Massapequa Preserve, Massapequa

I went to the preserve in the morning to look for the Screech Owls, but no luck.  I was asked to take a look - the wildlife rehabilitator for the Grey and Red morph Screech Owls is considering releasing 2 more into the preserve - although I would love to have 2 more owls nearby, it's up to the rehab guy to decide what's best for the owls.  After I looked a few times for the owls, I went by the dirt lot/ game field area - there were a lot of Chipping Sparrows, Palm Warblers (some had great color), some Juncos, Song Sparrows, etc.

Later in the day, I saw a Ruby Crowned Kinglet in my garden.

Palm Warbler

Jones Beach West End, Mill Pond, Meroke Preserve

I spent most of the day at Jones Beach West End - in hindsight, it seemed to be Part 2 of 3 of the migration fallout.  Lots of Kinglets and Sparrows - seemed to be more Ruby Crowned than Golden Crowned this time.  Sparrows were on the side of the road everywhere as well as Juncos and Hermit Thrushes- got a great shot of a Lincoln's, a Field and some juvenile White Crowned Sparrows.  I spent a good time going around the "shrub area" in front of the Coast Guard entrance.  Got my lifer Pine Siskins early in the day - a few small flocks flew overhead - a few touched down briefly.  Another treat was seeing 2 Eastern Meadowlarks.  A Merlin flew in and tried to get some sparrows - it got one but dropped it - I assume the sparrow flew off.

I took a break from the west end and stopped at Meroke Preserve - I was pleasantly surprised  - saw a few Ruby Crowned Kinglets, Hermit Thrushes and what I can best determine to me my first Purple Finch. 

I returned to the west end where I got good looks at 2 Marbled Godwits on the Coast Guard sandbar.  I believe these are the same individuals that have been around moving with a flock of ~250 Oystercatchers.  Also saw a group of Royal Terns, Dunlin, Black Bellied Plovers, and Sanderlings. (and the Brants are back)

Golden Crowned Kinglet

Ruby Crowned Kinglet

Lincoln's Sparrow

Lincoln's Sparrow

White Crowned Sparrow

Sparrow sp.

Field Sparrow

Chipping Sparrow

Palm Warbler - Eastern yellow

Eastern Meadowlark

Pine Siskins

Merlin - after diving over a group of sparrows - got one but dropped it

Marbled Godwit

Marbled Godwit - usual pose, with Oystercatchers

Oystercatchers with 2 Marbled Godwits on either side of the photo

Royal Terns with Black Bellied Plover and possible Dunlin

Royal Terns (14)

Shorebirds still present: Oystercatchers, Black Bellied Plovers, Dunlin, Sanderlings

Brants are back

Northern Pintail - Mill Pond

Bufflehead - Mill Pond

Purple Finch - Meroke Preserve

Jones Beach West End, Massapequa Lake

I went by the Jones Beach Coast Guard marina to find out if the Marbled Godwits were still around - I found 2 as well as a small Western Willett.  Merlin were also still around in good numbers.

I made a brief stop at Massapequa Lake to check on the waterfowl - just found a Ruddy Duck.

I didn't have my Canon camera with me so these were taken with my old Casio/ binocular combo.

Shorebird mix

Oystercatchers, 2 Marbled Godwit, Willett

Oystercatchers, 2 Marbled Godwit, Willett

Merlin

Massapequa Preserve, Massapequa

I know it's not rare at all, but I saw a Greater Yellowlegs at Massapequa Preserve this morning - noteworthy because long time residents of the area have said that the preserve used to be a hotspot for them years ago - I don't know what drove them away, but hopefully today's sighting is some hope that they might return.  American Wigeons, Northern Shovelers, Great Blue Herons, and a Wood Duck were at the ponds north of Sunrise Highway.  I'm hoping the Eurasian Wigeons that have frequented the preserve for the last several winters will return - I'll check at least every few weeks.  Songbirds (nothing uncommon) included Downy and Red Bellied Woodpeckers, Carolina Wrens, Catbirds, Robins,Yellow Rumped Warbler, and White Breasted Nuthatches.

Around my house, several Carolina Wrens were singing.

American Wigeon

Wood Duck

Wood Duck

Yellow Rumped Warbler

White Breasted Nuthatch

Carolina Wren

Smith Point, Mastic Beach

I stopped over here to try to get a look at the beached Finback Whale and find some foxes - didn't see the whale but had a long distance view of a fox by the marsh.  I noticed some waterfowl out on the ocean so gave a look - all appear to be Black Scoters.  Also found a Savanah Sparrow by the parking lot.

Black Scoters

Black Scoters

Patchogue Lake, Patchogue

I saw reports of a Common Gallinule so stopped by  - took a while to find it, but could only get poor distant shot at 120x zoom.  Not the best pic for a positive ID but I'm confident it's the Common Gallinule.  The waterfowl have begun moving in - saw FOS Pied Billed Grebes, Ruddy Ducks, American Wigeons and Coots.

Mute Swans

Common Gallinule

Common Gallinule

Common Gallinule

Jones Beach West End - Migration Fallout!

Looking at posts on ABA about the migration fallout, I headed to the Jones Beach Coast Guard area.  The sandbar only had Oystercatchers and Dunlin, but the hedgerow and wooded areas were teaming with songbirds.  Lots of Kinglets and Phoebes, and White Throated Sparrows.  Got a good view of a cooperative Blue Headed Vireo and female Baltimore Oriole.  Area had lots of birders checking out the action in the hedgerow - great morning.

Blue Headed Vireo

Palm Warbler

Golden Crowned Kinglet

Ruby Crowned Kinglet

Golden Crowned Kinglet

Baltimore Oriole - female

Baltimore Oriole - female

Robin

"the scene" at the Coast Guard area

Special Post: Long Billed Dowitcher and Stilt Sandpiper, Jamaica Bay East Pond

When I was at Jamaica Bay, I saw the last few sandpipers - besides the Long Billed Dowitcher and Stilt Sandpiper there was only a Semi Palmated Sandpiper.  I was within 10 feet of the so got some good shots that deserve to be on the blog.

Stilt Sandpiper, Long Billed Dowitcher

Stilt Sandpiper, Long Billed Dowitcher

Stilt Sandpiper, Long Billed Dowitcher

Long Billed Dowitcher

Stilt Sandpiper, Long Billed Dowitcher

Stilt Sandpiper, Long Billed Dowitcher

Stilt Sandpiper, Long Billed Dowitcher

 Long Billed Dowitcher

Stilt Sandpiper, Long Billed Dowitcher

Stilt Sandpiper

Stilt Sandpiper