Eleven participants ventured out to Great Kills, Staten Island to see the Bank Swallow colony at low tide and were not disappointed. We had great looks at the swallows as they swooshed in and out of their colonies in the sandbanks. Next, at Lemon Creek, we saw adult Purple Martins and young at very close range perched at their houses and gourds. We continued to Mt. Loretto where we sighted an uncommon dragonfly, Needham›s Skimmer, and many birds such as Indigo Bunting, Belted Kingfisher, Bald Eagle, Rough-winged Swallow and more. Our last stop was at a new location for many participants, Oakwood Beach Tidal Marsh, where we heard the Clapper Rail and saw three Little Blue Herons. Interestingly, we learned that Oakwood Beach Tidal Marsh has one of the densest populations of Boat-tailed Grackles nesting in New York City. We had a total of 58 bird species, 12 butterfly species and 14 odonate species.
Species Lists
Birds Canada Goose Mallard Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Chimney Swift Clapper Rail (h) American Oystercatcher Killdeer Least Sandpiper Semipalmated Sandpiper Spotted Sandpiper Greater Yellowlegs Laughing Gull Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Great Black-backed Gull Common Tern Double-crested Cormorant Snowy Egret Little Blue Heron Green Heron Black-crowned Night-Heron Yellow-crowned Night-Heron Glossy Ibis Osprey Bald Eagle Belted Kingfisher Northern Flicker Warbling Vireo American Crow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Purple Martin Tree Swallow Bank Swallow Barn Swallow House Wren Carolina Wren (h) European Starling Gray Catbird (h) Northern Mockingbird American Robin Cedar Waxwing House Sparrow House Finch American Goldfinch Field Sparrow (h) Song Sparrow (h) Baltimore Oriole Red-winged Blackbird Brown-headed Cowbird Common Grackle Boat-tailed Grackle Common Yellowthroat Yellow Warbler Northern Cardinal Indigo Bunting
Butterflies Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Black Swallowtail Spicebush Swallowtail Cabbage White Clouded Sulphur Orange Sulphur Summer Azure Common Buckeye American Snout Red-spotted Purple Monarch Broad-winged Skipper Moths Bumblebee Clearwing Moth Sphinx Moth Species Caterpillar
Odonates Bluet species Green Darner Black Saddlebags Carolina Saddlebags Spot-winged Glider Wandering Glider Eastern Amberwing Painted Skimmer Needham’s Skimmer Twelve-spotted Skimmer Common Whitetail Slaty Skimmer Blue Dasher Eastern Pondhawk
Registrar: Regina Ryan Participants: 5 Weather: Partly sunny, 60’s F, winds, south 2-11 mph Bird Species: 73
The observers also enjoyed sightings of eleven butterfly species and three species of odonates. The group visited many sites, which included the following: Calverton: Veteran’s Park, VOR Area, EPCAL, Preston’s Pond and then Westhampton: Gabreski Airport, Westhampton Dunes Overlook.
Species Lists
Birds Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Yellow-billed Cuckoo (h) Chimney Swift American Oystercatcher Black-bellied Plover Ruddy Turnstone Red Knot Sanderling Dunlin Least Sandpiper Semipalmated Sandpiper Short-billed Dowitcher Willet Herring Gull Great Black-backed Gull Common Tern Forster’s Tern Double-crested Cormorant Great Egret Turkey Vulture Osprey Red-tailed Hawk Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker American Kestrel Eastern Wood-Pewee Willow Flycatcher Eastern Phoebe Great Crested Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird Warbling Vireo (h) Red-eyed Vireo (h) Blue Jay American Crow Fish Crow Black-capped Chickadee Horned Lark Tree Swallow Bank Swallow Barn Swallow Blue-gray Gnatcatcher House Wren European Starling Gray Catbird Brown Thrasher Northern Mockingbird Eastern Bluebird American Robin Cedar Waxwing American Goldfinch Grasshopper Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Field Sparrow Song Sparrow Eastern Towhee Eastern Meadowlark Orchard Oriole Baltimore Oriole Red-winged Blackbird Brown-headed Cowbird Common Grackle Ovenbird (h) Blue-winged Warbler Common Yellowthroat Yellow Warbler (h) Pine Warbler Prairie Warbler Scarlet Tanager Northern Cardinal Blue Grosbeak Indigo Bunting
