Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge with Richard ZainEldeen, 7/29/2018

Registrar: Ellen Hoffman
Participants: 14
Weather: Low 80›s F, calm, sunny
Bird Species: 57

Undaunted by swarms of hungry mosquitoes, we persevered and managed to cover both the West Pond and the south end of the East Pond, plus the Raunt and Big John’s Pond. Despite the flooded conditions caused by recent heavy rains, we did manage to accumulate a few migrating shorebird sightings along with a good number of local breeding passerines and herons and terns. 

Species Lists

Birds
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Gadwall
Mallard
American Black Duck
Ruddy Duck
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Black-bellied Plover
Semipalmated Plover
Whimbrel
Stilt Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Short-billed Dowitcher
Wilson’s Phalarope
Spotted Sandpiper
Greater Yellowlegs
Lesser Yellowlegs
Laughing Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Common Tern
Forster’s Tern
Black Skimmer
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Little Blue Heron
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron
Glossy Ibis
Osprey
Peregrine Falcon
Willow Flycatcher
Fish Crow
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
House Wren
Carolina Wren
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
House Sparrow
House Finch
American Goldfinch
Song Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Red-winged Blackbird
Boat-tailed Grackle
Common Yellowthroat
Yellow Warbler
Northern Cardinal

Butterflies
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Black Swallowtail
Spicebush Swallowtail
Cabbage White
Orange Sulfur
Summer Azure
Monarch
Broad-winged Skipper

Odonates
Familiar Bluet
Black Saddlebags

Staten Island Nesting Birds with Seth Wollney, 7/7/2018

Registrar: Karen Asakawa
Participants: 8
Weather: Mostly Sunny, 68-70 F, N 4-5 mph
Bird Species: 46

We would like to credit David Eib for his discovery and identification of the Double-striped Bluet.  This odonate has never been recorded in Staten Island before.  Fresh Kills has many butterflies and odonates.  The Prince Baskettail, Swamp Darner, Gray Hairstreaks have found a niche in Fresh Kills. We are glad that so many Grasshopper Sparrows are nesting there. We were an enthusiastic group, fascinated by birds and invertebrates. I must not omit the Blue-fronted Dancer, which competed for attention with the Double-striped Bluet.  Mount Loretto had its own lovely sightings, such as the Little Blue Heron, Common Wood Nymphs and Little Wood Satyrs. We thank Seth for arranging our visit to Fresh Kills, David for the bluet, Karen for arranging this complicated trip and all the participants.

Species Lists

Birds
Canada Goose
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift
Killdeer
Laughing Gull
Herring Gull
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Little Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Red-tailed Hawk
Downy Woodpecker (h)
Eastern Kingbird
Warbling Vireo
Blue Jay
Fish Crow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Tree Swallow
Bank Swallow
Barn Swallow
Cliff Swallow
House Wren (h)
Carolina Wren (h)
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
House Sparrow
American Goldfinch
Grasshopper Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Orchard Oriole
Baltimore Oriole
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Common Grackle
Common Yellowthroat (h)
Yellow Warbler (h)
Northern Cardinal
Indigo Bunting

Mammals 
Woodchuck 
Eastern Cottontail
White-tailed Deer

Reptile
Snapping Turtle

Butterflies
Spicebush Swallowtail
Cabbage White
Summer Azure
Eastern-tailed Blue
Orange Sulfur
Gray Hairstreak
Sootywing
Common Wood Nymph
Monarch Butterfly
Little Wood Satyr

Odonates
Green Darner
Swamp Darner
Blue-fronted Dancer
Double-striped Bluet
Prince Baskettail
Black Saddlebags
Spot-winged Glider
Wandering Glider
Eastern Amberwing
Common Whitetail
Blue Dasher
Eastern Pondhawk

Van Cortlandt Park with Ken Chaya, 6/16/2018

Van Cortlandt Park with Ken Chaya – 6/16/2018 
Registrar: Anne Lazarus 
Total No. Species: 19 
Participants: 10 
Weather: Sunny, calm, 80’s 

Our fascinating Van Cortlandt trip introduced us to the world of invertebrates, including the Silvery Checkerspot Butterfly, only found in this park in NYC. The lists of plants, birds and invertebrates and beautiful pictures can be accessed through this link: 

• Species List For Van Cortlandt Park with pictures – 6/16/2018 (PDF)

Ward Pound Ridge with Rick Cech, 6/9/2018

Registrar: Lenore Swenson
Report: Rick Cech
Participants: 10
Weather: Mostly Sunny, 68-70 F, N 4-5 mph
Bird Species: 41

It turned out to be a nice day, we were in the field at 9:30 am. 

