Jones Beach Field 10, Coast Guard Station

 There were reports today of continuing Pipits at the Jones Beach Coast Guard Station lawn.  I haven't seen Pipits in a while so figured I should try for them.  They're cool little birds.  I stopped by Field 10 to do the "usual" Marbled Godwit search and sure enough I finally saw them (damn it).  They were very unsatisfying looks since they were so far away but they were next to Oystercatchers so I had good comparison for size and not much else this time of year would have such a tawny coloring.  From the photos I took with my Canon Powershot with up to 200x zoom, I think there was at least 6 of them.  I checked the lot for gulls and they jumped on my car and gathered around as soon as I opened the window.  (it was below freezing and I'm getting over a cold so I stayed in my car)  I saw one was banded and assumed it to be a juvenile Herring Gull.  I reported the bands and posted on the "North American Gulls" FB page.  Will be cool to find out more info on this bird - it was really cute and had some rizz.  I think I might have only reported bands once or twice before - will try that more often.  

At the Coast Guard Station I first found one confiding Pipit right away and then 3 others.  I tried looking for the continuing Western Tanager and Audubon's Warbler with no luck.  (the Audubon's Warbler was ebirded earlier in the day)  I saw a Ruby Crowned Kinglet at the bushes that the warbler frequents.  Around the area I saw several Harriers around.  Not a bad birding experience for such a short amount of time. (hour round trip)

Bird feeder at my house

 The other day I filled the feeder too much and a lot of the bird seed went on the ground.  This morning, I saw a lot of birds including Cardinals, Blue Jays, White Throated Sparrows, Juncos AKA "Snowbirds", Mourning Doves, Pigeons, House Sparrows and my resident Song Sparrow.

Jones Beach Coast Guard Station

 I went to the Coast Guard Station before work to try to find anything unusual (like I always do)  I stopped by the Fishing lot at Field 10 to try for the continuing Marbled Godwits without any luck.  I did see some female type Boat Grackles on the dock.  I went by the Coast Guard Station to try to find anything unusual.  I saw a Horned Grebe which I haven't seen in a while.  I went down the Fisherman's path around to the other side of the Coast Guard Station to see anything in the inlet.  I saw a Common Eider and some Black Scoters - one of the male Scoters was vocalizing - the first time I remember hearing one.  On the way out I didn't see the Western Tanager who has been hard to find recently, but did see the Audubon's Warbler and was able to get better photos then previous times I saw it. (guessing lighting was better - not too bright)

Cooper's Hawk around the neighborhood

 There has been a continuing Cooper's Hawk in my neighborhood recently - it has gone after the birds at the neighbor's and my feeders a few times.

Jones Beach this morning

 I went to Jones Beach Field 10 to try to find the continuing Marbled Godwits - all I saw were 2 Yellowlegs that flew from the curved shoreline out to the marshy area.  Oddly, someone ebirded the godwits at the same time I was there so apparently I either need a scope or I'm looking in the wrong area.  I stopped by the Coast Guard Station - did a quick scan on the spit/ sandbar and water for the continuing immature male King Eider but didn't see it.  However, I stayed in the car and scanned the hedgerows and saw a Yellow Rump looking bird fly in - it was the continuing Audubon's Warbler with a regular type Yellow Rumped Warbler along with some House Finches.  They were in the cedar bushes presumably eating berries.

Random photos from Massapequa

 I uploaded my photos a while ago to my laptop and wanted to share some photos I took around Massapequa - most are from Massapequa Lake.  (yes, that Herring Gull is missing a foot)

First photos for 2024

 These are my first photos for 2024.  A Great Black Backed Gull out of focus and the second photo in focus.  I noticed another gull and a few Black Scoters in the background of the out of focus photo when I uploaded these to my laptop.

Happy New Year!!!

 2023 was an interesting year - I saw a bunch of birds.  While I only 8 lifers, they included a few that were my nemesis birds especially Limpkin, Audobon's Yellow Rumped Warbler and most notably I finally saw a Connecticut Warbler.  I have chased Connecticut Warblers on many occasions only to not find them.  It seemed fairly easy to see the one at the World Trade Center Memorial.  This was the first year that I did a "year list".  I was surprised to find that I had only counted around 140 species the entire year.  I assumed it would be much higher - I suppose if I made more effort and chased every bird sighting that it would be much higher, but I don't enjoy chasing sightings unless it's a life bird. (and I don't have much free time)  The first bird I photographed was a Great Black Backed Gull at Jones Beach Coast Guard Station while I was trying to find the continuing Western Tanager and an immature male King Eider.  I didn't see either one of them.  But that's how birding is sometimes - win some, lose some - a bird can be out in the open for some and then the next person to try for it won't see it. (like the MacGillvray's Warbler)

I'm now up to 448 life birds.  I don't have much hope for seeing a lot of new birds for 2024 unless I travel somewhere on vacation. (thinking Italy?)  If I get at least 2 more, I'll hit 450 which sounds nice.  Who knows what the new year will bring.  I'm including a few photos for fun.