Rye Playlands and Environs with Tom Burke and Gail Benson, 12/3/2023

Registrar: MaryJane Boland
Participants: 12
Weather: Clear with temperature in the high 40s but feeling colder because of rain the night before, light wind
Bird Species: 58

After it poured all day on Friday, Saturday was a clear, cool day with sun later in the afternoon, perfect for birding by the water and pleasant for walking.  We visited Edith G. Read Wildlife Sanctuary and Marshlands Conservancy with Tom Burke and Gail Benson, areas where they bird frequently and know what birds to seek.  We missed our pileated woodpecker, but our 58 species were so rewarding that there were no complaints!

Species Lists

Birds
Brant
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Mallard
American Black Duck
Greater Scaup
Lesser Scaup
Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead
Hooded Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Wild Turkey
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Common Loon
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Cooper’s Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Red-headed Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Blue Jay
American Crow
Common Raven
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Golden-crowned Kinglet
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Winter Wren
Carolina Wren
European Starling
Northern Mockingbird
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
House Sparrow
House Finch
Purple Finch
American Goldfinch
Field Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Yellowthroat
Northern Cardinal

Shirley Chisholm State Park and Jamaica Bay with Peter Dorosh, 11/18/2023

Registrar: Matthew Fischer
Participants: 5
Weather: Scattered clouds, with cloud cover 20-40%; temperature 52–53°F; fresh, strong NW breeze;
humidity: 35–55%
Bird Species: 55

With a rare Gray Kingbird having been spotted at nearby Canarsie Park, our leader, Peter Dorosh, made an executive decision to change our meeting place and attempt to spot the bird. While we were ultimately unsuccessful (and the bird was not spotted there again), we had a great time in this under-birded location. In a small pond, we had great looks at Northern Pintails and juvenile Black-crowned Night Herons and later had close-up views of American Crows mobbing a Cooper’s Hawk.

We then returned to our original itinerary and were immediately rewarded with good views of an Ash-throated Flycatcher and a European Goldfinch mixed in with American Goldfinches and House Finches. We also saw an incredible diversity of waterfowl, including over a thousand Brant, a Green-winged Teal associating with American Black Ducks, plenty of Bufflehead, Red-breasted Mergansers, a Common Loon, and even two Great Cormorants.

Our final stop was the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, where a Peregrine Falcon landed right next to the path and treated us to incredible views and aerodynamic displays. We also saw shorebirds, including Long-billed Dowitchers, Greater Yellowlegs, and Dunlin. Our splendid day ended with views of a local Barn Owl preparing to leave its box for some nightly hunting.

Species List
Birds
Brant
Canada Goose
Northern Shoveler
Gadwall
American Wigeon
Mallard
American Black Duck
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Ring-necked Duck
Greater Scaup
Lesser Scaup
Bufflehead
Hooded Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Rock Pigeon
American Coot
Long-billed Dowitcher
Greater Yellowlegs
Dunlin
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Common Loon
Great Cormorant
Double-crested Cormorant
Black-crowned Night Heron
Great Egret
Great Blue Heron
Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper’s Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Barn Owl (sensitive)
Belted Kingfisher
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Peregrine Falcon
Ash-throated Flycatcher
American Crow
Carolina Wren
European Starling
Northern Mockingbird
American Robin
House Finch
American Goldfinch
European Goldfinch
Chipping Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Northern Cardinal

Butterflies
Clouded Sulphur

Mill Creek Marsh with Rick Wright, 11/13/2023

Registrar: Lisa Kroop
Participants: 16
Weather: 36°F – 46°F, sunny, blue skies, no clouds, calm north wind 2 mph
Bird Species: 37 + 2 other taxa

Our walk, postponed from mid-October in the midst of fall migration because of rain, had now brought us to the beginning signs of winter. The Tree Swallows and Chimney Swifts were gone, as well as the transient clusters of migrating birds. Hooded Mergansers were back, joining the large numbers of Green-winged Teal; White-throated Sparrows were spotted and heard singing from the dense vegetation along the trail, and many of the trees and bushes were starting to look bare.

The tide was high on the morning of our walk; the mud flats in the impoundments were gone, and only a few of the remnant stumps of the vanished Atlantic white cedar forest remained barely visible, poking through the surface of the water. Ducks were swimming and dozing along the edges; along with the many Green-winged Teal and Mallards was a group of eight American Black Ducks and a trio of Hooded Mergansers. Many Ring-billed Gulls were floating on the water, and we compared them to the few Herring Gulls that were present. Along the trails Song Sparrows were in abundance, as were quite a few Northern Mockingbirds and Northern Cardinals. Flocks of European Starlings flew by as well as groups of Red-winged Blackbirds, a few of which landed in the nearby trees and included a couple of females.

