Today's Photo - Gulls...but which ones?

Here is a little exercise to further hone your ID skills. The subjects are Gulls, but which ones? If getting the ID, was not much of a challenge and you would like one, then try and age them. Good luck.

Wordless Wednesday...

Van Courtlandt Bird Walk Report 10-22-2011...

On Saturday, our Van Courtlandt Park group met up at our usual spot, the nature center near the parade grounds. By the time I arrived, the group were already checking the parade ground fields and were looking at Savannah Sparrows (Passerculus sandwichensis). In the near vicinity on the museum grounds, we observed several Brown-headed Cowbirds (Certhia americana), European Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris), and Red-winged Blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus). After a few minutes working the birds on the museum grounds, we began working our way towards the John Kieran Trail that would take us alongside the lake. Along the way we picked up Brown Creeper, Blue-headed Vireo and both Ruby and Golden-crowned Kinglets. The Creeper and Vireo were life birds for most of the attendees, so there was a happy bunch of birders who headed back towards the restoration spot. Back at the restoration area, we picked up several sparrows, including our season first Chipping Sparrows (Spizella passerina); some of us had nice looks at Swamp Sparrows and more Savannah Sparrows. Several House Finches obliged by giving us extended looks as they fed on the ground. The restoration area also produced a Northern Parula (Setophaga americana), a couple of Golden-crowned Kinglets (Regulus calendula), Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) and our best bird of the day in a Black-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus erythropthalmus). By the end of the walk, we managed 45 species; see below for a complete list.

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata)
Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia)
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)
Black-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus erythropthalmus)
Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica)
Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens)
Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus)
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)
Blue-headed Vireo (Vireo solitarius)
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)
Brown Creeper (Certhia americana)
Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis)
Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa)
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula)
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)
Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)
Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)
Northern Parula (Setophaga americana)
Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata)
Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum)
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)
Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)
Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis)
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)
Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana)
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)
House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus)
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)

Tags: Van Courtlandt Park, Bronx NY

Today's Photo - Flock of Shorebirds...

Is there anything better than a flock of shorebirds in flight? This group of shorebirds seen with Tom Burke, Gail Benson and Mary Normandy yesterday on Long Island had me longing for shorebird season. This is not a quiz, but I would encourage readers, especially the shorebird aficionados to take a crack at identifying the species in the photo.

Today's Photo - American Wigeon

Male and Female American Wigeon - Male is the higher duck.

Wordless Wednesday...

Today's Photo - Cooper's Hawk...

Van Courtlandt Bird Walk Report 10-15-2011...

Swamp Sparrow

Last Saturday, our Van Courtlandt Park group met up at our usual spot, the nature center near the parade grounds. We did our usual scan of the fields, and picked up several Savannah Sparrows (Passerculus sandwichensis) (perched on the fence) and in the field. There was not much else on the parade grounds and so we headed out to bird along the Van Courtlandt Lake. It was windy making birding very difficult as the birds stayed out of the wind and our views, but we plugged along working the trail looking for waterfowl on the lake. There was a fair number of Canada Geese on the lake, including about 5 Wood Ducks. We also saw a few Mallards, but little else. We tried Vault Hill, and picked up our first Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) of the day; however,it was quiet up there as well, so we headed back to the nature center and birded the restoration area. The restoration area was a little out of the wind and it was here we picked up most of our day birds. Swamp Sparrows (Melospiza georgiana) were nice to look at along with a Northern Parula (Setophaga americana) and a couple of Golden-crowned Kinglets (Regulus calendula). Earlier we had seen a Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula), so we ended up getting both Kinglets for the day, a first for us at Van Courtlandt. Despite the tough conditions, we managed 37 species, see below for a complete list.

Total Birds: 37

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii)
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus)
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia)
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)
Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens)
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)
Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa)
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula)
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)
Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)
Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia)
Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)
Northern Parula (Setophaga americana)
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)
Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis)
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)
Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana)
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)
House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus)
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)

Tags: Van Courtlandt Park, Bronx NY

Today's Photo - Dunlin...

Year of the Lark Sparrow...

When Corey Finger, Seth Asubel and I found a Lark Sparrow Chondestes grammacus, at Edgemere in Queens on August 26th, I was excited and pleased because it was a year bird, an uncommon one and a new bird for me in Queens County. Earlier in the year, I had dipped on an overwintering Lark Sparrow that was hanging out near the Calverton Grasslands in Long Island and thought that I would have to hope for one on Long Island, which seemed to be the best place to see them during migration. However, we have seen a bumper crop of LASP showing up in almost all of the boroughs. Which then begs the question, which borough has not had an LASP report? The answer to that question might be the Bronx, where I have been looking unsuccessfully so far for one.

After the August bird in Edgemere Queens, another August LASP was reported from the Staten Island Conference House on August 29th. Then in September, we had LASP reports from Central Park Manhattan, Fort Tilden in Queens, Kissena Park in Queens, Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn, Jones Beach in Nassau County and Robert Moses State Park in Suffolk County. Some of these birds carried over into October, like the one bird in Kissena Park, but that bird turned into 2 birds meaning that either another Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus), arrived or one of the two was missed in September. October also had new LASP arrivals with reports from Prospect Park in Brooklyn, Central Park in Manhattan and Fort Tilden in Queens.

