March 15th Fort Tilden region

Leader Steve Nanz

Hi Everyone,

I really enjoyed our trip yesterday. Adding the birds from Greenwood 
(Ring-necked Duck, Redhead, and Monk Parakeet), we saw a total of 49 species! 
Not bad for such a windy day. Plus, between the Kestrels, Oystercatchers, and 
Snowy Owl dive bombing crows, we got some nice aerial shows.


Thank you all for coming and special thanks to Mira for keeping the list and 
spotting the Snowy Owl!

Observers: Janet Schumacher, Mira Furgoch, Steve Nanz, Pia Davis, Harald Parzer

Locations: Riis Park, Fort Tilden, Floyd Bennett, Green-Wood Cemetery 

Common Loon 
Horned Grebe 
Great Cormorant 
Turkey Vulture 
Bufflehead 
Gadwall 
American Black Duck 
Canada Goose 
Ring-necked Duck 
Redhead 
Black Scoter 
American Wigeon 
Long-tailed Duck 
Wood Duck 
Red-breasted Merganser 
White-winged Scoter 
Brant 
Mute Swan 
Mallard 
Red-tailed Hawk 
Peregrine Falcon 
American Kestrel 
Killdeer 
American Oystercatcher 
Dunlin 
Great Black-backed Gull 
Ring-billed Gull 
Herring Gull 
Rock Pigeon 
Monk Parakeet 
Snowy Owl 
Downy Woodpecker 
American Crow 
Blue Jay 
Horned Lark 
Black-capped Chickadee 
Red-breasted Nuthatch 
American Robin 
Northern Mockingbird 
European Starling 
White-throated Sparrow 
Song Sparrow 
Northern Cardinal 
Boat-tailed Grackle 
Red-winged Blackbird 
Common Grackle 
Brown-headed Cowbird
House Finch 
House Sparrow 

Redheads at Greenwood Cemetery taken this morning:

Best Regards,

Steve

  1 Attached Images

March 8th Pelham Bay Park, Bronx

Leader Sandy Paci

BBC trip - Pelham Bay Park
Saturday March 8, 2014

Participants: Donna Evans, Monica Berger, Marisa Wohl, Ben Garron-Caine, Sandy 
Paci (leader)

It was a beautiful day on Saturday, though the trails at Pelham were still 
covered with snow and were also muddy and very wet in places. Overall, it was 
not very birdy, but we persisted in our efforts to eke out what we could and 
scored three out of three with our main target birds: Great Horned Owl, 
Long-eared Owl and Red-headed Woodpecker. The largest duck flock (presumably 
mostly Greater Scaup) had moved way out into Long Island Sound and was barely 
visible through heat gaze but we managed eight species of ducks from small 
groups and individuals that were scattered around closer in. The woods were 
pretty quiet but signs of spring included singing Red-winged Blackbirds and 
small flocks of Robins and Grackles moving through in addition to the usual 
winter passerines. We did not get the "sweep" of six possible Woodpecker 
species, but managed five, missing only Hairy Woodpecker. 

Thanks to all for a very enjoyable day out in the late winter woods of Pelham. 

> Best,
> 
> Sandy
> 
> Canada Goose
> Gadwall
> American Wigeon
> American Back Duck
> Mallard
> Greater Scaup
> Bufflehead
> Hooded Merganser
> Red-breasted Merganser
> Horned Grebe
> Turkey Vulture
> Red-tailed Hawk
> Ring-billed Gull
> Herring Gull 
> Greater Black-backed Gull
> Rock Dove
> Mourning Dove
> GREAT HORNED OWL
> LONG-EARED OWL
> RED-HEADED WOODPECKER
> Red-bellied Woodpecker
> Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
> Downy Woodpecker
> Northern Flicker
> Blue Jay
> American Crow
> Tufted TItmouse
> White-breasted Nuthatch
> American Robin
> Northern Mockingbird
> European Starling
> Song Sparrow 
> White-throated Sparrow
> Northern Cardinal
> Red-winged Blackbird
> Common Grackle

