Two Lifer Tuesday

 I took the day off from work and I'm glad I did because I wasn't feeling well today, but not bad enough to chase a few potential life birds.  I took the drive to Staten Island for a continuing Gray Kingbird.  I chased this bird a few times in the past (Hecksher, Jones Beach) but missed both times.  When I got to Great Kills Park, I walked around a lot without any luck, but luckily as I was driving around I saw a few birders by the road who had the bird in their sight.  If it wasn't for them I would have missed the Kingbird since it wasn't moving and blended in with the branches.  On the way back, I stopped at Greenwood Cemetery for a continuing Henslow's Sparrow.  I had some trouble navigating around but finally found the area where it had been seen.  I walked up a hill on a hunch where another birder alerted me that I was about to step on the bird!  I circled around a small grassy area and couldn't believe how the sparrow was so low to the ground.  I got some good looks at it and left after a little while.  There was some drama about the bird because some birders were getting too close to it and seemed to be disrespectful of the grave stones.  While some birders seemed too close, it didn't seem to bother the sparrow - he even hopped on someone that was sitting on the ground  : )

LeConte's Sparrow

 There were recent reports of a continuing LeConte's Sparrow at Croton Point Park so I took a chance to go see it with Snouty.  The location is basically a landfill covered with grass next to the Hudson River.  When we arrived, there were other birders on the scene but they hadn't found it yet.  I decided to look around where others weren't checking and had a hunch about a spot that was cut into the grasses.  I saw a sparrow that had an orangey head that dove down quickly but I had to assume it was another one of the multiple Savannah Sparrows that were around.  Sure enough the LeConte's Sparrow popped up and Snouty confirmed we found it.  It stayed up for a little while and I called to the other birders to come over. (yo!) Unfortunately just one over birder saw it for a quick second and that was the last time it was seen.

Jones Beach West End, Nickerson Beach

 Over the weekend, I went to the Jones Coast Guard Marina because a Vermillion Flycatcher reported at Cape May that was heading north along the coast.  I didn't see anything rare - most noteworthy were lots of Kinglets, 2 White Crowned Sparrows, and a Field Sparrow.  I tried looking for the continuing Yellow Headed Blackbird at Nickerson again - I found a flock of Cowbirds, Starlings, Red Wing Blackbird but no Yellow Headed - I think I'm done chasing this bird.  Before I left the house, there were some Kinglets in my yard, 2 Cooper's Hawks flew by and a thrush was in my neighbor's tree - I'm assuming Swainson's.

Caumsett State Park: Says Phoebe

 There was a continuing Says Phoebe at Caumsett St Park for 2 days so when my day off Saturday came around, I drove over before sunrise with Snouty to try to see it.  When we got out of the car we heard an owl hooting.  Another birder was on the scene, but the bird had not yet been seen.  We got worried because we 2 saw Red Tailed Hawks, a Merlin and Kestrel fighting so we were worried the bird might hide or worse.  We also saw and heard some Ravens.  After going around the general area where it was seen, another birder reported it was there at it's "usual" spot behind the restrooms on the fence posts.  I saw it briefly from a distance but the sun was shining in my direction.  I could tell it was the bird because it seemed larger than our Eastern Phoebes.  I went around for a better angle where along with other birders, we were treated to great views and the morning sun made for nice photo lighting.  We saw the bird catch some bugs and also pluck some of it's feathers.  Cool bird - it was a bird I wanted to see for a while.

 

Massapequa Patch

 I heard a few birds migrating early morning (3am) so I thought there might be some new birds to be seen.  I heard and saw a few "new" birds by my house but couldn't ID them except for a Song Sparrow.  I went to the preserve for a few minutes and saw a lot of Yellow Rumps, bunch of Swamp and Song Sparrows, couple of Common Yellowthroats and a FOS Junco.

Massapequa: Hooded Warbler

 There was some reports from another birder (I don't list names unless I get permission from other birders) that a Hooded Warbler was continuing for almost a week at Marjorie Post Park.  I had a little time so tried my luck for it.  With the help of the original observer via text I was able to find it.  (across from the skating rink)  I've seen Hooded Warblers once or twice before but this was the best view I got of them.  I might try again on the weekend for more photos - hopefully it sticks around.

Jones Beach West End

 There were reports of a continuing Marbled Godwit and 2 Caspian Terns at the Coast Guard Station.  I tried my luck and found 2! Marbled Godwits among lots of Oystercatchers.  Maybe the second one was from Nickerson?