The weather was perfect for our fall migration walk. For many of the participants, the Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Gray-cheeked Thrush, Golden-crowned Kinglet, and Cape May Warbler were their “first of season” sightings.
Species List Birds Canada Goose Mallard Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) Mourning Dove Yellow-billed Cuckoo Chimney Swift Ruby-throated Hummingbird Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Great Black-backed Gull Double-crested Cormorant Green Heron Black-crowned Night-Heron Turkey Vulture Osprey Sharp-shinned Hawk Cooper’s Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Eastern Wood-Pewee Eastern Phoebe Blue-headed Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Blue Jay American Crow Black-capped Chickadee Ruby-crowned Kinglet Golden-crowned Kinglet Brown Creeper Carolina Wren House Wren Winter Wren European Starling Gray Catbird Brown Thrasher Northern Mockingbird Gray-cheeked Thrush Swainson’s Thrush Hermit Thrush American Robin Cedar Waxwing House Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Eastern Towhee Common Grackle Ovenbird Black-and-white Warbler Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Cape May Warbler Northern Parula Bay-breasted Warbler Magnolia Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Palm Warbler Pine Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Scarlet Tanager Northern Cardinal Indigo Bunting
Registrar: Amanda Bielskas Weather: Beautiful, early fall day, 67-72 degrees F, winds from the N 6-12 mph Participants: 22 Bird species: 32
This was the second LSNY Family Walk, hopefully we will offer more this spring. We met on the Great Hill, near the restrooms at 10:00am and since the area was quite birdy we stayed up there for a while. On the Great Hill we observed several warbler species, a couple Red-Tailed Hawks and Turkey Vultures. We then walked down to the Pool and ended shortly after that. We totaled 32 species for the morning and fun was had by all!
Species Lists Birds Canada Goose Northern Shoveler Gadwall Mallard Green-winged Teal Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) Mourning Dove Chimney Swift Solitary Sandpiper Turkey Vulture Red-tailed Hawk Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Eastern Wood-Pewee Eastern Phoebe Blue Jay Ruby-crowned Kinglet Golden-crowned Kinglet Red-breasted Nuthatch Gray Catbird American Robin House Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Common Grackle Black-and-white Warbler Northern Parula Bay-breasted Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Scarlet Tanager Northern Cardinal
After rescheduling from Saturday to Sunday, as needed due to lingering effects from Tropical Storm Ophelia, a small but determined group made our way to Shirley Chisholm State Park. We arrived about 10 minutes before the gates to the Fountain Avenue section of the park opened; while we waited, we were treated to the melody of a Song Sparrow perched on a cable, singing away despite the season. We spent about three hours exploring this section of the park, with highlights being several American Kestrels, an American Pipit (a life bird for two of us), a large flock of American Goldfinches in the Skybowl, and three warbler species.
We then moved on to the Pennsylvania Avenue section, hoping to see more shorebirds. Unfortunately, due to the relatively high tide levels, we were not very successful. However, we did see some additional gull species, several Semipalmated Plovers and a Swamp Sparrow, with the highlight being a large number of Forster’s Terns.
Many thanks to Adelia Honeywood for sharing her deep knowledge of the park and its birds.
Species Lists
Birds – Fountain Avenue Section Canada Goose Chimney Swift Laughing Gull Herring Gull Great Black-backed Gull Double-crested Cormorant Great Blue Heron Great Egret Northern Harrier Red-tailed Hawk Belted Kingfisher Northern Flicker American Kestrel Eastern Phoebe American Crow Tree Swallow Ruby-crowned Kinglet Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird American Robin American Pipit American Goldfinch White-throated Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Song Sparrow Nashville Warbler Common Yellowthroat Palm Warbler
Birds – Pennsylvania Avenue section Mute Swan Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) Semipalmated Plover Laughing Gull Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Forster’s Tern Double-crested Cormorant Great Egret Eastern Wood-Pewee Northern Mockingbird American Goldfinch White-throated Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Common Yellowthroat Palm Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler
Registrar: Steve Holleran Participants: 18 Weather: Intermittent rain with temperature in the 60s, light northerly winds Bird Species: 46
Despite the wet weather, eighteen hardy birders explored the Ramble area of Central Park and reported a total of 46 species, including nine warblers. A highlight was the sighting of a Merlin, perched high above. We guessed it may have been digesting a recent meal, as it was stationary through repeated viewings and appeared to have a full crop. For some of us there were some first-of-season sightings as well, including Wood Thrush and White-throated Sparrow.
