Best of the Fortnight

As I continue to be lazy with regard to more illustrative nature postings, here's the second installment of my fortnight series for June. Note that I've grouped the botanics and the bird/animal subjects:

Japanese Honeysuckle, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Caucasian Linden, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Great Laurel, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Eurasian Smoketree, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Eastern Kingbird, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

House Wren at nest, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Baltimore Oriole at nest, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Great Egret, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Chipping Sparrow, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Cedar Waxwing on nest, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Upcoming Trips

Below are the birding/nature trips for the weekend of June 17 - June 18, 2023:

Bedford Audubon Society

Field Trip to Fahnestock State Park
Saturday, June 17, 2023, 7:30am - 12:30pm
Leader: Tait Johansson
Description: We’re heading north to the largest state park in the Taconic region – and you’re invited! Join Naturalist Tait Johansson on a Field Trip to Fahnestock State Park.Did you know that Fahnestock Bird Conservation Area (BCA) represents one of the largest areas of contiguous forest in the lower Hudson Valley? The deciduous and mixed forests support a diverse group of forest-dependent bird species, and some of the breeders in this area include Ruffed Grouse, Acadian Flycatcher, Purple Martin, Blackburnian Warbler, and Canada Warbler.
Registration: Cost: Free. Level of Difficulty: Easy to Moderate. Registration required by emailing Susan at info@bedfordaudubon.org or by calling 914-302-9713.
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Eastern Long Island Audubon Society

South Fork Natural History Museum
Saturday, June 17, 2023, Meet at 8:30am
Leader: Eileen Schwinn
"Description: A Joint Bird Walk and a Memorial – Led by Eileen Schwinn, Byron Young, Tom Moran and Darlene McNeil A joint-exploration of SOFO’s meadow home to nesting Bluebirds, Baltimore Orioles, Indigo Bunting, Blue-winged Warblers, Yellow Warblers, Common Yellowthroat, Cedar Waxwing, Purple Martin, and more. (This walk originally was led by noted birder and composer, Eric Salzman, a member of both organizations. As my mentor, I often feel Eric’s presence along the trails and birdlife here, and it’s my honor to be a Leader of the walk).
Registration: Contact Eileen Schwinn, beachmed@optonline.net, to register
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Gateway National Parks

Fort Wadsworth Tour and Hike
Every week on Saturday, Sunday until August 27, 2023, 10:30am — 12:00pm
Leader: Park Rangers
Description: Join us for a hike around Fort Wadsworth as we explore the forts and natural areas. Inclement weather will cancel this program. Dress appropriately and bring water.
Registration: Please call (718) 354-4500 to make a reservation.
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Green-Wood Cemetery

Birding in Peace
Sunday, June 18, 2023, 6:00am - 7:30am
Description: In July we should see the offspring of our resident red-tailed hawk bravely preparing to leave the nest. Warbler songs will be replaced by chirring cicadas and the tweets of fledgling birds. Butterflies and dragonflies are abundant. By late-July, expect the arrival of the first southbound migrants.
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Linnaean Society of New York

Van Cortlandt Park Nature Walk
Saturday, June 17, 2023
Leader: Ken Chaya
Description: Van Cortlandt Park is New York City’s third largest green space. It contains a variety of natural habitats within its 1,146 acres, including woodlands, marshes, meadows, and a lake. Green Herons, Mute Swans, Red-winged Blackbirds, Tree Swallows, Eastern Wood-Pewees, Double-crested Cormorants, Great Egrets, Gray Catbirds, Northern Flickers, Ebony Jewelwings, Net-winged Beetles, Banded Hairstreaks, and one of our target species, the Silvery Checkerspot Butterfly, are only a few of the bird and insect species encountered on past Linnaean walks there. Attendees should bring lunch, water, and insect and sun protection. There is a restroom at the beginning of our walk and another about halfway through the park, where there is a water fountain as well.
Registration: Anne Lazarus - amlazarus47@gmail.com
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New York City Audubon

