Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Bryant Park, NYC the sequel

This time there were 2 American Woodcocks - one by the NE corner by the birdbath feeding on worms - the other was on the south side and was skittish.

Sunday, March 29, 2015

Jones Beach West End, Massapequa Preserve

I took the kids for a walk at Massapequa Preserve by the west side of the Brady Park pond and then later by Clark Street and the Pittsburgh Ave Pond.  Highlights were a Phoebe, 2 Ospreys, Wood Duck and Pintail.

At Jones Beach West End, I got a decent view of a Merlin and Killdeer.


Phoebe
Osprey
Merlin
Killdeer
Red Tailed Hawk
Wood Duck

Saturday, March 28, 2015

Jones Beach West End

I slowly drove through the West End - highlights were a Northern Harrier, Tree Swallows by the West End 2 lot, and a Rough Legged Hawk.

Northern Harrier
Tree Swallows
Rough Legged Hawk

Friday, March 27, 2015

Bryant Park, NYC

One American Woodcock on the south side of the lawn.  Really great looking and good size.  Song Sparrows were on the lawn.

Sunday, March 22, 2015

Jones Beach West End, Wantagh Park, Tackapausha, Massapequa Preserve

I spent a decent amount of time looking through the pine trees for owls (particularly the Long Eared and hopefully a lifer Saw Whet) but came up empty.  I did see a Peregrine Falcon on the dunes looking up at passing songbirds eventually going after a few ducks - a few Northern Harriers were also present.  By the Coast Guard area I saw my FOS Piping Plovers - there were 16 on the Coast Guard Station sandbar.  A few Northern Shovelers were nearby which seemed odd since I rarely see them in marine water.

When leaving the Jones Beach West End, I saw another raptor but couldn't positively ID it - it was moving fast and trying to take a picture while driving isn't always easy  : )   - the few photos I got were good enough for a positive ID of a Red Shouldered Hawk - a lifer for me! 

Not much going on at Wantagh Park, but there were a lot of Brant and an Oystercatcher.

Tackapausha had a few noisy Redwing Blackbirds and a distant Red Tailed Hawk.

I checked out the Brady Park Pond and saw 1 or 2 Double Crested Comorants.

Piping Plover
Piping Plover
Peregrine Falcon
Red Shouldered Hawk - lifer!
Oystercatcher
Mute Swan, Brant
Brant
Red Tailed Hawk

Saturday, March 21, 2015

Massapequa Preserve

I took my son to the preserve - he had a big cookie and almost immediately we were "greeted" by a legion of Canada Geese and Mallards looking for a handout - the Wood Duck pair, female Mallard and Northern Pintail were in the stream.  Grackles were present in good numbers and saw my FOS Osprey picking up a fish from the Pittsburgh Ave pond.
















Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Massapequa Preserve

There was some light rain in the morning but I didn't let it stop me from visiting the preserve - was checking out the hybrid ducks, then walked to the Brady Park pond to look for the Red Screech Owl - he must've been hiding trying to stay dry but I did see my FOS Great Egret in a pine tree along the edge of the pond.