Fort Tilden with Gordon Lam, 10/17/2020

Registrar: Pearl Broder
Participants: 10
Weather: sunny, slight breeze, upper 40’s-upper 50’s F
Bird Species: 42

We all want to thank our Excellent leader, Gordon Lam for this exciting trip with unexpected sightings. The highlight was a Western Kingbird. The Blue Grosbeak was also a highlight. Royal Terns are attracted to Fort Tilden, and we saw 26 of them. Another big surprise was the sighting of an immature Bald Eagle. A harbinger of the changing season was the return of the Common and Red-throated Loons. We were entertained at lunchtime by the sudden appearance of 22 Black Skimmers. The lunchtime show continued with the arrival of two flocks of Sanderlings. We observed two Black-bellied Plovers, and this species will be seen throughout the winter. The Yellow-rumped Warblers were the dominant warbler species. We enjoyed watching the soon-to-depart Forster’s Terns, last of the genus sterna to bid us farewell, until their return next year.

Gordon also explained to us the history of Fort Tilden. He has a strong interest in ecology. We learned more about the relationships among the various plant and animal species. We did see evidence of a Ghost Crab, which is a more southern species. We saw the remains of an Atlantic Sharpnose Shark. It is a small shark inhabiting the Atlantic Ocean in the northeast. This area is home to Bottlenose Dolphins, and one did make a brief appearance.

Species Lists

Birds
Common Eider
Black Scoter
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Black-bellied Plover
Sanderling
Laughing Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Forster’s Tern
Royal Tern
Black Skimmer
Red-throated Loon
Common Loon
Double-crested Cormorant
Osprey
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper’s Hawk
Bald Eagle
Northern Flicker
Merlin
Eastern Phoebe
Western Kingbird
Blue Jay
American Crow
Tree Swallow
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
Northern Mockingbird
American Robin
House Sparrow
House Finch
Pine Siskin
Dark-eyed Junco
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Palm Warbler
Pine Warbler
Northern Cardinal
Blue Grosbeak

Butterflies
American Lady
Monarch
Buckeye

Odonates
Green Darner

Central Park with Janet Wooten, Will Papp, and Kevin Sisco, 10/13/2020

Registrar: Vicki Seabrook
Participants: 11
Weather: Overcast with periodic rain, NE winds at 5-9 mph
Bird Species: 46

The walk started out with limited visibility, and later on rain, but 46 species of birds were still seen, with excellent views of a Marsh Wren.

Species List

Birds
Canada Goose
Mallard
Ruddy Duck
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Double-crested Cormorant
Cooper’s Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Eastern Phoebe
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Marsh Wren
Carolina Wren
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
House Sparrow
Purple Finch
American Goldfinch
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Black-and-white Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Cape May Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Pine Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Northern Cardinal

8th Annual Starr Saphir Memorial Fall Migration Walk, Central Park with Lenore Swenson, Alice Deutsch, Ken Chaya, 10/11/2020

Trip Report: Lenore Swenson
Participants: 14
Weather: Sunny, temperatures 63-65F, winds west 4mph
Bird Species: 64

We set out at 7:30am at West 103rd Street at the Pool. Following COVID guidelines we divided into two groups to maintain social distance. One group, led by Lenore Swenson, headed in one direction around the Pool, while the other group, led by Alice Deutsch and Ken Chaya, went the opposite way. The area around the Pool yielded four species of waterfowl, four thrushes, five warblers, and a flyover Cooper’s Hawk.

We continued up the Great Hill in search of sparrows, then went through Central Park’s North Woods along the Loch and Ravine. The highlight there was a Barred Owl perched in a tree across the Loch, completely out in the open!

As some participants left, we continued on as one group to the east-side Conservatory Garden, then to the nursery and compost area, where the walk ended at 1:15pm. As Starr liked to end her walks with “round” numbers, it was fitting that we had a total of 64 species, including 10 sparrows and 10 warblers.