Van Cortlandt Park Birding
Saturday, June 17, 2023, 9:00am - 10:30pm
Leader: Woo Sung Park
Description: Join NYC Audubon on a bird tour in one of the Bronx's largest green spaces. Participants will look for various species of residents and migrants and discuss a wide range of avian topics. This event is held in partnership with Van Cortlandt Park Alliance.
Registration: Registration page
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Let's Go Birding Together with Alice Austen House
Saturday, June 17, 2023, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Leader: _____
Description: Meet us at LGBTQ+ historical monument Alice Austen House for a Let's Go Birding Together (LGBT) outing this Pride Month! Right on Staten Island's eastern coast, Alice Austen Park provides a beautiful view of The Narrows, where may also find different species of waterbirds.
Registration: Registration page
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Vulture Tour at New York Botanical Garden
Saturday, June 17, 2023, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Leader: _____
Description: Join NYC Audubon and the New York Botanical Garden for a special bird tour series all about vultures! Check out the work of visual artist, Ebony G. Patterson, now on display at the Garden. Explore some of NYBG’s diverse landscape and learn about the vulture species we can spot around the City and how they're important for our ecosystem's health.
Registration: Registration not required. No limit. Free.
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Let's Go Birding Together on Governors Island
Saturday, June 17, 2023, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Leader: _____
Description: Celebrate Pride every Saturday this month on Governors Island! Let's Go Birding Together (LGBT) events are especially welcome to those in the queer community, but allies, families, and friends are also greatly encouraged to join
Registration: No registration required. Free.
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Intro to Birding in Marine Park
Sunday, June 18, 2023, 9:00am - 10:30pm
Leader: Heydi Lopes
Description: Explore the beauty of Brooklyn’s largest park, Marine Park. Consisting of grassland and salt marshes, this park is habitat for a variety of migratory songbirds and waterbirds. This series is hosted in partnership with the Marine Park Alliance.
Registration: No registration required. No limit. Free.
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Let's Go Birding Together in Central Park
Sunday, June 18, 2023, 9:00am - 11:00pm
Leader: _____
Description: Celebrate Pride Month with NYC Audubon on our Let's Go Birding Together (aka "LGBT") bird outing. This event in Central Park welcomes members of the queer community and allies alike. Anyone who is interested in discovering and enjoying the birds of NYC, regardless of experience level, is encouraged to join!
Registration: Registration page
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Crotona Park Birding
Sunday, June 18, 2023, 9:00am - 10:30pm
Leader: Haley Scott
Description: Join NYC Audubon on Father's Day to explore the beautiful Crotona Park. Its meadows, flowering trees, and sizable pool provide excellent habitat for a variety of birds including woodpeckers, warblers, and wading birds.
Registration: No registration required. No limit. Free.
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Queens County Bird Club

Nickerson Beach
Saturday, June 17, 2023, 7:30am - 12:30pm
Leader: Mike Zito (516) 507-9419
Description: The first part of this trip is Nickerson Beach, where we will view various species of terns, hopefully some that are rare to our area. Common Terns, which nest on this beach, will be abundant.
Registration: Please contact trip leader for meeting time and location.
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Best of the Fortnight

Here's my first installment for the month of June, which includes a bunch of botanics:

Young Canada Goose, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Snowberry, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Black-crowned Night-Heron, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Milkweed bug, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Chimney Swift, Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY

Juvenile Red-tailed Hawk, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Black Swallowtail, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Bluestar, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Young male Wood Duck, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Canada Anemone, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Wildfire sunrise, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Great Egret, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Chinese Globeflower, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Ohio Spiderwort, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Rock Pigeon, New Orleans, LA

Upcoming Trips

Below are the birding/nature trips for the weekend of June 10 - June 11, 2023:

Brooklyn Bird Club

Jamaica Bay’s Breeding Birds and Butterflies
Saturday, June 10, 2023
Leader: Peter Dorosh
Description: 200 species of birds is the historical record for June birds at JBWR; we’ll focus on a casual journey to enjoy birds settled in their nests and breeding territories. Furthermore, we’ll look for butterflies along the way. Bring your camera!
Registration: Peter Dorosh Prosbird@gmail.com or Prosbird@aol.com
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Gateway National Parks

Fort Wadsworth Tour and Hike
Every week on Saturday, Sunday until August 27, 2023, 10:30am — 12:00pm
Leader: Park Rangers
Description: Join us for a hike around Fort Wadsworth as we explore the forts and natural areas. Inclement weather will cancel this program. Dress appropriately and bring water.
Registration: Please call (718) 354-4500 to make a reservation.
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Linnaean Society of New York

Ward Pound Ridge Reservation
Saturday, June 10, 2023
Leader: Rick Cech
Description: Ward Pound Ridge Reservation, in Westchester County, New York, is a perennial destination for butterfly aficionados, and this is a peak date for early summer species, when nectar-rich dogbane and milkweed come into bloom. Targets include many skippers, as well as showy “true” butterflies, hard to find in significant numbers elsewhere. This is also a top site for odonates, invertebrates, reptiles, and—yes—many birds.
Registration: Lenore Swenson - lenoreswenson@gmail.com
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New York City Audubon

