Monday, August 28, 2017

Hempstead Lake State Park

I started at HLSP around dawn and birded for almost 5 hours - Redstart females and Robins were very abundant - hightlights include 2, possibly 3 Yellow Throated Vireos, Canada Warbler, Chestnut Sided Warbler, good amount of Black and White Warbler, calling Eastern Wood Pewee and a flycatcher which I can best determine to be a Yellow Bellied Flycatcher.  Jones Beach and Southard's Pond were not particularly noteworthy.

Canada Warbler

Monday, August 21, 2017

Jamaica Bay East Pond, Hempstead Lake State Park

Went to J-Bay with Snouty to get in some shorebirding - there weren't much in numbers but we got some variety: Pectoral Sandpiper, Stilt Sandpipers, White Rumped Sandpipers, and Short Billed Dowitchers.

I later went solo to check out Hempstead Lake State Park and found a flycatcher that appeared to be a good candidate for a Yellow Bellied Flycatcher - unfortunately, it got chased away by a territorial Hummingbird - I went back the next day and didn't find the YB Flycatcher bu did find a Canada and Worm Eating Warbler.

Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Massapequa Preserve, Nissequogue River State Park

I went to Massapequa Preserve early in the morning - highlights were 2 Black and White Warblers, and a continuing Muscovy.  I went with Snouty to look for a reported Franklin's Gull the day before at the south shore beach lots but only saw Laughing Gulls.  We went to Nissequogue to look for Otters - didn't see them but found Northern Waterthrush, Wood Pewees and another empid that we couldn't ID - possibly a Wood Pewee but had a light colored chest.

Thursday, August 10, 2017

Avalon Park and Preserve, EPCAL

I went back to Avalon to look for Indigo Buntings and Hummingbird Moths - I didn't see the moths, but did see a pair of Indigo Buntings.  I checked out EPCAL and the surrounding areas - highlights were ~6 Indigo Buntings, Wood Pewee, Red Tailed Hawk, Turkey Vulture, Great Crested Flycatchers, 1 Grasshopper Sparrow, House Wrens, Chipping Sparrows and fairly sure I saw a Blue Gray Gnatcatcher and a Pine Warbler.

Tuesday, August 8, 2017

Avalon Park and Preserve, Stony Brook, Caleb Smith, Blydenburgh Preserve

Went to Avalon - highlights were 7 young Ring Necked Pheasants, a group of Orioles (Baltimore), and a singing Blue Winged Warbler.  Stopped by Caleb Smith and Blydenburgh - highlight was a Louisiana Waterthrush!

Monday, August 7, 2017

Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Oceanside Marine Nature Study Area

I went to "J-Bay" to look for a reported Acadian Flycatcher but didn't have any luck...I didn't have much luck with shorebirds either - highlights were lots of egrets, a Green Heron and ~6 Hummingbirds on the west side.  This was the first time I've visited since the breach on the west side pond had been fixed.  I went to Oceanside mostly to look for a continuing reported Snow Goose, but didn't see it - highlight was seeing several Saltmarsh Sparrows.