Jones Beach West End

There was a post of a Northern Shrike on LI Wildlife Thursday from around the swale by JB WE 2.  I took a chance and try to find it but if it was there, the strong continuous north winds kept it hiding.  Highlight were Gannets and a pair of Pintails on the swale.

RIP Crakie : (

Sad news this morning - the Corn Crake was found dead early today.  I offered to bring it to Paul Sweet at the Museum of Natural History but a rep had already been sent to pick it up.  Study confirmed it was indeed hit by a car, a young male, and slightly underweight.  Great bird, RIP Crakie.

RIP Crakie

Corn Crake Part 2

I went back to see the Corn Crake again but got a report that a Say's Phoebe was seen at nearby Heckscher Park - I tried looking for it but didn't have any luck (it was seen once and not relocated)  I did see 2 of the Hud Godwits who have been there a while now.  I stopped by the Corn Crake spot on the way back and got to see him again.  I think some of the birders were from Connecticut.

Corn Crake

Ocean Parkway: Corn Crake

I went to Heckscher Park this morning with my kids to show them the Hudsonian Godwits and possibly the Long Billed Dowitcher and Golden Plovers but when we got to Field 7 most of the puddles in the lot had dried up.  I looked around and noticed a Godwit on the shoreline (of the bay) but as we got out of the car, 2 photographers? walked up to it and scared it away.  On the "plus side", we got to hear it (distress call) and it flew over our heads. 

Later on, I saw a "this is not a joke" post by Suzy Feustel that a Corn Crake was found by her and Ken on Ocean Parkway by Cedar Beach.  With some negotiating my kids obliged me with another outing and we got over there ASAP.  I saw the bird from a distance but wanted to get a better look and let my kids see it also.  Being spoiled with close looks of the recent Hudsonian Godwits, I made the mistake of driving up to the Corn Crake perhaps so my kids could get a look.  My daughter saw it but not my son...after a little bit the Corn Crake went into the shrubs.  Luckily it came out later and was obliging to other birders (whew!)  This was a great bird to see and I'm thankful for the Feustels for finding and reporting it.

Corn Crake

Heckscher State Park

There have been reports of 3 Hudsonian Godwits at Heckscher State Park - I checked one day with Snouty and only found one, then went the day after and saw 2.  (he had seen the third one before I arrived)  Also present were the continuing Long Billed Dowitcher and Golden Plover and a Pectoral Sandpiper that I did not see.  The Godwits were in bad shape, the adult has a problem with it's foot, and one of the 2 juveniles has tumors on it's face and leg.

Long Billed Dowitcher, Hudsonian Godwit

Golden Plover

TWO! Hudsonian Godwits

Cold Spring Harbor

I wanted to try somewhere different so went to the north shore - saw a Kingfisher and immature Bald Eagle fly over St John's Pond.  I later saw the Bald Eagle further out of the harbor circling around.  I saw a goose that I initially thought might be a hybrid but turned out to be some domestic mix.

Kingfisher

Bald Eagle

domestic goose

domestic goose