Spring Migration: Third Week of May

A lot of "good" birds were seen May 16th and 17th but on May 18th they all seemed to have moved on.  Notable birds were Bay Breasted Warbler males at Hempstead Lake SP and Washington park/ playground.  At HLSP I saw Canada Warbler, Black Throated Green, Black Throated Blue, Magnolia Warbler, Chestnut Sided Warbler female, Scarlett Tanager, Wood Pewee, ~12 Swainson's Thrushes, and a Least Flycatcher!

Spring Migration: Second week of May

Wasn't the best conditions for the normal peak time for spring migration - northwest winds surely prevented an influx of new migrants.  Summer Tanagers and Kentucky Warblers seemed to pop up but not much else.  The best sighting I had this week was a Tennessee Warbler at Hempstead Lake State Park that I got to see very well and up close.

My highlights:

Uplands Farm Sanctuary - Orchard Oriole, 2 Bald Eagles (high up)

Hempstead Lake State Park - Tennessee Warbler, Blackpoll, Orchard Oriole, FOS Red Eye Vireo, Redstart, Solitary Sandpiper

Massapequa Preserve - Yellow Billed Cuckoo, young Mourning Dove

Spring Migration - first week of May

Some highlights:
Hempstead Lake State Park:
Ruby Throated Hummingbird, Warbling Vireo, Blue Gray Gnatcatcher, Redstart, Northern Waterthrush, Eastern Kingbird, Great Crested Flycatcher

Massapequa Preserve:
Warbling Vireo, Blue Gray Gnatcatchers (1 pair at nest)

Lido Preserve:
Clapper Rails, 2 Short Billed Dowitchers

Jones Beach West End:
Worm Eating Warbler, Blue Grosbeak, single Black Skimmer at the Coast Guard sandbar

Blue Gray Gnatcatcher

Warbling Vireo

Clapper Rail (with Fiddler Crab)

Alley Pond Park, Massapequa

Went to Alley Pond Park to try to find a reported Kentucky Warbler - did not see it but saw lots of FOS birds.  Notable birds: Scarlett Tanager, Black Throated Blue Warbler, Redstart, Yellow Warbler, Wood Thrush, likely Gray Cheeked Thrush, and Rusty Blackbirds.

Across the street from my house I saw 3 Yellow Rumped Warblers, Northern Parula, Baltimore Orioles, and an Eastern Kingbird.

Spring Migration: Jones Beach West End

Numbers were definitely up today - saw the continuing Bobolink, Blue Winged Warbler, Rose Breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Buntings, Blue Headed Vireo, Veery, Savannah Sparrow, good amounts of Catbirds and Chipping Sparrows.  A Summer Tanager was seen by the west turnaround but I could not find it.

Rose Breasted Grosbeak

Bobolink

Spring Migration: Lido Preserve, Jones Beach West End

A modest amount of new birds - spent some time at Lido taking photos of the continuing Prothonotary Warbler - it was singing so maybe it will stick around for a while.  Also saw several Blue Headed Vireos, Black and White Warbler, Yellow Warbler.  At Jones Beach West End saw a single Black Skimmer on the sandbar, Red Throated Loon, Common Loons, Yellow Warblers, and several Indigo Buntings.  Lots of Boat Tailed Grackles everywhere by the water.

Boat Tailed Grackle

Prothonotary Warbler

Prothonotary Warbler

Blue Headed Vireo

Blue Headed Vireo

Black Skimmer

Timber Point Marina: Ruff

Not a lifer but there has been a Ruff reported on and off at Timber Point.  I had a lackluster day earlier so a mid-day report of the Ruff got me excited.  I drove over there in the rain and got lucky and saw the Ruff.  I've seen a Ruff before in New Jersey but this one was a lot more impressive looking.

Ruff