When we arrived I checked the places I had seen it before, but it was not there. There was a pleasant amount of bird activity about though, and we enjoyed nice activity of small birds though being subtly disappointed by their not being our intended quarry. Of these birds Fox Sparrow was particularly nice to see, while Carolina Wren was loud and nice to hear. The usual suspects were also augmented by Golden Crowned Kinglets and a Hairy Woodpecker
While searching, we caught the attention of a newbee photographer who was aware of the unusual interest in something in the park. She inquired of us if we were also looking for it, and we conversed, asking too, if she had seen it. She had, but much further along the path the day before, and as we walked that way later, with her somewhat ahead of us, she called out to us that it was present there.
It posed as well as any manic warbler is want to do, and I took some shots. What a bird! And to think it took me until 1992 in Noodge Errsey to get my lifer, and until 2000 to see one in New York, well that gives some perspective on how special it is that this bird seems to have expanded its range to Long Island. Yay! With one seen in 2012 in Alley Pond park, and then one in 2013 and 2014 in Connetquot State Park, they seem to be more regular. But why take chances, I wanted to see it again now!
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| Yellow-throated Warbler |
Satisfied with our looks, we alerted later arriving birders of its whereabouts, and then headed to Broad Channel and Jamaica Bay to find the elusive Blue-wing Teal. This bird is so flighty that you have to be at the right spot at the right time at this time of the year to connect with them. Boat-tailed Grackles and Laughing Gulls were year birds for Pelican, but no teals did we find. And the Barn Owl was anti-social as well. But we did enjoy Osprey, Shoveler, and Snow Geese.
We moved on to Jones Beach where the wind decided it needed exercise. A beautiful day in sheltered areas was a bit more uncomfortable in the hard blowing gusts. We made it to the blind at west end 1, but the Teals and Black Ducks were very wary, more so than usual, and we could not look through them without spooking them. A descent trail to that area is needed.
Walking back to the car we scared up a Meadowlark, and a few Butter-butts, but it was devoid of any targets or new arrivals. Good numbers of Piping Plovers at the sand spit by the coast guard station was welcome, and I hope they will join the Bald Eagles in their apparent breeding success.
Our final stop was Fuch’s Pond, where we sought the Louisiana Waterthrush. Phil and I dipped on it when we tried, and adding insult to injury, two reports had the bird where we diligently looked, but after we had departed.
On arrival this day we met up with Aiden Perkins and his dad, the very young ~and~ very good birder who hosted a Bohemian Waxwing in his back yard some time ago. They pointed the bird out to us and also told us where they had Rusty Blackbirds. Of course I / we lingered too long and had to make excessive haste to drop Pelican off and get to my office for an appointment. We succeeded on many fronts, save the teal, but another excellent day birding was had nevertheless.
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| Louisiana Waterthrush |
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