Green-Wood Cemetery with Rob Jett, 4/11/2026

Registrar: Prathima Christdas
Participants: 15
Weather: Sunny, in the 50s
Bird Species: 44

On a warm sunny day, fifteen birders, several of whom braved the vagaries of the F train to reach the meeting place, walked through the Hill of Graves, then down and across the cemetery to Valley Water and the areas surrounding Sylvan Water. Other stops were Dell and Crescent Waters. Highlights were an American Kestrel perched on top of a tree on the hill above Crescent Water, Savannah Sparrows, and Louisiana Waterthrushes.

Species List

Canada Goose
Mallard
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Osprey
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
American Kestrel
Monk Parakeet
Eastern Phoebe
Blue Jay
Common Raven
Tufted Titmouse
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
White-breasted Nuthatch
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Winter Wren
European Starling
Northern Mockingbird
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
House Sparrow
House Finch
Purple Finch
American Goldfinch
Chipping Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-crowned Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Common Grackle
Louisiana Waterthrush
Palm Warbler
Pine Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Northern Cardinal

Central Park Spring Migration Walk with Ken Chaya, Richard Davis, Elijah Shiffer and Kevin Sisco, 4/7/2026

Registrar: Sarah Dahl
Participants: 51
Weather: Cloudy and low 40s at the start
Bird Species: 51

A chilly spring day greeted an energetic group of 51 birders, kicking off the first Tuesday morning spring migration walk of the season for Linnaean members and friends. Sightings included the Pine Warbler, the Palm Warbler, and the Eastern Phoebe as well as a number of Field Sparrows on the lawn north of Turtle Pond.  

Species List

Canada Goose 
Wood Duck 
Northern Shoveler 
Mallard  
Green-winged Teal 
Bufflehead 
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 
Mourning Dove  
Ring-billed Gull  
American Herring Gull  
Great Black-backed Gull 
Double-crested Cormorant 
Black-crowned Night Heron 
Osprey
Cooper’s Hawk  
Red-tailed Hawk  
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  
Red-bellied Woodpecker  
Downy Woodpecker  
Northern Flicker  
Eastern Phoebe  
Blue Jay  
American Crow  
Tufted Titmouse 
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  
Golden-crowned Kinglet  
Red-breasted Nuthatch  
Brown Creeper 
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher  
Winter Wren  
Carolina Wren  
European Starling  
Hermit Thrush  
American Robin  
House Sparrow  
House Finch  
American Goldfinch
Chipping Sparrow 
Field Sparrow  
Dark-eyed Junco  
White-throated Sparrow 
Song Sparrow 
Swamp Sparrow  
Eastern Towhee  
Red-winged Blackbird  
Brown-headed Cowbird  
Common Grackle  
Louisiana Waterthrush  
Palm Warbler  
Pine Warbler  
Northern Cardinal 

Better Bird Photography in Prospect Park with Tom Stephenson, 4/4/2026

Registrar: Richard Davis
Participants: 11
Weather: 64-71 F and partly sunny with periods of overcast. NNE wind 6 mph, gusts to 14 mph.
Bird Species: 49

Eleven bird photographers gathered on the steps of the Brooklyn Library to share their goals and challenges with Tom Stephenson. One of the most common concerns was difficulty obtaining sharply focused images. Tom suggested trying back-button focus and increasing shutter speed, while also discussing how aperture and ISO factor into image quality.

Our first photo opportunity upon entering the park was a Northern Cardinal posed on the ground among Siberian squill (Scilla siberica). We bypassed the Vale of Cashmere—normally an excellent spot for early migrating warblers—as it is currently under reconstruction (or “destruction,” as Tom put it). He has been actively advocating for preserving natural wildlife features and soft edges in the redesign.

