Jones Beach West End: Banded Semi-Palmated Sandpiper

I was by the coast guard station from around sunrise to 7am- lots of shorebirds including Oystercatchers, groups of Willetts, Short Billed Dowitchers, Semi Palmated Sandpipers and Plovers and Sanderlings.  One of the Semi-Palmated Sandpipesr had a yellow band on its leg- took a photo but lighting was bad and couldnt make out the letters/ numbers - will upload and enhance the photo later so I can try to report it.  Also seen were Comorants, Canada Geese and Common Terns.

I briefly checked the vernal ponds for the Red Phalarope- only checked the western pond  - just found Canada Geese, Semi Palmated Sandpipers and Plovers and Least Sandpipers.  Swallows were flying over and I saw a sparrow sp. that I'll have to work on identifying - guessing Savanah Sparrow for now

On a side note, weather was pleasant and didnt have any mosquitos or gnats at all.

lots of Willetts

Semi-Palmated Sandpipers

Shorebird mix

Semi-Palmated Sandpiper

Least Sandpiper

Great Egret

banded Semi-Palmated Sandpiper

banded Semi-Palmated Sandpiper

banded Semi-Palmated Sandpiper

Short Billed Dowitchers

Shorebird mix

Common Yellowthroat - female

Bobolink - female

Least Sandpiper

Jones Beach Coast Guard Station

Around sunrise this morning, I checked the area by the Coast Guard Station.  There were some shorebirds but not quite as many as last time - saw mostly Willetts and Oystercatchers as well as Semi-Palmated Sandpipers/ Plovers, Least Sandpipers, Sanderlings, Piping Plover, Spotted Sandpiper, Short Billed Dowitchers, Ruddy Turnstone, Great Egret, Black Crowned Night Heron and 3 Green Herons in the trees by Short Beach.  Osprey and Terns were busy feeding and a Flycatcher was in the trees but unable to ID it.

Short Billed Dowitchers

Semi-Palmated Sandpiper, Sanderling

Shorebirdmix

Willetts

Least Sandpiper

Shorebird mix

Short Billed Dowitchers

Short Billed Dowitcher

Green Heron

Jones Beach West End

I went looking for the Red Phalarope this morning starting around sunrise - I checked each of the west end ponds but did not see it - a lot of them have grown over and Canada Geese and Robins have moved in - still other shorebirds were present: Semi-Palmated Sandpipers/ Plovers, Killdeer, LeastSandpipers and a few Sanderlings. As of now, my posting from Friday was the last report of the Red Phalarope - hopefully she's OK and went back home on the open ocean.  When leaving, saw a Horned Lark on the dunes.

I also checked the area by the Coast Guard Station but was not there either - what I did find instead were a lot of shorebirds on the sandbar -Semi-Palmated Sandpipers/ Plovers, Least Sandpipers, Sanderlings (some in beautiful plumage), Piping Plover, Spotted Sandpiper, Short Billed Dowitchers, Ruddy Turnstone and at least 3 Red Knots. Number of all shorebirds on the sandbar were in the hundreds - 1000 is a good estimate. (I left around 7:30am.)

Common Yellowthroat - female

Least Sandpiper

Canada Geese

Horned Lark

I went looking for the Red Phalarope this morning starting around sunrise -
I checked each of the west end ponds but did not see it - a lot of them
have grown over and Canada Geese and Robins have moved in - still other
shorebirds were present: Semi-Palmated Sandpipers/ Plovers, Killdeer, Least
Sandpipers and a few Sanderlings. When leaving, saw a Horned Lark on the
dunes.

I also checked the area by the Coast Guard Station but was not there either
- what I did find instead were a lot of shorebirds on the sandbar -
Semi-Palmated Sandpipers/ Plovers, Least Sandpipers, Sanderlings (some in
beautiful plumage), Piping Plover, Spotted Sandpiper, Short Billed
Dowitchers and at least 3 Red Knots. Number of all shorebirds on the
sandbar were in the hundreds - 1000 is a good estimate. (I left around
7:30am.) - See more at: http://birding.aba.org/message.php?mesid=963004&MLID=NY01&MLNM=New%20York#sthash.d779x81R.dpuf

I went looking for the Red Phalarope this morning starting around sunrise -
I checked each of the west end ponds but did not see it - a lot of them
have grown over and Canada Geese and Robins have moved in - still other
shorebirds were present: Semi-Palmated Sandpipers/ Plovers, Killdeer, Least
Sandpipers and a few Sanderlings. When leaving, saw a Horned Lark on the
dunes.

