Registrar: Debbie Mullins
Participants: 12
Weather: Sunny, 32-39 degrees F, northerly winds at 7 mph
Bird Species: 54
We started the day at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. On the West Pond we found many duck species that had returned for the winter, as well as several species of lingering shorebirds, including Long-billed Dowitcher, Dunlin, and Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs. Very large numbers of Brant and Canada Geese and Double-crested Cormorants were seen on the West Pond and in the bay, as well as four gull species, including a few Laughing Gulls. Several passerine species were observed on our walk around the West Pond, including a large flock of Pine Siskins foraging with American Goldfinches. During lunch, two mature Bald Eagles were seen circling over the Visitor Center. In the afternoon, we moved to Shirley Chisholm State Park. Fewer species were seen here than at Jamaica Bay, but we had beautiful close-up views of a low-flying Sharp-shinned Hawk and of several Northern Harriers gliding over the hills. Many thanks to our excellent leader, Peter Dorosh, for a wonderful day of birding.
Species List
Birds
Brant
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Northern Shoveler
Gadwall
American Wigeon
Mallard
American Black Duck
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Greater Scaup
Lesser Scaup
Bufflehead
Hooded Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Pied-billed Grebe
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)
Mourning Dove
American Coot
Killdeer
Dunlin
Long-billed Dowitcher
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
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
Belted Kingfisher
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Golden-crowned Kinglet
European Starling
Northern Mockingbird
House Sparrow
House Finch
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch
Dark-eyed Junco
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Northern Cardinal
