From one Wildlife Refuge to Another

     I had a nice long weekend, had a lot planned, and of course was able to get in some birding among it all. After the rain, Thursday I visited Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge before going to a Mets game (and watching who flew over and through Citi Field) with a few bird friends, we naturally went to the Cardinals game. On Sunday, Tim joined me in visiting Shawangunk Wildlife Refuge which I have only visited in the winter. What a treat in the warmer months, it probably gets quite hot, easily as there is no respite from the sun. The wildflowers growing in the open grasslands though are beautiful!
     What a great weekend, zero complaints about these sights.

A female Eastern Towhee , usually quite secretive, it is usually the males who catch your eye. She is beautiful in those warm, chocolate colors.

Another female bird, while the male sat out and sang nearby, this female yellow warbler was working on her nest.

Yellow warblers nest at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, they are very common there in breeding season. You see and hear them nearly everywhere you go.

A fresh rain puddle is a special treat when nearly everything around you is salt water.
This catbird is having an extra great afternoon.

Song sparrows were busy foraging in the grasses that have come to seed.

Hiding among the tallest grasses are common yellow throats (like this lady here) and house wrens, they nest in the grasses and tangles of vines.

views of these birds are usually between blades of grass as they perch vertically.

Spotted a very late long-tailed duck on the west pond.

A great egret tries for a new fishing spot near the West Pond.

had a fun, atypical view of a cedar waxwing as it went all out on its preening.

Before leaving I enjoyed some nice looks at the resident house finches at the feeders.

LOOK AT THAT TONGUE!!!!!!

At Shawangunk, one thing was for sure, it's full of bobolinks.
Grasslands are a special habitat and they are often hard to come by in these parts. So this refuge maintains this habitat which is attractive for so many species that depends on these open fields full of grasses and wildlflowers.

Granted, most grassland views of things are through grass, and the grass is (at this time of year) as tall as yourself, sometimes slightly taller.

Edit: So. This is NOT a grasshopper sparrow, as I got really excited hearing the calls and seeing this FEMALE BOBOLINK. Damn.

This bobolink has a yummy snack!

What a lovely outing to get this life bird, enjoy the wildflowers, a slew of bobolinks, and a smattering of Eastern meadowlarks, all three of which I was really hoping to see.
And later, we got a nice (and always delicious) family dinner at DPNB in Nyack. I HIGHLY recommend the lavender honey gelato to finish your meal.
There is something very satisfying about seeking out specific birds and finding them all!

Land and Water at Jamaica Bay

     Today I did some birding on land and in the water. By land, I walked a bit of the West Pond at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. Then, I got my kayak in the water from the northeastern beach on Broad Channel's North Channel and explored Elder's Point. I enjoyed getting my kayak in the water for the first time this year, worked in some good blisters on my hands from paddling!

A house wren wonders why I have to always eavesdrop on their singing.

I saw this turtle moving fast from afar, crossing the trail. Terrapins are active an on the move. Saw so many out in the water today! It is always a special treat to see them out on the trails. I love their back feet!

A willow flycatcher. I was able to mis-id and then id properly. Recording and listening to its song helped. For Empid flycatchers, its the best way to help you get an identification of the correct species. 

The yellow warblers were singing like there is no tomorrow.

So were the common yellow throats....

and the house wrens.

The Canada goose goslings are starting to get into that awkward stage...

This one is 100% there.

A judgmental song sparrow.

The best photo ever.
Also, a house wren is actually using the house wren box.
In my time at the marsh I had the chance to introduce two folks from the west coast to horseshoe crabs and diamondback terrapins. I love meeting people out in the field and sharing in nature.

I took to my kayak and paddled out to some of the marshy islands of Elders Point. These black-crowned night herons kept a low profile among the loud gulls.
I switched to the 300mm lens, I'm not risking the 500mm on the water. Especially with how heavy that thing is... or how much it costs.

It was nice to be one with the herring gulls.

This nice flock of glossy ibis flew in and disappeared in the grasses of the island.

I enjoyed traveling around here in my Kayak as there was not a lot of boat traffic through the shallow waters. If one does take to a kayak in these areas it is important to remember not to land on any of these areas as they are protected for wildlife that lives upon them.

And then there was an osprey brawl. Two birds were on a nest, when a third came soaring near, one of the pair took off in pursuit. It was very impressive.

And then, that bird from the nest, with rage in its eyes went after every single cormorant.

