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Description
The western end of Jones Beach Island is a relatively flat expanse of land, surrounded on the north, west, and south by Zach's Bay, Jones Inlet, and the Atlantic Ocean. This location contains many different habitats, including sand dunes, salt marsh, maritime forest, and shoreline/jetty. The winter is the best time to visit, as Snowy Owl and various alcids, ducks, and rare songbirds, such as White-winged Scoter, Razorbill, Horned Lark, and Lapland Longspur are common here.
In the spring, warblers and other songbirds will migrate through the area, and this season marks the arrival of the summer shorebirds, notably Piping Plover and American Oystercatcher. During the summer, the spring arrivals will breed and raise chicks in the area, and will allow you to observe them from a respectable distance. The fall/autumn migration also brings interesting birds, such as Whimbrel, thousands of Tree Swallow, and the first of Yellow-rumped Warbler.
Details
Access
The area is on the southern barrier beaches of Long Island, directly south of Freeport, where the closest train station is located. The location is not directly accessible by public transit, and will require a taxi or rideshare to access. It is accessible through the Meadowbrook State Parkway, driving south until reaching the island, then making a right towards the Jones Beach Energy and Nature Center, where parking is located. 2-3 hours is needed to bird the area, as the walk is about 3 miles in length. It is best to explore the area on foot, since cars and bicycles are likely to get stuck in the sand.