Van Cortlandt Park Birding
Saturday, June 3, 2023, 9:00am - 10:30pm
Leader: Jack Rothman
Description: Join NYC Audubon on a bird tour in one of the Bronx's largest green spaces. Participants will look for various species of residents and migrants and discuss a wide range of avian topics. This event is held in partnership with Van Cortlandt Park Alliance.
Registration: Registration page
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The Parakeets of Green-Wood Cemetery
Saturday, June 10, 2023, 10:00am - 1:00pm
Leader: Gabriel Willow
Description: Explore Green-Wood Cemetery, rich in both history and wildlife, in search of spring migrants and its unique avian residents: the huge flocks of brilliant green Monk Parakeets that nest there. Native to South America, these charming immigrants flourish even in our harsh winters.
Registration: Registration page
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New York Botanical Garden Bird Tour
Saturday, June 10, 2023, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Leader: Alyssa Bueno
Description: Join NYC Audubon and the New York Botanical Garden for some spring birding! Get to see some of NYBG’s diverse landscape and learn why this unique green space is such a vital haven for a great variety of species year-round. The tour will meet at the Reflecting Pool in the Native Plant Garden.
Registration: Registration not required. No limit. Free.
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Let's Go Birding Together on Governors Island
Saturday, June 10, 2023, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Leader: ___
Description: Celebrate Pride every Saturday this month on Governors Island! Let's Go Birding Together (LGBT) events are especially welcome to those in the queer community, but allies, families, and friends are also greatly encouraged to join
Registration: No registration required. Free.
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Crotona Park Birding
Sunday, June 11, 2023, 9:00am - 10:30am
Leader: Joe McManus
Description: Join NYC Audubon to explore the beautiful Crotona Park. Its meadows, flowering trees, and sizable pool provide excellent habitat for a variety of birds including woodpeckers, warblers, and wading birds.
Registration: Registration not required. No Limit. Free.
View Details


Intro to Birding in Marine Park
Sunday, June 4, 2023, 9:00am - 10:30pm
Leader: Heydi Lopes
Description: Explore the beauty of Brooklyn’s largest park, Marine Park. Consisting of grassland and salt marshes, this park is habitat for a variety of migratory songbirds and waterbirds. This series is hosted in partnership with the Marine Park Alliance.
Registration: No registration required. No limit. Free.
View Details


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Protectors of Pine Oak Woods

A Walk in the Woods at Blue Heron Park
Saturday, June 10, 2023, 12:00pm - 2:00pm
Leader: Don Recklies
Description: This walk will visit some of the lesser walked trails on the east side of the park. From the Nature Center at 222 Poillon Avenue we’ll follow the Red Trail to Butterfly Pond, then by local roads to the eastern edge of the park. Time permitting we will try to return by way of Spanish Camp, across Hylan Boulevard. Inclement weather (but not a light rain), will cancel.
Registration: For more information call Don Recklies at (718) 768-9036.
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South Shore Audubon Society

Massapequa Preserve
Sunday, June 11, 2023
Leader: Members of SSAS
Description: From Sunrise Highway, turn north onto Broadway, Massapequa. Travel under the Long Island Rail Road overpass, then make the first right onto Veterans Boulevard (headed east). Go past the Massapequa train station and into the parking lot at the east end of the station. The preserve is directly east of the parking lot.
Registration: Registration is required by calling Joe Landesberg at 516-467-9498
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Urban Park Rangers

Sunday, June 11, 2023

Summer Birding at Perkins Visitors Center (in Wave Hill), Bronx
9:30am - 11:00am
Welcome migratory birds back to Wave Hill this summer! Explore the gardens and woodlands with birders Paul Keim or Gabriel Willow to look for resident and rare birds as they pass through on their northern journey or settle down for the season.
Free

Birding: Shorebird Families at Beach 30th Street Playground, Queens
11:00am - 12:30pm
Birding programs are appropriate for all skill levels and beginners are welcome. Learn more about plovers, terns, oystercatchers and other shorebirds that nest on the beach shoreline.
Free

New York City Rare Bird Alert

Below is the New York City Rare Bird Alert for the week ending Friday, June 2, 2023:

