Registrar: Louise Fraza
Trip Report: Miriam Rakowski
Participants: 10
Weather: Temperatures, 35-40 F, winds WNW 15-30 mph
Bird Species: 52
The day started off sunny but very windy, with wind chills in the teens. Despite the winds, and to the credit of our leader, we saw over 50 bird species.
Just after arriving at Rye Playland, we spotted a lovely female Common Goldeneye, so close that we could see her bright, golden eyes. Soon after, two striking female Common Mergansers revealed themselves. A few mature Bald Eagles flew by, not caring a bit about the heavy winds. Tom counted 19 Great Blue Herons lined up like soldiers on the islands and on the other side of the water.
At the Marshlands Conservancy, we were greeted by about a dozen Wild Turkeys vocalizing and scurrying around the grounds, with one perched atop the small visitors’ building, like a sentry. During our walk in the woods, our leader spotted two Great Horned Owls sleeping the day away.
Despite the heavy winds, we were glad to have spent the day out in nature.
Species Lists
Birds
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Mallard
American Black Duck
Greater Scaup
Lesser Scaup
Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Wild Turkey
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Red-throated Loon
Common Loon
Great Cormorant
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Cooper’s Hawk
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
Great Horned Owl
Belted Kingfisher
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Blue Jay
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Winter Wren
Carolina Wren
European Starling
Northern Mockingbird
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
House Sparrow
House Finch
American Goldfinch
Field Sparrow
American Tree Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
Northern Cardinal
Mammals
White-tailed Deer
Eastern Grey Squirrel
