Registrar: Suzanne Zywicki
Participants: 6
Weather: Cloudy, winds up to nine miles per hour, temperatures ranging from 63 to the low 70s
Bird Species: 39
After having to delay our walk by a day due to rain, our small but determined group travelled to Rockefeller State Park Preserve in Westchester County to meet up with Anne Swaim, Executive Director of Saw Mill River Audubon. The park, which is over 1,700 acres of primarily hardwood forest, has been designated an Important Bird Area by the National Audubon Society.
As we were setting off on our walk, we were treated to the sight of over eighty blue jays migrating together overhead. On the way to Swan Lake, we saw several species of warbler, Tufted Titmouse and Black-capped Chickadee (both first of season for many of us), Red-eyed Vireo, and heard multiple Carolina Wren. Another highlight was two Common Ravens flying overhead, communicating loudly to each other as they flew along. Unfortunately, Swan Lake itself was very quiet, though we did see a lone female Wood Duck paddling along.
As we continued through the forested areas and meadows, we also observed a number of Eastern Bluebirds, several species of sparrow, including Savannah and Eastern Towhee, and three Scarlet Tanagers. We debated the identification of one of the tanagers, considering both Scarlet and Summer varieties, and landed on Scarlet after a close review of photos taken of the bird. One of the wooded trails yielded a variety of woodpecker species, including Red-bellied, Downy, Hairy, and Northern Flicker. While we all heard the drumming of a Pileated Woodpecker, only one sharp-eyed birder actually saw the bird.
We ended our trip mid-morning, with a few individuals heading off to nearby Croton Point Park to continue birding on their own. We appreciated Anne’s knowledge of the park and her enthusiasm for helping us to explore it.
Species List
Wood Duck
Mallard
Mourning Dove
Double-crested Cormorant
Turkey Vulture
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper’s Hawk
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
American Kestrel
Eastern Phoebe
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Common Raven
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Eastern Bluebird
American Robin
House Finch
American Goldfinch
Chipping Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart
Northern Parula
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Palm Warbler
Scarlet Tanager
Northern Cardinal
Indigo Bunting
