Bullock's Oriole, West Islip - no

 There were photos on Facebook, then reports of a female/ immature male Bullock's Oriole (and a Chat) at at a bird feeder in West Islip next to a school - I tried to find it one morning but didn't see either.  I wasn't too upset since I had seen a male Bullock's Oriole at Stillwell Woods in Syosset some time ago.

Robert Moses State Park

 I took a quick trip to Robert Moses - saw Horned Larks and my FOS Snow Buntings by field 2.

Sunken Meadow State Park, Barrow's Goldeneye, Ross's Goose

 I went to Sunken Meadow State Park since there were reports of a continuing immature drake Barrow's Goldeneye in the "river" that flows between the sound and a marshy area.  I was able to find it easily enough and get OK photos - I had only seen a Barrow's Goldeneye once before and it was far away.  On the way, I spotted a flock of a geese with a white goose in the mix - turned out to be a Ross's Goose - there was some talk from another birder that it has been around a few days, but not really reported.  There was a recent ebird report but was only flying, didn't land.

 

Manheim/ Mount Joy, Pennsylvania

 My son had a volleyball tournament in Manheim PA.  Of course, I realized it was an opportunity to possibly see some birds we don't get on Long Island such as Barred Owl, Pileated Woodpecker and was even wishing for a possible Golden Eagle.  I didn't see any of those but when my son and I were driving around we went to the top of a hill that had a cemetary on it and had a Bald Eagle fly towards us and land in a tree.  Later on, we found a Red Shouldered Hawk perched right at our hotel.  I saw some other raptors here and there in the sky such as Turkey Vultures, Black Vulrures? (can't remember) and Red Tailed, Red Shouldered Hawks.  BTW, the town does not smell nice (all farmland).

 

Marbled Godwit, Jones Beach Coat Guard Station

 There was a reported Marbled Godwit at the "spit" that I got to see.  One of my favorite birds and always a treat to see.

 

Tundra Bean Goose, Beaver Lake, Locust Valley

 There were reports of a Tundra Bean Goose at Planting Fields but it seemed to have disappeared from there rather quickly - I assume because of zealous photographers.  A little while after it showed up at Beaver Lake which is the lake that is between Shu Swamp and Oyster Bay.  I went really early in the morning around sunrise with Mike Z to try to see it - it would be a lifer for me.  After a long time searching, another birder spotted it with their scope and the rest of us were able to have an idea where to look (to the right of the red bush)  The other birder was a lady named Bailey and I was also lucky to see Joe V who is always nice to talk to.  It was on the far side of the lake by the private winter sports center.  Using my scope I was able to get better pics of it eventually than using my camera.  Since then it was been seen at the properties around there, Dosoris Pond, and Nassau County Golf Club in Glen Cove.  It was neat to see the blue color in the beak.

 

 

 

Jones Beach Field 4, 6

 There were reports of Sooty and Parasitic Jaegers recently by Jones Field 6 so I tried my luck there since I still need Parasitic Jaeger as a lifer (I probably saw one years ago when I first starting birding and dismissed it as a "seagull" )  There were a lot of birds far out by the horizon but I had no way of identifying them at that distance even with my scope.  Towards Field 4, I did find a bunch of Royal Terns on the beach that were coming off the ocean - I think I counted at least 30.  Later on after uploading their photos, I noticed some were banded.