Best of the Fortnight

Here are a selection of photos that I took during the second two week of November 2025:

American Woodcock

Rusty Blackbird

Merlin

Fox Sparrow

Red-shouldered Hawk

Eastern Bluebird

Eastern Red Bat

Carolina Wren

Tufted Titmouse

Blue-headed Vireo

8 Steps on Central Avenue

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Fighting Red-bellied Woodpeckers

Bald Cypresses and the Setting Sun

Sleepy Eastern Gray Squirrel

Immature Red-tailed Hawk

American Kestrel taking off

Lingering Baltimore Oriole

House Finch

Merlin fighting the wind

A Season in Transition

As we approach Winter, the past two weeks has seen some not-so-subtle changes in the local landscape.

Hill of Graves looking north

The last of the leaves are persevering, at least until the next rainstorm or windy day. Groundhogs are settling into their dens until Spring. The skunks, while not true hibernators, have become scarce. Eastern Red Bats that opted to remain in the northeast are hibernating in tree hollows or buried themself in the leaf litter.

Eastern Red Bat

All is not quiet, however, as there are many new arrivals that will be spending the cold months here. Dark-eyed Juncos, White-throated Sparrows and Fox Sparrows have returned and are being seen moving around in large flocks. They are mostly feeding on the grasses and wildflowers that have gone to seed. In addition, sweetgum trees have begun dropping their abundant, tiny seeds on the paths and dirt below their extensive, spreading crowns. Finches, blackbirds, chickadees and titmice will also benefit from the windfall and probe for seed from the tops of these trees. Sparrows appreciate the spillage.

Dark-eyed Juncos

Dark-eyed Junco bathing

White-throated Sparrow bathing

Fox Sparrow

Field Sparrow

American Goldfinches have also been finding food in the tiny, pinecone-like fruit of the Cherry Birch trees.

American Goldfinch flock

American Goldfinch feeding in Cherry Birch

Crabapples, hollies, multiflora rose and some of the yew trees still have enough fruit to help some of the larger bird species survive. Northern Mockingbirds aggressively try to protect their claimed holly trees.

Northern Mockingbird in holly tree

Eastern Bluebird eating rosehips

Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers have arrived from the north and will spend the winter with the local Downy and Red-bellied Woodpeckers.

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

All is not happy and peaceful in Brooklyn's wild environs, however. Our local Red-tailed Hawks and American Kestrels have been joined by Merlins, Red-shouldered Hawks, Sharp-shinned Hawks and Cooper's Hawks. A Bald Eagle has even decided that the county of Kings is a desirable place to overwinter. If there is one truth in this world, it is that every living thing, no matter size, shape or habitat, needs to eat. I just don't always need to see cute birds as the meal.

Merlin perched in horsechestnut tree

Merlin with goldfinch meal

Sharp-shinned Hawk surveying the neighborhood

Immature Cooper's Hawk scanning the flocks

Upcoming Trips

Below are the birding/nature trips from Saturday, November 29 - Sunday, November 30, 2025:

Brooklyn Bird Club

Introduction to Birdwatching
Saturday, November 29, 2025, 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 bird outing 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.
Registration: No registration necessary.
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North Shore Audubon Society

Stehli Beach – Oyster Bay, NY
Saturday, November 29, 2025, 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.
View Details


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Queens County Bird Club

Grand Jones Beach
Sunday, November 30, 2025, 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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South Shore Audubon Society

Oceanside Marine Nature Study Area
Saturday, November 29, 2025
Leader: Members of SSAS
Description: From Sunrise Highway in Rockville Centre, turn onto Long Beach Road, traveling south. Proceed to Waukena Avenue and turn left. From this point onward, there are brown signs directing visitors to the sanctuary. Turn right onto Park Avenue (at a traffic light), then turn left onto Golf Drive. Continue on Golf Drive to Slice Drive, turn right, and proceed one short block into the sanctuary.
Registration: Registration is required by calling Joe Landesberg at 516-467-9498
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Hempstead Lake State Park
Sunday, November 30, 2025
Leader: Members of SSAS
Description: From the Southern State Parkway, take Exit 18 (Eagle Avenue) south to Field 3 (use second park entrance and make an immediate left turn.)
Registration: Registration is required by calling Joe Landesberg at 516-467-9498
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Urban Park Rangers

Saturday, November 29, 2025
McGolrick Bird Club at Monsignor McGolrick Park (in Msgr. McGolrick Park), Brooklyn
9:00am–11:00am
Free birding walks are held every Saturday at 9am, year-round. Meet at the Russell & Driggs entrance to McGolrick park.
Free

Riverside Park Birding Club at 116th Street and Riverside Drive (in Riverside Park), Manhattan
9:00am–10:30am
Monthly walks through birding hotspots in Riverside Park, led by Riverside Park Conservancy Field Staff.
Free

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Blog Change

After around 20 years of reposting the weekly New York Rare Bird Alert sightings to this blog, I've decided to remove the 600 or so entries. Let's face it, they were mostly just filler. There are so many other sources now available for this information, I think it's time for me to try and return to true blogging. I began this blog in 2004 and burned out a bit, but I'm going to make a concerted effort to get back to creating more interesting observational writing. In the meantime, here's a resource page for rare bird sightings. Also, here's the American Birding Association's Rare Bird Alert page. Finally, here's a woodcock from this weekend's timberdoodle-a-thon at Green-Wood Cemetery. It's one of seven I found for my Sunday early morning tour.

