I joined my local Audubon chapter today for a walk at the Massapequa preserve, THE best place on the Long Island to see Wilson's Snipes. it also can be good for migrants, and great for typical woodland species, but neither were in abundance today.
At the reliable pond, a snipe was quickly found, and I found a second one. But I wasn't done shorebirding yet - among the numerous yellowlegs of both species were a smattering of dowitchers. I had planned on seeing Long-billed here at this inland location. If I got Long-billed Dowitcher and the snipe, I would have only two other eastern shorebirds left on my wishlist for the year (Marbled Godwit and American Golden-Plover). I eventually did get a good look at a cooperative juvenile that was indeed a Long-billed. Two state birds for me actually as well.
Other notables were few, but Green Heron, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Blackpoll Warbler and Swamp Sparrow qualified.
For dowitcher identification, Karlson, O'Brien and Crossley's The Shorebird Guide is a valuable resource, with easy-to-understand writing and exceptional photos.
At the reliable pond, a snipe was quickly found, and I found a second one. But I wasn't done shorebirding yet - among the numerous yellowlegs of both species were a smattering of dowitchers. I had planned on seeing Long-billed here at this inland location. If I got Long-billed Dowitcher and the snipe, I would have only two other eastern shorebirds left on my wishlist for the year (Marbled Godwit and American Golden-Plover). I eventually did get a good look at a cooperative juvenile that was indeed a Long-billed. Two state birds for me actually as well.
Other notables were few, but Green Heron, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Blackpoll Warbler and Swamp Sparrow qualified.
For dowitcher identification, Karlson, O'Brien and Crossley's The Shorebird Guide is a valuable resource, with easy-to-understand writing and exceptional photos.
