Van Cortlandt Park Nature Walk with Ken Chaya, 6/18/2022  

Registrar: Amanda Bielskas
Trip Report: Janet Wooten
Participants: 17
Weather: Partly sunny to overcast, 64–68F, windy
Bird Species: 38
 
While Van Cortlandt Park’s 1,146 acres provide plenty of habitat for a wide range of interesting plants and wildlife, the participants of this field trip were laser-focused on insects. We began at the brushy area behind the Van Cortlandt House, where we found Least Skippers and a Banded Hairstreak, and where the experienced and sharp-eyed Mike Freeman spotted numerous other insects. From there, Ken Chaya, a renowned naturalist with many areas of expertise, led the way along the John Kieran Nature Trail to the Lake, where we studied the differences among damselflies of various species, so delicate and colorful as they weaved among the grasses.

Next we hiked past the Parade Grounds to the Cass Gallagher Nature Trail and the Northwest Forest, where we spent the afternoon searching for our target species for the day, the Silvery Checkerspot, as well as other insects. This lovely orange- and black-patterned butterfly prefers wooded areas like this one, but it has a short life. Despite unseasonably cool and windy conditions, we did find a Silvery Checkerspot to admire as it perched on a vine leaf, wings spread flat to absorb as much energy as possible from the light. We were thrilled! 
 
But we also took note of many plants and birds. Naturally growing Purple Milkweed was just about to blossom. The Sassafras forest impressed us with its straight trunks and sheer volume, and the beautiful Black Cohosh was in flower. At the base of a tree we found Dead Man’s Fingers, a saprobic fungus that looks eerily like pale and fuzzy fingers poking up from the ground. We couldn’t ignore the 17 Wood Ducks on the Lake, or the breeding Tree Swallows and House Wrens feeding their young, or the croaking calls of Common Ravens overhead. An Osprey visited the Lake, as did a Green Heron. And a tiny Eastern Cottontail quietly munched on some clover. 
 
Our heads were spinning with the numerous insects Ken encouraged us to observe. Soon everyone on the trip was noticing various syrphid flies, moths, wasps, beetles, and bugs of all kinds. A tiny Praying Mantis nymph, an Orchard Orbweaver Spider in its web, an Orange Bluet, a pair of Snipe Flies, a Parasitic Wasp—all captured our attention. The many photographers and iNaturalist users in our group documented our finds, giving us hope that what we learned about insects on this nature walk will stay with us and provide a foundation for deeper discovery.

Species Lists
 
Insects
Coleoptera
Lady Bird Beetle (Coccinelloidea family)
Red Milkweed Beetle (Tetraopes tetrophthalmus)
Clavate Tortoise Beetle (Helocassis clavata)
Black Firefly (Lucidota atra)
Rove Beetle (Staphylinidae family)
 
Diptera
Common Oblique Syrphid Fly (Allograpta obliqua) 
Crane Fly (Tipulidae family)
Snipe Fly (Chrysopilus fasciatus)
Marsh Snipe Fly (Rhagio tringarius)
Green Bottle Fly (Lucilia genus)
Tachinid Fly (Tachinidae family) 
Robber Fly (Asilidae family)
Long-legged Fly (Dolichopodidae family)
Stilt-legged Fly (Micropezidae family)
Eastern Calligrapher (Toxomerus geminatus)
European Drone Fly (Eristalis arbustorum)
 
Hemiptera 
Large Milkweed Bug (Oncopeltus fasciatus)
Spittle Bug (Cercopiodea family)
Plant Bug (Miridae family)
Leaf Hopper (Cicadellidae family)
Spotted Lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula)
Pale Green Assassin Bug (Zelus luridus)
Leaf-footed Bug – nymph (Coreidae family) 
Virginia Creeper Treehopper (Telamona ampelopsidis) 
 
Hymenoptera 
European Hornet (Vespa crabro)
Eastern Yellowjacket (Vespula maculifrons)
Ensign Wasp (Evaniidae family)
Nomad Bee (Nomada sp.)
Common Eastern Bumble Bee (Bombus impatiens)
Honey Bee (Apis mellifera)
Eastern Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa virginica)
 
Mantodea
Praying Mantis (Mantidae family)
 
Mecopteran
Hangingfly (Bittacus sp.)
 