Butterflies Clouded Sulphur American Eastern Tailed Blue Pearl Crescent Mourning Cloak Painted Lady Little Wood Satyr Southern Cloudywing Northern Cloudywing Common Sootywing Zabulon Skipper
Odonates Common Green Darner Common Baskettail Carolina Saddlebags
Registrars: Dale Dancis and Anne Lazarus Participants: 11 Bird Species: 54
This morning I lead the above walk for the Linnaean Society Group. We have done this spring walk for many years now. This year it had to be canceled from its original date due to heavy rains and high winds. This morning was beautiful! Eleven participants and I toured the Bashakill hoping for some late spring migrants. It started out rather quiet, but as the sun rose higher, the birds became more active and began to show nicely. Highlights of the walk included: Canada Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, Scarlet Tanager, Rose-breasted Grosbeak and most of the common breeding species. Once we reached the Nature Trail it picked up considerably. We immediately added Cerulean Warbler. As we worked our way around, hoping for some thrush (only had Wood Thrush and Veery) I got a call from Shai Mitra that he could see us from where he was standing at the back of the “Sand Pit” and he and Pat Lindsey were watching a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher! We went right over and began looking for the bird that disappeared momentarily. Gordon Lam relocated it and we had great views of the bird. Only a few minutes later, Shai texted there was a Mourning Warbler right near the parking lot. The whole scene repeated itself and we got to see this beautiful bird! Thanks Shai and Pat for keeping us in the loop! From there, we went to the Horseshoe Parking Area. There we had several Cerulean Warblers, more Wood Thrush, Yellow-throated Vireos and Common Gallinules. All in all a pretty successful morning! I’d like to thank the Linnaean members for coming up and helping make it another nice walk at the Bashakill! — By John Haas.
Species Lists
Birds Canada Goose Wood Duck Mallard Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Yellow-billed Cuckoo (h) Black-billed Cuckoo (h) Ruby-throated Hummingbird Common Gallinule (h) Great Blue Heron Turkey Vulture Northern Harrier Bald Eagle Red-tailed Hawk Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Eastern Wood-Pewee Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Alder Flycatcher (h) Willow Flycatcher Least Flycatcher Great Crested Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird Yellow-throated Vireo Warbling Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Blue Jay American Crow Tree Swallow Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Gray Catbird Veery Wood Thrush American Robin Cedar Waxwing American Goldfinch Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Baltimore Oriole Red-winged Blackbird Common Grackle Ovenbird Mourning Warbler Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Cerulean Warbler Yellow Warbler Chestnut-sided Warbler Blackpoll Warbler Canada Warbler Wilson’s Warbler Scarlet Tanager Northern Cardinal Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Registrar: Anne Lazarus Participants: 10 Weather: 60 degrees Fahrenheit to mid-70’s, sunny, calm Bird Species: 63
We could not have asked for a more beautifulday. We were immediately heard the serenades of the woodland birds. One of our first target species, the Olive-sided Flycatcher, was perched on a high branch, and we saw it from Doodletown Hill. The Cerulean Warblers were singing everywhere, not to be outdone by the song of the Yellow-throated Vireos, Scarlet Tanagers and Carolina Wrens. We also looked at butterflies, other insects, snakes and plants. We even saw two shorebird species at Iona Marsh, Least Sandpiper and several Spotted Sandpipers.
