Jones Beach, Robert Moses, Uplands Farm, Stillwell Woods

Although Jones Beach had some birds, I didn't find anything noteworthy besides White Crowned Sparrows and lots of Comorants flying over.  At Robert Moses I saw a Cooper's Hawk flipping a Golden Crowned Kinglet as it was dying before it made a meal of it.  At Uplands Farm I saw a Sharp Shinned Hawk and a Crow squaring off.

The biggest surprise of the day was Stillwell Preserve where half the field was overgrown...I saw 12 Eastern Meadolarks fly in - nice to see so many at once!

Jones Beach West End

I was hoping to find a Vesper Sparrow today but long story short, it wasn't meant to be.  The good news was that there was a moderate "fall out" today but mostly Yellow Rumps, mix of sparrows and kinglets.  I did see several White Crowned Sparrows - notably 2 near the curve by the stadium entrance (Zachs Bay).

Jones Bech West End

Highlights were several Purple Finches, Field and White Crowned Sparrows and a Meadowlark by the turnaround.  I heard of a report of a Vesper Sparrow as I was leaving but didn't have time to properly search for it.

Jones Beach West End: Mourning Warbler

There was a reported Mourning Warbler reported the day before so I headed to Jones Beach to find it - it was found on the Coast Guard property and then later moved to the fence by the hedgerow giving good looks.  It was a nice surprise to see it well, especially a bird that has a reputation for being skulky.  Other highlights were a Black Throated Blue, Yellow Billed Cuckoo by the fisherman's path, Palm Warblers and an Indigo Bunting.  Cooper's Hawks and Merlin continue to plague songbirds - a Cooper's Hawk was seen grabbing a small yellowis bird - at first thought to be the Mourning Warbler.

Mourning Warbler

Mourning Warbler

Mourning Warbler

Jones Beach Coast Guard Station

What seemed at first to be a mediocre day quickly became exciting - besides 3 continuing Western Willetts, highlights were a Winter Wren, a banded Royal Tern, and a MARBLED GODWIT that I wished for!

Marbled Godwit

Royal Tern

Jones Beach West End

Highlights were a noticeable increase in Brant and Juncos.

Jones Beach West End

There was a noticeable increase in Savannah Sparrows - they might have actually outnumbered Yellow Rumps.  In the swale I found a group of 5 Horned Larks, a Northern Harrier, and a Palm Warbler.  Tree Swallows continue to mass in preparation for migration.

At home I saw 2 Yellow Rumps in the white birch trees across the street.

Massapequa Preserve, Jones Beach West End

At Massapequa Preserve I saw a Blue Headed Vireo and the winter resident Pintail in the stream.

At Jones Beach West End I saw another Blue Headed Vireo, female Baltimore Oriole, Field Sparrows, Red Knots and a ton of Tree Swallows and Yellow Rumped Warblers everywhere.

Jones Beach Coast Guard

Highlights were Red Knots and 3 Western Willlets on the sandbar.

Jones Beach West End, Yellow Cote Road, Uplands Farm Sanctuary, Cold Spring Harbor

I checked out these locations hoping to see sparrows or some lifer flycatcher....most of it was disappointing.  I did see Juncos, White Crowned Sparrow, Kinglets, a Pine Warbler and a Blackpoll up close.

Pine Warbler

Blackpoll

Fuchs Pond, Gardiners County Park, Massapequa Preserve, Mill Pond, Jones Beach West End

I first checked out the pond by the Chalet motel in Centerport - highlights were Gadwall, Night Herons, Green Wing Teal and a likely Pintail.  I went to Fuchs Pond for a reported Yellow Bellied Flycatcher but came up empty - instead saw lots of Blackpolls, Kingfishers, Kinglets, and Red Eyed Vireos.  Next, I went to Gardiners County Park for reported Nelson's Sparrows and also struck out but did see a Pipit on the beach.  Massapequa Preserve was quiet but did see a Swamp Sparrow.  Things started to perk up when I got to Mill Pond in Bellmore - lots of Blackpolls, a few Yellow Rumps, Parula, and Black Throated Blues were on the edge of the lake.

At the Jones Beach Coast Guard I was hoping for an interesting shorebird like a godwit but the only highlight was a banded Oystercatcher.  I carefully walked around the hedgerow where I found a Black Throated Blue, my FOS Junco, a yellow Palm Warbler, and a brown Blue Grosbeak among he sparrow flock.

Jones Beach West End, Massapequa Preserve

Highlights at Jones Beach West End were several Western Willets among many Oyestercatchers and a juvenile White Crowned Sparrow by the Coast Guard hedge row.  At Massapequa Lake I saw a Great Blue Heron swallow a sunfish.

Jones Beach West End

I tried unsuccessfully looking for a Yellow Bellied Flycatcher that was reported on the median at Jones Beach - I did find many Yellow Rumped Warblers, Phoebes, singles of Pine Warbler and both Kinglets.