Species Lists

Birds
Canada Goose
Northern Shoveler
Gadwall
Mallard
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Cooper’s Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Barred Owl
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Eastern Phoebe
Blue Jay
American Crow
Tufted Titmouse
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Winter Wren
Carolina Wren
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
Gray-cheeked Thrush
Swainson’s Thrush
Hermit Thrush
Wood Thrush
American Robin
House Sparrow
House Finch
American Goldfinch
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-crowned Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Lincoln’s Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Brown-headed Cowbird
Common Grackle
Northern Waterthrush
Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart
Cape May Warbler
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Palm Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Northern Cardinal

Mammals
Eastern Gray Squirrel – both gray and black morphs
Eastern Chipmunk
Norway Rat

Insects
Cabbage White Butterfly
Monarch Caterpillar
Chinese Mantid 

Muscoot Farms with Anne Swaim, 10/7/2020

Registrar: Mary Beth Kooper
Participants: 10
Weather:  Clear, mid 60s
Bird Species: 51

Anne Swaim, executive director of Saw Mill River Audubon, led our group on a wonderful walk through the scenic landscapes of Muscoot Farm’s open fields and forested hills. We also had the pleasure of meeting Paul Lewis, Muscoot Farm board member, who gave us a brief history of the farm and its current workings. This was a new destination for most of the field trip participants. It’s worth a visit if you are in the area for birding, and it’s a great place to bring children. The species highlights included numerous Eastern Bluebirds, which nest there, and a delightful group of vocalizing Purple Finches.

After our morning walk at Muscoot Farm, Anne was kind enough to lead us on a brief visit to nearby Croton Point Park, where the highlights were American Pipits, Northern Harriers, and American Kestrels.

Species Lists

Birds
Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Pied-billed Grebe
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Herring Gull
Great Blue Heron
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
American Kestrel
Eastern Phoebe
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
Common Raven
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Eastern Bluebird
Swainson’s Thrush
American Robin
House Sparrow
American Pipit
House Finch
Purple Finch
American Goldfinch
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Common Yellowthroat
Blackpoll Warbler
Palm Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Northern Cardinal

Central Park with Will Papp, Kevin Sisco, Alice Deutsch, Miriam Rakowski, Mary Beth Kooper, and Andrew Rubenfeld, 10/6/2020

Registrar: Vicki Seabrook
Participants: 36
Weather: Sunny, 60-73 degrees, SW winds at 3-5 mph
Bird Species: 68

A very sunny, pleasant, and mild day. The large group of 36 participants were divided into four groups that started from Strawberry Fields on what developed into a very good birding day.

Species Lists

Birds
Canada Goose
Mallard
Ruddy Duck
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Double-crested Cormorant
Osprey
Cooper’s Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Eastern Phoebe
Blue-headed Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
House Wren
Winter Wren
Carolina Wren
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
Gray-cheeked Thrush
Swainson’s Thrush
Hermit Thrush
Wood Thrush
American Robin
House Sparrow
House Finch
American Goldfinch
Chipping Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Lincoln’s Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Common Grackle
Ovenbird
Black-and-white Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart
Cape May Warbler
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Palm Warbler
Pine Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Sandy Hook with Rick Wright, 10/3/2020

Registrar: Alice Deutsch
Participants: 9
Weather: sunny calm, 60’s F
Bird Species: 65

It was a sunny day in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic when we went on a birding trip to Sandy Hook led by Rick Wright. All of us wore masks and observed the social distancing rules laid down by the Linnaean Society. We started out in Parking Lot M and ended up staying in the area for several hours thanks to the many birds that came through. The habitat is characterized by scattered low trees, including pines, some shrubs, and grasses, in sandy soil. We enjoyed great looks at sparrows, warblers, and other migrants. Some of the highlights included Savannah Sparrows, Chipping Sparrows, a cooperative Field Sparrow and a Lincoln’s Sparrow. Another highlight was a Yellow-billed Cuckoo that appeared well but briefly. Eastern Phoebes seemed to be everywhere. For lunch we went to an area closer to the ocean. The habitats were shoreline and dunes with grasses and low shrubs. We observed gulls and Royal Terns. Rick did a great job of getting each of us on the bird and describing the identifying field marks.