Species Lists
Birds Canada Goose Mallard Wild Turkey Mourning Dove Yellow-billed Cuckoo (h) Black-billed Cuckoo (h) Ruby-throated Hummingbird Least Sandpiper Spotted Sandpiper Black Vulture Turkey Vulture Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Pileated Woodpecker (h) Northern Flicker Olive-sided Flycatcher Eastern Wood-Pewee Eastern Phoebe Eastern Kingbird Yellow-throated Vireo Warbling Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Blue Jay American Crow Common Raven Tufted Titmouse Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Carolina Wren European Starling Gray Catbird Swainson’s Thrush (h) Wood Thrush (h) American Robin Cedar Waxwing House Sparrow American Goldfinch Chipping Sparrow Song Sparrow Baltimore Oriole Red-winged Blackbird Brown-headed Cowbird Common Grackle Worm-eating Warbler Blue-winged Warbler Black-and-white Warbler Tennessee Warbler Common Yellowthroat Hooded Warbler American Redstart Cerulean Warbler Magnolia Warbler Yellow Warbler Chestnut-sided Warbler Blackpoll Warbler (h) Prairie Warbler (h) Black-throated Green Warbler Scarlet Tanager Northern Cardinal Rose-breasted Grosbeak Indigo Bunting
Mammals White-tailed Deer Eastern Chipmunk
Reptiles Eastern Water Snake Red-eared Slider
Butterflies Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Spring Azure Cabbage White Spring Azure Pearl Crescent
Dragonflies and other insects Green Darner Six-spotted Tiger Beetle
Participants: 26 Weather: Cloudy and overcast for the 5 hours of our walk, but the rain held off. Temperatures were in the low 50’s with a light east northeast breeze. Bird Species: 66
Species Lists
Birds Canada Goose Mallard Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Chimney Swift Herring Gull Double-crested Cormorant Black-crowned Night-Heron Red-tailed Hawk Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Least Flycatcher Great Crested Flycatcher White-eyed Vireo Yellow-throated Vireo Blue-headed Vireo Warbling Vireo Red-eyed Vireo (h) Blue Jay Tufted Titmouse Barn Swallow Ruby-crowned Kinglet Red-breasted Nuthatch White-breasted Nuthatch Blue-gray Gnatcatcher European Starling Gray Catbird Veery Swainson’s Thrush Hermit Thrush Wood Thrush American Robin House Sparrow House Finch Purple Finch Pine Siskin American Goldfinch Chipping Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Eastern Towhee Baltimore Oriole Red-winged Blackbird Brown-headed Cowbird Common Grackle Ovenbird Northern Waterthrush Blue-winged Warbler (h) Black-and-white Warbler Common Yellowthroat Hooded Warbler American Redstart Northern Parula Magnolia Warbler Yellow Warbler Chestnut-sided Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Prairie Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Scarlet Tanager Northern Cardinal Rose-breasted Grosbeak Indigo Bunting
A weird weather day. The forecast was correct concerning wind – 20-30 mph steady much of the day. But sun levels and temperatures exceeded expectations – got into low 70s. The number of butterfly individuals remains low this year, but species diversity was not bad. Lots of dragonflies were about (far more than last 2 years, perhaps reflecting significant spring season rains?)
From Lucille’s, we tried Warren Grove at 9:45 (temp in low 60s, but windy), and were rewarded with Brown and Hoary Elfins in decent numbers, plus two sightings of fresh Sleepy Duskywings. Individuals from of an aging flight of American Ladys added our only other butterfly species, but no one left disappointed. Saw one small Eastern Fence Lizard.
The reward was less at Chatsworth. Although Sand Myrtle was blooming for the first time in 3 years (a less brutally cold spring this year), activity was very low. A “leopard” moth – either a False Underwing [Allotria elonympha] or some actual Catocala – showed up, plus one Juvenal’s Duskywing and a couple of Brown Elfins and American Ladys. No Hessel’s.
Drove south to Tuckahoe (after interruption from a local traffic authority). Sunny now (supposed to be cloudy). A number of violet species were blooming (incl. Coast Violet and Lance-leaved Violet, I think, will add details later). Juvenal’s Duskywings and Atlantic Azures (Celastrina idella) were in good numbers, plus an Eastern Tailed Blue and one (just one) Henry’s Elfin (not everyone saw it; still this was a *phew* from the day list standpoint, as the brood was quickly waning – and the hollies here don’t look very healthy).
On the “south track” at Tuckahoe no additional elfins, but 4-5 female Falcate Orangetips, plus several fill-in species: Cabbage White, Red Admiral, and Pearl Crescent (pretty early). Kathleen retrieved her camera.
The Dennisville RR Tracks site was fun. Lively Atlantic Azure and Juvenal Duskywing activity, plus a strong dragonfly flight (now with some large darners – Seth will fill in details). Also a Little Brown Skink (aka Ground Skink) (Scincella lateralis). For target butterflies, about a dozen Juniper Hairstreaks (many high up in the “brood tree” Red Cedar, which Cooper helped me shake), also one handsome Eastern Pine Elfin, which put on a fine show for the group.
Last stop at Lizard Tail NC reserve, which was very wet this year (good for Northern Cricket Frogs). A Bald Eagle flew overhead as we prepared to walk in. Few butterflies were seen, but they included 3 nice Frosted Elfins. Also a Juniper Hairstreak right next to the cars as we were about to leave.
So 6 out of 5 wasn’t bad – all five brown elfins, plus one of the two green Callophrys. Every year is a different kind of adventure with this trip.
