Upcoming Birding and Nature Trips

Below is a list of upcoming nature trips by local birding/conservation groups for the weekend of Saturday, January 9, 2016 to Sunday, January 10, 2016:

Brooklyn Bird Club
Saturday, January 9, 2016
Pelham Bay Park, Bronx
Leader: Jack Rothman
Focus: Woods birding, winter species, raptors, coastal birding for ducks and other waterfowl
Car Fee: $20.00
Registrar: Janet Schumacher janets33@optonline.net or 718-594-7480
Registration Period: January 2nd - January 7th

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Eastern Long Island Audubon Society
​Saturday, January 9, 2016 at 8:00am
Lakes Around Patchogue
Trip Leader: John McNeil
Join John for a half-day excursion to what he calls “God’s little oases for wintering waterfowl.” Hopefully there will be a surprise or two to peak your interest! Meet at Swan Lake Preserve on Montauk Highway in East Patchogue. Contact John at 631.281.2623 for details. On the day of the trip, John’s cell is 631.219.8947

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Gateway National Parks
Sunday, January 10, 2016
How birds Survive Winter
Location: Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge | Map
Time: 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM
Fee Information: Free
Contact Phone Number: 718-987-6790
Cold weather got you down? Imagine you are a bird overwintering outdoors in Jamaica Bay! Food is scarce, the winds are harsh and there is definitely no hot cocoa to warm you up. Come to the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge for a presentation and a brief walk as we explore winter survival in the animal kingdom!

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Great South Bay Audubon Society
Saturday January 9, 2016, 9:00am
Montauk
Leaders: Bob Grover (516-318-8536), Ken Thompson (631-612-8028)
Meet at Lighthouse parking lot. Latecomers can still join in the vicinity of the restaurant overlook. Directions Route 27 to 27A to end.

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Hudson River Audubon Society
Saturday, January 9, 2016
Short-eared Owls of the Shawangunk Grasslands NWR
Meet us at Lenoir 2:30 PM for car pooling and directions or meet us at the refuge at 4:00 PM. Up to a dozen Short-eared Owls winter at this former airport. As dusk settles on the refuge the owls come out at start to roam the refuge for prey. Sunset is at 4:30 PM. Before dusk we’ll look for other wintering birds such as Northern Harrier (Marsh Hawk) and maybe even a Rough-legged Hawk. Dress warm. We will be returning after dark.
http://www.hras.org/wtobird/shawangunk.html

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Linnaean Society of New York
Saturday January 9, 2016
Jones Beach and Point Lookout
Leader: Richard ZainEldeen
Registrar: Ellen Hoffman — ellenh33@icloud.com or 917-903-3486
Registration opens: Monday December 28
Ride: $25

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Littoral Society
Friday, January 08, 2016
Montauk Winter Weekend
Join us for a weekend of seals, seabirds and hikes on the shorelines and woods of Montauk, Long Island, NY. Visit the Walking Dunes, historic Montauk lighthouse and bluffs, Camp Hero and Napeague forest. Hikes and nature walks will by led by American Littoral Society Northeast Chapter Director Don Riepe.
Price includes two nights at the luxurious Manor House, five meals, five guided hikes, two evening programs, and a star watch.
For more information or to make reservations call 718-474-0896 or email donriepe@gmail.com.
Contact : call 718-474-0896 or email donriepe@gmail.com

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New York Botanical Garden (Bronx)
Saturday, January 9, 2016
Debbie Becker leads a free bird walk at the Garden every Saturday from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. beginning at the Reflecting Pool in the Leon Levy Visitor Center

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New York City Audubon Society
Friday, January 8, 12am – Mon, January 11, 12am
Montauk Winter Weekend
Guides: Mike Bottini, Mickey Cohen, Don Riepe with American Littoral Society
Spend a quiet weekend at Montauk during peak winter birding time. Visit the seal haul-out and see many species of of seabirds including loons, scoters, and goldeneye. Accommodations at the luxurious Manor House. For reservations, contact Don Riepe at 718-474-0896 or donriepe@gmail.com. $395

Saturday, January 9, 2016, 9am – 6pm
Winter Birding on the South Shore of Long Island: Jones Beach and Shinnecock Inlet
Guide: Gabriel Willow
Winter in NY brings the excitement of possibility: Will snowy owls appear in the dunes? Will harlequin ducks move westward from Cape Cod & Montauk, and appear in closer waters? Will irruptive northern finches and bohemian waxwings move south from Canada? All of these species and more are possible on Long Island in the winter, along with more expected species such as loons, grebes, scaup, eider, northern harriers, purple sandpiper, and more. Winter affords a unique and diverse set of species, so bundle up and brave the cold for some of the best birding our area has to offer! We will explore the dunes, pines, and coastal waterways of Jones Beach, Dune Road, and Shinnecock Inlet. Van transportation included.
Limited to 12. $93 (65)
Click here to register

