Best of the Fortnight

Here's a selection of my photos taken during the second two weeks of November 2024. Enjoy:

Immature Red-headed Woodpecker

Dawn Redwood

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Red-tailed Hawk

Laceleaf Japanese Maple

Cooper's Hawk

Gadwall hen

Merlin

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Common Buckeye

Japanese Maple leaves

Gadwall drake

Tufted Titmouse

Great Blue Heron

American Kestrel

Upcoming Trips

Below are the birding/nature trips from Saturday, November 30 - Sunday, December 1, 2024:

Brooklyn Bird Club

Introduction to Birdwatching
Saturday, November 30, 2024
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.
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First Sunday Bird Outings
Sunday, December 1, 2024, 10:00am - 12:00pm
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: No registration necessary.
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Gateway National Parks

Fort Tilden Hawk Watch
Every week on Saturday, November 02, 2024 to November 30, 2024
Leader: Park Rangers
Description: Join a Park Ranger for the chance to see hawks like Osprey, Peregrine Falcons, Bald Eagles and more as they fly overhead during peak fall bird migration. Learn to ID them by silhouette and at rest. Meet at the Battery Harris viewing platform at Fort Tilden. Rain will cancel this event.
Registration: Reservation or Registration: No.
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Green-Wood Cemetery

Birding in Peace
Sunday, December 1, 2024, 7:00am – 8:30am
Description: Just because it’s winter, doesn’t mean that there aren’t interesting birds to discover in Green-Wood. For some bird species that migrate south after the breeding season, Brooklyn is their Miami during the cold months. Spend the early morning exploring the cemetery, looking for overwintering waterfowl, nuthatches, woodpeckers, sparrows, finches, and any half-hardy birds that decided to stick around. By February we’ll see some of the early north-bound birds beginning to trickle back into the area.
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NYC Bird Alliance

Accessible Birding in Fort Tryon Park
Saturday, December 1, 2024, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Leader: Alex Wang
Description: Fort Tryon Park’s 67 acres are accessible to birders of all abilities and disabilities. Accessible-friendly routes including many well-paved walkways are suitable for birders with strollers, carriages, wheelchairs, walkers, canes, etc. Accessibility is enhanced by birding guide and educator Alexandra Wang (Avian Alex), M.S. Ed., who offers augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) pamphlets, Braille pamphlets and plush birds for an inclusive birding tour. Further accommodations can be requested in advance by reaching out to Alex at alexmwang1992@gmail.com
Registration: Registration page
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Freshkills North Park Birding
Sunday, December 1, 2024, 9:00am - 10:30am
Leader: Anthony Ciancimino
Description: Join Staten Island resident and birder Anthony Ciancimino for a tour of Freshkills Park’s North Park. This park is a beautiful oasis of wetlands and grasslands, where you can expect to see a wide variety of waterfowl, raptors, and sparrows.
Registration: Registration page
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Queens Botanical Garden Birding
Sunday, December 1, 2024, 9:30am - 10:30am
Leader:
Description: Explore Queens Botanical Garden in search of migrant songbirds and learn about the resources the Garden offers to birds and other wildlife. These outings are held in partnership with the Queens Botanical Garden.
Registration: Registration page
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North Shore Audubon Society

Stehli Beach
Saturday, November 30, 2024, 9:00am – 12:00pm
Leader: Lindy (516) 628-1315
Description: Stehli Beach, Oyster Bay, NY 11560
Registration: Limited registration. You must register via email to nsaudubonsociety@gmail.com, and you will receive a confirmation email. If you become unable to attend, please email to allow someone on the waiting list to take your slot.
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Queens County Bird Club

Grand Jones Beach
Saturday, November 30, 2024, 8:00am - 3:00pm
Leader: Ian Resnick (917) 626-9562
"Description: We will start this field trip at Jones Beach West End - the gazebo at the boat basin adjoining the Coast Guard Station - see map. We will proceed both on foot and by vehicle to other locales in the Jones Beach area. Please bring lunch.
" Registration: Please contact trip leader for meeting time and location.
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Urban Park Rangers

Sunday, December 1, 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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Week 46 - Green-Wood Cemetery

Continuing drought conditions and mostly mild temperatures made for a jarring mismatch in the typical wildlife observations. Some days it was hard to ignore the scent of smoke and wonder where and what was burning. So far our expected overwintering bird species were arriving with regularity and ignoring any climate related issues. Bird feeders were being emptied almost as fast as they were being refilled. Some of the species were eating a few seeds and caches many more in anticipation of leaner days.