More nectar and activity, though still below customary numbers. No Pierids at all (owing to brood timing). With many good eyes afield, we had 27 species, more than in the two prior years.

It may be time to add Cobweb Skipper to the list of species gone from Pound Ridge; not seen this year and diminishing rapidly at many traditional sites in the area. Dusted Skipper, on the other hand, is doing very nicely for now.

The season was still early (owing to trip date and cold spring). Would have had a much different assortment of species in a week or two. In 2016/17, on June 10 both years, had some later emerging/2nd brood species – Great Spangled Fritillary, Question Mark, Appalachian Brown, and Little Glassywing. This year, had Long Dash, Indian Skipper and 1st brood Harvester.

No bluebirds that I could see this year (others had a couple, but not in usual numbers). A White-eyed Vireo was calling vociferously from the thicket at the end of Michigan Road, and a Red-shouldered Hawk sailed over just before we left.

With Ken, Mike & Seth along, lots of general entomology to boot. See photo gallery (link below). One unusual sighting was a syrphid fly, Microdon abditus (I’m calling it Humpbacked Syrphid Fly), which feeds on larvae in ant nests.

• Pictures at https://rbc-pix.smugmug.com/Nature/Nature-Trip/LIN-NYC-BFC-Pound-Ridge-Photo-Gallery
• Butterfly list for Pound Ridge 6/9/2018 (PDF)

Species Lists

Birds
Mourning Dove
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Chimney Swift
Great Blue Heron
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Great Crested Flycatcher
White-eyed Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Carolina Wren
European Starling
Northern Mockingbird
Eastern Bluebird
Veery
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
House Sparrow
American Goldfinch
Chipping Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Baltimore Oriole
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Common Grackle
Ovenbird
Worm-eating Warbler
Blue-winged Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Northern Cardinal
Indigo Bunting

Mammals 
Eastern Chipmunk
Woodchuck 

Herps
American Toad
Green Frog
Eastern Box Turtle
Black Rat Snake

Butterflies – PDF

Moths
Yellow-fringed Dlichomia
Orange-patched Smoky Moth  
Yellow-collared Scape Moth
Pale Gray-Bird-dropping Moth

Odonates
Ebony Jewelwing
Fragile Forktail
Variable Darner
Harlequin Darner
Clubtail species
Common Baskettail
Calico Penant
Common Whitetail
Widow Skimmer
Blue Dasher

Other Insects
Golden-backed Snipe Fly
Syrphid Fly-Microdon abditus
Pea and Bean Weevil
Maple Callus Borer
Meadow Plant Bug
Common Paper Wasp
Anchor Stink Bug
Bee-like Robber Fly
Two-spotted Grass Bug
Feather-legged Fly
Six-spotted Tiger Beetle
Total Species: 11

Arachnids
Arabesque Orb Weaver (Spider)

Doodletown with Paul Keim, 5/27/2018

Registrar: Anne Lazarus
Participants: 6
Weather: Overcast, drizzle, some rain
Bird Species: 45

Species Lists

Birds
Mallard
Wild Turkey
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Yellow-billed Cuckoo (h)
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Eastern Phoebe
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
Yellow-throated Vireo (h)
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Tufted Titmouse
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
European Starling
Gray Catbird
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
Song Sparrow
Orchard Oriole
Baltimore Oriole
Brown-headed Cowbird
Common Grackle
Worm-eating Warbler
Blue-winged Warbler (h)
Black-and-white Warbler
Kentucky Warbler (h)
Common Yellowthroat
Hooded Warbler
American Redstart
Northern Parula (h)
Yellow Warbler
Scarlet Tanager
Northern Cardinal
Indigo Bunting

Central Park with Richard Lieberman, Spring 2018

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

Spring 2018 eBrid lists for Central Park walks: 

Bashakill Marsh & Environs with John Haas, 5/14/2018

Registrar: Dale Dancis
Participants: 8 
Weather: Cloudy am, low 50’s F, 70 F later am and pm
Bird Species: 74

Date Changed from Sunday, 5/13/2018 to Monday, 5/14/2018, due to weather.

