Shawangunk Grasslands N.W.R. with Richard ZainEldeen, 2/15/2020

Registrar: Debbie Mullins
Participants: 13
Weather: Sunny progressing to overcast, calm winds, high 20’s 
Bird Species: 27

After a two-week postponement due to snow and ice on the original date, we finally had a clear, but very brisk day, for our trip to Ulster County.  We started the day with a trail walk through the grass where we saw several Red-tailed Hawks and an American Kestrel, as well as an owl pellet.  The feeders and the surrounding area held a nice collection of woodpeckers and passerines, including an American Tree Sparrow.  Red-tailed Hawks, a Common Raven and Black Vultures were seen at Gale Park, and a Common Merganser, American Black Ducks and Canada Geese were seen from the Birch Road bridge over the Wallkill River.  We returned to Shawangunk late in the afternoon for our target bird, the Short-eared Owl.  We were not disappointed!  Three owls put on a beautiful show, soaring around the grasslands to the delight of a large group of birders and photographers.  Overall, we saw twenty-eight bird species, and all participants had life birds or year birds. 

Species Lists

Birds
Canada Goose
American Black Duck
Common Merganser
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Double-crested Cormorant
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Northern Harrier (including gray male)
Cooper’s Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Short-eared Owl
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
American Kestrel
Blue Jay
American Crow
Common Raven
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
European Starling
American Goldfinch
American Tree Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Northern Cardinal

Mammals
White-tailed Deer

Central Park with Richard ZainEldeen, 2/8/2020

Registrar: Ursula Mitra
Participants: 9
Weather: Partly sunny, low 30’s F.
Bird Species: 32

The trip included Strawberry Fields, north along the Lake, across Oak Bridge, into the Ramble, Maintenance Meadow, the Feeders, the Oven and to the Boathouse for an early lunch.  From there, back to the Ramble, the feeders (in hopes of some Purple Finches – but no success), along Turtle Pond, to the Pinetum, along the west side of the Reservoir and up to the west side of the Ballfields near 97th Street to see the immature Red-headed Woodpecker. The hardy bunch of the group continued up to the Pool to try and find the female Green-winged Teal (also no success).  

The highlights were: Two Eastern Towhees, a Cooper’s Hawk being chased by a red-tailed Hawk, a male Red-winged Blackbird and a White-breasted Nuthatch in the Ramble, an American Coot, Pied-billed Grebe, Hooded Mergansers and Buffleheads on the Reservoir and the immature Red-headed Woodpecker near the West side of the Ballfields, this time we saw it South of the 96th Street transverse. We also saw the leucistic Common Grackle in the huge flock of Grackles near West 95th Street along the bridle path but missed the female Boat-tailed Grackle that had been seen with the flock previously.

Species Lists

Birds
Canada Goose
Northern Shoveler
Mallard
Bufflehead
Hooded Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Pied-billed Grebe
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
American Coot
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Double-crested Cormorant
Cooper’s Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-headed Woodpecker (immature)
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Blue Jay
White-breasted Nuthatch
European Starling
Northern Mockingbird
American Robin
House Sparrow
House Finch
American Goldfinch
White-throated Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle (one partially leucistic)
Northern Cardinal

Coney Island Creek to Coney Island Pier with Rob Jett, 2/1/2020

Registrar: Mary Beth Kooper
Participants: 11
Weather: Cloudy, Calm winds, low 40’s F.
Bird Species: 33

The trip was a loop from Coney Island Beach (and Pier) to Coney Island Creek Park, Coney Island Creek/Kaiser Park, and Coney Island Creek/23rd Street Overlook.  It was a very calm day with a calm ocean, allowing for great looks at numerous Surf Scoters, Black Scoters, and Long-tailed Ducks.  An over wintering Lesser Black-backed Gull, nicknamed Stumpy, was a highlight as we left the pier.  Further down the beach we got close up looks at a Razorbill before it went further out to sea.  Nearby were three Purple Sandpipers.

