Registrar: Dom Ricci
Participants: 15
Weather: 26-32 °F, sunny, breezy
Bird Species: 21
In the aftermath of a winter storm’s arctic blast, an intrepid group of Linnaean Society birders braved sub-zero temperatures on a sunny Martin Luther King Jr. Day for a walk on Governors Island with resident expert Annie Barry. As the group circled the island, they observed a variety of winter waterfowl in the surrounding waters, including Buffleheads, Red-breasted Mergansers, Greater Scaup, and more than 250 Brant. Highlights included distinguishing two Great Cormorants among the many Double-crested Cormorants on Lima Pier, and several birders were treated to a brief view of an American Tree Sparrow, an uncommon visitor to the island. Despite the cold, the group enjoyed a rewarding outing.
Species List
Brant
Canada Goose
Gadwall
American Black Duck
Greater Scaup
Bufflehead
Red-breasted Merganser
Ring-billed Gull
American Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Great Cormorant
Double-crested Cormorant
Red-tailed Hawk
Blue Jay
American Crow
European Starling
House Sparrow
American Tree Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
