Registrar: Nick Dawson Participants: 30 Weather: Sunny, a few clouds, 65 degrees Bird Species: 25
A small group of birders gathered at 1:00 pm on a beautiful October afternoon at Belvedere Castle for a fall hawk watch. While the winds had not been ideal for migration, there was slow, but reasonably steady, activity from the north. The gathering was designated as āleaderless,ā but Anne Ribolow and Kevin Sisco were among those who helped to spot and identify raptors and other species for the group, including a few of our very own NYC non-migratory Red-tailed Hawks.
The group stayed for about two hours, enjoying the experience and also baffling tourists, who occasionally asked why we were staring at the seemingly empty sky. Eventually, the group walked west through the Shakespeare Garden and towards the Swedish Cottage, picking up along the way a Scarlet Tanager, a Yellow-billed Cuckoo (gorging on Spotted Lanternflies), and a busy Hooded Warbler (photogenically visible in the grass and undergrowth).
Species List
Canada Goose Mallard Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) Yellow-billed Cuckoo Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull (American) Turkey Vulture Sharp-shinned Hawk Cooperās Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Yellow-bellied Sapsucker American Kestrel Peregrine Falcon Blue Jay Common Raven Tufted Titmouse Ruby-crowned Kinglet White-breasted Nuthatch Winter Wren American Robin House Sparrow Common Grackle Hooded Warbler Pine Warbler Scarlet Tanager
This Tuesdayās fall migration bird walk had many highlights. Over the prior few days, new migrants had arrived in Central Park, including the Golden-crowned Kinglet, Song, Chipping, and White-crowned Sparrows, as well as a Lincolnās Sparrow. There were some new attendees among the three birding groups, and all were excited to see the Yellow-billed Cuckoo, a highlight even for long-time birders. From the length of the bird species list below, one can see that it was just a wonderful fall morning to be out seeing birds and enjoying nature.
Species List
Canada Goose Northern Shoveler Mallard Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Yellow-billed Cuckoo Black-crowned Night Heron Cooperās Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Red-bellied Woodpecker (H) Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Eastern Wood Pewee Eastern Phoebe Blue-headed Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Blue Jay American Crow Common Raven (H) Black-capped Chickadee (H) Tufted Titmouse Ruby-crowned Kinglet Golden-crowned Kinglet White-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper House Wren Winter Wren Carolina Wren European Starling Gray Catbird Brown Thrasher Grey-cheeked Thrush Veery Swainsonās Thrush Hermit Thrush Wood Thrush American Robin House Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco White-crowned Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Lincoln Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Eastern Towhee Common Grackle Ovenbird Black-and-white Warbler Common Yellowthroat Northern Parula Magnolia Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Palm Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Scarlet Tanager Northern Cardinal
Registrar: Lisa Kroop Participants: 12 Weather: 56Ā°F to 70Ā°F; sunny; 4 mph north wind Bird Species: 45
We walked at a ābirdersā pace,ā as our leader called it, starting along the edge of the recreation fields, passing House Sparrows, Blue Jays, some Dark-eyed Juncos, and a large group of Mourning Doves, and made our way down to the salt marsh. There, we sorted through the sparrows foraging in the grass and spotted the next phoebe as well as the first warbler of the day, a Blackpoll. Nextāas we headed towards the woods, with a soccer field to our left, and wooded cliffs on our rightāwe paused. There were many Palm Warblers on the edge of the soccer field feeding in the grass and flying up into the nearby trees, with a Yellow-rumped Warbler joining them, and in the woods, our first Brown Creeper. We entered The Clove, a place sheltered from the noises of the city and darkened by shadows of the mature trees and the steep rock ridge. Birds were calling and, furtively moving along a log, a Winter Wren made a brief appearance to the delight of the group.
The weather was beautiful, the skies were a cloudless blue, and the overnight bird migration forecast had been impressiveāeven the popular news had broadcast it. And so as we began our walk we wondered whether all that would translate into our seeing a lot of birds in Inwood Hill Park. First evidence, as it turned out, was positive: among the first birds that we saw were a couple of kinglets in a low tree and an Eastern Phoebe perched exceptionally high on the crown of a very tall treeāand as we continued our walk we found more kinglets and phoebes throughout the park.
As we continued through the woods to the summit, and made our way back down, we encountered spots of migrant bird activity, including some winter arrivals. There were Northern Parulas and Yellow-rump Warblers, a Black-throated Blue Warbler, Hermit and Swainsonās Thrushes, a Blue-headed Vireo, a Red-breasted Nuthatch, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, and more kingletsāboth Ruby-crowned and Golden-crownedāand more phoebes.
We reached Spuyten Duyvil Creek as our walk drew to a close. In the distance, flying over the Hudson River, was a Bald Eagle, our first and only raptor of the day. While only a couple of us saw it, we were all happy to hear it was there.
Many thanks to Loyan Beausoleil for leading us on this wonderful walk through such a precious park in New York City.
