Avalon Park Preserve, Muttontown Preserve

I went to Avalon because there was a Bobwhite seen there the day before - I did not locate it.  Saw Baltimore Orioles, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow Warblers, House Wrens, the Comorant colony and a female Wood Duck with it's chicks.

I stopped at Muttontown Preserve to try to find a Kentucky Warbler that had been heard singing recently.  It thought I heard it as first but I can't be 100% sure.  I did hear Veery and Wood Thrush at least.

Wood Ducks

Jones Beach, Plumb Beach, Nickerson Beach: Roseate Tern

I started out at the Jones Beach Coast Guard Station - highlight was a Red Knot.  I went to Plumb Beach because a Nelson Sparrow was seen there and was the only report lifer seen recently.  I did not see it and came back to Nassau County.  On the way back I saw a report from Sy Schiff of a Roseate Tern at Nickerson Beach.  The reported bird had bands on both legs and a pink belly.  I did find a Roseate Tern on the east side of the colony with a Common Tern - it was not the same bird, but it was still a lifer so that's good enough for me.  : )  I also saw my FOS Black Skimmers.

Roseate Tern

Roseate Tern, Common Tern

Black Skimmers

Jones Beach West End, Big Egg Marsh, Jamaica Bay, Massapequa: Summer Tanager

Along with Mike Z we looked around the west end for any late migrants - there were some Willow Flycatchers and Pewees, but the best find was a Summer Tanager that appeared for a short time.  I didn't get a good photo, but did see it well (it was right in front of us)

We checked out Big Egg Marsh since there were some good recent sightings there but perhaps because it was high tide, we just didn't find anything of interest.  We left and went to the west area/ "West Pond".  In the marsh we saw a Little Blue Heron and Gull Billed Tern - at the breach there were many Laughing Gulls feeding on new laid Horseshoe Crab eggs.  In the garden we saw Willow Flycatcher, Pewee, Black Throated Green Warbler and a Yellow Billed Cuckoo.

I stopped at Massapequa Preserve - not much going on except Red Eye and Warbling Vireos and a white Pigeon.

 

Summer Tanager

Pewee

Laughing Gulls

Yellow Billed Cuckoo

Pigeon, Mallard

Massapequa, Jones Beach West End

This morning I heard several and saw at least one Blackpoll in my neighborhood.

I took a ride through Jones Beach West End and the warbler numbers have bounced back.  Lots of Yellow Warblers, Redstarts, some Magnolias, single Chestnut Sided Warbler and a Wilson's Warbler.  Also saw flycatchers, a female Rose Breasted Grosbeak and a sparrow? that I'm not sure how to ID.  Most likely it was an Ipswich Savannah Sparrow.

Jones Beach Coast Guard

The number of warblers has drastically decreased but there was an estimated 250 Red Knots on the Coast Guard sandbar - also seen: Ruddy Turnstone and a banded Common Tern.

shorebird mix

Common Tern

shorebird mix

Jones Beach West End: Willow Flycatcher

I had some time early Saturday morning so took a drive by West End - was obvious many of the warblers had moved on - I heard, but did not see Blackpolls.  I talked to 2 expert birders who said the same but heard a Willow Flycatcher.  I drove back to the spot and found it!

Willow Flycatcher

Massapequa

For the last 2 days I've been hearing a bird that I knew was unusual for my neighborhood.  I checked the oak tree across the street where I recently saw a Northern Parula and Black and White Warbler.  The mystery bird turned out to be a Blackpoll!  Later in the day a Barn Swallow flew overhead - great backyard birds.

Blackpoll