Sunday, June 5, 2011

Doodletown, Harriman State Park June 4th

Leading : Tom Preston

The Brooklyn Bird Club trip to Doodletown, Iona Island, and Sterling Forest enjoyed comfortable weather, some nice birds and other wildlife and was, I think, enjoyed by all.


Highlights included many Cerulean and Hooded Warblers at Doodletown. Also there were Yellow-throated Vireos, Pileated Woodpecker, Worm-eating Warbler, and Louisiana Waterthrush was heard.

Jerry Layton and Paul Otto found some other interesting wildlife including various dragonflies such as Chalk-fronted Corporal, butterflies such as the spectacular Red-spotted Purple, and Red-spotted Newts in the reservoir. Jerry was not reluctant to lie full length in the vegetation to get photos of many of these, risking poison ivy, ticks and who knows what else.

Iona Island was rather quiet. A Black Vulture appeared with some Turkey Vultures, and a Killdeer hung out next to the rail tracks.

Earlier, some of us saw Raven and Black Vulture by the Bear Mountain Lodge.

At Sterling Forest, we searched unsuccessfully for an Acadian Flycatcher seen a few days ago near the Visitor Centre. We did locate a rather elusive Golden-Winged Warbler at Ironwood Road, singing occasionally, and briefly seen by a few of us. We had great views of a Prairie Warbler and heard a Black-billed Cuckoo, and Raven at Ironwood Road. Other birds at Sterling included 2 Green Herons, Wood Ducks and an Eastern Bluebird.

Participants: Paul Otto, Jerry Layton, Dennis Hrehowsik, Donna Evans, Vinny Falci, Annie, Dan Horgan, Bob O'Neill, Lynne Hertzog, Tom Preston (leader).

Birds:

Canada Goose

Mute Swan

Wood Duck - 2 at Long Meadow Rd, Sterling Forest

Great Blue Heron

Green Heron 2- at pond along Ironwood Rd, Sterling Forest

Black Vulture - over Iona Island and at Bear Mtn lodge

Turkey Vulture

Killdeer - Iona Island

Mourning Dove

Black-billed Cuckoo - heard at Sterling Forest (Ironwood)

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker - Lemon Road, Doodletown. Seen by a couple of us, heard by many

Eastern Wood-Pewee

Eastern Phoebe

Great Crested Flycatcher - including great views along Long Meadow Rd

Yellow-throated Vireo - At least 2 near Doodletown reservoir/pond

Warbling Vireo

Red-eyed Vireo

Blue Jay

American Crow

Common Raven - Bear Mtn Lodge & Ironwood Rd

Barn Swallow

Black-capped Chickadee

Tufted Titmouse

White-breasted Nuthatch

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Eastern Bluebird

American Robin

Gray Catbird

Northern Mockingbird

European Starling

Cedar Waxwing

Blue-winged Warbler

Golden-winged Warbler - heard at Ironwood, and seen briefly by some of us

Northern Parula - off Lemon Rd

Yellow Warbler

Prairie Warbler - great views at Ironwood

Cerulean Warbler - 9 at Doodletown! A nice number. Quite good views.

Black-and-white Warbler

American Redstart

Worm-eating Warbler - Doodletown Rd

Louisiana Waterthrush - heard at start of Doodletown trail

Common Yellowthroat

Hooded Warbler - at least 6 at Doodletown great views, also heard along Ironwood Rd

Eastern Towhee

Chipping Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Scarlet Tanager

Northern Cardinal

Indigo Bunting - Iona Island & Sterling Forest, but none at Doodletown - until now, I always recorded them in season

Red-winged Blackbird

Common Grackle

Brown-headed Cowbird

Baltimore Oriole

House Finch

American Goldfinch

House Sparrow

- 60 species