*Date*: Saturday, 5 June 2010 (7:30a-6:50p) *Location*: Clove Lakes Park, Great Kills Park & Goethal's Bridge Pond *Reported by*: Ben Cacace
Best bird of the day was the last bird. While watching every Common Tern from the front of the docked ferry on the Staten Island side I spotted a larger tern flying below the ferry. It's bill was red and it had an obviously different wingbeat. The bird's bill was thicker than the Commons and was a distinctive red. This was my first *CASPIAN TERN*. According to the checklist I missed only 1 of the abundant summer breeders. This was American Crow. On Staten Island I now only call crows to species when heard. Both Fish and American have been heard fairly regularly. *Clove Lakes Park* (2.5 hours): Typical breeders seen. According to the list only EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE, WARBLING VIREO & CHIPPING SPARROW are 'Rare' for the Summer season. The vireo & sparrow were just north of Martling Ave. south of the red bridge which is one of my favorite spots in the park. Species seen - 29. *Great Kills Park* (2.75 hours): I arrived around high tide to see what the situation is like when the salt flats are under water. The most obvious shorebirds were the 18+ SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS on the beach near the north end of the flats. Also seen were 6 AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHERS, 2 KILLDEER, 1 SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER & 2 SPOTTED SANDPIPERS. The breeding plumaged HORNED GREBE continues off the salt flats. A blue morph LITTLE BLUE HERON continues on the flats. Heard along Buffalo St. were YELLOW WARBLER & COMMON YELLOWTHROAT. Additional species - 19. *Goethal's Bridge Pond* (2.75 hours): No new shorebirds were added. Seen were 2 KILLDEER, 2 SPOTTED SANDPIPERS & 16+ SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS. Other birds seen were 1 OSPREY, 2 TURKEY VULTURES & 8 SNOWY EGRETS. Additional species - 6. Three additional species were *seen at the ferry* including CASPIAN TERN, COMMON TERN & LAUGHING GULL. Abundance categories below from 'The Birds of Staten Island' checklist last updated in 2000. Abundance categories below are for 'Summer'. Taxonomic order follows abundance categories. Weather for 5-Jun for Newark, NJ (7:51a-6:51p) < http://tinyurl.com/34ujdcj>: - Conditions: Mostly Cloudy - Temperature: 77.0 to 90.0 F (25.0 to 32.2 C) - Wind direction: SW / WSW to W / SW - Wind speed: 10 - 21 mph (gusts to 28 mph) ** Total species - 57 ** *Not listed as a 'Summer' resident* [4 spp]: - Horned Grebe - 1 in breeding plumage continues off the salt flats at Great Kills Park - Semipalmated Plover - 18+ at the salt flats at Great Kills Park - Semipalmated Sandpiper - 17 incl. 1 at the Great Kills Park salt flats & 16+ at Goethal's Bridge Pond - Bank Swallow - 30+ at Great Kills Park *'Rare' seen every 2-5 years* [6 spp]: - Brant - 1 continues on the salt flats at Great Kills Park - Osprey - 1 seen several times over Goethal's Bridge Pond - Caspian Tern - 1 seen from the docked ferry on the S.I. side - Eastern Wood-Pewee - 1 singing S of Martling Ave. W of the stream - Warbling Vireo - 1 N of Martling Ave. S of the red bridge - Chipping Sparrow - 1 N of Martling Ave. S of the red bridge *'Occasional' seen a few times per season* [6 spp]: - Little Blue Heron - 1 blue morph continues at the Great Kills Park salt flats - Red-tailed Hawk - 1 over Clove Lakes Park & 1 over Goethal's Bridge Pond - White-eyed Vireo - 1 N of Martling Ave. S of the red bridge - Northern Rough-winged