The conclusion to a golden year: American Goldfinch claims Prospect Park as Lucky “Golden Bird” #8 in a celebratory year November 22 Leader : Peter Dorosh. With Sameer and Nolan

https://ebird.org/checklist/S285664015

My conclusion to my golden year , achieving success with American Goldfinch ,the 8th and final gold bird. Thanks to Sameer hearing and spotting 20 goldfinches low over the path just before the Rocky Pass fork..

"Is not this a true autumn day? Just the still melancholy that I love—that makes life and nature harmonize."

Mary Ann Evans ( pen name George Eliot) 18th c author














   

Jones Beach in Coastal Beauty November 15

Leader : Max Epstein 
Date: Tue, Nov 18, 2025 

https://ebird.org/checklist/S284650641

November 8 : A Tribute to Paul Keim: A nostalgic return to Fort Tilden

 

Sick /injured Common Loon at Fort Tilden,  rescued by BBC members

 "Loon Squad"

 to Wild Bird Fund ( photo by Lisa Curtiss)

US Park Police helping hands, carried the loon to a members car.

 Photo by Birgitta.

Safe at Wild Bird Fund ,upper NYC ,photo by Lisa

Leader Peter Dorosh

Members: Lisa Curtiss, Tim Sequin, Sameer Ajmani, Birgitta and Dave Norman  "The Loon Squad"

Hilight was the rescue of a sick /injured Common Loon that beached itself , with teamwork along  with the US Park Police (officer Rodriquez) providing a dog cage for transport in Birgitta and Dave 's car and primary members making calls Lisa and Tim assisting. Two passerbys , one an animal expert moved the loon into the cage carefully ( avoiding its dagger bill) .The bird was taken to to Upper Manhattan's Wild BIrd Fund where care is pending.. Many thanks to all who helped this one precious life given a chance rather than suffering alone on the beach. 

Checklist compiled by Sameer Ajmani

https://ebird.org/checklist/S283505254

Atlantic Ghost Crab  at Riis Beach, photo by Birgitta Norman

selfie by Sameer

Video Atlantic Ghost Crab taken by David N.

November 1st, Autumn’s Birding Allure at Floyd Bennett Field

 Leader Heydi Lopes

Photo by Annie Tan

Hey Peter,

See below list.  Forrest kindly offered to do the checklist.

As always, it was a wonderful group of birders, and it was a beautiful day.  Not quite as birdy as I hoped, but we did see some nice birds.

Thanks for keeping me in mind for walks .  If you need anything else, please let me know.

Best regards,
Heydi

—————————————————————
Floyd Bennett Field, Kings, New York, US
Nov 1, 2025 8:20 AM - 3:04 PM
Protocol: Traveling
4.037 mile(s)
50 species (+3 other taxa)

Brant (Branta bernicla)  200
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  4
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) (Columba livia (Feral Pigeon))  50
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)  45
Laughing Gull (Leucophaeus atricilla)  1
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)  5
American Herring Gull (Larus smithsonianus)  20
Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus)  5
gull sp. (Larinae sp.)  200
Common Loon (Gavia immer)  2
Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum)  100
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)  1
Cooper's Hawk (Astur cooperii)  3
Sharp-shinned/Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter striatus/Astur cooperii)  2
Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius)  2
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)  2
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)  1
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)  2
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)  6
Merlin (Falco columbarius)  1
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)  7
Blue-headed Vireo (Vireo solitarius)  1
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)  9
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)  7
Common Raven (Corvus corax)  2
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)  2     Flagged: late. Two flying together over the pumpkin patch area, each navy blue on top, orangey on the bottom, and—we made sure to check!—with deeply forked tails to rule out Cave and Cliff.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula)  4
Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa)  13
Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis)  2
Brown Creeper (Certhia americana)  1
Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis)  1
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)  6
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)  135
Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)  3
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  200
Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)  25
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)  2
American Pipit (Anthus rubescens)  2     Morning flyovers, together, calling.
House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus)  10
Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus)  5
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)  6
Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)  20
Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla)  4
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)  50
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)  75
Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis)  6
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)  13
Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana)  8
Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna)  4     Morning flybys.
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)  20
blackbird sp. (Icteridae sp.)  30
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)  55
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  5

