Leader: Rafael Campos
JAMAICA BAY WR
DAY TRIP WITH
BROOKLYN BIRD CLUB
14 NOVEMBER 2010
COMPILED BY:
Rafael G. Campos R.
ticornis@yahoo.com
Brooklyn, NY
With great expectations, because of the nice temperatures for this part of the Fall (+60°F), I met Rusty Harold at Plaza Street West. A short drive to Jamaica Bay WR where we were going to meet the rest of the group: Nancy Goldner, Emily Goldstein, Phil Malek, and Kathy Toomey.
Our first stop, the East Pond. On the way to area called “The Raunt”, we stopped at Big John’s Pond, but beside three photographers, only 1 American Black Duck.
At “the Raunt”, we were surprised to see such big numbers of waterfowl species: Gadwall, Mallard, Blue-winged Teal (only Rusty), Ruddy Duck, Northern Shoveler, Hooded Merganser, Canada Goose, American Wigeon (see list at the end). Other species present in big numbers was the American Coot. A single Snow Goose was seen flying out towards the JFK airport grounds, but minutes later, a whole flock came by landed on the far end of the West Pond. Among this flock, one of the Geese, had this “yellow” neck band, with the black inscription as follows: KH40.
Also some raptors while we were approaching the East Pond, at least 2 Sharp-shinned Hawks, flew East. Later a noisy flock of American Crows, chased away another “Accipiter” hawk. A Northern Harrier flew by, and later on the West Pond we saw several individuals flying over the marshes.
On the way back from East Pond, another stop at Big John’s Pond, gave us the only views of 1 female Wood Duck. Also we saw here, Green-winged Teal.
The West Pond was loaded with “Scaups” (both species), among other species of waterfowl, like: Ruddy Duck, Mallard, Northern Shoveler, Ruddy Duck, Brant, Canada Goose.
Among the “Scaups”, was the big surprise, and perhaps the best bird this day trip, and two: Redhead.
It is a late for shorebirds in general, but we were lucky to see at least 6 indidividuals of Greater Yellowlegs.
The calm waters of the bay next to the West Pond were loaded with Brants, and Buffleheads, plus some Horned Grebes.
By midday, the winds started to increase, and we turned back towards the visitor’s center. The trip was over after our snacks were finished.
The species recorded:
Ducks, Geese : Anatidae
Snow Goose, Chen caerulescens
Brant, Branta bernicla
Canada Goose, Branta canadensis
Mute Swan, Cygnus olor
Wood Duck, Aix sponsa
Gadwall, Anas strepera
American Wigeon, Anas americana
American Black Duck, Anas rubripes
Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos
Blue-winged Teal, Anas discors
Northern Shoveler, Anas clypeata
Northern Pintail, Anas acuta
Green-winged Teal, Anas (crecca) carolinensis
Redhead, Aythya americana
Greater Scaup, Aythya marila
Lesser Scaup, Aythya affinis
Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola
Hooded Merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus
Red-breasted Merganser, Mergus serrator
Ruddy Duck, Oxyura jamaicensis
Grebes : Podicipedidae
Pied-billed Grebe, Podilymbus podiceps
Horned Grebe, Podiceps auritus
Cormorants : Phalacrocoracidae
Double-crested Cormorant, Phalacrocorax auritus
Egrets, Herons : Ardeidae
Great Blue Heron, Ardea herodias
Great Egret, Ardea alba
Snowy Egret, Egretta thula
Black-crowned Night-Heron, Nycticorax nycticorax
Hawks : Accipitridae
Northern Harrier, Circus cyaneus
Sharp-shinned Hawk, Accipiter striatus
Falcons : Falconidae
Merlin, Falco columbarius
Rails, Coots : Rallidae
American Coot, Fulica americana
Sandpipers : Scolopacidae
Greater Yellowlegs, Tringa melanoleuca
Gulls : Laridae
Ring-billed Gull, Larus delawarensis
American Herring Gull, Larus (argentatus) smithsonianus
Great Black-backed Gull, Larus marinus
Pigeons, Doves : Columbidae
Rock Pigeon, Columba livia
Kingfishers : Alcedinidae
Belted Kingfisher, Megaceryle alcyon
Woodpeckers : Picidae
Downy Woodpecker, Picoides pubescens
Northern Flicker, Colaptes auratus
Crows, Jays : Corvidae
American Crow, Corvus brachyrhynchos
Wrens : Troglodytidae
Carolina Wren, Thryothorus ludovicianus
Starlings : Sturnidae
European Starling, Sturnus vulgaris
Warblers : Parulidae
Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) Warbler, Dendroica coronata
Sparrows : Emberizidae
Song Sparrow, Melospiza melodia
White-throated Sparrow, Zonotrichia albicollis
Buntings, Grosbeaks : Cardinalidae
Northern Cardinal, Cardinalis cardinalis
Finches : Fringillidae
Purple Finch, Carpodacus purpureus
House Finch, Carpodacus mexicanus
American Goldfinch, Spinus tristis
Old World Sparrows : Passeridae
House Sparrow, Passer domesticus
Total species : 50
©Ticornis/RGCR-XII-2010.