Montauk /East End weekend March 1st-2nd

photo by Sandy Paci

Massive scoters flock off the Point, by Rob Bate

Leader Rob Bate

list compiled by Sandy Paci

1. GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE (1 - Riverhead, from Reeves Road)

2. PINK-FOOTED GOOSE GOOSE (1 - Riverhead, from Reeves Road)

3. ROSS’S GOOSE (1 - Riverhead, from Reeves Road)

4. CACKLING GOOSE (1 - Sagaponack/Daniel’s Lane area)

5. Canada Goose

6. Brant

7. Mute Swan

8. TUNDRA SWAN (2 – Hook Pond, Easthampton)

9. Gadwall

10. American Wigeon

11. American Black Duck

12. Mallard

13. Northern Pintail

14. Ring-necked Duck

15. Greater Scaup

16. Common Eider

17. Surf Scoter (10s of thousands off Montauk Point)

18. Black Scoter (10s of thousands off Montauk Point)

19. White-winged Scoter

20. Long-tailed Duck

21. Bufflehead

22. Common Goldeneye

23. BARROW’S GOLDENEYE (at least one male – Montauk Lake)

24. Hooded Merganser

25. Red-Breasted Merganser 

photo by Sandy Paci

26. Common Merganser

27. Ruddy Duck

28. Common Loon

29. Horned Grebe

30. Northern Gannett

31. Great Blue Heron

32. Red-tailed Hawk

33. Black-bellied Plover

34. Sanderling

35. American Woodcock (possibly 2, heard “peenting” at dusk – Camp Hero parking lot)

36. Bonaparte’s Gull

37. Ring-billed Gull

38. Herring Gull

39. ICELAND GULL (3 – Shinnecock dredging area)

40. Lesser Black-backed Gull (1 – beach below Montauk Point)

41. GLAUCOUS GULL (1 – Shinnecock Inlet & dredging area, presumably same bird)

42. Greater Black-backed Gull

43. Rock Pigeon

44. Mourning Dove

45. SNOWY OWL (2 – along Dune Road)

46. Blue Jay

47. American Crow

48. Common Raven

49. Carolina Wren

50. American Robin

51. Northern Mockingbird

52. European Starling

53. Yellow-rumped Warbler
54. Song Sparrow

55. Northern Cardinal

56. Red-winged Blackbird

57.  Common Grackle

58. House Sparrow
59.Red-throated Loon 
60.White-throated Sparrow

photo by Sandy Paci

February 1st Barnegat Island/Jersey Coast

Leader Tom Preston

Participants: Louis De Marco, Ryan Green, Rusty Harold, Jason Hill, Sandra Paci, Alexandra Ratay, Kevin Rolwing, Janet Schumacher,. Registrar: Jo Ann Preston Leader: Tom Preston

Some trip photos are at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/102865732@N04/sets/72157640439945893/

We had a very good February 1st day birding in the end. The original plan was to go Brigantine, further South, and spend most or all of the day there. However, the wildlife drive at Brig was closed due to snow, ice and mud! I had to improvise a bit but it seemed to work out rather well, and we had a great group.

We traded Brig's Tundra Swans for a Western Grebe, and Barnegat worked out very well, with spectacular close up views of Harlequins Ducks and all 3 scoters, among others. There was no wind, unusually for Barnegat, and it was much sunnier than predicted. Another nice sighting was a flock of at least 70 Purple Sandpipers. I don't recall seeing that many before.

After that we went to NE Monmouth county, and checked out several spots, including Monmouth Beach, where we saw a Western Grebe. We ended up the day at dusk at Sandy Hook, on the Hawk Watch platform. The sunset was spectacular. A Sharp-shinned Hawk and a Merlin zipped by, we heard reveille from the military facilities to the NW, and we say the illuminated parachute jump in Coney Island lit up, from many miles away,

eBird lists:

Barnegat: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S16757216
 Deal - Roosevelt Avenue http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S16759182 Seven Presidents Park http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S16759210
Monmouth Beach Cultural Center: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S16766867
Sandy Hook: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S16766960

Species List:

Brant
Mute Swan
Gadwall
American Wigeon
American Black Duck
Mallard
Greater Scaup
Common Eider
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter

Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Hooded Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Red-throated Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Western Grebe - Monmouth Beach
Northern Gannet
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Cormorant
Great Blue Heron - flying over the ocean at Seven Presidents Park
Sharp-shinned Hawk - Sandy Hook
Red-tailed Hawk - seen from the Garden State Parkway
Turkey Vulture - flew over the Garden State Parkway, and also seen on the return from 

Barnegat
Black-bellied Plover
Ruddy Turnstone
Sanderling
Dunlin
Purple Sandpiper
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull - Seven Presidents Park
Great Black-backed Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Merlin - Sandy Hook
Peregrine - seen at the Verrazano Bridge
American Crow
Carolina Wren
Eastern Bluebird - flew over the Garden State Parkway
American Robin
Hermit Thrush - at Barnegat Light - seen by Janet
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Song Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Boat-tailed Grackle - Barnegat light
House Finch
House Sparrow
Northern Harrier
Darkeyed Junco

- 58 species

Sandy Paci's photo gallery

https://m.facebook.com/sandra.paci.5?v=photos&album=a.813965665286567.1073741860.100000194238064&_rdr 

January 26th Waterfowl around the Jamaica Bay region

We begin this post with much excitement:  note this terrific photo taken by Matthieu Benoit, the Snowy Owl chasing the Horned Lark.

date = 2014/01/27
sites = Various
observers = BBC group 

Leader Peter D, Mary E,Lenore S,Rusty H,Monica B, Matthieu B

 ( and thanks to Matthieu for the great photos)

BBC looking at Sunset ;) , photo by Matthieu Benoit

Common Loon 
Red-throated Loon 
Horned Grebe 
Double-crested Cormorant 
Great Cormorant 
Northern Shoveler 
Lesser Scaup 
Bufflehead 
Gadwall 
American Black Duck 
Snow Goose 
Canada Goose 
Black Scoter 
Common Goldeneye 
American Wigeon 
Long-tailed Duck 
Greater Scaup 
Red-breasted Merganser 
Brant 
Mute Swan 
Mallard 
Cooper's Hawk 
Northern Harrier 
American Kestrel 
Killdeer 
Black-bellied Plover 
Sanderling 
Dunlin 
Ruddy Turnstone 
Great Black-backed Gull 
Ring-billed Gull 
Herring Gull 
Rock Pigeon                         
Snowy Owl 4
Northern Flicker 
American Crow 
Horned Lark 
Black-capped Chickadee 
Hermit Thrush 
Northern Mockingbird 
European Starling 
Swamp Sparrow 
White-throated Sparrow 
Savannah Sparrow 
Snow Bunting 
Song Sparrow 
Fox Sparrow 
American Tree Sparrow 
Dark-eyed Junco 
Field Sparrow 
Northern Cardinal 
House Finch 
American Goldfinch 
House Sparrow 

American Robin

55 species

A great winter day to its glorious end..

Tally notable notes : 21 waterfowl species,12 duck species, 6 shorebird species, 9 sparrow species; floating /soaring flying Snowy owl ~25 feet over the BBC group,   owl trying to land in tree next to group; Snowy owl observed chasing a Horned Lark;  bitter cold, arctic like winter landscapes ; 7 degrees windchill early morning.
Takeoff from a tree perch, Snowy Owl across the field, photo by Matthieu

Walkill National Wildlife Refuge Jan 18th

Leader Rob Bate:

Robert Bate posted on Brooklyn Bird Club's timeline

"Our intrepid crew of 4 BBC birders braved a morning snowy drive up to Wallkill National Wildlife Refuge and the "black dirt" farming area just above the New Jersey border. After a few detours and missed exits we arrived and promptly found some Eastern Bluebirds, Tree Sparrows, Robins, Mallards, Black Ducks, Red-tail Hawks at our first stop there. Later, in a search for Greater White-fronted Geese, we came across huge flocks of Canada Geese, Crows and Starlings in the snow covered cornfields.

Once at Wallkill NWR we were treated to sightings of numerous Rough-legged Hawks , Northern Harriers (including several of the "Gray Ghost" mature males) as well as a constant stream of Canada Geese coming in to roost. At one point a Bald Eagle flew too near to the geese and the whole flock took to the air, upwards of 5000 geese the sight and sound of which were breath-taking.