A constant stream of birds on the feeders are mostly Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Carolina Wren, House Finch, Purple Finch and American Goldfinch. Blue Jays periodically stop by and bully the others. Picking up the spillage below the feeders are Mourning Dove, Chipping Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, White-throated Sparrow and Song Sparrow. There are other songbirds within the cemetery that either haven't discovered the feeders or are more selective in their menu. Cardinals, for example, seem to spend much of their time in the tops of towering Tulip trees, feeding on its abundant seeds.

Black-capped Chickadee

American Goldfinch

Eastern Towhee

Dark-eyed Junco

A few Eastern Bluebirds were still around and was also surprised to spot a late Eastern Phoebe during my Sunday walk.

Eastern Bluebird

Eastern Phoebe

American Crow numbers have increased...a lot. There's been a roving murder of crows that, until recently, I wasn't completely sure of the total size. I photographed them perched, zoomed in on the image, then counted. Ten more individuals flew in from the north as I was photographing the flock. In total, 106 birds were in the flock.

American Crows

With waterfowl still on the move I should not have been shocked to see a dozen Wood Ducks resting on Sylvan Water. But I was. It was not just because a relatively large flock of these small birds were in such a small water body, but because they're really a beautiful species and it's amazing to see a bunch together. A few Gadwall have also been persisting on the ponds. It is possible that they are experiencing their prealternate molt, so need to hang around until the new feathers grow in.

Wood Ducks

Gadwall

Raptor migration, for the most part, has ended. However, last week I observed several Red-shouldered Hawk still moving through the area. In addition, I spotted a flock (kettle?) of Turkey Vultures passing by.

Red-shouldered Hawk

I usually associate flowering Witch-hazel with late-winter. Last week, though, I noticed several already in full bloom. I just learned that there are actually three native species of Witch-hazel. Hamamelis virginiana blooms in September–November. The two other species bloom from January–March.

American Witch-Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana)

Common Persimmon is now in peak ripeness. This native tree's fruit are much smaller than the store bought Asian persimmons, but no less delicious. If you'd like to try one, better hurry as I expect huge flocks of American Robins to be descending on the trees along Alder Ave. in 3...2...1.

Common Persimmon bark & fruit

125th Annual Christmas Bird Count

Here is the schedule for the 125th Annual Christmas Bird Count for New York City and surrounding area. The Christmas Count has little to do with the holiday and everything to do with conservation. It began as a protest against the annual Christmas "Side Hunt". It is now a yearly event where thousands of volunteers throughout the Western Hemisphere count birds to provide population data for science. You can read more about it here.

I've been covering the extensive habitats at Floyd Bennett Field and surrounding area for 23 years, the last 7 of which I've been the team leader.

If you'd like to get involved, contact one of the coordinators from the area close to you.

Count Code Count Name Contact Email Phone Saturday, December 14, 2024 NYBR Brooklyn L.I. Bobbi Manian roberta.manian@gmail.com NYML Mohonk Lake-Ashokan Res. Steve M. Chorvas schorvas@gmail.com 845-246-5900 NYNN North Nassau Jennifer Wilson Pines jwpines@gmail.com NYOT Oneonta Sandy Bright brights@hartwick.edu NYPE Peekskill Michael Newhouse Michael.Newhouse@wsp.com Sunday, December 15, 2024 NYCA Captree L.I. Brent Bomkamp or Taylor Sturm bbomkamp@gmail.com or tsturm@gmail.com NJLH Lower Hudson NJ/NY Katherine Chen christmasbirdcount@nycaudubon.org NYOS Oswego-Fulton Bill Purcell wpurcell@twcny.rr.com 315-382-2871 NYQU Queens County Corey Finger 10000birdsblogger@gmail.com NYQW Quogue-Water Mill L.I. Steven Biasetti sbiasetti@eastendenvironment.org 631-219-5518 NYRC Rockland County Alan Wells alan.wells@optimum.net 845-942-5751 Monday, December 16, 2024 NYSC Southern Columbia County Frank Smith fsmith140@gmail.com 917-254-1237 Tuesday, December 17, 2024 Saturday, December 21, 2024 NYDC Dutchess County Debbie van Zyl cbc1@watermanbirdclub.org Sunday, December 22, 2024 NYBW Bronx-Westchester Region Michael Bochnik BochnikM@cs.com Tuesday, December 24, 2024 Wednesday, December 25, 2024 Thursday, December 26, 2024 Saturday, December 28, 2024 NYPC Putnam County Charlie Roberto chasrob26@gmail.com 845-270-2979 NYUD Ulster/Dutchess Mark DeDea forsythnature@aol.com Sunday, December 29, 2024 Wednesday, January 1, 2025 NYOD Oneida Bill Purcell wpurcell@twcny.rr.com 315-382-2871 NYHV Pawling (Hidden Valley) CT: Angela Dimmitt NY: Carena Pooth CT: angeladimmitt@aol.com NY: pawlingcbc@watermanbirdclub.org CT: 860-355-3429 Thursday, January 2, 2025 Saturday, January 4, 2025 NYSN Southern Nassau County L.I. Shai Mitra email Shaibal.Mitra@csi.cuny.edu OR gelochelidon@gmail.com

