October 31st Rockaway Inlet Parks: Fort Tilden, Riis Beach, Floyd Bennett

(trip was re-scheduled from October 30th due to Snow northeaster storm)

Leader Peter Dorosh
7 members attending

We enjoyed a fantastic day from my re-scheduled Brooklyn Bird Club walk from stormy Saturday with quality birds and a terrific sparrow list under strong windy northwest winds. Of the locales visited, Fort Tilden shone the most with quality sightings and numbers whereas Riis Beach golf course produced the best bird on our walk.On a day dominated by over flying blackbird flocks, mostly Red-winged Blackbirds, 67 species including 11 species sparrows and WESTERN KINGBIRD added a little drama.

Of the best sparrows, 2 LINCOLN's and VESPERS were most beneficial to my group. The two Lincoln's worked the chain link fence next to the Riis Golf course south entrance , by the Riis men's restroom. VESPERS , 3 total in the Tilden Community Garden on a courteous tip from Andrew Baksh, enabled us to see two of them , one cooperatively on the picket fence in close proximity. Also FIELD, & WHITE-CROWNED added to the day list.

A large flock of AMERICAN PIPIT , est at 60 was seen well on the Tilden Rugby / soccer field after an initial 12 on the little league field earlier.One Horned Lark was among them.

Best duck observance was the 300 + strong BLACK SCOTER flock with several SURF and fewer WHITE-WINGED, a good observation for my group seeing all three species at one time.The flock was near a jetty 700 feet east of the Fisherman's west lot.

A nice surprise, especially from where it took off, a WILSON's SNIPE on the busy car road from the turn after the little league fields, towards the beach. The snipe's takeoff certainly "spooked" us .

At lunchtime, a soaring RED-SHOULDERED HAWK delighted us, affording great views on this clear sunny day.

But best for us as we walked a circuit of the golf course counterclockwise, was the WESTERN KINGBIRD. As we rounded the last leg , along the north fence of the Riis golf course, facing the inlet, I noted a flying bird coming from the inlet side and landed & perched on a cherry right above us. All of us saw the bird quite well and low before it, after half a minute, flew into the Riis golf course..

I also heard second hand reports of NORTHERN GOSHAWK ( Steve Walter, later Rob Bate), & BALD EAGLE ( Walter). the former hanging around and working the abundant food sources throughout Tilden's habitats.

Peter
BBC

(note: Home computer not working at the moment, hence late post from work)

date = October 30th, 2011
site = Rockaway Inlet parks: Fort Tilde/Riis Beach/Floyd Bennett
observers = Brooklyn Bird Club 7 members
leading Peter Dorosh

WESTERN KINGBIRD seen perched at north fence cherry tree, then flew into Riis Golf course
Common Loon
Northern Gannet
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Cormorant
Great Egret
American Black Duck
Canada Goose
BLACK SCOTER~300 flock at fort tilden
White-winged Scoter few with black scoters
Brant abundant
Surf Scoter several with black scoters
Mute Swan
Cooper's Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Peregrine Falcon
American Kestrel
Merlin
Killdeer
Black-bellied Plover
Sanderling
WILSON'S SNIPE-- ft tilden roadway edge near little league field
Laughing Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Forster's Tern
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Eastern Phoebe
American Crow
Blue Jay
Horned Lark
Tree Swallow
Brown Creeper
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
Hermit Thrush
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
AMERICAN PIPIT flock ~60 tilden rugby/soccer field
Cedar Waxwing
Blackpoll Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Swamp Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
LINCOLN'S SPARROW-- 2 next to Riis golf course south entrance path
White-throated Sparrow
VESPER SPARROW tilden community garden , 2 of 3 seen per Andrew Baksh alert
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Field Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Purple Finch male adult
House Sparrow
Horned Lark


