Sandy Hook with Rick Wright, 10/2/2021

Registrar: Alice Deutsch
Participants: 19
Weather: sunny, 60’s F
Bird Species: 56

We had a sunny day for our birding trip to Sandy Hook, NJ, led by Rick Wright. We started in Parking Lot M and stayed in that area for several hours. The habitat there is characterized by scattered low trees in sandy soil, including pines, along with some shrubs and grasses. We enjoyed great looks at sparrows and other migrants. Some of the highlights included Savannah Sparrows and a cooperative Dickcissel. Eastern Phoebes seemed to be everywhere.

Rick is the author of the Peterson Reference Guide to Sparrows of North America. He taught us how to identify sparrows, especially Savannah Sparrows, and various birds in flight, including a Red-headed Woodpecker. For lunch we moved to an area closer to the ocean, where the shoreline habitats included dunes with grasses and low shrubs. Among the gulls we observed was a Bonaparte’s, and we also saw a Northern Harrier flying above the shrubs. Rick did a great job of getting us on the bird and describing the identifying field marks.

Species Lists

Birds
Canada Goose
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Chimney Swift
Bonaparte’s Gull
Laughing Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Forster’s Tern
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Northern Harrier
Cooper’s Hawk
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Red-headed Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
American Kestrel
Eastern Phoebe
Red-eyed Vireo
American Crow
Common Raven
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
House Sparrow
House Finch
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Bobolink
Baltimore Oriole
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Yellowthroat
Northern Parula
Palm Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Scarlet Tanager
Northern Cardinal
Dickcissel

Central Park Hawk Watch with Gabriel Willow, 9/30/2021

Registrar: Miriam Rakowski
Participants: 20
Weather: Partially cloudy, 64 degrees, NNW winds 7-8 mph
Bird Species: 36
 
The steps of Belvedere Castle in Central Park served as the amphitheater for our first ever Linnaean Hawk Watch in Central Park. We had modest expectations.  

As it turned out, however, we felt “blown away” by the excitement of the event. During the 135 minutes of our watch, we saw over 1,000 Broad-winged Hawks and 11 Bald Eagles fly over. They soared, sailed, and seemed to effortlessly glide past us, caught in the thermals and wind currents.  

We hear about these great migrations, we read about them, and some of us had seen them before. However, this watch brought us closer than ever before to the spectacle of migration: hundreds of raptors floating by, in front of our very eyes.

Even without the raptors, it would have been a good day for birding from our perch by the Castle.

Species Lists

Birds
Canada Goose
Northern Shoveler
Mallard
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Osprey (3)
Northern Harrier (3)
Sharp-shinned Hawk (8)
Cooper’s Hawk (3)
Sharp-shinned/Cooper’s (1)
Bald Eagle (11)
Broad-winged Hawk (1,167)
Red-tailed Hawk (6)
Hawk sp. (2)
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Northern Flicker
American Kestrel
Peregrine Falcon
Eastern Phoebe
Blue Jay
American Crow
Common Raven
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Gray Catbird
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
House Finch
Common Grackle
American Redstart
Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Butterflies
Monarch

Odonates
Saddlebag sp.
Dragonfly sp.

Central Park with Alice Deutsch, Kevin Sisco, Janet Wooten, and Richard Lieberman, 9/28/2021

Registrar: Steve Holleran
Participants: 43
Weather: Partly sunny and cool, showers developing
Bird Species: 60

Increasing rainfall shortened our walk, but not before we had logged 60 bird species, among them many migrants, including 12 warbler species. Some stars of the show were the trio of juvenile Night-Herons at the Upper Lobe, including the less-often-seen Yellow-crowned. Others included Hummingbirds, Cedar Waxwings, an Indigo Bunting, and a Black-billed Cuckoo.