Upcoming Trips

Below are the birding/nature trips from Saturday, November 23 - Sunday, November 24, 2024:

Brooklyn Bird Club

Introduction to Birdwatching
Saturday, November 23, 2024
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


Early Winter Arrivals in Green-wood Cemetery
Saturday, November 23, 2024, 8:00am - 12:00pm
Leader: Matthew Wills
Description: Late November is a transition time –a changing of the season as more finches, woodpeckers, raptors, kinglets, creepers, sparrows, bluebird, and typical woodland species pass through. Perhaps even a rarity.
Registration: Meet 8 am inside the main entrance at 5th Ave /25th Street before the Arch. No registration necessary.
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Gateway National Parks

Fort Tilden Hawk Watch
Every week on Saturday, November 02, 2024 to November 30, 2024
Leader: Park Rangers
Description: Join a Park Ranger for the chance to see hawks like Osprey, Peregrine Falcons, Bald Eagles and more as they fly overhead during peak fall bird migration. Learn to ID them by silhouette and at rest. Meet at the Battery Harris viewing platform at Fort Tilden. Rain will cancel this event.
Registration: Reservation or Registration: No.
View Details


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Hudson River Audubon Society

Croton Point Park
Saturday, November 23, 2024, 8:00am
Leader: Michael Bochnik leads the field trips.
Description: Meet in the large parking lot in the corner of the nature center driveway.
Registration: bochnikm@cs.com
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NYC Bird Alliance

Birding at Wolfe's Pond Park
Saturday, November 16, 2024, 9:00am - 10:30am
Leader: Anthony Ciancimino
Description: Discover a diversity of spring migrants with Staten Island resident and birder, Anthony Ciancimino. Expect to see a variety of migrant songbirds in the wooded areas of the park. We will also check the pond and beach for shorebirds, terns, and other waterbirds.
Registration: Registration page
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Winter Waterfowl at Jamaica Bay
Saturday, November 23, 2024, 10:00am - 1:00pm
Leader: Don Riepe
Description: Join longtime birder and educator Don Riepe at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge and explore this gem of New York City. The Refuge is home to nesting birds like Cedar Waxwings, Brown Thrashers, Osprey, Willets, Clapper Rails, and up to seven species of wading birds. As the weather gets colder, waterfowl like Mergansers, Buffleheads, and Brants are especially in abundance. We'll take a stroll around the refuge in search of winter birds.
Registration: Registration page
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NYC Queer Birders

Central Park
Sunday, November 24, 2024, 9:00am
Leader: ____
Description: Meet at Belvedere Castle.
Registration: Registration not required.
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North Shore Audubon Society

Mill Pond Wantagh/Bellmore
Saturday, November 23, 2024, 9:00am – 12:00pm (Weekly on Saturday, until Dec 1, 2024)
Leader: Jennifer (516) 941-7434
Description: 2935 Merrick Rd, Wantagh, NY 11793
Registration: Limited registration. You must register via email to nsaudubonsociety@gmail.com, and you will receive a confirmation email. If you become unable to attend, please email to allow someone on the waiting list to take your slot.
View Details


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Queens County Bird Club

South Shore Potpourri
Saturday, November 23, 2024, 8:00am - 3:00pm
Leader: Ian Resnick (917) 626-9562
Description: Explore various duck ponds of the South Shore, starting with Lofts Pond in Baldwin - see map for this location - and heading east to Milburn Creek, Cow Meadow, Cammanns Pond, Mill Pond Park Bellmore, and any other nearby locations that have reported interesting sightings on that day.
Registration: Please contact trip leader for meeting time and location.
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South Shore Audubon Society

Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
Saturday, November 23, 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
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Urban Park Rangers

Sunday, November 24, 2024
Urban Wildlife: Wild Turkeys at Forest Avenue and Silver Lake Park Road (in Silver Lake Park), Staten Island
10:00am – 11:00am
Join the Urban Park Rangers and learn about the wild turkeys that are seen on Staten Island.
Free

Birding: Waterfowl at Entrance - Baisley Blvd. & 157th Street (in Baisley Pond Park), Queens
11:00am – 12:00pm
Birding programs are appropriate for all skill levels and beginners are welcome. Please bring your own binoculars.
Free

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Goodbye Twitter, Hello BlueSky

For anyone who has been following me on Twitter (X), I have deleted my account. Like the millions of others fleeing the platform, I can now be found on BlueSky. If you haven't checked it out yet, I recommend it. The level of toxicity at the other place had become unbearable. Hope to see you over there. My new handle is @citybirder.bsky.social

"Hey there, Mr. Blue"
"We're so pleased to be with you"
"Look around, see what you do"
"Everybody smiles at you"

Best of the Fortnight

Here's a selection of my photos from the first two weeks of November, 2024. Enjoy:

American Woodcock

Sugar Maple and storm clouds

Katsura tree

Purple Finch and Seven-sons Tree

Cedar Waxwing

Baltimore Oriole

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

White-breasted Nuthatch

Immature Red-headed Woodpecker

Red-tailed Hawk bathing

Black-capped Chickadee

Western Kingbird

Eastern Bluebird

Familiar Silhouette

 

Red-tailed Hawk

Week 45 - Green-Wood Cemetery

With only 7 weeks left of the year, the 2024 seasonal changes have slowed to a crawl. Most of the trees have released their foliage, although a few species are still holding on, morphing through their brilliant color phase before the final leaf drop.

Higan Cherry

Pignut Hickory

Japanese Maple

Sourwood

American Ash trees are loaded with clusters of its dried fruit, which will become a gathering place for arriving finches and other wintering seed-eaters.

American Ash

I was surprised to stumble on a Kousa Dogwood still covered with fruit. However, the fruit was dried and hard, not really possible for birds to consume. A different cultivar, perhaps?

Kousa Dogwood

Fox Sparrows have finally begun arriving in the cemetery. They'll be joining the Chipping Sparrows, Dark-eyed Juncos and White-throated Sparrows for the next four months or so, until Spring arrives.

Fox Sparrow

Lots of waterfowl are on the move. Early mornings the sky is filled with honking, v-formation flocks of Canada Geese heading south. We've been seeing nervous flocks of tiny, colorful Wood Ducks stopping off in the cemetery. Yesterday our early morning group witnessed a Peregrine Falcon chasing a pair of Gadwall, which settled down for the afternoon at Crescent Water.

Wood Ducks

Gadwall

A pair of Merlins have joined the overwintering Cooper's Hawks, dining on the abundant birdlife attempting to survive the long winter.

Merlin

It was a good season for Eastern Bluebirds, with a fair number seen throughout much of the city. The last of the flocks that were resting and refueling at the cemetery seemed to have moved on, although I wouldn't discount a lone individual staying around through the winter.

Eastern Bluebird

Our young Red-headed Woodpecker near the Elias Howe monument is still around. Recent photos show that he is already growing his namesake red plumes.

Immature Red-headed Woodpecker

Late-October to November is historically a time to look for vagrant species in our area. Last year we saw two unusual species of flycatcher in the cemetery: Ash-throated Flycatcher and Western Kingbird. I mention this because, while not in Green-Wood Cemetery, a Western Kingbird is now hanging around Bush Terminal Park, around 1 mile down the slope from the cemetery. Perhaps it will fly over for a visit.

Western Kingbird

The Striped Skunks in the cemetery are primarily nocturnal, so they are usually only seen either at dawn or around sunset. While they don't technically hibernate, they will enter a period of inactivity or torpor during the winter. In late fall they will spend a lot of time eating to add extra fat to their body. So I wasn't surprised to find one out and foraging during my early morning "Birding in Peace" tour yesterday. If you happen on one, there's no need to panic. They aren't interested in interacting with humans. Just quietly watch them from a distance and, as tempting as it might seem, please do not try to pet one...you'll definitely regret it.

Striped Skunk