some rarities: Eurasian Wigeon, Rufous Hummingbird

 It was a drab day with impending rain so I made the best of it and went to Jones West End with Mike Z hoping to see the Red Crossbills again - nope, it was dead as can be there - not even siskins, just some goldfinches (and some kinglets).  I headed to Robert Moses where I didn't see anything either.  I decided to try to the north shore just for a change of pace.  I drove up to Sunken Meadow and stopped at Edgewood where I saw some Bluebirds and a Sharpie.  (I was hoping for siskins etc with all the pines)  Sunken Meadow had some sparrows by the dump area-  best bird I found was a Field Sparrow.  I went to Tung Ting pond in Centerport to look for a Eurasian Wigeon and GWF Goose reported on ebird.  I saw the wigeon and a nice male Canvasback (I was more impressed with the Canvasback) but no luck with the goose - I assumed it flew off with Canada Geese.  (it was ebirded the next day at Northport High School)  I saw a report of the continuing Rufous Hummingbird at Bayard which I thought was closed from their website, so went down to see it.

Jones Beach West End: Red Crossbills, Pine Siskins

 I went to Jones West End hoping to see an Evening Grosbeak that had been at the turnaround for a few days - didn't see it but another birder alerted me to some Red Crossbills that I overlooked.  Got some looks at them before they flew off - I think I saw 8 of them.  There were several flocks of goldfinches and Pine Siskins - hoping to see a Redpoll (one had been seen at Jones flying by recently).  I generally do not enjoy ID'ing birds in flight especially in flocks.

Backyard Birds: Pine Siskins Part 2

 I went outside in my yard before work and saw a few flocks of Pine Siskins overhead - a few landed in my other neighbor's bushes (arborvitaes)  I'm guessing they'll stick around all winter?!?  Also saw one or 2 continuing parulas.  Very birdy morning.

Backyard birds: Pine Siskins!

I'm WFH and it's a nice day.  I stepped outside into the yard for a minute - good timing, had a flock of Pine Siskins land in my neighbor's bushes, guessing about 15-20.  I have a continuing Parula that my son nicknamed Pingus that was joined by another Parula in my crape myrtles.  Also had a Ruby Crowned Kinglet and some Goldfinches landed in the crape myrtles and on the ground.  Good yard birding all in a few minutes!

Long Island South Shore: Pine Siskins

 I was hearing reports of "thousands" of Pine Siskins around Long Island recently so decided to go for a drive even though our area was dealing with the aftermath wind and rain from a hurricane from the south.  Sure enough I was easily able to find lots of Pine Siskins by Jones Beach and Robert Moses - they were the most numerous bird of the day.  The Jones Beach Coast Guard also had lots of White Throated Sparrows, some Juncos and a White Crowned Sparrow.

Backyard Birds: Tennessee Warbler!

 I've been seeing more birds in my yard and was happy to see a Tennessee Warbler in my Crape Myrtles, it hung around for a few days.  I've only seen them twice before and only briefly so was a treat to see one up close for a long time.  I've been having a continuing Parula that my son named Pingus - it was joined later by another that he named Penny.  He's hoping that they'll "mate" and have babies in our yard now, but I had to explain that they just got married and have to go on their "honeymoon" in Mexico first.

Massapequa Lake: Fall migrants but no Connecticut Warbler : (

 There was a late report of a Connecticut Warbler by Massapequa Lake so I tried on Saturday and Sunday to find it.  It was either gone or hiding like they do, but I did see some other cool warblers.  Lots of Yellow Rumps, Black Throated Black Blues (male and female), Palm, (Snouty saw a late Yellow) Chesnut Sided, and Parulas.

Fall Migration!

 So I went outside Thursday night..heard some chirps, then heard some more.  It was rainy out but I could tell what was likely going on  - a fall out.  Sure enough the next day, there was a lot of decent action just in my yard.  I was WFH, but went out in my yard before work in the morning and saw Parulas, Ruby Crowned Kinglets, a female Indigo Bunting, and a Black Throated Green!  (one of my favorite birds).

No Connecticut Warblers for me

 I went to HLSP with my dog in the morning - saw lots of cool but common birds - lots of Red Eye Vireos, desparately trying to find a lifer Philly Vireo.  I saw a report of a Mourning Warbler on the north end of the state park but figured it's not worth dragging the dog all the way over there.  

Well, FML, shortly after, there was a report of a Connecticut Warbler - I rushed over there with Rob P who I had met...no sign of the Connecticut Warbler. 

For whatever reason, this season seemed to be THE season for Connecticut Warblers.  Usually skulky and a pain to find, there were reports all over Lond Island rcently including Belmont Lake, out east, all over actually.  Still need it as a lifer.

As of now, besides Connecticut Warbler, my local "wish list" includes Kentucky Warbler, Acadian Flycatcher, and Philadelphia Vireo.  I have to say it was very frustrating not seeing a CT Warbler this season while it seemed "evertyone else" did.  It actually made me consider gicing up birding as a hobby.  It didn't help that I haven't seen any other life birds in a while either.

Sterling Forest round 2

I went back to Ironwood Road, Sterling Forest to try for a better view of the Golden Winged Warblers,  I did see 2 of them briefly - not the best looks but I was satisfied enough to count it as a definite lifer now.  (saw the black throats, half decent side view and heard them)  Also heard a third one and saw the Brewster's Warbler again.  Other birds seen include Prairie Warblers, Yellow Warbler, Indigo Buntings, several Scarlett Tanagers, Great Crested Flycatchers, Pewee, Redstarts, Kingfisher, Ravens and Broadwinged Hawk.