The main attraction of this adventure was the potential sighting of Short-eared Owls as many as 12 of which had been sited there lately during the twilight. As the light faded, the wind picked up and the temperature dropped, the Owls finally appeared fling low over the marsh grasses. We all got good looks at these magnificent creatures, one even whirling in the air above our viewing platform. We counted at least 8 of the Short-eared Owls (most of which were a good 1/2 mile away) and we all climbed back into the car, cranked up the heat and headed home happy. Thanks to all for such great birding and companionship.

Rob Bate"

Waterfowl Counts Jan 18th -20th

Drake BLACK SCOTER at Fort Tilden's Coast Guard Station
Photo by Sandy Paci

January 18th Brooklyn Bridge Park /Red Hook

Mike Yuan

Peter-

Results of Saturday's waterfowl count at Brooklyn Bridge Park and Red Hook.

-Mike

Date: Jan 18, 2014

Locations: Brooklyn Bridge Park, Louis Valentino Jr Park, Pier 44 Waterfront Garden, Van Brunt Street Pier, Ikea Brooklyn, Columbia Street Pier/Gowanus Bay


Brant-28
Canada Goose - 49
Gadwall- 23
 American Black Duck - 11
 Mallard - 40
 Greater Scaup - 4
Greater/Lesser Scaup - 88
Long-tailed Duck - 1, Van Brunt St pier
 Bufflehead-76
 Red-breasted Merganser - 12
Common Loon - 4
Double-crested Cormorant - 10
American Coot - 1

Other non waterfowl species

Red-tailed Hawk - 1
Purple Sandpiper - 2, Fly-by Louis Valentino Pier
 Ring-billed Gull - 489
Herring Gull - 56
Great Black-backed Gull - 7
Rock Pigeon - 29
Peregrine Falcon - 1, scattered gulls over Industry City/Gowanus Bay
crow sp. - 4
Common Raven - 1, Chased by gulls over Gowanus Bay
Northern Mockingbird - 1 European Starling - 10
Song Sparrow - 2
House Sparrow - 7

January 19th. Prospect Park/Greenwood Cemetery

Dennis Hrehowsik

Lots of ice. Obs were Kristin, Janet Z. and Alan B. and myself and covered pp water in 2 hours. Non waterfowl Highlight was close views of male kingfisher at esdale bridge. (One of few areas not frozen!)

Hoodies 6 Shovelers 27 Mallard 139 Canada 187 Black duck 8 Ruddy 9 Coot 24 Swan 9

Orrin reported gwc water frozen no wAter fowl other than canada flyover heard not seen.

January 20th Coastal Ft Tilden,Breezy Pt, Dead Horse Bay,Gerritsen Creek

Peter Dorosh,with Mary Eyster,Sandy Paci,Joshua Malbin

date = 2014/01/20

Coastal sites= Fort Tilden, Rockaway Yacht Club, Breezy Point ,Dead Horse Bay                                (Floyd Bennett), Marine Park Gerritsen Creek

observers = Waterfowl Count Team

Common Loon 27
Red-throated Loon 35
Pied-billed Grebe 3
Horned Grebe 15
Red-necked Grebe 2 Breezy Pt
Double-crested Cormorant 2
Great Cormorant 8
Northern Shoveler 38
Lesser Scaup 1
Bufflehead 41
American Black Duck 38
Canada Goose 199
Black Scoter 22
American Wigeon 40
Long-tailed Duck 5656
Greater Scaup 17507; massive flock at Dead Horse Bay marina
Red-breasted Merganser 151
White-winged Scoter 6
Brant 230
Ruddy Duck 2
Surf Scoter 37
Mute Swan 4
Mallard 144
American Coot 1

Scoter species 275

Gallery coastal photos

Sunset upon grasses against the backdrop of Dead Horse Bay; beyond at the docks,17,000 Greater Scaup wintering this day.

January 4th,2014 Coney Island

Leader: Mike Yuan

On the Pier, Photo by Chris Laskowski

Lots of sun+good company+great birds=Great walk around Coney Island today. The day turned out to be pretty comfortable despite the frigid forecast for the morning.

Highlights from the beach were a Surf scoter and 9 poor, huddled Purple Sandpipers on the land side of the 37th st jetty. At Coney Island Creek, Bobbi added to the recent run of good gulls at this location by spotting a Black-headed Gull in the creek, and shortly after a trio of Black Vultures passed over us from the south.

