Gull ID Study at Coney Island

Date: Sunday, November 15, 2026

Leader(s): Roberta Manian and Dennis Hrehowsik
Transportation: Public Transportation: Participants can use public transportation to arrive at the meeting location.
Meeting Point: After your registration is confirmed, the Registrar will share directions, the exact meeting place, and time with attendees.
Schedule: Half-day, ending in early afternoon.
Relative Difficulty: The two-to-three-mile walk will take place mostly on the beach. Walking on the sand can be difficult for some. Expect possible windy and cold conditions.

Trip Description: Immerse yourself in the beauty of Coney Island as you brush up on your basic gull ID skills, just in time for the Christmas Bird Count. Gulls are often one of the most challenging species to master as their plumage changes dramatically over the first several years of their life. This workshop will teach essential skills to identify common winter gulls in all their cycles. Along the way, we will likely see other wintering waterfowl, including dabbling and diving ducks, grebes, loons, Purple Sandpipers, and possibly alcids.

If you have one, remember to bring a scope, and be prepared to stand still for long periods on a windy beach (i.e., dress warmly). You will also trek two to three miles, mostly in the sand.

Registration: Registration opens at 9 am on Monday, November 2. After that time, click here to register. Registration closes at 6 pm on Wednesday, November 11. Members (and those who have applied for membership) will be prioritized over non-members.

Please read the About Our Trips page, if you’re going on a field trip for the first time. It details our field trip policies, recommends what to bring on a trip, and offers other useful information, pro tips, and tricks.

If after visiting the About Our Trips page, you still have questions, feel free to contact the Registrar via email.