Courtship Dance of Least Terns and Marsh Makers at Rocky Point

All right, it took me more than overnight to put these up. After my morning at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, I went to Breezy Point with my friend Andrea. First we walked along the ocean side of Breezy. There were several black bellied plovers, seagulls and willets. But the best were seeing the 3 American Oystercatcher chicks. Too cute!


After lunch we walked along the Bay from the  Bay House toward the bridge. It was a beautiful day. As we were walking along we came to the Marsh at Rocky Point. This was a favorite of ours last year. We would check on the willets that were nesting there. We didn't see any willets but through our binoculars we saw a young man who looked to be cleaning up the marsh: Our hint he was wearing waders, long rubber gloves and hauling wood junk. Now I had heard of a couple of days this spring when some groups helped out to clean up the marsh but I didn't have any idea that someone was volunteering to do this on an ongoing basis. Anyway the young man started toward us so we waited and greeted him. Shervin started the project of cleaning up the marsh in November of 2010. He has a blog that follows the progress of the marsh cleanup. This is very exciting and Andrea and I will be helping out at the next volunteer day you can bet. You can view Shervin's blog at marshmakers.blogspot.com

After meeting Shervan we continued our walk. We saw several Black-bellied Plover, Ruddy Turnstone, Great Egret, Green Heron, Least Terns, Brant Geese, Merganzer, Oystercatcher and Spotted Sandpipers.


Spotted Sandpiper (Actitus macularia)

    

Semipalmated plover



Herring Gulls (acting like the Doublemint Twins)

America Oystercatcher (Haematopus pallistus)

 

The best part of the walk was the courtship of least terns that we observed. I wish I had video for the first time, but I think you'll get the idea.

Birds

Haven't gotten out the last two weekends. So here are a few other shots.

semipalmated sandpipers

Oystercatchers

Tree swallows

Shore Birds: Eggs, Nests and Chicks

Had a wonderful walk at Breezy Point on Saturday with my friend Andrea.  Just to be walking on the beach on a sunny but cool day was so relaxing, and the birds were spectacular!
Nesting Tern

The greeting committee as you enter the beach! They actually are not shy about sh-- on you....

These two Black Skimmers could be  Football Refs: Score!!! 

Sanderling changing to breeding plumage

Oystercatcher parents and chicks

3 Oystercatcher chicks

The eggs were sometimes just laying on the beach, well out of the nesting restricted area, so you had to watch where you were walking.

Piping Plover

Black Skimmers

New Arrivals at Jamaica Bay

Last Saturday I took a walk around the West Pond of Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge with a friend. I had not been for a couple of weeks, so I wanted to see what new migrants had come back.
Nesting Canadian Goose


There was so much to see. I love shore birds and Glossy Ibis, Foster's Terns, Boneparte's Gulls, and Oystercatchers were present. There were Northern Shovelers and Green-Winged Teal and plenty of Ruddy ducks. On the back side we saw a male Yellow Warbler, White-Throated Sparrows and I think a Hermit Thrush (picture below-but not too clear).



Oystercatchers (love those orange eyes and bill)

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I think this is a Hermit Thrush

Foster's Tern

A bunch of Foster's Terns hanging out with a couple of Boneparte's Gulls.

In Flight

Golden-Crowned Kinglet, Jones Beach Boat Basin

I did a little birding this weekend visiting a favorite place, Jamaica Bay, and trying out some new places, Jones Beach Boat Basin and Oceanside Marine Nature Study area. I saw a pair of Clapper Rails at the Marine Nature Study area. They ran out of the berm and then just as quickly disappeared back under it, not to be seen for the rest of the afternoon, although I heard them once.

Tree Swallows, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
Oystercatcher, Jones Beach Boat Basin

Osprey, Marine Nature Study Area
Osprey launch, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge

Mute Swan, Jamaica Bay Wildlife

Canadian Geese, Jones Beach Boat Basin