Species Lists

Birds
Canada Goose
American Black Duck
Mourning Dove
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Chimney Swift
Laughing Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Royal Tern
Double-crested Cormorant
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper’s Hawk
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Peregrine Falcon
Eastern Phoebe
Blue-headed Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
American Crow
Tree Swallow
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
House Wren
Carolina Wren
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
Swainson’s Thrush
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
House Sparrow
House Finch
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Lincoln’s Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Black-and-white Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Cape May Warbler
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Palm Warbler
Pine Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Scarlet Tanager
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting

Central Park with Will Papp, Kevin Sisco, and Alice Deutsch, 9/29/2020

Registrar: Marie-Claire Cunningham
Trip Report: Miriam Rakowski
Participants: 29
Weather: Cloudy, temperature range 68-72; winds from the south at 4-6 mph
Bird Species: 51

The weather forecast for this morning’s walk had been threatening for the last few days. I suspect many who came last week performed a non-rain dance. If so, it was successful, as the weather cooperated all morning. Twenty-nine happy people went off in three groups on their birding adventure in Central Park. As the winds had been coming from the south for the last few days, we did not expect to see many birds. Yet our group was able to eke out ten species of warblers, including a Tennessee.

An interesting conversation ensued when we sighted a large, rather bulky raptor. Its size suggested a Red-tailed Hawk but it lacked a belly band. It possessed a longish, striped tail suggesting an accipiter. However, we were puzzled by its large size. We finally agreed on it being a female Cooper’s Hawk.

Some other highlights included a Scarlet Tanager, a couple of Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, and a Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Despite the cloudy weather, we had a bright morning filled with 52 species of birds. 

Species Lists

Birds
Canada Goose
Mallard
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Herring Gull
Cooper’s Hawk
Belted Kingfisher
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
American Kestrel
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Eastern Phoebe
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Tufted Titmouse
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
Veery
Swainson’s Thrush
Wood Thrush
American Robin
House Sparrow
House Finch
American Goldfinch
White-throated Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Common Grackle
Ovenbird
Northern Waterthrush
Black-and-white Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart
Cape May Warbler
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Scarlet Tanager
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Staten Island with Seth Wollney, 9/26/2020

Registrar: Judy Rabi
Participants: 9
Weather: The weather started out cool and partly cloudy. By mid-afternoon the temperature was 76 degrees, sunny and humid. Winds were south-southwest.
Bird Species: 64

We started our day at the Conference House Visitor Center. The number of migrating Blue Jays and Northern Flickers were notable. Ospreys were also abundant. A green-banded Bald Eagle was easily sighted perched in a field with several large trees. Unfortunately we could not make out the full number on the band. Seth informed us that this was most likely a migrating bird, because Bald Eagles are not banded on Staten Island. Two Merlins perched and flying, were also seen in this field. Song birds and woodpeckers were also present in good numbers at the Conference House.

From the Conference House we made our way to Seaside Nature Park. Royal Terns, perhaps ten to fifteen of them, were perched and flying in close proximity in the small harbor-like area. A Belted Kingfisher, Boat-tailed Grackles, Double-crested Cormorants and Fish Crow were also present, not to speak of the many fiddler crabs scrambling in the mud.

We then moved on to Oakwood Beach. In this area an immature Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, a Little Blue Heron, egrets of both species, a Marsh Wren, Carolina Wren, Tree Swallows, American Crow and Ospreys were present. A white-tailed deer, monarch and cabbage white butterflies were also noted.

Our final destination was Miller Field. The pond at Miller Field yielded several species: Lesser Yellowlegs, Killdeer, Semipalmated Plover, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Savannah Sparrow, Palm Warbler, and the one that many of us considered the bird of the day, an American Pipit.

We had 64 species in total.

Many thanks to Seth, whose ability to spot birds and willingness to share his knowledge of Staten Island habitats and species prevalence were immensely helpful to all of us.

Species Lists

Birds
Canada Goose
Mallard
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift
Semipalmated Plover
Killdeer
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Lesser Yellowlegs
Laughing Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Royal Tern
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Little Blue Heron
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Bald Eagle
Belted Kingfisher
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Merlin
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Eastern Phoebe
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Fish Crow
Tree Swallow
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Marsh Wren
Carolina Wren
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
Swainson’s Thrush
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
House Sparrow
American Pipit
House Finch
American Goldfinch
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Lincoln’s Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Baltimore Oriole
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Boat-tailed Grackle
Black-and-white Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart
Palm Warbler
Scarlet Tanager
Northern Cardinal