It was a beautiful fall day for our first weekly Tuesday walk in Central Park. We started in Strawberry Fields, where we spotted birds of many species, including woodpeckers, flycatchers, and thrushes. The group was especially thrilled to see many warblers – Blackburnian, Tennessee, Cape May, and Nashville – all feeding in close proximity together with at least two Scarlet Tanagers. We continued on to The Ramble, where there were fewer birds, but we added species slowly and enjoyed our walk late into the morning, with most of us not leaving until early afternoon.
Species List
Canada Goose Mallard Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) Mourning Dove Chimney Swift Ruby-throated Hummingbird Laughing Gull Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Double-crested Cormorant Black-crowned Night Heron Cooper’s Hawk Osprey Red-tailed Hawk Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker American Kestrel Eastern Wood-Pewee Empidonax sp. Great Crested Flycatcher Philadelphia Vireo Warbling Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Blue Jay Blue-gray Gnatcatcher White-breasted Nuthatch Red-breasted Nuthatch Blue-gray Gnatcatcher House Wren Carolina Wren European Starling Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird Veery Swainson’s Thrush Wood Thrush American Robin House Sparrow House Finch American Goldfinch Baltimore Oriole Common Grackle Ovenbird Northern Waterthrush Blue-winged Warbler Black-and-white Warbler Tennessee Warbler Nashville Warbler Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Cape May Warbler Northern Parula Magnolia Warbler Bay-breasted Warbler Blackburnian Warbler Chestnut-sided Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Canada Warbler Scarlet Tanager Northern Cardinal Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Registrar: Amanda Bielskas Participants: 26 Weather: Sunny and warm, with high of 87, low of 72, 50% humidity and a slight breeze Bird Species: 74
Even before the walk officially began, a couple of early arriving birders saw a few warblers and a Black-crowned Night-heron behind the visitors’ center. After the rest of the group arrived at 8 am, everyone began birding in the gardens, staying for quite some time, since the tides would be more favorable later in the morning and the garden was quite birdy. We had great looks at many warbler species and heard a Mourning Warbler, its ID confirmed when a couple of folks got a quick glance at it. Other species seen by most of of the group included several flycatchers and woodpeckers. A pit stop at the visitors’ center to gear up for the next part of the walk produced a flyover Purple Martin.
We then headed to the south end of the East Pond. Highlights seen there included many shorebirds: Red-necked Phalarope, Lesser Yellowlegs, Greater Yellowlegs, Ruddy Turnstone, Stilt Sandpiper, White-rumped Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Western Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper. Also seen were Bonaparte’s Gull, Black Skimmer, several Caspian Terns, and many duck species as well. We thought we might have a Baird’s Sandpiper, but after examining pictures and conferring with the e-bird reviewer, we decided that we didn’t have enough evidence to confirm our sighting and blamed the mirage bird on the heat and the long day.
The group birded for quite a distance along the shore of the East Pond, with some folks departing a bit early to head home, refill water bottles, or take a break. The rest of the group headed back to the visitors’ center for a well-deserved break, and the trip concluded around 3:00 pm.
Species Lists
Birds Canada Goose Mute Swan Blue-winged Teal Northern Shoveler Gadwall Mallard American Black Duck Green-winged Teal Greater Scaup Ruddy Duck Chimney Swift American Oystercatcher Killdeer Semipalmated Plover Short-billed Dowitcher Red-necked Phalarope Lesser Yellowlegs Greater Yellowlegs Ruddy Turnstone Stilt Sandpiper White-rumped Sandpiper Least Sandpiper Pectoral Sandpiper Western Sandpiper Semipalmated Sandpiper Bonaparte’s Gull Laughing Gull Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull (American) Great Black-backed Gull Black Skimmer Caspian Tern Forster’s Tern Common Tern Double-crested Cormorant Black-crowned Night Heron Snowy Egret Great Egret Great Blue Heron Glossy Ibis Osprey Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Peregrine Falcon Willow Flycatcher Least Flycatcher Great Crested Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird Blue Jay Tree Swallow Purple Martin Barn Swallow Red-breasted Nuthatch Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Carolina Wren European Starling Gray Catbird Brown Thrasher Northern Mockingbird American Robin Cedar Waxwing American Goldfinch Red-winged Blackbird Common Grackle Northern Waterthrush Black-and-white Warbler Mourning Warbler Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Cape May Warbler Magnolia Warbler Yellow Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Northern Cardinal
Butterflies Cabbage White Orange Sulphur Cloudless Sulphur Summer Azure American Lady Monarch Zabulon Skipper Silver-spotted Skipper
Odonates Wantering Glider Blue Dasher Black Saddlebags-multiple, too many to count.
