Happy Holiday

Birding in Peace 2021

In March of 2020, like most things in the country, the Green-Wood Cemetery "Birding in Peace" tours came to a screeching halt. We restarted the dawn walks again in 2021 as the cemetery became an oasis for, not just the birds, but for New Yorkers needing a respite from the worries of the lingering pandemic. This past Sunday was the final tour for 2021 so I thought I'd share the year's official tour species list and a short slideshow video. Enjoy. FYI - we begin the tours again on Sunday, January 23, 2022.

Green-Wood Cemetery, “Birding in Peace” 2021 (139 species):

Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Wood Duck
Northern Shoveler
Mallard
American Black Duck
Ring-necked Duck
Hooded Merganser
Pied-billed Grebe
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Black-billed Cuckoo
Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
American Woodcock
Wilson's Snipe
Spotted Sandpiper
Laughing Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Common Loon
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Green Heron
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Bald Eagle
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Belted Kingfisher
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
American Kestrel
Merlin
Peregrine Falcon
Monk Parakeet
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Willow Flycatcher
Eastern Phoebe
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
White-eyed Vireo
Yellow-throated Vireo
Blue-headed Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Fish Crow
Common Raven
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
House Wren
Winter Wren
Carolina Wren
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
Northern Mockingbird
Eastern Bluebird
Veery
Swainson's Thrush
Hermit Thrush
Wood Thrush
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
House Sparrow
Evening Grosbeak
House Finch
Purple Finch
Common Redpoll
European Goldfinch
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch
*Henslow’s Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-crowned Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Orchard Oriole
Baltimore Oriole
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Rusty Blackbird
Common Grackle
Ovenbird
Louisiana Waterthrush
Northern Waterthrush
Blue-winged Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Hooded Warbler
American Redstart
Cape May Warbler
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Palm Warbler
Pine Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Canada Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Summer Tanager
Scarlet Tanager
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting

*seen after the tour officially ended, but a few participants continued birding

Best of the Fortnight

Below is a selection of my fav photos of the fortnight:

Gray Kingbird, Great Kills Park, Staten Island, NY

Henslow's Sparrow, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Not a favorite photo for image quality, but rather the fact that there were 7 Red Knots still hanging around Brooklyn.

Flock of Red Knots, Floyd Bennett Field, Brooklyn, NY

A bit unusual for this flycatcher to be in NYC in December, although it has been pretty mild weather.

Eastern Phoebe, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Red-bellied Woodpecker, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

American Kestrel, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Cedar Waxwing, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Eastern Bluebird & Pine Warbler, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Friday's Foto

 

Henslow's Sparrow, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

This will be an extended "Friday's Foto" posting, given the rarity of this species in Brooklyn and state-wide. A recent visitor to historic Green-Wood Cemetery marked a first for that spot. The previous record for Brooklyn was 48 years ago.

The Henslow's Sparrow is probably one of North America's loveliest sparrow with its olive-green head, orange lores, scaley coverts with purple highlights, rusty red primaries, buffy breast with fine, dark streaks and bright, white eyering. Previously classified in the genus Ammodramus with other grassland species, in 2018 it was reclassified into "centronyx" with the Baird's Sparrow. The name means "spurred claw" which refers to these birds' long hind toes. John James Audubon gave this bird its common name for his friend, John Stevens Henslow, a botanist, a minister, and a teacher of Charles Darwin.

This specie's decreasing population in New York State, as well as, its skulking behavior make it very difficult to observe. In their preferred habitat of thick, weedy grasslands and wetlands, this bird forages alone, usually not in flocks of Henslow's or other sparrows. They spend their time walking in dense grass while foraging and, if flushed, reluctantly fly low a short distance then drop back down into the vegetation. More often then not, they will flee perceived threats by running. In addition, James D. Rising, author of "A Guide to the Identification and Natural History of the Sparrows of the United States and Canada", notes of this bird's behavior, "Migrants are reluctant to flush, and can be approached closely." Their diet consists primarily of insects and seeds. Assessed in 2020 by the IUCN, they rate their global status as "Least Concern". That is up from "Near Threatened" in 2016. However, populations in New York State have been declining, prompting the NYSDEC to list it as "Threatened".

