Central Park Spring Migration Walk with Ken Chaya, Richard Davis, Alice Deutsch, Rahil Patel, and Kevin Sisco, 4/22/2025

Registrar: Barrie Raik
Participants: 45
Weather: Cool and overcast early in the day (56 F), but sunny and warm later (69 F)
Bird Species: 74

Our day started cool and overcast with difficult visibility, but as the sky cleared and the temperature rose, more and more birds were seen by four groups of enthusiastic birders. Highlights included 14 warbler species. including Worm-eating and Nashville warblers, as well as a Purple Finch and an Eastern Whip-poor-will. Some hardy members were out for six hours.

Species List

Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Gadwall
Mallard
Wild Turkey
Green-winged Teal
Bufflehead
Ruddy Duck
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)
Mourning Dove
Eastern Whip-poor-will
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Ring-billed Gull
American Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Double-crested Cormorant
Black-crowned Night Heron
Turkey Vulture
Red-tailed Hawk
Belted Kingfisher
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)
Eastern Phoebe
Blue-headed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Fish Crow
Black-capped Chickad
Tufted Titmouse
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Northern House Wren
Winter Wren
Carolina Wren
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
Northern Mockingbird
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
House Sparrow
House Finch
Purple Finch
American Goldfinch
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Baltimore Oriole
Red-winged Blackbird
Rusty Blackbird
Common Grackle
Ovenbird
Worm-eating Warbler
Louisiana Waterthrush
Northern Waterthrush
Blue-winged Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Yellow Warbler
Palm Warbler
Pine Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler

Central Park Spring Migration Walk with Ken Chaya, Richard Davis, Alice Deutsch, Rahil Patel, and Kevin Sisco, 4/15/2025

Registrar: Sally Weiner
Participants: approx. 51
Weather: low 50s to the upper 60s, a mixture of sun and clouds; a few sprinkles early in the walk
Bird Species: 59

Just as the temperature ranged from brisk to springlike, the birds included both winter residents and migrants, both heading north into their breeding territories. Joining them were our year-round residents. A good number of sparrow species were observed, and both kinglets and several warbler species made an appearance.
Birders formed into four groups, with Alice and Rahil co-leading one group. Time spent in the field was up to seven hours.

Species List

Canada Goose
Gadwall
Mallard
Green-winged Teal
Bufflehead
Red-breasted Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)
Mourning Dove 
American Coot
American Woodcock
Ring-billed Gull 
American Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Double-crested Cormorant
Black-crowned Night Heron
Green Heron
Osprey
Red-tailed Hawk
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Peregrine Falcon
Eastern Phoebe
Blue Jay
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Winter Wren
European Starling
Brown Thrasher
Northern Mockingbird
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
House Sparrow
House Finch
American Goldfinch
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Red-winged Blackbird
Rusty Blackbird
Common Grackle
Louisiana Waterthrush
Palm Warbler
Pine Warbler 
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Northern Cardinal

Central Park Spring Migration Walk with Richard Davis, Alice Deutsch, Rahil Patel, and Kevin Sisco, 4/8/2025

Registrar: Debbie Mullins
Participants: 40
Weather: Cloudy, 37°F at 7:30 am. Clear, 43°F by early afternoon; westerly winds at 7
mph
Bird Species: 64

It felt like a return to winter this morning. Despite the chilly weather, we had a
good turnout, and collectively we saw 64 species of birds, including six
warbler species. We divided into three groups and visited the Ramble, Turtle Pond,
and the Reservoir, where many winter ducks remain. Highlights of the day were a
Bald Eagle soaring above Central Park, a Green Heron on the shore of the Lake,
several Louisiana Waterthrushes in the Ramble, an early Blue-headed Vireo at the
Turtle Pond dock, and a first-of-season Black-and-White Warbler near Evodia Field,
and a Northern Flicker.

