Mount Loretto 7/30--Least Sandpiper

Not nearly as hot as last week at Mount Loretto and, happily, no biting bugs, which may explain the absence of swallows. What explains the absence of blackbirds I have no idea.

The two big ponds on the southwest part of the area were where most of the fun birds were. It was there that I found 2 Least Sandpipers foraging on the mudflats of the southernmost pond (I'm sure these ponds have names, but I don't know them) along with a couple of Killdeer and a Spotted Sandpiper. Great Egrets, Green Heron, Great Blue Heron, and Little Blue Heron were distributed between the 2 ponds and Wood Ducks were squealing on the more hidden pond. A couple of kingbirds and a kingfisher rounded out the entertainment. Lots of kingbirds in evidence today.
28 species at Mount Loretto.
Wood Duck  4
Mallard  4
Double-crested Cormorant  10
Great Blue Heron  1
Great Egret  2
Little Blue Heron  2    One in pond, one f/o
Green Heron  1
Killdeer  2
Spotted Sandpiper  1
Least Sandpiper  2
Laughing Gull  2
Ring-billed Gull  3
Herring Gull  10
Great Black-backed Gull  2
Common Tern  1
Belted Kingfisher  1
Willow Flycatcher  1
Eastern Kingbird  7
Blue Jay  1
American Robin  4
Gray Catbird  7
Northern Mockingbird  8
European Starling  20
Yellow Warbler  1
Common Yellowthroat  4
Song Sparrow  3
Northern Cardinal  1
American Goldfinch  1
A quick breakfast stop at Wolfe's Pond Park added Mute Swan, American Oystercatcher, Tree Swallow and House Sparrow to the day list, while Arden & Gurley Avenues both had Turkey Vultures above and the aptly named Fresh Kills had 2 Ospreys. 

Mount Loretto Unique Area (and I think that designation is unique in New York) was originally owned by the Archdiocese of New York and had an orphanage and a farm on it.  This grotto, overlooking the bay, is the only structure left standing from those days--it is still actively used. The land is now owned by New York.   Can you say, "Separation of Church and State?"