October 18 - Jones Beach & Orchard Beach

This morning at Jones Beach we saw a few woodpecker species in the Downy, Flicker, Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker, Red-Bellied, and Red-Headed Woodpecker.  We had some latish warblers in Palm, Magnolia, and Yellow-Breasted Chat.

Other goodies were Clay-colored Sparrow, Field Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, and Lark Sparrow, and Baltimore Oriole.

At Orchard Beach we checked for Sparrows and I was able to add to my list of New York State Birds in the Nelson's Sparrow !!  

Credit: Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren


Other sparrows we saw were Chipping, White-Throated, White-Crowned, Savannah, and Swamp. We saw three warblers of Common Yellowthroat, Blackpoll Warbler, and a latish Black-Throated Green Warbler.

October 11 - Sandy Hook Sparrows

Today I made a trip to Sandy Hook to see some sparrows.  My primary target was the Nelson's Sparrow, a species that migrates through the coastal marshes in mid-October and through mid-November.
I had not seen this species last fall so a special trip was in order.  I arrived at Sandy Hook at first light and parked in Lot C to make my way toward Plum Island, which is on the Bay Side. The bay eventually forms the Shrewsbury River.  Immediately I saw several of the Nelson's Sparrows, including a bright orange one that is from the Interior Race of this species, and these birds breed in Central Canada.

Other sparrows seen today were Song, Swamp, Savannah, White-Throated, White-Crowned, and a lone Lincoln's.   Along Raccoon Alley, I had a Philadelphia Vireo and a Blue-Headed Vireo.