The group explored nearly the entire park, including the designated trails of the grasslands on the site of a former landfill. Highlights of the trip were the Bald Eagles, the American Kestrel, and the Eastern Bluebirds. After hiking through both the grasslands and the wooded section of the park, we looked for additional birds near the Croton-Harmon Railroad Station.
Species Lists
Birds Canada Goose Mallard Bufflehead Mourning Dove Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Great Black-backed Gull Turkey Vulture Bald Eagle Red-tailed Hawk Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Downy Woodpecker American Kestrel Blue Jay American Crow Fish Crow Tree Swallow Carolina Wren European Starling Northern Mockingbird Eastern Bluebird American Robin American Tree Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Common Grackle
Registrar: Amanda Bielskas Weather: Partly cloudy and a little rainy temperature was warm (for February) but cooled throughout the day. Participants: 9 Bird species: 20+
Our group of 9 birders met promptly at the Metropolitan Museum of Art at 10:30am for a tour of some of the birds that can be found inhabiting the museum. We started in Ancient Greece, worked our way over to the Ancient Egyptian wing where there were numerous falcons, hawks and vultures, many herons and even the sacred ibis. After Egypt we toured some Byzantine and early Roman art where we saw birds including doves which were depicted in many religious works and also passed several tapestries in the Medieval section that featured falcons and partridges. We then made some stops in the American Wing where we saw more eagles and some aquatic birds including swans and ducks. We did a slight detour and managed to find the likely extinct Ivory-billed Woodpecker in the visible storage section. We continued onto the Native American galleries and admired the imagery of Thunderbirds and Ravens. The Tour continued in some of the European Painting Galleries where we were able to view some parrots and finches in some classic works. The tour concluded with the art deco gallery from a Paris apartment with beautiful wall sized oil paintings featuring herons and peacocks. This was an amazing informative tour full of beautiful works of art in a vast variety of mediums. Many thanks to Kevin for guiding us through thousands of years of artworks and over 20 species of birds real and imagined.
Registrar: Linda LaBella Participants: 16 Weather: Clear skies and cool temperatures, 45 degrees Species: 39
Rob Jett’s field trips to Coney Island and Coney Island Creek Park are always fun and often fruitful, and this trip was no exception. Right from the start, while viewing from the boardwalk, we witnessed thousands of Northern Gannets in a continuous stream—diving, feeding, and circling over the bay. It was an amazing sight that continued the entire time we remained at the beach.
On the pier, we were treated to close views of three Razorbills, a seabird of the Alcidae family that has been unusually abundant this winter in the waters around NYC. Along the beach on our way to the 35th Street overlook, and at the jetty, we saw three more Razorbills, Common Loons, and Long-tailed Ducks. We then continued to Coney Island Creek Park, encountering yet another Razorbill as well as hundreds of Brant and other waterfowl, and finished up at the 23rd Street overlook.
Species List
Birds Snow Goose Brant Canada Goose Mute Swan Gadwall Mallard American Black Duck Greater Scaup Lesser Scaup Surf Scoter Black Scoter Long-tailed Duck Bufflehead Hooded Merganser Red-breasted Merganser Ruddy Duck Pied-billed Grebe Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) Mourning Dove Razorbill Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Great Black-backed Gull Red-throated Loon Common Loon Northern Gannet Double-crested Cormorant Black-crowned Night Heron Cooper’s Hawk American Crow Fish Crow Black-capped Chickadee European Starling House Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Brown-headed Cowbirds Northern Cardinal
This trip started on a high note as eleven Linnaean members collected in the Wolfe Pond parking lot for the annual Staten Island field trip with Richard ZainEldeen, one of the Linnaean Society’s veteran field trip leaders.
A Peregrine Falcon with a full crop was spotted sitting high in a tree, and it remained there until we left the park two hours later. Within minutes we saw an American Kestrel and a Merlin, also perched.
Richard took us to four planned locations: Wolfe’s Pond Park; Lemon Creek Park; Mt. Loretto Unique Area, where we saw four Harbor Seals relaxing on rocks out in the water; and Blue Heron Park, with its lovely nature center and picnic area.