We continued to the Midwood and Ravine, lingering in this old-growth forest where Tom pointed out a Cooper’s Hawk nest. The female was on the nest while the male fed nearby. Soon, the female joined him; he passed her the prey, and they briefly copulated. Not far from there, Tom identified a territory where Acadian Flycatchers are known to nest later in the season. Singing Pine and Palm Warblers gave us a chance to compare their vocalizations, and Tom shared detailed insights into the calls and songs of these and other species we encountered.

We eventually made our way to the Lake, circling the Peninsula and continuing along the paths through the Lullwater, where we observed many warblers. Our final species was a Rusty Blackbird sifting through leaf litter near the boathouse. It offered a good opportunity to see the species in spring plumage. As Tom pointed out the fall coloration wears off by the spring. It also presented a photographic challenge: a dark bird against a dark, unflattering background with limited shooting angles.

We walked over two and a half miles until nearly 3 p.m., barely noticing how the day went so quickly. It was especially gratifying to hear participants grow excited about the quality of their photos, already seeing noticeable improvement.

Species Lists

Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Wood Duck
Northern Shoveler
Mallard
American Black Duck
Ring-necked Duck
Ruddy Duck
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)
Mourning Dove
Laughing Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Osprey
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper’s Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Belted Kingfisher
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Eastern Phoebe
Blue Jay
crow sp.
Tufted Titmouse
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Carolina Wren
European Starling
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
House Sparrow
American Goldfinch
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
Rusty Blackbird
Common Grackle
Palm Warbler
Pine Warbler
Northern Cardinal

Staten Island Hot Spots & Early Migrants with Seth Wollney, 3/28/2026

Registrar: Joyce A. Wright
Participants: 7
Weather: 36°F, Sunny, Winds 15-20 mph
Bird Species: 34

The day started at the Conference House Park with a chill and steady wind. The Eastern Phoebe was the bird of the day, seen at all three locations. Our first Pine Warbler of the season was also observed here.

Some trees with blackened bark were noted, and Seth explained this was damage caused over the years by Spotted Lanternflies. Five deer were observed as we walked the paths.

At Wolfe’s Pond Park, Seth pointed out a woodchuck on the hill across from the stream, near where a Belted Kingfisher was seen. Introduced in the 1990s, wild woodchucks are now common in Staten Island’s green spaces, including Conference House and Mount Loretto Unique Area.

Walking along the pond toward the ocean, Seth referred to the “pond” that no longer exists following Superstorm Sandy. He described the former “fingers” that opened and closed to the ocean in cycles, a process that has not occurred in years; as a result, there is no longer a true pond.

Species Lists

Birds
Wood Duck
Mallard
Bufflehead
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Osprey
Belted Kingfisher
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Eastern Phoebe
Blue Jay
American Crow
Fish Crow
Golden-crowned Kinglet
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Carolina Wren
European Starling
Northern Mockingbird
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
House Finch
American Goldfinch
Field Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Pine Warbler
Northern Cardinal

Mammals
Woodchuck
White-tailed Deer

Birds & Brews: Bird Jazz in Harlem with Leaders Elija Shiffer, Alan Drogin, and Amanda Bielskas 3/11/2026

Registrar: Amanda Bielskas
Participants: 13
Weather: Indoor activity but there was a thunderstorm during the event
Bird Species: 11

We joined Linnaean member and saxophonist Elijah Shiffer and his City Of Birds quartet for an evening of music inspired by birds at Silvana in Harlem. Elijah’s project City Of Birds is a collection of instrumental jazz songs dedicated to all the birds he’s seen in New York City. Some of these compositions are directly influenced by specific birds’ songs or calls, while others are more abstract musical portraits of a species’ behavior, habitat, or even the circumstances of a specific sighting. Both styles delighted the audience this evening. For this show, the audience was encouraged to request songs for particular species. Elijah handed out lists of available species to choose from, represented on the three albums he has recorded so far ( https://linktr.ee/elijahshiffer) as well as his forthcoming works. The evening was a wonderful treat for all who attended, we were entertained by two sets featuring songs by the birds listed below. A “1” or a “2” listed after the bird reflects which set the song was played in. Thank you to Elijah and his City of Birds quartet for a wonderful evening full of great music.

