Tom Moran and I left Shoreham at ~ 0745 this morning, with RMSP, JBSP and
Prospect Park on the docket, while really hoping to add the Oceanside Marine
Nature Study Area to the mix. We goofed however, on selecting the order of
these locations, when we choose to hit PP first, where the birds were few and
far between ! Our spirits were temporarily lifted when a passing birder told us
of a Yellow-breasted Chat he had seen earlier in the "Arches" area, which we
were not able to find.
Arriving at the JB Coast Guard Station area, we found many birds (large #'s of
skimmers, many oystercatchers, and a few gulls & terns on the bar) and 2
birders watching them, namely Diana Teta and Gail Dachis (sp?). What I found
most interesting was that while technically, these birds were standing on the
bar, due to the very high tide, their lower tarsus and toes were covered by ~
2" of transparent water - in all the 30 + years I've been coming to this spot,
I've never seen the tide this high. As interesting as this was, the real
highlight of this stop was the news of the Lark Sparrow found at Captree SP
found by Derek Rogers & Mike Scheibel earlier in the day.
Taking leave of the ladies, we proceeded to the upper parking lot at CSP. We
were not long into the "stakeout", before being joined by Beth & Jerry Platt,
members of Huntington-Oyster Bay AS. A short time afterward the LASP "appeared"
near the green dumpster, giving us good looks, before crossing over the parking
lot to near the gray storage box. We last saw it taking a short westerly
flight, landing in the vegetation along the n/s curb-line. This was a new bird
for Tom, as well as for the 2 ladies (non-birders) whose curiosity was rewarded
with such a special species. Whereupon, they pulled out their cell phone, did
some pecking on it, and "saw" what they had just seen ! They then proceeded to
play it's song, which thrilled one of them so much, it caused her to
proclaim..."when I get home I'm changing my phone ring to this" !
Heading out of the park, we came upon The Platts, pulled off the road, out of
their car, and looking through their scopes. Although they hadn't come across
the sparrow again, they did find a close, sun-bathed, adult Merlin, that
allowed them both to get great photos !
As we headed east, the fact that we were not diverted to the OMNSA, did not
loom large anymore ! After leaving Tom off in Shoreham, on my way home to
Riverhead, I again spotted a single Turkey Vulture, flying over Sound Ave,
Wading River in the late afternoon . This makes the 3rd time in the last 2-3
months, if my memory serves me well.
Cheers,
Bob
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