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)
Registrar: Pearl Broder Participants: 6 Weather: mostly cloudy, wind about 5 mph Bird Species: 53
We started our day at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge’s West Pond observing a Common Raven and a Northern Harrier challenging each other. After that initial drama, we settled down and observed the beautiful ducks on the West Pond, including Green-winged Teals and Greater Scaup. We were greeted by the returning Horned Grebes with excellent scope views. A big treat was a Purple Finch and five Pine Siskins at the feeder. We then took off for Ft. Tilden and ocean viewing. It was exciting to see a flock of Black Scoters with one White-winged Scoter. A lone Common Eider swam close to shore. Northern Gannets, Red-throated Loons, Common Loons, Sanderlings, Dunlins and other birds also captured our attention.
Species Lists
Birds Brant Canada Goose Mute Swan Northern Shoveler Gadwall American Wigeon Mallard American Black Duck Green-winged Teal Greater Scaup Common Eider White-winged Scoter Black Scoter Bufflehead Hooded Merganser Red-breasted Merganser Ruddy Duck Horned Grebe Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Sanderling Dunlin Greater Yellowlegs 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 Peregrine Falcon American Crow Common Raven Tree Swallow Ruby-crowned Kinglet Golden-crowned Kinglet Carolina Wren European Starling Northern Mockingbird American Robin House Sparrow House Finch Purple Finch Pine Siskin American Goldfinch Dark-eyed Junco White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Yellow-rumped Warbler Northern Cardinal
Leader: Roberta Manian Registrar: Mary Beth Kooper Participants: 11 Weather: low 40’s, strong gusts, sunny, some clouds Bird Species: 46
We were greeted by four Purple Finches as we began our birding journey, followed by a Common Raven. Despite the gusty bone-chilling winds, a Merlin sat unperturbed in a tree. Many of the passerines preferred the shelter of the shrubs and conifers, but many were in the open, especially in quiet areas such as the Sparrow Bowl. The Wood Ducks of the Pool are always a beautiful sight, and we enjoyed a cooperative American Wigeon swimming in the Upper Pool among the numerous Mallards.
Species Lists
Birds Canada Goose Mute Swan Wood Duck Northern Shoveler American Wigeon Mallard American Black Duck Ruddy Duck Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove American Coot Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Great Black-backed Gull Double-crested Cormorant Great Blue Heron Accipiter sp. Red-tailed Hawk Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Merlin Eastern Phoebe Blue Jay American Crow Common Raven Black-capped Chickadee Tufted Titmouse Ruby-crowned Kinglet Golden-crowned Kinglet White-breasted Nuthatch Winter Wren European Starling Hermit Thrush American Robin Cedar Waxwing House Sparrow Purple Finch American Goldfinch Dark-eyed Junco White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Yellow-rumped Warbler Northern Cardinal