Species Lists

Birds
Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Mallard
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Virginia Rail (h)
Common Gallinule
Spotted Sandpiper
Solitary Sandpiper
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Bald Eagle (nesting)
Broad-winged Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Belted Kingfisher
Red-bellied Woodpecker (h)
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker (h)
Pileated Woodpecker
Acadian Flycatcher
Least Flycatcher
Eastern Phoebe
Eastern Kingbird
Yellow-throated Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Tufted Titmouse
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Tree Swallow
Bank Swallow
Barn Swallow
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Eastern Bluebird
Veery
Gray-cheeked Thrush
Swainson’s Thrush
Wood Thrush (h)
American Robin
House Sparrow
American Goldfinch
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Orchard Oriole
Baltimore Oriole
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Ovenbird
Louisiana Waterthrush (h)
Northern Waterthrush (h)
Blue-winged Warbler (h)
Black-and-white Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart
Cerulean Warbler (h)
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Pine Warbler (h)
Black-throated Green Warbler (h)
Canada Warbler
Wilson’s Warbler
Scarlet Tanager
Northern Cardinal
Indigo Bunting

Amphibian
Red Newt

Pine Barrens for Early Spring Butterflies & More with Rick Cech, 4/28/2018

Report: Rick Cech 
Participants: 12
Weather: After early fog, pretty much sunny and mid-60s to lower 70s all day, somewhat breezy from NW. 

After postponing the trip due to exceptionally cold spring weather (4 so NJ species w/latest ever first flight dates), we had a strong outing. Foliage advancing rapidly, though still behind an ordinary year. 

Met at c. 9:00 at Lucille’s and drove straight to Tuckahoe, where PB Azures finally flying – in numbers! A couple of Henry’s left, including a quite-fresh mated pair. Unusual coloring may have reflected late cold temperatures during pre-eclosion period. Along with Blue Corporals, Fragile Forktails now in flight. A pair of loud Prothonatory Warblers were a group highlight, long with multiple singing Pine Warblers. EP had Worm-eating.

Several Falcate Orangetips patrolling in plowed-up fields on 2nd Tuckahoe road. Also a Wild Indigo Duskywing. 

At Dennisville Railroad tracks, no fence lizards still, but a couple of nice Juniper Hairstreaks and another odd-toned enry’s, looked Frosted-like (ambiguous individuals seen at this site before). Also first Juvenal’s DWs. At Lizard Tail, more active. Ran into Jack Miller, who noted that the site had been badly disrupted by power line crews last year (no Linnaean Society of New York trip in 2017). Lots of cricket frogs in new puddles, Eastern Tailed-Blues, one Pearl Crescent, 3-4 Frosted Elfins (seen mainly by others; I saw a probable dart-by amid newly-sprouted Baptesia). Also American Ladies, a couple of azures, another Juniper Hairstreak, and an odd, very worn Monarch-like fly-by we could not identify. Before leaving, we came across a Black Racer eating another, smaller member of its species. 

Next drove up to Warren Grove, arrived c. 2:50. At the patch where Emily and I were lucky a week earlier, we quickly added Hoary, Brown and Eastern Pine Elfins. Mike Freeman photographed a Sleepy Duskywing nearby. Some duplicates turned up as we walked around, but as to new species we only added a lone Northern Azure when driving off. Hessel’s lowland dead. 

Chatsworth still a week or so away from full Sand Myrtle bloom (emerged elfins were nectaring in the meantime on low-growing Pixie). Had Eastern Pine and Brown Elfins, 2 Northern Azures, and a Festive Tiger Beetle. But getting late, and Hessels were not in the cards. Still, in this cold year, 6 out of 5 was NOT BAD.

• Photo montage by trip members: https://rbc-pix.smugmug.com/Nature/Nature-Trip/So-NJ-Spring
• Report and list of 16 species seen PDF