Sunday, January 10, 2016, 9:30am – 11:30am
Winter Birding Along the Hudson: Wave Hill
Guide: Gabriel Willow with Wave Hill
Meet at the Perkins Visitor Center. The Hudson River valley hosts an impressive diversity of bird species, even during the winter months. Come explore the beautiful gardens and woodlands of Wave Hill and observe the hardy birds that spend the winter in this urban oasis. Advanced registration is recommended, either online, at the Perkins Visitor Center, or by calling 718-549-3200 x251. Walks run rain or shine; in case of severe weather call the number above for updates. Ages 10 and up welcome with an adult. NYC Audubon members enjoy two-for-one admission

Sunday, January 10, 2016, 10am – 5pm
Birding Gems of Staten Island: Winter at Freshkills Park
Guides: Cliff Hagen and Tod Winston
With NYC Department of Parks and Recreation
Meet at the Manhatttan terminal of the Staten Island Ferry. Winter at Freshkills Park is an exciting time for birding! The grass-covered slopes offer birds plenty of seed and shelter to manage the difficult cold. A number of sparrows including song, savannah, white-throated and white-crowned enjoy Freshkills throughout the winter, and on the flatter, wind-swept areas of the mounds, flocks of horned lark and snow bunting huddle close and stay low as they feed among barrens areas. Down below the mounds are a crisscross of tidal creeks filled with a variety of waterfowl. Grebes, geese and coots swim alongside over a dozen species of ducks. Of particular interest are the teal, mergansers and pintails which frequent Freshkills each winter. Transport by passenger van on S.I. included. Limited to 12. $68 (47)
Click here to register

Sunday, January 10, 2016, 12pm – 2pm
Winter Seals and Waterbirds of NY Harbor
Guide: NYC Audubon guide
Meet at South Street Seaport’s Pier 17 and come aboard NY Water Taxi’s eco-friendly vessel for a winter adventure in New York Harbor! Look for harbor seals on the rocky shores of Governor’s Island and the more remote Hoffman and Swinburne Islands. Learn about the surprisingly diverse winter birds of New York City, including ducks, geese, loons, and sandpipers, many of which migrate south from the Arctic. See the Statue of Liberty and pass under the Verrazano Bridge. Dress warmly! Limited to 90. To register, contact New York Water Taxi at 212-742-1969 or www.nywatertaxi.com. $35 for adults; $25 for children under 12; $105 for family pack for 2 adults and 2 children

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Protectors of Pine Oak Woods
Saturday, January 9, 2016, 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Buck’s Hollow and/or Heyerdahl Hill
Cost: Free
Contact: John Paul Learn 718-619-5051
Located in the Greenbelt, Heyerdahl Hill is nestled in an impressive stretch of woodland, holding ruins of a stone home built in the 1800s and plants and trees rarely seen in urban woodlands. We will meet at the stone wall on Meisner Ave, located by the intersection of Rockland Avenue and Meisner Avenue (http://goo.gl/maps/YP1HI).

Sunday, January 10, 2016, 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Acme Pond
Cost: Free
Contact: John Paul Learn 718-619-5051
Acme Pond is a diverse ecosystem, located on the north side of Hylan Boulevard across from Wolfe’s Pond Park. This walk takes us through hiking trails in some of the most idyllic woodlands in all of NYC. The trail offers views of the freshwater pond and assortment of small swampy areas. Meet at the corner of Seguine Avenue and Herbert Street. Street parking is available on Herbert Street and in parking lots at the end of Herbert Street (http://goo.gl/maps/59dvC).

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Queens County Bird Club
Saturday, January 9, 2016, 7:30am – 12:00pm
Point Lookout
Leader: Arie Gilbert 917-693-7178
CONTACT LEADER to confirm meeting time/location

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South Shore Audubon Society
Sunday, January 10, 2016
Pelham Bay Park

All walks start at 9:00 A.M.
There is no walk if it rains or snows or temperature is below 25°F.
For more information or in case of questionable weather conditions, please phone Joe at 516 467-9498.
For directions to our bird-watching locations, click here.

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Urban Park Rangers
Saturday, January 9, 2016
Birding: Eagles at Payson Center (in Inwood Hill Park), Manhattan
9:00 a.m.–10:30 a.m.
New York City is home to an amazing abundance of wildlife. Our Rangers will guide you to the best eagle-viewing spots at Inwood Hill Park. All skill levels welcome.
Free!

Sunday, January 10, 2016
Winter Birding at Perkins Visitors Center (in Wave Hill), Bronx
9:30 a.m.–10:30 a.m.
The Hudson River valley hosts an impressive diversity of bird species, even during the winter months. Explore Wave Hill’s tranquil gardens and woodlands with naturalist Gabriel…