Tiffany Creek Preserve

Went with Snouty to try to find the continuing Townsend's Solitaire - with some help from 2 birders we saw it and got good views.

Townsend's Solitaire

Democrat Point, Robert Moses State Park: Mountain Bluebird

There were reports of a Mountain Bluebird yesterday so once it was reported again today I thought it would be a nice potential end of year life bird for 2017.  After some initial confusion, I was directed to the general area by other birders.  With a little bit of patience I re-found the Mountain Bluebird.  It did not stay long because another birder chased it away. (literally ran after it)  It was reported almost daily up until at least Dec 27th.  It had a distinct flight pattern, was a bit dull but still a nice looking bird.

Mountain Bluebird

Mountain Bluebird

Recent Sightings

Most of these were chases of other birder's reports:

Dec 12th - Crocheron Park, Queens: female Western Tanager, Chat
Dec 8th - Suffolk Co Environmental Center, Yaphank: Clay Colored Sparrow, Kestrel
Shinnecock Inlet: Snowy Owl,
Mill Pond, Sayville: Eurasian Wigeon,
Elda Lake: Greater White Fronted Goose
Dec 7th - Suffolk Co Environmental Center, Yaphank: Prothonotary Warbler, Raven
Mill Pond, Sayville: Eurasian Wigeon
Dec 1st: Jones Beach West End: Snowy Owl, Purple Sandpipers
Nov 30th: Gardiner's County Park: Red Shouldered Hawk

Western Tanager

Prothonotary Warbler

Snowy Owl

Red Shouldered Hawk

Jones Beach West End

There was a post of a Northern Shrike on LI Wildlife Thursday from around the swale by JB WE 2.  I took a chance and try to find it but if it was there, the strong continuous north winds kept it hiding.  Highlight were Gannets and a pair of Pintails on the swale.

RIP Crakie : (

Sad news this morning - the Corn Crake was found dead early today.  I offered to bring it to Paul Sweet at the Museum of Natural History but a rep had already been sent to pick it up.  Study confirmed it was indeed hit by a car, a young male, and slightly underweight.  Great bird, RIP Crakie.

RIP Crakie

Corn Crake Part 2

I went back to see the Corn Crake again but got a report that a Say's Phoebe was seen at nearby Heckscher Park - I tried looking for it but didn't have any luck (it was seen once and not relocated)  I did see 2 of the Hud Godwits who have been there a while now.  I stopped by the Corn Crake spot on the way back and got to see him again.  I think some of the birders were from Connecticut.

Corn Crake

Ocean Parkway: Corn Crake

I went to Heckscher Park this morning with my kids to show them the Hudsonian Godwits and possibly the Long Billed Dowitcher and Golden Plovers but when we got to Field 7 most of the puddles in the lot had dried up.  I looked around and noticed a Godwit on the shoreline (of the bay) but as we got out of the car, 2 photographers? walked up to it and scared it away.  On the "plus side", we got to hear it (distress call) and it flew over our heads. 

Later on, I saw a "this is not a joke" post by Suzy Feustel that a Corn Crake was found by her and Ken on Ocean Parkway by Cedar Beach.  With some negotiating my kids obliged me with another outing and we got over there ASAP.  I saw the bird from a distance but wanted to get a better look and let my kids see it also.  Being spoiled with close looks of the recent Hudsonian Godwits, I made the mistake of driving up to the Corn Crake perhaps so my kids could get a look.  My daughter saw it but not my son...after a little bit the Corn Crake went into the shrubs.  Luckily it came out later and was obliging to other birders (whew!)  This was a great bird to see and I'm thankful for the Feustels for finding and reporting it.

Corn Crake