State Line Hawk Watch, N.J. with Pieter Prall, 11/4/2018

Registrar: Sandra Maury
Participants: 3 registered participants
Weather: 40’s-50’s F, Wind mainly northwest, light
Bird Species: 30

On the day of the NYC Marathon Linnaean members ventured forth to the State Line Hawk Watch, N.J. for a successful day of hawk watching. Thirty-three Red-shouldered Hawks were recorded, although we saw only a few of them. A Northern Goshawk was another important sighting. It was interesting to watch the social or unsocial dynamics of the resident Peregrine Falcons, Common Ravens and a Red-tailed Hawk, but they do respect their safe boundaries of interaction. Amazingly we drove to and from the site without experiencing heavy traffic.

Species Lists

Birds
Bonaparte’s Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Double-crested Cormorant
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper’s Hawk
Northern Goshawk
Bald Eagle
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
American Kestrel
Peregrine Falcon
Blue Jay
American Crow
Common Raven
Black-capped Chickadee
Golden-crowned Kinglet
European Starling
Northern Mockingbird
Eastern Bluebird
American Robin
American Goldfinch
Dark-eyed Junco
White-throated Sparrow
Yellow-rumped Warbler

South Shores of Jamaica Bay with Peter Dorosh, 11/3/2018

Registrar: Anne Lazarus
Participants: 3
Weather: Upper 40’s F, cloudy am, sunny pm, windy with gusts over 40 mph
Bird Species:  52

Windy, gusty weather was a major factor. The winds increased with each hour. Peter decided to plan our birding around the weather. Our first stop was Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, where 16 species of ducks were identified, including a Eurasian Wigeon and a Redhead. We saw several flocks of Greater Yellowlegs and two Pied-billed Grebes. We were amazed by the numbers of Great Egrets. Two Common Ravens braved the weather. Floyd Bennett was our second stop, and the antics of a Merlin flying low over the concrete, fighting the wind was an interesting sighting. Our final stop was Marine Park Nature Center where our attention was focused on a flock of about 7 Greater Yellowlegs feeding on the mud flat. A big surprise was a Lesser Yellowlegs in that group, usually not found in November in New York.

Species Lists

Birds
Brant
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Wood Duck
Blue-winged Teal
Northern Shoveler
Gadwall
Eurasian Wigeon
American Wigeon
Mallard
American Black Duck
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Redhead
Greater Scaup
Bufflehead
Hooded Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Pied-billed Grebe
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
American Oystercatcher
Greater Yellowlegs
Lesser Yellowlegs
Laughing Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Northern Harrier
Belted Kingfisher (h)
Northern Flicker
Merlin
Peregrine Falcon
Eastern Phoebe
Common Raven
Tree Swallow
European Starling
Northern Mockingbird
American Robin
House Sparrow
House Finch
American Goldfinch
White-throated Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Brown-headed Cowbird
Yellow-rumped Warbler

Central Park with Richard Lieberman, Fall 2018

Leader: Richard Lieberman
Registrar: N/A
Weather: See checklists

Floyd Bennett Field with Rob Jett, 10/28/2018

Registrar: Miriam Rakowski
Participants: 6
Weather: 40-50’s F. mainly cloudy, calm
Bird Species: 57

As soon as we arrived at the gardens of Floyd Bennett, we were greeted with a good variety of sparrows and many Yellow-rumped Warblers. They seemed to be everywhere. Each site we visited had numerous sparrows, Eastern Phoebes, Yellow-rumped Warblers and a highlight—numerous sightings of Purple Finches. We even saw at least five White-crowned Sparrows, both juveniles and an adult. These presentations were occasionally interrupted by the frequent appearances of American Kestrels, Merlins, Peregrine Falcons, Northern Harriers, Cooper’s Hawks, Sharp-shinned Hawks and the occasional Red-tailed Hawk. But there was more to come. We entered an area where there were many evergreens. Someone noticed a small clump. We looked at it closely. I heard the person next to me say, “Wow!” It was a Northern Saw-whet Owl!

Species Lists

Birds
Brant
Canada Goose
Mallard
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift
Black-bellied Plover
Dunlin
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Double-crested Cormorant
Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper’s Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
American Kestrel
Merlin
Peregrine Falcon
Eastern Phoebe
Blue-headed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Tree Swallow
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Carolina Wren (h)
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
House Sparrow
Purple Finch
American Goldfinch
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-crowned Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Lincoln’s Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Eastern Towhee (h)
Brown-headed Cowbird
Common Grackle
Common Yellowthroat
Blackpoll Warbler
Pine Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Northern Cardinal

Fort Tilden with Anne Lazarus, 10/20/2018

Registrar: Pearl Broder
Participants: 4
Weather: 50’s-60’s F, windy 12-15 mph, cloudy am, partly cloudy pm
Bird Species: 45

Our dedicated group of Linnaean birders arrived at Fort Tilden just as the rain stopped. We were shortly greeted by a variety of sparrow species, including several White-crowned Sparrows, but the highlight was a Vesper Sparrow found by Alice Deutsch. Ocean viewing was interesting. We saw at least 100 Black Scoters flying west to east. Dunlins were foraging in groups at the shore.

