Croton Point Park and Shawangunk Grasslands N.W.R.

Date: Saturday, January 9, 2027

Leader: Julien Amsellem
Transportation: Carpool Trip: While carpool rides for everyone usually work out, there is no guarantee of enough volunteer drivers to accommodate all participants. The Registrar will work to organize rides and to notify participants when a rental car may be necessary. Registrar will also inform participants of the carpool fee, which is based on the trip location; the cost of any rental cars should be split evenly by those participants.
Meeting Point: After your registration is confirmed, the Registrar will share directions, the exact meeting place, and time with attendees.
Schedule: Full-day trip, returning after nightfall.
Relative Difficulty: At Croton Point, the terrain can be quite hilly, so please be prepared for sometimes challenging walks. At Shawangunk Grasslands NWR, the terrain is basically flat, which makes for easy walking. As this is a winter trip, ice is possible on the trails.

Trip Description: This combo trip will start at Westchester County’s Croton Point Park, a large peninsula that juts out into the Hudson River near its widest point. The park’s location on the Hudson flyway attracts a wide variety of birds to its many habitats, including expansive bays, tidal wetlands, immense grasslands, and mature forests. Among the many exciting sightings here are high numbers of Bald Eagles, large congregations of many duck species, and excellent grassland species, like Eastern Meadowlark, Horned Lark, Snow Bunting, and American Pipit.

After scouring Croton Point to its fullest extent, we will pause for lunch before heading over to Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge. This breathtaking natural grassland is located in Ulster County and offers many of the same grassland species as Croton Point. Shawangunk Grasslands is best for wintering raptors, including the Northern Harrier and American Kestrel, with a chance of seeing more infrequent species, like the Rough-legged Hawk.

As the day winds to an end, our true reason for coming to this refuge should start to appear: Short-eared Owls! This park is one of the foremost spots in the region for these uncharacteristically showy owls, and they rarely disappoint. We can’t wait to see you there!

Registration: Registration opens at 9 am on Monday, December 28. After that time, click here to register. Registration closes at 6 pm on Wednesday, January 6. 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.