With the recent rainfall, it was nice to get out and do some birding. Today, I opted for a walk at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. I got to the refuge around 8:30 am and decided to make the East Pond my first stop. On my way towards Big John’s pond, I picked up my FOY(First of the year) Pine Warbler, which was hanging out
with some Yellow-rumped Warblers; in the same vicinity, there were several Eastern Phoebes flitting in and out on the edge of the trail looking for food. At Big John’s, I spotted my first of the year, Black-crowned Night Heron and counted four, two adults and two juveniles. Also on the pond was a pair of Wood Ducks, several Green-winged Teals, Blue-winged Teals, Mallards and Canada Geese. On the East Pond, things were a lot quieter as compared to last week, with Ruddy Ducks, Mute Swans, Double-crested Cormorants, Greater Scaup, Green-winged Teals and Canada Geese being the only action. On my way back to the vistor’s center, I spotted American Goldfinches, Tree Swallows, a Downy Woodpecker, Black-capped Chickadees and 4 Glossy Ibis’ flying overhead.
Back at the visitor’s center, I ran into a former neighbor and avid birder Albert Giordano, who informed me of an Indigo Bunting that was spotted outside the Visitor’s center in the newly mowed meadow. I made my way to the location and found Steve Walters, a naturalist and photographer, who was taking photos of the bird. I stayed back and allowed Steve to get off his shots and when the bird took off I made my way closer to the area. In due time the bird returned and I was able to get excellent looks as well as getting some photographs. I stayed for a while and chatted with Steve, then eventually moved onto the West Pond Trail.
The trail was pretty active with Tree Swallows flying all around looking for nesting sites. However, on the West Pond things were pretty quiet. The usual suspects were present including the Canvasback that I had found last weekend, but nothing unusual. Over on Pumpkin Channel, I did notice a few additional Great Egrets and counted about 4 of them. I made the loop and walked both the North and South Gardens. Both gardens were pretty quiet with the exception of Robins and Red-winged Blackbirds; nevertheless, in the North Garden, I picked up another FOY in a Golden-crowned Kinglet. I wrapped up my walk around 1:30 pm and broke for lunch. I had planned on heading for another spot, but decided against it and instead opted for some garden work in order to take advantage of the good weather. I am glad that I did because I got some much needed work done and with rain in the forecast for the next few days, I needed to take advantage of all the good weather to get the garden in order for the Spring visitors. While working, I kept alert for any birds and I did note some activity. I had a new garden visitor in a Rusty Blackbird. The other visitors included, a pair of Downy Woodpeckers (I am hoping they nest and I see little ones this year), a female Red-bellied Woodpecker, Red-winged Blackbirds, Robins, Cardinals and House Finches.
Yesterday, I was hoping before the Barn Owl work that I could have done some birding at Hempstead Lake Park. I had asked my friend Don Riepe if he was interested and he was all for it on Wednesday but when Thursday came around he instead suggested Forest Park. A subsequent visit there turned up nothing out of the ordinary. Today, I went by myself to Hempstead Lake Park in search of the Prothonotary Warbler that was reported by several birders as being sighted around Schodack Pond. I got to the park around 10:00 am and I headed out for the pond. As I got to the location, I met birders Bob O’Neil and Robert Grover, who were both in search of the same bird. Neither had seen the bird and so we all went off on our separate ways in search for the bird. 
My search took me along the bank of the stream that ran out of Schodack and I quickly picked up both Ruby and Golden-crowned Kinglets. While listening to the various calls, I picked up several Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Palm Warblers and a lone Northern Rough-winged Swallow all FOY (first of the year) birds; however, there was no sign of any Pine or Prothonotary warblers. On my way back, I spotted Bob and Robert hurrying towards me, they had seen the Prothonotary; Robert, had spotted it first and told Bob who in turn was trying to locate me. By the time they found me, it had moved on. Not at all dissuaded, I dug in for the wait comforting myself with the knowledge that the bird was still around. Bob and Robert soon left and I met two other birders Larry and Mike. Mike was reminding me that we had met at 
Jamaica Bay chasing down a Wilson’s Phalarope, when I saw movement in the pond. I quickly got my bins on the location and there it was, the Prothonotary in all its glory. It flew in and out on the edge of the pond, but nowhere near that I could get a decent photo. Since, I had already put in an hour or so, I decided that I would wait it out for a photo. Larry and Mike soon left and I was joined by even more birders, Jim and a delightful gentleman by the name of Ralph Cioffi who had been birding for many, many years and apparently was no longer able to get around very easy. In fact Jim had brought a chair for him to sit by the pond. Ralph was very affable and after chatting with him and learning that it was two years since he had seen a Prothonotary, I decided that I had to get him one today. After about an hour waiting in which I had walked to the beginning of the pond and back. I saw the bird again, this time I got a couple of photos; better yet, I was able to point it out to Ralph who had good looks. While congratulating Ralph, I was joined by another respected birder Sy Schiff; while chatting with Sy, the Prothonotary flew in again and this time I was able to get closer to the edge of the pond and really take in this bird. The looks I had were spectacular and I was able to get several more photos. After about another half an hour or so Sy, who had already birded Jamaica Bay decided he was going to head out and feeling quite pleased with the day’s results I called it a day as well.
