Today I led an NYC Audubon tour around Randalls/Wards Island as Alan mentioned. I always enjoy leading walks out to this under-birded area, with its recently restored fresh-and-salt- wetlands, lawns, woods, and lovely views. Today didn't disappoint. The bright cold day with NW winds brought in a ton of late-season migrants, including huge numbers of Kinglets (both species), Palm Warblers, and various Sparrows. Many previously abundant migrants (I'm looking at you Catbirds) seem to have moved on. We had a total of 47 species in about 3.5 hours hours of birding. We birded along the bicycle path on the West side of the island from the foot bridge north-east to the fresh-water marsh area by the sewage treatment plant. We were immediately treated to sightings of both Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglets (which we quickly realized were in just about every tree and shrub). The mixed flocks contained both Nuthatch species, Brown Creeper (we saw at least 4!), Tufted Titmice and Black-capped Chickadees, and numerous Yellow-rumped Warblers. I also spotted a very yellow-looking young Tennessee Warbler cavorting with the kinglets, as well as a single female Black-throated Blue Warbler (seems late) and a Blue-headed Vireo (ditto). Hopping about in various grassy and marshy areas were several Savannah Sparrows, as well as a single White-crowned Sparrow, a couple of Swamp Sparrows, and lots of Song, White-throated, Chipping Sparrows, and Dark-eyed Juncos. Other numerous migrants included Eastern Phoebe, Northern Flicker, and dozens of Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers. I was really hoping to come across some Saltmarsh or Nelson's Sparrows out there, so I'm glad Alan managed to turn some up! Here's the whole list: Double-crested Cormorant 1Black-crowned Night-Heron 1Mallard 11Red-tailed Hawk 1Osprey 1Merlin 1Ring-billed Gull 8Herring Gull 4Great Black-backed Gull 2Mourning Dove 3Rock Pigeon 4Belted Kingfisher 1Red-bellied Woodpecker 6Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 14Downy Woodpecker 3Northern Flicker 8Eastern Phoebe 7Blue-headed Vireo 1Blue Jay 8Tufted Titmouse 5Black-capped Chickadee 2Red-breasted Nuthatch 1White-breasted Nuthatch 2Brown Creeper 4Golden-crowned Kinglet 20+Ruby-crowned Kinglet 40+Hermit Thrush 3American Robin 12Gray Catbird 2Northern Mockingbird 2European Starling 7Tennessee Warbler 1Black-throated Blue Warbler 1Yellow-rumped Warbler 16Palm Warbler 22Common Yellowthroat 2Eastern Towhee 2Chipping Sparrow 10Savannah Sparrow 7White-throated Sparrow 15White-crowned Sparrow 1Song Sparrow 14Swamp Sparrow 3Dark-eyed Junco 19Red-winged Blackbird 2American Goldfinch 5House Sparrow 8 Beautiful day... tomorrow I'm leading a walk at Wave Hill and Central Park, hopefully it will be as productive as today! Fall's fun, Gabriel WillowNYC Audubon
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