Species Lists
Birds

Wood Duck – 1
Horned Grebe – 2
Morning Dove – 1
American Coot – 2
Snowy Egret – 2
Barred Owl – 1
Monk Parakeet – 2
Veery – 1
American Robin – 1
Ovenbird – 2
Bobolink – 2

Croton Point Park with Ethan Goodman, 3/7/2026

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

Staten Island with Richard ZainEldeen, 02/15/2026

Registrar: Ursula Mitra
Participants: 10
Weather: Temps 33–39 F, mostly cloudy, almost no wind
Bird Species: 38

It was a cold, overcast day, but exceptionally calm, thankfully. Richard met us at the Colonnade Diner to make sure we could all have a nice coffee and a bathroom break.

We got our first surprise as we were driving past the Staten Island Hospital, where five Wild Turkeys decided to dance in the middle of the intersection, holding up traffic.

But slowly, throughout the day, we learned that Richard had more surprises in store for us. The most remarkable feature of our first stop–the Franklin D. Roosevelt Boardwalk and Ocean Breeze Fishing Peer–was the incredible sound made by 300 Black Scoters at the end of the pier. Also surprising was the lack of any waves and the mirror-like ocean surrounding us. We saw some Common Goldeneye and Common Loon here as well.

Following this, all of us were eagerly awaiting Richard’s next surprise, which turned out to be a male Northern Pintail at the Moravian Cemetery, where Hooded Mergansers and Buffleheads were also present. Sadly, this was the first time we saw what many of us had already heard about: numerous dead Canada Geese in the water along the shores of the cemetery’s pond, presumably stricken with bird flu.

On we went to Miller Field, where the beach was the location of Richard’s next surprise: five Purple Sandpipers, close enough to give us good looks.

Our last stop, at Great Kills, produced five Surf Scoters at considerable distance, as well as many deer and feral cats (some, admittedly, gorgeous.) We concluded the trip at around 2:30, happy that we’d had such a good day. Thank you again, Richard!

Species Lists

Birds
Brant
Canada Goose
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Greater Scaup
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Hooded Merganser
Wild Turke
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Sanderling
Purple Sandpiper
Ring-billed Gull
American Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Horned Grebe
Common Loon
Turkey Vulture
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper’s Hawk
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Blue Jay
American Crow
Fish Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
European Starling
Northern Mockingbird
House Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Northern Cardinal

Mammals
White-tailed Deer
Feral cats

Gull Walk with Amar Ayyash, 2/10/2026

Registrar: Matthew Fischer
Participants: 17
Weather: Clear sky – light snow; Temperature: 29 – 32°F; Wind: Light breeze; westerly wind.
Bird Species: 26

The Linnaean Society was proud to host world-renowned Gull expert and author of the definitive The Gull Guide, Amar Ayyash, on this Gull Walk. We waited until a week before the event to set the location, taking weather conditions into account and ensuring we had a large number of gulls. The Coney Island Beach and Boardwalk did not disappoint.
Although the beach was largely covered with snow and ice, there were walkable paths to the water and plenty of gulls. We did not see any rare gulls, but had a great time as Amar shared his expertise with us, and we were able to age the gulls that were present. In addition to the gulls, we also had fun watching the waterfowl and shorebirds, including the whistling Black Scoters, plentiful Purple Sandpipers, and a lone Ruddy Turnstone.

Species List

Brant
Canada Goose
American Wigeon
American Black Duck
Greater Scaup
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead
Red-breasted Merganser
Rock Pigeon
Ruddy Turnstone
Sanderling
Purple Sandpiper
Ring-billed Gull
American Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Horned Grebe
Common Loon
Double-crested Cormorant
American Crow
Fish CrowEuropean Starling
American Robin
House Sparrow