Giving impressive chase, you would know it was going after one because you'd hear this "burp" sound that was just a cormorant exclaiming expletives as it avoided the talons.

I have never seen an osprey fly fast in a straight line, always soaring, and if anything fast, it's a dive. But this bird had beef with anything near its nest, it even made me paddle  a good distance around its platform on the island.

This moment is everything.
Taking photos from a boat is very precarious. You have to stay balanced, the current carries you (faster than you think) and every thing moves. So capturing this, while not crisp, really was what that moment was. I bet this all played out as a blur for that cormorant too!

The egrets too were frisky, these snowies having a bouncing, screaming squabble in the grasses.

I WILL SQUISH YOU.

While the egret show was going on, I enjoyed some semipalmated sandpipers before making my way back. I look forward to more paddling out this way, as there is so much to explore!

Beach Birds

     It's beach season! And Beach birding season. All my favorite!

     I took Friday to Visit Nickerson Beach and the Oceanside Nature Study Area out in Long Island and then took Saturday morning to visit Plumb Beach. Added a few more year birds onto my list and looking forward to more and more shorebirds to come!

     I usually look forward to visit Nickerson to gawk and have my heart melt over baby terns and plovers, thankfully, there were plenty of oystercatcher chicks to make my heart explode to amke up for the fact I am a touch early for other chickies.

Always a fun treat, black skimmers awkwardly on the ground. A heavy rain fell the night before, so there was a nice freshwater puddle and the birds were all over it, bathing, drinking, and wading. Black skimmers are like fighter jets in the air, but on the ground, they are almost comical.
But I love them nonetheless!

The best little beach nugget: piping plover.
These are a favorite of mine, can't wait for their babies!

A handsome sanderling, running among the waves in its breeding plumage.

Are all ruddy turnstone feet/legs black and orange?! I thought they were just orange...

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!

YESSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!

BABY OYSTERCATCHERS!!!!!!!!

LOOK AT THOSE FRESH BEHBEH FEET!

I enjoyed watching this family from a respectable distance. I watched as the babies obeyed their parents, They waited at the high tide line while their parents foraged in the surf. With a yell from a parent, the babies went flat to the sand, taking cover and staying frozen until their parents returned. I made sure to never walk between chicks and parents and I waited until they were reunited before continuing my walk.
The babies are SUPER CUTE, and many people come to the beach hoping to see them, but it is also super important to be respectful. So please, remember to share the beach and if you like taking photos, that long lens is long so you can stay back. Please be considerate.

If you're wondering how bird feathers are waterproof, meet the preenal gland or uropygial gland. Squeeze it like a zit, and that oil can be used to waterproof your feathers!

MELT.

Know what's exciting? Finding a roseate tern among the common terns!

Here are some terns making some (cute) babies!
Good job, you're doing great

Easiest way to differentiate is that black, super pointy bill on the roseate.

After Nickerson, I stopped at the Oceanside Nature Study Area.
Best sight was a balt eagle being dived by a peregrine AND pursued by osprey.
But also delightful, tree swallows!

I was so excited to have been super patient, listening to what felt like a super close clapper rail. And my patience paid off. I took 40 pictures. This is the only clear one. Go figure.
I love clapper rails, they are so rewarding to see especially just on your own.
I was disappointed to see a photographer using playback to lure the rails out of hiding. It was also frustrating for me, because I realized I kept hearing their playback and not an actual bird. So seeing this bird without using any tools to lure them out was very rewarding and also, just feels so much better to know you aren't bugging the bird.

 On Saturday I went to Plumb Beach while my husband went for a run. Enjoyed a large number of birds, mainly semipalmated sandpipers but also a few others in the mix, like this willet!

A nice comparison. The chunkier, larger bird on the left is (I am fairly sure) a sanderling while the bird on the right is a semipalmated sandpiper.

Another chance to see a clapper rail. Lucky to get this good a look!

Many loaves of semipalmated sandpiper.

Some comical copulation among the laughing gulls.
I'd love to know where their babies are. I bet they too are quite precious.

The whole cheer squad? Perhaps.

Inside the marsh at Plumb were a small group of very handsome semipalmated plovers.  Shore birds are fun to observe as they are very forgiving, they might flush up, but they come right back. If you stay calm, they will practically run over your toes. But it is also important to remember they are on the beach and to not give chase to individuals or destroy their nests.