Species Lists

Birds 
Canada Goose
Northern Shoveler
Mallard
Ruddy Duck
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Black-billed Cuckoo
Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Double-crested Cormorant
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron (juvenile)
Red-tailed Hawk
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
House Wren
Winter Wren
Carolina Wren
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
Veery
Swainson’s Thrush
Wood Thrush
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
House Sparrow
House Finch
American Goldfinch
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Common Grackle
Ovenbird
Black-and-white Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Hooded Warbler
American Redstart
Cape May Warbler
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Palm Warbler
Pine Warbler
Scarlet Tanager
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting

Central Park Beginners Walk with Linda Labella and Vicki Seabrook, 9/27/2021

Registrar: Vicki Seabrook
Participants: 7
Weather: 75 degrees, sunny
Bird Species: 31

The group met at the entrance to Central Park’s North Woods at 103rd Street and Central Park West. After going over some basic information about using binoculars, finding birds, and looking for field marks, we walked down to the north end of the Pool area, where we found a lot of bird activity. We stayed in that one spot for over an hour, looking for birds and calling out field marks. Eventually, we moved to the southern end of the Pool, where we ended the walk with good looks at three Gadwalls.

Species Lists

Birds
Canada Goose
Gadwall
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Osprey
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Eastern Phoebe
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Swainson’s Thrush
American Robin
House Sparrow
Northern Waterthrush
Black-and-white Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart
Northern Parula
Yellow Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Palm Warbler
Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Watch Hill, Fire Island with Paul Sweet, 9/25/2021

Registrar: Nancy Shamban
Participants: 16
Weather: Sunny and beautiful, in the mid 70s
Bird Species: 52

The group met in Patchogue, LI, where we took the ferry to Watch Hill for a lovely day with the very knowledgeable Paul Sweet and two of his friends, who also contributed expertise. We birded for about five hours, including a lunch break, mostly on a boardwalk that encircles a salt marsh. And guess what was hiding there? Saltmarsh Sparrows! We got some very good looks at them.
The rest of the time was spent on the beach, observing lots of Sanderlings and a Common Eider that flew right past us. This was a really special trip.

Species Lists

Birds
Canada Goose
Mallard
Common Eider
Mourning Dove
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Sanderling
Laughing Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull 
Great Black-backed Gull
Royal Tern
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Osprey
Belted Kingfisher
Downy Woodpecker
Merlin
Eastern Phoebe
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Common Raven
Black-capped Chickadee
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Brown Creeper
Carolina Wren
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
Northern Mockingbird
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
House Sparrow
American Goldfinch
Sparrow genus Spizella sp.
Saltmarsh Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart
Northern Parula
Yellow Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Palm Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Indigo Bunting

Butterflies
Cabbage White
Cloudless Sulphur
American Copper
Monarch

Odonates
Common Green Darner
Black Saddlebags
Seaside Dragonlet

Others
Praying Mantis
Seaside Grasshopper

Mammals
White-tailed Deer
Dolphin sp.

Central Park with Alice Deutsch, Kevin Sisco, Janet Wooten, and Richard Lieberman, 9/21/2021

Registrar: Steve Holleran
Participants: 65
Weather: Cool and sunny, warming to low 70’s
Bird Species: 57

While numbers were down from last Tuesday morning’s spectacular outing, our four groups logged a total of 57 species, including 12 warblers, plus hummingbirds, an Osprey, and Cedar Waxwings. Recent arrivals, such as Brown Creeper, White-throated Sparrows, and Lincoln’s Sparrows, offered signs of things to come.

Species Lists 

Birds 
Canada Goose
Mallard
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Double-crested Cormorant
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Osprey
Cooper’s Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Peregrine Falcon
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
Northern Mockingbird
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
Northern Waterthrush
Black-and-white Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Palm Warbler
Canada Warbler
Scarlet Tanager
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Prospect Park with Tom Stephenson, 9/19/2021

Registrar: Crystal Thiele
Participants: 17
Weather: Clear, warm
Bird Species: 56

After meeting Tom Stephenson near the Grand Army entrance at 7:30 am, we first headed to the Rose Garden and the Vale of Cashmere; they were both very birdy, giving us good looks at many warblers. From there, we crossed Nellie’s Lawn to the Picnic House. The Sparrow Bowl nearby had several flycatchers, including Eastern Wood-Pewees and a Least Flycatcher. Behind the Well House, we saw a Lincoln’s Sparrow and a very cooperative Tennessee Warbler.

