Friday, 20 August 2010
So there was a "flight" of Lark Sparrows (at least these 2 in nearby
locations) with an adult also at Fort Tilden, Queens in a smallish
somewhat scrubby patch of dry coastal meadow that is found about west
of the hawk watch area at Fort Tilden, can be reached by a narrow foot
trail from the front of the hill ("Battery Harris") - where the watch
platform stairs are go left if facing the stairs, then right on the
first narrow trail, or alternately a longer way around is by going
right from the foot of those wooden steps & then make 2 lefts on the
paved, but rutted, old paths and go about 1/4 mile or just until the
first obvious open area after a lot of overhanging trees, vines and
all manner of dense vegetation. This Fort Tilden Lark Sparrow not
found til about 4 p.m. - & was the Floyd Bennett Field Lark Sparrow
still in that location later? (I didn't see it, but wasn't aware to
seek it at F.B.F. (I'd assume 2 different birds... the coincidence is
too great - and the species does have such small flights in the NE. It
will be interesting to see if any additional Lark Sparrows are found
along the coast or already have been just lately...)
I began the day before sunrise at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, where
an American White Pelican was still to be seen on the East Pond near
the "raunt" across from the eastern end of Big John's Pond trail, from
at least 6 thru 10 a.m. Also at the Refuge's E. Pond on this early
morning's high tide cycle were a minimum of 5,000 shorebirds, with
many juvenile birds now added to the adults also still around. I
counted over 40 (actual count 41 but that's conservative, taking in
some birds that may have not been "following" me at the north end)
Stilt Sandpipers and also a couple of (well, 2) White-rumped
Sandpipers, and at least five Western Sandpipers (all but one were
adults, though) plus more common Least, and really common Semipalmated
Sandpipers, along with Semipalmated Plovers in good numbers. Other
shorebirds at the East Pond (mainly East Pond- by the time I got to
the West Pond, it was really a bit late for much potential of big
shorebird numbers there) that I noted were American Oystercatcher
(few), Black-bellied Plovers, Short-billed Dowitchers in the 4-figure
range (but far less common than Semi. Sand.), a few Long-billed
Dowitchers that I was fully confident of, also Ruddy Turnstone, both
Yellowlegs (with Greaters coming on strong now), plus a smattering of
Spotted Sandpipers. If I'm adding that up correctly, that's 14
species of shorebirds. I looked out for possible phalaropes, godwits,
and other sometimes-seen-in-August (you know, Broad-billed, Sharp-
tailed etc.) sandpipers but didn't come up with any of the less-common
species. Some other folks were out looking and perhaps they'll add any
other birds of the Refuge noted for today.
There was some good evidence of overall migration (passerines, etc.)
with at least 10 species of warblers present in the Refuge, the most
varied warbler activity I found at the eastern side of the Boulevard,
with the trail leading to Big John's Pond from the visitor center
crosswalk and at Big John's Pond itself (a bit dried-out but still has
the trees around that many woods-loving passerines are attracted to) -
there were also these warblers at the phragmites "tunnel" entry to the
NW corner of the E. Pond (at about 8 a.m.) - Blue-winged (and another
in the gardens), Prairie (and another at Big John's Pond trail),
Northern Waterthrush (4 all in view together - plus at least 6 more,
in many locations), also 10+ Yellow Warblers (reappearing after
seemingly having departed as breeders for the summer), American
Redstart (in numbers a bit too high to all be J. Bay breeders) &
Common Yellowthroats (ditto as for redstarts), & also: Tennessee (a
nice brightly-plumaged fresh fall male), Chestnut-sided (1), Magnolia
(1), and Black-and-white (4). I didn't find nearly as much passerine
activity in the north garden as I'd expected based on the little flock
from a bit earlier on the east side. A couple of Eastern Kingbirds
were perching on trees in a way that suggested to me that these were
fresh migrants and not local nesters & fledgers, also as the last time
or two at the refuge I sensed that many of the summer-resident
kingbirds had moved out. Similarly with Empidonax flycatchers of
which I saw more than a few at J. Bay (& later elsewhere) - all that I
noticed at J. Bay were non-vocal and in very fresh plumage, while a
couple seen (and not heard) later on the Rockway peninsula looked
rather worn. A few Chimney Swifts & at least one "southbound like a
bullet" hummingbird (presumed Ruby-throated) went by the W. Pond, & I
later saw a couple more hummingbirds zip south as well as at least 8
more swifts, from the Rockaway peninsula. Some other J. Bay birds
included no Ibis (that I noted) but still lots of heron & egret
activity with a fairly good number of both Little Blue (in 2 plumages)
and Yellow-crowned Night- Herons, plus more duckage (and Mr. Greater
Scaup still summering thru on the West Pond, at least I assume it's
the same old boy out there), & a very good tally for Teal of the usual
in August 2 species... Terns of at least 3 species: Black (1
juvenile), and Forster's (still in fair numbers) and a few Common on
the fringes (that is most likely around the actual bay) with Black
Skimmers also putting in an appearance in the a.m. An Eastern Phoebe
was doing it's (normal) things around Big John's Pond and a Great
Crested Flycatcher or three continue in the "gardens" at the 'Bay, a
few White-eyed Vireos gave forth their songs but a couple of Red-eyed
and Warbling Vireos stayed silent. The Veery in the N. garden was
actually a minor highlight as I don't find that species there too
often... Gray Catbirds - there were way too many around to all be
adults and offspring that bred there - way, way, too many... There
were also the regularly-seen lately Boat-tailed Grackles scattered
around the W. Pond trail, in the marshes & trees.
