Jones Beach – Unplanned Birding 11-18-12

 

I’m, of course, still struggling with shorebird identification, but I am pretty sure that these are Black-bellied Plovers and Dunlin.

On Sunday afternoon, Tricia and I made an impromptu visit to Jones Beach. We were heading back to Goshen after celebrating my little sister’s 40th birthday at the Irish Times Pub in Holbrook, Long Island the night before. A skein of Brant flying over changed our plans in a hurry – I was really itching to do some birding. Tricia was on the phone with her sister at the time and she told us how to get to Jones Beach.

We had a really good afternoon of birding. We saw many species and were able to identify the following:

  • Canada Goose
  • Brant
  • Mallard
  • Greater Scaup
  • Red-breasted Merganser
  • Red-throated Loon
  • Common Loon
  • Norther Harrier
  • Sharp-shinned Hawk
  • Red-tailed Hawk
  • American Kestrel
  • Merlin
  • Black-bellied Plover
  • Oystercatcher
  • Dunlin
  • Ring-billed Gull
  • Herring Gull
  • Great Black-backed Gull
  • Mourning Dove
  • Norther Flicker
  • American Crow
  • Black-capped Chickadee
  • Red-breasted Nuthatch
  • American Robin
  • Northern Mocking Bird
  • Yellow-rumped Warbler
  • Savannah Sparrow
  • Northern Cardinal
  • Red Crossbills
  • White-winged Crossbills
  • American Goldfinch

I had a pretty good day with the camera – I managed to get pretty good exposures on almost all my photographs. I have thought about it and I think there are a couple of reasons. The first is that the light was pretty steady, there were no clouds moving through or anything else to change the light significantly. The second is that I think I am getting better at making the proper adjustments. I was also making adjustments as I photographed certain birds, getting several shots that were lighter as well as some darker ones.

It really was a very exciting day of birding, I am having trouble deciding on my highlight.  It was a lot of fun to bird in a different location because we got to see so many birds that we don’t normally get to see. I am pretty sure that it is not anything special to see loons at Jones Beach, but it was a thrill for me. Same for the Brant. The Crossbills were very exciting too – life birds for me, but I think getting such a close look at the Merlin was probably my favorite part of the afternoon. Because we don’t get to see them very often,  Tricia’s highlight was seeing all the shorebirds as we walked along the beach.

I’m not much better with gulls…I think this is a juvenile Herring Gull. Please comment if you know!
We saw several Common Loons. This one was hunting very close to the shore, definitely as close as I’ve ever been to a loon.
A Common Loon in flight. Jones Beach 11-18-12
I really enjoyed seeing the Brant.
A puffed up Red-breasted Nuthatch.
It was so exciting seeing this Merlin – what a beautiful bird!
Red Crossbills at Jones Beach. There are a lot of birders and photographers around – when the crossbills landed in a good, close spot, an obnoxious photographer barreled over with his humungous lens and tripod and scared them off…
…fortunately, when we got back to the car the tree next to the car was filled with Red and White-winged Crossbills. This is a male White-winged Crossbill.
Female Red Crossbill at Jones Beach, 11-18-12.
Black-bellied Plovers and Dunlin in flight. Jones Beach 11-18-12.

5 thoughts on “Jones Beach – Unplanned Birding 11-18-12”

  1. Oh my – looks like you had a fabulous time and your photos are getting better and better! Thanks for sharing! 🙂

      1. Very very cool Matt. I love that you got to do something you LOVE while coming down for my birthday. I love your passion for the birds and it’s amazing how quickly you mastered the camera and all the functions. You are amazing!!

  2. Matt,
    Great shots, and you are correct on all your identifications. I am envious of you Red-crossbill shots. I have wanted that bird for Sullivan County for years and it just eludes us. Glad you had a great day. John

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