Registrar: Dom Ricci
Participants: 8
Weather: 36-38 °F, sunny with a few clouds, light breeze
Bird Species: 30
The Linnaean Society of New York’s February outing to the Brooklyn waterfront was originally planned as a carpool trip, but a week before it was scheduled to take place, a blizzard dropped more than nineteen inches of snow on New York City. Although temperatures later warmed, trip leader Peter Dorosh wisely recognized that the large amounts of residual snow would complicate travel and revised the plan to rely on public transit. This change not only avoided a potential logistical challenge but also introduced attendees to new, accessible birding locations.
Beginning at Ceasar’s Bay, the Linnaean birders observed large numbers of winter waterfowl, including sizable rafts of Greater Scaup, Surf Scoter, and Black Scoter. The highlight at this location was extended views of not one, not two, but three immature Iceland Gulls along the rocky shore. A short walk along the waterfront toward BJ’s Wholesale Club produced a variety of ducks, including close views of several Long-tailed Ducks and two Common Goldeneye. After a short bus ride, the group explored Coney Island Creek Park and then continued down the Coney Island Boardwalk, where they found more waterfowl and gulls, along with Purple Sandpipers on the rocky jetties and a Peregrine Falcon chasing pigeons, before dispersing homeward via subway.
Species List
Brant
Canada Goose
Gadwall
American Wigeon
Mallard
American Black Duck
Greater Scaup
Lesser Scaup
Surf Scoter
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Hooded Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Purple Sandpiper
Ring-billed Gull
American Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Iceland Gull
Horned Grebe
Red-throated Loon
Common Loon
Turkey Vulture
Peregrine Falcon
American Crow
European Starling
