Monday, November 14, 2016

Jones Beach, Bayville, Long Beach

I started at the Jones Beach WE 2 lot since I saw lots of Gannets over the ocean - I walked to the shoreline where I saw hundreds of Gannets streaming past sometimes diving into the water.  I did a bried "seawatch" hoping to find a pelagic type lifer  - didn't see any but was treated to a brief look at a whale breathing at the surface (spout thing).  I walked back through the swale looking for the Lapland Longspurs but could only see the Horned Larks. I did a good walk from the Coast Guard Station, the median and stopping at the inlet.  Not much going on, but did see tons of Dunlin, BB Plover, Oyestercatchers on the sandbar, a Fox Sparrow, and a Red Throated Loon on the inlet.

I drove up to Ransom Beach to see the reported female King Eider - I found another birder who said it took off heading east but I couldn't find it.  While looking for it I did see my FOS Horned Grebes and a late Seimipalmated Plover. A brief stop at Muttontown Preserve was non-productive except for a wren (Winter, I think)

I drove to the spot where the Ash Throated Flycatcher was (Long Beach before the giant hotel thing) and was treated to some good views.  A Coopers or Sharpie Hawk came down but the Flycatcher took cover long before it was near.  I tried finding a reported 1st year Glaucous Gull seen the day before but didn't see it.

I drove back to Jones Beach West End and found a Cooper's Hawk sitting at the outer turnaround

Ash Throated Flycatcher
Cooper's Hawk

3 comments:

  1. Is it possible that this is a juvenile Goshawk? Wondering about that because of the prominent white bar over the eye and on the greater coverts (as per Sibleys).

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    1. hi, I'll doublecheck...raptors aren't my main area of expertise

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    2. hi, I checked on a bird ID page on FB and everyone confirming Coopers

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