A large group gathered on the steps of Belvedere Castle in Central Park overlooking the Great Lawn to look for late migrating raptors. The ongoing drought has increased the risk of forest fires; one burning in the New Jersey Palisades generated smoke that may have caused migrants to alter their flight paths. While five raptor species were seen, no eagles, our target species, were spotted during the watch. At least five Red-tailed Hawks and three Peregrine Falcons were seen, but we could not rule out the possibility that these were local birds that nested in Manhattan this year. The most exciting sighting of the day was a Merlin repeatedly attacking a Cooper’s Hawk over Turtle Pond.
Species List
Birds Wood Duck Northern Shoveler Mallard Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) American Herring Gull Great Blue Heron Cooper’s Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Northern Flicker American Kestrel Merlin Peregrine Falcon Blue Jay Golden-crowned Kinglet European Starling Brown Thrasher American Robin Cedar Waxwing American Goldfinch Dark-eyed Junco Eastern Towhee Red-winged Blackbird Common Grackle Odonata Autumn Meadow Hawk
Registrar: Steve Holleran Participants: 41 Weather: A blissful fall day with temperatures in the 60s Bird Species: 49
On a splendid autumn morning we set out in three groups to explore the Ramble and nearby areas of the Park. Our combined observations added up to 49 species of birds, with seven New World sparrows, a Purple Finch, and late–lingering warblers, including distant but convincing views of an Orange-crowned Warbler. We were also gladdened by signs that the Tufted Titmice and Black-capped Chickadees are returning.
Species List
Canada Goose Northern Shoveler Mallard Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) Mourning Dove Ring-billed Gull American Herring Gull Cooper’s Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Eastern Phoebe Blue-headed Vireo Blue Jay American Crow Black-capped Chickadee Tufted Titmouse Ruby-crowned Kinglet Golden-crowned Kinglet White-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Winter Wren Carolina Wren European Starling Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird Hermit Thrush American Robin House Sparrow Purple Finch Chipping Sparrow Fox Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Eastern Towhee Common Grackle Ovenbird Orange-crowned Warbler Common Yellowthroat Northern Parula Blackpoll Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Palm Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Northern Cardinal
A small group of enthusiastic bird photographers met at the north end of Central Park to practice bird photography techniques. We had beautiful light, mild fall weather, and a lovely backdrop of foliage to bring out our creativity. Almost immediately a cooperative Palm Warbler hopped out and offered looks for several minutes at the edge of the pool. A Blue-headed Vireo near the boardwalk offered more of a challenge, but also granted several opportunities to try for a shot. Everyone came away with some camera tips as well as inspiration for their next outing.
Species List
Canada Goose Wood Duck Northern Shoveler Gadwall Mallard Green-winged Teal Mourning Dove American Woodcock Red-tailed Hawk Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Eastern Phoebe Blue-headed Vireo Blue Jay Tufted Titmouse Ruby-crowned Kinglet Golden-crowned Kinglet White-breasted Nuthatch Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird Hermit Thrush American Robin House Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Brown-headed Cowbird Northern Waterthrush Black-throated Blue Warbler Palm Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler
It was one of the first chilly days of the autumn migration season, but a large group of birders dug out their fall jackets and joined the walk. We divided into three groups and visited the Ramble, Sparrow Rock, the Reservoir, Shakespeare Garden, and Belvedere Castle.
We were happy to see that winter species are starting to return, including Northern Shoveler, Hooded Merganser, Black-capped Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, Dark-eyed Junco, Tufted Titmouse, and White-throated Sparrow. Warblers were still moving through, and nine species were seen today, with Black-throated Blue and Yellow-rumped Warblers present in good numbers.
