While birding the median at West End 2 late this morning, Sue and I encountered a Blackpoll Warbler feeding on the lawn edge with Song and Tree Sparrows. Photos of the bird can be seen at my flickr site. Needless to say, this species should be enjoying the warm South American weather at this time of year. The fact it has survived this long is remarkable. Also present were eleven Red Crossbills, and a continuing White-crowned Sparrow at the hedgerow. On the flats in Jones Inlet were twenty-one American Oystercatchers. Other birders reported a large flock of White-winged Crossbills.
The winter incursion of Red-shouldered Hawks to our area continues, with Sue and I observing our fifth Red-shouldered of the season at Bayard Cutting Arboretum this past Thursday. Our first bird was an adult at Masaapequa Preserve, with subsequent immatures at Southard's Pond, Sunken Meadow S.P., Oak Beach, and the previously mentioned Arboretum bird. In most winters we count ourselves lucky to see one of these handsome raptors. Ken & Sue Feustel http://www.flickr.com/photos/kfeustel/ -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
