Winter has set in

The last couple of days/weeks have been dominated by the weather. Very cold temperatures, wind and a major snow storm of 21 inches have slowed my birding down.

I manged to drive through Norrie Park in upstate Hyde Park and didn't see much. WE spent a few nights at the Beekman Arms complex in Rhinebeck, a winter getaway.

After the snowstorm today I finally managed to get out for a drive in the park. Heckscher was mostly cleared, the loop was open completely around the park. Fields 6 and 5 were open and 7 was closed. I did manage to see a Fox Sparrow and  Swamp Sparrow plus a look up close ata Hooded merganser.

Driving Dune Rd 01/20/2015

I headed to Dune rd to chase some birds this morning. The sun was shining and temps were mild and the birds were not disappointing. My first bird was an American Bittern, it was working the roadside ditches.

After that I went to Tiana Beach looking for the reported Redpolls. They were nowhere to be found, On to the inlet for the Male King Eider. Strike two. I went back and forth for a while and eventually went back to the inlet to try to see the Eider. This time I was luckier. It was swimming with a large flockmof Common Eider north of the inlet by the sandbar/island. Once spottedit was easy to recognize.

A return trip to Tiana beach also proved fruitful as there was a flock of passerines flying around which included the Common Redpolls.
.

January 17, 2015 Birding and Breakfast

We had our annual winter Birding and Breakfast this past January 15. This is a function sponsored and supported by three organizations. NYS Parks is the host at the Connetquot River State park Preserve. Great South Bay Audubon Society provides the nature walk leaders. The Friends of Connetquot supplied the breakfast and moral support.

Breakfast was at 8:00, the room was full. Coffee and juice and tea were served along with  fruit and cake and bagels. After a hearty breakfast we started with a presentation of potential winter birds that might be seen, by  Pam Hunter. Pam reviewed the ducks that would probably be on the pond and some of  the land birds we might see as we walked the park trails,

After breakfast we headed to the pond. At the pond, with a very cooperating sunny day, we saw most of the ducks that was presented in the earlier session. Highlights were Common mergansers, Canvasbacks, Northern Pintail, Red Head  and all the expected regulars. We spent time making sure everyone saw all the ducks that were there.

Then we walked the trails and again saw almost all the birds that were presented in the morning. The selection for the presentation by the park staff was spot on. High lights were Both Red and White-breasted Nuthatches. There  were Chickadees and Titmice and White- throated sparrows hanging around the feeders. We saw a couple of different woodpeckers,We saw Red-bellied, Downy and a highlight was a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker which gave everyone great looks. Some groups saw a Red Fox scamper across the paddock, and some folks saw a Bald Eagle fly over the main pond.

It was a beautiful winter day with mild temperatures and bright sunshine. Everyone had a good time and the birds were very cooperative. We saw over thirty species of birds. Winter birding can be fun. NYS parks and GSBAS and Friends of Connetquot would like to thank every one for coming and enjoying our park.

The Duckathon continues

Today I spent workinh on my ducks in a row project. I started at Belmont chasing the Barnacle and GWF geese successfully. Then on to Point Lookout for the Harlequins, unsuccessfully. With a brief stop at Jones beach, which turned up a Bald eagle and then on to Massapequa for the wood duck.

Temperatures were in the high twenties approaching freezing, the wind seemed out of the NW at about ten knots. It mad for a very chilly morning especially on the beach at Point Loookout,

A good morning of birding with some good birds made me a happy camper today.

Montauk birding In January 2015

We had our kickoff of GSBAS weekend field trips at Montauk Point this weekend. Eight hardy  birders showed up on a cold windy day. the temperatures were in the teens with the winds out of the WNW at 10 knots increasing to 15 to 20. It was cold but not as cold as we have had on other trips.

Birding at the point was pretty quiet excepting for the steady stream of  Common Eiders flying from the west to the east all morning long. There were thousands of them, they were every where you looked. Seeing masses of birds is one of the reasons we go to Montauk in January, the seabirds tend to congregate and put on a show.

On our way to Dune Rd after finishing Montauk, Bob Grover spotted a large bird soaring overhead. We all pulled over to look at what was determined to be a Golden eagle, treat number one. That is a great find for Long Island. Later on Dune Rd, we pulled into Triton Lane and someone pointed out a Snowy Owl to us, treat number two. A little further down Dune Rd we spotted an American Bittern sunning itself in a roadside ditch, treat number three. 

A great finish to a great day of winter birding with a hardy bunch of birders.

Baech Patrol Extended

On todays beach run I went all the way to Jone beach and back, That is the run I used to do before gas became really expensive. now thet the Saudis are engaged in a price war gas is cheaper and so I can do a little more.

The weather is brutal, temperatures are in the low teens with an overnight low of about six deghrees. The wind is out of the WNW at about 10 to 15 knots. Needless to say I stayed in the car. I had planned to walk the beach at Point Lookout today but common sense prevailed.

All was pretty quiet today, but I did add a few birds tothe FOY list. I added Brant, Mourning Dove, Red-breasted Merganser, Black scoter and Yellow-rumped warbler. In Robert Moses the deer were roadside browsing on the exposed grasses.

Ocean Parkway Patrol

I did the beach run for a little birding by car. Clear weather getting colder, temps now in the thirties heading to the teens by Wednesday. I managed to add a few birds to the yearlist but not much else happening. This weekend we head to Montauk for GSBAS trip that should add to the year tally. Saw the resident Horned Lark flock at RMSP Field 5 circle.

Sneak one in

Trying to get some birding before the predicted rains. First stop was at Connetquot. I did add Green-winged Teal to the "Duckathon" list, but nothing else. Where have all the passerines gone. No sparrows, no Carinals, no Blue Jays, what's happening. Lets see what happens after the rain, maybe it will be  betterr, can hardly be worse.

I am starting to get some action on my feeder in the yard, that might provide something to look at.

The Duckathon Begins

After exercise today I started my annual Duckathon. Trying to get all my ducks in a row. I hit, Swan lake, Patchogue Lake, Mill Pond Sayville, Greens Creek West sayville and the West Sayville Golf Course. I did pretty well. The weather was delightful, kin of cool but nice and sunny. There was a little bit of wind out of the WNW but not bad. Surprisingly I got Common Merganser, Red head and Canvasback. I also added Snow Goose and Eurasian Wigeon at the golf curse Not a bad morning.

A New Year

The start of a new year and a new set of bird postings, except for the fact that there were not many birds around to post about The best I could scroung up was an American crow sitting in a treetop. I will starting my annual "Duckathon", trying to get my ducks in a row for 2015.  We will have o see how that works uot for the goal of getting them in January. There are not many around in the ponds.