Best of the Fortnight

Here are my favorite photographs taken during the second two weeks of August.

Northern Flicker

Trapped feather

Summer Azure

Eastern Gray Squirrel "Baby"

Worm-eating Warbler

Mourning Warbler

Striped Skunk with bed hair

Spotted Sandpiper

Cape May Warbler

Red-banded Hairstreak

American Kestrel getting a hand

Mantis checking my photos

Northern Flickers and American Kestrel

Common Tern

Week 34 - Green-Wood Cemetery

Monday of Week 34 at Green-Wood Cemetery was mostly the same at the previous week. However, overnight the winds shifted to the N-NW bringing delightfully cool weather and an influx of southbound migrants on Tuesday.

While American Redstart was still the most abundant species (with Black-and-whites running a close second), Tuesday was my first double-digit warbler species day. Among the list was my first Mourning Warbler of the year. I missed seeing one back in the spring, but to make up for it a pair of cooperative individuals foraged in the open at Dell Water. My complete list for the day was: Ovenbird, Worm-eating Warbler, Northern Waterthrush, Black-and-white Warbler, Mourning Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Yellow Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Canada Warbler and Wilson's Warbler.

Worm-eating Warbler

American Redstart

Mourning Warbler

Canada Warbler

Cape May Warbler

In addition to the warblers, Red-eyed Vireo and Veery were suddenly seen in greater numbers.

Red-eyed Vireo

Veery

Robins are now showing up in fairly large flocks. I counted over 100 on Friday. Many are feasting in the Black Cherry trees, but there are also a few Kousa Dogwoods with early ripening fruit. The latter have been like a busy airport with dozens of birds coming and going every minute.

American Robin in Kousa Dogwood

We've also begun to see flocks of Cedar Waxwings, many of which are immature plumed birds. They've been rubbing shoulders with the robins at the dogwood trees.

Cedar Waxwing in Kousa Dogwood

Eastern Kingbirds have mostly disappeared, but there are still several Great Crested Flycatchers around. Eastern Wood-Pewees have increased in abundance and I've seen a few Least Flycatchers and several unidentified empidonax flycatchers (I prefer them in the spring when I can ID them by voice).

One scarce visitor was a Greater Yellowlegs at the edge of the Sylvan Water on Thursday. Killdeer, Wilson's Snipe, Spotted Sandpiper and Solitary Sandpiper are the more common shorebirds here during migration. I think I've seen half a dozen yellowlegs at Green-Wood Cemetery in 2 decades of birding. Both species of yellowlegs are pretty common along the coast at places like Plum Beach and Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge.

Greater Yellowlegs

Of the botanics that were blooming last week, the hydrangeas were attracting an amazing number of pollinators. Sachem skippers continued to be the most common butterfly, but I did spot a favorite that I hadn't seen here for a couple of years - the tiny Red-banded Hairstreak. In addition, Monarchs continue to increase in numbers, but are still, regrettably, very low.

Hydrangea

Red-banded Hairstreak

Many trees are now fully fruiting. One of the more amusing observation I made regarding those trees was the insane popularity of the Shellbark Hickory among the mammal population. The ground beneath nearly every one I encountered was covered with half eaten nuts, shells and sprinkled liberally with hickory "saw dust". Gravestones near these trees appear to be popular dining tables as they have little piles of hickory shavings atop them.

Beneath a Shellbark Hickory

Here's a selection of other fruiting plants from last week.

Splendens Red Buckeye

Chinese Hornbeam

Kentucky Coffeetree

Japanese Bitter Orange

Sweet Bay Magnolia

Bottlebrush Buckeye

During the early morning or close to dusk, walk into the long grass of any of the cemetery's meadows, especially the Hill of Graves. Listen closely. There's a really nice population of crickets, grasshoppers and katydids (I also just had a close encounter with a young European Mantis). Just pick a spot and spread the blades of grass apart. Look closely. Due to this windfall, American Kestrels can now be seen regularly hunting from low perches above the grass.

