Spring 2017 AMNH Central Park bird walks

I have tallied up the cumulative bird lists for my Wednesday and Thursday morning AMNH Central Park bird walks. The lists are posted as separate pages here on my blog. The Wednesday total list is here and the Thursday total list is here. I have also prepared a combined cumulative list for the two sets of walks that can be found here.

May 28 - Bashakill State WMA and Sterling Forest State Park

Ann and I spent the morning and early afternoon birding around Bashakill. It was a lovely late spring morning, if a bit cloudy. There are two active Bald Eagle nests in the area, each with two large young. One is visible from the Haven Road causeway and the other is in the same place it has been for some years now visible from the main boat launch. Other nice breeders seen and/or heard included Acadian Flycatcher, Prairie Warbler, and Indigo Bunting. We also saw a large Snapping Turtle walking across the edge of a field into the woods.

In the afternoon we stopped at Sterling Forest State Park in Orange County on the way back to the city. We were hoping to pick up Golden-winged Warbler. When we arrived at the end of Ironwood Road, we heard Common Raven calling from the ridge. Two other birders were just driving away, but they told us where they had heard and seen a Golden-winged. We headed to the spot and Ann immediately heard the Golden-winged singing. We tried for a while, but could not locate the bird. We continued up the trail, because it had sounded like the bird went that way. We were rewarded with two Broad-winged Hawks circling and calling overhead, but no Golden-winged. A Painted Turtle sitting on the side of the trail was our second turtle of the day. Finally, we headed back since we still had the drive back to the city and did not want to get caught in Sunday afternoon traffic. As we approached the original spot we heard the Golden-winged singing again. Finally, I spotted it perched up high in a tree. It gave us nice binocular views, but I was only able to get some distant pictures.

Golden-winged Warbler 05/28/2017 Sterling Forest State Park

It was a great end to a great two days of birding.

Below are our bird lists for Bashakill and Sterling Forest.

Bashakill
Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Bald Eagle
Mourning Dove
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Acadian Flycatcher
Willow Flycatcher
Eastern Phoebe
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
Yellow-throated Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
American Crow
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
House Wren
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Veery
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Black-and-white Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart
Yellow Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Chipping Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Scarlet Tanager
Indigo Bunting
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Baltimore Oriole
American Goldfinch

Sterling Forest 
Green Heron
Turkey Vulture
Broad-winged Hawk
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Pileated Woodpecker
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Common Raven
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Tufted Titmouse
American Robin
Golden-winged Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Yellow Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Northern Cardinal
Indigo Bunting
Brown-headed Cowbird
Baltimore Oriole

May 27 - Shawangunk Grasslands NWR and Bashakill State WMA

Ann and I visited the Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge in Ulster County last Saturday (May 21) as part of our Great Gull Island Birdathon. We were pleased to see Grasshopper Sparrow there. We were disappointed to hear afterward, that while we were there a Dickcissel was found, but word did not get out about it until later. A couple of days later birders who had gone to see the Dickcissel discovered a singing Henslow's Sparrow within sight of the Dickcissel. This was too good to pass up. So even though we normally avoid traveling on Memorial Day weekend we headed up on Saturday to look for the two birds. It was easy to find where the Henslow's was being seen. You just had to look for the group of birders. When we got there Junko Suzuki pointed out the Dickcissel perched up down the trail. We took a quick look at it and then waited with the other birders for the Henslow's. After about 30 minutes we heard it calling and then it popped up about 25 feet in front of us and provided great views for the next 15 minutes or so. Henslow's Sparrows used to nest on these grasslands, before it was a National Wildlife Refuge. In fact, this is where Ann saw her life Henslow's on a Birdathon thirty-four years ago, but they have been gone from the area for many years. It would be great if they are returning to the area as breeders.

Henslow's Sparrow 05/27/2017 Shawangunk Grasslands NWR

After the sparrow dropped back into the grass out of site we continued down the trail to a blind to get better looks at the Dickcissel. It never got as close as the Henslow's, but i was able to get some slightly blurry pictures.