As the morning warmed we began to see raptors. A Northern Harrier flying away from us allowed us to study its wing beats, and a circling Cooper’s Hawk gave us views of all its angles. Then, as we were starting to loop back, Rick spotted a very large accipiter standing along the path ahead of us. It was instantly spooked and flew off through the trees. We tried to find this tantalizing bird again, and Rick got a second glimpse of it flying along the impoundment-side of the wooded edge, but alas – there was not enough to identify it beyond “Cooper’s Hawk/American Goshawk.”

Just as we were reaching the end of our walk, we paused to observe a Belted Kingfisher perched over the north impoundment. The kingfisher flew off and suddenly a large bird darted in front of us from the left: a Peregrine Falcon, whipping its wings, turning eastward in the direction of the New Jersey Turnpike. And once the Peregrine was gone, the Belted Kingfisher returned to its original perch – a performance that was quite a finale.

Many thanks to Rick for leading us through Mill Creek Marsh and sharing his knowledge about it and the birds that we saw.

Species Lists

Birds
Canada Goose
Mallard
American Black Duck
Green-winged Teal
Hooded Merganser
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Double-crested Cormorant
Greater Yellowlegs
Great Blue Heron
Northern Harrier
Cooper’s Hawk
Cooper’s Hawk/American Goshawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Belted Kingfisher
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Peregrine Falcon
Blue Jay
crow sp.
European Starling
Northern Mockingbird
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
House Sparrow
House Finch
Purple Finch
American Goldfinch
Dark-eyed Junco
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Northern Cardinal

Gull Identification at Coney Island with Bobbi Manian & Dennis Hrehowsik, 11/11/2023

Registrar: Dom Ricci
Participants: 18 (including leaders & registrar)
Weather: High 40s F, sunny & clear, light wind
Bird Species: 15

After several consecutive weekends of rain, fortune smiled upon a group of Linnaean birders: they were greeted by ideal conditions when they gathered on Veterans’ Day morning at the Coney Island beach. The objective of this outing was educational—to take part in Bobbi & Dennis’s masterclass in gull identification—and there was no shortage of study subjects among the abundant flocks lining the sandy shore. All five of the most frequent local gull species were present: Herring, Ring-billed, Laughing, Great Black-backed, and even two Lesser Black-backed. As we walked back and forth along the beach below the boardwalk, our leaders instructed us on how to analyze the features of each individual bird—its size, plumage and other coloration, and behavior—to determine its species and age. We were also treated to some non-gull sideshows, including a flock of ruddy turnstones scurrying about among the rocky jetties, a common loon preening in the surf, an animated flock of fish crows, and a solitary kestrel surveying its domain from on high. By the time the walk ended around lunchtime, we had all gained a foundation of knowledge to carry forward to our future gull-watching experiences.


Species Lists

Birds
Brant
Mute Swan
Rock Pigeon
Ruddy Turnstone
Laughing Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Common Loon
Double-crested Cormorant
American Kestrel
Fish Crow
European Starling
House Sparrow

Central Park with Alice Deutsch and Kevin Sisco, 11/7/2023

Registrar: Laura Lincks
Participants: 32
Weather: 55-61 degrees F, mostly overcast, winds SW at 4 mph
Bird Species: 47

Considering that fall migration is almost over, it was interesting to see a Black-and-White Warbler and a couple of Blue-headed Vireos. The Green-winged Teal drake put on an amusing display while being manipulated by a Mallard hen!

This registrar’s favorite was probably the uber-adorable Eastern Phoebe, who was extra fluffy this morning.
All in all, it was a nice way to end the season. Many thanks to our volunteer leaders, Kevin, Alice, and co-leader Evelyn, who assisted Alice.

Species Lists

Birds
Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Northern Shoveler
Mallard
American Black Duck
Green-winged Teal
Bufflehead
Hooded Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)
Mourning Dove
American Coot
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Cooper’s Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
American Kestrel
Peregrine Falcon
Eastern Phoebe
Blue-headed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Winter Wren
Carolina Wren
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
House Sparrow
House Finch
American Goldfinch
Chipping Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Common Grackle
Black-and-white Warbler
Northern Cardinal

Central Park with Alan Drogin, Carine Mitchell, and Kevin Sisco, 10/24/2023

Registrar: Sally Weiner
Participants: 29
Weather: 48-60 degrees, calm to light winds
Bird species: 63

The weather was ideal for enjoying the mixture of migrants that occurs at this time of year, with warblers departing and sparrows arriving. Especially notable were the large numbers of Hermit Thrushes throughout the park, more than any other species—including House Sparrows!