I checked the "egg" marsh fields and shores on the south end of the
Broad Channel island where much (of the accessible parts) of the
Refuge is located - this public park land is located just to the north
of the bridge to the Rockaways - and on the western side of the toll.
If you go south from the Refuge, turn right before the toll, that is,
immediately before the toll booths. If you go thru the toll, you went
to far and will end up on the Rockaway peninsula of Queens, N.Y.
City. At the fields there were a flock of about 20 Bobolinks still
hanging around at nearly noon, and (my reason for checking there) a
good-sized fairly deep rain puddle, which had a few Least Sandpipers
and usual gulls when I looked - it's worth more looks in coming weeks.
At the Rockaway peninsula (also in Queens, NYC) I went thru Riis Park,
into Fort Tilden where I spent some time up on the Battery Harris sky-
and-sea-watch platform - and actually saw a bit of diurnal flight even
with a start time of 11:30 a.m. - & coming off the platform 45 minutes
later at quarter past noon. Among the birds seen in those 45 minutes
up on the platform were a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher that went over low
enough to get all the marks (and be certain of the species, not just a
genus) and also just high enough to see that it was not just canopy-
hopping but went southwest down the ridge to as far as I could follow
it , well past the Silver Gull entry road, so a diurnal flier at least
up to a point. Others: American Kestrel (1 female), Osprey (6 fly-
bys), Great Blue Heron (2 going south along the surf & then abruptly
turning back towards the northeast up the bay side 30 minutes
later...), Purple Martins (3, an adult male with 2 female-looking all
together and seen very nicely as they flew within a few yards of the
platform - in fact it was they that convinced me I ought stay a bit
and have more of a sky view), Eastern Kingbird (8 or more, a flurry of
five at once & then at least 3 but I was briefly distracted by non-
birding visitors to the platform at that moment... later, I noticed a
few E. Kingbirds perched on bare trees just south of the platform
area), Tree (at least 60), Barn (well over 200) and Northern Rough-
winged (15 counted) Swallows, in separate groups with all the Barns,
but together with the Trees & N. R.-w.'s, also a few (4) warbler sp.
that flew over, & did not call or give decent views although at least
one looked likely for a Yellow Warbler (I might have added that all
Yellows seen earlier at the Refuge had been 1st-year except for one
adult male), and a fly-by quartet of Western Willet, big and vocal as
they flew over. I later saw 5 Western Willets together on the bay
side of Breezy Point, a few hours later. Oh, and a couple of Rose-
breasted Grosbeaks were calling loudly from near the Battery Harris
platform.
Breezy Point's ocean & bay-side beaches held many thousands of
shorebirds, almost all apparently Sanderling (4,000+) and Semipalmated
Plover (2,000+) with a fair number of Ruddy Turnstone (75+) mostly on
the bay side, plus a couple of adult Piping Plovers at the bay side as
well. These birds were not all that skittish and many were not only
feeding in amongst the locals out on the beach & in the sea, but there
were a thousand or more of the Sanderlings & Semipalmated Plovers
resting on the higher beach amongst sun-tanning, beach-chair and
blanket-owning creatures. Least & Common Terns were still around on
the beach more than over the water at the lower tide, & Black Skimmers
were in a nice group of 400 or so also on the beach. The sea itself
seemed rather quiet although there were some exceedingly far-out
flocks of larids (terns and/or gulls) and who-knows what else. The
passerine activity over the dunes & along the access trails seemed low
but it was a hot sunny mid-day; there were continuous movement of
swallows however, seemingly mostly Barn Swallow.
I looked at Floyd Bennet Field after 5 p.m. and actually was around
the nursery area but saw no other birders or rare sparrows. The
puddles down at the other corner were still rather slow for
shorebirds, a few Killdeer and a few Least Sandpipers were all I saw.
I'd like to say I'd get back out that way on the weekend to seek the 2
sparrows & see what else is around, but I may "take it easy" and just
poke around Central Park, for which I see little new reported lately.
Lots of birds besides shorebirds move in the second half of August and
some species will be about gone by September 1st (such as early-
departing warbler species and a few more "in a hurry" to get south).
Anyone wanting to read of the sense of these birds moving now (as in
today) can get a little idea of it from the most renowned hawk-watch
site in the world, Hawk Mountain in Pennsylvania (due to its' history
as well as the ongoing counts there) and pay special attention to all
those non-raptor migrants they counted this August 20th. Just scroll
down the report to read of the non-raptor count:
http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/PENN.html#1282348112
And for some shorebirds we all anticipate, see that Rhode Island now
has reports for Buffies, Uppies, Baird's in the multiple, and perhaps
American Goldens. (maybe next to Long Island?) There's also a "report"
of a Spotted Redshank in Massachusetts, from Plum Island / Parker
River N.W.R. but I don't see any confirmation of that mega-rare
Eurasian shorebird on the list...
Good Birding,
Tom Fiore,
Manhattan
--
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/
--
