Floyd Bennett Field with Rob Jett, 10/26/2019

Participants: 13
Weather: Mild, around 57 degrees
Bird Species: 50

Our group meet at Floyd Bennett Field by 8AM and spent over 4 hours exploring the area led by Rob Jett, aka The City Birder. A major attraction of this location at this time of year are sparrows, and we were fortunate to see 10 species of sparrows, the highlight being several great views of a Vesper Sparrow. By the time we finished we had seen 50 bird species and enjoyed a wonderful day at this special Brooklyn location, part of the Gateway National Recreation Area.

Species Lists

Birds
Brant
Mallard
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Laughing Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Double-crested Cormorant
Osprey
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper’s Hawk
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
American Kestrel
Merlin
Eastern Phoebe
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Carolina Wren
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
House Sparrow
House Finch
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-crowned Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Common Yellowthroat
Palm Warbler
Pine Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Northern Cardinal

Randall’s Island with Alan Drogin, 10/20/2019

Registrar: Miriam Rakowski
Participants: 10
Weather: Cloudy, changing to light rain, 52-57 degrees F, ENE winds 1-4 mph
Bird Species: 34

The day began with many Yellow-rump and Kinglet sightings, because of northwest winds the night before. While it drizzled, we waited by the marsh hoping for a glimpse of the Nelson’s or Saltmarsh Sparrows. We were all rewarded with good looks, not only at the Nelson’s, but also at what appeared to be a Saltmarsh Sparrow. 

Upon later close examination and inquiry, the Saltmarsh Sparrow appears to be a hybrid. The latest DNA research shows that fifty-two percent of Saltmarsh/Nelson Sparrows are hybrids. The sparrow picture below shows a bird with an orange breast and definitive streaks, which extend beyond the breast. This strongly suggests a hybrid Saltmarsh/Nelson Sparrow.

Species Lists

Birds
Brant
Canada Goose
Northern Shoveler
Mallard
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Northern Harrier
Red-tailed Hawk
Belted Kingfisher
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Eastern Phoebe
Blue-headed Vireo
Blue Jay
crow sp.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Winter Wren
European Starling
Northern Mockingbird
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
House Sparrow
House Finch
American Goldfinch
Field Sparrow
Nelson’s Sparrow
Saltmarsh Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow

Butterflies
Monarch

Fort Tilden 2 with Richard ZainEldeen, 10/19/2019

Registrar: Pearl Broder
Registered Participants: 11
Weather: 45 degrees F am, 50’s pm, sunny, wind 5-10 mph
Bird Species: 50

Species Lists

Birds
Brant
Canada Goose
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
American Oystercatcher
Black-bellied Plover
Killdeer
Laughing Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Royal Tern
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Egret
Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Merlin
Eastern Phoebe
Blue Jay
American Crow
Tree Swallow
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Carolina Wren
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
Northern Mockingbird
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
House Sparrow
House Finch
Dark-eyed Junco
White-throated Sparrow
Nelson’s Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Eastern Towhee (h)
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Common Grackle
Common Yellowthroat
Northern Parula
Palm Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Northern Cardinal

Mammals
Eastern Gray Squirrel

Butterflies
Cabbage White
Clouded Sulphur
Orange Sulphur
American Lady
Painted Lady
Common Buckeye
Red Admiral
Monarch

7th Annual Starr Saphir Memorial Fall Migration Walk, Central Park with Lenore Swenson, 10/13/2019

Participants: 21
Weather: Sunny, 60-68 Fahrenheit, slight west wind
Bird Species: 51

It was a sunny and cool day to start, later warming up to about 68 degrees, with a slight west breeze. Most leaves on the trees were still green and quite dense. For six hours twenty-one of us searched the north end of Central Park. We spent some time at the end of the walk looking for a Pin-tailed Whydah that had been reported for several days, but it was not seen on this day. We ended with a total count of 51 species of birds.

Species Lists

Birds
Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Northern Shoveler
Mallard
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Cooper’s Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Eastern Phoebe
Blue-headed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Brown Creeper
House Wren
Winter Wren
Carolina Wren
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
House Sparrow
House Finch
American Goldfinch
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-throated Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Brown-headed Cowbird
Common Grackle
Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart
Cape May Warbler
Northern Parula
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Palm Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Northern Cardinal
Indigo Bunting

Butterflies
Cabbage White
Clouded Sulphur
Orange Sulphur
Painted Lady
Common Buckeye
Monarch

Herps
Red-eared Slider

Mammals
Eastern Gray Squirrel
Eastern Chipmunk
Northern Raccoon
Norway Rat

Staten Island Greenbelt with Seth Wollney, 9/28/2019

Registrar: Judy Rabi
Registered Participants: 9
Weather: upper 60’s – upper 70 degrees F, sunny, calm, and humid
Bird Species: 53

The weather was fair, cool in the early morning, quickly warming up as the day progressed. Led by Seth Wollney, this intrepid group of nine began the day at the Conference House, then continued to Mr. Loretto, Arden Road, and ended at Miller’s Field. A special thanks to Seth for his insights and knowledge of the Staten Island terrain. Due to southerly winds the migration was not the best on this day. There was some nostalgia amongst us for last year’s fall migration trip, also led by Seth. We met the challenge and saw many interesting birds. Also notable were fourteen butterfly species.

