Registrars: Louise Fraza and Linda LaBella Participants: 10 Weather: Cold and sunny, 30 degrees Fahrenheit with a 17 degree wind-chill factor Bird Species: 43
We started the walk on Orchard Beach where we immediately observed a Peregrine Falcon eating what looked like a gull sp. at the shoreline. We then went up the trail to Hunter Island covering the rocky eastern shore and Twin Island. At 10:30 AM we drove up Shore Road to explore the grounds of Bartow-Pell Mansion. It turned out to be a very productive morning despite the below freezing wind-chill factor.
Species Lists
Birds Brant Canada Goose Mute Swan Gadwall American Wigeon Mallard American Black Duck Greater Scaup Lesser Scaup Surf Scoter Long-tailed Duck Bufflehead Common Goldeneye Red-breasted Merganser Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Common Loon Great Blue Heron Turkey Vulture Red-tailed Hawk Barred Owl Belted Kingfisher Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Merlin Peregrine Falcon Blue Jay Fish Crow Black-capped Chickadee Tufted Titmouse White-breasted Nuthatch Winter Wren Carolina Wren European Starling Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird Fox Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Northern Cardinal
Our birding adventure began en route to Croton when we saw at least two perched Bald Eagles from the train. Bald Eagles turned out to be the highlights of the day. After leaving the train station, we saw another one sitting on a nest of twigs. It swooped down towards us, flying low overhead and giving us great views. Later we witnessed three Bald Eagles gliding overhead effortlessly on flat wings in the heavy wind.
The other stars of the trip were five sparrow species. As we approached the Park, we noticed a few small brown birds feeding on the ground. Several had bright red heads, with creamy breasts and a central chest spot. We had great looks at these lovely Tree Sparrows. Mixed in with them were a few Song Sparrows.
Arriving at Croton’s landfill, we took the middle path of the three available up to the top. It was very windy, keeping most birds away, out of our sight. However, we did see a small bird scurrying on the ground like a mouse. It turned out to be a furtive Savannah Sparrow. As we continued to ascend, another small sparrow was spotted exhibiting the same behavior. We had only fleeting looks at this Savannah, which was quite white in appearance—perhaps an Ipswich type?
Some other highlights were the distant Common Mergansers on the Hudson and the even more distant Common Goldeneyes. At the trailer park above the landfill, we happened upon a feeder with a goodly number of birds to entertain us and bring our list up to 32 species for the day, despite the very gusty winds.
Species Lists
Birds Canada Goose Mute Swan Mallard American Black Duck Bufflehead Common Goldeneye Common Merganser Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Great Black-backed Gull Double-crested Cormorant Bald Eagle Red-tailed Hawk Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Blue Jay American Crow Fish Crow Black-capped Chickadee Tufted Titmouse White-breasted Nuthatch Carolina Wren European Starling Northern Mockingbird House Sparrow American Tree Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco White-throated Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Song Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Northern Cardinal
Because of the weather forecast for Sunday, Anne and Alice decided to change the day of this trip from Sunday to Saturday, and their decision turned out to be right one.
The participants met at 8:15 a.m. at the Coast Guard Station, and then we divided into two groups. The birding at the Coast Guard Station proved exciting as we had close up views of the Red-throated and Common Loons, Common Eider, Red-breasted Mergansers, and Bufflehead. With the aid of our scopes, we saw all three species of scoters, and Long-tailed Ducks in flight. One of the highlights was the Black-headed Gull spotted by Lenore Swenson among the other gulls along the spit.
During our treks along the beach, both groups viewed beautiful flocks of Sanderlings and Dunlin, and all of us had great looks at the Snowy Owl perched on top of the dune. At the Jetty a large flock of Black-bellied Plovers was seen.
When we broke for lunch, someone reported that a Spotted Towhee has been seen at Baldwin Harbor Park. Many of the participants then headed off to try to see it, while some others stayed to bird the conifers behind the parking lot. Everyone eventually ended up at the park, but, as it turned out, the Spotted Towhee was not seen by anyone that afternoon. However, we did enjoy seeing and hearing the Monk Parakeets.
We did not go to Point Lookout as seeing the Spotted Towhee took precedence for most of the participants.
We ended the trip with a total of 46 species.
Species Lists
Birds Brant Canada Goose Mute Swan Gadwall Mallard American Black Duck Greater Scaup Common Eider Surf Scoter White-winged Scoter Black Scoter Long-tailed Duck Bufflehead Red-breasted Merganser Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Black-bellied Plover Ruddy Turnstone Sanderling Dunlin Black-headed Gull Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Great Black-backed Gull Red-throated Loon Common Loon Double-crested Cormorant Red-shouldered Hawk (en route) Red-tailed Hawk Snowy Owl American Kestrel Monk Parakeet American Crow Black-capped Chickadee Horned Lark Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper European Starling Northern Mockingbird American Robin House Sparrow Red Crossbill Dark-eyed Junco White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Northern Cardinal
The day started off sunny but very windy, with wind chills in the teens. Despite the winds, and to the credit of our leader, we saw over 50 bird species.
Just after arriving at Rye Playland, we spotted a lovely female Common Goldeneye, so close that we could see her bright, golden eyes. Soon after, two striking female Common Mergansers revealed themselves. A few mature Bald Eagles flew by, not caring a bit about the heavy winds. Tom counted 19 Great Blue Herons lined up like soldiers on the islands and on the other side of the water.
At the Marshlands Conservancy, we were greeted by about a dozen Wild Turkeys vocalizing and scurrying around the grounds, with one perched atop the small visitors’ building, like a sentry. During our walk in the woods, our leader spotted two Great Horned Owls sleeping the day away.