Species Lists

Birds
Canada Goose 
Wood Duck 
Northern Shoveler 
Gadwall 
Mallard 
American Black Duck 
Green-winged Teal 
Ruddy Duck 
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 
Mourning Dove 
Chimney Swift 
Ruby-throated Hummingbird       
American Coot 
American Woodcock 
Ring-billed Gull 
Herring Gull 
Great Black-backed Gull 
Double-crested Cormorant 
Cooper’s Hawk 
Red-tailed Hawk 
Eurasian Eagle-Owl (Flaco, continuing)
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 
Red-bellied Woodpecker 
Downy Woodpecker 
Northern Flicker 
Eastern Phoebe 
Blue-headed Vireo 
Blue Jay 
American Crow 
Tufted Titmouse 
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 
Golden-crowned Kinglet 
Brown Creeper 
Winter Wren 
Carolina Wren 
European Starling 
Gray Catbird 
Northern Mockingbird 
Hermit Thrush    
American Robin 
Cedar Waxwing 
House Sparrow 
House Finch 
Chipping Sparrow 
Field Sparrow 
Dark-eyed Junco 
White-crowned Sparrow 
White-throated Sparrow 
Savannah Sparrow 
Song Sparrow 
Swamp Sparrow 
Eastern Towhee 
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird 
Common Grackle 
Yellow-breasted Chat
American Redstart       
Cape May Warbler 
Northern Parula       
Palm Warbler 
Pine Warbler 
Yellow-rumped Warbler 
Northern Cardinal 

Floyd Bennett Field with Rob Jett, 10/22/2023

Registrar: Debbie Mullins
Participants: 8
Weather: Mostly cloudy, 47–61 degrees F, westerly winds at 15–20 miles per hour
Bird Species: 38

We enjoyed a beautiful fall day at Floyd Bennett Field under the excellent leadership of Rob Jett. Fewer species were seen than is usual for this location and date, probably due to the brisk winds that dogged us all morning. We birded the overgrown fields near Aviator Sports in search of sparrows and other grassland species before heading to the North Forty, followed by the boat launch area and the community gardens. We ended the day on the shore of Jamaica Bay near Archery Road. We could not help but notice the enormous tents the city was erecting on several runways to house refugees.

The highlights of the trip were an American Pipit, an Eastern Meadowlark, and two Northern Harriers. Seventy Brant were seen on Jamaica Bay, a “first of season” bird for many participants.

Species List

Birds
Brant
Wood Duck
Mallard
Green-winged Teal
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)
Mourning Dove
Black-bellied Plover
Dunlin
Laughing Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Double-crested Cormorant
Osprey
Northern Harrier
Downy Woodpecker
American Kestrel
Peregrine Falcon
Eastern Phoebe
American Crow
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Brown Creeper
Carolina Wren
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
American Robin
American Pipit
Dark-eyed Junco
White-throated Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Eastern Meadowlark
Brown-headed Cowbird
Palm Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Northern Cardinal

Staten Island Hot Spots and Fall Migrants with Seth Wollney, 10/22/2023

Registrar: Theresa Brown
Participants: 8
Weather: Cool, windy, and sunny with some clouds.
Bird Species: 48

Leader Seth Wollney led the participants through the Mount Loretto Unique Area in Staten Island and shared the history of its development. Flying overhead was a Sharp-shinned Hawk, a Cooper’s Hawk, and a Red-tailed Hawk. We also saw a juvenile Bald Eagle, and Seth pointed out the nest. Equally thrilling was the sighting of a Northern Harrier. Overall, it was a good day to see raptors.

Next, we explored the newly opened section of Fresh Kills Park, likely the first birding group to do so. We discovered that it is excellent for viewing sparrows and were able to ID a Chipping Sparrow, a Field Sparrow, a White-throated Sparrow, a Savannah Sparrow, a Song Sparrow, and a Swamp Sparrow. The most exciting sparrow we found was a Grasshopper Sparrow. Despite high winds, we had many good looks because the sparrows frequently perched at the top of the nearby fence.

Species Lists

Birds
Canada Goose
Mallard
American Black Duck
Northern Pintail
Rock Pigeon
Laughing Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Snowy Egret
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper’s Hawk
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
American Kestrel
Eastern Phoebe
Blue Jay
Tree Swallow
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
American Goldfinch
Grasshopper Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Bobolink
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Rusty Blackbird
Common Grackle
Common Yellowthroat
Palm Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler

Butterflies
Cabbage White Butterfly
Monarch Butterfly

Odonates
European Hornets
Differential Grasshopper

Herps
Red-eared Slider

Mammals
Harbor Seal