Valley Stream State Park, Massapequa Preserve

Following reports of a Yellow Throated Warbler, I headed over to Valley Stream Park and along with several other birders, did not locate it.  My only consolation was a Black Crowned Night Heron in a tree watching over everyone.

I visited Massapequa Preserve in the evening - started out by the Pittsburgh Ave pond and walked up to the Brady Park Pond and back.  Most notable were the Wood Duck/ female Mallard pair - the male Wood Duck was vigorously defending the female from other Mallards.  The "unwanted" female Wood Duck is now with a male Wood Duck that "appreciates" her.  Tree Swallows were over the Pittsburgh Ave pond and I saw several Fox Sparrows together in the trees.

Black Crowned Night Heron

Black Crowned Night Heron

Wood Duck pair

Wood Duck/ Mallard "pair"

Fox Sparrow

Bryant Park, NYC the sequel

This time there were 2 American Woodcocks - one by the NE corner by the birdbath feeding on worms - the other was on the south side and was skittish.

Jones Beach West End, Massapequa Preserve

I took the kids for a walk at Massapequa Preserve by the west side of the Brady Park pond and then later by Clark Street and the Pittsburgh Ave Pond.  Highlights were a Phoebe, 2 Ospreys, Wood Duck and Pintail.

At Jones Beach West End, I got a decent view of a Merlin and Killdeer.

Phoebe

Osprey

Merlin

Killdeer

Red Tailed Hawk

Wood Duck

Jones Beach West End

I slowly drove through the West End - highlights were a Northern Harrier, Tree Swallows by the West End 2 lot, and a Rough Legged Hawk.

Northern Harrier

Tree Swallows

Rough Legged Hawk

Bryant Park, NYC

One American Woodcock on the south side of the lawn.  Really great looking and good size.  Song Sparrows were on the lawn.

Jones Beach West End, Wantagh Park, Tackapausha, Massapequa Preserve

I spent a decent amount of time looking through the pine trees for owls (particularly the Long Eared and hopefully a lifer Saw Whet) but came up empty.  I did see a Peregrine Falcon on the dunes looking up at passing songbirds eventually going after a few ducks - a few Northern Harriers were also present.  By the Coast Guard area I saw my FOS Piping Plovers - there were 16 on the Coast Guard Station sandbar.  A few Northern Shovelers were nearby which seemed odd since I rarely see them in marine water.

When leaving the Jones Beach West End, I saw another raptor but couldn't positively ID it - it was moving fast and trying to take a picture while driving isn't always easy  : )   - the few photos I got were good enough for a positive ID of a Red Shouldered Hawk - a lifer for me! 

Not much going on at Wantagh Park, but there were a lot of Brant and an Oystercatcher.

Tackapausha had a few noisy Redwing Blackbirds and a distant Red Tailed Hawk.

I checked out the Brady Park Pond and saw 1 or 2 Double Crested Comorants.

Piping Plover

Piping Plover

Peregrine Falcon

Red Shouldered Hawk - lifer!

Oystercatcher

Mute Swan, Brant

Brant

Red Tailed Hawk

Massapequa Preserve

I took my son to the preserve - he had a big cookie and almost immediately we were "greeted" by a legion of Canada Geese and Mallards looking for a handout - the Wood Duck pair, female Mallard and Northern Pintail were in the stream.  Grackles were present in good numbers and saw my FOS Osprey picking up a fish from the Pittsburgh Ave pond.