Central Park with Will Papp and Kevin Sisco, 10/20/2020

Registrar: Marie-Claire Cunningham
Trip Report: Vicki Seabrook and Janet Wooten
Participants: 9
Weather: Light rain and fog to mostly cloudy, temperature 61F, winds from the East-Southeast at 3 mph
Bird Species: 50

Species Lists

Birds
Canada Goose
Northern Shoveler
Mallard
Ruddy Duck
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Double-crested Cormorant
Red-tailed Hawk
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Eastern Phoebe
Blue-headed Vireo
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
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
Swainson’s Thrush
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
House Sparrow
House Finch
Purple Finch
American Goldfinch
Chipping Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Common Grackle
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Randall’s Island with Alan Drogin, 10/18/2020

Registrar: Miriam Rakowski
Attendees: 10
Weather: Temperatures, 50-63 degrees; winds NE 3 mph changing to SE 10 mph, with gusts.
Bird Species: 50

We began our walk at the marshes, where the first flock to welcome us were Pine Siskins, high up in the trees. This is an irruptive year for Pine Siskins. Certainly, the numerous twittering flocks we kept seeing were the highlight for many.

Another interesting encounter was with Savannah Sparrows. Though it had gotten quite windy by then, we were able to watch four of them feeding down in the grass. One of these sparrows- very pale and grayish, was considered to be a possible Ipswich type, a subspecies of the Savannah Sparrow. After sending Jacob Drucker, a few pictures of the birds he wrote the following: “Proportions are basically the same, and grayish birds like this aren’t that uncommon.” An additional surprise was a Red-throated Loon.

The siskins were the last flock of birds we came across. Happily, they were feeding at eye level in the shrubbery at the edge of the water so we could enjoy good looks at these small birds. We clearly saw the yellow wing and tail markings on some of them, their slender bills, and their small, cute, notched tails. 

It was great fun to go birding with both old and new Linnaean members. 

Species Lists

Birds
Canada Goose
Mallard
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Red-throated Loon
Double-crested Cormorant
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper’s Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
American Kestrel
Eastern Phoebe
Blue-headed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
Northern Mockingbird
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
House Sparrow
House Finch
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch
Chipping Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-crowned Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Nelson’s Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Lincoln’s Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Common Grackle
Common Yellowthroat
Palm Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Northern Cardinal

Butterflies
Red Admiral
Monarch

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