Connetquot State Park

Not every birding foray yields the desired results.  This post could also be titled, "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" since we heard more of that than birds.  However, we were together once again, after a long period of not birding, and that was the important thing.

We started out our afternoon at the McDonald's in Bay Shore because the pond behind usually has the (for us) elusive Black Ducks.  Unfortunately, there were none to be seen, so we headed to Connetquot State Park.  After living our whole lives on Long Island, neither of us had ever been to this park.  So we had great anticipation. 

Our first stop was the pond.  There we saw the usual Canada Geese, Mute Swans, Mallards and a Great Blue Heron.  There were also winter visitors such as Hooded Mergansers and Ring-Necked Ducks.

Hooded Merganser

It was the pond that yielded all the rewards.  Once we began our trek around the pond and through the woods, there was not a bird to be seen and only one to be heard, a Black-Capped Chickadee.  And aside from a few Crows and one lone unidentifiable hawk, flying at a very high altitude and very fast, this was the only bird I was able to snap a picture of.........

Southwest Jet

We certainly had time to bond since we weren't doing much birding.  It took us longer to get to the other side of the pond than expected, the trail being about 3.5 miles.  Since the sun was beginning to set, we were happy when we finally rounded the bend to head back.  It was at that point that one of us, I won't mention who, (not Ar), realized that she lost her sunglasses!  Now we had to back track about a quarter mile, but successfully recovered them.  Now our fear of being in the park after dark set in and we had to greatly pick up the pace.

Ar heading into the sunset.

We were hoping to see or hear an owl since dusk was quickly approaching.  No owls, but many deer.  We saw about 12.  Here's one........

Our legs carried us to the entrance just before dark.  Though the birds were few, the bonding was great.  We returned home, tired and happy.

Backyard Birding from my Hammock

As this year come's to an end, I can look back on the few lucid or happy moments that I've spent bird watching.

It's hard to know where to begin, but these are the photo's I found on my camera spanning from the few peaceful summer moments in my hammock to Ocean City Maryland in the fall and then the first snow upstate.

Juvenile Hairy Woodpecker

I had the privilege to see a baby Hairy Woodpecker perhaps at his first experience on a bird feeder.  






 I was happy to be in the right place at the right time.  When mother and son made their way to my backyard on my feeder.                                    

Beautiful sighting

So as the day wore on I had a few more visitors at my feeders.

Chipmunks

Cardinal

Red-Winged Blackbird

 

Northern Flicker

Somehow that warm summer day in the hammock soon became a fall day in Ocean City Maryland with my fellow birder San.  We saw many birds on the beach, it was very peaceful.  We spent the early morning hours searching for shells up and down the beach.  Always looking for that intact Conch shell which proved to be very elusive just like when San and I were looking for a Cedar Waxwing at Hoyt Farm.

Ocean City Maryland

Somehow that warm summer day in the hammock soon became a fall day in Ocean City Maryland with my fellow birder San.  We saw many birds on the beach, it was very peaceful.  We spent the early morning hours searching for shells up and down the beach.  Always looking for that intact Conch shell which proved to be very elusive just like when San and I were looking for a Cedar Waxwing at Hoyt Farm.

Sometimes life gets in the way!

Our dreams and desires can get sidetracked by life itself.  This blog is a case in point.  Our love of birding has gotten shelved due to the unexpected angste of everyday life.  The love of birding is still there, we just have not been able to rise to the birding occasion.  Time will, no doubt, afford us opportunities in the future to get back on track.  In the meantime, Ar and I were able to do a little birding, unofficially, in Ocean City, Maryland.  Here is a few of our birding shots.

Royal Tern

Franklin's Gull

Turkey Vulture

There was a pair of pelicans that did a fly-by everyday.

Brown Pelicans

Also on the beach the Sanderlings were abundant.  They were so busy looking for food that, on occasion, they had to take a little snooze right on the beach!

Sanderling

We thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Ocean City.  Who knows, with global warming, perhaps these birds will come to reside on Long Island year-round!

Good Eyes!!!

The photo below is thanks to Angel, Dali, and Ariana in the field last Friday.  While searching for sheep in the ministry, they came across this baby Cedar Waxwing!  While Cedar Waxwings are here year round, I have only ever seen two.  Ar and I have been trying to spot one together so we could add it to our list.  It hasn't been easy.  So when Angel sent me this picture, I just had to put it on the blog. 

Thanks for being so observant!

Birding and Bonding and Beaching!

Haven't done much birding of late, but we were able to do some "gull spotting" as we chilled on the beach yesterday.  It was the last day of our three day heat wave and the ocean breeze felt good.

Saw the always present Herring Gull.  This photo is of a slightly immature one.  They are here all year long.

Immature Herring Gull

Surprisingly, the Ring-Billed Gull was ever present.  Surprising because according to the good, old Peterson's Field Guide, they only winter on Long Island.  Perhaps their range is changing.  If we find they are here year round, we will add them to our list.

Ring -Billed Gull

Another year round gull that is already on our list is the Great Black-Backed Gull.  Here he is below.

Great Black-Backed Gull

The fourth gull we saw is a summer resident on Long Island.  It's year round range is further south and in the Gulf of Mexico.  It is the Laughing Gull.  We saw adults and juveniles.  Below are some pictures.

Adult Laughing Gull

Adult and two juveniles

So while we mainly went to the beach to bond, we were able to get some birding in as well!  Until next time....