Unidentified grasshopper

American Kestrel hunting at Hill of Graves

Upcoming Trips

Below are the birding/nature trips from Saturday, August 31 - Sunday, September 1, 2024:

Brooklyn Bird Club

“Golden” opportunities on the Brooklyn South Coast: Plumb Beach, Floyd Bennett and Marine Park
Saturday, August 31, 2024
Leader: Peter Dorosh
Description: Our target is the tail end of the shorebird migration during this holiday weekend, with a hope for a rare Golden Plover during this species’ traveling window. We’ll enjoy other species of dune, marsh, beach and upland birds for an enjoyable day out . If information is fresh regarding our pursuit bird, the leader will adjust the last minute travel plan.
Registration: Peter Dorosh, email Prosbird@gmail.com or Prosbird@aol.com.
View Details

First Sunday Bird Outingsb>
Sunday, September 1, 2024
Leader: A member of the Brooklyn Bird Club
Description: Join a member of the Brooklyn Bird Club in search of dozens of species that visit the park through all seasons. Learn about the different habitats in Prospect Park and why they are important for all types of birds.
Registration: All are welcome. No registration necessary.
View Details


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Gateway National Parks

Birding for Beginners at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
Every week on Sunday, September 01, 2024 to September 29, 2024, 1:30pm — 3:00pm
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: Not required.
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Green-Wood Cemetery

Birding in Peace
Sunday, September 1, 2024, 6:30am - 8:00am
Description: Before our gates open to the general public, birding expert Rob Jett leads these peaceful early morning walking tours to discover the many birds that make Green-Wood their home—at least temporarily. No matter when you stop by, you’ll always see a variety of species passing through. By September, offspring of summer’s nesting birds will be on their own. Returning warblers will be in their less flamboyant fall plumage. Large numbers of blackbirds, flycatchers, sparrows, vireos, and swallows will also be passing through. By October, we’ll be on the lookout for returning waterfowl and raptors heading south. November will bring back our overwintering feathered denizens from the north.
View Details


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Linnaean Society of New York

Sea-watch and Early Fall Migrants on Staten Island
Sunday, September 1, 2024
Leader: Anthony Ciancimino
Description: Join longtime birder and Staten Island resident Anthony Ciancimino for a tour around the south and east shores of the island. We will start at the Great Kills Park bathhouse, where we will have a seawatch. Here, we can see a variety of waterbirds, such as gulls, terns and possibly even Brown Pelicans. From there, we will then explore the nearby trails for migrating warblers and other songbirds. Depending on activity, we will then move on to check the marshes, where we can see a great variety of wading birds, such as egrets and ibis, as well as shorebirds. There are a plethora of locations on the island we can check, so Anthony will discern which areas will be best on the day of the event. Please wear comfortable shoes, as we will walk on beaches and rocky terrain at times, totalling a few miles or so. Attendees should bring insect repellent as well.
Registration: Judi Rabi — jsrabi@verizon.net
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NYC Bird Alliance

Governors Island Bird Tour
Saturday, August 31, 2024, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Leader: NYC Bird Alliance
Description: Nearly 240 bird species have been spotted on Governors Island, which provides excellent habitat all year round. Whether you’re an expert birder or a beginner, these tours will help you discover all of the birdlife the island has to offer. Binoculars are available to borrow.
Registration: No registration required. Free.
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Accessible Birding in Fort Tryon Park
Saturday, August 31, 2024, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Leader: Alex Wang
Description: Beautiful Fort Tryon Park commands sweeping views of the Palisades and the Hudson River from soaring cliffs of bedrock in northern Manhattan. Past encounters include a variety of birds such as Bald Eagles and Ruby-throated Hummingbirds.
Registration: Registration page
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South Shore Audubon Society

Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
Sunday, August 31, 2024
Leader: Members of SSAS
Description: From the Southern State Parkway, travel west to the Belt Parkway. Exit at Cross Bay Boulevard (Exit 17) south. Continue south on Cross Bay Blvd. through Howard Beach and over the North Channel Bridge (also known as the Congressman Joseph P. Addabbo Bridge). The entrance to the refuge parking lot is on the right side of the road, at a traffic light approximately one and a half miles past the bridge.
Registration: Registration is required by calling Joe Landesberg at 516-467-9498
View Details


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Urban Park Rangers

Saturday, August 31, 2024
Riverside Park Birding Club at 116th Street and Riverside Drive (in Riverside Park), Manhattan
8:00am – 9:30am
Monthly walks through birding hotspots in Riverside Park. Learn and build a birding community.
Free

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Memorial for a Brooklyn Birder

 

Week 33 - Green-Wood Cemetery

We're approaching the close of summer and many of our southbound migratory bird species seem to be stalled north of us. There are trees fruiting to help refuel them when they arrive, and there are lots of insects on the menu, too. Here's my summary for the week of August 12th through the 18th.

