Jones Beach and Point Lookout with Anne Lazarus and Alice Deutsch, 1/2/2021

Registrar: Kathleen Howley
Participants: 17
Weather: Overcast in a.m.; sunny in p.m.; mid 40’s F, winds 10-15 mph
Bird Species: 46

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

Mammals
Domestic Cat

Rye Playland and Environs with Tom Burke, 12/6/2020

Registrar: Louise Fraza
Trip Report: Miriam Rakowski
Participants: 10
Weather: Temperatures, 35-40 F, winds WNW 15-30 mph
Bird Species: 52

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

Mammals
White-tailed Deer
Eastern Grey Squirrel

South Shores of Jamaica Bay with Peter Dorosh, 11/21/2020

Registrar: Debbie Mullins
Participants: 17
Weather: Overcast skies, 55-64 degrees F, northerly winds at 4 mph
Bird Species: 58

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

Odonate
Green Darner

Mammal
Eastern Gray Squirrel

Central Park with Will Papp, Kevin Cisco, Janet Wooten, 11/17/2020

Registrar: Miriam Rakowski
Participants: 26
Weather: Mostly Cloudy; 43 – 45F;  Winds WSW 5-6 MPH
Bird Species: 48

Species Lists

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

Central Park with Alice Deutsch, Kevin Sisco, Janet Wooten, 11/10/2020

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

Gull Identification at Coney Island with Roberta Manian and Dennis Hrehowsik, 11/7/2020

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

Butterflies
Monarch
Cabbage White
Orange Sulphur

Central Park with Alice Deutsch, Kevin Sisco, Janet Wooten, 11/3/2020

Registrar: Kathleen Howley
Participants: 28
Weather: Partly Cloudy, WNW Winds 11 mph, 42-45 F.
Bird Species: 62

Species Lists

Birds
Canada Goose
Northern Shoveler
Gadwall
Mallard
American Black Duck
Bufflehead
Hooded Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
American Coot
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Common Loon
Turkey Vulture
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper’s Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Eastern Phoebe
Blue Jay
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Winter Wren
Carolina Wren
European Starling
Northern Mockingbird
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
House Sparrow
House Finch
Purple Finch
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-crowned Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Lincoln’s Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Black-and-white Warbler
American Redstart
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Northern Cardinal

Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge with Joe Giunta, 10/31/2020

Registrar: Debbie Mullins
Participants: 17
Weather: Sunny, wind calm, mid 30’s to mid 40’s F
Bird Species: 74

On the first really cold day of the fall, seventeen enthusiastic birders headed out to the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge.  Given the large number of registrations for this trip, the group had to be divided into two small groups to be in compliance with the LSNYC covid guidelines.  Joe Giunta led the first group, while Anne Lazarus and Alice Deutsch co-led the overflow group.  Despite migration being nearly over, we saw an amazing 74 species of birds!  

The day started at the visitor center where we observed multiple sparrow species in the parking lot before even making it onto the hiking trails.  In the north garden, passerines were abundant, including a large flock of Pine Siskins feeding on seed heads close to the trail.  Looking up, we were treated to exciting views of the continuing American White Pelican circling overhead.  Next, we walked out to the “breach” to observe waterfowl on the West Pond.  To our delight, a Tundra Swan was spotted close to shore, giving satisfying up-close views.  

On the way back to the visitor center, a Sharp-shinned Hawk was seen conducting a vigorous aerial harassment of a Common Raven.  On the East Pond, we noted the return of many of our usual over-wintering waterfowl, as well as a few lingering Greater Yellowlegs.  A grebe, initially identified as a Horned Grebe, actually turned out to be a much more rare Eared Grebe, and both groups were able to observe the bird.

Species Lists

Birds
Brant
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Tundra Swan
Northern Shoveler
Gadwall
American Wigeon
Mallard
American Black Duck
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Greater Scaup
Bufflehead
Hooded Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Pied-billed Grebe
Eared Grebe
Mourning Dove
American Coot
Greater Yellowlegs
shorebird sp.
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Larus sp.
Double-crested Cormorant
American White Pelican
Great Egret
Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
American Kestrel
Merlin
Peregrine Falcon
Eastern Phoebe
Blue-headed Vireo
American Crow
Common Raven
Black-capped Chickadee
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Carolina Wren
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
House Sparrow
House Finch
Purple Finch
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch
Chipping Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-crowned Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Lincoln’s Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Common Grackle
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Palm Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Northern Cardinal