Dickcissel 05/27/2017 Shawangunk Grasslands NWR

The whole time we were there Eastern Meadowlarks and Bobolinks were singing and flying around us.

Bobolink 05/27/2017 Shawangunk Grasslands NWR

After leaving the Shawangunk Grasslands NWR we drove down to Wurtsboro, NY where we were spending the night. After dinner at Danny's in Wurtsboro we birded around the nearby Bashakill State Wildlife Management Area from dusk until after dark. We heard both Least and American bitterns calling. A group of 10 - 12 Common Nighthawks were feeding over the have Road causeway across the marsh. After dark we heard Eastern Whip-poor-wills and a Barred Owl calling. It was a great end to a great day's birding.

Below are our lists for Shawangunk and Bashakill.

Shawangunk Grasslands
American Kestrel
Barn Swallow
Brown Thrasher
Savannah Sparrow
Henslow's Sparrow
Dickcissel
Bobolink
Red-winged Blackbird
Eastern Meadowlark
Common Grackle
American Goldfinch

Bashakill
Wood Duck
Pied-billed Grebe
American Bittern
Least Bittern
Green Heron
Bald Eagle
Common Gallinule
Barred Owl
Common Nighthawk
Eastern Whip-poor-will
Eastern Phoebe
Eastern Kingbird
Warbling Vireo
Fish Crow
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Veery
Common Yellowthroat
Yellow Warbler
Song Sparrow
Scarlet Tanager
Red-winged Blackbird

May 25 - Central Park

The last Thursday morning AMNH bird walk of the spring was done in a steady light rain. One brave soul joined me for the walk. We managed to find 24 species in the rain. We went from sheltered spot to sheltered spot, trying to stay as dry as we could. Our best bird was a nice view of a Great Crested Flycatcher seen from the Rustic Shelter on the western side of the Ramble. At one point we had both the Great Crested and a Baltimore Oriole in the same binocular field. I will post a cumulative bird list for the spring as soon as I compile it. Below is the final morning's list. I wish everyone a good summer. See you in the fall.

Canada Goose
Mallard
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Egret
Rock Pigeon
White-winged Dove
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Great Crested Flycatcher
Warbling Vireo
Blue Jay
Barn Swallow
Swainson's Thrush
American Robin
Gray Catbird
European Starling
Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart
Magnolia Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Baltimore Oriole
House Sparrow

May 24 - Central Park

This was the last Wednesday morning AMNH walk of the season. We started out with some light rain, but it quickly stopped. We managed to find 36 species in the two hours. The best bird was a single Gray-cheeked Thrush. The full morning's list is below. I will compile a cumulative list for the season and get it posted as soon as I can. In the meantime i wish all my walk participants a good summer.

Canada Goose
Mallard
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Egret
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Red-tailed Hawk
Herring Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
Gray-cheeked Thrush
Swainson's Thrush
American Robin
Gray Catbird
European Starling
Ovenbird
Northern Waterthrush
Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart
Magnolia Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
White-throated Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Baltimore Oriole
House Sparrow

May 21 - Birdathon - Day 2

It has been a week since the Birdathon and I am still working on an account of our two days of birding madness. In the meantime, I will post that we found 186 species for the weekend. This is I believe just about our average number over the last ten or so Birdathons. More to come.

May 20 - Great Gull Island Birdathon - Day 1

It is 10:30 Saturday night. I have been up since 1:30 am (birding since 2:00 am). I have to get up again at 3:15 am for day 2 of the Birdathon (yes, I know we are crazy). Obviously, an actual report will have to wait. Our total for day 1 was 126 species (pending any hanging chads - but I think that number is pretty firm). That is a decent day 1 total, but probably not enough for us to set a personal record, though tomorrow will tell. In the meantime, here is the view at Bashakill Marsh this morning a few minutes before sun-up.

