Birding & Breakfast 09/15/2018

On a beautiful morning  we had thirty people attend our fall Birding and Breakfast. This program ia a joint effort between NYS Parks Connetquot State Park Preserve and Great South Bay Audubon Society. Parks provides the facilities and the birding presentation by Pam Hunter. GSBA provides funding for the breakfast and the leaders for the bird walks after the presentation. The bagels were donated by the Melville Deli.

The birding after the walk was very enjoyable. The folks were enthusiastic and the birds were cooperative. At the start of our walk we were greeted by the local Great Blue Heron.We then went to see the Red-headed Woodpeckers and did mange to see an immature, showing that breeding was successful again this year. Then our next target was a Ruby-throated Humming bird in the butterfly garden and again we were successful. Everyone got good looks. We had twenty four species of birds.

We also did see a Praying Mantis along the trail by the near marsh. I think this might be a Chinese Mantid. I would welcome an expert opinion (kenlad01@gmail.com).