When news of a Cackling Goose at Silver Lake Park reached us, Richard agreed to add it to the itinerary. We ended the trip on a high note there, seeing a female Common Goldeneye close up, Ring-necked Ducks, and the CACKLING GOOSE!
Thank you, Richard, for another great experience, and thank you to all of the participants for making this a very memorable trip. Nobody wanted it to end!
Here are the ebird checklists for all locations, with photos by the participants.
Birds Brant Cackling Goose Canada Goose Mute Swan Gadwall Mallard American Black Duck Ring-necked Duck Long-tailed Duck Bufflehead Common Goldeneye Hooded Merganser Red-breasted Merganser Ruddy Duck Wild Turkey Horned Grebe Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Killdeer Ruddy Turnstone Sanderling Dunlin Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Great Black-backed Gull Red-throated Loon Double-crested Cormorant Great Blue Heron Turkey Vulture Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Northern Flicker American Kestrel Merlin Peregrine Falcon Blue Jay American Crow Black-capped Chickadee Tufted Titmouse White-breasted Nuthatch Carolina Wren European Starling Northern Mockingbird American Robin House Sparrow House Finch American Goldfinch American Tree Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Northern Cardinal
On a cold, bright winter day, Annie Barry led an enjoyable walk on Governors Island when, truth be told, the birding gods did not seem to be want to cooperate. Although the group ultimately saw and/or heard 30 species, it was a bit of a grind at times, with long stretches where all that seemed to be on the water were Ring-billed and Herring Gulls and, on land, the passerines had gone silent. Luckily, that made every new species for the day something of an event (“I hear a nuthatch!” “Look, it’s a Mallard!”) in the way it would not normally be. Sadly, Purple Sandpipers were not around to be seen and admired, and the undoubted highlight of the walk was a handful of Bonaparte’s Gulls — a group of eight, and later two more — flying kinetically as they actively fed in the waters of New York harbor, right next to the island.
Species Lists
Birds Brant Canada Goose Gadwall Mallard American Black Duck Bufflehead Red-breasted Merganser Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Bonaparte’s Gull Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Great Black-backed Gull Double-crested Cormorant Red-tailed Hawk Downy Woodpecker Blue Jay American Crow Fish Crow Black-capped Chickadee Tufted Titmouse White-breasted Nuthatch European Starling Northern Mockingbird House Sparrow American Goldfinch Dark-eyed Junco White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Northern Cardinal
The group met at 9:00 am at the parking lot of the Croton-Harmon train station and proceeded to search the riverside from the train station. Right away, three Bald Eagles were sighted on the muddy far shore, and another one could be seen flying overhead shortly after. In the water were Canada Geese, Buffleheads, Mallards, and American Black Ducks.
We proceeded to Croton Point Park, where the strong wind may have deterred several birds from showing themselves, but where we had flyover views of more Bald Eagles and a Red-tailed Hawk, saw Tree Sparrows foraging in the grass, and caught sight of an American Kestrel in some locust trees by the maintenance shed near the RV lot. A beautiful perched Bald Eagle gave us good views from a pine tree, and toward the end of the walk, sharp-eyed birders found Sharp-shinned and Cooper’s Hawks in distant trees.
After lunch at the parking lot of Croton Point Park, we returned to our cars and drove to the Shawangunk Grasslands NWR, arriving mid-afternoon. We were disappointed to find that the feeders had been taken down, as had the feeders at the Croton Point Park visitor’s center; we speculated that this may have been done as a precaution against bird flu. The group split into two, with some keeping vigil on the viewing platform while others explored the two winter trails that remain open. Those on the platform had better luck, seeing a Red-shouldered Hawk, an Eastern Meadowlark, and a Red-winged Blackbird. Neither group found the Loggerhead Shrike that had been reported there by others.
Around 4:30 pm, as if on schedule, the first Short-eared Owl appeared just as the group was about to decamp due to the cold temperature and dimming light. In total, two owls were seen, the first perched in distant trees across the parking lot, and another swooping over the grassland. This was a life bird for many birders, and served as our sign to head for the warmth of our cars and the drive home.
Many thanks to Gordon Lam for stepping up to lead this enjoyable and informative walk on short notice.