Sterling Forest/ Ironwood Road: Golden Winged Warbler, Brewster's Warbler

So I was upstate NY and stopped at Sterling Forest...I met another birder who gave me advice where to find a few pairs of GW Warblers and possibly a Brewster's.  It took a little while but finally found what I thought was a GW, but after I left I had some doubts - the song didn't seem like anything I heard from online for a GW.  I posted on "Whats this Bird" which confirmed my suspicions that it was a Brewster's.  OK, I have to drive back now.  I went back and refound the Brewster's and saw another warbler that flew towards me into a tree/ bush.  I did see the black throat so have to assume it was a Golden Winged.  There's more to my trip including calling Ravens and other birds, also helped 2 other birders see the Brewster's.  Here's a few photos - I was happy to finally see a Broad Winged that was perched.

Brewsters

Brewster's

presumed Golden Winged

Broad Winged Hawk!

Notes from May Migration Season

Some notes from this past May.  I don't have much free time to blog so I'll combine my notes into one post.  This migration was odd - low numbers but OK diversity.  There seemed to be more Bay Breasted Warblers than normal along with decent amounts of late Acadian Flycatchers - still need Acadian, my new nemesis bird.

May 25th
Nickerson, 2 Gull Billed Terns
Lido, Willow Flycatcher, Little Blue Heron

May 17th
HLSP, Blackpolls!, Bay Breasted
(also heard Blackpolls in my hood around this time)

May 16th
HLSP, Least Flycatchers, Nashville Warbler

May 10th
HLSP, 10 Warbler day including Cape May and Wilson's

May 5th, Bobwhite calling and seen a block away from my house

May 2nd, HLSP, Warblers

Early Spring

I know I haven't posted much lately - I haven't gone birding too much and "the virus" situation doesn't help.  I will probably only post going forward if I see a life bird or see something unusual.  Currently, Jones Beach West End is closed because it has become a Coronavirus testing area.

When I first started my blog, I would post a lot - this or that bird was first seen for the season etc.  My focus on birding has shifted to just seeing new life birds or my favorites.  Having said that it seems like some birds have arrived a little early this late winter/ early spring.

Today I sat in my yard watching my family play giant jenga when I noticed 2 smaller hawks that I assumed were Cooper's Hawks but after seeing a report of a Broadwing Hawk the other day over Connetquot it got me thinking I should grab the bins.  After about 15 minutes I saw gulls, a Red Tailed Hawk and Comorant overhead.  Yesterday I stopped by Nickerson/ Lido where I saw lots of Gannets over the ocean.  On my way to Nickerson before sunrise I saw some Ospreys and my FOS Glossy Ibis fly over the parkway.

There were swallows and warblers reported at Hempstead Lake State Park recently so I stopped there next.  I saw Rough Winged, Tree and Barn Swallows over the lake and was happy to find a good amount of Pine, Palm and nicely colored Yellow Rumped Warblers by the dog field (where the Philadelphia Vireo was seen a few years ago)  Not sure what's going on at HLSP but seems they're ripping out some of the habitat there for who knows what reason.  Very disturbing to see what it looks like now.  : (

Pine Warbler

Palm Warbler

Carolina Wren

Jones Beach, Patchogue, Bellport

Had a good birding day - started the day at the Jones Beach playground by the Gatsby area looking for a green Painted Bunting that had recently been there - no luck finding it.  Then went to the Coast Guard area looking for a continuing Black Headed Gull.  I honestly was just hoping to see Bonaparte Gulls just because I like them.  There was a small flock of about 10 Bonnie Gulls feeding by short beach along with a lot of Red Breasted Mergansers - after a while we were able to pick out the Black Headed Gull.  We went to the docks in Patchogue and Bellport looking for any uncommon gulls like Glaucous and Iceland.  We did not find those but saw a banded Herring Gull and a Ring Billed Gull that had a blueish tinge to it;s legs and beak.  We stopped at Swan Lake and Pond and got good looks at some Green Winged Teals.  We tried looking for a continuing Vesper Sparrow at Suffolk Co Education Farm but didn't find it.

We had some circumstantial evidence that the Painted Bunting had been at Jones the day before so we tried our luck again.  We met another birder who said it was flying around earlier so there was some hope.  Eventually I found it and was able to get some good looks at it.  Good way to end the day.

Black Scoter

Bonaparte Gull, not sure if front one is the BH

Herring Gull with band

Ring Billed Gull with some blue

Green Winged Teals

Painted Bunting

Prospect Park: Varied Thrush

I tried earlier in the week before work with Mike Zito to see this bird but didn't have any luck.  Just saw a late Phoebe.  When the bird was reported in the morning, I figured I had a better chance to see it considering it was the weekend and more birders would be looking for it.  I drove to Prospect Park which I usually avoid doing and when I got there, no one knew where it was.  A few other birders next to me and I heard someone shout they had the bird so we ran over where they were.  It was uphill from the bridge and I was able to get "good enough" looks at it.  Nice to get a lifer but I have to say the overall experience wasn't pleasant.  The ride sucked, most of the other birders seemed rude and some guy wouldn't shut up about his knowledge about Varied Thrushes.  It was time to go after getting a few crappy shots.  Not the way I like to start birding in the new year.

Happy New Year

The past year was very interesting and I was happy to see some nice rarities.  My trip to California was awesome - definitely want to go back for another vacation and birding.  I loved seeing lots of Marbled Godwits all over the beach and Long Billed Curlews.  Black Phoebes and the hummingbird were some of the "cuter" birds I remember from the trip.  It was nice to end the year with the local Townsend's Warbler.  Hoping to see some cool birds in 2020.