Upcoming Trips

Below are the birding/nature trips from Saturday, August 15 - Sunday, August 16, 2026:

Brooklyn Bird Club

Southbound Shorebirds Passing Through Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
Saturday, August 15, 2026
Leader: Peter Dorosh
Description: The peak wave of shorebirds and water birds, terns, marsh species.
Registration: Peter Dorosh, prosbird@gmail.com
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Gateway National Parks
"Ranger's Choice" Guided Walk at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
Every week on Sunday at 10:30 AM from June 07, 2026 to August 30, 2026
Leader: Park Rangers
Description: Join us for a park ranger-led program highlighting the nature and history of Jamaica Bay. For more information about a week's tour, call the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center at 718-318-4340.
Registration: Reservation or Registration: No
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21st Annual Shorebird Festival
Sunday, August 16, 2026, 10:00am - 2:00pm
Leader: Park Rangers
Description: Celebrate Jamaica Bay's shorebirds with a free, fun-filled event for birders of all skill levels! Take part in guided birding walks, informational talks and family-friendly activities.
Registration: Reservation or Registration: No
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Green-Wood Cemetery

Birding in Peace: Late-Risers Edition (Members Only)
Sunday, August 16, 2026, 10:00am – 11:30pm
Description: If you’ve always wanted to go on a birding tour at Green-Wood but aren’t much of a morning person, this tour is for you! The early bird-er might get the worm, but you can birdwatch at any hour. Join birding expert Rob Jett and a small group of fellow members to roam the grounds while hearing and seeing the many feathered friends of Green-Wood.
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Hudson River Audubon Society

Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
Sunday, August 16, 2026, 8:00am
Leader: Michael Bochnik
Description: Wear foot wear that can get muddy and wet. We will walk the edge of the East Pond for shorebirds. Arrive early as this is the same day a the Shorebird Festival.
Registration: bochnikm@cs.com
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NYC Bird Alliance

Rockaway Community Bird Outing
Saturday, August 15, 2026, 10:00am — 11:30am
Leader: Russell Jacobs
Description: Join NYC Bird Alliance to explore the Rockaways, a vital habitat for shorebirds year-round, with a FREE community bird outing. In the summer, these beaches provide crucial nesting grounds for shorebirds like Piping Plovers, Least Terns, and Black Skimmers, while in the fall, becoming important foraging habitat for sandpipers and other shorebirds making their way south.
Registration: Registration page
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Governors Island Bird Tour
Saturday, August 15, 2026, 2:15pm — 3:45pm
Leader: _____
Description: Did you know that nearly 240 bird species have been spotted on Governors Island? Whether you’re an expert birder or a beginner, these tours will help you discover what makes this island an excellent place for birding.
Registration: Registration page
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Queens County Bird Club

Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
Saturday, August 15, 2026, 7:45am - 12:15pm
Leader: Eric Miller (917) 279-7530
Description: This is expected to be a "mini trip" covering Jamaica National Wildlife Refuge, both East and West Ponds, and perhaps other nearby hotspots. Please confirm with trip leader whether packing a lunch is necessary.
Registration: You must contact the trip leader to register.
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South Shore Audubon Society

Norman J. Levy Park and Preserve
Sunday, August 16, 2026
Leader: Members of SSAS
Description: From the Meadowbrook Parkway, use the Merrick Road M9 east exit. Enter the Department of Sanitation entrance immediately on right (if you’re driving west on Merrick Road, make a U-turn after Central Boulevard and before the Meadowbrook Parkway). Look for signs to Levy Park and Preserve parking lot.
Registration: Registration is required by calling Joe Landesberg at 516-467-9498
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Urban Park Rangers

Saturday, August 15, 2026
Kid Birding at Margaret Corbin Circle (in Fort Tryon Park), Manhattan
10:00am–11:00am
Join naturalist Alexandra Wang for a family-friendly birding adventure in Fort Tryon Park! Discover local birds, learn ID skills, and explore nature together.
Free
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Upcoming Trips

Below are the birding/nature trips from Saturday, August 8 - Sunday, August 9, 2026:

Freshkills Park Alliance

Bird Tour at Freshkills Park
Saturday, August 8, 2026, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Leader: Rangers
Description: Join the Freshkills Park Alliance for a birding walk through North Park Phase 1 to North Mound and back. On this two-hour walk, we'll look for and learn about the many different species of birds that visit and call Freshkills Park home.
Registration: Register via Eventbrite.
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Gateway National Parks
"Ranger's Choice" Guided Walk at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
Every week on Sunday at 10:30 AM from June 07, 2026 to August 30, 2026
Leader: Park Rangers
Description: Join us for a park ranger-led program highlighting the nature and history of Jamaica Bay. For more information about a week's tour, call the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center at 718-318-4340.
Registration: Reservation or Registration: No
View Details


