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