Despite the heavy winds, we were glad to have spent the day out in nature.
Species Lists
Birds Canada Goose Mute Swan Mallard American Black Duck Greater Scaup Lesser Scaup Long-tailed Duck Bufflehead Common Goldeneye Hooded Merganser Common Merganser Red-breasted Merganser Wild Turkey Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Great Black-backed Gull Red-throated Loon Common Loon Great Cormorant Double-crested Cormorant Great Blue Heron Cooper’s Hawk Bald Eagle Red-tailed Hawk Great Horned Owl Belted Kingfisher Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Blue Jay American Crow Black-capped Chickadee Tufted Titmouse White-breasted Nuthatch Winter Wren Carolina Wren European Starling Northern Mockingbird American Robin Cedar Waxwing House Sparrow House Finch American Goldfinch Field Sparrow American Tree Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Northern Cardinal
Seventeen birders went out to Queens to explore several points around Jamaica Bay. To comply with LSNYC covid-19 safety guidelines, we divided into two groups lead by Peter Dorosh or by Anne Lazarus and Alice Deutsch. We started at Sunset Cove Park/Big Egg Marsh where we found hundreds of Brant, as well as other wintertime species, including Greater Scaup, Bufflehead and Red-breasted Merganser. Several Savannah Sparrows posed on a fence rail for us, while a Northern Harrier glided overhead. At the Jamaica Bay N.W.R, we circled the West Pond. Ducks were abundant, and we caught a glimpse of a Barn Owl sheltering in its box. An elusive Orange-crowned Warbler was briefly glimpsed near the breach. We walked out to the East Pond overlook near Big John’s Pond where one group was fortunate to arrive in time to see about 300 Snow Geese who lifted off en masse as were leaving. Hundreds of Ruddy Ducks, several Pied-bill Grebes, a Horned Grebe, Greater and Lesser Scaup, Green-winged Teal and other duck species were also present.
Species Lists
Birds Snow Goose Brant Canada Goose Mute Swan Northern Shoveler Gadwall American Wigeon Mallard American Black Duck Green-winged Teal Greater Scaup Lesser Scaup Bufflehead Hooded Merganser Red-breasted Merganser Ruddy Duck Pied-billed Grebe Horned Grebe Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove American Coot Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Great Black-backed Gull Common Loon Double-crested Cormorant Great Blue Heron Northern Harrier Sharp-shinned Hawk Cooper’s Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Barn Owl Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Merlin American Crow Fish Crow Black-capped Chickadee Ruby-crowned Kinglet Golden-crowned Kinglet Carolina Wren European Starling Northern Mockingbird American Robin House Sparrow American Goldfinch Chipping Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco White-throated Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Song Sparrow Eastern Towhee Red-winged Blackbird Common Grackle Boat-tailed Grackle Orange-crowned Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Northern Cardinal
Butterflies Cabbage White Buckeye Clouded Sulphur Cloudless Sulphur
Birds Canada Goose Northern Shoveler Mallard American Black Duck Bufflehead Hooded Merganser Ruddy Duck Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Great Black-backed Gull Double-crested Cormorant Cooper’s Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Barred Owl Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Peregrine Falcon Blue Jay American Crow Black-capped Chickadee Tufted Titmouse Ruby-crowned Kinglet White-breasted Nuthatch Carolina Wren European Starling Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird Hermit Thrush American Robin Cedar Waxwing House Sparrow House Finch Pine Siskin American Goldfinch Chipping Sparrow American Tree Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Brown-headed Cowbird Common Grackle Northern Cardinal
Registrar: Linda LaBella Participants: 28 Weather: Sunny, calm winds, 62-72 F Bird Species: 54
Species Lists
Birds Canada Goose Northern Shoveler Mallard Bufflehead Ruddy Duck Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove American Coot American Woodcock Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Great Black-backed Gull Double-crested Cormorant Cooper’s Hawk Red-shouldered Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker American Kestrel Peregrine Falcon Blue Jay American Crow Common Raven Black-capped Chickadee Tufted Titmouse Ruby-crowned Kinglet Golden-crowned Kinglet Red-breasted Nuthatch White-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Carolina Wren European Starling Northern Mockingbird Hermit Thrush American Robin Cedar Waxwing House Sparrow House Finch Purple Finch American Goldfinch Chipping Sparrow Field Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Brown-headed Cowbird Common Grackle Pine Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Northern Cardinal
Registrar: Mary Beth Kooper Participants: 11 Weather: Sunny, unseasonably warm, little wind Bird Species: 21
This day was not about seeing as many bird species as possible, it was about learning how to identify gulls, and that we did! Bobbi Manion and Dennis Hrehowsik did an amazing job of sharing their vast knowledge and experience about this family of birds, which many find so difficult to differentiate among.
We began the trip by looking out at the ocean which had a nice assortment of species, including hundreds of Northern Gannets that were plunge diving to feed. When we turned toward the beach for our immersion in gulls, we almost immediately had both a first-year and an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull to study. By the end of our trip, many of us were able to identify these gulls to species and cycle (or year).
Thanks to our wonderful leaders, and a very engaged and enthusiastic group of participants, this trip was both a joy and a big success.
Species Lists
Birds Brant Common Eider Surf Scoter Black Scoter Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Sanderling Laughing Gull Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Lesser Black-backed Gull Great Black-backed Gull Black Skimmer Red-throated Loon Common Loon Northern Gannet Double-crested Cormorant Black-capped Chickadee European Starling American Goldfinch White-throated Sparrow
