A small group of enthusiastic bird photographers met at the north end of Central Park to practice bird photography techniques. We had beautiful light, mild fall weather, and a lovely backdrop of foliage to bring out our creativity. Almost immediately a cooperative Palm Warbler hopped out and offered looks for several minutes at the edge of the pool. A Blue-headed Vireo near the boardwalk offered more of a challenge, but also granted several opportunities to try for a shot. Everyone came away with some camera tips as well as inspiration for their nextĀ outing.
Species List
Canada Goose Wood Duck Northern Shoveler Gadwall Mallard Green-winged Teal Mourning Dove American Woodcock Red-tailed Hawk Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Eastern Phoebe Blue-headed Vireo Blue Jay Tufted Titmouse Ruby-crowned Kinglet Golden-crowned Kinglet White-breasted Nuthatch Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird Hermit Thrush American Robin House Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Brown-headed Cowbird Northern Waterthrush Black-throated Blue Warbler Palm Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler
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.ā
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 Cooperās 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
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 DuckĀ Northern ShovelerĀ MallardĀ Hooded MerganserĀ Ā Ā Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)Ā Mourning DoveĀ Yellow-billed CuckooĀ Ring-billed GullĀ Herring GullĀ Double-crested Cormorant Black-crowned Night HeronĀ Great Blue HeronĀ Turkey VultureĀ Sharp-shinned HawkĀ Cooperās HawkĀ Bald EagleĀ Red-tailed HawkĀ Yellow-bellied SapsuckerĀ Red-bellied WoodpeckerĀ Downy WoodpeckerĀ Northern FlickerĀ American KestrelĀ Eastern PhoebeĀ Blue-headed VireoĀ Blue JayĀ American CrowĀ Black-capped ChickadeeĀ Tufted TitmouseĀ Ruby-crowned KingletĀ Golden-crowned KingletĀ White-breasted Nuthatch Red-breasted NuthatchĀ Brown CreeperĀ Winter Wren Carolina WrenĀ European StarlingĀ Gray CatbirdĀ Swainsonās ThrushĀ Hermit ThrushĀ Wood Thrush American RobinĀ House SparrowĀ House FinchĀ American GoldfinchĀ Chipping SparrowĀ Field SparrowĀ Dark-eyed JuncoĀ White-crowned SparrowĀ White-throated SparrowĀ Song SparrowĀ Swamp SparrowĀ Eastern TowheeĀ Common GrackleĀ OvenbirdĀ Black-and-white WarblerĀ Common YellowthroatĀ Hooded Warbler Cape May WarblerĀ Northern ParulaĀ Magnolia WarblerĀ Black-throated Blue WarblerĀ Palm WarblerĀ Yellow-rumped WarblerĀ Northern Cardinal
Registrar: Dom Ricci Participants: 8 Weather: Around 60 F, broken clouds, moderate breeze Bird Species: 54
Randallās Island sits at the confluence of the Bronx Kill, Harlem River, and East River and occupies a unique ecological niche in New York County. However, it was subject to environmental disruption throughout 2024 due to construction and human activity. A small but dedicated group of Linnaean birders led by Alan Drogin gathered to explore the island in search of fall stopover migrants. While we did not observe Ammospiza sparrows as expected in the remnants of the Bronx Kill saltmarsh, we encountered several mixed flocks containing Savannah, Chipping, and Song sparrows along the coastal walk around the northeastern ballfields. The freshwater marsh and fenced areas in the middle of the island held a variety of individual late warblers including Tennessee, Nashville, Cape May, and a Bay-breasted with residual breeding plumage. We beheld the largest migrant flock of the day inside the abandoned driving range, where a multitude of Yellow-rumped Warblers circulated amidst the overgrowth, accompanied by several Eastern Phoebes. Although we did not see any unusual rarities, this was more than made up for by the variety of species we observed.
Species List
Canada Goose Mute Swan American Black Duck Northern Pintail Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) Mourning Dove Ring-billed Gull American Herring Gull Great Black-backed Gull Double-crested Cormorant Great Blue Heron Cooper’s Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Belted Kingfisher Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker American Kestrel Eastern Phoebe Blue Jay American Crow Common Raven (h) Tufted Titmouse Ruby-crowned Kinglet Golden-crowned Kinglet Brown Creeper Carolina Wren European Starling Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird Hermit Thrush American Robin House Finch American Goldfinch Chipping Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco White-throated Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Eastern Towhee Common Grackle Black-and-white Warbler Tennessee Warbler Nashville Warbler Common Yellowthroat Cape May Warbler Bay-breasted Warbler Blackpoll Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Palm Warbler Pine Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Northern Cardinal
We had a beautiful fall day for our annual field trip to Floyd Bennet Field, guided by leader extraordinaire, Rob Jett. The walk started in the area just north of Aviator Sports, where we kept our eyes peeled for sparrows and other migrating grassland species. We then proceeded into the North Forty, where we saw dozens of American Robins, as well as Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglets, Yellow-rumped Warblers, woodpeckers, and several raptors, including two late Ospreys.
After leaving the northern part of the area, we saw multiple American Kestrels, some eating field crickets off the pavement; a Northern Harrier; a large flock of Brown Cowbirds; a murder of American Crows; and other passerines. At the community garden we were thrilled to spot a Mourning Warbler and a White-crowned Sparrow. Sadly, we saw that someone had wrapped sticky tape around the tree trunks south of the garden in a misguided effort to trap Spotted Lanternflies. Three dead Brown Creepers were found stuck to the tape, and feathers were seen on other traps, indicating that additional birds had been trapped but managed to escape.
We next proceeded to the end of Archery Road, overlooking Jamaica Bay. A small flock of Brant was seen, as well as Great Black-backed, Herring, Ring-billed, and Laughing Gulls. Double-crested Cormorants and a shorebird (unidentifiable due to distance) sat on the pilings.
The walk ended with a stroll through the campgrounds, where we spotted a Red-breasted Nuthatch and a Black-capped Chickadee. Our final sighting was of two adult Bald Eagles soaring overheadāa magnificent species to end the day with.
Species List
Birds Brant Canada Goose Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) Mourning Dove shorebird sp. Laughing Gull Herring Gull (American) Great Black-backed Gull Double-crested Cormorant Turkey Vulture Osprey Northern Harrier Sharp-shinned Hawk Cooperās Hawk Bald Eagle Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker American Kestrel Peregrine Falcon Eastern Phoebe Blue-headed Vireo Blue Jay American Crow Common Raven Black-capped Chickadee Ruby-crowned Kinglet Golden-crowned Kinglet Red-breasted Nuthatch European Starling Northern Mockingbird American Robin Cedar Waxwing House Sparrow House Finch Chipping Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Song Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Brown-headed Cowbird Common Grackle Nashville Warbler Mourning Warbler Common Yellowthroat Palm Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Northern Cardinal
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
