Registrar: Vicki Seabrook Participants: 10 Weather: In the forties, cloudy with sporadic sunshine Bird Species: 24
The walk began at 103rd street and Central Park West, after a discussion about how to use binoculars, what types of movement to look for, and how to describe the location of a bird in a tree. We walked down to the Pool, around the Willow, and through the Loch, turning around at Huddlestone Arch, and walking back through the Ravine. It was a very pleasant, low key introduction to birding.
Species Lists
Birds Gadwall Mallard Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Great Egret Red-tailed Hawk Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Blue Jay American Crow Tufted Titmouse Ruby-crowned Kinglet White-breasted Nuthatch Winter Wren European Starling Hermit Thrush American Robin House Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Louisiana Waterthrush Northern Cardinal
Registrar: Sally Weiner Participants: 48 Weather: Mostly overcast, with some patches of sunlight; 45–55º F., variable winds 5–6 mph Bird Species: 53
Numerous birders, both experienced and novice, participated in the walk. Some ventured into the north end where they saw the lingering Eastern Meadowlark and a Vesper Sparrow. All three warbler species gave us excellent views, with the Yellow-rumped Warblers actively flycatching at Turtle Pond. The seven sparrow species were also notable. Red-bellied Woodpeckers, the Northern Cardinals, and the White-throated Sparrows were especially vocal.
Species Lists
Birds Canada Goose Northern Shoveler Mallard Bufflehead Ruddy Duck Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove American Coot Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Great Black-backed Gull Double-crested Cormorant Great Egret Osprey 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 Northern Rough-winged Swallow Ruby-crowned Kinglet White-breasted Nuthatch Carolina Wren (heard only) European Starling Northern Mockingbird Hermit Thrush American Robin House Sparrow House Finch American Goldfinch Chipping Sparrow Field Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco White-throated Sparrow Vesper Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Eastern Towhee Eastern Meadowlark Red-winged Blackbird Brown-headed Cowbird Common Grackle Palm Warbler Pine Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Northern Cardinal
Registrar: Renée Lucier Participants: 9 Weather: Pouring rain when we began at 7:30 am, then quite nice. Mid-50s. Bird Species: 43
As expected, this walk with Tom was extremely popular, and the available slots (limited due to current COVID-19 restrictions) were filled a few minutes after registration opened on March 29.
We convened on the steps in front of the gorgeous Art Deco façade of the landmarked Brooklyn Public Library. There, Tom spent the first hour going over camera basics as well as specific ways we could adjust our settings—shutter speed, aperture, ISO—depending on conditions and desired effect. Because we were a small group, he was also able to help each of us with our individual equipment. Experience levels among the participants were wide ranging, but everyone came away with several new tips and tricks to try out.
Then we went birding. We spent almost four hours at it, and covered a large part of Prospect Park. Highlights among our sightings included a Cooper’s Hawk in its nest, a rare, close-ish encounter with a Red-throated Loon, and an even more rare leucistic squirrel!
A big thank you to Tom Stephenson for generously sharing his expertise!
Species Lists
Birds Canada Goose Wood Duck Northern Shoveler Mallard Hooded Merganser Ruddy Duck Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove American Coot Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Red-throated Loon Common Loon Double-crested Cormorant Great Egret Cooper’s Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Eastern Phoebe Blue Jay Black-capped Chickadee Tufted Titmouse White-breasted Nuthatch House Wren Carolina Wren European Starling Northern Mockingbird American Robin House Sparrow American Goldfinch White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Eastern Towhee Red-winged Blackbird Brown-headed Cowbird Common Grackle Palm Warbler Pine Warbler Northern Cardinal
Registrar: Barrie Raik Participants: 42 Weather: Very bright sun, starting out a cool 52 getting warmer by late morning, calm winds Bird Species: 53
A very large group of birders including some first-timers, necessitating a fifth group led by Kathleen and Ken. Highlights were a bright Northern Parula, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, and an Eastern Meadowlark seen by Kevin’s group and a few other individuals.
