Hempstead Lake State Park had an interesting variety of critters out and about today. Frogs and turtles were sunning themselves in abundance, and there were three large SNAPPING TURTLES seen. Chipmunks are out, and about joining the local squirrels. Plenty of vireos (Warbling and Red-eyed), swallows, orioles, blackbirds, flycatchers (Great Crested and Kingbird), and gnatcatchers were present. Lots of territorial defense and males chasing each other. Warbler diversity was low: a few Yellows, an unseen CHESTNUT-SIDED who was heard singing only once, and a very active and conspicuous BLACKPOLL WARBLER. As I walked the grassy area between the south lake and the small pond, I was surprised to see a tern gracefully floating south, vaguely along Peninsula Blvd. I was more surprised to see that it was fairly large and stocky, very pale, with a short, streamer-less tail. I realized it was something a bit out of the ordinary and glimpsed a dark bill as the bird veered away: GULL-BILLED TERN. It was quickly lost from sight as it flew over the tree tops, no doubt headed back to the coast. I walked to the road and scanned the usual flock of gulls, finding Herring, Great Black-backed, Ring-billed, and a single LAUGHING GULL. There was a handful of FORSTER'S TERNS flying over the water beyond them, so I took the eastern lake edge trail and got some closer views of them and several Ospreys. Also witnessed a scuffle between some Tree Swallows and a Hairy Woodpecker who attempted to enter their nest hole. I checked out the hidden, vegetation-choked pond as a final stop and found a handsome male WOOD DUCK before heading home.
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S23386429 -Tim Healy -- 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/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/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/ --
