I went to Jones Beach West End after seeing reports of Blue Winged Teal in the "new" ponds - I "think" I've seen them before but never got a good photograph to document it. On the way I saw there were some shorebirds on the Coast Guard Sandbar so I stopped there first - lots of Oystercatchers, Black Skimmers and some Black Bellied Plover. I headed over to the ponds and parked at the West End 2 lot - saw some gulls so I scanned them as I always do "just in case" - I was pleasantly surprised to see an adult Lesser Black Back Gull - I found out later on that the other were probably juveniles. Once I got to the ponds I spotted what I thought were Blue Winged Teals. Trying to get a better look, I spooked them into flying away. Later on a few landed and I got some shots and also saw 2 female Green Winged Teal. There were lots of Canada Geese and a surprising amount of Yellowlegs around the pond, a Short Billed Dowitcher, Black Black Bellied plover, as well as some smaller sandpipers - definitely Semi Palmated, perhaps some Least.
I went back to the Coast Guard Station sandbar where I met up with Paul ("GK") - he saw the same shorebirds I did as well as one Red Knot. When we were leaving I spotted a sparrow that seemed unsual - turned out to be a Clay Colored Sparrow - got some good looks, but was too fast for a photo. There was a Chat by the Coast Guard/ Fishermans path but I did not get to see it - saw Cedar Waxwings and a Pine Warbler while trying to find it. As I was driving along Ocean Parkway, I saw a few Merlin? - one was chasing a flock of birds around.
Later on in the evening, I stopped at Massapequa Preserve - most of the action was by the entrance along Pittsburgh Ave: Catbirds, Robins, Mourning Doves, Black and White Warbler, Warbling Vireo and I presume a Blue Headed Vireo.
Good day to be out - nice variety of migrants stopping by as well as winter residents coming back.
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| Black Skimmers, Black Bellied Plovers |
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| Lesser Black Backed Gull |
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| Lesser Black Backed Gull |
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| ponds have water again |
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| tagged Canada Goose |
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| Blue Winged Teal |
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| Green Winged Teals, Canada Goose, Semi Palmated Sandpipers |
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| Green Winged Teal |
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| Pigeon |
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| Short Billed Dowitcher, Greater Yellowlegs |
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