Species Lists
Birds Canada Goose Mallard Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) Mourning Dove Chimney Swift Ruby-throated Hummingbird Herring Gull Great Egret Cooper’s Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Belted Kingfisher Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Merlin Eastern Wood-Pewee Blue Jay Ruby-crowned Kinglet House Wren Carolina Wren European Starling Gray Catbird Brown Thrasher Veery Swainson’s Thrush Wood Thrush American Robin Cedar Waxwing House Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Common Grackle Ovenbird Black-and-white Warbler Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Northern Parula Magnolia Warbler Blackpoll Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Prairie Warbler Scarlet Tanager Northern Cardinal Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Registrar: Nick Dawson Attendees: 35 Weather: 74 F and sunny. West wind 11 mph. Species: 29
On a sunny fall day, the Linnaean Society called for a hawk watch at Belvedere Castle in Central Park. More than 30 people gathered to observe migrating hawks and listen to Phil and Anne Ribolow explain how to differentiate the various species flying high overhead.
Throughout the afternoon, we saw many Broad-winged Hawks, which migrate in groups as large as hundreds or thousands, referred to as kettles. Broad-winged Hawks are on the smaller side with chunky bodies and large heads. They are easy to identify because they soar rather than flap, the tail is short and square, and their wings come to a distinct point, which Phil refers to as the shape of a butter knife.
Knowing that many birders confuse Sharp-shinned and Cooper’s Hawks, we focused on identifying these two bird species. We learned that Sharp-shinned Hawks are the smallest hawks in Canada and the U.S., similar in size to a jay or a dove. They have distinctive proportions, including small heads and square-tipped tails. When in flight, they push their short, rounded wings forward, making it difficult to see their heads. The bird also has a distinctive flight style, described by Phil as a “flap, flap, flap, then glide,” similar to a flickering candle. The wing beats are also somewhat erratic and difficult to reliably count.
Conversely, Cooper’s Hawks are larger in size, like a crow. It’s quite easy to mistake a female Sharp-shinned Hawk for a male Cooper’s Hawk because female hawks are larger than males. However, there are distinct differences. The Cooper’s Hawk tail is rounded at the tip, with a prominent middle feather and a clear white tip. The head is quite large compared to its body and has a rounded or crested look. In flight, the large and angular head projects far beyond the wings, giving the bird a cross-like appearance and making it easy to identify. Its wing beats are slower and more regular than a Sharp-shined Hawk’s, making it easy to count as they fly overhead.
A final highlight of the day was a Bald Eagle, easily identified by its distinctive white head. Phil noted that the bird flies like a plank, its large size keeping it from being buffeted by the wind and gliding rather than flapping its wings.
The best time to observe hawk migration in the fall is the day after a cold front has passed when the winds are steady from the northwest or west. These conditions produce strong updrafts as the air currents blow over the north and south-oriented land ridges. Stay tuned for hawk watch announcements, and please join us next year!
Birds Canada Goose Northern Shoveler Mallard Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Chimney Swift Herring Gull Great Black-backed Gull Double-crested Cormorant Turkey Vulture Osprey Northern Harrier Sharp-shinned Hawk Bald Eagle Broad-winged Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Northern Flicker American Kestrel Peregrine Falcon Blue Jay European Starling Gray Catbird Brown Thrasher American Robin House Sparrow American Redstart Northern Parula Bay-breasted Warbler Northern Cardinal
Registrar: Richard Davis Participants: 43 Weather: 59–74 F and sunny, with west wind 11 mph Bird Species: 67
The weather was crisp in the morning, but warmed pleasantly as the day progressed. There was a solid variety of warblers, though not in great numbers or frequency—rather, a few in every location that kept the groups on the move through the park. The first view of a Prairie Warbler in Strawberry Field was a high point, with all the groups gathered on the hill to the east to see it dazzle as it caught the morning light. Later in the day, many people in each group gathered for the noon hawk watch at Belvedere, and, in fact, most of the raptors listed here were seen at that location.
