"I'm sharing my photos and stories of my bird watching adventures on Long Island. I also feature my sightings from around the USA and other countries when I travel. I hope you enjoy them." - Rob (from Massapequa)
There was a continuing Mountain Bluebird that "everyone" was taking photos of, so I drove to Heckscher Park in the morning and saw it. There were other birders that were camped out on the median and it was becoming a bit of a spectacle so I had enough and left just getting a few lousy photos. Another birder noted a Field Sparrow near the Bluebird.
I tried again for this rare warbler to our area. I had a hunch that it might pop up in "the weedy lot" so I focused most of my time there. After a long time I heard some chipping - I assumed the bird was around. The chipping soon increased into rapid chirps. I saw the bird running from a patch of plants and it ran under a pine tree. I tried to get 2 other birders on it that were checking by the parking lot, but could not find the bird again. Later on (same, next day?) a Townsend's Warbler was reported in the general area. The MacGillvray's Warbler was a lifer for me - nice way to end 2023.
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There has been a continuing MacGillivray's Warbler behind a rehab/ hospital in the west Bronx. It has been seen on a private residence next to the rehab facility sometimes under a toy Barbie truck. I tried to see it early morning before work but appeared only after I left - oh dam it. Would have been a lifer. Later in the day the facility security have been asking birders to leave because the residents have been complaining of the daily constant spectacle of birders with bins/ cameras etc always around their house - who can really blame them. The warbler has also been seen in a weedy lot on the other side that is visible through a chain link fence from a public sidewalk. I would have checked there also but didn't have time. Thinking I might have had seen the bird if I tried.
I drove by the preserve and saw lots of white birds on the lake next to Brady Park - I assumed swans but went back to make sure none were Snow Geese or anything else unusual. I went back and scanned the lake and counted 34 swans, but also found a Common Loon which is unusual for this location - I checked out the photos later and saw "something" by it's mouth - not sure if it was injured.
There were reports of a Tufted Duck seen from Cordwood Park in St James - I tried my luck there with some other birders who were already on the scene - one of them said she said it much earlier with good views, but since lost it. Another birder thought he might have seen it while I was there but could not reconfirm. I tried looking from another vantage point but didn't have luck there either. Later in the day, another birder reported it further away from where we were searching.
On my vacation day, I tried looking for anything on the north shore. I went to St John's Pond CSH, which was very "birdy". Also went to Uplands Farm, Oyster Bay (Theodore Roosevelt Park, Mill Pond, Mill Neck Creek). I looked for a continuing Pink Footed Goose that had originally been seen at Planting Fields that was around the properties by Horseshoe Road? by Shu Swamp - saw just Canada Geese. I went to Bayville Stehli Beach - saw random gulls and a Bald Eagle far out hunting over the sound. On a whim, I decided to check nearby Ransom Beach because years ago, a strange unidentified/ hybrid gull had been seen there. My instincts paid off and I found a second year Iceland Gull right over the railing by the parking lot. It was nice to find and report a bird on my own, rather than mooch off other birders' reports.
I went to Point Lookout/ Nickerson to try to find the Harlequin Ducks and Purple Sandpipers that are usually seen there. I saw 3 Harlequins by the inlet (2 males, 1 female) and what I believe were 2 Purple Sandpipers flying by the shore. I noted there were a good number of Red Throated Loons flying from the inlet to the ocean. There were several Black Bellied Plovers in the parking lot. I tried my luck at Massapqua Lake where I saw a bunch of Great Blue Herons on the island. I went into the preserve a little bit and photographed a camera-willing Robin.
There had been a continuing Western Tanager and Audubon's type Yellow Rumped Warbler. They have been seen at least up until Dec 27th. I saw them several times and was able to see and photograph both of them. There had also been a Snow Goose around Ocean/ Wantagh Parkway. One day, I also saw a Northen Pintail by the "pond" in front of the Ampitheater parking lot entrance. On a side note, I did a seawatch at Tobay Beach - only birds to note were Northern Gannets. ( I usually don't enjoy seawatches if it takes a long time to see more uncommon birds) I also finally visited the JFK Sanctuary trail and walked to the "pond" at the end of the trail. Was somewhat disappointing.
At Massapequa, saw a continuing Great Blue Heron - was in a tree and saw another one fly by. Also saw a Brown Creeper which is always a treat - a very common, but unusual bird. At Tackapausha, I saw a very vocal Winter Wren - never heard one sing before.
