Alley Pond Park, Massapequa

Went to Alley Pond Park to try to find a reported Kentucky Warbler - did not see it but saw lots of FOS birds.  Notable birds: Scarlett Tanager, Black Throated Blue Warbler, Redstart, Yellow Warbler, Wood Thrush, likely Gray Cheeked Thrush, and Rusty Blackbirds.

Across the street from my house I saw 3 Yellow Rumped Warblers, Northern Parula, Baltimore Orioles, and an Eastern Kingbird.

Spring Migration: Jones Beach West End

Numbers were definitely up today - saw the continuing Bobolink, Blue Winged Warbler, Rose Breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Buntings, Blue Headed Vireo, Veery, Savannah Sparrow, good amounts of Catbirds and Chipping Sparrows.  A Summer Tanager was seen by the west turnaround but I could not find it.

Rose Breasted Grosbeak

Bobolink

Spring Migration: Lido Preserve, Jones Beach West End

A modest amount of new birds - spent some time at Lido taking photos of the continuing Prothonotary Warbler - it was singing so maybe it will stick around for a while.  Also saw several Blue Headed Vireos, Black and White Warbler, Yellow Warbler.  At Jones Beach West End saw a single Black Skimmer on the sandbar, Red Throated Loon, Common Loons, Yellow Warblers, and several Indigo Buntings.  Lots of Boat Tailed Grackles everywhere by the water.

Boat Tailed Grackle

Prothonotary Warbler

Prothonotary Warbler

Blue Headed Vireo

Blue Headed Vireo

Black Skimmer

Timber Point Marina: Ruff

Not a lifer but there has been a Ruff reported on and off at Timber Point.  I had a lackluster day earlier so a mid-day report of the Ruff got me excited.  I drove over there in the rain and got lucky and saw the Ruff.  I've seen a Ruff before in New Jersey but this one was a lot more impressive looking.

Ruff

Early Spring Migration

Just some notes from what I've been seeing recently, mostly FOS:
HLSP - 10 Rusty Blackbirds, Chipping Sparrows, Blue Headed Vireo, Yellow Throated Vireo, heard a Worm Eating Warbler, Northern Rough Wing Swallows, Tree Swallows, Barn Swallow

Glossy Ibis, Yellowlegs, Forster's Terns

Spring Migration: Hempstead Lake State Park

I went to HLSP to try to find a reported Worm Eating Warbler but only heard it.  Saw lots of swallow sp. and Chimney Swifts flying overhead, a pair of Great Horned Owl, and a Blue Headed Vireo.  My favorite bird of the day was my FOS Yellow Throated Vireo.

Lido Beach Preserve

There's been 3 reports of Prothonotary Warblers recently - one each in Brooklyn, Nassau and Queens.  I've seen one up close before in Jersey, but was in poor lighting and would have liked to get a decent photo.  A continuing one was reported again this morning in Lido Preserve so I headed over there ASAP.  I didn't have much time and wasn't finding the bird - no one else had seen it for about an hour, however I got lucky and saw it right before I was about to leave.  In the marsh I saw my FOS presumably Forster's Terns as well as a nice looking Yellow Bellied Sapsucker.

Prothonotary Warbler

Prothonotary Warbler

Yellow Bellied Sapsucker

King Eider

I've only seen a King Eider once before but was a female - got to see this male up close.  Beautiful bird.

King Eider

King Eider

King Eider

Boreal Chickadee

Lifer...very skittish compared to Black Capped Chickadees that were around.

Boreal Chickadee

Gray Jay

Lifer...after missing them twice before in the Adirondacks I was treated to great views of 5.  (groups of 3 and 2)

Gray Jay

Gray Jay

Spruce Grouse

Lifer bird...thought it would fly away but approached me and stuck around for some company.

Spruce Grouse