Birding yesterday at EPCAL and Laurel Lake today

[jle...@gmail.com]

I was so disappointed.  I went to the western edge of the old runways and I didn't not have one Grasshopper Sparrow and no Meadowlarks.  Only one FIELD and CHIPPING SPARROWS and MOCKERS. Riverhead Township is destroyed EPCAL with cars making new rut ways on the edges, car racing with oil and gas on the runways, industries growing and the garbage strewn everywhere.  Trees are getting taller and new ones taking shape. It was cease being a grassland soon. As I was walking out, I saw many workers, men and women and equipment.  I asked what was going on and the reply was a controlled burn of the DEC Forestry across the street at Preston Pond Complex. I think it's the wrong time for nesting species. I have no use for the DEC. They allowed the mini-trains to occupy Moore's Woods.  They allowed cars destroy in Hurricane Sandy to be stored at EPCAL. I was going to go into Preston Ponds but decided to go to Drew Tower at the opposite end before went to Peconic River Herb Farm to get my kitchen herbs. There I had one GRASSHOPPER SPARROW. I witnessed TREE SWALLOWS fly at a MOCKINGBIRD, trying to get the Mocker out of his skies!  I also had a BLUEBIRD fly across the field. 

Today I went to Laurel Lake Preserve.  I was in Mattituck at my niece's house delivering a steak to my grand niece and I had been to Laurel Lake for years.  I was hopping for SCARLET TANAGER and PEWEE.  Years of knowledge bought me there to get these species.  I walked a while and turned around to get to the parking lot, taking a different paths back I heard both species!  Both Year Birds.  I had a few Warblers, Prairie, Common Yellow, Yellow and Pine.  It disturbs me I didn't have Chickadee nor Song Sparrow.  One note, I saw an Osprey nest on a tall pole in the Suffolk County Water Authority property. 

I'll be leading a walk at Jack Levin on Friday.