Registrar: Anne Lazarus Participants: 4 Weather: Monday: upper 40 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit, sunny, calm Tuesday: upper 40’s to 50’s F, sunny and calm Wednesday: upper 30’s to 40’s F, rain light to moderate, windy Thursday: 20’s, Snow hazardous blizzard conditions am, clearing about 3:00 pm Friday: 20’s to upper 30’s, mainly sunny, windy Bird Species: 107
Monday, April 8
Our plane landed at 5:20 pm, and we were birding by 5:45 pm. Our first stop was Lake Manawa in Iowa where we saw Purple Martins busy inspecting Purple Martin nest boxes. We saw our only Common Loon at this site. We continued to Carter Lake, Nebraska/Iowa for late afternoon viewing of American White Pelicans, Lesser Scaup, Ruddy Ducks, Bonaparte Gulls, two Franklin’s Gulls, American Coots, a close Belted Kingfisher and many other water birds. Rick explained the difference between the Bronzed Common Grackle and the Common Grackle we see in the East.
Tuesday, April 9
Tuesday was a sunny, lovely day, but on our minds was Wesley, the approaching Blizzard. With those thoughts in mind we had an intense day of birding. We visited Tamora Cemetery where a pair of Eastern Bluebirds were residing. Continuing on to Oak Lake Park, the highlight here was an Eastern Meadowlark. By 7:50 we arrived at Lake Saline Wetlands. It was a treat to see Wood Ducks and several Blue-winged Teals, but the star was a male Cinnamon Teal courting a female Blue-winged Teal. Another interesting sighting was a Great-tailed Grackle, our only one of that species for the trip. Other water birds included: Mallards, Gadwalls, Buffleheads and American Coots. The habitat attracted two Swamp Sparrows, Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrows, Eurasian Collared Dove, another Eastern Meadowlark, Yellow-shafted Flicker, Downy Woodpecker and other land birds. We left this Wetland at 9:00 am and proceeded to the Tamora Waterfowl Production Area, arriving at 9:55 am to observe Western Meadowlark. New duck species included: Redheads, Ring-necked Ducks and Northern Shovelers. We always enjoy looking at Lesser Scaups. We did see our first shorebird, Greater Yellowlegs.
Arriving at the North Lake Basin Wildlife Management Area at 10:50 am, we did not leave until 12:03 pm. We were overwhelmed by six hundred Redhead ducks and two hundred Ring-necked Ducks. Here is a listing of all the duck species we saw: Redhead, Canvasback, American Wigeon, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Gadwall, Green-winged Teal, Blue-winged Teal, Lesser Scaup, Bufflehead and Ruddy Duck. We must not forget the American Coots and Pied-billed Grebes. Aquatic vegetation added to the richness of the wetland. Looking to the other side, we saw mud flat edges, where shorebirds were foraging. Both Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Killdeer, 2 Pectoral Sandpipers and two Baird’s Sandpipers were feeding on the mud flats. We finally had to force ourselves to leave.
We visited the Crane Trust Nature Visitor Center at 2:00 pm. and left at 2:35 pm. En route we watched approximately six thousandSandhill Cranes flying and soaring. The bird feeders at the center attracted several Red-winged Blackbirds, Red-breasted Nuthatch, White-breasted Nuthatch, Downy Woodpecker, American Goldfinches, House Finches and Slate-colored Juncos. On the way to our next stop, the Rowe Audubon Sanctuary, we saw our first Loggerhead Shrike. It was hunting from a large wood pile with vertical stems. Also, a Ring-necked Pheasant was along the roadside. At last we saw a flock of LesserSandhill Cranes standing in the grasses. The Sandhill Cranes of the west are Lesser Sandhill Cranes. At the Rowe Audubon Nature Center we watched the feeders, which attracted the finches, Slate-colored Juncos, Downy Woodpecker and other birds. We arrived at 2:55 pm and left at 3:55 pm. From the road we saw a flock of mixed blackbirds, including Yellow-headed Blackbirds. At 6:10 we arrived at Cody Park, North Platt. The most exciting observation were a flock of Lesser Sandhill Cranes interacting in the grasses.