Species List

Canada Goose
Wood Duck 
Northern Shoveler
Gadwall 
Mallard 
American Black Duck
Bufflehead 
Hooded Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Ruddy Duck 
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 
Mourning Dove 
American Coot 
Ring-billed Gull
American Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Double-crested Cormorant 
Green Heron 
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Cooper’s Hawk
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk 
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
American Kestrel
Eastern Phoebe
Blue-headed Vireo 
Blue Jay
American Crow 
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Tree Swallow
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Winter Wren
European Starling
Hermit Thrush 
American Robin
House Sparrow
House Finch 
American Goldfinch
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Common Grackle
Louisiana Waterthrush
Black-and-White Warbler
Northern Parula
Palm Warbler
Pine Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Northern Cardinal

Better Bird Photography Workshop in Prospect Park with Tom Stephenson, 4/5/2025

Registrar: Dom Ricci
Participants: 13
Weather: Around 47–51 F, overcast, moderate breeze, infrequent light rain
Bird Species: 40

You might think that overcast conditions are are incompatible with good nature photography, but you would be mistaken. Gathered together on a cloudy Saturday morning near the Vale of Cashmere in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park, a dozen Linnaean birders learned from noted birding writer, lecturer, and technology expert Tom Stephenson how to optimize their camera techniques and post-processing skills to capture avian subjects for both identification and aesthetics.

After the workshop we put those lessons to use in Prospect Park’s mix of lingering winter residents and early spring migration arrivals. In addition to Pine and Black-and-White Warblers in the Vale, sharp-eyed spotting treated us to two Louisiana Waterthrushes in the Ravine, near the site of last fall’s brush fire. We beheld an assortment of Wood Ducks, a Ring-necked Duck, a Rusty Blackbird, Golden-crowned Kinglets, a Green Heron, and a Cooper’s Hawk in close succession around the Pools.

The walk was concluded by an extended photographing session with an Orange-crowned Warbler, whose pool-side performance gave everyone a great opportunity to apply Tom’s photography lesson.


Species List

Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Mallard
Ring-necked Duck
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)
Mourning Dove
American Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Double-crested Cormorant
Green Heron
Osprey
Cooper’s Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Belted Kingfisher
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Eastern Phoebe
Blue Jay
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Brown Creeper
Winter Wren
European Starling
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
House Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Rusty Blackbird
Louisiana Waterthrush
Black-and-white Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Pine Warbler
Northern Cardinal

Central Park Spring Migration Walk with Ken Chaya, Alice Deutsch, Rahil Patel, and Kevin Sisco, 4/1/2025

Registrar: Debbie Mullins
Participants: 36
Weather: 44° F; cloudy at 7:30 am, warming to 55°F and clear by mid-morning
Bird Species: 51

An enthusiastic group came out for the first spring migration walk of 2025. Very chilly conditions at the beginning of the walk had many people wishing they had worn gloves, but by late morning conditions had improved. Migration is definitely underway, as evidenced by the abundance of Pine Warblers and Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned Kinglets. Other harbingers of spring included Palm Warblers, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, Eastern Phoebes, and Swamp Sparrows. At least a dozen Brown Creepers were seen in the Ramble, often several on the same tree, and Rusty Blackbirds at Evodia Field and Swampy Pin Oak were a special treat. Part of the group birded the reservoir to see the winter ducks that will be leaving us soon for their northern nesting grounds.

Species List

Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Northern Shoveler
Gadwall
Mallard
Bufflehead
Hooded Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
American Coot
Ring-billed Gull
American Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Double-crested Cormorant
Cooper’s Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Eastern Phoebe
Blue Jay
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Carolina Wren
European Starling
Northern Mockingbird
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
House Sparrow
House Finch
American Goldfinch
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
Rusty Blackbird
Common Grackle
Palm Warbler
Pine Warbler
Northern Cardinal

Central Park Winter Walk & Coffee Hour with David Spawn and Erika Piik, 3/8/2025   

Registrar: Kathleen Matthews & Elizabeth Keim
Leaders: David Spawn & Erika Piik
Participants: 18   
Weather: Clear, 43° F, 6 mph W wind
Bird Species: 31

A lovely mix of 18 both seasoned and newer birders enjoyed a crisp but clear day of relaxed birding. Beginning in Strawberry Fields and moving through the familiar route to Hernshead, Oak Bridge, the Ramble, and up to the Reservoir,  31 species were identified. Highlights included a Bald Eagle found on the reservoir and two early spring migrants—a Pine Warbler and a Yellow-rumped Warbler. At the end of the walk, a remnant of the group socialized over coffee at the Central Park Boathouse Café.