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Green-Wood Cemetery

Birding in Peace
Sunday, August 9, 2026, 6:00am – 7:30pm
Description: Before our gates open to the public, this early morning walking tour provides special access to discover the many birds that call Green-Wood home, some temporarily. Throughout the season, you’ll witness an ever-changing display of wildlife. April brings pine warblers, woodpeckers, and thousands of migrating songbirds among the blooming magnolias and dogwoods, while herons gather at the glacial ponds. May and early June offer peak birding with over 163 species passing through, including ruby-throated hummingbirds and wood warblers. Summer sees young red-tailed hawks taking flight, along with abundant butterflies and dragonflies. By late July, the first migratory birds begin their journey south.
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NYC Bird Alliance

Governors Island Bird Tour
Saturday, August 8, 2026, 2:15pm — 3:45pm
Leader: _____
Description: Did you know that nearly 240 bird species have been spotted on Governors Island? Whether you’re an expert birder or a beginner, these tours will help you discover what makes this island an excellent place for birding.
Registration: Registration page
View Details


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Urban Park Rangers

Saturday, August 8, 2026
Salt Marsh Saturday at Little Hell Gate Salt Marsh (in Randall's Island Park), Manhattan
9:00am–12:00pm
The marsh pathway gates will be open and our Natural Areas Team will be on site to answer questions, share facts and show off the unique species that call this ecosystem home.
Free

Birding: Hawk Watch at Avenue A and St. Marks Place (in Tompkins Square Park), Manhattan
1:00pm–2:00pm
New York City is home to an amazing abundance of wildlife. Our Urban Park Rangers will guide you to the best wildlife viewing spots in the urban jungle.
Free
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Best of the Fortnight (extended edition)

It has been a while since my last fortnight posting, so decided to make this a double. Went out of town, so some of the pics are not from NYC and vicinity. Enjoy:

Juvenile Bald Eagle

Fledgling Red-tailed Hawk & stranger

Nestling Red-tailed & mom

First summer Glaucous Gull

Common Tern

Fledgling Northern Mockingbird

Osprey with fish

Fledgling Eastern House Wren

Immature Chipping Sparrow

Nestling Red-tailed Hawk

Nestling Red-tailed Hawks sharing food

Young Groundhogs

Bald Eagle calling

Kestrel & flicker conflict

Eastern Bluebird

Field Sparrow

Blue Grosbeak

Pipevine Swallowtail on teasel

Turkey Vulture

Nestling Red-tailed Hawks

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Screaming Immature Red-tailed Hawk

Fledgling Bald Eagle

Red-tailed Hawk

Nestling Red-tailed Hawks

Fledgling Northern Mockingbird

Laughing Gull

Osprey on Parachute Jump

Red-tailed Hawks ready to fledge

Eastern House Wren calling

Upcoming Trips

Below are the birding/nature trips from Saturday, July 4 - Sunday, July 5, 2026:

Green-Wood Cemetery

Birding in Peace
Sunday, July 5, 2026, 6:00am – 7:30pm
Description: Before our gates open to the public, this early morning walking tour provides special access to discover the many birds that call Green-Wood home, some temporarily. Throughout the season, you’ll witness an ever-changing display of wildlife. April brings pine warblers, woodpeckers, and thousands of migrating songbirds among the blooming magnolias and dogwoods, while herons gather at the glacial ponds. May and early June offer peak birding with over 163 species passing through, including ruby-throated hummingbirds and wood warblers. Summer sees young red-tailed hawks taking flight, along with abundant butterflies and dragonflies. By late July, the first migratory birds begin their journey south.
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Linnaean Society of New York

Staten Island, Purple Martins Plus
Sunday, July 5, 2026
Leader: Seth Wollney
Description: On this summer trip to Staten Island, we will visit several areas with nesting birds, which may include Bank Swallows at Great Kills Park, Purple Martins at Lemon Creek, and possible Clapper Rails, Little Blue Herons, and other marsh birds at Oakwood Beach Tidal Marsh. Another possible park is Mount Loretto Unique Area for nesting Bald Eagles, plus Willow Flycatchers, Orchard Orioles and Indigo Buntings. There will also be opportunities to observe a variety of butterflies and odonates.
Registration: Lisa Kroop — lisakroop2@gmail.com
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Urban Park Rangers

Sunday, July 5, 2026
Birding: Beginner Birding at 165th Street and Edgecombe Avenue (in Highbridge Park), Manhattan
1:00pm–2:30pm
Learn a new skill and take up a new hobby as we help you identify some of the most common birds found in our parks.
Free
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Best of the Fortnight

Here are my best photos taken during the second two weeks of June 2026. Let me know in the comments if you like them.