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S282391635

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)

Sameer's photo gallery  https://photos.app.goo.gl/CKW1KAKzogHATAY89

Photo by Annie Tan

October 23-25 Overnight Trip: Golden Target Bird #7 In A Celebratory Year: Where Golden Eagles Soar At Hawk Mountain

Leconte's Sparrow at Alpha Grasslands, founded and photo'd by Marc Brawer 

Lecontes ,Photo by Dan Smith 

Leader : Peter Dorosh

Members : Ryan Goldberg, Angie Co, Marc Brawer, Chris Laskowski, Adelia Honeywood, Dan Smith

Hilight was the mega rarity Leconte's Sparrow discovered by Marc Brawer in Alpha Grasslands Preserve, which only was supposed to be a 20 minute stop on the way home but became the best golden spot. No Golden Eagle but plenty of Balds (8)..

Checklists ( thanks to Ryan Goldberg, compiling)

Leaser Lake  https://ebird.org/checklist/S283920813

Hawk Mountain North Lookout   https://ebird.org/checklist/S283920815

Kernsville Dam Recreation Area  https://ebird.org/checklist/S283920819

Alpha Grasslands  https://ebird.org/checklist/S283920811

Spruce Run Recreation Area https://ebird.org/checklist/S283920823

Round Valley Recreation Area  https://ebird.org/checklist/S283920807

Clinton township waterfront  https://ebird.org/checklist/S283920825

Black Vulture by Hawk Mountain trail, photo by Angie Co

"I hope I can be the autumn leaf, who looked at the sky and lived. And when it was time to leave, gracefully it knew life was a gift." — Dodinsky

   

On top at the hawkwatch

Ryan and Peter ,photo by Angie Co

Dan arrives atop Hawk Mt ,photo by Angie Co

Flyby Turkey Vulture, photo by Angie Co

Partial group photo in front of South Raritan River at conclusion of trip in Clinton,NJ

Fwd: Wednesday Migration Morning in Brooklyn Bridge Park 10-22-2025

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Mike Yuan <mjyuan@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Oct 22, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Subject: Wednesday Migration Morning in Brooklyn Bridge Park 10-22-2025
To: Peter Dorosh <prosbird@gmail.com>, Dennis Hrehowsik <deepseagangster@gmail.com>

We had a lovely final outing of the season, with the rain clearing and the sun rising right before our usual 7:15am start time.

We headed straight for Pier 3 after counting 5 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONs at their usual Long Pond roost on Pier 1. At the Pier 3 lawn, Ross Kruse spotted a distant raptor over the upper harbor, which thankfully continued towards us, revealing itself as a NORTHERN HARRIER. Rare for the park, with sightings in the single digits. Upon returning to the Pier 3 lawn after inspecting the concrete planting area, we spotted an EASTERN MEADOWLARK dwarfing the sparrows it fed with.

As always, a great morning with an eager group. Looking forward to Spring '26!

8 participants, 31 species

https://ebird.org/checklist/S280797936

Thanks,

Mike

--

" Preserve and cherish the pale blue dot,the only home we've ever known"

                                                                            --Carl Sagan

Last BBC walk of fall season

https://ebird.org/checklist/S280213279

Led by Dennis

"I hope I can be the autumn leaf, who looked at the sky and lived. And when it was time to leave, gracefully it knew life was a gift." — Dodinsky














   

Fwd: BBC Thursday walk report

Led by Chris Miller

"I hope I can be the autumn leaf, who looked at the sky and lived. And when it was time to leave, gracefully it knew life was a gift." — Dodinsky














   