I also checked the area by the Coast Guard Station but was not there either
- what I did find instead were a lot of shorebirds on the sandbar -
Semi-Palmated Sandpipers/ Plovers, Least Sandpipers, Sanderlings (some in
beautiful plumage), Piping Plover, Spotted Sandpiper, Short Billed
Dowitchers and at least 3 Red Knots. Number of all shorebirds on the
sandbar were in the hundreds - 1000 is a good estimate. (I left around
7:30am.) - See more at: http://birding.aba.org/message.php?mesid=963004&MLID=NY01&MLNM=New%20York#sthash.d779x81R.dpuf

I went looking for the Red Phalarope this morning starting around sunrise -
I checked each of the west end ponds but did not see it - a lot of them
have grown over and Canada Geese and Robins have moved in - still other
shorebirds were present: Semi-Palmated Sandpipers/ Plovers, Killdeer, Least
Sandpipers and a few Sanderlings. When leaving, saw a Horned Lark on the
dunes.

I also checked the area by the Coast Guard Station but was not there either
- what I did find instead were a lot of shorebirds on the sandbar -
Semi-Palmated Sandpipers/ Plovers, Least Sandpipers, Sanderlings (some in
beautiful plumage), Piping Plover, Spotted Sandpiper, Short Billed
Dowitchers and at least 3 Red Knots. Number of all shorebirds on the
sandbar were in the hundreds - 1000 is a good estimate. (I left around
7:30am.) - See more at: http://birding.aba.org/message.php?mesid=963004&MLID=NY01&MLNM=New%20York#sthash.d779x81R.dpuf

Jones Beach West End: Red Phalarope

Had some time before sunset so rushed over to Jones Beach West End - got a look at the Red Phalarope at sunset.  Usual suspects were at the Coast Guard Station sandbar.  Black Skimmers are starting to appear more regularly around now.

Red Phalarope

Gulls and Terns

Jones Beach West End: Red Phalarope Part 2, Nickerson Beach, Lido Beach Preserve

The main reason I went back to the ponds at Jones Beach West End was the hope of finding a Pectoral Sandpiper - I've heard there were some sightings - would be a lifer for me - I sometimes feel embarassed when I tell other birders this - I've seen all sorts of rare birds (ie the Red Phalarope, California Condor etc) but not this apparently common shorebird.

So, didn't see one and I was the only one looking for the Phalarope until a couple came by when I was leaving - they mentioned they were from Westchester so I figured I would point out their target bird.

The Red Phalarope was on the westernmost pond now - was resting until a gull flew overhead and startled it - it took off but then came back.  Other reports mentioned it's missing a foot - I didn't confirm that from my photos yet, but the bird does seem to have trouble walking sometimes.  Regardless, she's a truly beautiful bird.

Stopped by Nickerson and Lido Beach Preserve where I saw the usual suspects - Black Skimmers, Common Terns, Laughing Gulls, Glossy Ibis, Osprey, Willlet, Least Sandpiper.

Red Phalarope

Jones Beach West End: Red Phalarope

Reported on ABA yesterday, I headed over this morning before sunrise to try for it - found it - stunning female (they have the better plumage).  Other birders were present and in awe also.  Also present on the West End ponds were Semi-Palmated Plovers and Sandpipers, Yellowlegs, Oystercatchers, Short Billed Dowitchers, etc

Saw my FOS Spotted Sandpiper at Short Beach - by the Coast Guard Station.

Red Phalarope

Red Phalarope

Special Update: Atlantic Beach, Bogue Banks, North Carolina - Carolina Chickadee, Purple Martin

On family vacation in North Carolina, I took some time out to do some local birding - I didn't know what to expect but was pleasantly surprised.  Birds on the ocean side included Brown Pelicans, Laughing Gulls, Terns,Willetts and Boat Tailed Grackles.  I think the Willetts were feeding on small coquina type clams in the surf.  Laughing Gulls were by far the most numerous type of gull seen.

The marsh side of the island had a lot more variety - the most common were Tri-Colored, Little Blue, Great Blue Herons, Great and Snowy Egrets, Killdeer, and White Ibis.  Also seen were Clapper Rails, and a Black Skimmer.

Songbirds included Carolina Chickadee, Purple Martin (2 new lifers) and the more common types such as Mourning Doves, Robins, Blue Jays, Cardinals, Mockingbirds, etc.

Turkey Vultures were abundant during most of the trip (only starting to show up in decent numbers on Long Island recently)  A nice parting gift was seeing a few Cattle Egrets on the drive back and likely a Black Vulture also.

Purple Martin

Tri-Colored Heron

Robert Moses State Park, Captree Island, Jones Beach West End, Massapequa Preserve

Tried looking for "sea birds" at Robert Moses but just found Common Terns.  Spent a little time looking for the White Faced Ibis but didn't see it.  Highlight of the day was a male Harrier by Short Beach, Jones Beach West End - had an almost eye level view but didn't get the camera ready quick enough.