Monk Parakeet

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

Italian Wall Lizard

Baltimore Oriole feeding nestling

Magnolia Warbler

Northern House Wren fledglings

Eastern Tailed Blue

Red-tailed Hawk chicks

Brown Thrasher with food for young

Red-tailed Hawk fledgling

Young Bald Eagle

Young Striped Skunk

Coneflower Mining Bee

Bumblebee on Mountain Mint

Fledgling Mourning Dove

Cedar Waxwing chick in need of rescue

Upcoming Trips

Below are the birding/nature trips from Saturday, June 27 - Sunday, June 28, 2026:

Gateway National Parks
Birding for Beginners at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
Saturday, June 27, 2026, 2:00pm — 3:30pm
Leader: Park Rangers
Description: Interested in birds, but feel intimidated about getting into birding? No problem, this is birding for beginners! Together we will take a nature walk, talk about what makes Jamaica Bay such a great place for birds, and give you the tools to learn the basics of bird identification and appreciation. Bug spray and sunscreen are recommended, binoculars available.
Registration: Reservation or Registration: No
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"Ranger's Choice" Guided Walk at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
Every week on Sunday at 10:30 AM from June 07, 2026 to June 28, 2026
Leader: Park Rangers
Description: Join us for a park ranger-led program highlighting the nature and history of Jamaica Bay. For more information about a week's tour, call the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center at 718-318-4340.
Registration: Reservation or Registration: No
View Details

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Green-Wood Cemetery

Birding in Peace
Sunday, June 28, 2026, 6:00am – 7:30pm
Description: Before our gates open to the public, this early morning walking tour provides special access to discover the many birds that call Green-Wood home, some temporarily. Throughout the season, you’ll witness an ever-changing display of wildlife. April brings pine warblers, woodpeckers, and thousands of migrating songbirds among the blooming magnolias and dogwoods, while herons gather at the glacial ponds. May and early June offer peak birding with over 163 species passing through, including ruby-throated hummingbirds and wood warblers. Summer sees young red-tailed hawks taking flight, along with abundant butterflies and dragonflies. By late July, the first migratory birds begin their journey south.
View Details

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Hudson River Audubon Society

Nickerson Beach, Lido Beach NY
Sunday, June 28, 2026, 7:00am
Leader: Michael Bochnik
Description: Look for nesting Piping Plover, American Oystercatcher and Black Skimmer.
Registration: bochnikm@cs.com
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Huntington-Oyster Bay Audubon Society

Caumsett State Park - Huntington, NY
Saturday, June 27, 2026 - 7:00am
Leader: Roxana
Description: Join Roxana from the Huntington Oyster Bay Audubon Society for a guided morning bird walk at Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve. The bird walk will run approximately 1.5 hours. All ages and birding skill levels are welcome! Please bring binoculars if you have them.
Registration: Registration page
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"Birds & Bugs" at the Cranberry Bog Nature Preserve
Sunday, June 28, 2026 - 9:00am
Leader: Dr. Coby Klein
Description: This former cranberry farm in Riverhead is now home to a variety of rare plant and insect species that can be found on Long Island only in the Pine Barrens.
Registration: Call Dr. Coby Klein 585-880-0915 to register in advance.
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NYC Bird Alliance

Birding in Midtown Esplanade
Saturday, June 27, 2026, 10:00 am — 11:30am
Leader: EsplanadeFriends
Description: Join NYC Bird Alliance and EsplanadeFriends to discover the Esplanade and its adjacent green spaces. Expect to see many water birds right off the coast.
Registration: Registration page
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Governors Island Bird Tour
Saturday, June 27, 2026, 2:15pm — 3:45pm
Leader: _____
Description: Did you know that nearly 240 bird species have been spotted on Governors Island? Whether you’re an expert birder or a beginner, these tours will help you discover what makes this island an excellent place for birding.
Registration: Registration page
View Details

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Urban Park Rangers

Saturday, June 27, 2026
Summer on the Hudson: Birding Tour at 116th Street and Riverside Drive (in Riverside Park), Manhattan
8:00am–10:00am
Monthly walks through birding hotspots in Riverside Park, led by Riverside Park Conservancy Field Staff.
Free

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