Species List
Canada Goose Wood Duck Northern Shoveler Mallard Hooded Merganser Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) Mourning Dove Yellow-billed Cuckoo Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Double-crested Cormorant Black-crowned Night Heron Great Blue Heron Turkey Vulture Sharp-shinned Hawk Cooper’s Hawk Bald Eagle Red-tailed Hawk Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker American Kestrel Eastern Phoebe Blue-headed Vireo Blue Jay American Crow Black-capped Chickadee Tufted Titmouse Ruby-crowned Kinglet Golden-crowned Kinglet White-breasted Nuthatch Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Winter Wren Carolina Wren European Starling Gray Catbird Swainson’s Thrush Hermit Thrush Wood Thrush American Robin House Sparrow House Finch American Goldfinch Chipping Sparrow Field Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco White-crowned Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Eastern Towhee Common Grackle Ovenbird Black-and-white Warbler Common Yellowthroat Hooded Warbler Cape May Warbler Northern Parula Magnolia Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Palm Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Northern Cardinal
We had a beautiful fall day for our annual field trip to Floyd Bennet Field, guided by leader extraordinaire, Rob Jett. The walk started in the area just north of Aviator Sports, where we kept our eyes peeled for sparrows and other migrating grassland species. We then proceeded into the North Forty, where we saw dozens of American Robins, as well as Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglets, Yellow-rumped Warblers, woodpeckers, and several raptors, including two late Ospreys.
After leaving the northern part of the area, we saw multiple American Kestrels, some eating field crickets off the pavement; a Northern Harrier; a large flock of Brown Cowbirds; a murder of American Crows; and other passerines. At the community garden we were thrilled to spot a Mourning Warbler and a White-crowned Sparrow. Sadly, we saw that someone had wrapped sticky tape around the tree trunks south of the garden in a misguided effort to trap Spotted Lanternflies. Three dead Brown Creepers were found stuck to the tape, and feathers were seen on other traps, indicating that additional birds had been trapped but managed to escape.
We next proceeded to the end of Archery Road, overlooking Jamaica Bay. A small flock of Brant was seen, as well as Great Black-backed, Herring, Ring-billed, and Laughing Gulls. Double-crested Cormorants and a shorebird (unidentifiable due to distance) sat on the pilings.
The walk ended with a stroll through the campgrounds, where we spotted a Red-breasted Nuthatch and a Black-capped Chickadee. Our final sighting was of two adult Bald Eagles soaring overhead—a magnificent species to end the day with.
Species List
Birds Brant Canada Goose Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) Mourning Dove shorebird sp. Laughing Gull Herring Gull (American) Great Black-backed Gull Double-crested Cormorant Turkey Vulture Osprey Northern Harrier Sharp-shinned Hawk Cooper’s Hawk Bald Eagle Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker American Kestrel Peregrine Falcon Eastern Phoebe Blue-headed Vireo Blue Jay American Crow Common Raven Black-capped Chickadee Ruby-crowned Kinglet Golden-crowned Kinglet Red-breasted Nuthatch European Starling Northern Mockingbird American Robin Cedar Waxwing House Sparrow House Finch Chipping Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Song Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Brown-headed Cowbird Common Grackle Nashville Warbler Mourning Warbler Common Yellowthroat Palm Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Northern Cardinal
Registrar: Nick Dawson Participants: 30 Weather: Sunny, a few clouds, 65 degrees Bird Species: 25
A small group of birders gathered at 1:00 pm on a beautiful October afternoon at Belvedere Castle for a fall hawk watch. While the winds had not been ideal for migration, there was slow, but reasonably steady, activity from the north. The gathering was designated as “leaderless,” but Anne Ribolow and Kevin Sisco were among those who helped to spot and identify raptors and other species for the group, including a few of our very own NYC non-migratory Red-tailed Hawks.
The group stayed for about two hours, enjoying the experience and also baffling tourists, who occasionally asked why we were staring at the seemingly empty sky. Eventually, the group walked west through the Shakespeare Garden and towards the Swedish Cottage, picking up along the way a Scarlet Tanager, a Yellow-billed Cuckoo (gorging on Spotted Lanternflies), and a busy Hooded Warbler (photogenically visible in the grass and undergrowth).