The juvenile Chipping Sparrows I mentioned in previous posts are beginning to look more like the adults. The only other juvenile specie that I observed was Song Sparrow. I was pleasantly surprised as they've been relatively scarce. I'd been hearing a male singing at the Sylvan Water, but rarely saw it. On Tuesday an adult perched in front of me accompanied by a chirping juvenile.

Song Sparrow with juvenile

An early Overbird continued in the understory at Pine Hill, with a second one at Dell Water. The only other warblers seen last week (and in low numbers) were Northern Waterthrush, Black-and-white Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Magnolia Warbler, Yellow Warbler and Canada Warbler. The Magnolia and Canada were new arrivals.

Ovenbird

American Redstart

A couple of Eastern Wood-Pewees were also new southbound arrivals seen last week. We should be seeing many more flycatcher species in the next few weeks. I also spotted my first Wood Thrush of the season within a nice mixed flock of birds at Pine Hill.

Eastern Wood-Pewee

Wood Thrush

It's interesting to note that in the last week to ten days Northern Flicker abundance has been gradually increasing in the cemetery. This is a species that, at some point in the fall, will be feeding in large flocks within open grassy areas.

Northern Flicker

If you've found that your eyes have suddenly become itchy or your nose running, blame it on all the goldenrod that has sprung up. It may be great for an assortment of pollinators, not so much for seasonal allergies. Here are some other botanicals I observed blooming last week.

Goldenrod

New York Ironweed

Partridge Pea

Spotted Beebalm

Daisy Fleabane (and plume moth)

Blue Spirea

While their numbers are still very low, I did spot many more Monarch Butterflies last week. There seemed to be an increase in Banded Hairstreak butterflies, as well. A really cool moth that I found sleeping on a linden tree is the Widow Underwing. I'd never seen this large moth before and, perhaps, it is because they are so well camouflaged against tree bark.

Monarch on thistle

Banded Hairstreak

Widow Hairstreak

Many trees are in various stages of fruiting. The European Beech fruit are ripe and being enjoyed by the squirrels and Monk Parakeets. Wild Raisons at Sylvan Water are getting close to ripe and will be supporting many birds. The Kousa Dogwood are an important source of food for many thrushes, Orioles and even the smallest warblers. I've watched warblers (who are primarily insectivores) pecking at the fruit to get to the sweet inner pulp. Some of the crabapples are rippening. One on Vista Hill is a favorite of a variety of migratory birds, from Orioles to woodpeckers. I've already begun checking it daily. Both the Japanese Cedar and Blue Atlas Cedar have new cone crops starting. Ginkgo trees branches are heavy with fruit, but I can't think of any local wildlife that benefit from their pungent harvest. Finally, Bittersweet Nightshade is fruiting. Birds do eat their tiny, tomato-like fruit, but they are highly toxic to humans.

European Beech

Wild Raison

Kousa Dogwood

Crabapple

Japanese Cedar

Blue Atlas Cedar

Ginkgo

Bittersweet Nightshade

Along a stretch of Vale Avenue, between the Crescent Water and Summit Avenue, several groups of bolete mushrooms have emerged. My fungi identification skills need work, but I'm reasonably certain that they are Clustered Brown Bolete (Aureoboletus innixus). I'm not sure what conditions in that spot are so ideal for them, maybe it has something to do with the stretch of Pine Oaks at that location.

Clustered Brown Bolete (Aureoboletus innixus)

With a little luck, we'll see some north winds this week and with it, more birds. Until next Monday, enjoy the outdoors.