Species Lists
Birds (Species seen by at least one of the five groups) Canada Goose Northern Shoveler Gadwall Mallard Bufflehead Ruddy Duck Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove American Coot Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Great Black-backed Gull Double-crested Cormorant Great Egret Turkey Vulture Cooper’s Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Barred Owl Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker American Kestrel Peregrine Falcon Eastern Phoebe Blue Jay American Crow Black-capped Chickadee Tufted Titmouse Northern Rough-winged Swallow Ruby-crowned Kinglet Golden-crowned Kinglet Red-breasted Nuthatch White-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper European Starling Hermit Thrush American Robin House Sparrow House Finch American Goldfinch Chipping Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Eastern Meadowlark Red-winged Blackbird Brown-headed Cowbird Common Grackle Louisiana Waterthrush Northern Parula Palm Warbler Northern Cardinal
Registrar: Alice McInerney Participants: 13 (including co-leaders) Weather: Sunny, temperature began in the 30’s F and warmed up to the 50’s F Bird Species: 55
Many thanks to our co-leaders Richard ZainEldeen and Maya Shikhman for creating an exciting trip through four parks on Staten Island. We began with a long walk at the Conference House Park which has wooded and oceanside trails. We saw some newly arrived migrants, such as Eastern Phoebe, a Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher and a couple of American Oystercatchers, as well as overwintering species such as a Bufflehead.
At a brief stop at the Mt. Loretto Unique Area we added a Tree Swallow for the day.
Our visit to Wolfe’s Pond Park yielded, among others: Sanderling, Dunlin, Ruddy Turnstone, Greater Scaup, Red Breasted Mergansers as well as Northern Gannett and a Bald Eagle.
At our final stop, Great Kills Park, we walked on a beautiful beach. Among our sightings were: Osprey, American Oystercatchers and about 200 Northern Gannett. A Horned Grebe was a final, exciting find for the day.
Species Lists
Birds Brant Canada Goose Mute Swan Northern Shoveler Mallard American Black Duck Greater Scaup Black Scoter Bufflehead Red-breasted Merganser Wild Turkey Horned Grebe American Oystercatcher Killdeer Ruddy Turnstone Sanderling Dunlin Laughing Gull Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Great Black-backed Gull Northern Gannet Double-crested Cormorant Great Egret Turkey Vulture Bald Eagle Red-tailed Hawk Belted Kingfisher Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Eastern Phoebe Blue Jay American Crow Fish Crow Black-capped Chickadee Tufted Titmouse Tree Swallow White-breasted Nuthatch Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Winter Wren Carolina Wren European Starling Northern Mockingbird American Robin House Sparrow House Finch Dark-eyed Junco White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Brown-headed Cowbird Common Grackle Northern Cardinal
On our very first bird walk of the spring season, we could not have asked for better weather. The morning was a bit crisp, with bright sunshine. When we entered the park, we heard a chorus of song and saw a lot of bird activity. We could hear American Robins, White-throated Sparrows, House Sparrows, and Red-bellied Woodpeckers, all proudly announcing their presence. They were busy establishing their territory and wooing mates.
We noted Bloodroot in bloom on the Point. Several seasonal ornamental trees now in bloom include Cornelian Cherry Dogwood (Cornus mas); Korean Rhododendron (Rhododendron mucronulatum); and the pretty Taiwan Cherry aka Okame Cherry (Prunus campanulata).
The specialities of the day were the recent migrants: Pine Warbler, Eastern Phoebe, and Golden-crowned Kinglets. We also witnessed a shocking attack, a Cooper’s Hawk snatching a succulent Mourning Dove. However, the big surprise of the day was the very good views of our resident Coyote!
