Bryant Park, NYC (again)

Once again I stopped by "the shed" at Bryant Park today with my friend NYC birder Mike.  We saw the Overnbird again as well as a female Common Yellowthroat.  Also saw a rusty-brown Pigeon that seemed a little odd.

Bryant Park, NYC

During lunch I stopped by Bryant Park with NYC birder Mike who pointed out an Ovenbird by the corner shed.  Likely a sign that the Fall migration is underway.

Massapequa

I've noticed a little more birds around my house lately - a few Goldfinches by my sunflowers and a Carolina Wren singing in my yard - both are usual summer residents.  Grackles are also, but I've been seeing them flying over in flocks again which I noticed they seem to start doing only towards the end of summer.

Massapequa Preserve

I stopped by the preserve - I usually go when I realize I haven't been there in a while and that it's only 2 blocks from my house - there were lots of Kingbirds and a "falcon" swooped down on them but there were too many mosquitoes biting so I high-tailed outta there.

Jones Beach Coast Guard Marina

I arrived at the marina area around sunrise today - the most notable sighting were a large (easily 100+) gathering of Oystercatchers.  Other birds seen were: Black Bellied Plovers, 3 Short Billed Dowitchers, ~7 Willets (I believe some if not all were Western), 2 immature Night Herons (could not determine type), 2 continuing Common Loons, Common Tern, Spotted Sandpiper (also Pigeons and House Sparrows.)  Would have been pleasant without the small annoying angry flies and mosquitoes.

I returned in the evening and to my dismay I found the sandbar occupied by boaters who docked near the sandbar breaking almost every NY State Park rule,  (hard to resist but I'll keep my other comments to myself)  A continuing male and female Black Scoter were by the Coast Guard dock.  I headed over to my "new spot" on Jones Inlet but that was occupied by fishermen.  Common Terns were in the inlet and I saw a few Semi-Palmated Sandpipers and Gulls on the shore.  In the distance I saw some sandpipers and Black Bellied Plovers further down the inlet.  I checked out the ponds in the West End dunes but only found one Mallard since there wasn't any shoreline near the reeds.

I went back to the Coast Guard area where within 5 minutes of the disruptive sand bar occupiers departing, a large group of Oystercatchers flew back onto the sandbar.  More shorebirds were seen including Black Skimmers, Great Egret, Night Heron juveniles, 2 Semi-Palmated Plovers and a lone Dunlin.

Dunlin

Semi Palmated Sandpiper

Semi Palmated Sandpiper

Semi Palmated Sandpiper

Shorebird mix

Black Back Gull

Black Back Gull

Ring Billed Gull

Ring Billed Gull

Laughing Gull?

Massapequa

I saw 2 small birds flying together in front of my house yesterday - I heard the distinctive call of an American Goldfinch so I initially assumed they were 2 Goldfinches, but when they landed on the telephone wire, I could see that one was a Hummingbird.  It took off and landed a few times before the 2 birds went their separate ways.

Massapequa Preserve

I haven't been to the preserve in a while so decided to stop by yesterday (by the "Pittsburgh Ave pond") to see what might be new - most of the sightings were of the expected summer residents with an increase of the flocks of Grackles typical this time of the year.  There were many Song Sparrows and Goldfinches as well as Tree Swallows, Cardinals, Catbirds, Carolina Wrens (heard), House Sparrows, Mallards flying over, Redwinged Blackbird, 2 Mute Swans and a flycatcher (Pewee?).

Goldfinch

Song Sparrow

Flycatcher (pewee?)