Registrar: Debbie Mullins Participants: 17 Weather: Low to high 70s F, clear skies, NNE winds at 5-10 mph Bird Species: 43
It was a perfect day for birding on the mudflats at Cupsogue County Park in Suffolk County—clear skies, cool breezes, and an expert leader, Eileen Schwinn. We started walking out to the mudflats at 8:30, about two hours before low tide, encountering several species of passerines, including warblers, in the pine trees along the road. Just before reaching the campground, we turned toward the bay and saw that the sandbars and shoreline were loaded with gulls, terns, and shorebirds. We saw all five expected species of gulls, as well as four species of terns, including nineteen Royal Terns. Eleven species of shorebirds were observed, as well as many Great and Snowy Egrets, Great Blue Herons, and Black Skimmers. It was a real treat to see two Seaside Sparrows and a Saltmarsh Sparrow in the marsh, as well as a Clapper Rail. When the tide started to come in, we started walking back to the parking lot and enjoyed lunch together before returning to the city.
On the way home, part of the group stopped at Heckscher State Park, Field 7, where we saw a Stilt Sandpiper in a parking lot puddle.
Species List
Clapper Rail American Oystercatcher Black-bellied Plover Semipalmated Plover Piping Plover Short-billed Dowitcher Willet (Western) Greater Yellowlegs Ruddy Turnstone Sanderling Dunlin Semipalmated Sandpiper Laughing Gull Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Great Black-backed Gull Lesser Black-backed Gull Black Skimmer Least Tern Forster’s Tern Common Tern Royal Tern Double-crested Cormorant Snowy Egret Great Egret Great Blue Heron Glossy Ibis Osprey Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Eastern Kingbird Tree Swallow Carolina Wren European Starling Northern Mockingbird American Goldfinch Seaside Sparrow Saltmarsh Sparrow Song Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Boat-tailed Grackle Prairie Warbler Northern Cardinal
The focus of our walk was nesting birds, and we started at Conference House Park to find them. Beginning along a lush, wooded path, we soon saw evidence of recently fledged birds. Our first sighting was a Gray Catbird in juvenile plumage, followed by robins with spotted breasts, a young Baltimore Oriole, and a White eyed Vireo trio moving in the upper reaches of nearby trees. We kept a lookout for nests, and saw some empty ones – a possible Cooper’s Hawk nest in good condition, a distant Bald Eagle nest, some dilapidated nests of unknown species, and one that was occupied by an alert robin looking back at us. After exiting the woods, we headed to the beach near the southernmost tip of Staten Island (and of New York State, as a sign nearby proclaimed). Beyond, in the bay, a colony of nesting Double-breasted Cormorants was occupying a channel marker, and further out, at the top of a lighthouse, an adult Osprey perched on its nest. Back on the beach there were Canada Geese with goslings and large numbers of starlings; and flying over the water, close in, were Common Terns, and many gulls. Leaving the beach, we entered a meadow where we heard and saw the first Indigo Bunting of what would become several for the day, and in a wetland area, we discovered two well camouflaged Green Herons.
Our next stop was Mount Loretto Unique Area. This time we began by walking through a meadow, where we spotted Red-winged Blackbirds singing and moving among the grasses and a Tree Swallow family in a tree. We paused to observe some dragonflies along the path, and then headed to a platform overlooking a large pond, where an enormous snapping turtle swam towards us, looking at us expectantly; we concluded that it was accustomed to being fed. We were excited to see Least Terns hovering over the water and plunging for food; there were four of them, and they were unexpected. There were also Great Egrets, a Green Heron, and several Ospreys flying by; singing Indigo Buntings, Warbling Vireos, and a Northern Mockingbird; and vocalizing Green Frogs and Bullfrogs. We were unsuccessful at finding a Willow Flycatcher, but we were rewarded with the song (and view) of a Blue Grosbeak, and a Yellow-billed Cuckoo was heard.
Following lunch, we headed to Lemon Creek Park, where there is a long-established Purple Martin community. We learned that the initial housing was built in 1953 by the ornithologist Howard Cleaves, and the structures have been maintained by volunteers ever since. The houses were vibrant with many Purple Martin adults and chicks. Above the adjacent water channel (Lemon Creek) we saw our first Forster’s Terns of the day.
