Spoonbill part 2

 I got up early before the work and couldn't go back asleep knowing the Spoonbill was probably still around.  I checked St Johns Pond but didn't find it (there were lots of Swifts).  I went to Uplands Farm Sanctuary to try to find continuing/ breeding Yellow Bellied Vireos.  I might have seen one briefly but can't say for sure since it was far away.  I did see Warbling Vireos, Barn Swallows, probable Cooper's Hawk and a Scarlett Tanager made a brief appearance.  I heard that the Spoonbill was seen on the Nassau side of Cold Spring Harbor seen from the docks on the Suffolk side.  I drove over for distant views but got to talk to Rob P and Arie who I haven't seen in a while.

Swallow-Tailed Kite

Worthy of it's own post, after Snouty and I saw the Spoonbill, we were driving south on South Woods Road and saw what I first assumed was "just an Osprey" flying over the road near the TOB Gold Course.  As we were driving closer to it, we realized it wasn't an Osprey but a Swallow-Tailed Kite gliding overhead.  It still doesn't seem real that we saw this bird but it's unmistakable.  We saw all the field marks (black on the fringes of the wings and of course "that tail".  The bird glided Northeast and we got the word out ASAP thinking anyone looking at the Spoonbill might have a chance to see it.

We tried parking by the Butera's restaurant but some guy in the car ahead of us was blocking us so it delayed us a few minutes getting out of the car.  By the time, we could check, we lost the bird.  Pat A. arrived on the scene shortly after and then we all tried our luck at Stillwell Woods, but it was gone.  I was a little upset that Pat A. didn't see it since it would have been a life bird for her.

I think I saw a Swallow-Tailed Kite years ago driving through the Everglades from Miami to Key West.  I do believe I saw the swallow tail but was only a quick glimpse.  It was nice to see this bird today since I got good looks at it and can safely call it a life bird.

Cold Spring Harbor, Roseate Spoonbill

 There had been recent reports of Roseate Spoonbills popping up in upstate New York/ northeast region recently.  One was seen by Long Beach and another at Cold Spring Harbor today.  Snouty and I didn't have much time but a Spoonbill is a great bird for my area.  We parked along 25A and went down the "George Washington Spy Trail" where we got decent views of it.

Avocet, shorebirds at Nickerson Beach

 There has been an Avocet at Nickerson Beach for a while so I went to see it.  I also found Short Billed Dowitchers (one had good color), a Stilt Sandpiper and Pectoral Sandpiper.  There was wildfires out west so the sun was obscured/ muted so I was able to take "artsy" photos was birds in front of the red sun.  I also saw a Piping Plover and Common Terns feeding their babies.

Lake George

 I went to Lake George with my family and cousins.  We had a good time and all the birding was incidental.  Highlights included a Junco, Titmice, Bald Eagles, Swifts and a group of Ravens as we ere leaving.