I started the morning walking in the drizzle at Sunken Meadow State Park(Suffolk County). My first stop was the dirt lot at the NW corner of Field 2 to look for the reported Clay-colored Sparrow. When I arrived it was very quiet and no birds were to be found. I waited a few minutes and proceeded to walk around the entire lot. When I got back to where I originally started I flushed two sparrows up into the high grass. Upon inspection, I was looking at both the Clay-colored Sparrow and a Swamp sparrow. They quickly dropped back down to the ground and continued to feed. While watching the Clay-colored I heard a rather loud distinct "chink." I turned around and saw a large blue bird perched on top of one of the shrubs across the way. I lifted my bins and found myself staring at a male Blue Grosbeak. He didn't stay very long, as I tried moving a little closer he flew overhead and deep into the field(if you want to call it that). The only other birds were 2 Song Sparrows. When I left the lot, the Clay-colored was still feeding.
Next, I hiked the Inner Marsh trail. There was very little activity. The only birds of note were 4 Purple Finch, 1 Wood Thrush, 7 species of warbler, 22+Wood Ducks, and a Blue-winged Teal hen dabbling on the last pond along the trail. By the time I was done and heading back to my car, the drizzling stopped completely. Eastern Phoebes and a Sharp-shinned Hawk were the last birds I seen while exiting the park. Vinny Pellegrino picasaweb.com/vinnypelle East Northport, NY "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you've imagined." -Henry David Thoreau -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --