Field Ornithology FJ1

Date: May 24, 2021

Start time/ End time: 6:45am-12:30pm

Location: Jones Beach State Park/ Gilgo Beach Marina

Weather: 60º, cloudy skies, 15mph winds

Habitat: Beach
Ocean side: Atlantic Ocean, 15-20 mph winds, sand and dunes
Bay side: Great South Bay, emerging vegetation, marina with wooden docks, nesting boxes

Species Sighted: 23 total species
Herring Gull
Canada Goose
American Robin
Least tern
American crow
Double-crested Cormorant
Purple Martin
Osprey
Common Tern
Common Grackle
European Starling
Laughing Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Tufted Titmouse
Barn Swallow
Red-winged blackbird
Mallard
Great Blue Heron
Great Black-backed Gull
Killdeer
Chipping Sparrow
Semipalmated Plover
Glossy Ibis

I was able to see osprey nesting out in the marshy areas of the Great South Bay, they were using old wooden dock structures to build their nest on. There were also a good amount of Semipalmated Plover in the protected dune area, about 3-4 groups of about 20 birds each. I was also able to watch a pair of Least Tern in this protected dune area (on the ocean side of Jones Beach). There were also tons of baby Canada Geese, three separate families with 4 babies each.

Posted on May 24, 2021 10:32 PM by hannahleddy