Species Lists
Birds Canada Goose Mallard American Black Duck Bufflehead Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Great Black-backed Gull Great Blue Heron Turkey Vulture Northern Harrier Sharp-shinned Hawk Cooper’s Hawk Bald Eagle Red-shouldered Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Short-eared Owl Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker American Kestrel Blue Jay American Crow Fish Crow Common Raven Northern Mockingbird American Tree Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco White-throated Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Song Sparrow Eastern Meadowlark Northern Cardinal
We met at 9 am at the Jones Beach Coast Guard Station, and after scanning the Jones Inlet for the usual wintering species, we meandered along Fisherman’s Road until we got a clear view of the Inlet. Unfortunately, there were a couple of boats nearby with hunters firing at flying birds, aiming especially at Long-tailed Ducks. Most often, the shooters missed their targets, and we did manage to get good looks at Long-tailed Ducks, as well as at a Bonaparte Gull and Common and Red-throated Loons. Afterward, we headed toward the main road to look for a flock of Red Crossbills that had been reported earlier. We were successful in seeing them, and it was a big highlight for everyone.
But then, a little before noon, while we were birding along the Swale, someone mentioned that a Swainson’s Hawk was being seen along Front Street on Staten Island. The leader took a vote, and eleven participants voted to leave Jones Beach and head to Staten Island. Below you will find two lists, the first one of the birds seen at Jones Beach and the other of the birds seen at Staten Island. All in all, many of us never dreamed that we would start our day on Long Island and end up on Staten Island. But all’s well that ends well.
Species Lists
Birds Jones Beach Brant Canada Goose Mute Swan Mallard Greater Scaup White-winged Scoter Black Scoter Long-tailed Duck Bufflehead Red-breasted Merganser Red-throated Loon Common Loon Double-crested Cormorant Rock Pigeon Sanderling Dunlin Razorbill Bonaparte’s Gull Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Great Black-backed Gull Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker American Crow Red-breasted Nuthatch American Robin Northern Mockingbird European Starling Cedar Waxwing House Sparrow House Finch Red Crossbill American Goldfinch (h) Song Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Yellow-rumped Warbler Northern Cardinal
778 Front St., Staten Island, NY Gadwall Greater Scaup Bufflehead Common Goldeneye Bonaparte’s Gull Herring Gull Bald Eagle Swainson’s Hawk (Juv.) Fish Crow Common Raven
It was a chickadee morning in Inwood Hill Park, with several flocks seen as we made our way from the park entrance through the woods and up to the higher reaches of the park. And it was a Red-tailed Hawk morning as well: we were greeted by a loudly vocal one perched above us as we were gathering, and, later, others were seen soaring overhead through the treetops. As we walked we came upon many of the expected winter bird residents, including woodpeckers, sparrows, American Goldfinches, and Blue Jays, among others.
In addition to the birds, our leader pointed out the noteworthy geological features that are a part of Inwood Hill Park. We passed the Inwood Hill caves, glacial potholes with spring water seeping from them, a whaleback rock formation, and, finally, at the crest of the Inwood Hill ridge, a panoramic view of the Hudson River and the New Jersey Palisades. And as we were walking through the woods looking for birds from the understory on up to the tall forest canopy of tulip trees and oaks, we learned that this is Manhattan’s only remaining natural forest, and that one of the tulip trees growing here is possibly the tallest in all of New York City.
On the way back from the ridge to the northern end of the park, we looked down on Spuyten Duyvil Creek and saw numerous Great Blue Herons on the north shore; and as we headed back to the lower, eastern part of the park, we found the salt marsh mudflats exposed at low tide. There were many Ring-billed Gulls busy poking in the mud and Mallards were dozing in the pools at the mudflats’ edge.
We were ending our walk, looking out to the east near the water’s edge, when in the distance a Peregrine Falcon appeared, flying fast and making a lovely conclusion to a wonderful walk. A big thank you to Annie for leading us.
Species Lists
Birds Mallard Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Ring-billed Gull Great Black-backed Gull Great Blue Heron Red-tailed Hawk Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Peregrine Falcon Blue Jay Fish Crow Black-capped Chickadee Tufted Titmouse White-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Carolina Wren American Robin House Sparrow House Finch American Goldfinch Dark-eyed Junco White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Northern Cardinal
