Tuesday, November 16, 2010

November 14th Jamaica Bay Refuge

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.