Registrar: Suzanne Zywicki
Participants: 9
Weather: Cloudy, wind gusts up to ten miles per hour, temperatures in the high 40s
Bird Species: 38
Our group took the train from Grand Central Station to Croton Harmon and met our leader, Ethan Goodman, at the station around noon. After a quick walk to the park entrance, our trip began by counting mallards and a few other birds in a flooded field. As we continued, we saw several male Red-winged Blackbirds perched above us, as well as a Red-tailed Hawk. Some of us were surprised to encounter Eastern Bluebirds along the path that parallels the Croton River. A bit later, as we made our way on the trail heading toward the Point, we began to see the first of at least eighteen Bald Eagles that were either in flight, perched high in the trees, or sitting on pieces of ice in the river. As we continued our walk, we saw a variety of other expected birds, including both White and Red-breasted Nuthatches, Black-capped Chickadees, and Dark-eyed Juncos.
However, the real treats, and the reason for our early afternoon start time, were seen as dusk fell. We first went to see if the resident Eastern Screech-Owl was in its usual spot, but were left disappointed. We scanned the Hudson from above and saw a variety of ducks, gulls, and mergansers. On our walk back to the Mound, one sharp-eyed participant spotted a Great Horned Owl perched above close to the road, giving great views. Not long after, he also found what he thought was an American Pipit – a lifer that was confirmed by Ethan. As it got darker, we began our walk up the mound where Ethan almost immediately began to hear the “peent” call of the American Woodcock. We could hear them making courtship sounds but were unable to observe their unique aerial displays in the dark. After listening for a bit, we continued walking and soon saw a Short-eared Owl hunting above the grasses. After several pass-bys, it perched on a post, allowing us all excellent looks and giving us a memorable end to our day.
Species List
Brant
Canada Goose
Gadwall
Mallard
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Mourning Dove
Killdeer
American Woodcock
Ring-billed Gull
American Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Cooper’s Hawk
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
Great Horned Owl
Short-eared Owl
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Blue Jay
Fish Crow
Common Raven
Black-capped Chickadee
White-breasted Nuthatch
Red-breasted Nuthatch
European Starling
Northern Mockingbird
Eastern Bluebird
American Robin
American Pipit
American Goldfinch
American Tree Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Northern Cardinal
Mammals:
White-tailed Deer