Species Lists
Birds Canada Goose Northern Shoveler Mallard Bufflehead Ruddy Duck Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove American Coot Ring-billed Gull Great Black-backed Gull Double-crested Cormorant Great Blue Heron Cooper’s Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Barred Owl Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker American Kestrel Eastern Phoebe Blue Jay American Crow Black-capped Chickadee Tufted Titmouse Northern Rough-winged Swallow Ruby-crowned Kinglet Golden-crowned Kinglet White-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper European Starling Hermit Thrush American Robin House Sparrow House Finch American Goldfinch Fox Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Common Grackle Pine Warbler Northern Cardinal
Our first stop at the Salt Marsh Nature Center in Marine Park was quite fruitful. We saw a lovely Pine Warbler on this very first day of spring—a “First of Season” bird for most of us. It was kind enough to allow us good looks as it moved from tree to ground. A Field Sparrow popped up soon after. This being “World Sparrow Day” made it even more enjoyable to see two Tree Sparrows as well as several Song Sparrows and Dark-eyed Juncos, all on the ground. In the course of the morning, we scoped many lovely ducks and our first and only shorebird species, a pair of striking American Oystercatchers, with their bright red bills.
We moved for lunch to Floyd Bennett Field, where we were welcomed by several American Kestrels perched on posts. Having heard about a Northern Shrike sighting, we waited a short time, hoping to see this rarity, but soon moved on, knowing there were other birds to be enjoyed. These included striking Long-tailed Ducks, some in lovely spring plumage with dark heads and bright pink bills. A first for many were five Great Cormorants, revealing their striking white hip patch.
Species Lists
Birds Brant Canada Goose Mute Swan Northern Shoveler American Wigeon Mallard Ring-necked Duck Greater Scaup Lesser Scaup Long-tailed Duck Bufflehead Common Goldeneye Hooded Merganser Red-breasted Merganser Ruddy Duck Pied-billed Grebe Horned Grebe Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove American Oystercatcher Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Great Black-backed Gull Red-throated Loon Common Loon Great Cormorant Turkey Vulture Accipiter sp. Red-tailed Hawk Downy Woodpecker American Kestrel Peregrine Falcon Blue Jay American Crow Fish Crow Black-capped Chickadee Carolina Wren European Starling Northern Mockingbird American Robin House Sparrow Field Sparrow American Tree Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Song Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Brown-headed Cowbird Common Grackle Pine Warbler Northern Cardinal
Registrar: Kathleen Matthews Participants: 37 Weather: Sunny, low to mid-30s F Bird Species: 44
On a crisp morning, 37 participants (divided into four groups) spent about three hours enjoying the austere but promising signs of early spring-crocuses, snowdrops, and an occasional daffodil-along with a total of 44 species of birds. Groups were staggered, but the general trajectory started in Strawberry Fields, hitting Hernshead and Oak Bridge and spending significant time in the Ramble (Evodia Field, Azalea Pond, Swampy Pin Oak, Maintenance Meadow) before heading further north to Turtle Pond, Belvedere Castle, Shakespeare Garden, the Pinetum, and the Jacqueline Onassis Reservoir.
Most groups saw the same birds, with the exception of the following, seen only by some: Red-throated Loon, Turkey Vulture, Black- crowned Night-Heron, Cooper’s Hawk, Bald Eagle, Eastern Phoebe, Northern Mockingbird, Hermit Thrush, Swamp Sparrow and Brown-headed Cowbird.
Species Lists
Birds Canada Goose Northern Shoveler Mallard Bufflehead Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove American Coot Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Great Black-backed Gull Red-throated Loon Double-crested Cormorant Great Blue Heron Black-crowned Night-Heron Turkey Vulture Cooper’s Hawk Bald Eagle Red-tailed Hawk Barred Owl Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Eastern Phoebe Blue Jay Black-capped Chickadee Tufted Titmouse White-breasted Nuthatch European Starling Northern Mockingbird Hermit Thrush American Robin House Sparrow House Finch American Goldfinch Fox Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Brown-headed Cowbird Common Grackle Northern Cardinal
