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.