Registrar: Matthew Fischer
Participants : 16
Weather: Few clouds; temperatures 50–57°F; moderate NW breeze; humidity 41-52%
Bird Species: 64
Always very popular, this year’s trip, led by Peter Dorosh, was at capacity and included several younger birders as well as a South African birder in town on business. At Shirley Chisholm, we walked along Hendrix Creek and enjoyed the waterfowl, including Green-winged Teal, American Wigeons, a Pied-billed Grebe, and a Bufflehead, along with Northern Harriers, an American Kestrel and two Belted Kingfishers. We also saw a Fox Sparrow and multiple Purple Finches, including a very cooperative female. At Penn Dock we saw in the distance a huge chaotic commotion caused by hundreds of Larus-type gulls.
Our next stop was the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. We had lunch by the Visitor Center and then tackled the West Pond. At the breach we had an incredible variety of waterfowl, including majestic Northern Pintails, Hooded Mergansers, and Ruddy Ducks. We also had shorebirds, including Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs, as well as Dunlin. We were also treated to a Sharp-shinned Hawk and excellent views of a Bald Eagle—a lifer for many on the trip. Closing out our time at the West Pond, we saw a pair of American Barn Owls, Lesser Scaup, a large flock of American Pipits, and a Eurasian Wigeon with its bold rouge head. Across the street at the East Pond, we had distant views of the long continuing American White Pelican.
While the official agenda was complete at that point, half of the group continued on to the after-party at Floyd Bennett Field, where a Greater White-fronted Goose was spotted. Along with a late Royal Tern, this was the perfect ending for a great day of birding with the legendary Peter Dorosh.
Species List
Greater White-fronted Goose
Brant
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Wood Duck
Northern Shoveler
Gadwall
Eurasian Wigeon
American Wigeon
Mallard
American Black Duck
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Lesser Scaup
Bufflehead
Hooded Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Rock Pigeon
American Coot
Lesser Yellowlegs
Greater Yellowlegs
Dunlin
Ring-billed Gull
American Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Royal Tern
Pied-billed Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Snowy Egret
Great Blue Heron
American White Pelican
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Northern Harrier
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
American Barn Owl <SENSITIVE>
Belted Kingfisher
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
American Kestrel
Peregrine Falcon
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Carolina Wren
European Starling
Northern Mockingbird
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
American Pipit
House Finch
Purple Finch
American Goldfinch
Fox Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-throated Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
Boat-tailed Grackle
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Northern Cardinal
