Storm Chasing Birds on Long Island New York...

Multiple migrant birds in my backyard provided enough motivation for me to put work on hold and head east for some birding in stormy weather (not like I need an excuse to go birding). Jones Beach was my first stop and despite the lack of land birds due to the rain (ponchos rule!), the shorebirds on the spit at the Coast Guard Station were impressive.

I searched for over an hour through the flocks, but could not find anything out of the norm. Hoping for some gull flocks, I began to work the parking lots at Jones Beach. First starting with West End II, which was a bust. Then, I headed out to field 6 where I picked up my first of 4 Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) of the day.

In Zach's Bay, I found a Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria virens), which give me an all too brief look in the open before slinking back into the shrubs.  Its reluctance to show itself in the open was aided by the presence of several hunting birds in the area including this Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) that put on quite a display hunting in the area. *10-19-12 Note: correction on Hawk ID thanks to the sharp eyes of Tom Johnson*

Yet again the Chat Gods smiled on me, this was my 4th Chat of the year. Yes, there is a Chat in this photo, you just have to look hard. Not happy with that look? Then check out this photo taken in my back yard.  I swear it is not a "Cowbird". 

At Tobay Beach, I found an additional 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls in the parking lot all adults (this photo shows 2 out of the 3 with a Great Black-backed Gull in the background). Later on at Robert Moses, I found a Clay-colored Sparrow near the Volley Ball courts, which give me a nice look, but did not stay up long enough for a photograph. It was not a bird filled day, but still an enjoyable one trying to find birds in the storm.

Tags: Lesser Black-backed Gull, Yellow-breasted Chat, Sharp-shinned Hawk,Jones Beach, Robert Moses State Park