Species Lists
Birds Canada Goose Wood Duck Mallard Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) Mourning Dove Chimney Swift Ruby-throated Hummingbird Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Great Black-backed Gull Double-crested Cormorant Osprey Sharp-shinned Hawk Cooper’s Hawk Bald Eagle Broad-winged Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Belted Kingfisher Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker American Kestrel Peregrine Falcon Olive-sided Flycatcher Eastern Wood-Pewee Red-eyed Vireo Blue Jay American Crow Ruby-crowned Kinglet House Wren Winter Wren Carolina Wren European Starling Gray Catbird Brown Thrasher Veery Swainson’s Thrush Wood Thrush American Robin Cedar Waxwing House Sparrow House Finch American Goldfinch White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Lincoln’s Sparrow Common Grackle Ovenbird Black-and-white Warbler Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Cape May Warbler Northern Parula Magnolia Warbler Bay-breasted Warbler Chestnut-sided Warbler Blackpoll Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Palm Warbler Pine Warbler Prairie Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Wilson’s Warbler Scarlet Tanager Northern Cardinal Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Butterflies Cabbage White Butterfly Monarch Odonates Common Green Darner Black Saddlebags Carolina Saddlebags Moths Common Looper Moth Swamp Cicada Eastern Hornet Fly Honey Bee
We had a great group of 10 birders total for our trip to Prospect Park with Tom Stephenson. We birded for about 7 hours and saw 64 species, 19 warblers. The highlight was the Mourning warbler and the Wilson’s and we saw so many Bay Breasted, we got flagged on eBird.
Species Lists Birds Double-crested Cormorant Great Blue Heron Green Heron Turkey Vulture Canada Goose Mute Swan Wood Duck Mallard Osprey Sharp-shinned Hawk Cooper’s Hawk Red-tailed Hawk American Kestrel Spotted Sandpiper Herring Gull Rock Dove Mourning Dove Yellow-billed Cuckoo Chimney Swift Ruby-throated Hummingbird Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Eastern Wood-Pewee Eastern Phoebe White-eyed Vireo Blue-headed Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Blue Jay Carolina Wren Ruby-crowned Kinglet Veery Swainson’s Thrush American Robin Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird European Starling Cedar Waxwing Nashville Warbler Northern Parula Yellow Warbler Chestnut-sided Warbler Magnolia Warbler Cape May Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Prairie Warbler Bay-breasted Warbler Blackpoll Warbler Black-and-white Warbler American Redstart Ovenbird Northern Waterthrush Mourning Warbler Common Yellowthroat Wilson’s Warbler Scarlet Tanager Northern Cardinal Rose-breasted Grosbeak Indigo Bunting Common Grackle American Goldfinch House Sparrow
Barrier islands can experience magical days during migration season, and it’s a gift to birders that even slower days on Fire Island in early fall are excellent. For this year’s Watch Hill walk, led by the American Museum of Natural History’s Paul Sweet, the winds weren’t quite right to deliver anything exceptional or hugely unexpected; nevertheless, an excellent day of birding was had by all.
On the Watch Hill walk, arguably the two headline birds are usually the two Ammospiza sparrows, Saltmarsh and Seaside, as both species breed in the marsh just a few minutes from the ferry dock. This year, neither the Saltmarsh nor the Seaside was active and showy; however, everyone got at least brief looks at them. Though we didn’t find an abundance of warblers in the more wooded areas of Watch Hill, some handsome Baltimore Orioles picked up the slack with the sheer entertainment value of their posturing. As is usually the case in mid-September, a healthy number of migrating monarch butterflies were on the island, and we saw a smattering of Royal and Forster’s Terns foraging offshore, plus a (small) raft of Lesser Black-backed Gulls on the beach. There was also some nice raptor diversity, with 10-plus Ospreys, a Bald Eagle and a handful of Merlins and Northern Harriers (including a gray ghost) passing through.
Species Lists
Birds Canada Goose Mute Swan Mallard American Black Duck Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Ruby-throated Hummingbird Laughing Gull Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Great Black-backed Gull Lesser Black-backed Gull Forster’s Tern Royal Tern Double-crested Cormorant Snowy Egret Great Egret Great Blue Heron Osprey Northern Harrier Bald Eagle Belted Kingfisher Northern Flicker Merlin Eastern Wood-Pewee Least Flycatcher Eastern Phoebe American Crow Fish Crow Black-capped Chickadee European Starling Gray Catbird Brown Thrasher Northern Mockingbird Cedar Waxwing House Sparrow American Goldfinch Seaside Sparrow Saltmarsh Sparrow Eastern Towhee Baltimore Oriole Red-winged Blackbird Brown-headed Cowbird Black-and-white Warbler Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Cape May Warbler Magnolia Warbler Yellow Warbler Palm Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler
