It was a hot and humid day, but the leafy Ramble kept the 43 enthusiastic birders mostly shaded on our final walk of the season. Splitting into four groups, we observed a total of 43 bird species, including six warblers. We also spotted nesting sites for several of our resident birds, including American Robins, Northern Cardinals, Great Crested Flycatchers, and Baltimore Orioles. It was an enjoyable morning shared by new and experienced birders and a fine end to our spring migration series.
Species Lists
Birds Canada Goose Mallard Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Yellow-billed Cuckoo Black-billed Cuckoo Chimney Swift Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Great Black-backed Gull Double-crested Cormorant Great Egret Black-crowned Night-Heron Red-tailed Hawk Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker American Kestrel Eastern Wood-Pewee Great Crested Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird Warbling Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Blue Jay Northern Rough-winged Swallow House Wren European Starling Gray Catbird Swainson’s Thrush American Robin Cedar Waxwing House Sparrow House Finch Baltimore Oriole Red-winged Blackbird Common Grackle Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Northern Parula Magnolia Warbler Blackpoll Warbler Canada Warbler Northern Cardinal
Registrar: Claire Borrelli Participants: 16 Weather: Sunny, winds calm, low to mid 80’s F Bird Species: 51
Many thanks to Anne and Amy, who provided expert leadership and encouraged others to chime in whenever they saw or heard a bird. Their collaborative approach was welcomed by the group, and we were able to see or hear 51 species.
We started at 8:00 am at the end of the Ironwood Drive parking area. From there, we headed north across the stream and up the power-line cut. Our first bird was a stunning Scarlet Tanager. Before crossing the stream, we saw a Green Heron take off. Next were beautiful views of Cedar Waxwings, Indigo Buntings, and Prairie Warblers. Other highlights were a juvenile Bald Eagle and a Red-shouldered Hawk in flight, as well as a perching Broad-winged Hawk. Although we saw a number of warbler species, the highly sought-after Golden-winged Warbler remained elusive. We checked with other birders encountered on our way, and it seems we were not alone in our failure to see or hear one that day.
We broke around noon. A few of us went to the Sterling Forest Visitor Center to eat lunch, while others went to chase the Neotropic Cormorant recently reported in nearby Newburgh, NY.
It was a wonderful morning. Thank you to our enthusiastic, good-humored fellow birders for making it a pleasant, all-around good time!
Species Lists
Birds Canada Goose Wood Duck Mallard Mourning Dove Yellow-billed Cuckoo Black-billed Cuckoo Ruby-throated Hummingbird Double-crested Cormorant Green Heron Turkey Vulture Osprey Bald Eagle Red-shouldered Hawk Broad-winged Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Pileated Woodpecker Northern Flicker Eastern Wood-Pewee Great Crested Flycatcher Yellow-throated Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Black-capped Chickadee Tufted Titmouse Tree Swallow White-breasted Nuthatch House Wren Carolina Wren Gray Catbird Eastern Bluebird Wood Thrush Cedar Waxwing American Goldfinch Field Sparrow Eastern Towhee Baltimore Oriole Red-winged Blackbird Common Grackle Ovenbird Worm-eating Warbler Louisiana Waterthrush Blue-winged Warbler Black-and-white Warbler Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Cerulean Warbler Magnolia Warbler Yellow Warbler Prairie Warbler Scarlet Tanager Northern Cardinal Indigo Bunting
Registrar: Richard Davis Participants: 71 Weather: 60–66 F, wind SW 7–10 mph, overcast Bird Species: 61
Seventy-one participants, including a visitor from California and another from Scotland, gathered under overcast skies for our second-to-last spring-season bird walk. Five groups covered Central Park from Strawberry Fields to the Reservoir, with a heavy focus on the Ramble.
