Massapequa - Turkey Vultures

While planting my tomatoes, snapdragons and vinca, I saw 2 Turkey Vultures fly over my house heading south, then later I saw one by Merrick Road and another by Roosevelt Field Mall by Meadowbrook Parkway - not sure if same individuals.  Seems seeing these by my house is becoming more common.

Captree Island, Southaven County Park, Jones Beach West End

There were reports of a Little Egret the last 2 days at Gardiners County Park -Captree Island a few times but it seems to have disappeared - I decided to go to Southaven County Park to look for the Egyptian Geese that live there - saw them and a lot of Crows in the pines.  Checked out Jones Beach West End at the Coast Guard Station, saw Horseshoe Crabs laying egg and moments later a few sandpipers moved in for an easy lunch.

Snowy Egret

Egyptian Geese

Egyptian Geese

Canada Geese chicks

American Crow

Semi Palmated Sandpiper, Horseshoe Crabs

Semi Palmated Sandpiper, Horseshoe Crabs

Bryant Park, NYC

Looking for warblers - found Redstarts, Ovenbirds and a continuing Lincoln's Sparrow.

Bryant Park, NYC

Brought the Vortex bins this morning,,,FOS Male Redstart, FOS Eastern Wood Pewee and a male Common Yellowthoat in the trees.

Bryant Park, NYC

Did not have my bins but saw a Scarlet Tanager, Magnolia Warbler and lifer Blackburnian Warbler high in the trees - unfortunately did not get more than a silhouette view of the Blackburnian.

Spring Migration: Where are the Warblers?

Compared to last week, it seems that the number of warblers reported has dropped considerably:  Yellow Warblers are most numerous as expected, along with some Common Yellowthroats, a Magnolia Warbler and Louisiana Waterthrush.  Redstarts are noticeably absent.

Otherwise, bird numbers have bee good - other expected migrants have been seen including Vireos sp, Great Crested Flycatchers, Scarlet Tanagers, Hummingbirds, and Thrushes.  I was fortunate to see/ hear a few Veerys.  Shorebirds have come back including (besides Sanderlings and Dunlin) Black Bellied Plover, Semi-palmated Plovers and Sandpipers, Ruddy Turnstone, and Short Billed Dowitchers.

Uncommon/ Rare birds sighted include:
Cattle Egret
Cuckoo (could not determine which)
Seaside Sparrow
Saltmarsh Sparrow
Indigo Buntings
Turkey Vulture

Cattle Egret

Cattle Egret

Cuckoo - possible lifer Black Billed

Seaside Sparrow

Louisiana Waterthrush

Saltmarsh Sparrow

Indigo Bunting

 

Bryant Park, NYC

Ovenbirds, Catbird, Hermit Thrushes and my FOS Wood Thrush

Robert Moses, Fire Island, Caumsett State Park

I tried looking for recently reported Blue Grosbeaks but was unable to get out of the car to look for them - I did see some Tree Swallows and a few other expected species.

At Caumsett, I saw a Turkey Vulture gliding in from the north and my FOS Chimney Swifts.

Bryant Park, NYC

I walked through Bryant Park this morning on the way to work  - one bird caught my eye - looked like a warbler.  The bird was in the SW corner and nervous - I was able to get a few poor shots with my iphone for an ID and turns out it was a lifer Louisiana Waterthrush.

Also seen were: Starling, FOS Overbird and Swamp Sparrow.

Louisiana Waterthrush