Birds Canada Goose Northern Shoveler Mallard Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Double-crested Cormorant Great Blue Heron Red-tailed Hawk Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Blue Jay Black-capped Chickadee Tufted Titmouse White-breasted Nuthatch European Starling Hermit Thrush American Robin House Sparrow American Goldfinch Chipping Sparrow Fox Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Eastern Towhee Red-winged Blackbird Common Grackle Northern Cardinal
Registrar: Dale Dancis Participants: 9 Weather: Saturday sunny am, cloudy pm, upper 20’s, 30’s F. Sunday upper 30’s-40’s, rain and wind, then cloudy and misty. Bird Species: 65
Our journey began at the Jones Beach West End Beaches, Coast Guard area with a sighting of a Northern Saw-whet Owl. At the Coast Guard Station itself, the sun was shining on Long-tailed Ducks, Surf Scoters, Common Loons and a close Horned Grebe. From the West End parking lots we saw Horned Larks, and—at the Nature Center—Snow Buntings and American Goldfinches. Traveling eastward, Oak Beach produced excellent sightings of Common Goldeneye. Our next stop was Eastport where we enjoyed viewing 2 Canvasbacks, a few Redheads, Ring-necked Ducks, numerous Greater and Lesser Scaup and other duck species. We were somewhat surprised to see a Great Cormorant in a tree. We then proceeded to Dune Road where observations were made of another flock of Snow Buntings and a Northern Harrier. While observing two Boat-tailed Grackles at the Ponguogue Bridge, we noticed two Harbor Seals relaxing at a hunting blind in the Shinnecock Bay. By then the weather was cloudy.
We continued to Montauk Point where we took our positions at the overhang. We added White-winged Scoters, Northern Gannets and Razorbills and Bonaparte’s Gull to our growing list of water birds. Then came Sunday morning. Pouring rain and fierce wind greeted us as we made our way back to the protection of the overhang at Montauk Point. We continued to see all three scoter species, Common Eiders, Razorbills, more Northern Gannets and other water birds. Drenched and wind-weary we decided it was time for breakfast, and on the way back a flock of Wild Turkeys landed right on the side of Route 27. Ditch Plains at high tide in pouring rain and wind was inaccessible.
After breakfast we drove up West Lake Drive to the Montauk Inlet and almost immediately saw two Iceland Gulls. The rain was lighter, but we were quite wet. We also explored Montauk Lake from South Lake Drive where two Bonaparte’s Gulls were sighted and more Common Goldeneyes were among the other duck species and Common Loons. A Cooper’s Hawk also flew past.
We continued our journey to Roanoke, for other reported geese species, but only saw Canada Geese. We did see a perched Merlin. A Black Vulture was also in a tree, and a Turkey Vulture flew past us. Our final destination was Oyster Bay, but the Pacific Loon did not make an appearance in the afternoon. We were serenaded by a Fish Crow.
Species Lists
Birds Brant Canada Goose Mute Swan American Wigeon Mallard American Black Duck Canvasback Redhead Ring-necked Duck Greater Scaup Lesser Scaup Common Eider Surf Scoter White-winged Scoter Black Scoter Long-tailed Duck Bufflehead Common Goldeneye Hooded Merganser Red-breasted Merganser Ruddy Duck Wild Turkey Horned Grebe Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove American Coot Sanderling Razorbill Bonaparte’s Gull Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Iceland Gull Great Black-backed Gull Red-throated Loon Common Loon Northern Gannet Great Cormorant Double-crested Cormorant Great Blue Heron Black Vulture Turkey Vulture Northern Harrier Cooper’s Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Northern Saw-whet Owl Merlin Blue Jay American Crow Fish Crow Horned Lark Red-breasted Nuthatch Carolina Wren European Starling Northern Mockingbird American Robin House Sparrow American Goldfinch Snow Bunting Chipping Sparrow Song Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Common Grackle Boat-tailed Grackle Yellow-rumped Warbler Northern Cardinal
Mammals Eastern Gray Squirrel White-tailed Deer Harbor Seal
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 Red-tailed Hawk Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Blue Jay Black-capped Chickadee Tufted Titmouse White-breasted Nuthatch European Starling American Robin House Sparrow House Finch American Goldfinch Chipping Sparrow Fox Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Common Grackle Northern Cardinal
Registrar: Mary Beth Kooper Participants: 11 Weather: 28 F – 32 F, sunny, calm Bird Species: 33
The beaches, ocean, piers, jetties and creeks of Brooklyn are rich sources of food and shelter for many wintering water birds. Our Linnaean Society participants took advantage of this opportunity to observe many bird species ranging from Loons to Scoters and other duck species. A few shorebirds were also found foraging. The four-mile walk was well rewarded with a few less-common species.
Species Lists
Birds Brant Canada Goose Mute Swan Gadwall American Wigeon Mallard American Black Duck Redhead Greater Scaup Lesser Scaup Surf Scoter White-winged Scoter Black Scoter Long-tailed Duck Bufflehead Common Goldeneye Hooded Merganser Red-breasted Merganser Horned Grebe Rock Pigeon Sanderling Purple Sandpiper Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Great Black-backed Gull Red-throated Loon Common Loon American Crow European Starling Northern Mockingbird House Sparrow House Finch White-throated Sparrow
A sturdy group of Linnaean birders traversed miles of terrain in Pelham Bay Park, including Bartow-Pell Mansion plus environs, in search of birds. We crossed icy terrain. We were rewarded for our efforts with excellent looks at the Common Goldeneyes, Greater Scaups and Lesser Scaup. We were entertained by a Hairy Woodpecker and Fox Sparrows. The biggest surprises were 2 Barred Owls. We did observe a variety of other water birds as listed below. Not to neglect other passerines, a Red-breasted Nuthatch mingled with the White-breasted Nuthatch, Tufted Titmice, Black-capped Chickadees.
