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

Randall’s Island with Alan Drogin, 10/13/2024

Registrar: Dom Ricci
Participants: 8
Weather: Around 60 F, broken clouds, moderate breeze
Bird Species: 54

Randall’s Island sits at the confluence of the Bronx Kill, Harlem River, and East River and occupies a unique ecological niche in New York County. However, it was subject to environmental disruption throughout 2024 due to construction and human activity. A small but dedicated group of Linnaean birders led by Alan Drogin gathered to explore the island in search of fall stopover migrants. While we did not observe Ammospiza sparrows as expected in the remnants of the Bronx Kill saltmarsh, we encountered several mixed flocks containing Savannah, Chipping, and Song sparrows along the coastal walk around the northeastern ballfields. The freshwater marsh and fenced areas in the middle of the island held a variety of individual late warblers including Tennessee, Nashville, Cape May, and a Bay-breasted with residual breeding plumage. We beheld the largest migrant flock of the day inside the abandoned driving range, where a multitude of Yellow-rumped Warblers circulated amidst the overgrowth, accompanied by several Eastern Phoebes. Although we did not see any unusual rarities, this was more than made up for by the variety of species we observed.

Species List

Canada Goose
Mute Swan
American Black Duck
Northern Pintail
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)
Mourning Dove
Ring-billed Gull
American Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Cooper’s Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Belted Kingfisher
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
American Kestrel
Eastern Phoebe
Blue Jay
American Crow
Common Raven (h)
Tufted Titmouse
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Brown Creeper
Carolina Wren
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
House Finch
American Goldfinch
Chipping Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-throated Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Common Grackle
Black-and-white Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Cape May Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Palm Warbler
Pine 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

Central Park with Alan Drogin, Rahil Patel, Alice Deutsch, and Carine Mitchell, 10/8/2024

This Tuesday’s fall migration bird walk had many highlights. Over the prior few days, new migrants had arrived in Central Park, including the Golden-crowned Kinglet, Song, Chipping, and White-crowned Sparrows, as well as a Lincoln’s Sparrow. There were some new attendees among the three birding groups, and all were excited to see the Yellow-billed Cuckoo, a highlight even for long-time birders. From the length of the bird species list below, one can see that it was just a wonderful fall morning to be out seeing birds and enjoying nature.

Species List

Canada Goose
Northern Shoveler
Mallard
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Black-crowned Night Heron
Cooper’s Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Red-bellied Woodpecker (H)
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Eastern Wood Pewee
Eastern Phoebe
Blue-headed Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Common Raven (H)
Black-capped Chickadee (H)
Tufted Titmouse
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
House Wren
Winter Wren
Carolina Wren
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
Grey-cheeked Thrush
Veery
Swainson’s Thrush
Hermit Thrush
Wood Thrush
American Robin
House Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-crowned Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Lincoln Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Common Grackle
Ovenbird
Black-and-white Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Palm Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Scarlet Tanager
Northern Cardinal

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

Central Park Walk with Richard Davis, Alan Drogin, Rahil Patel, and Kevin Sisco 10/1/2024

Registrar: Barrie Raik
Participants: 36
Weather: Mid 60s, overcast in morning, partly cloudy afternoon
Bird Species: 70

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

Starr Saphir Memorial Fall Migration Walk in Central Park with Jeffrey Kimball, 9/29/2024

Registrar: Suzanne Zywicki
Participants: 12
Weather: Rainy, low 60’s
Bird Species: 31

Our annual fall walk to celebrate and remember the iconic birding guide, Starr Saphir, focused on Central Park’s Ramble and surrounding areas. We began in Strawberry Fields, where we quickly spotted several Scarlet Tanagers, a Veery and a Brown Creeper, among other species.

As we moved through the Park, we saw four species of warbler, especially appreciating our good looks at a Blackpoll. Later in the morning we were treated to extended views from the Oak Bridge of a Belted Kingfisher as it flew back and forth over the Lake, stopping to perch quite close to the bridge.

Unfortunately, the unexpected rain continued through the morning, causing us to end the walk earlier than planned, but our group was pleased with the over 30 species seen in the two hours we spent in the Park.

Species List

Mallard
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift
Herring Gull
Black-crowned Night Heron
Green Heron
Great Blue Heron
Red-tailed Hawk
Belted Kingfisher
Downy Woodpecker – Heard
Northern Flicker
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Brown Creeper
House Wren
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Veery
Swainson’s Thrush
American Robin
House Sparrow
House Finch
White-throated Sparrow
Black-and-white Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Northern Parula
Blackpoll Warbler
Scarlet Tanager
Northern Cardinal