Category: Field Trip Reports

Registrar: Anne Lazarus
Participants: 11
Weather: Sunny, wind 5 mph, variable, upper 30’s to 40’s F
Bird Species: 63

We thank our leader Peter Dorosh for guiding us on an exciting tour of Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge and Shirley Chisholm State Park. This trip was a day of avian surprises. Our first surprise was a female Common Goldeneye on the West Pond among all the other beautiful ducks. Big John’s Pond featured several Wood Ducks. With a little effort we saw the Redhead on the East Pond. A vocalizing Common Raven suddenly appeared overhead. The biggest surprise was three Tundra Swans, a bit distant, but photographed. Our final stop was the newly opened Shirley Chisholm State Park. This park attracted many Lesser Scaup, Belted Kingfisher, six Killdeer in flight, one Vesper Sparrow, one Lincoln’s Sparrow, one Orange-crowned Warbler and other land and water birds. Dusk comes quickly at this time of year, and we had to leave. But we will return.

Species Lists

Birds
Snow Goose
Brant
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Tundra Swan
Wood Duck
Northern Shoveler
Gadwall
American Wigeon
Mallard
American Black Duck
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Redhead
Greater Scaup
Lesser Scaup
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Hooded Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Horned Grebe
Mourning Dove
American Coot
Killdeer
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Northern Harrier
Red-tailed Hawk
Barn Owl
Belted Kingfisher
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Merlin
Peregrine Falcon
American Crow
Common Raven
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Carolina Wren (h)
European Starling
Northern Mockingbird
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
House Finch
American Goldfinch
American Tree Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-throated Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Lincoln’s Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Orange-crowned Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Northern Cardinal

Mammal
Eastern Gray Squirrel

Registrar: Pearl Broder
Participants: 8
Weather: Sunny, Windy with gusts, 12mph, northwest, 30’s F
Bird Species: 45

I would like to thank our leader, Joseph DiCostanzo for leading an excellent trip to Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. Despite the wind chill, we persevered and were rewarded. with thirteen species of duck, including three Redheads on the East Pond, viewed from the Raunt. The Horned Grebes in the bay reminded us that winter is approaching. Our shorebirds were three Greater Yellowlegs foraging along the edges of the north shoreline of the West Pond. Two thousand or more Snow Geese visited the refuge, and we have posted a picture of a dark, Blue Snow Goose morph seen from the south end of the East Pond.

Species Lists

Birds
Snow Goose
Brant
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Northern Shoveler
Gadwall
American Wigeon
Mallard
American Black Duck
Green-winged Teal
Redhead
Greater Scaup
Bufflehead
Hooded Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Pied-billed Grebe
Horned Grebe
Mourning Dove
American Coot
Greater Yellowlegs
Laughing Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Northern Harrier
Red-tailed Hawk
Barn Owl
Northern Flicker
Peregrine Falcon
European Starling
Northern Mockingbird
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
House Finch
Dark-eyed Junco
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Northern Cardinal

Mammals
Eastern Gray Squirrel
Eastern Raccoon

Registrar: Paul Keim
Participants: 8 
Weather: Partly cloudy weather, 43-52 degrees F, SW Winds 28-9 mph
Bird Species: 42

As we approached the swampy area, it was surprisingly quiet. Then we noticed a perched raptor. Upon closer examination it turned out to be a beautiful Red-shouldered Hawk, which we admired for some time before it flew off. 

We descended from the hill, where we had hoped to see pipits and meadowlarks. We were saddened to see that the tall grasses that normally shelter the birds had been mowed down, leaving only patches of high grasses. Happily, we were rewarded by seeing four Horned Larks fly over.

Species Lists

Birds
Canada Goose
Mallard
Bufflehead
Common Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker (h)
Blue Jay
American Crow
Common Raven
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Horned Lark
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
White-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
European Starling
Northern Mockingbird
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
House Sparrow
House Finch
American Goldfinch
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Northern Cardinal

Butterflies
Orange Sulphur
Monarch

Registrar: Mary Beth Kooper
Participants: 13
Weather: Mostly clear skies, around 37 degrees
Bird Species: 41

Our group of both long term and a few new Linnaean Society members set out to explore Prospect Park at 8:00AM, expertly guided by Bobbi Manian assisted by Brooklyn Bird Club President, Dennis Hrehowsik. Highlights were a Merlin, a couple of Ringed-Necked Ducks, an American Wigeon and numerous Wood Ducks, which nest in the park.

Species Lists

Birds
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Wood Duck
Northern Shoveler
American Wigeon
Mallard
Ring-necked Duck
Hooded Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Ring-billed Gull
Great Blue Heron
Red-tailed Hawk
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
American Kestrel
Merlin
Eastern Phoebe
Blue Jay
American Crow
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
European Starling
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
House Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-throated Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Common Grackle
Palm Warbler
Northern Cardinal

Weather: See checklists

Fall 2019 eBrid lists for Central Park walks (checklists courtesy of Janet Wooten): 

Participants: 13
Weather: Mild, around 57 degrees
Bird Species: 50

Our group meet at Floyd Bennett Field by 8AM and spent over 4 hours exploring the area led by Rob Jett, aka The City Birder. A major attraction of this location at this time of year are sparrows, and we were fortunate to see 10 species of sparrows, the highlight being several great views of a Vesper Sparrow. By the time we finished we had seen 50 bird species and enjoyed a wonderful day at this special Brooklyn location, part of the Gateway National Recreation Area.

