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.

Hofstra University Bird Sanctuary: Northern Waterthrush, Chat

 My son is in Boy (not Cub) Scouts and was involved in a project where the scouts planted a native garden and installed bat/ bird and bee houses at the Hofstra University Bid Sanctuary.  I have to admit when I went to school there, they announced that they converted a sump into a "bird sanctuary".  It was still a sump when I went to school there however I have to say it paid off after time and was a pleasant surprise to visit there.  There's some wooden paths that lead you down to a wet area.  The amount and variety of birds were impressive.  There was a professor on hand who I talked to that had just sighted a downy woodpecker and invited me to check it out.  To me, they're a dime a dozen so I went down the path to look forward and was impressed right away.  I didn't see the woodpecker but did see goldfinches, phoebes, yellow rumped warblers, robins, house finches but the biggest surprises were a "late" Northern Waterthrush by the reeds and "pond" and a Chat! that was in the northwest corner eating berries.  I tried to get a photo of the Chat, but don't think I did (I have to go back and check my photos on the computer) but I did see it clearly a couple of times.  Good job Hofstra.

Massapequa Preserve

 I met Snouty at the preserve since it was nice and sunny - we tried looking in the "Connecticut Warbler spot" but had no luck - 2 groups of people with unleashed dogs didn't help.  Before he arrived, I saw an oriole and a thrush with spots on it's chest/ belly - presumably a Swainson's Thrush?  The rest of the time we saw Cedar Waxwings, Robins and Red Eye Vireos feeding on the berries at "the fruiting tree".

Massapequa Preserve

 I went to the preserve in the morning for a little while - it has been a year since 2 Connecticut Warblers (possibly 3) were seen at the preserve.  I did a decent search of the area but no luck.  (north side of the Pittsburgh Ave Pond.  I did see a group of around 7 or 8 Green Winged Teals that seemed skittish but the highlight was a Philly Vireo by the Pittusburgh Ave entrance near the "fruiting tree".  Later on at home, I saw a group of 5 ravens - this is the second time I saw them recently.  There's a larger one that flys off on it's own while the other 4 go there way.

Massapequa Preserve: Philly Vireo

 I had lost a lot of my recent notes so would have posted more sightings here recently.  Unfortunately in most cases, when I update my blog is a week+ after the sighting.  I was happy to find a notable bird on my own since I have been largely checking out ebird etc for rare bird sightings.  Neat the Pittsburgh Ave entrance at the preserve, there's a large tree with berries in the fall that attracts a lot of songbirds, mostly Robins, Catbirds, Cedar Waxwings, Scarlett Tanager, Red Eye Vireo etc.  When checking out the action I saw a thrush of some type (Swainson's?) in the mix but in the shrubby area to the right/ north of the tree I glimpsed a quick view of what I'm fairly certain was a Philly Vireo (saw the "eyeline" and yellowish front)  I also saw a Ruby Crowned Kinglet which more will follow.

Massapequa/ Home

 I saw 4 Ravens flying by my house moving towards the preserve - later on, I saw a single Raven.  I also saw a Red Tailed Hawk soaring overhead and what I presume was a Cooper's Hawk.