Yesterday evening I was scanning the mud-flats at the Croton Train Station
(Westchester) for any migrant shorebirds, but leaving empty handed. Before
my father came to pick me up from the station, he stopped to have a
conversation with a birder from NYC that was just leaving Croton Point Park.
The
birder (male) claimed to have seen a Western Kingbird in Croton Point Park
between the trailer park and the area with cabins near the tip of the park.
We have seen this birder many times before in Croton and he is very
knowledgeable about birds, so we did not doubt his observation. We went to go
check out the area where the Kingbird was seen (around 6:30 PM), but
unfortunately we were pressed for time and had other plans with the family and
had
to leave prematurely. However, we did see a few Eastern Kingbirds and a
large flycatcher species fluttering and swooping around above the higher road
close to the swimming pool and basketball court area of the campground
(about where the Western Kingbird was reported). The Flycatcher was the size
of
a Kingbird and was flying and acting like a Kingbird as well. It was
difficult to get a view of the bird, which eventually disappeared below the
tree
line, and we could not locate it again. That particular bird seemed
noticeably different from Eastern Kingbirds. We caught glimpses of a yellow
underbelly, and it had a different call than the Eastern Kingbirds. We were
not
comfortable pinning a species I.D. on the bird because of the poor views
we got.
I went back this morning (August 12th) at 7:00 to do a complete survey of
the park to look for the Kingbird and any breeding birds in the park. I
spent 5 hours searching but did NOT see the reported Western Kingbird. However
the park was full of other birds and bugs. Around mid-day, It was to my
surprise to here a chorus of 3 Eastern Screech-Owls all calling and whining
for about 10 seconds from different locations around the vicinity of the
campground. It was odd and exciting to hear them calling during the day. Also
of note was a Raven seen flying over the marsh next to the low dirt road,
which is accessed by turning left before entering the area with the cabins.
On the landfill/ grassy hill area, there were 5 Cliff Swallows, 6 Indigo
Buntings, and lots of different species of butterflies and skippers (I don't
know butterflies too well but there were hundreds all over the landfill;
many different species were seen). The bird survey tallied 44 species of
birds this morning.
Anyone in the Westchester area should check out the park for the Western
Kingbird and any other interesting organisms. I will be going back to the
park to check the area again this afternoon and I will make a report if I
find anything good or locate the Kingbird.
Good Birding!!!
Lewis Lolya
Westchester NY
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