NYC, Jones Beach West End, Massapequa Preserve: Western Tanager

I went into NYC at City Hall Park to look for a reported Western Tanager - I got some OK views of it especially the white wing bars when the bird was facing away from me - not easy considering the bird was active and high in the treetops.  Also saw a continuing Chat there as well as the Chat at Trinity Church - not bad getting 2 Chats in one day.  Also saw a Black Throated Blue, Common Yellowthroat and Hermit Thrush.  Jones Beach West End was uneventful except for a couple of Ipswich Sparrows and Horned Larks.  Massapequa Preserve had a Golden Crowned Kinglet and a nice surprise was a second Wood Duck hanging out with "Woody".

Western Tanager

Chat from City Hall Park

Chat from Trinity Church

Massapequa Preserve

I went with Snouty to Massapequa Preserve to check out a reported Orange Crowned Warbler seen on the west side of the Pittsburgh Ave pond.  Got some decent views of a very feisty and active bird.

Orange Crowned Warbler

Kissena Park, Jones Beach West End

I went to Kissena with Snouty to look for Orange Crowned Warblers - only saw one so would be nice to get better views - didn't find any but saw a few Canada x Greylag/ domestic geese and a Winter Wren.  We tried looking for a reported Red Crossbill at Jones Beach West End but no such luck.

Caumsett State Park

Not much going on so I went to Caumsett - highlights were a very cooperative Vesper Sparrow, a Fox Sparrow and a Red Tailed Hawk vocalizing.

Lido Beach Park West

I went and saw the Ash Throated Flycatcher.

Jones Beach, Bayville, Long Beach

I started at the Jones Beach WE 2 lot since I saw lots of Gannets over the ocean - I walked to the shoreline where I saw hundreds of Gannets streaming past sometimes diving into the water.  I did a bried "seawatch" hoping to find a pelagic type lifer  - didn't see any but was treated to a brief look at a whale breathing at the surface (spout thing).  I walked back through the swale looking for the Lapland Longspurs but could only see the Horned Larks. I did a good walk from the Coast Guard Station, the median and stopping at the inlet.  Not much going on, but did see tons of Dunlin, BB Plover, Oyestercatchers on the sandbar, a Fox Sparrow, and a Red Throated Loon on the inlet.

I drove up to Ransom Beach to see the reported female King Eider - I found another birder who said it took off heading east but I couldn't find it.  While looking for it I did see my FOS Horned Grebes and a late Seimipalmated Plover. A brief stop at Muttontown Preserve was non-productive except for a wren (Winter, I think)

I drove to the spot where the Ash Throated Flycatcher was (Long Beach before the giant hotel thing) and was treated to some good views.  A Coopers or Sharpie Hawk came down but the Flycatcher took cover long before it was near.  I tried finding a reported 1st year Glaucous Gull seen the day before but didn't see it.

I drove back to Jones Beach West End and found a Cooper's Hawk sitting at the outer turnaround

Ash Throated Flycatcher

Cooper's Hawk

NYC, Massapequa Preserve, Lindenhurst, Bayville: Yellow Breasted Chat

For a few days, there has been reports of a Yellow Breasted Chat at Trinity Church and a small turnaround by St Pauls a few blocks north.  The Chat at Trinity Place Church was found by Ben Cacace!  Other birders were getting great photos and the birds seemed to sticking around so I figured I better take advantage and get into NYC.  I arrived at Trinity Church first and didn't see the Chat immediately.  I took a walk around the cemetary and easily spotted the bright yellow.  The bird was active hopping around everywhere, hardly stopping for a photo.  Eventually, it seemed to settle down in some trees - finally got my lifer Chat and at times I was only a few feet away from it - I didn't want to bother it too much so I left it and then tried finding the other Chat (I was greedy) but didn't see it.  I didn't mind - I got really great views of the Trinity Place Chat. 

I took a quick walk on the west side of the Brady Park lake to see it the Red Screech Owl was there (was posted on LI Wildlife, Facebook, assumed recent) but didn't see it.  I did see lots of Robins and Cedar Waxwings eating berries, female Scaup and Pied Billed Grebe.  I tried looking for the reported Long Billed Dowitchers by the creek near Ventetian Shores but only found Greater Yellowlegs and I believe to be a Short Billed Dowitcher (was also recently reported)  I tried looking for a report female King Eider up by Ransom Beach om Bayville but didn't see it.  It's a kooky thing when it's easier to see a Chat than a duck : )

Yellow Breasted Chat

Yellow Breasted Chat

Yellow Breasted Chat

Yellow Breasted Chat

Gardiner's County Park, Jones Beach West End

Went to Gardiner's County Park with Snouty to refind the Nelson's Sparrows but didn't find any.  We did see a Marsh Wren, 2 Meadowlarks, and some Purple Finches.  At Jones Beach West End it seemed dead but as we were leaving we spotted a Vesper Sparrow on the median.

Jones Beach West End

Most of Jones Beach West End was dead except for a Red Tailed and Sharpie fighting, a Field Sparrow, and Horned Larks with 2 Lapland Longspurs by the swale.

Jones Beach West End

Got word that a Vesper Sparrow had been seen - luckily I was in Wantagh so I drove down to the West End and saw a few birders at the turnaround  - I met Anne Swain who had the bird in her scope...thanks to her I finally got a good look at a Vesper Sparrow (finally!)

Gardiner's County Park: Nelson's Sparrow

I trudged through the marsh at Gardiner's County Park and it paid off - I got great views of some Nelson's Sparrows - also saw several Meadowlarks.

Nelson's Sparrow

Hendrickson Lake, Valley Stream, Massapequa Lake

There have been reports of a Pink Footed Goose in Valley Stream so I decided I should check it out - while not a lifer (I saw my first in January) I figured I could get some better photos and that such a rarity deserved a visit.  After finding the PFG I walked around the pond and noticed at least a dozen Canadas had metal bands on them.  When I have a chance I'll find out more about one I got the number of - maybe it will reveal where the PFG came from, assuming they migrated together.

At Massapequa Lake I saw a Rusty Blackbird in a tree...oddly enough I recently saw one a block away from my house about the day before.  In Massapequa Lake I noticed at least 20 Pintails, a Wood Duck, Ruddy Duck, lots of Coots and my FOS Scaup. 

Pink Footed Goose