Species Lists

Birds
Brant
Canada Goose
Black Scoter
Red-breasted Merganser
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Black-bellied Plover
Sanderling
Dunlin
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Forster’s Tern
Double-crested Cormorant
Cooper’s Hawk
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
American Kestrel
Merlin
Peregrine Falcon
Eastern Phoebe
American Crow
Tree Swallow
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
House Wren
European Starling
Northern Mockingbird
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
House Sparrow
House Finch
Purple Finch
American Goldfinch
Chipping Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-crowned Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Red-winged Blackbird
Palm Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler

Butterflies
Monarch

6th Annual Starr Saphir Memorial Fall Migration Walk with Lenore Swenson, 10/14/2018

Participants: 18
Weather: Partly cloudy, 50’s F
Bird Species: 59

On Sunday, October 14, 2018, a typical early autumn day — cool, calm, with some clouds — greeted the 18 of us who gathered for the Walk. For nearly 6 hours we meandered through the north end of Central Park — the Pool, the Great Hill, the Loch/Ravine, the Wildflower Meadow, the Meer, and the Conservatory Garden.

Species Lists

Birds
Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Northern Shoveler
Gadwall
Mallard
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift
Herring Gull
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
American Kestrel
Eastern Phoebe
Blue-headed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
House Wren
Winter Wren
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
Swainson’s Thrush
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
House Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Common Grackle
Black-and-white Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Magnolia Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Palm Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Northern Cardinal

Butterflies
Cabbage White
Monarch

Odonates
Wandering Glider

Herps
Red-eared Slider

Mammals
Eastern Gray Squirrel
Eastern Chipmunk
Norway Rat

Randall’s Island with Alan Drogin, 10/13/2018

Registrar: Miriam Rakowski
Participants: 3 
Weather: Cloudy am, sunny pm, windy all day, 45-50 degrees Fahrenheit
Bird Species: 52

Due to rain and wind, we decided to have a late start.  We left Manhattan at 11:00 am, wondering if such a late arrival might have negative effects upon our sightings.  We experienced the opposite. We were greeted by 3 Golden-crowned Kinglets, abundant Blackpoll, Palm and Yellow-rumped Warblers. We observed a Belted Kingfisher. Highlights included: 2 Indigo Buntings and several sightings of White-crowned Sparrows. Savannah Sparrows were abundant. An exciting observation was a Common Raven.

Species Lists

Birds
Canada Goose
Mallard
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Double-crested Cormorant
Cooper’s Hawk
Belted Kingfisher
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
American Kestrel
Peregrine Falcon
Eastern Phoebe
Blue-headed Vireo
Blue Jay
Common Raven
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
House Sparrow
American Goldfinch
Chipping Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-crowned Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Brown-headed Cowbird
Black-and-white Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Northern Parula
Blackpoll Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Palm Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Northern Cardinal
Indigo Bunting

Butterflies
Cabbage White
Orange Sulphur
Monarch

Staten Island with Seth Wollney, 10/7/2018

Registrar: Judy Rabi
Participants: 9
Weather: Sunny, 70’s-80 F, calm
Bird Species: 72

The day started cloudy and muggy. Initially it looked as if it would be a slow day. but birding picked up, and the weather turned from clouds to sunshine. Large flocks of migrating Blue Jays were seen. Northern Flickers also appeared to be migrating in significant numbers. One of our highlights was a Philadelphia Vireo. Birders were excited to see an Opossum, a mammal rarely seen by most of us.

Species Lists

Birds
Brant
Canada Goose
American Wigeon
Mallard
Wild Turkey
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Chimney Swift
Semipalmated Plover
Killdeer
Laughing Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Caspian Tern
Royal Tern
Common Loon
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Little Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Bald Eagle
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
American Kestrel
Merlin
Peregrine Falcon
Eastern Phoebe
Blue-headed Vireo
Philadelphia Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Carolina Wren
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
Veery
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
House Sparrow
American Goldfinch
Chipping Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
(Sharp-tailed sparrow, not identified)
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Black-and-white Warbler
Common Yellowthroat (h)
American Redstart
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Palm Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Northern Cardinal (h)

Butterflies
Cabbage White
Orange Sulphur
Clouded Sulphur
American Lady
Common Buckeye
Viceroy
Monarch
Sachem

Odonates
Familiar Bluet
Green Darner
Wandering Glider
Spot-winged Glider

Mammals
Opossum
Woodchuck
White-tailed Deer
Eastern Gray Squirrel