Our final destination was Great Kills Park to see the Bank Swallows and their nests, and, possibly, the reported, rare-for-the-season Black Scoter. We didn’t find the Black Scoter, but we had a nice surprise seeing a Little Blue Heron on the mud flats, holding its own against a harassing Great Black-backed Gull. And sharing the mudflats with the Little Blue Heron were a pair of American Oystercatchers, a Snowy Egret, a Boat-tailed Grackle, and along the grassy edge – and easy to miss – a Yellow-crowned Night Heron. And all the while, the Bank Swallows were swooping and flying in front of us and along the sand bank below.
Many, many thanks to Howie for leading us on this trip. In spite of the hot and humid weather, we all had a really great time and saw some really great birds.
Species Lists
Birds Canada Goose Mallard Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Yellow-billed Cuckoo Chimney Swift American Oystercatcher Laughing Gull Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Great Black-backed Gull Least Tern Forster’s Tern Common Tern Double-crested Cormorant Yellow-crowned Night Heron Little Blue Heron Snowy Egret Green Heron Great Egret Great Blue Heron Osprey Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Great Crested Flycatcher White-eyed Vireo Warbling Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Blue Jay Fish Crow Bank Swallow Tree Swallow Purple Martin Northern Rough-winged Swallow Barn Swallow White-breasted Nuthatch House Wren Carolina Wren European Starling Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird Wood Thrush American Robin House Sparrow American Goldfinch Song Sparrow Baltimore Oriole Red-winged Blackbird Brown-headed Cowbird Boat-tailed Grackle Common Yellowthroat Northern Cardinal Blue Grosbeak Indigo Bunting
Butterflies Cabbage White Summer Azures Pearl Crescent
Odonates Eastern Amberwing Needham’s Skimmer Slaty Skimmer Blue Dasher
Registrar: Matthew Fischer Participants: 14 Weather: Fair; low 60s; max wind gust of 18 mph Bird Species: 39
Upon arriving, the Linnaean participants were greeted by our excellent leader, Rick Cech. Rick immediately guided us to an adjacent patch dominated by short bluestem grasses that host Dusted Skippers. We were fascinated by these small but interesting butterflies. Also present were Northern and Southern Cloudywings. We continued to explore a variety of local habitats where a diverse number of butterfly species find their homes, including a cooperative little Red-banded Hairstreak.
These little creatures all captured our attention, from the tiny Least Skippers to the European Skippers, Packs Skippers, Hobomok Skippers, and the Long Dashes. Rick also found an attractive larger skipper, the Hoary Edge, though the date was early for this species at WPR. Little Wood Satyrs were abundant and very active, but rarely landed for a photograph.
From Rick, we also learned the sequence of skipper species emergence as the season progresses and as various plant species mature. He emphasized the salient features of each skipper species.
We were captivated by excellent views of larger butterflies. The Appalachian Brown is a special butterfly of sedge meadows, a target species at Ward Pound Ridge. Other colorful butterflies included three Question Marks, two Red-spotted Purples, some little Eastern-tailed Blues, and Summer Azures, Pearl Crescents, and the special butterfly we were anxiously awaiting to see: the Harris’ Checkerspot.
Rick guided us right to where it would be, and it put on quite a show. Many pictures of it are posted below, after the species list. In all, 28 butterfly species were counted in that location and three Great Spangled Fritillaries were found in another area. They were just beginning to emerge in synchronicity with the blooming milkweed plants.
Th ecology of Ward Pound Ridge is unique, attracting not only butterflies but certain odonates as well. Steve Walter spotted a dragonfly that is rare for this area, the Maine Snaketail, “an uncommon species found in central and western Massachusetts” and infrequently in southeastern Canada. He also saw a Lancet Clubtail.
We caught sight of several damselflies. Fragile Forktails were numerous. A treat was the Aurora Damselfly, which often holds its wings partially spread. A very attractive dragonfly, the Harlequin Darner, landed on the gravel path, and an extremely cooperative and striking Black-shouldered Spinyleg perched, allowing us to photograph it. Common Whitetails were another abundant species.
After lunch Rick took us up a hill to one more area, where he identified a Spicebush Swallowtail. He explained that this area would bloom in a couple of weeks, with many butterfly species enjoying the bounty.
