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