Species Lists
Birds Mallard Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) Mourning Dove Ring-billed Gull Double-crested Cormorant Great Blue Heron Bald Eagle Belted Kingfisher Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) Eastern Phoebe Blue-headed Vireo Blue Jay 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 Swainson’s Thrush Hermit Thrush American Robin House Sparrow House Finch Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) White-throated Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Eastern Towhee Black-and-white Warbler Northern Parula Blackpoll Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Palm Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) Northern Cardinal
Enthusiastic birders and sharp-eyed leaders spent up to nine (!) hours in Central Park finding many species. Highlights included Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Belted Kingfisher, both Nuthatches, Lincoln and Field Sparrows and eleven Wood Warbler species.
Species List
Canada Goose Wood Duck Gadwall Mallard Green-winged Teal Hooded Merganser Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) Mourning Dove Yellow-billed Cuckoo Ruby-throated Hummingbird Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Great Black-backed Gull Great Blue Heron Cooperās Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Belted Kingfisher Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Peregrine Falcon Eastern Wood Pewee Eastern Phoebe Blue-headed Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Blue Jay American Crow Ruby-crowned Kinglet Golden-crowned Kinglet (h) White-breasted Nuthatch Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper House Wren Winter Wren Carolina Wren European Starling Gray Catbird Brown Thrasher Northern Mockingbird Veery Swainsonās Thrush Wood Thrush American Robin Cedar Waxwing House Sparrow House Finch American Goldfinch Chipping Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Field Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Lincoln Sparrow Eastern Towhee Common Grackle Ovenbird Black and white Warbler Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Northern Parula Magnolia Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Palm Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Pine Warbler Prairie Warbler Scarlet Tanager Northern Cardinal Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Our annual fall walk to celebrate and remember the iconic birding guide, Starr Saphir, focused on Central Parkās Ramble and surrounding areas. We began in Strawberry Fields, where we quickly spotted several Scarlet Tanagers, a Veery and a Brown Creeper, among other species.
As we moved through the Park, we saw four species of warbler, especially appreciating our good looks at a Blackpoll. Later in the morning we were treated to extended views from the Oak Bridge of a Belted Kingfisher as it flew back and forth over the Lake, stopping to perch quite close to the bridge.
Unfortunately, the unexpected rain continued through the morning, causing us to end the walk earlier than planned, but our group was pleased with the over 30 species seen in the two hours we spent in the Park.
Species List
Mallard Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) Mourning Dove Chimney Swift Herring Gull Black-crowned Night Heron Green Heron Great Blue Heron Red-tailed Hawk Belted Kingfisher Downy Woodpecker – Heard Northern Flicker Red-eyed Vireo Blue Jay Ruby-crowned Kinglet Brown Creeper House Wren European Starling Gray Catbird Veery Swainson’s Thrush American Robin House Sparrow House Finch White-throated Sparrow Black-and-white Warbler Common Yellowthroat Northern Parula Blackpoll Warbler Scarlet Tanager Northern Cardinal
Registrar: Matthew Fischer Participants : 13 Weather: Light rain; temperature 62Ā°F; gentle E breeze; humidity: 94-95% Bird Species: 68
After a three-year absence, Sandy Hook returned to the Linnaean field trip schedule with highly esteemed professional New Jersey guide Jason Denesevich. While the light rain may not have made for ideal conditions, it did allow us to have the park largely to ourselves, and it did not keep the birds away.
We started off at Plum Island, where we were treated to an enormous flock of over 500 Tree Swallows sitting on the telephone wires. Jason pointed out an adult and a juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gull sitting on the beach across the street.
After driving to Guardian Park, we walked down to Horseshoe Cove and back. The huge numbers of Eastern Towhees led us to call this event Towhee-palooza. We also saw multiple warblers, including a Cape May and a Black-throated Blue, a very cooperative Red-eyed Vireo who posed for us, a White-eyed Vireo, a Red-breasted Nuthatch, a Brown Thrasher, and a flock of Cedar Waxwings. At Horseshoe Cove we had a Marsh Wren, a Belted Kingfisher, a Merlin, and Semipalmated Plovers, which we checked for the possibility of European vagrants. After lunch in Guardian Park, we continued to False Hook, where we had incredible views of an American Golden Plover. We also saw a Greater Yellowlegs fly overhead, enormous flocks of Sanderlings, a pair of huge Caspian Terns, an American Kestrel, a late Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, and some Field Sparrows. We had the wonderful experience of watching a juvenile American Herring Gull repeatedly dropping a tennis ball, perhaps mistaking it for shellfish.
Our last stop was at Spermaceti Cove, where we saw over a hundred Royal Terns on a sandbar. Despite the weather conditions, everyone had an incredible time.