Many reptiles and amphibians inhabit this area. Rick found an American Toad clinging to the bark of a tree and looking very much like the bark. It was a great opportunity for observing and photographing. A Black Rat Snake appeared to be napping in a tree; it’s often seen here. We were serenaded by the croaking of a Bull Frog, and photographed a Green Frog.
We also enjoyed hearing and seeing many bird species. Some highlights included Great-crested Flycatcher, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Eastern Bluebird, Cedar Waxwing, Field Sparrow, Baltimore Oriole, Ovenbird, Blue-winged Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Prairie Warbler, and Indigo Bunting.
It was soon time to leave, but we will never forget our wonderful outdoor classroom at Ward Pound Ridge.
Species List
Birds Mourning Dove Yellow-billed Cuckoo Chimney Swift Ruby-throated Hummingbird Great Blue Heron Turkey Vulture Red-tailed Hawk Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Eastern Wood-Pewee Great-crested Flycatcher Warbling Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Blue Jay American Crow Barn Swallow Tree Swallow Carolina wren Eastern Bluebird American Robin Gray Catbird Cedar Waxwing House Sparrow American Goldfinch Chipping Sparrow Field Sparrow Song Sparrow Baltimore Oriole Brown-headed Cowbird Red-winged Blackbird Common Grackle Ovenbird-5 Blue-winged Warbler Common Yellowthroat Yellow Warbler Prairie Warbler Indigo Bunting Northern Cardinal
Amphibians and Reptiles Green Frog Bull Frog American Toad Black Rat Snake
Butterflies Black Swallowtail Spicebush Swallowtail Cabbage White Clouded Sulphur Red-banded Hairstreak Eastern-tailed Blue Summer Azure Great Spangled Fritillary Harris` Checkerspot Pearl Crescent Question Mark Red Admiral Red-spotted Purple Appalachian Brown Little Wood Satyr Common Ringlet Monarch Butterfly Silver-spotted Skipper Hoary Edge Southern Cloudywing Northern Cloudywing Wild Indigo Duskywing Least Skipper European Skipper Peck`s Skipper Long Dash Hobomok Skipper Dusted Skipper
Odonates Ebony Jewelwing Fragile Forktail Aurora Danselfly Variable Dancer Powdered Dancer Green Darner Harlequin Darner Lancet Clubtail Southern Pygmy Clubtail Black-shouldered Spinyleg Maine Rusty Snaketail Prince BaskettailCommon Baskettail Blue Dasher Eastern Pondhawk Twelve-spotted Skimmer Spangled Skimmer Common Whitetail Halloween Pennant
Eighteen Linnaean Society members and botany enthusiasts gathered on a warm sunny morning to wander in the available tree shade and light breeze around The Pool and The Ravine of northern Central Park. Regina Alvarez, the walk leader, with her familiarity and experience with Central Park and teaching, shared much information about the plant life of the park and the way it has been managed over the years. She started by lending magnifying loupes to participants, explaining that a jeweler’s loupe at 10x would be best for field study. She demonstrated how to use them by bringing the loupe quite close to the face and resting it against the cheek to hold it near the eye. The object to study must be very near the bottom of the glass.
Regina pointed out which plants are native, non-native, and invasive. She shared her extensive knowledge about the plants and other species in the park. She pointed out and talked about over 50 plant species. We talked a bit about plant/bird interactions as well and discussed foraging and the possible risks to an inexperienced forager. Generally, foraging is not advisable in an ecosystem like Central Park, which would suffer greatly if thousands of visitors took up the practice. We encountered poison ivy (native) in the Loch. Regina explained that the Park has a policy of managing rather than eradicating this plant, which produces berries popular with 60 species of birds, as well as the urushiol oil that stimulates an allergic reaction in approximately half the people who come in contact with it.
It was a very successful walk on a beautiful day in Central Park. Overall, we saw over 50 botanical species, eighteen birds, and several types of mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and insects.