To top off a fun morning, the group split a couple of classic NY pizzas at Totonno's. 13 birders, 40 species

Brant
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Gadwall
American Black Duck
Mallard
Surf Scoter - Coney Island Beach
Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead
 Common Goldeneye
Common Merganser - two drakes and a hen, Coney Island Creek
Red-breasted Merganser Ruddy Duck
Red-throated Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Northern Gannet
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
 Black Vulture - 3 flying over Coney Island Creek
Cooper's Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
 American Coot
 Killdeer
Sanderling
 Purple Sandpiper
Black-headed Gull - adult at Coney Island Creek
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
 Great Black-backed Gull
 Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
 Peregrine Falcon
American Crow
 European Starling
American Pipit
Song Sparrow
Brown-headed Cowbird
House Finch
House Sparrow

Thanks, -Mike

On Coney Island Creek,  Photo by Chris Laskowski

adult Black-headed Gull, photo by Bobbi Manian who discovered the rare gull

Keir Randall's photos

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22689183@N00/11764376316/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22689183@N00/11764377286/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22689183@N00/11763624235/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22689183@N00/11764029294/in/photostream/

New Year's celebration of birds in Prospect Park

date = 2014/01/01
site = Prospect Park
observers = Brooklyn Bird Club New Year's Celebration of birds

Leader : Peter Dorosh

Northern Shoveler Lake, est 75
Canada Goose 
Wood Duck Upper Pool,drake
Hooded Merganser 2 Three Sisters Islands
Ruddy Duck 8 Lake
Mute Swan 
Mallard 
Cooper's Hawk perched Lamppost 249
Red-tailed Hawk 
American Coot 
Great Black-backed Gull 1
Ring-billed Gull 
Herring Gull 
Rock Pigeon 
Mourning Dove 
Downy Woodpecker 
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 
Red-bellied Woodpecker 
American Crow 
Blue Jay 
Tufted Titmouse 
Black-capped Chickadee 
White-breasted Nuthatch 
Brown Creeper horse loop ballfields
Carolina Wren lullwater
American Robin 
Hermit Thrush 2 peninsula
Gray Catbird breeze hill feeders area; unseasonable
Northern Mockingbird 
European Starling 
White-throated Sparrow 
Song Sparrow 
Fox Sparrow 
Eastern Towhee male nethermead bridge north;unseasonable
Northern Cardinal 
Red-winged Blackbird 
Common Grackle 175 lawn near bartel pritchard square entrance
House Finch feeders,10
American Goldfinch 
House Sparrow 

late addition: Red-breasted Nuthatch

New birds from side trip to Greenwood Cemetery

date = 2014/01/01
site = GWC

observers = BBC side trip after Prospect, remaining members

Merlin 
Monk Parakeet 
Red-headed Woodpecker juvenile ,just inside main 25th St entrance,battle &   Arbor road "T" intersectio;stashing acorns

Fish Crow 

45 species

December 21st "Winter Wildcard "

Early morning Snowy Owl gathering, photo by Oona Stern

Leader : Peter Dorosh

Hilight : 6 SNOWY OWLS, 4 together +1 in one location; last bird in another location

date = 2013/12/21
sites =  noted at a later date
observers = BBC
Snow Bunting, photo by Oona Stern
Common Loon
Red-throated Loon
Horned Grebe
Northern Gannet
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Cormorant
Bufflehead
Canada Goose
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Greater Scaup
Red-breasted Merganser
White-winged Scoter
Brant
Surf Scoter
Cooper's Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Northern Harrier   
Photo by Heydi Lopes
Peregrine Falcon
American Kestrel
Sanderling
Dunlin
Purple Sandpiper
Great Black-backed Gull
Bonaparte's Gull   
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Snowy Owl 6
Northern Flicker
Horned Lark
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
American Pipit
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Snow Bunting
Song Sparrow
American Tree Sparrow
Lapland Longspur
House Sparrow

Photo by Heydi Lopes

American Crow 
Brown-headed Cowbird 

 House Finch heard

White-throated Sparrow 
 American Robin 

Gallery of Snowy Owls

All photos taken by Heydi Lopes