South Shore Long Island

It was stormy today so figured try and do a seawatch and check the parking lots.  At Jones and Robert Moses there were some Lesser Black Backed Gulls, most were seen at Jones Filed 2.  Seawatch at Jones Field 6 and Robert Moses produced a good amount of Gannets close to shore and hundreds of scoters.  All heading east to west.  I chased a report and refound a Golden Plover and Long Billed Dowitcher at Heckscher Field 7 as well as a handful of fly by Royal Terns.

Jones Beach Coast Guard area

Decided to look for sparrows - when I arrived, another birder told me there was a Dickcissel by the hedgerow.  I found it on the Coast Guard property side of the fence, gave it some space and it landed on the grass on the park side of the fence.  I came around the other side of the hedgerow and the Dickcissel landed on the fence right next to me.  I slowly twisted my body and got some good photos.  The Dickcissel took off towards the parking lot where I relocated it for a couple of birders who saw it as a lifer.  Other highlights were 2 Meadowlarks I spooked up from the grass by the outer west end turnaround.

Dickcissel

Dickcissel

Jones Beach West End

Highlights were 2 Meadowlarks, White Crowned Sparrow, Royal Tern, Common Eider but the best birds for the day were the continuing Lark Sparrow and Clay Colored Sparrow at the outer West End turnaround.

White Throated Sparrow, Lark Sparrow

Clay Colored Sparrow

Jones Beach West End

On the outer West End turnaround the Lark Sparrow continues and I found a sparrow which I later determined to be a Clay Colored Sparrow.  Note: I chose not the report the Lark Sparrow for personal reasons.

Jones Beach Coast Guard area

It's now "sparrow season" so I went to the Coast Guard area since Clay Colored and Lincoln's were reported yesterday - I walked around the hedgerow a few times, a little on the median and a little down the fisherman's path.  Lots of expected birds for this time of year - Yellow Rumps, Kinglets, Phoebes, Tree Swallows, some Palm Warblers.  Saw at least 2 pair of Surf Scoters off the north side of the sandbar, Swamp, Chipping, a Field and lots of Song Sparrows.  I might have seen a Clay Colored Sparrow - stood out from the Chipping Sparrows...One bird caught my eye turned out to be a Pine Warbler.  Highlight of the day was a Lark Sparrow that I found after thinking about Lark Sparrows.  (like my Wilson's Snipe locating method)

Jamaica Bay East Pond, Jones Beach Coast Guard

Went with Snouty to Jaybay to find a continuing reported Hudsonian Godwit but could not find it - most likely left day before we got there?  We did see a Stilt Sandpiper with a Long Billed Dowitcher together  - reminded me of the pair I saw some years ago - same pair? who knows...Went to the Jones Coast Guard hedge row and thought we saw Snouty's lifer Clay Colored Sparrow but turned out to be a "pale" Chipping Sparrow.  Luckily he saw one the next day.

Long Billed Dowitcher, Stilt Sandpiper

Jones Beach West End

Lot of migrants passing through - they would only touch down briefly - Yellow Rumps, Savannah Sparrows, both Kinglets.

Robert Moses SP, Venetian Shores, Lindenhurst

I went by Venetian Shores a couple of times to see the Long Billed Dowitchers - there were about 7 or 8 among a large group of Yellowlegs.  There was a group of Black Skimmers, Laughing Gulls and Forster's Terns on the beach.  There were large numbers of Yellow Rumped Warblers passing through at Robert Moses.I also got a look at a Cape May Warbler.

Jamaica Bay East Pond

I went to the Jamaica Bay East Pond to find the continuing Avocet after missing it a couple of times.  While there weren't many shorebirds, I did find the Avocet as well as a Golden Plover and Little Blue Heron.

Avocet

Little Blue Heron

Golden Plover