Bashakill Marsh - sun-up - 05/20/2017

May 19 - Central Park

After the early morning R-t Loon (see previous post), I was down in Central Park leading Paul Sweet's Friday morning AMNH bird walk. It was hot and fewer birds than earlier in the week, but we still had some nice birds. Easily the best was the fairly cooperative male Bay-breasted Warbler on the Belvedere Castle plaza. Somewhat surprising was an Eastern Phoebe at Hernshead - it is getting later for this bird in the park. Our full list of 35 species is below.

Canada Goose
Mallard
Great Egret (3, two flying over the Lake; one at Turtle Pond
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift (8, oerhead at Maintenance meadow)
Red-bellied Woodpecker (heard)
Downy Woodpecker (heard)
Northern Flicker (heard)
Eastern Wood-Pewee (1, heard and seen)
Eastern Phoebe (1, Hernshead)
Great Crested Flycatcher (1, maybe 2; heard)
Eastern Kingbird (1, Hernshead)
Warbling Vireo (3, heard)
Blue Jay
Tufted Titmouse 91, heard)
Swainson's Thrush (2)
American Robin
Gray Catbird
European Starling
Northern Waterthrush (1, heard)
Common Yellowthroat (2)
American Redstart (4)
Magnolia Warbler (4)
Bay-breasted Warbler (1, male, Belvedere)

Bay-breasted Warbler 05/19/2017 Central Park

Blackpoll Warbler (8, males and females)
Black-throated Blue Warbler (2, females)
Song Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Baltimore Oriole
House Finch (1, female)

House Sparrow

May 19 - Inwood Hill Park - Red-throated Loon

I woke up at 5:30 this morning to start a busy day. Before I had even gotten out of bed, my phone chimed to indicate an incoming message. I thought I should check it in case there was something interesting being reported from Central Park where I was going to be leading a bird walk later in the morning. It turned out to be a tweet from Nathan O'Reilly to the Manhattan Bird Alert Twitter feed. The message said: "A late Red-throated Loon at Muscota Marsh in Inwood Hill Park. 5:35am". I grabbed my binoculars and looked out the window - a winter plumaged Red-throated Loon was swimming away from the marsh. While it was not new for my apartment list, it is only the second I have had. Nice way to start the day!

May 18 - Central Park

Another big flight of migrants on radar last night; another disappointing morning. I suppose the disappointment is actually relative. Most of the spring has been so cool and wet and the migration has been so slow that everyone was looking for some spectacular flights this week now that the winds were predicted to be favorable (SW) and the temperatures were warming up. Indeed, Tuesday morning (which based on the overnight radar on Monday night was expected to be middling) was, in fact, quite good. The next two mornings, which everyone thought would be even better, just didn't measure up. This does not mean that we had a very poor morning, just a disappointing one. My Thursday AMNH bird walk group tallied forty species, with ten warblers, about half the warbler total of Tuesday morning. It would seem that the last two nights were so favorable for migration that the big numbers of birds picked up on radar just kept on going. Nevertheless, we had some nice birds: Great Crested Flycatcher, male Bay-breasted Warbler, and a male Scarlet Tanager. The list is below.

Canada Goose
Mallard
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Egret (1, flyover)
Herring Gull (2, flyovers)
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Red-bellied Woodpecker (heard)
Downy Woodpecker (heard)
Northern Flicker
Eastern Wood-Pewee (1, heard)
Great Crested Flycatcher (1, west of Azalea Pond)
Eastern Kingbird (3, Hernshead and Turtle Pond)
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo (3, heard)
Blue Jay
Tufted Titmouse (heard)
White-breasted Nuthatch (1)
Swainson's Thrush (1)
American Robin
Gray Catbird
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing (6, flock flying over)
Ovenbird (1)
Northern Waterthrush (1, heard)
Black-and-white Warbler (4)
Common Yellowthroat (3)
American Redstart (4)
Magnolia Warbler (6)
Bay-breasted Warbler (1, male se of Turtle Pond)
Blackpoll Warbler (5)
Canada Warbler (1, male singing south side of Turtle Pond)
Wilson's Warbler (1)
White-throated Sparrow (1)
Scarlet Tanager (1)

Scarlet Tanager 05/18/2017 Central Park

Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Baltimore Oriole
House Sparrow