Shirley Chisholm State Park and Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge with Peter Dorosh, 11/16/2024

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

Hawk Watch at Belvedere Castle with Gabriel Willow, 11/8/2024

Registrar: Debbie Mullins
Participants: 38
Weather: 68° F, clear, westerly winds at 7 mph
Bird Species: 23

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

Central Park Walk with Richard Davis, Alan Drogin and Alice Deutsch, 10/22/2024 

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

Central Park with Kevin Sisco, Rahil Patel, Alice Deutsch, and Evelyn Huang, 10/15/2024

Registrar: Debbie Mullins
Participants: 36
Weather: 45°–57° F, clear to partly cloudy, westerly winds
Bird Species: 65

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

Floyd Bennett Field with Rob Jett, 10/12/2024

Registrar: Debbie Mullins
Participants: 15
Weather: 52-78° F, partly cloudy, mild westerly winds
Bird Species: 47

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

Insects
Spring/Fall Field Cricket

Belvedere Castle Hawk Watch, 10/10/2024

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

Inwood Hill Park with Loyan Beausoleil, 10/6/2024

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

Mammals
Eastern gray squirrel