Swallow - 1 at Great Kills Park mixed in with the Banks - Yellow Warbler - 6+ singing along Buffalo St. in Great Kills Park - Boat-tailed Grackle - 10+ around the Great Kills Park salt flats *'Uncommon' present but may not be seen* [9 spp]: - Double-crested Cormorant - 4+ off Great Kills Park - Turkey Vulture - 2 over Goethal's Bridge Pond - American Oystercatcher - 6 at the salt flats & off Great Kills Park - Spotted Sandpiper - 4 incl. 2 at the Great Kills Park salt flats & 2 at Goethal's Bridge Pond - Fish Crow - 1 calling as it was being chased by a "blackbird" at Great Kills Park - Tree Swallow - 3+ at Goethal's Bridge Pond - House Wren - 1 singing & seen close at the Goethal's Bridge Pond observation deck - Eastern Towhee - 1 male singing & seen close at the Goethal's Bridge Pond observation deck - Brown-headed Cowbird - 5 incl. 3+ at Clove Lakes Park, 1 at Great Kills Park & 1 at Goethal's Bridge Pond *'Common' certain in proper habitat* [15 spp]: - Great Egret - 1 at the S end of Clove Lakes Park - Snowy Egret - 10 incl. 2 at the Great Kills Park salt flats & 8 on Goethal's Bridge Pond - Black-crowned Night-Heron - 2 adults at Clove Lakes Park - Killdeer - 4 incl. 2 at the Great Kills Park salt flats & 2 at Goethal's Bridge Pond - Common Tern - 10+ off the S.I. ferry both ways - Chimney Swift - 6+ incl. 5 over Bay St. & Victory Blvd plus 1 over Clove Lakes Park - Red-bellied Woodpecker - 2+ heard at Clove Lakes Park - Downy Woodpecker - 2+ incl. 1 heard at Great Kills Park & 1 at Goethal's Bridge Pond - Northern Flicker - 1 at the N end of Clove Lakes Park - Barn Swallow - 27+ incl. 3 at St. George Ferry, 18+ in Clove Lakes Park incl. 2 active nests & 5 at Goethal's Bridge Pond - Northern Mockingbird - 3+ incl. Clove Lakes Park, Great Kills Park & Goethal's Bridge Pond - Common Yellowthroat - 1 singing along Buffalo St. in Great Kills Park - Baltimore Oriole - 6+ in Clove Lakes Park incl. 2 female types, 1 subadult male & 3 adult males - House Finch - At all sites incl. 3+ in Clove Lakes Park - American Goldfinch - 2 N of Martling Ave. S of the red bridge *'Abundant' sure to see* [17 spp]: - Canada Goose - At all sites incl. 20+ in Clove Lakes Park - Mallard - At all sites incl. 12+ in Clove Lakes Park - Laughing Gull - 5+ seen only in Manhattan waters off the ferry - Ring-billed Gull - 1 first summer bird over Goethal's Bridge Pond - Herring Gull - At all sites incl. 2+ over Clove Lakes Park - Great Black-backed Gull - 2+ off Great Kills Park - Rock Pigeon - At all sites incl. 12+ in Clove Lakes Park - Mourning Dove - At all sites incl. 6+ in Clove Lakes Park - Blue Jay - 2+ heard at Clove Lakes Park - American Robin - At all sites incl. 24+ in Clove Lakes Park - Gray Catbird - At all sites incl. 6+ in Clove Lakes Park - European Starling - At all sites incl. 24+ in Clove Lakes Park - Song Sparrow - 6+ singing along Buffalo St. in Great Kills Park - Northern Cardinal - At all sites incl. 3+ in Clove Lakes Park - Red-winged Blackbird - At all sites incl. 6+ in Clove Lakes Park - Common Grackle - 12+ in Clove Lakes Park - House Sparrow - At all sites incl. 24+ in Clove Lakes Park *Taxonomic orde*r: - Brant - 1 continues on the salt flats at Great Kills Park - Canada Goose - At all sites incl. 20+ in Clove Lakes Park - Mallard - At all sites incl. 12+ in Clove Lakes Park - Horned Grebe - 1 in breeding plumage continues off the salt flats at Great Kills Park - Double-crested Cormorant - 4+ off Great Kills Park - Great Egret - 1 at the S end of Clove Lakes Park - Snowy Egret - 10 incl. 2 at the Great