Species List
Canada Goose Mallard Mourning Dove Ruby-throated Hummingbird American Oystercatcher Black-bellied Plover American Golden-Plover Semipalmated Plover Greater Yellowlegs Sanderling Laughing Gull Ring-billed Gull American Herring Gull Great Black-backed Gull Lesser Black-backed Gull Caspian Tern Forster’s Tern Royal Tern Common Loon Double-crested Cormorant Great Egret Osprey (American) Belted Kingfisher Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker (Eastern) Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) American Kestrel Merlin Peregrine Falcon Eastern Wood-Pewee Eastern Phoebe White-eyed Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Blue Jay American/Fish Crow Common Raven Tree Swallow Ruby-crowned Kinglet Red-breasted Nuthatch Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Northern House Wren (Northern) Marsh Wren Carolina Wren (Northern) European Starling Gray Catbird Brown Thrasher Northern Mockingbird American Robin Cedar Waxwing House Finch American Goldfinch Field Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow (melodia/atlantica) Swamp Sparrow Eastern Towhee Baltimore Oriole Red-winged Blackbird Brown-headed Cowbird Black-and-white Warbler Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Cape May Warbler Northern Parula Blackpoll Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Pine Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) Northern Cardinal
Registrar: Evelyn Huang Participants:Ā 19 Weather: 43ā45 degrees F, intermittent rain, winds NE at 6 mph Bird Species: 60
Despite moderate rain in the forecast, we nonetheless had nineteen birders show up for a morning of fall birding in the North Woods. We started near the Great Hill, where we saw a few warblers, a Scarlet Tanager, Wood and Swainsonās Thrushes, an Eastern Towhee, and a few other sparrow species. We proceeded to the Pool, where we found more warblers, a Great Blue Heron, and a few duck species, including Gadwall and Green-winged Teal. At the Loch we saw a Green Heron and more warblers.
The highlights of the walk were several Scarlet Tanagers and fifteen species of warblers, as well as a Belted Kingfisher, heard between the Loch and the Meer. Many thanks to our leader Ursula Mitra. The link to the eBird list is: https://ebird.org/checklist/S196772010
Species List
Canada GooseĀ GadwallĀ MallardĀ Green-winged TealĀ Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) Mourning DoveĀ American Herring GullĀ Double-crested CormorantĀ Green HeronĀ Great Blue HeronĀ OspreyĀ Red-tailed HawkĀ Belted KingfisherĀ Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Red-bellied WoodpeckerĀ Downy WoodpeckerĀ Northern FlickerĀ Eastern Wood-PeweeĀ Eastern PhoebeĀ Blue-headed VireoĀ Red-eyed VireoĀ Blue JayĀ American CrowĀ Ruby-crowned KingletĀ White-breasted NuthatchĀ Winter WrenĀ European Starling Gray CatbirdĀ Brown ThrasherĀ Northern MockingbirdĀ VeeryĀ Swainsonās ThrushĀ Wood ThrushĀ American RobinĀ Cedar WaxwingĀ House SparrowĀ House FinchĀ American GoldfinchĀ Chipping SparrowĀ White-throated SparrowĀ Song SparrowĀ Common GrackleĀ OvenbirdĀ Northern WaterthrushĀ Black-and-white WarblerĀ Nashville WarblerĀ Common YellowthroatĀ American RedstartĀ Cape May WarblerĀ Northern ParulaĀ Magnolia WarblerĀ Chestnut-sided WarblerĀ Blackpoll WarblerĀ Black-throated Blue WarblerĀ Palm WarblerĀ Pine WarblerĀ Yellow-rumped WarblerĀ Scarlet TanagerĀ Northern CardinalĀ Rose-breasted Grosbeak
The group met our leader, Anne Swaim, at 7am to get a start on exploring Rockefeller State Park Preserve before the peaceful morning quiet was disturbed. We were immediately greeted by a number of warblers, including a Chestnut-sided, not far from the parking area. As we walked the trails on the way to Swan Lake, we continued to be treated to warbler sightings, including the first of over fifty Northern Parulas we saw. The total for the day was six different warbler species.
As we moved on to the more forested paths, we got great looks at the hoped-for Pileated Woodpeckerāone of the five species of woodpecker we saw over the course of the day. Later in the morning, we had nice views of five Eastern Bluebirds perched on fence posts in a meadow and a variety of sparrows in the surrounding area. Our group greatly appreciated Anneās leadership and extensive knowledge of both the birds and the park.
Species List
Mourning Dove Chimney Swift Black Vulture Osprey Coopers Hawk Accipiter sp. Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Pileated Woodpecker Northern Flicker Eastern Wood-Pewee Eastern Phoebe Red-eyed Vireo Blue Jay American Crow Common Raven Black-capped Chickadee Tufted Titmouse Ruby-crowned Kinglet White-breasted Nuthatch Gray Catbird Eastern Bluebird Veery American Robin Cedar Waxwing House Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Field Sparrow Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Eastern Towhee (heard) Common Grackle Tennessee Warbler Common Yellowthroat Northern Parula Chestnut-sided Warbler Blackpoll Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Scarlet Tanager Northern Cardinal Rose-breasted Grosbeak