Photo by Sandy Paci, Vesper Sparrow on Fort Tilden Community garden picket fence

Allendale Celery Farm & Meadowlands Oct 22nd

Nelson's Sparrow ----->
Photo taken by Sandy Paci

Leader : Sandy Paci


BBC Trip


Allendale Celery Farm / Meadowlands 10/22/11

Leader: Sandy Paci, plus 7 BBC members



1 Double Crested Cormorant

2 Great Egret

3 Snowy Egret

4 Great Blue Heron

5 Canada Goose

6 Brant

7 Wood Duck

8 Green-winged Teal

9 American Black Duck

10 Mallard

11 Northern Pintail

12 Northern Shoveler

13 Gadwall

14 Ruddy Duck

15 Turkey Vulture

16 Sharp-shinned Hawk

17 Cooper's Hawk

18 Osprey

19 Northern Harrier

20 Red-tailed Hawk

21 American Coot

22 Greater Yellowlegs

23 Lesser Yellowlegs

24 Semi-palmated Sandpiper

25 Pectoral Sandpiper

26 Ring Billed Gull

27 Herring Gull

28 Rock Dove

29 Mourning Dove

30 Belted Kingfisher

31 Red-bellied Woodpecker

32 Downy Woodpecker

33 Hairy Woodpecker (heard only)

34 Northern Flicker

35 Eastern Phoebe

36 Blue Jay

37 American Crow

38 Tufted Titmouse

39 White-breasted Nuthatch

40 Carolina Wren (heard only)

41 Golden-crowned Kinglet

42 Ruby-crowned Kinglet

43 Hermit Thrush

44 American Robin

45 Gray Catbird

46 Hermit Thrush

47 Northern Mockingbird

48 Eurorpean Starling

49 Yellow-rumped Warbler

50 Palm Warbler

51 Northern Cardinal

52 Nelson's Sparrow (Atlantic subspecies subvirgatus)

53 Song Sparrow

54 Swamp Sparrow

55 White-throated Sparrow

56 Red-winged Blackbird

57 Common Grackle

58 Brown-headed Cowbird

59 House Finch

60 House Sparrow

Jones Beach October 15th

Leader : Steve Nanz


There were 13 people on the Jones Beach trip.

Not sure if I missed anything but I believe we saw 62 species. There were 64 if

you include Golden Plover and Whimbrel which may have been seen by some members

of the group who arrived at the Coast Guard Station before us. Janet and Allan

were among those and can confirm.



Common Loon

Northern Gannet

Double-crested Cormorant

Great Egret

American Black Duck

Canada Goose

Common Eider

Surf Scoter

Black Scoter

American Wigeon

Brant

Mute Swan

Mallard

Cooper's Hawk

Osprey

Northern Harrier

Peregrine Falcon

Merlin

Black-bellied Plover

Semipalmated Plover

American Oystercatcher

Marbled Godwit

Sanderling

Red Knot

Dowitcher sp.

Dunlin

Spotted Sandpiper

Willet

Ruddy Turnstone

Yellowlegs sp.

Laughing Gull

Great Black-backed Gull

Bonaparte's Gull

Royal Tern

Forster's Tern

Ring-billed Gull

Herring Gull

Rock Pigeon

Mourning Dove

Belted Kingfisher

Northern Flicker

Eastern Phoebe

American Crow

Tree Swallow

Golden-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Gray Catbird

Northern Mockingbird

European Starling

Blackpoll Warbler

Black-throated Green Warbler

Cape May Warbler

Palm Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Chipping Sparrow

White-throated Sparrow

Song Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Indigo Bunting

Rusty Blackbird

House Sparrow


Steve

Prospect Oct 9th BBC Friends Walk

date = 10/9/11


site = Prospect Park

observers = BBC Friends walks 6 participants: Eni, Vinny, Bobbi, Dennis, Rusty, Monica