Species Lists

Birds
Brant
Mallard
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Laughing Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Double-crested Cormorant
Osprey
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper’s Hawk
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
American Kestrel
Merlin
Eastern Phoebe
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Carolina Wren
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
House Sparrow
House Finch
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-crowned Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Common Yellowthroat
Palm Warbler
Pine Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Northern Cardinal

Registrar: Miriam Rakowski
Participants: 10
Weather: Cloudy, changing to light rain, 52-57 degrees F, ENE winds 1-4 mph
Bird Species: 34

The day began with many Yellow-rump and Kinglet sightings, because of northwest winds the night before. While it drizzled, we waited by the marsh hoping for a glimpse of the Nelson’s or Saltmarsh Sparrows. We were all rewarded with good looks, not only at the Nelson’s, but also at what appeared to be a Saltmarsh Sparrow. 

Upon later close examination and inquiry, the Saltmarsh Sparrow appears to be a hybrid. The latest DNA research shows that fifty-two percent of Saltmarsh/Nelson Sparrows are hybrids. The sparrow picture below shows a bird with an orange breast and definitive streaks, which extend beyond the breast. This strongly suggests a hybrid Saltmarsh/Nelson Sparrow.

Species Lists

Birds
Brant
Canada Goose
Northern Shoveler
Mallard
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Northern Harrier
Red-tailed Hawk
Belted Kingfisher
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Eastern Phoebe
Blue-headed Vireo
Blue Jay
crow sp.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Winter Wren
European Starling
Northern Mockingbird
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
House Sparrow
House Finch
American Goldfinch
Field Sparrow
Nelson’s Sparrow
Saltmarsh Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow

Butterflies
Monarch

Registrar: Pearl Broder
Registered Participants: 11
Weather: 45 degrees F am, 50’s pm, sunny, wind 5-10 mph
Bird Species: 50

Species Lists

Birds
Brant
Canada Goose
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
American Oystercatcher
Black-bellied Plover
Killdeer
Laughing Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Royal Tern
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Egret
Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Merlin
Eastern Phoebe
Blue Jay
American Crow
Tree Swallow
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Carolina Wren
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
Northern Mockingbird
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
House Sparrow
House Finch
Dark-eyed Junco
White-throated Sparrow
Nelson’s Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Eastern Towhee (h)
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Common Grackle
Common Yellowthroat
Northern Parula
Palm Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Northern Cardinal

Mammals
Eastern Gray Squirrel

Butterflies
Cabbage White
Clouded Sulphur
Orange Sulphur
American Lady
Painted Lady
Common Buckeye
Red Admiral
Monarch

Participants: 21
Weather: Sunny, 60-68 Fahrenheit, slight west wind
Bird Species: 51

It was a sunny and cool day to start, later warming up to about 68 degrees, with a slight west breeze. Most leaves on the trees were still green and quite dense. For six hours twenty-one of us searched the north end of Central Park. We spent some time at the end of the walk looking for a Pin-tailed Whydah that had been reported for several days, but it was not seen on this day. We ended with a total count of 51 species of birds.

Species Lists

Birds
Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Northern Shoveler
Mallard
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Cooper’s Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Eastern Phoebe
Blue-headed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Brown Creeper
House Wren
Winter Wren
Carolina Wren
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
House Sparrow
House Finch
American Goldfinch
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-throated Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Brown-headed Cowbird
Common Grackle
Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart
Cape May Warbler
Northern Parula
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Palm Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Northern Cardinal
Indigo Bunting

Butterflies
Cabbage White
Clouded Sulphur
Orange Sulphur
Painted Lady
Common Buckeye
Monarch

Herps
Red-eared Slider

Mammals
Eastern Gray Squirrel
Eastern Chipmunk
Northern Raccoon
Norway Rat

Registrar: Judy Rabi
Registered Participants: 9
Weather: upper 60’s – upper 70 degrees F, sunny, calm, and humid
Bird Species: 53

The weather was fair, cool in the early morning, quickly warming up as the day progressed. Led by Seth Wollney, this intrepid group of nine began the day at the Conference House, then continued to Mr. Loretto, Arden Road, and ended at Miller’s Field. A special thanks to Seth for his insights and knowledge of the Staten Island terrain. Due to southerly winds the migration was not the best on this day. There was some nostalgia amongst us for last year’s fall migration trip, also led by Seth. We met the challenge and saw many interesting birds. Also notable were fourteen butterfly species.

Species Lists

Birds
Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Mallard
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Killdeer
Laughing Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper’s Hawk
Bald Eagle
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Eastern Phoebe
Red-eyed Vireo
crow sp.
Tufted Titmouse
Tree Swallow
White-breasted Nuthatch
House Wren
Carolina Wren
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
American Robin
House Sparrow
House Finch
Chipping Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Baltimore Oriole
Red-winged Blackbird
Black-and-white Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Northern Cardinal

Butterflies
Black Swallowtail
Cabbage White
Checkered White
Clouded Sulphur
Orange Sulphur
Cloudless Sulphur
Eastern-tailed Blue
Pearl Crescent
American Lady
Common Buckeye
Monarch Butterfly
Fiery Skipper
Sachem
Peck’s Skipper

Odonates
Common Green Darner
Black Saddlebags
Carolina Saddlebag
Common Whitetail
Great Blue Skimmer

Other Invertebrates
Dog day Cicada
Carolina Grasshopper
Antlion species

Herps
Spring Peeper

Mammals
Eastern Gray Squirrel
Eastern Chipmunk
Groundhog