Continuing to the Coney Island Creek side, waterfowl was the highlight including a Common Goldeneye, Redhead, Greater and Less Scaup.  An American Kestrel appeared just as the walk was ending at the 23^rd Street Overlook.

Species Lists

Birds
Brant
Canada Goose
Gadwall
Mallard
American Black Duck
Redhead
Greater Scaup
Lesser Scaup
Surf Scoter
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Red-breasted Merganser
Pied-billed Grebe
Horned Grebe
Rock Pigeon
American Coot
Sanderling
Purple Sandpiper
Razorbill
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Red-throated Loon
Common Loon
American Kestrel
American Crow
Fish Crow
European Starling
Northern Mockingbird
House Sparrow

Jones Beach and Point Lookout with Richard ZainEldeen, 12/8/2019

Registrar: Kathleen Howley
Participants: 7
Weather: Sunny am, later pm, low 30’s F to 40 F, wind 5 mph
Bird Species: 41

I would like to thank our excellent leader, Richard ZainEldeen for leading this most exciting trip. Our biggest surprise was a Northern Goshawk perched in a tree along Ocean Parkway and Parking Lot 6. We enjoyed viewing a variety of ducks, including the beautiful Harlequin Ducks at a jetty at Point Lookout. We also enjoyed views of a Ruddy Turnstone on a jetty further along at Point Lookout. The Black-bellied Plovers, Sanderlings and Dunlins were foraging on the spit at the Coast Guard Station, and one lone Common Eider was relaxing on the spit. We were impressed by all the interesting sparrows. We welcomed back a flock of wintering Snow Buntings at West End beaches.

Species Lists

Birds
Brant
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Mallard
American Black Duck
Common Eider
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead
Red-breasted Merganser
Horned Grebe
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Black-bellied Plover
Ruddy Turnstone
Sanderling
Dunlin
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Red-throated Loon
Common Loon
Double-crested Cormorant
Northern Goshawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Northern Flicker
Eastern Phoebe
European Starling
Northern Mockingbird
American Goldfinch (h)
Snow Bunting
Field Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-throated Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
Yellow-rumped Warbler

Mammal
Harbor Seal

Rye Playland and Environs with Tom Burke, 12/7/2019

Registrar: Louise Fraza
Participants: 8 
Weather: Sunny, temperatures 31-37 degrees Fahrenheit, Winds west, 10-12 MPH
Bird Species: 67

We began the morning at Rye Playland, where we studied a nice array of ducks, including Wood Ducks, Common Goldeneye and more.  Then Tom brought us to Rye Ridge Shopping Center Pond. There we saw hundreds of geese. Tom surprised us by finding one White-fronted Goose. This lovely bird, which we were able to study for some time, turned out to be a “year bird” for all the attendees. We drove to The Marshland Conservancy, where we had lunch. There we enjoyed viewing both the Field and Fox Sparrows and a few in the group saw the American Tree Sparrow.

Species Lists

Birds
Greater White-fronted Goose
Brant
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Wood Duck
American Wigeon
Mallard
American Black Duck
Greater Scaup
Lesser Scaup
White-winged Scoter
scoter sp.
Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Wild Turkey
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Killdeer
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Red-throated Loon
Common Loon
Northern Gannet
Great Cormorant
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper’s Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Great Horned Owl
Belted Kingfisher
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Merlin
Blue Jay
American Crow
Fish Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
White-breasted Nuthatch
Winter Wren
Carolina Wren
American Robin
House Sparrow
House Finch
American Goldfinch
Field Sparrow
American Tree Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Northern Cardinal

South Shores of Jamaica Bay with Peter Dorosh, 11/23/2019

Registrar: Anne Lazarus
Participants: 11
Weather: Sunny, wind 5 mph, variable, upper 30’s to 40’s F
Bird Species: 63