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Chris Miller <cmnyc79@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Oct 16, 2025, 6:13 PM
Subject: BBC Thursday walk report
To: prosbird@gmail.com <Prosbird@gmail.com>

Hi Peter,

We had a gorgeous Fall day with a large turnout of birders and birds. According to birdcast nearly 1.5 million birds crossed Kings County last night and I think 1 million of them must have been Hermit Thrushes 😆 Jokes aside, we had a lot of nice birds today with the highlights being a group of Purple Finches, an early Fox Sparrow, a few Field Sparrows, a White Crowned Sparrow and 2 Ring-necked Ducks.

https://ebird.org/checklist/S279762513

Here's the list:

Canada Goose 

Mute Swan 

Wood Duck 

Northern Shoveler 

Mallard 
American Black Duck 
Green-winged Teal 
Ring-necked Duck 
Ruddy Duck 
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 
Mourning Dove 
Chimney Swift 
American Coot 
Double-crested Cormorant 
Black-crowned Night Heron 
Great Blue Heron 
Turkey Vulture 
Cooper's Hawk 

Red-tailed Hawk 

Merlin 
Peregrine Falcon 

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
White-breasted Nuthatch 
Red-breasted Nuthatch 
Brown Creeper 
Winter Wren 
Carolina Wren 
Gray Catbird 
Northern Mockingbird 
Swainson's Thrush 
Hermit Thrush 
American Robin 
Cedar Waxwing 
House Sparrow 
Purple Finch 
American Goldfinch 
Chipping Sparrow 
Field Sparrow 
Fox Sparrow 
Dark-eyed Junco 
White-crowned Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow 
Savannah Sparrow 
Song Sparrow 
Swamp Sparrow 

Eastern Towhee 

Red-winged Blackbird 

Common Grackle 
Black-and-white Warbler 
Common Yellowthroat 
Magnolia Warbler 
Black-throated Blue Warbler 
Palm Warbler 

Pine Warbler 

Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 

Northern Cardinal 

Best,

Chris Miller

instagram.com/otrodios

Fwd: Wednesday Migration Morning at BBP 10-15-2025

"I hope I can be the autumn leaf, who looked at the sky and lived. And when it was time to leave, gracefully it knew life was a gift." — Dodinsky














   

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Mike Yuan <mjyuan@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Oct 15, 2025, 8:50 PM
Subject: Wednesday Migration Morning at BBP 10-15-2025
To: Peter Dorosh <prosbird@gmail.com>, Dennis Hrehowsik <deepseagangster@gmail.com>

Plenty of activity throughout the park today, keeping our pace slow as birds appeared everywhere on our route.

The Pier 1 salt marsh is often a nice place to stay put for a while, as birds find their way onto the pier from the south. Odd to see one on marsh grass, but we had a LINCOLN'S SPARROW there and a male BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER in the sumacs.

On our way to Pier 3, we had our first-of-season BRANTS, a flock of 12 flying south high over Brooklyn Heights.

Last outing of the season is next Wednesday!

11 participants, 37 species

https://ebird.org/checklist/S279538953

-Mike

Fwd: Tuesday BBC walk recap

"I hope I can be the autumn leaf, who looked at the sky and lived. And when it was time to leave, gracefully it knew life was a gift." — Dodinsky














   

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Ryan Goldberg <ryan.goldberg@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, Oct 14, 2025, 3:42 PM
Subject: Tuesday walk recap
To: Peter Dorosh <prosbird@gmail.com>

Hi Peter,

Our last Tuesday walk of the season was a good one. The sun even peeked out late in the morning! We had 61 species, with a mix of ducks, including Green-winged Teals and a Ring-necked, sparrows, and lingering warblers, plus a few raptors on the move and our first Tufted Titmouse of the season.

Here's our list: https://ebird.org/checklist/S279372857.

Thank you to Sheila, Megan, and Angie for co-leading all season, and the many regulars who've made it such a special group. I can't believe the season's over for us, but I look forward to seeing folks in the months ahead.

Ryan