The Lake was quiet, so we headed to the Peninsula, where we saw more warblers, but the activity had mostly finished for the day. Looping north via the Lullwater, we encountered a frustrating thrush that wouldn’t give us good enough views to identify it, as well as our first Northern Waterthrush of the day.

Species Lists

Birds
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Wood Duck
Mallard
Green-winged Teal
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Great Blue Heron
Green Heron
Broad-winged Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Belted Kingfisher
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Alder/Willow Flycatcher sp.
Least Flycatcher
Eastern Phoebe
Eastern Kingbird
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Carolina Wren
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Veery
Swainson’s Thrush
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
House Sparrow
American Goldfinch
White-throated Sparrow
Lincoln’s Sparrow
Ovenbird
Northern Waterthrush
Black-and-white Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Pine Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Scarlet Tanager
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Mammals
Eastern Chipmunk
Eastern Gray Squirrel

Herps
Red-eared Slider

Butterflies
Cabbage White
Eastern Tailed Blue
Monarch 

Odonates
Common Green Darner
Slaty Skimmer
Wandering Glider

Other Insects & Invertebrates
Cicada sp. (h)
Cricket sp. (h)
Orb Weaver Spider sp. & web

Green-Wood Cemetery with Rob Jett, 9/18/2021

Registrar: Barbara Saunders
Participants: 16
Weather: 75 degrees F, sunny and clear, 4 mph northerly winds
Bird Species: 49

Birding in Green-Wood Cemetery is always a delight, especially in September. On this sunny morning, trip leader Rob Jett led us up grassy ridges, around weathered monuments, and through leafy, wooded areas in search of fall migrants. Although it seemed a slow day, we ultimately glimpsed 49 bird species! We all agreed the Yellow-billed Cuckoo was a treat to see—first, silhouetted against the sky, and then in full view. We later spied many warblers—American Redstarts, Common Yellowthroats, Northern Parulas, and Palm Warblers, to name a few—all busily hunting for insects. Unfortunately, last week’s Townsend’s Warbler had moved on, but after much patient watching, we were rewarded with a Blue Grosbeak in the trees and grass just east of Sylvan Water—a female type, but since some observers noted blue on the wings, it was likely a young male.

Always an awesome sight, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds zipped from flower to flower in their quest for nectar. And, of course, Green-Wood wouldn’t be Green-Wood without the multitude of Monk Parakeets screeching away in their massive stick “condo” above the cemetery’s main entrance. Towards the end of our morning, another highlight was the beautiful American Kestrel perched atop a cross—a fitting guardian of Green-Wood. Happily exhausted, we all agreed it was a great early fall day of birding in this diverse and bird-rich gem of Brooklyn.


Species Lists

Birds
Canada Goose
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Herring Gull
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Belted Kingfisher
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
American Kestrel
Monk Parakeet
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Eastern Phoebe
Yellow-throated Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (h)
House Wren
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
Swainson’s Thrush
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
House Sparrow
House Finch (h)
American Goldfinch
Chipping Sparrow
Yellow-breasted Chat
Brown-headed Cowbird
Black-and-white Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart
Northern Parula
Blackpoll Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Palm Warbler
Pine Warbler
Scarlet Tanager
Northern Cardinal
Blue Grosbeak

Butterflies
American Lady
Sachem Skipper
Monarch
Eastern Tailed-blue
Cloudless Sulphur
Cabbage White
Painted Lady
Black Swallowtail
Spicebush Swallowtail
Orange Sulphur

Odonates
Familiar Bluet
Common Green Darner
Blue Dasher

Herps
Red-eared Slider
Snapping Turtle
Italian Wall Lizard

Mammals
Eastern Gray Squirrel