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 Park 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