We thank our leader Peter Dorosh for guiding us on an exciting tour of Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge and Shirley Chisholm State Park. This trip was a day of avian surprises. Our first surprise was a female Common Goldeneye on the West Pond among all the other beautiful ducks. Big John’s Pond featured several Wood Ducks. With a little effort we saw the Redhead on the East Pond. A vocalizing Common Raven suddenly appeared overhead. The biggest surprise was three Tundra Swans, a bit distant, but photographed. Our final stop was the newly opened Shirley Chisholm State Park. This park attracted many Lesser Scaup, Belted Kingfisher, six Killdeer in flight, one Vesper Sparrow, one Lincoln’s Sparrow, one Orange-crowned Warbler and other land and water birds. Dusk comes quickly at this time of year, and we had to leave. But we will return.

Species Lists

Birds
Snow Goose
Brant
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Tundra Swan
Wood Duck
Northern Shoveler
Gadwall
American Wigeon
Mallard
American Black Duck
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Redhead
Greater Scaup
Lesser Scaup
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Hooded Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Horned Grebe
Mourning Dove
American Coot
Killdeer
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Northern Harrier
Red-tailed Hawk
Barn Owl
Belted Kingfisher
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Merlin
Peregrine Falcon
American Crow
Common Raven
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Carolina Wren (h)
European Starling
Northern Mockingbird
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
House Finch
American Goldfinch
American Tree Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-throated Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Lincoln’s Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Orange-crowned Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Northern Cardinal

Mammal
Eastern Gray Squirrel

Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge with Joseph DiCostanzo, 11/16/2019

Registrar: Pearl Broder
Participants: 8
Weather: Sunny, Windy with gusts, 12mph, northwest, 30’s F
Bird Species: 45

I would like to thank our leader, Joseph DiCostanzo for leading an excellent trip to Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. Despite the wind chill, we persevered and were rewarded. with thirteen species of duck, including three Redheads on the East Pond, viewed from the Raunt. The Horned Grebes in the bay reminded us that winter is approaching. Our shorebirds were three Greater Yellowlegs foraging along the edges of the north shoreline of the West Pond. Two thousand or more Snow Geese visited the refuge, and we have posted a picture of a dark, Blue Snow Goose morph seen from the south end of the East Pond.

Species Lists

Birds
Snow Goose
Brant
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Northern Shoveler
Gadwall
American Wigeon
Mallard
American Black Duck
Green-winged Teal
Redhead
Greater Scaup
Bufflehead
Hooded Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Pied-billed Grebe
Horned Grebe
Mourning Dove
American Coot
Greater Yellowlegs
Laughing Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Northern Harrier
Red-tailed Hawk
Barn Owl
Northern Flicker
Peregrine Falcon
European Starling
Northern Mockingbird
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
House Finch
Dark-eyed Junco
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Northern Cardinal

Mammals
Eastern Gray Squirrel
Eastern Raccoon

Croton Point Park with Paul Keim, 11/10/2019

Registrar: Paul Keim
Participants: 8 
Weather: Partly cloudy weather, 43-52 degrees F, SW Winds 28-9 mph
Bird Species: 42

As we approached the swampy area, it was surprisingly quiet. Then we noticed a perched raptor. Upon closer examination it turned out to be a beautiful Red-shouldered Hawk, which we admired for some time before it flew off. 

We descended from the hill, where we had hoped to see pipits and meadowlarks. We were saddened to see that the tall grasses that normally shelter the birds had been mowed down, leaving only patches of high grasses. Happily, we were rewarded by seeing four Horned Larks fly over.

Species Lists

Birds
Canada Goose
Mallard
Bufflehead
Common Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker (h)
Blue Jay
American Crow
Common Raven
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Horned Lark
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
White-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
European Starling
Northern Mockingbird
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
House Sparrow
House Finch
American Goldfinch
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Northern Cardinal

Butterflies
Orange Sulphur
Monarch