Kills Park salt flats & 8 on Goethal's Bridge Pond - Little Blue Heron - 1 blue morph continues at the Great Kills Park salt flats - Black-crowned Night-Heron - 2 adults at Clove Lakes Park - Turkey Vulture - 2 over Goethal's Bridge Pond - Osprey - 1 seen several times over Goethal's Bridge Pond - Red-tailed Hawk - 1 over Clove Lakes Park & 1 over Goethal's Bridge Pond - Semipalmated Plover - 18+ at the salt flats at Great Kills Park - Killdeer - 4 incl. 2 at the Great Kills Park salt flats & 2 at Goethal's Bridge Pond - American Oystercatcher - 6 at the salt flats & off Great Kills Park - Spotted Sandpiper - 4 incl. 2 at the Great Kills Park salt flats & 2 at Goethal's Bridge Pond - Semipalmated Sandpiper - 17 incl. 1 at the Great Kills Park salt flats & 16+ at Goethal's Bridge Pond - Laughing Gull - 5+ seen only in Manhattan waters off the ferry - Ring-billed Gull - 1 first summer bird over Goethal's Bridge Pond - Herring Gull - At all sites incl. 2+ over Clove Lakes Park - Great Black-backed Gull - 2+ off Great Kills Park - Caspian Tern - 1 seen from the docked ferry on the S.I. side - Common Tern - 10+ off the S.I. ferry both ways - Rock Pigeon - At all sites incl. 12+ in Clove Lakes Park - Mourning Dove - At all sites incl. 6+ in Clove Lakes Park - Chimney Swift - 6+ incl. 5 over Bay St. & Victory Blvd plus 1 over Clove Lakes Park - Red-bellied Woodpecker - 2+ heard at Clove Lakes Park - Downy Woodpecker - 2+ incl. 1 heard at Great Kills Park & 1 at Goethal's Bridge Pond - Northern Flicker - 1 at the N end of Clove Lakes Park - Eastern Wood-Pewee - 1 singing S of Martling Ave. W of the stream - White-eyed Vireo - 1 N of Martling Ave. S of the red bridge - Warbling Vireo - 1 N of Martling Ave. S of the red bridge - Blue Jay - 2+ heard at Clove Lakes Park - Fish Crow - 1 calling as it was being chased by a "blackbird" at Great Kills Park - Tree Swallow - 3+ at Goethal's Bridge Pond - Northern Rough-winged Swallow - 1 at Great Kills Park mixed in with the Banks - Bank Swallow - 30+ at Great Kills Park - Barn Swallow - 27+ incl. 3 at St. George Ferry, 18+ in Clove Lakes Park incl. 2 active nests & 5 at Goethal's Bridge Pond - House Wren - 1 singing & seen close at the Goethal's Bridge Pond observation deck - American Robin - At all sites incl. 24+ in Clove Lakes Park - Gray Catbird - At all sites incl. 6+ in Clove Lakes Park - Northern Mockingbird - 3+ incl. Clove Lakes Park, Great Kills Park & Goethal's Bridge Pond - European Starling - At all sites incl. 24+ in Clove Lakes Park - Yellow Warbler - 6+ singing along Buffalo St. in Great Kills Park - Common Yellowthroat - 1 singing along Buffalo St. in Great Kills Park - Eastern Towhee - 1 male singing & seen close at the Goethal's Bridge Pond observation deck - Chipping Sparrow - 1 N of Martling Ave. S of the red bridge - Song Sparrow - 6+ singing along Buffalo St. in Great Kills Park - Northern Cardinal - At all sites incl. 3+ in Clove Lakes Park - Red-winged Blackbird - At all sites incl. 6+ in Clove Lakes Park - Common Grackle - 12+ in Clove Lakes Park - Boat-tailed Grackle - 10+ around the Great Kills Park salt flats - Brown-headed Cowbird - 5 incl. 3+ at Clove Lakes Park, 1 at Great Kills Park & 1 at Goethal's Bridge Pond - Baltimore Oriole - 6+ in Clove Lakes Park incl. 2 female types, 1 subadult male & 3 adult males - House Finch - At all sites incl. 3+ in Clove Lakes Park - American Goldfinch - 2 N of Martling Ave. S of the red bridge - House Sparrow - At all sites incl. 24+ in Clove Lakes Park -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