 I did some research using eBird and NYSARC, going back a few years and based on the number of past reports, this year looks like it may be the year of the Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus). As of this post, there have been 14, very possibly 15 reports of LASP in the NYC area (including LI); this number does not include the overwintering bird from Calverton and being careful not to double count reports. That seems to be an unusually high number and has me wondering if this is just one of those "good year for LASP" as birders like to put it or are we seeing a trend related to weather condition changes on the East Coast? Here are a few photos of Lark Sparrows (Chondestes grammacus), that I have seen this year.

Digiscoped at Kissena Park, Queens NY.

Photographed at Jones Beach, Nassau County NY.

Digiscoped at Fort Tilden, Queens NY.

Tags: Robert Moses State Park, Kissena Park, Floyd Bennett FieldProspect Park BrooklynCentral Park ManhattanFort Tilden Queens, Lark Sparrow

Macro Monday - Fiery Skipper...

Twice is nice for Say's Phoebe...

Another Say's Phoebe was found this morning by Joan Quinlan at Robert Moses State Park field 2 on the beach. The bird was later re-found by Shai Mitra, near the the southwestern corner of the parking lot at field 2 near the golf course. The bird then went missing until late this afternoon when it was re-found by Bobby Kurtz. After taking a call from Bobby who let me know he had re-found the bird, I went to Robert Moses State Park and with the light fading managed to see my second Say's Phoebe of the week. Here is a photo.

Tags: Robert Moses State Park, Say's Phoebe

New State Bird - Say's Phoebe...

I made the mad dash out to LI this afternoon to see the Say's Phoebe (Sayornis saya) that was found late this morning by Annie McIntyre and Sue Feustel, in the west fields of Caumsett State Park on Lloyd Neck, Long Island.  This was not a life bird for me as I saw my first in Arizona last year, but it was a state bird.  Here is a photo.

Tags: Caumsett State Park, Say's Phoebe

Macro Monday - Box Elder Bugs...

Thanks to Gail Benson who researched and sent me the name of these bugs.

Today's Photo - Yellow-breasted Chat In The Backyard...

Field Notes: Birding The Bronx…

Digiscoped Indigo Bunting

Completely overlooking that I was not scheduled for civic duties in the Bronx. Today, I ended up in Van Courtlandt Park only to realize after I got there that my morning was free.  At first I thought of just heading back into Queens or LI, but then decided to make the most of it and bird Hunter’s Island/Orchard Beach.  I arrived at Orchard Beach around 8:25 a.m. and began working the edges of Hunter's Island.  At first all I could hear and see were Palm Warblers (Dendroica palmarum), but then I began picking up the buzzing calls of Indigo Buntings (Passerina cyanea) and the chip notes of Swamp Sparrows (Melospiza georgiana).  Working the areas and doing several passes allowed me to run into a small wave of passerine activity that included, Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula), Wilson ’s Warbler (Wilsonia pusilla), Magnolia Warbler (Dendroica magnolia), Northern Parula (Parula americana), Tennessee Warbler (Vermivora peregrina), Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia), Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus) and a Philadelphia Vireo (Vireo philadelphicus).  I continued birding the edges making my way past Hunter's Island towards the Twin Islands.  I worked both Islands, thoroughly but the returns were dismal and the only notable birds I got were Great and Snowy Egrets feeding on the mudflats during low tide.  However, once I got out on the edges, I picked up another warbler, Black-throated Green (Dendroica virens).

Digiscoped shot of the Dickcissel at Orchard Beach, Bronx NY

On my way back towards the parking lot, I worked over several flocks of sparrows that were feeding all along the hedges near the beach.  As I neared beach marker number 3, I noticed a couple of birds on the hedges.  Putting my bins on the birds I picked out one with a yellow stripe over the eyes and I immediately thought that I might have a Dickcissel (Spiza americana).  Concerned that the activity nearby would flush the bird, I quickly put my scope on the bird and confirmed that it was indeed a Dickcissel (Spiza americana).   I managed to get a couple of digiscoping shots before a park employee drove up and flushed all of the birds.  I waited for a bit, but the Dickcissel did not return. I continued my birding, working my way back towards the parking lot.  In a small group of Oak Trees just before the parking lot, I picked up my second wave of passerines and added, Blackpoll Warbler (Dendroica striata), Chestnut sided Warbler (Dendroica pensylvanica), Bay Breasted Warbler (Dendroica castanea), Blackburnian Warbler (Dendroica fusca) and American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla).  I decided to work the West side of Orchard Beach and walked the Siwanoy Trail all the way out to the restoration area.  The birding along the way was quite slow, but I did see more Indigo Buntings, Savannah Sparrows (Passerculus sandwichensis), House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) and both Snowy and Great Egrets.  Finally, I decided to head back to Queens.  With about 7 hours of birding in the Bronx, I felt that 15 species of Warblers, along with a Philadelphia Vireo and a Dickcissel was not a bad haul at all.

Digiscoped shot of Snowy Egrets in the Bronx NY

Tags: Bronx, Dickcissel, Philadelphia Vireo