Species List

Canada Goose
Northern Shoveler
Mallard
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)
Mourning Dove
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Cooper’s Hawk
Accipitrine hawk sp. (former Accipiter sp.)
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Blue Jay
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Carolina Wren
European Starling
American Robin
House Sparrow
American Goldfinch
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Common Grackle
Pine Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Northern Cardinal

Croton Point Park with Ethan Goodman, 3/02/2025

Registrar:  Suzanne Zywicki
Participants: 7
Weather: Sunny, but cold and windy, 30 degrees
Bird Species: 38

The group met our leader, Ethan Goodman, at noon at the Croton Harmon train station and quickly travelled the short distance to Croton Point Park.  The viewing day began with good looks at an Eastern Screech-Owl fast asleep in its frequent roosting spot.

We made our way over to the large grassy area on top of the former landfill, where as we walked we saw numerous Bald Eagles in flight, including adults, sub-adults, and juveniles. We also spotted a Northern Harrier as it flew low over the grass. Unfortunately, due to the windy conditions, we did not see many sparrows or other song birds in this area. 

After leaving the mound, we began walking a path with views of Croton Bay. Here we saw a number of birds, including a Cooper’s Hawk moving from post to post in the distance and several Song Sparrows. We took a brief break for snacks and to warm up, and then headed out along another trail in the direction of The Point (where you can see both the Bay and the Hudson River).  Along the way, we spotted an accipiter perched above us, and spent some time studying the bird before determining that it was a Sharp-shinned Hawk.

As we got closer to The Point, Ethan spotted some Bufflehead, Common Mergansers, and American Black Ducks down below in Croton Bay and shared his scope to provide better looks.  We also spotted a majestic adult Bald Eagle easily visible in a nearby tree. On our way back to the parking area, we continued to spot other species, including a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and some White-breasted Nuthatches.

As dusk began to fall, the group discussed  how much time we would give ourselves to try to spot a Short-eared Owl.  As Ethan was managing our expectations, one sharp-eyed birder pointed out what she initially thought was another Northern Harrier.  Ethan quickly corrected her i.d. – it was the Short-eared Owl we were all hoping for.

What a great way to end our walk.  Despite the chilly temperatures, we all enjoyed ourselves and greatly appreciate Ethan’s sharing his deep knowledge of Croton Point Park and its birds with us (not to mention sharing coffee and donuts too).


Species List

Canada Goose
Mallard
American Black Duck
Bufflehead
Common Merganser
Mourning Dove
Ring-billed Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper’s Hawk
Northern Harrier
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
Eastern Screech-Owl
Short-eared Owl
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
American Kestrel
Merlin
Blue Jay
American Crow
Fish Crow
Common Raven
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
European Starling
Northern Mockingbird
American Robin
American Goldfinch
American Tree Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle

Brooklyn Coastal Birding with Peter Dorosh, 3/1/2025

Registrar: Miriam Rakowski
Participants: 6
Weather: 45 to 57 degrees on a mostly sunny day, with winds SW 8 to 20 mph, changing in the afternoon to WNW

More than the six eventual participants were registered for this trip, but many were unable to go because there weren’t enough drivers. But it was an enjoyable day for the small group of avid birders that did go.

Peter, our leader, had three stops planned. The first was Marine Park, where we saw an unexpected Redhead Duck, two lovely Pine Warblers, and over forty species altogether.

After a pleasant lunch in the sun, sitting on picnic benches, we headed out to Floyd Bennet Park, where we were surprised to see a Raven on the ground and several raptors soaring past.

The highlight for many was at Plumb Beach, our last stop, where we had good looks at a Black-Headed Gull—a lifer for some of us.

Species Lists

MARINE PARK:
Brant
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
American Wigeon
Mallard
American Black Duck
Redhead
Lesser Scaup
Bufflehead
Hooded Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Killdeer
Ring-billed Gull
American Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Common Loon
Great Cormorant
Turkey Vulture
Cooper’s Hawk
Northern Harrier
Downy Woodpecker
American Kestrel
Blue Jay
American Crow
Fish Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
White-breasted Nuthatch
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
American Robin
House Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Song Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
Pine Warbler
Northern Cardinal

FLOYD BENNET:
Brant
American Wigeon
American Black Duck
Greater Scaup
Bufflehead
Hooded Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Killdeer
Horned Grebe
Red-throated Loon
Northern Harrier
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel
Common Raven
American Robin
Song Sparrow

PLUMB BEACH:
Brant
Greater Scaup
Black-headed Gull
Ring-billed Gull
American Herring Gull