefully walked around the hedgerow where I found a Black Throated Blue, my FOS Junco, a yellow Palm Warbler, and a brown Blue Grosbeak among he sparrow flock.

Thursday, October 6, 2016

Jones Beach West End, Massapequa Preserve

Highlights at Jones Beach West End were several Western Willets among many Oyestercatchers and a juvenile White Crowned Sparrow by the Coast Guard hedge row.  At Massapequa Lake I saw a Great Blue Heron swallow a sunfish.

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

Jones Beach West End

I tried unsuccessfully looking for a Yellow Bellied Flycatcher that was reported on the median at Jones Beach - I did find many Yellow Rumped Warblers, Phoebes, singles of Pine Warbler and both Kinglets.