We awoke to rain and wind. The rain ranged from light to moderate. The day was chilly and raw. We knew that Wesley, the Blizzard was soon to strike and needed to make the most of this difficult day. Leaving the shopping mall at the hotel, a Say’s Phoebe flew up from the pavement and quickly disappeared. We began our journey to the Sandhills of Nebraska. Birding from the car, we saw two Northern Harriers. The Sandhills of Nebraska is an area of mixed prairie grass, providing ecological niches for several species, including birds. We saw manyWestern Meadowlarks, Vesper Sparrows, American Kestrels, Horned Larks and more. Suddenly a Greater Prairie-Chicken flew over the path. We followed it with our binoculars. Then a Long-billed Curlew flew across the grasses. As we exited into different terrain and farmland, we saw a Hermit Thrush and Merriam Wild Turkeys, a subspecies with a white terminal band on the tail. We had constant sightings of Vesper, Savannah and some Song Sparrows. Between the Sandhills and adjacent areas we saw 8 American Kestrels.
We arrived at Lake Ogalala at 10:30 am. One of our first sightings was three hundred Common Mergansers along with other water birds. Most exciting was a Glaucous Gull flying past us. We observed the lake from the car and saw the following: Bonaparte Gulls, Franklin’s Gulls, Ring-billed Gulls, Herring Gulls, Thayer’s Gull, and Lesser Black-backed Gull. We enjoyed close, detailed looks at American White Pelicans and 8 Great Blue Herons. We had fun watching the antics of Wood Ducks on the area opposite the lake along with more observations of Western Meadowlarks, Slate-colored Juncos, Killdeer and more.
From 2:30-3:20 we visited Sutherland Reservoir. To our surprise two Snow Geese were foraging in the vegetation. The ducks included Blue-winged Teals and Gadwalls, along with Horned Grebe. We had another opportunity to observe Vesper Sparrows with Savannah Sparrows; also briefly seen was a Ring-necked Pheasant along the edge of the road, and of course, the beautiful Western Meadowlarks among the other land birds. When we returned to the hotel, the weather was deteriorating, and by about 6:00 pm icy snow was falling.
It stopped snowing at about 3:00 pm. and the birds were starting to feed once more. We went to a local park, Lake Maloney State Recreational Area. Another Ring-necked Pheasant made an appearance along the roadside. Gadwalls, Northern Shovelers, Lesser Scaup and Ruddy Ducks were huddled together for protection from the wind. Various species of sparrows were foraging in a small, sheltered corner of the park, and among them was a cooperative Grasshopper Sparrow. Other sightings were the Oregon subspecies of the Slate-colored Junco. Even more interesting was a Difficult Junco, intergrade between Oregon and Slate-colored Junco. Included in the flock of sparrows were: American Tree Sparrows, Song Sparrows and Vesper Sparrows. A Western Meadowlark was also present with other birds. Suddenly the sparrows were gone! A Loggerhead Shrike was sitting in the conifer tree. We noticed Lesser Sandhill Cranes flying and soaring once more.
We made a final stop at Centennial Park, North Platt, a very small park, but we saw a substantial flock of Cedar Waxwings. We did manage to bird despite the Wesleythe Blizzard.
Friday, April 12
The blizzard was gone. It was sunny, cold and quite windy. We left North Platt at 5:00 am to go to the staging area where the Lesser Sandhill Cranes gather for their morning flight. When we arrived we could hear the cranes. As we walked along the path to the staging area our leader found a Le Conte’s Sparrow. We watched the sparrow until it receded into the brush. We waited in the frigid weather for the cranes to fly. Then suddenly we spotted another flock of cranes flying toward us, being pursued by a Bald Eagle. Then the cranes we were originally watching took off, and it looked as if the two flocks merged. The Bald Eagle was the impetus for the birds to take flight. As we returned to the van we saw several Vesper, American Tree Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Field Sparrows, but we could not relocate the Le Conte’s Sparrow for a second look.
We returned to the Crane Trust Nature Center, and here is what we saw: Field Sparrows, White-crowned Sparrow (gambelii sub species), Harris’s Sparrow, Grasshopper Sparrow, Song Sparrows, Slate-colored Juncos and more. We saw more Yellow-headed Blackbirds,Brewer’s Blackbird. and a Yellow-rumped Warbler, our only warbler for the trip. While traveling to our next destination we were lucky to see a close Swainson’s Hawk.
We then explored the cornfields and saw a distant flock of Lapland Longspurs. Afterwards we visited a small park where about 110 Chipping Sparrows were flying and feeding. In that area we birded a local pond and were treated to a sighting of 2 Eared Grebes.
We had to continue on our way to Omaha, Nebraska, but we made one more stop. It was time for some woodland birding. At the Fontenelle Forest in Bellvue, Nebraska, not far from Omaha, we did spot some migrating and resident woodland birds, but the main attraction were several resident, nesting Red-headed Woodpeckers.