Species Lists
Birds Canada Goose Mallard Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) Mourning Dove Chimney Swift Great Egret Northern Flicker Red-eyed Vireo Blue Jay House Wren European Starling Gray Catbird American Robin Cedar Waxwing House Sparrow House Finch Red-winged Blackbird Common Grackle
Plants
Trees—Native American Sweetgum Tree American Sycamore Bald Cypress Black Cherry Hackberry Oak Tree Pin Oak Pumpkin Ash Red Maple Sassafras Serviceberry or Shad Bush Sweetbay Magnolia Tulip Tree Tupelo Tree (Black Gum) Trees—Hybrid London Plane Trees—Non-Native Ginkgo Shrubs, Vines and Flowers—Native American Plantain Blackberry Black Raspberry Bluebell Blue Flag Iris Bottle Brush Buckeye Common Blue Violet Duckweed Elderberry Flame Axalea Fragrant Sumac Goldenrod Hackberry Knotweed Lizard’s Tail Poison Ivy Pokeweed Purple Flowering Raspberry Spicebush Viola Blando Virginia Creeper Virginia Knotweed Virginia Sweet Spire Wolffia (Watermeal) Woodland Sunflower Native rose (Swamp Rose and Virginia Rose) Arrowwood viburnum White Wood Aster Shrubs, Vines and Flowers—Non-native Bittersweet Nightshade Burdock Deadly Nightshade Mugwort Seibold Viberdum Strawberry (mock) Ferns – Native Christmas fern Goldie’s Wood Fern Grass—Native Bottlebrush Grass Grass—Non-native Phragmites
Mammals Brown Rat Eastern Chipmunk Eastern Gray Squirrel
This was our last spring migration walk of 2024. Although we saw quite a few warblers and other migrants, it was clear that migration was winding down. Many birds are nesting, and some fledgling American Robins and European Starlings are already being seen.
Species List
Canada Goose Mallard Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) Mourning Dove Chimney Swift Herring Gull Double-crested Cormorant Black-crowned Night Heron Red-tailed Hawk Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Eastern Wood-Pewee Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Great Crested Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird Warbling Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Blue Jay American Crow Carolina Wren European Starling Gray Catbird Swainson’s Thrush American Robin Cedar Waxwing House Sparrow House Finch White-throated Sparrow Baltimore Oriole Red-winged Blackbird Common Grackle Northern Waterthrush Black-and-white Warbler American Redstart Magnolia Warbler Bay-breasted Warbler Blackburnian Warbler Yellow Warbler Blackpoll Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Wilson’s Warbler Canada Warbler Northern Cardinal
Registrars: Suzanne Zywicki and Christina Black Participants: 12 Weather: Mostly sunny in the 70s and 80s, with wind gusts up to 20 mph Bird Species: 40
With sunny, windy weather following a stormy Memorial Day Monday, the group met on Tuesday afternoon in Richard W. DeKorte Park in the N.J. Meadowlands. As we learned from both Christopher Takacs (our trip leader and Bergen County Audubon Board member and field trip coordinator) and Don Torino (Bergen County Audubon President and former recipient of Linnaean’s conservation award), the park was once slated to be a landfill. We walked the Marshland Discovery Trail, and some highlights included a chorus of many Marsh Wrens, some sweet Least Terns, several Ospreys swooping around, and Great Egrets hunting.
Next, the group caravanned to River Barge Park, the launch site for a 5:30-7:30 p.m. NJSEA (NJ Sports & Expo Authority) pontoon ride. We boated under the train bridges and through the marshes of the Hackensack River, also part of the Meadowlands. Highlights included a young Bald Eagle, two Yellow-crowned Night Herons, a Peregrine Falcon pair guarding their nest, and Spotted Sandpipers on the shore. The slightly choppy water and deep green marshes stood out against such backdrops as the American Dream Mall Ferris Wheel, passing NJ Transit trains, and, further away, the Manhattan skyline.
Species Lists Richard W. DeKorte Park, Bergen, New Jersey, US 28 species
Canada Goose Mute Swan Northern Shoveler Gadwall Mallard American Black Duck Ruddy Duck Mourning Dove Herring Gull Least Tern Great Egret Osprey Tree Swallow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Barn Swallow Marsh Wren European Starling Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird American Robin Cedar Waxwing House Sparrow American Goldfinch Song Sparrow Baltimore Oriole Red-winged Blackbird Common Grackle Northern Cardinal
River Barge Park, Bergen, New Jersey, US 23 species
Canada Goose Gadwall Mallard Ring-necked Duck Mourning Dove Clapper Rail Spotted Sandpiper Semipalmated Sandpiper Herring Gull Great Black-backed Gull Double-crested Cormorant Yellow-crowned Night Heron Black-crowned Night Heron Snowy Egret Great Blue Heron Osprey Bald Eagle Red-tailed Hawk Peregrine Falcon Tree Swallow Marsh Wren Northern Mockingbird Red-winged Blackbird