Species List
Canada Goose Mallard Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) Yellow-billed Cuckoo Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull (American) Turkey Vulture Sharp-shinned Hawk Cooper’s Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Yellow-bellied Sapsucker American Kestrel Peregrine Falcon Blue Jay Common Raven Tufted Titmouse Ruby-crowned Kinglet White-breasted Nuthatch Winter Wren American Robin House Sparrow Common Grackle Hooded Warbler Pine Warbler Scarlet Tanager
Registrar: Lisa Kroop Participants: 12 Weather: 56°F to 70°F; sunny; 4 mph north wind Bird Species: 45
We walked at a “birders’ pace,” as our leader called it, starting along the edge of the recreation fields, passing House Sparrows, Blue Jays, some Dark-eyed Juncos, and a large group of Mourning Doves, and made our way down to the salt marsh. There, we sorted through the sparrows foraging in the grass and spotted the next phoebe as well as the first warbler of the day, a Blackpoll. Next—as we headed towards the woods, with a soccer field to our left, and wooded cliffs on our right—we paused. There were many Palm Warblers on the edge of the soccer field feeding in the grass and flying up into the nearby trees, with a Yellow-rumped Warbler joining them, and in the woods, our first Brown Creeper. We entered The Clove, a place sheltered from the noises of the city and darkened by shadows of the mature trees and the steep rock ridge. Birds were calling and, furtively moving along a log, a Winter Wren made a brief appearance to the delight of the group.
The weather was beautiful, the skies were a cloudless blue, and the overnight bird migration forecast had been impressive—even the popular news had broadcast it. And so as we began our walk we wondered whether all that would translate into our seeing a lot of birds in Inwood Hill Park. First evidence, as it turned out, was positive: among the first birds that we saw were a couple of kinglets in a low tree and an Eastern Phoebe perched exceptionally high on the crown of a very tall tree—and as we continued our walk we found more kinglets and phoebes throughout the park.
As we continued through the woods to the summit, and made our way back down, we encountered spots of migrant bird activity, including some winter arrivals. There were Northern Parulas and Yellow-rump Warblers, a Black-throated Blue Warbler, Hermit and Swainson’s Thrushes, a Blue-headed Vireo, a Red-breasted Nuthatch, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, and more kinglets—both Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned—and more phoebes.
We reached Spuyten Duyvil Creek as our walk drew to a close. In the distance, flying over the Hudson River, was a Bald Eagle, our first and only raptor of the day. While only a couple of us saw it, we were all happy to hear it was there.
Many thanks to Loyan Beausoleil for leading us on this wonderful walk through such a precious park in New York City.
Species Lists
Birds Mallard Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) Mourning Dove Ring-billed Gull Double-crested Cormorant Great Blue Heron Bald Eagle Belted Kingfisher Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) Eastern Phoebe Blue-headed Vireo Blue Jay Tufted Titmouse Ruby-crowned Kinglet Golden-crowned Kinglet White-breasted Nuthatch Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Winter Wren Carolina Wren European Starling Gray Catbird Brown Thrasher Swainson’s Thrush Hermit Thrush American Robin House Sparrow House Finch Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) White-throated Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Eastern Towhee Black-and-white Warbler Northern Parula Blackpoll Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Palm Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) Northern Cardinal
Enthusiastic birders and sharp-eyed leaders spent up to nine (!) hours in Central Park finding many species. Highlights included Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Belted Kingfisher, both Nuthatches, Lincoln and Field Sparrows and eleven Wood Warbler species.
Species List
Canada Goose Wood Duck Gadwall Mallard Green-winged Teal Hooded Merganser Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) Mourning Dove Yellow-billed Cuckoo Ruby-throated Hummingbird Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Great Black-backed Gull Great Blue Heron Cooper’s Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Belted Kingfisher Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Peregrine Falcon Eastern Wood Pewee Eastern Phoebe Blue-headed Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Blue Jay American Crow Ruby-crowned Kinglet Golden-crowned Kinglet (h) White-breasted Nuthatch Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper House Wren Winter Wren Carolina Wren European Starling Gray Catbird Brown Thrasher Northern Mockingbird Veery Swainson’s Thrush Wood Thrush American Robin Cedar Waxwing House Sparrow House Finch American Goldfinch Chipping Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Field Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Lincoln Sparrow Eastern Towhee Common Grackle Ovenbird Black and white Warbler Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Northern Parula Magnolia Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Palm Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Pine Warbler Prairie Warbler Scarlet Tanager Northern Cardinal Rose-breasted Grosbeak
