Thursday, July 12, 2007

I Love New York! (Western Reef-heron)


As the great Chico Escuela might say, "New York been berra, berra good to me."

I have made 6 birding trips to New York locations this year and I've come away with 5 life birds. Not too shabby! On the flip side, I have gotten ZERO lifers in New Jersey. The most recent NY life bird came this morning on a trip to the now-famous Calvert Vaux Park where a Western Reef-Heron has been seen on and off since Sunday. Beth and I missed it yesterday, but upon hearing about its return, we immediately headed there for a great look at this very rare vagrant bird.

The other life birds I have gotten in New York in 2007:

February 26 - Ivory Gull
June 8 - Henslow's Sparrow
June 9 - Bicknell's Thrush
July 10 - Monk Parakeet

The one trip where I didn't get a lifer was when I tried to see the almost-mythical Smith's Longspur at Jones Beach which basically everyone except Corey and me saw.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

I didn't see the Smith's Longspur either and I was there at Jones Beach with Corey and Mike on that now infamous day.

Patrick B. said...

Maybe it'll make a repeat visit in 2008?

Anonymous said...

Lets see it appears in NYS every what, 30 years or so... So 2037 for the next Smith's Longspur, providing Jones Beach isn't under water by then.

Anonymous said...

But I returned to Jones Beach with Charlie and actually saw the longspur! On the other hand, I'm still crushed about missing the Ivory Gull, so much so that I refuse to chase the reef heron (unless it hangs around a bit longer!)

Congrats, Patrick!

Anonymous said...

I heard about this bird and is a great find for sure! NY does rock!

Larry said...

Looks like you've been doing some great birding!-I need to get going again-I've been hibernating in this latest heat wave.

Beth said...

It was fun, Honey, and I'm glad I got to see it with you. Congrats!