Species Lists
Birds Gadwall American Wigeon Mallard American Black Duck Greater Scaup Lesser Scaup Surf Scoter Long-tailed Duck Bufflehead Common Goldeneye Red-breasted Merganser Pied-billed Grebe Horned Grebe Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Great Black-backed Gull Common Loon Great Cormorant Red-tailed Hawk Barred Owl Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Blue Jay American Crow Black-capped Chickadee Tufted Titmouse Red-breasted Nuthatch White-breasted Nuthatch European Starling Northern Mockingbird American Robin House Sparrow American Goldfinch Fox Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Northern Cardinal
Registrar: Kathleen Howley Participants: 7 Weather: Sunny very early morning, cloudy later, 30’s F Bird Species: 38
We arrived mid-tide at the Coast Guard Station and were greeted by a flock of Surf Scoters, some Black Scoters, Common Eiders, Long-tailed Ducks, Horned Grebes, Red-throated Loons, Common Loons and other water birds. We then turned our attention to the mud flat where we observed many Dunlins, some Sanderlings, Black-bellied Plovers and a Red Knot. What an exciting experience! Our journey was just beginning. We walked a long-distance counter clockwise to the jetty. We detoured a little up the hill adjacent to the Coast Guard Station and saw eight Great Blue Herons. Eventually we reached our destination, the beach jetty and the tower. Soon we saw many Razorbills, some flying and some landing on the water, a magnificent sighting. We finished our tour of the beach with an excellent observation of a Snowy Owl.
Species Lists
Birds Brant Canada Goose Mute Swan Mallard American Black Duck Greater Scaup Common Eider Surf Scoter White-winged Scoter Black Scoter Long-tailed Duck Red-breasted Merganser Horned Grebe Rock Pigeon Black-bellied Plover Red Knot Sanderling Dunlin Razorbill Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Great Black-backed Gull Red-throated Loon Common Loon Northern Gannet Double-crested Cormorant Great Blue Heron Northern Harrier Red-tailed Hawk Red-bellied Woodpecker American Kestrel American Crow European Starling Northern Mockingbird House Finch American Tree Sparrow Song Sparrow Yellow-rumped Warbler
Registrar: Anne Lazarus Participants: 4 Weather: Mostly cloudy, calm, 20’s F Bird Species: 35
On a cold day we boarded the train at Grand Central to Croton Harmon. First exciting bird upon arrival was a Red-shouldered Hawk flying toward the highway. We continued walking south with the train station on our right. Our next interesting observations were 3 Common Mergansers among the Buffleheads. An immature Bald Eagle was also at that spot. On our way back a Black Vulture made an appearance flying with two Turkey Vultures. We then saw a second Bald Eagle. Our passerines included a substantial number of Tree Sparrows. Birding from the train we managed to spot a Great Blue Heron and a Ruddy Duck to add to our list. We were welcomed at the environmental center for lunch. We enjoyed watching the antics of the birds at the feeders. On the landfill we finally spotted one Savannah Sparrow. We suspect there were many more, but they would not be visible long enough to identify.
Species Lists
Birds Canada Goose Mallard American Black Duck Bufflehead Common Merganser Ruddy Duck Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Great Black-backed Gull Great Blue Heron Black Vulture Turkey Vulture Northern Harrier Bald Eagle Red-shouldered Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker American Kestrel Blue Jay American Crow Black-capped Chickadee Tufted Titmouse White-breasted Nuthatch Carolina Wren (h) European Starling Northern Mockingbird House Sparrow American Tree Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco White-throated Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Song Sparrow Common Grackle Northern Cardinal
Registrar: Louise Fraza Participants: 14 Weather: low 30’s to 40’s F, wind 5 miles per hour Bird Species: 61
All 14 participants, who registered, showed upon this mild, sunny morning on the first of December. Tom remarked that we might have had more activity on the Long Island Sound if the weather had been less balmy, but altogether we still managed to tally 61 bird species for the day. Tom detected some Snow Buntings high up, which soon spiraled into view. Most moved right on, but the one bird that stayed for a while got all our admiration. One of the more unusual sightings on this trip was a posse of 6-7 Common Mergansers perusing the area at both Rye Playland Lake and the Rye Marshlands inlet.
Species Lists
Birds Brant Canada Goose Mute Swan Mallard American Black Duck Northern Pintail Greater Scaup Lesser Scaup Surf Scoter White-winged Scoter 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 Black-crowned Night-Heron Turkey Vulture Cooper’s Hawk Bald Eagle Red-tailed Hawk Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Blue Jay American Crow Black-capped Chickadee Tufted Titmouse Red-breasted Nuthatch White-breasted Nuthatch Carolina Wren European Starling Northern Mockingbird Hermit Thrush American Robin Cedar Waxwing House Sparrow House Finch Purple Finch Pine Siskin (h) American Goldfinch Snow Bunting American Tree Sparrow Fox Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Northern Cardinal (h)
