GSBAS Tues Nature Walk 09/05/17 Heckscher SP

We mat in Field 5 of Heckscher State Park on a beautiful morning. It was somewhat warm but breezy enough to compensate. We tried to walk  the NW path from the field but the onslaught of mosquitoes drove us back. We then proceed to Field 7 to check the remaining puddles and bayside shore line for shorebirds  and what else we could see.

We did manage to see a couple of shorebirds, Black-bellied Plovers, Semi Palmated Plovers, Semi Palmated  Sandpipers and Killdeer. At the end of the walk there was an Osprey standing in the puddle.

GSBAS Tuesday Walk 05/09/2017

It was an Oriole. This  morning our walk was at the Massapequa Preserve. It was chilly with intermittent Cloudy skies,  we had  mostly sunshine though. We started our walk by seeing a couple of Chimney Swifts circling overhead, We then walked around the pond and saw Orioles. There were quite a few Orioles including an Orchard Oriole. There were plenty of Warbling Vireos as well. We also saw a Yellow-billed Cuckoo. Our total was 33 species for the morning

It was a nice spring morning with a nice assortment of birds and a couple of birds sitting on nests. The trees are just opening and giving a variety of green to see. A good day to be in nature.

GSBAS Nature Walk 04/18/2017

Today our walk was at Gardiners Park, West Bayshore. Ten folks showed up on a nice spring day. Finally a break in the Tuesday weather with bright sunshine and clear cool skies.

Birding was a little quiet but we did see some of the usual suspects for this time of year. We saw Chickadees hollowing out a nest site and at the bay we saw a pair of American Oystercatchers. There were Red-wing Blackbirds everywhere

On the way back from the bay we spotted a Brown Thrasher gathering nesting Material

GSBAS Nature Walk 11/08/2016

Our walk today was at Sunken Meadow State Park. The weather was again spectacular. If not for the lack of rain we cannot complain about the weather we have been having for our walks.

We started by going to the boardwalk to check the Long Island Sound for seabirds and ducks.  We ddid manage to get looks at a few, and sometimes far waterfowl. There were Common Loon and White-winged Scoter seen through the scope.

After we left the boardwalk and headed to the hedgerow we spotted a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, which gave most of us good looks. The we headed to the brush piles at the western end of the parks and saw Song Sparrows and Juncoes.

The second half of the walk was at the eastern end of the park by the spillway. We did a loop around the near pond. At the bridge over the ponds we encountered a flock of Cedra Waxwings feeding on berries in the trees, The sunshine and the waxwings were spectacular, well worth the price of
admission.

Tuesday GSBAS Nature Walk 10/25/2016

Today our walk was at Jones Beach west End, near the Coast Guard and Marina. The weather was once again spectacular. Brilliant sunshine and cool temperatures made for a nice walk. The winds were strong out of the north west making for a very clear sky with good visibility.

We started at the hedgerow near the Coast Guard Station and spent some time looking at a variety of sparrows, mixed in with some Yellow-rumped Warblers and Ruby-crowned Kinglets. We then headed over to the median and were almost overrun by Golden-crowned Kinglets. It seemed that every tree had at least two or three jumping around in it.

Then all of a sudden they all disappeared and we noticed over head a flight of Sharp-shinned Hawks patrolling the area hunting for a meal. No wonder they hid.Five Sharpies passed over head in less than a minute. Another benefit to birding at Jones Beach in the fall.

GSBAS Tuesday Nature Walk 10/18/2016

Today's walk was at Avalon Preserve in Stony Brook. It was a gorgeous day for our walk,even though we could use the rain we still enjoyed the morning.

Avalon gives us a mix of habitats, woods and fields and a pond. On starting our walk we spotted a Wood Duck in the main pond. Further up the path at a small man made pond we saw some green frogs and some warblers. There were a couple of Yellow-rumped Warblers drinking in the stream.

Midway through the walk we were led to a Praying Mantis

At the end of our walk we were told of a Ring-necked Pheasant being very cooperative, and he was.

We all got very good looks at a very pretty bird.

GSBAS Tuesday Nature Walk 10/04/2016

In previous years our fall walks at Massapequa Preserve have been less than stellar. Not today though. We had one of our best days there in a long time. Eight of us gathered for the walk at the entrance at Pittsburgh Avenue. As a group we had over thirty species for bird for the morning.

As headed up the path  we encountered groups of birds foraging. There were hundreds of American Robins and  Grey Catbirds everywhere. An isolated group had several Cedar Waxwings again foraging in the trees for berries. Furthee on two distinct groups contained warblers. We saw, Black-throated Green, Yellow-rumped, Northern Parula, Black and White, Blackpoll, and Common Yellowthroat. It also seemed like it was a good day for vireos. There were multiple Red-eyed Vireos all along the path, and we also saw a couple or Blue-headed and White-eyed Vireos.

The highlight was a Scarlet Tanager in a transitional plumage. We discussed that it might be a Summer Tanager but analysis after the trip confirmed it was a Scarlet Tanager. It was a good morning in spite of the sun not peeking out as predicted.