- RBA
* New York
* New York City, Long Island, Westchester County
* Jun. 2, 2023
* NYNY2306.02
- Birds mentioned
CURLEW SANDPIPER+
WHITE-FACED IBIS+
MISSISSIPPI KITE+
(+ Details requested by NYSARC)

Whimbrel
MARBLED GODWIT
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE
PARASITIC JAEGER
Lesser Black-backed Gull
GULL-BILLED TERN
Wilson's Storm-Petrel
CORY'S SHEARWATER
SOOTY SHEARWATER
RED-HEADED WOODPECKER
RED CROSSBILL
Tennessee Warbler
Mourning Warbler
Cape May Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Yellow-throated Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
SUMMER TANAGER
BLUE GROSBEAK

- Transcript

If followed by (+) please submit documentation of your report electronically and use the NYSARC online submission form found at http://www.nybirds.org/NYSARC/goodreport.htm

You can also send reports and digital image files via email to nysarc44 (at)nybirds{dot}org.

If electronic submission is not possible, hardcopy reports and photos or sketches are welcome. Hardcopy documentation should be mailed to:

Gary Chapin - Secretary
NYS Avian Records Committee (NYSARC)
125 Pine Springs Drive
Ticonderoga, NY 12883

Hotline: New York City Area Rare Bird Alert
Number: (212) 979-3070

Compiler: Tom Burke
Coverage: New York City, Long Island, Westchester County

Transcriber: Ben Cacace

BEGIN TAPE

Greetings. This is the New York Rare Bird Alert for *Friday, June 2nd 2023* at 11pm. The highlights of today's tape are WHITE-FACED IBIS, MISSISSIPPI KITE, RED-NECKED PHALAROPE, MARBLED GODWIT, GULL-BILLED TERN and such pelagic birds as SOOTY and CORY'S SHEARWATERS and PARASITIC JAEGER, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, RED CROSSBILL, SUMMER TANAGER, BLUE GROSBEAK and more.

The adult WHITE-FACED IBIS spotted Monday with Glossy Ibis at the Lido Beach Passive Nature Area off Lido Boulevard was seen again there Wednesday but not since but could still be in that area.

An immature MISSISSIPPI KITE was photographed over Croton Point Park in Westchester last Saturday.

A decent influx of RED-NECKED PHALAROPES took place along the coast recently with one at Jones Beach West End and 2 off Dune Road on Tuesday and these followed the next day by 6 off Robert Moses State Park and a nice 31 estimated off Cupsogue Beach County Park with another 8 off Moses Park today. Other pelagic species have also begun to appear along the Atlantic coastline lately. Robert Moses State Park on Wednesday producing 24 WILSON'S STORM-PETRELS, 1 CORY'S and 20 SOOTY SHEARWATERS and 11 PARASITIC JAEGERS followed by counts today of 23 WILSON'S STORM-PETRELS and 2 CORY'S and 6 SOOTY SHEARWATERS. There were also 26 WILSON'S STORM-PETRELS counted off Breezy Point today. Both numbers and species should increase in the next couple of weeks so find a good ocean viewing spot while winds are southerly especially southeast and enjoy. Patience are often required. Success tends to be better earlier in the morning or later in the afternoon and seems to increase the further east you go on Long Island.

A MARBLED GODWIT showed up at Plumb Beach in Brooklyn last Saturday when Breezy Point also produced 2 WHIMBREL and 9 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS but unfortunately the Jones Beach CURLEW SANDPIPER was not seen after last Friday. A GULL-BILLED TERN was seen at the Lido Beach Preserve on Wednesday.

Two RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS were spotted today along the Paumanok Trail near Jones Pond in Manorville, this site off Schultz Road. This trail also produced a RED CROSSBILL last Sunday and quite notable were 5 RED CROSSBILLS including a couple of fresh juveniles seen and photographed Monday at Hubbard County Park located east of Flanders. SUMMER TANAGERS this week featured one at Brooklyn Bridge Park last Saturday plus one at Canal Park in lower Manhattan and another in Central Park Thursday. BLUE GROSBEAKS continue on nesting sites out in the Calverton area and the YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER remains at the Bayard Cutting Arboretum in Great River.

Most all of the warblers have now moved through our area, last weekend still providing such species as TENNESSEE, BAY-BREASTED, CAPE MAY and WILSON'S and a few MOURNINGS are still to come.

To phone in reports, call Tom Burke at (914) 967-4922.

This service is sponsored by the Linnaean Society of New York and the National Audubon Society. Thank you for calling.

- End transcript