Rye Playlands and Environs with Tom Burke and Gail Benson, 12/7/2024

Registrar: MaryJane Boland
Participants: 11
Weather: Clear, cold with intermittent wind.
Bird Species: 63

We were a collegial group of 11, happy to be in Westchester after struggling to find enough drivers. We visited three separate areas—Edith G. Read Wildlife Sanctuary, Bowman Avenue Pond, and Marshlands Conservancy—and saw good numbers of many species. The Greater White-fronted Goose was at Bowman Avenue, just as he/she was last year, sleeping but giving good views. Skeins of Canada Geese were constantly going by overhead. This is definitely a trip to do every year.

Species List

Snow Goose
Greater White-fronted Goose
Brant
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Wood Duck
Gadwall
Mallard
American Black Duck
Greater Scaup
Lesser Scaup
Greater/Lesser Scaup
Surf/Black Scoter
Bufflehead
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Wild Turkey
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)
Mourning Dove
Killdeer
Purple Sandpiper
Ring-billed Gull
American Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Pied-billed Grebe
Common Loon
Great Cormorant
Double-crested Cormorant
Black-crowned Night Heron
Great Egret
Great Blue Heron
Cooper’s Hawk
Northern Harrier
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
Belted Kingfisher
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Blue Jay
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
White-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
European Starling
Northern Mockingbird
American Robin
House Sparrow
House Finch
Purple Finch
American Goldfinch
Fox Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
Northern Cardinal

Shirley Chisholm State Park and Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge with Peter Dorosh, 11/16/2024

Registrar: Matthew Fischer
Participants : 16
Weather: Few clouds; temperatures 50–57°F;  moderate NW breeze; humidity 41-52%
Bird Species: 64

Always very popular, this year’s trip, led by Peter Dorosh, was at capacity and included several younger birders as well as a South African birder in town on business. At Shirley Chisholm, we walked along Hendrix Creek and enjoyed the waterfowl, including Green-winged Teal, American Wigeons, a Pied-billed Grebe, and a Bufflehead, along with Northern Harriers, an American Kestrel and two Belted Kingfishers. We also saw a Fox Sparrow and multiple Purple Finches, including a very cooperative female. At Penn Dock we saw in the distance a huge chaotic commotion caused by hundreds of Larus-type gulls.
Our next stop was the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. We had lunch by the Visitor Center and then tackled the West Pond. At the breach we had an incredible variety of waterfowl, including majestic Northern Pintails, Hooded Mergansers, and Ruddy Ducks. We also had shorebirds, including Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs, as well as Dunlin. We were also treated to a Sharp-shinned Hawk and excellent views of a Bald Eagle—a lifer for many on the trip. Closing out our time at the West Pond, we saw a pair of American Barn Owls, Lesser Scaup, a large flock of American Pipits, and a Eurasian Wigeon with its bold rouge head. Across the street at the East Pond, we had distant views of the long continuing American White Pelican.
While the official agenda was complete at that point, half of the group continued on to the after-party at Floyd Bennett Field, where a Greater White-fronted Goose was spotted. Along with a late Royal Tern, this was the perfect ending for a great day of birding with the legendary Peter Dorosh.

Species List

Greater White-fronted Goose
Brant
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Wood Duck
Northern Shoveler
Gadwall
Eurasian Wigeon
American Wigeon
Mallard
American Black Duck
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Lesser Scaup
Bufflehead
Hooded Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Rock Pigeon
American Coot
Lesser Yellowlegs
Greater Yellowlegs
Dunlin
Ring-billed Gull
American Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Royal Tern
Pied-billed Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Snowy Egret
Great Blue Heron
American White Pelican
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Northern Harrier
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
American Barn Owl <SENSITIVE>
Belted Kingfisher
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
American Kestrel
Peregrine Falcon
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Carolina Wren
European Starling
Northern Mockingbird
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
American Pipit
House Finch
Purple Finch
American Goldfinch
Fox Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-throated Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
Boat-tailed Grackle
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Northern Cardinal

Hawk Watch at Belvedere Castle with Gabriel Willow, 11/8/2024

Registrar: Debbie Mullins
Participants: 38
Weather: 68° F, clear, westerly winds at 7 mph
Bird Species: 23

A large group gathered on the steps of Belvedere Castle in Central Park overlooking the Great Lawn to look for late migrating raptors. The ongoing drought has increased the risk of forest fires; one burning in the New Jersey Palisades generated smoke that may have caused migrants to alter their flight paths. While five raptor species were seen, no eagles, our target species, were spotted during the watch. At least five Red-tailed Hawks and three Peregrine Falcons were seen, but we could not rule out the possibility that these were local birds that nested in Manhattan this year. The most exciting sighting of the day was a Merlin repeatedly attacking a Cooper’s Hawk over Turtle Pond.