Species Lists

Birds
Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Mallard
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Killdeer
Laughing Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper’s Hawk
Bald Eagle
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Eastern Phoebe
Red-eyed Vireo
crow sp.
Tufted Titmouse
Tree Swallow
White-breasted Nuthatch
House Wren
Carolina Wren
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
American Robin
House Sparrow
House Finch
Chipping Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Baltimore Oriole
Red-winged Blackbird
Black-and-white Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Northern Cardinal

Butterflies
Black Swallowtail
Cabbage White
Checkered White
Clouded Sulphur
Orange Sulphur
Cloudless Sulphur
Eastern-tailed Blue
Pearl Crescent
American Lady
Common Buckeye
Monarch Butterfly
Fiery Skipper
Sachem
Peck’s Skipper

Odonates
Common Green Darner
Black Saddlebags
Carolina Saddlebag
Common Whitetail
Great Blue Skimmer

Other Invertebrates
Dog day Cicada
Carolina Grasshopper
Antlion species

Herps
Spring Peeper

Mammals
Eastern Gray Squirrel
Eastern Chipmunk
Groundhog

Prospect Park with Tom Stephenson, 9/22/2019

Participants: 12
Weather: Sunny, 73 degrees F, no wind
Bird Species: 54

Our group of both long-term and a few new Linnaean Society members set out to explore Prospect Park at 7:30AM, guided by Tom Stephenson. Early highlights were a Yellow-billed Cuckoo, a Baltimore Oriole, and numerous warbler species. We continued on exploring the park and the fall migrants until around 2PM in the afternoon and ended the day with most of the group participants seeing 54 species of birds. Our group is very grateful to Tom Stephenson, co-author of the Warbler Guide book and app and the Birdgenie app, for generously sharing his time and expertise with us.

Species Lists

Birds
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Wood Duck
Northern Shoveler
Mallard
American Black Duck
Ruddy Duck
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Common Nighthawk
Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
American Coot
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Green Heron
Osprey
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Merlin
Blue-headed Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
House Wren
Carolina Wren
European Starling
Gray Catbird
American Robin
House Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Baltimore Oriole
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Northern Waterthrush
Black-and-white Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Canada Warbler
Scarlet Tanager
Northern Cardinal

Butterflies
Cabbage White
Monarch
Sachem

Odonates
Green Darner
Eastern Pond Hawk
Black Saddlebag
Meadowhawk species

Green-Wood Cemetery with Rob Jett, 9/21/2019

Registrar: Barbara Saunders
Registered Participants: 9
Weather: upper 60’s to upper 80 degrees F, sunny, calm
Bird Species: 38

Nine enthusiastic birders enjoyed a warmer than average late summer day at Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn. Under the expert leadership of Rob Jett, the group saw 38 bird species plus a nice variety of butterflies and odonates. Many of the warblers observed by the group were in mixed flocks near pine trees. The increased use of native plant species in Green-Wood Cemetery appears to be beneficial for wildlife.

Species Lists

Birds
Canada Goose
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper’s Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Monk Parakeet
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Eastern Phoebe
Eastern Kingbird
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
House Wren
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
Northern Mockingbird
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
House Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Lincoln’s Sparrow
Brown-headed Cowbird
Black-and-white Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Palm Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Scarlet Tanager
Northern Cardinal

Butterflies
Cabbage White
Black Swallowtail
Orange Sulphur
Common Buckeye
Monarch
Fiery Skipper

Odonates
Green Darner
Black Saddlebag
Spot-winged Glider
Twelve-spotted Skimmer

Alley Pond Park with Alan Drogin, 9/14/2019

Registrar: Anne Lazarus
Registered Participants: 7
Weather: Mainly cloudy, wind, 5-10 mph, 65-70 degrees F
Bird Species: 35

Linnaean members enjoyed a day of birding both the woodlands of Alley Pond Park and the area adjacent to the Environmental Center at the north end. We began our trip at the south end of the park and eventually found our way to a pine grove, where we saw multiple species of both migrating and nesting birds. Highlights included: Tennessee Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler and Rose-breasted Grosbeak. An interesting sighting was a family of Red-eyed Vireos. At the north end we enjoyed watching a Belted Kingfisher actively feeding in the inlet from Little Neck Bay. Those of us who study butterflies were surprised by the appearance of a Red-banded Hairstreak. This area was rich with butterfly species. Most amazing were the large numbers of frogs, mainly Bullfrogs, in a pond located in the southern area where we first began our journey.

Species Lists

Birds
Canada Goose
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Double-crested Cormorant
Osprey
Belted Kingfisher
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
Black-capped Chickadee
White-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
Veery
Wood Thrush
American Robin
House Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird (h)
Common Grackle
Ovenbird
Black-and-white Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
American Redstart
Northern Parula
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler (m)
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Butterflies
Cabbage White
Orange Sulphur
Eastern-tailed Blue
Red-banded Hairstreak
Monarch
Sachem Skipper
Odonates
Green Darner
Black Saddlebags

Herps
Green Frog
Bullfrog

Mammals
Eastern Chipmunk
Eastern Gray Squirrel
White-tailed Deer