The Henslow's Sparrow's breeding range includes New York, southern Ontario, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. They overwinter from the Gulf Coast of Texas east into the northern two-thirds of Florida and north into North Carolina. There are infrequent records north into the Midwest and Middle Atlantic states.

This sparrow has one of the simplest song of any North American species. Its high, thin "tze-lick" was described by David Sibley as a "feeble hiccup." Judge for yourself. Be sure to turn up the volume:



Finally, here's a video I shot in Green-Wood Cemetery on Tuesday, December 7, 2021:

Upcoming Trips

Below are the birding/nature trips for the weekend of December 11-12, 2021:

Brooklyn Bird Club

Introduction to Birdwatching
Saturday, December 11, 2021, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Leader: A member of the Brooklyn Bird Club
Description: Whether you’re just starting out or have already joined the birding ranks, this introductory walk is for you. Join a member of the Brooklyn Bird Club to learn the basics of birding and search for the dozens of species that visit Prospect Park through all seasons. All levels are welcome.
Registration: No registration necessary.
View Details


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Feminist Bird Club

NYC -Weird Duck Time at Baisley Pond Park
Saturday, December 11, 2021, 9:00am - 11:00am
Leaders: __
Description: Join Feminist Bird Club for a low-key ramble around Baisley Pond, one of the only places in NYC to regularly host Redhead ducks in winter. We’ll also look for Ring-necked Ducks, American Wigeons, Gadwalls, and maybe even a rare gull or a Monk Parakeet?
Registration: Register via Eventbrite
View Details


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Gateway National Parks

Fort Wadsworth Tour
Every week on Sunday, December 05, 2021 to December 19, 2021, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Leader: Park Rangers
Description: Join us for a hike around Fort Wadsworth as we explore both the natural areas and the remnants of the former harbor defense system. Inclement weather will cancel this program. Dress appropriately. Bring water, face mask required.
Registration: Call 718 354-4655 to make a reservation.
View Details


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Huntington-Oyster Bay Audubon Society

Winter Waterfowl: Jamaica Bay National Wildlife Refuge
Sunday, December 12, 2021 - 9:00am
Leader: _____
Description: You can never be sure who is going to turn up in Jamaica Bay in the wintertime. What you can be sure of is that it’s never a bad day to go.
Registration: To register, call (585) 880-0915.
Details: Take the Southern State Parkway west to the Belt Parkway and take Exit 17S to Cross Bay Blvd. and drive south until you reach the Visitors’ Center.


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Saw Mill River Audubon Society

Small Group Birding: Croton Point Park
Sunday, December 12, 2021, 8:00am
Leader: Members of SMRA
Description: Good for all levels of birding experience. Beginners very welcome! Let us know in advance if you want to borrow binoculars by emailing us at: office@sawmillriveraudubon.org
Registration: Via Eventbrite
View Details


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South Shore Audubon Society

Mill Pond Park
Sunday, December 12, 2021
Leader: Members of SSAS
Description: Use street parking on the westbound side of Merrick Road. The park is four blocks west of the Wantagh State Parkway.
Registration: Registration is required by calling Joe Landesberg at 516-467-9498
View Details


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Urban Park Rangers

Saturday, December 11, 2021

Birding: Bald Eagle Watch at Payson Park House (in Inwood Hill Park), Manhattan
9:00 a.m.–10:30 p.m.
December is a spectacular time for observing bald eagles in New York City parks. See if you can spot any on this adventure with our Urban Park Rangers. Bring your own binoculars.
Free

Sunday, December 12, 2021

Winter Birding at Perkins Visitors Center (in Wave Hill), Bronx
9:30 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
Explore Wave Hill’s tranquil gardens and woodland with naturalist Gabriel Willow to observe birds in their winter habitat.
Free
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