Van Courtlandt Bird Walk Report 12-10-2011...

A small group of birders met at our usual spot - the nature center near the parade grounds, for our Saturday bird walk at Van Courtlandt Park in the Bronx NY. We began our walk by scanning the fields for a Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons), which we did not find and our thoughts were that this bird had moved on. We did have two Snow Geese mixed in with the Canada Geese on the field. The two Snow Geese were new for our walk and we took some time to observe them feeding on the field. It was a nice day not too hot or cold and so I decided we should venture out to the North Woods. We worked our was past the stables finding very little passerine movement. It remained quiet until we made some headway into the Gass Gallagher Trail in the North Woods and then we picked up some action. A couple of Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers put on a brief show for us and we got on another first for the walk in a Red-shouldered Hawk that was soaring high above the trees. Later, as we looped back on the trail we added some additional passerines, but nothing out of the ordinary. Our favorite spot, the restoration area which is always good for a few birds was disappointingly quiet and after about 3 and half hours of birding we called it a day finishing with 27 species. See below for a complete list.

Snow Goose (Chen caerulescens)
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus)
Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus)
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia)
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius)
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens)
Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus)
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)
Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa)
Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)
Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana)
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)
House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus)
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)

Tags: Van Courtlandt Park, Bronx NY