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

Green-wood Cemetery with Robb Jett, 9/22/2018

Registrar: Barbara Saunders
Participants: 6
Weather: Sunny, 70 degrees Fahrenheit, light breeze
Bird Species: 38

Species Lists

Birds
Canada Goose
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Common Nighthawk
Chimney Swift
Laughing Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Osprey
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
Belted Kingfisher
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Northern Flicker
American Kestrel
Merlin
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Eastern Phoebe
Eastern Kingbird
Blue Jay
Tree Swallow
Red-breasted Nuthatch
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
Northern Mockingbird
American Robin
House Sparrow
American Goldfinch
Chipping Sparrow
Bobolink
Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart
Cape May Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Scarlet Tanager
Northern Cardinal

Butterflies (Lepidoptera)
Cabbage White
Orange Sulfur
Question Mark
Common Buckeye
American Copper
Monarch Butterfly

Odonates
Green Darner
Wandering Glider
Spot-winged Glider       
Black Saddlebags

Sandy Hook with Robert Machover, 9/16/2018

Registrar: Anne Lazarus
Participants: 4
Weather: Sunny, 70’s-low 80’s, calm
Bird Species: 47

Four Linnaean birders enjoyed a day of great birding in Sandy Hook with leader Robert Machover. We heard and saw a number of lovely White-eyed Vireos. Other highlights included a beautiful Marsh Wren, 15 Royal Terns on the sandbar, a Purple Finch among the Cedar Waxwings, a close look at a perched Merlin and the ubiquitous Red-breasted Nuthatches. We also saw an Eastern Willet tucked away among the American Oystercatchers.

Species Lists

Birds
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
American Oystercatcher
Black-bellied Plover
Willet (Eastern)
Laughing Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Royal Tern
Black Skimmer
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Red-tailed Hawk
Merlin
White-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Marsh Wren
Carolina Wren
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
House Sparrow
House Finch
Purple Finch
American Goldfinch
Song Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Common Yellowthroat
Northern Parula
Scarlet Tanager
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (h)

Butterflies (Lepidoptera)
Cabbage White
Orange Sulfur
Question Mark
Common Buckeye
American Copper
Monarch Butterfly

Odonates
Green Darner
Wandering Glider
Spot-winged Glider       
Black Saddlebags

Alley Pond Park with Alan Drogin, 9/15/2018

Registrar: Anne Lazarus
Participants: 10
Weather: Sunny, 70’s-low 80’s, calm
Bird Species: 54

Linnaean Society participants had an interesting and exciting day of birding.  We thought our sighting of an Olive-sided Flycatcher and 8 Common Ravens flying and soaring over the park were exceptional highlights. We were constantly entertained by an assortment of warbler species, woodpeckers, Scarlet Tanagers and other passerines.  Then Alan had an idea that birding The Environmental Center area might bring more variety to the trip. His hunch was correct. Alan spotted a Western Kingbird. We observed that bird through two different scopes.  Eventually, we walked to an area which afforded us an excellent and definitive identification of this bird. We were a very happy group of birders.

Species List

Birds
Canada Goose
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Spotted Sandpiper
Lesser Yellowlegs
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Osprey
Cooper’s Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Belted Kingfisher
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Western Kingbird
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
Common Raven
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Carolina Wren
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
Veery
Swainson’s Thrush
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
House Sparrow
House Finch
American Goldfinch
Baltimore Oriole
Red-winged Blackbird
Northern Waterthrush
Black-and-white Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart
Northern Parula
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Scarlet Tanager
Northern Cardinal

Butterflies
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Cabbage White
Orange Sulfur 
Monarch Butterfly
Broad-winged Skipper
Sachem

Insect
Praying Mantis 

Amphibians
Fowler’s Toad
Green Frog

Mammals
Eastern Gray Squirrel
Eastern Chipmunk
Raccoon

Fort Tilden with Gordon Lam, 9/8/2018

Registrar: Lori Lam
Participants: 5, cancellations due to weather
Weather: Some light rain early AM, cloudy, 60’s F, slight breeze
Birds Species: 45

Species Lists

Birds
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
American Oystercatcher
Black-bellied Plover
Semipalmated Plover
Whimbrel
Sanderling
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Laughing Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Common Tern
Royal Tern
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Osprey
Northern Flicker
American Kestrel
Merlin
Peregrine Falcon
Eastern Kingbird
Blue Jay
American Crow
Tree Swallow
Carolina Wren (h)
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
Northern Mockingbird
Cedar Waxwing
House Sparrow
House Finch
American Goldfinch
Field Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Eastern Towhee (h)
Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart
Cape May Warbler
Northern Cardinal

Butterflies
Orange Sulfur
Cabbage White

Dragonflies
Common Green Darner
Black Saddlebag
Glider species

Cetacean
Dolphin