• Red-tailed Hawk

• Mourning Dove

• Downy Woodpecker

• Hairy Woodpecker

• Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

• Red-bellied Woodpecker

• Northern Flicker

• Eastern Phoebe

• Blue-headed Vireo

• Black-capped Chickadee

• House Wren

• Ruby-crowned Kinglet

• Golden-crowned Kinglet

• American Robin

• Swainson's Thrush

• Hermit Thrush

• Veery

• European Starling

• American Redstart

• Black-and-white Warbler

• Blackpoll Warbler

• Black-throated Green Warbler

• Black-throated Blue Warbler

• Common Yellowthroat

• Palm Warbler

• Northern Parula

• Magnolia Warbler

• Nashville Warbler

• Yellow-rumped Warbler

• White-throated Sparrow

• Song Sparrow

• White-crowned Sparrow

• Savannah Sparrow

• Dark-eyed Junco

• Northern Cardinal

• Common Grackle

• House Sparrow

Sandy Hook, NJ October 2nd, 2011

Leader : Bob Machover

Trip List
Brooklyn Bird Club trip to Sandy Hook, NJ
October 2, 2011

1. Canada Goose – About 30 feeding on lawn near Bird Observatory
2. American Black Duck – About 20, Spermaceti Cove
3. Mallard – 2 Plum Island lagoon
4. Double-crested Cormorant – About 50, various locales
5. Great Egret – 1 on Plum Island
6. Turkey Vulture – About 12, most flying north
7. Osprey – About 10, various locales, often carrying fish
8. Sharp-shinned Hawk About 5 total, 3 active over Raccoon Alley
9. Red-tailed Hawk - 1 perched near Bird Observatory
10. American Kestrel - 1 over dunes at north end
11. Merlin – 1 “
12. Peregrine Falcon – 1(possibly 2), also at north end
13. Black-bellied Plover - 2-3, False Hook area; another 3, Spermaceti Cove (possibly)
14. American Oystercatcher – 1 on sand spit at Spermaceti Cove
15. Sanderling – 80-100 (?) at the False Hook
16. Semipalmated Sandpiper – 1 in Lot K rain pool
17. Stilt Sandpiper – 1 in Lot K rain pool (odd plumage, probably juvenile molting into basic)
18. Buff-breasted Sandpiper – 1 in Lot K rain pool, practically tame, almost friendly
19. Laughing Gull - 5 at Plum Island, several at the False Hook
20. Ring-billed Gull – A few
21. American Herring Gull – Abundant at the False Hook, others elsewhere
22. Great Black-backed Gull – Common at the False Hook, a few elsewhere
Dovekie – (just checking)
23. Forster’s Tern - A few at the north end
24. Black Skimmer – A few at Plum Island (I missed these – before I arrived)
25. Mourning Dove – Several seen from Lot B before I arrived
26. Yellow-billed Cuckoo – 3 separate individuals seen in 3 different places…amazing!
27. Red-bellied Woodpecker – 2, 1 along bike path and 1 in garden
28. Downy Woodpecker – 1 in garden
29. Northern Flicker – At least 20, various places
30. Eastern Wood-Pewee – 1 across from the garden
31. Eastern Phoebe – 3, various places
32. Blue-headed Vireo – 1 seen by two people (not including yours truly)
33. Red-eyed Vireo – Perhaps 20, various places
34. American Crow – Several
35. Fish Crow – 1 heard, at the north end
36. Tree Swallow – Pretty much everywhere, especially at the north end
37. Carolina Wren 1 – heard (probably)
38. House Wren – 1 along the bike bath
39. Winter Wren – 1 at the north end
40. American Robin – Maybe as many as 50, various places
41. Gray Catbird – Lots, pretty much everywhere
42. Northern Mockingbird – Several
43. Brown Thrasher – 1, Raccoon Alley
44. European Starling –
45. Tennessee Warbler – 2, 1 along bike path; other across from the garden
46. Northern Parula – Lots~ 20, perhaps the commonest warbler of the day
47. Magnolia Warbler – 1 in woods behind rusty barn
48. Cape May Warbler – At least 4…2 very gray birds (first fall females) along the bike path and 2 bright individuals across from the garden
49. Black-throated Blue Warbler – 1 male, across from the garden
50. Black-throated Green Warbler – 1 (seen by others)
51. Prairie Warbler – 1, at the edge of the salt marsh at Spermaceti Cove
52. Blackpoll Warbler – About 15, after N.Parula, the most common warbler of the day
53. Black-and-white Warbler - 3, various places
54. American Redstart – 3, all in the garden or across the street
55. Common Yellowthroat – 4, behind the rusty barn and in the garden
56. Scarlet Tanager – 1, across from the garden
57. Eastern Towhee – Lots everywhere
58. Song Sparrow – 1 in the woods behind the barn
59. White-throated Sparrow – 2 “
60. Northern Cardinal – Several heard along the bike path
61. Indigo Bunting –
62, Red-winged Blackbird 1 flyover at north end and a small flock at Spermaceti Cove
63. House Sparrow –
64 House Finch

Notable Misses:
Egregious – Yellow-rumped Warbler, Palm Warbler
Significant – Northern Harrier, Royal Tern, Blue Jay, Black-capped Chickadee, American Goldfinch
Tragic – Clay-colored Sparrow (seen by other birders on the fisherman’s path)
Typical – Connecticut Warbler

Fort Tilden Hawkwatch Oct 1st

Bobolink at Riis Beach boardwalk edge, photo by Sandy Paci


date = 2011/10/01


site = Fort Tilden Hawkwatch 9am-12 , ( walk before /after, Floyd Bennett late afternoon)

observers = Brooklyn Bird Club leader Peter Dorosh 7 participants

Hawk watch 9 am -12 noon session  Battery Harris East bunker

Cooper's Hawk 3

Red-tailed Hawk 1
Osprey 54  ( very good movement seen)

Sharp-shinned Hawk 33

Peregrine Falcon 1

American Kestrel 12

Merlin 5

***

other locations ( not on hawkwatch)

Royal Tern flyover Floyd Bennett Archery Rd

Double-crested Cormorant

Great Egret

Great Blue Heron

Canada Goose

Wood Duck

Mallard

Cooper's Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

Osprey

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Peregrine Falcon

American Kestrel

Merlin

Laughing Gull

Great Black-backed Gull

Forster's Tern

Ring-billed Gull

Herring Gull

Rock Pigeon

Mourning Dove

Chimney Swift

Belted Kingfisher

Northern Flicker

Red-eyed Vireo

Eastern Phoebe

American Crow

Blue Jay

Tree Swallow

Black-capped Chickadee

House Wren

Carolina Wren
American Robin

Gray Catbird

Brown Thrasher

Northern Mockingbird

European Starling

Cedar Waxwing

Prairie Warbler

American Redstart

Blackpoll Warbler

Black-throated Green Warbler

Common Yellowthroat

Palm Warbler

Yellow-breasted Chat Ft TIlden trail head to Battery East Bunker

Northern Parula

Magnolia Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Scarlet Tanager

Chipping Sparrow

White-throated Sparrow

Savannah Sparrow

Song Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Clay-colored Sparrow 50%

Eastern Towhee

Northern Cardinal

Indigo Bunting

Blue Grosbeak female Floyd Bennett Nursery

Baltimore Oriole

Bobolink 5 Riis Golf Course south fence

Red-winged Blackbird

House Sparrow

Savannah Sparrow at Floyd Bennett Field , photo by Sandy Paci