With a Mourning Warbler already reported at the Point, at least one leader led his group there directly. That warbler, a lifer for many, was happily seen by all the groups, as were another ten warbler species in that same location. It was also fun to observe fledgling American Robins and nesting Great Crested Flycatchers and Baltimore Orioles. Species Lists
Birds Canada Goose Wood Duck Mallard Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Black-billed Cuckoo Chimney Swift Laughing Gull Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Great Black-backed Gull Double-crested Cormorant Great Egret Black-crowned Night-Heron Osprey Red-tailed Hawk Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Peregrine Falcon Eastern Wood-Pewee Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Great Crested Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird Warbling Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Blue Jay American Crow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Barn Swallow House Wren European Starling Gray Catbird Veery Gray-cheeked Thrush Swainson’s Thrush Wood Thrush American Robin Cedar Waxwing House Sparrow House Finch White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Eastern Towhee Baltimore Oriole Red-winged Blackbird Common Grackle Ovenbird Northern Waterthrush Black-and-white Warbler Mourning Warbler Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Northern Parula Magnolia Warbler Yellow Warbler Chestnut-sided Warbler Blackpoll Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Canada Warbler Northern Cardinal
Registrar: Mary Beth Kooper Report by: Tod Winston Participants: 8 Weather: 65–88 F, light southerly winds Bird Species: 60
The Shawangunk Grasslands did not disappoint, and our early arrival allowed us to keep cool (for a while, at least) as we enjoyed a chorus of birdsong. The songs of Bobolinks, Grasshopper Sparrows, and Eastern Meadowlark rang out across the fields, and we quickly got good and often close views of all three target species. We also got great views of a bunch of cavity-nesting species: Purple Martin, Tree Swallow, Eastern Bluebird, and House Wren. Overhead and in the distance, raptors included American Kestrel, Red-tailed Hawk (which also treated us to a close-up), a high-flying Northern Harrier, both Turkey and Black Vultures, and Bald Eagle. A walk to the pond and marsh area netted us some new birds: both Baltimore and (young male) Orchard Oriole, Willow Flycatcher, and an elusive Blue-winged Warbler.
Blue Chip Farms sadly provided a lot more European Starlings than bluebirds, but we did witness a kerfuffle over some sort of mangled prey, involving a Common Raven, American Crow, Turkey Vulture, and (ultimately triumphant) Bald Eagle. We also heard the distant song of several Savannah Sparrows, which for reasons unknown were absent at the grasslands.
A final hike around Liberty Marsh in Wallkill River NWR did not net us some sought-after Sandhill Cranes, but our sweating did pay off with Common Gallinule, another Bald Eagle, and the singing of Marsh Wren, Scarlet Tanager, and Swamp Sparrow–plus a nesting Baltimore Oriole. We hoped to turn an ambiguous Empidonax song into an Alder Flycatcher, but it seemed more likely to be a shortened, odd Willow Flycatcher song variant.
All in all, we tallied 60 bird species between the three stops. You can see our eBird Trip Report and Checklists at https://ebird.org/tripreport/58891.
Species Lists Birds Canada Goose Mute Swan Mallard Mourning Dove Common Gallinule Great Blue Heron Black Vulture Turkey Vulture Northern Harrier Bald Eagle Red-tailed Hawk Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker American Kestrel Eastern Wood-Pewee Willow Flycatcher Great Crested Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird Blue-headed Vireo Warbling Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Blue Jay American Crow Common Raven Purple Martin Tree Swallow Barn Swallow House Wren Marsh Wren Carolina Wren European Starling Gray Catbird Brown Thrasher Northern Mockingbird Eastern Bluebird American Robin Cedar Waxwing House Sparrow House Finch American Goldfinch Grasshopper Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Field Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Eastern Towhee Bobolink Eastern Meadowlark Orchard Oriole Baltimore Oriole Red-winged Blackbird Brown-headed Cowbird Common Grackle Blue-winged Warbler Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Yellow Warbler Scarlet Tanager Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Registrar: Steve Holleran Participants: 55 Weather: Cool and sunny, warming to mid 70’s Bird Species: 69
It was a wonderful day with beautiful weather and birds all around! Five groups explored the Park from the Ramble up to the North Woods and reported a total of 69 bird species, including 19 warblers. Some notable sightings included the Tennessee and Mourning Warblers, a Yellow-throated Vireo, and a Summer Tanager.
Species Lists
Birds Canada Goose Gadwall Mallard Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Chimney Swift Spotted Sandpiper Laughing Gull Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Great Black-backed Gull Double-crested Cormorant Great Egret Black-crowned Night-Heron Osprey Red-tailed Hawk Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Eastern Wood-Pewee Great Crested Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird Yellow-throated Vireo Blue-headed Vireo Warbling Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Blue Jay American Crow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Barn Swallow House Wren European Starling Gray Catbird Veery Swainson’s Thrush Wood Thrush American Robin Cedar Waxwing House Sparrow House Finch American Goldfinch White-throated Sparrow Eastern Towhee Baltimore Oriole Red-winged Blackbird Common Grackle Ovenbird Northern Waterthrush Black-and-white Warbler Tennessee Warbler Mourning Warbler Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Northern Parula Magnolia Warbler Bay-breasted Warbler Blackburnian Warbler Yellow Warbler Chestnut-sided Warbler Blackpoll Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Canada Warbler Wilson’s Warbler Summer Tanager Scarlet Tanager Northern Cardinal Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Registrar: Miriam Rakowski Participants: 13 Weather: Cloudy, then sunny in the afternoon, temperatures 66-75; winds SW 2– 8 mph Bird Species: 50
As soon as we arrived at the parking area near the foot of Doodletown Road, we heard Yellow Warblers singing and saw a kingbird and a male Orchard Oriole. Doodletown, an abandoned Colonial village, attracts a wide host of nesting migrants. We heard multiple Cerulean Warblers, and even saw a few. The Scarlet Tanagers and Baltimore Orioles were singing and showing themselves off splendidly in their bright breeding plumage. Certainly we heard many more birds than we saw.