Species List

Birds
Wood Duck
Northern Shoveler
Mallard
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)
American Herring Gull
Great Blue Heron
Cooper’s Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Northern Flicker
American Kestrel
Merlin
Peregrine Falcon
Blue Jay
Golden-crowned Kinglet
European Starling
Brown Thrasher
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
American Goldfinch
Dark-eyed Junco
Eastern Towhee
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle

Odonata
Autumn Meadow Hawk

Central Park with Richard Davis, Kevin Sisco, and Alan Drogin, 10/29/2024

Registrar: Sarah Dahl
Participants: 27
Weather: 46 to 73 F and  partly cloudy
Bird Species: 61

It was a beautiful fall day to close the series of fall migration walks in Central Park for 2024. Various migrating warblers, a Purple Finch, and a surprise Saw-whet Owl were the highlights of a lovely walk.

Species List

Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Northern Shoveler
Gadwall
Mallard
American Black Duck
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
American Woodcock
Ring-billed Gull
American Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Cooper’s Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Northern Saw-whet Owl 
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
American Kestrel
Merlin
Peregrine Falcon
Eastern Phoebe
Blue-headed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
White-breasted Nuthatch
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Winter Wren
Carolina Wren
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
Hermit Thrush
Wood Thursh
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
House Sparrow
House Finch
Purple Finch
American Goldfinch
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Common Grackle
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Palm Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Northern Cardinal

Central Park Walk with Richard Davis, Alan Drogin and Alice Deutsch, 10/22/2024 

Registrar: Steve Holleran
Participants: 41
Weather: A blissful fall day with temperatures in the 60s
Bird Species: 49

On a splendid autumn morning we set out in three groups to explore the Ramble and nearby areas of the Park. Our combined observations added up to 49 species of birds, with seven New World sparrows, a Purple Finch, and late–lingering warblers, including distant but convincing views of an Orange-crowned Warbler. We were also gladdened by signs that the Tufted Titmice and Black-capped Chickadees are returning.

Species List

Canada Goose
Northern Shoveler
Mallard
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)
Mourning Dove
Ring-billed Gull
American Herring Gull
Cooper’s Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Eastern Phoebe
Blue-headed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Winter Wren
Carolina Wren
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
House Sparrow
Purple Finch
Chipping Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Common Grackle
Ovenbird
Orange-crowned Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Northern Parula
Blackpoll Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Palm Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Northern Cardinal

Fort Tilden with Richard ZainEldeen, 10/19/2024

Registrar: David Spawn
Participants: 8
Weather: “Unseasonably” warm temps in the 60s/low 70s. High tide when we arrived, started to ebb later in the morning. Mostly clear skies with weak northerly winds.
Bird Species: 39

Starting at the Community Garden, we headed to the west end of Riis Park to look at shorebirds/terns/gulls; then back along the beach road and across the dunes to the hawk-watch platform. After lunch on the pilings by the Silver Gull Beach Club, we returned along “Center Road.”

Species List

Brant
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
American Oystercatcher
Sanderling
Laughing Gull
Ring-billed Gull
American Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Royal Tern
Double-crested Cormorant
Osprey
Cooper’s Hawk
Red Bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Merlin
Eastern Phoebe
Blue Headed Vireo
Common Raven
Ruby Crowned Kinglet
Golden Crowned Kinglet
Carolina Wren
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
House Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Dark-Eyed Junco
White-throated Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Red Winged Blackbird
Palm Warbler
Yellow-Rumped Warbler

Central Park with Kevin Sisco, Rahil Patel, Alice Deutsch, and Evelyn Huang, 10/15/2024

Registrar: Debbie Mullins
Participants: 36
Weather: 45°–57° F, clear to partly cloudy, westerly winds
Bird Species: 65

It was one of the first chilly days of the autumn migration season, but a large group of birders dug out their fall jackets and joined the walk. We divided into three groups and visited the Ramble, Sparrow Rock, the Reservoir, Shakespeare Garden, and Belvedere Castle.

We were happy to see that winter species are starting to return, including Northern Shoveler, Hooded Merganser, Black-capped Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, Dark-eyed Junco, Tufted Titmouse, and White-throated Sparrow. Warblers were still moving through, and
nine species were seen today, with Black-throated Blue and Yellow-rumped Warblers present in good numbers.

Species List

Canada Goose
Wood Duck 
Northern Shoveler 
Mallard 
Hooded Merganser     
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 
Mourning Dove 
Yellow-billed Cuckoo 
Ring-billed Gull 
Herring Gull 
Double-crested Cormorant
Black-crowned Night Heron 
Great Blue Heron 
Turkey Vulture 
Sharp-shinned Hawk 
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 
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 
Golden-crowned Kinglet 
White-breasted Nuthatch
Red-breasted Nuthatch 
Brown Creeper 
Winter Wren
Carolina Wren 
European Starling 
Gray Catbird 
Swainson’s Thrush 
Hermit Thrush 
Wood Thrush
American Robin 
House Sparrow 
House Finch 
American Goldfinch 
Chipping Sparrow 
Field Sparrow 
Dark-eyed Junco 
White-crowned Sparrow 
White-throated Sparrow 
Song Sparrow 
Swamp Sparrow 
Eastern Towhee 
Common Grackle 
Ovenbird 
Black-and-white Warbler 
Common Yellowthroat 
Hooded Warbler
Cape May Warbler 
Northern Parula 
Magnolia Warbler 
Black-throated Blue Warbler 
Palm Warbler 
Yellow-rumped Warbler 
Northern Cardinal