Lepidoptera
Cabbage White (Pieris rapae)
Question Mark (Polygonia interrogationis)
Least Skipper (Ancyloxypha numitor)
Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus)
Banded Hairstreak (Satyrium calanus)
Summer Azure (Celastrina neglecta)
American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis)
Zabulon Skipper (Lon zabulon)
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus)
Silvery Checkerspot (Chlosyne nycteis)
Polyphemus Moth (Antheraea polyphemus)
Plume Moths (Pterophoridae) ?
Grape Plume Moth (Geina periscelidactylus) 
Delicate Cycnia Moth (Cycnia tenera)
Little Devil Moth (Dichomeris nonstrigella) 
 
Odonates
Eastern Forktail (Ischnura verticalis)
Fragile Forktail (Ishnura posita)
Orange Bluet (Enallagma signatum)
Variable Dancer (Argia fumipennis)
Ebony Jewelwing (Calopteryx maculata)
Spot-winged Glider (Pantala hymenaea)
Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis)
Common Whitetail (Plathemis lydia)
 
Arachnids
Araneae
Orchard Orbweaver Spider (Leucauge venusta)
Golden Jumping Spider (Paraphidippus aurantus)
 
Opiliones
Harvestman 
 
Birds
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)      
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) (Columba livia (Feral Pigeon))  
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)  
Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica)  
Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum)  
Green Heron (Butorides virescens)  
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)  
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)  
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)  
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)  
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)  
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) (Colaptes auratus auratus/luteus)  
Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)  
Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus)  
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)  
Common Raven (Corvus corax)  
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)  
Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis)  
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)  
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)  
House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)  
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)  
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)  
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)  
Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)  
Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina)  
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  
Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)  
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)  
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)  
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)  
Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula)  
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)  
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)  
Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia)  
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  
 
Fungus
Dead Man’s Fingers (Xylaria polymorpha)
 
Mammals
Eastern Cottontail (Sylviagus floridanus)
Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus)
Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)
 
Plants
Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron genus)
Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis)
Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata)
Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina)
Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)
Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)
Purple Milkweed (Asclepias purpurascens)
Black Cohosh (Actaea racemosa)
Sassafras (Sassafras albidum)
Northern Spicebush (Lindera benzoin)
London Plane Tree (Platanus x acerifolia)
Common Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)
American Wintergreen (Pyrola americana)
Summer Grape (Vitis aestivalis)
Wineberry (Rubus phoenicolasius)
Blackberry (Rubus ursinus)
Linden (Tilia tomentosa)
Bog Yellowcress (Rorippa palustris)
Common Cattail (Typha latifolia)

Terns of Nickerson Beach with Patricia Lindsay and Shai Mitra, 6/10/2022

Registrar: Mary Beth Kooper
Participants: 17
Weather: 72 F, clear skies, bright sun, light westerly breeze
Bird Species: 44

Our group met at 8 am at the beach, where we were treated to an extensive investigation of the various bird species that flock to Nickerson in the summer for nesting, resting, and foraging. By far the most numerous that day was the Common Tern, which numbers in the thousands at this location in the summer. We spent time observing the various ages and stages of the species’ molt that are seen at this time of year. We were hoping for some of the more rare tern species to study, but none were found on this visit.

We also observed the other nesting birds of Nickerson: Piping Plovers, Black Skimmers, and American Oystercatchers. Among the interesting facts we learned was that some American Oystercatchers have a dark speck in their eyes (iridial depigmentation), just below the pupil. This is a trait found in all species of Oystercatchers, and studies have been done to figure out if this is a way to distinguish the sexes. The next time you see an Oystercatcher of any kind, be sure to check out the eye and see if you can find this unusual trait.

Instead of ending the trip early because of the low diversity of tern species at Nickerson, Shai and Pat very generously offered to lead the group over to the Jones Beach Coast Guard area, where some rarities had been reported earlier in the day. Everyone was able to caravan to that nearby location, where we added many new species to our trip list, including White-rumped Sandpipers, a Red-necked Phalarope, and—for those who were able to wait it out—a White-winged Dove. It was an exciting and fun field trip, and everyone learned a great deal from our expert and very gracious leaders.

Species Lists

Birds
Canada Goose
Mallard
Surf Scoter
Black Scoter
Rock Pigeon
White-winged Dove
Mourning Dove
American Oystercatcher
Piping Plover 
Killdeer 
Sanderling
Dunlin
White-rumped Sandpiper
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Red-necked Phalarope
Willet (Eastern)
Laughing Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Least Tern
Common Tern
Black Skimmer
Double-crested Cormorant
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Glossy Ibis
Osprey
Willow Flycatcher
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
American Robin
House Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Common Grackle
Boat-tailed Grackle
Common Yellowthroat
Yellow Warbler
Northern Cardinal

Mammals
Dolphins

Butterflies
Monarch Butterfly

Central Park with Ken Chaya, Will Papp, Kevin Sisco, and Janet Wooten, 5/31/2022

Registrar: Michelle Zorzi
Participants: 43
Weather: Heat Wave! 91F and sunny, light breeze
Bird Species: 43

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

Sterling Forest with Anne Ribolow and Amy Simmons, 5/30/2022

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

Central Park with Ken Chaya, Alan Drogin, Will Papp, Kevin Sisco and Janet Wooten, 5/24/2022

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

Shawangunk Grasslands with Tod Winston, 5/21/2022 

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

Central Park with Alan Drogin, Lynn Hertzog, Richard Lieberman, Will Papp. Kevin Sisco, Roy Tsao, and Janet Wooten, 5/17/2022

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

Doodletown Road with Gordon Lamm, 5/14/2022

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

Reptiles
Black Rat Snake