Species Lists
Birds Canada Goose Wood Duck Mallard Mourning Dove Chimney Swift Ruby-throated Hummingbird Black Vulture Turkey Vulture Bald Eagle Red-tailed Hawk Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Pileated Woodpecker Eastern Phoebe Eastern Kingbird Yellow-throated Vireo Warbling Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Blue Jay American Crow Common Raven Black-capped Chickadee Tufted Titmouse Tree Swallow Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Carolina Wren European Starling Gray Catbird Wood Thrush American Robin Cedar Waxwing American Goldfinch Eastern Towhee Orchard Oriole Baltimore Oriole Red-winged Blackbird Brown-headed Cowbird Common Grackle Worm-eating Warbler Blue-winged Warbler Hooded Warbler American Redstart Cerulean Warbler Magnolia Warbler Yellow Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Scarlet Tanager Northern Cardinal
Butterflies Morning Cloak Cabbage White Juvenal’s Duskywing
Six groups (some with more than one leader) headed out to Strawberry Fields and then dispersed, with some going to Falconer’s, the Croquet Courts, and the Ramble, others heading toward Triplets’ Bridge and the Shakespeare Garden, and some travelling from the Ramble to the Reservoir and all the way to the North End, spending nine hours in the Park!
Highlights included 21 species of warbler, including Worm-eating, Blackburnian, Tennessee, Wilson’s and Cape May; as well as the Red-headed Woodpecker that had been reported in the Loch, a Lincoln’s Sparrow, and some White-crowned Sparrows.
Species Lists
Birds Canada Goose Gadwall Mallard American Black Duck Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Chimney Swift Ruby-throated Hummingbird American Coot Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Great Black-backed Gull Double-crested Cormorant Great Egret Green Heron Black-crowned Night-Heron Osprey Bald Eagle Red-tailed Hawk Red-headed Woodpecker Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Peregrine Falcon Least Flycatcher Great Crested Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird Yellow-throated Vireo Blue-headed Vireo Warbling Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Blue Jay American Crow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Barn Swallow Ruby-crowned Kinglet Blue-gray Gnatcatcher House Wren European Starling Gray Catbird Brown Thrasher Northern Mockingbird Veery Swainson’s Thrush Hermit Thrush Wood Thrush American Robin Cedar Waxwing House Sparrow House Finch American Goldfinch Chipping Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco White-crowned Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Lincoln’s Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Eastern Towhee Orchard Oriole Baltimore Oriole Red-winged Blackbird Common Grackle Ovenbird Worm-eating Warbler Louisiana Waterthrush Northern Waterthrush Blue-winged Warbler Black-and-white Warbler Tennessee Warbler Nashville Warbler Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Cape May Warbler Northern Parula Magnolia Warbler Blackburnian Warbler Yellow Warbler Chestnut-sided Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Prairie Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Wilson’s Warbler Northern Cardinal Rose-breasted Grosbeak
John guided us on Haven Road, the Nature Trail, and the Horseshoe Trail and parking area. Birds were singing everywhere. John shared the history of the development of the Marsh with us as well as some of the changes in birds’ breeding patterns and populations. We saw Bald Eagles soaring and their nest. Yellow Warblers were everywhere. A special treat was the Cerulean Warbler. John led us up and down the road until we all had good views of it.
Some of us followed John’s suggestions for the afternoon and birded the Deli fields and Stop Sign Trails.
It was a wonderful day!
Species Lists
Birds Canada Goose Wood Duck Mallard Ring-necked Duck Mourning Dove Chimney Swift Ruby-throated Hummingbird Common Gallinule Solitary Sandpiper Great Blue Heron Turkey Vulture Osprey Bald Eagle Broad-winged Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Pileated Woodpecker Northern Flicker Merlin Least Flycatcher Eastern Phoebe Great Crested Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird Yellow-throated Vireo Blue-headed Vireo Warbling Vireo Blue Jay American Crow Black-capped Chickadee Tufted Titmouse Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Ruby-crowned Kinglet White-breasted Nuthatch Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Gray Catbird Eastern Bluebird Veery Swainson’s Thrush American Robin American Goldfinch Chipping Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Eastern Towhee Orchard Oriole Baltimore Oriole Red-winged Blackbird Brown-headed Cowbird Common Grackle Ovenbird Northern Waterthrush Blue-winged Warbler Black-and-white Warbler Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Cape May Warbler Cerulean Warbler Northern Parula Magnolia Warbler Blackburnian Warbler Yellow Warbler Chestnut-sided Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Palm Warbler Pine Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Prairie Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Canada Warbler Northern Cardinal