Upcoming Trips

Below are the birding/nature trips from Saturday, November 22 - Sunday, November 23, 2025:

Bedford Audubon Society

Leader's Choice Field Trip
Sunday, November 23, 2025, 7:00am - 1:00pm
Leader: Tait Johansson
Description: November is a great month for rarities – any bird that is not typically found in a locale. Ahead of this special trip, Tait will scout the latest and greatest for the group to see and based on what he finds, will decide where we will head. Plan to head out in the morning to a location no more than 1.5 hours’ drive. Tait will make the decision closer to the trip date based on bird sightings, rarities, and his local knowledge. If you register, you will be notified of the details a few days ahead of time.
Registration: Cost: Free. Level of Difficulty: Moderate. Registration required by emailing Susan at info@bedfordaudubon.org or by calling 914-302-9713.
View Details


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Brooklyn Bird Club

Introduction to Birdwatching
Saturday, November 22, 2025, 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 bird outing 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.
Registration: No registration necessary.
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American Goldfinch claims Prospect Park as Lucky “Golden Bird” #8 in a celebratory year
Saturday, November 22, 2025
Leader: Peter Dorosh
Description: In 2025, we will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the leader’s birding journey, which began in 1975 with his first spark bird, the Scarlet Tanager. To mark this special milestone, the theme of the year’s celebrations will focus on bird species with the name “golden,” along with all birds that continue to inspire joy and wonder. Throughout the year, seven “golden” bird species will be featured in walks and trips, honoring nature, the outdoors, and the many birds that enrich our lives. This trip will spotlight the American Goldfinch, a species commonly found in city parks across the eastern U.S. during the year. The leader’s year journey will conclude in the historic Prospect Park.
Registration: _____
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NYC Bird Alliance

Bilingual Birding in Flushing Meadows Corona Park: Spanish - English
Saturday, November 22, 2025, 10:00am - 11:30am
Leader: Oliver Lopez
Description: Comparte con NYC Bird Alliance un paseo dirigida por el naturalista Oliver Lopez a lo largo de Willow Lake en Flushing Meadows Corona Park. Ve gorriones, pinzones, patos, aves zancudas y más. ¡Los observadores de aves principiantes son muy bienvenidos!
Registration: Registration page
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Accessible Birding in Fort Tryon Park
Saturday, November 22, 2025, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Leader: Alex Wang
Description: Fort Tryon Park offers stunning views of the Palisades and Hudson River from its soaring cliffs of bedrock. Spanning 67 acres, the park features many well-paved walkways designed to accommodate a wide range of mobility needs for birders with stroller, wheelchair, walker, cane, and other mobility aids.
Registration: Registration page
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Fall Birding in Van Cortlandt Park
Sunday, November 23, 2025, 9:00am - 10:30am
Leader: Andrew Reiter
Description: Join NYC Bird Alliance on a bird tour in one of the Bronx's largest green spaces. Participants will look for various species of resident and migrant birds 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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Canarsie Park Birding
Sunday, November 23, 2025, 9:00am - 10:30am
Leader: Russel Jacobs
Description: Join NYC Bird Alliance and visit the coastal woodlands, tidal channel, and one of the only freshwater ponds in Brooklyn. Expect to see herons, shorebirds, flycatchers, vireos, warblers, and sparrows.
Registration: Registration page
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NYC Queer Birders

Green-Wood Cemetery - Finch Walk
Saturday, November 22, 2025, meet at 9:00am
Leader: Ryan Mandelbaum
Description: Meet at the main entrance.
Registration: Registration not required.
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North Shore Audubon Society

Mill Pond – Wantagh/Bellmore
Saturday, November 22, 2025, 9:00am – 12:00pm
Leader: Jennifer (516) 941-7434
Description: Mill Pond Preserve, Wantagh, 2935 Merrick Road, 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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South Shore Audubon Society

Point Lookout Town Park (and Lido Preserve afterwards)
Sunday, November 23, 2025
Leader: Members of SSAS
Description: From the Southern State Parkway, exit onto the Meadowbrook State Parkway south. Exit from the Meadowbrook at Loop Parkway (just before the Jones Beach toll booths) toward Point Lookout. The Loop Parkway ends west of Point Lookout at Lido Boulevard. Continue straight across Lido Boulevard into Point Lookout Park. Travel past the ticket booths and curve left into the very large parking lot on the south side of the park. Park in the southeast corner, closest to the private homes of the village of Point Lookout and the beach. We will walk east along the beach toward Jones Inlet. After returning to the parking lot, we will drive west on Lido Boulevard to Lido Beach Passive Nature Preserve on the north side of Lido Boulevard to walk through the bay marsh.
Registration: Registration is required by calling Joe Landesberg at 516-467-9498
View Details


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Urban Park Rangers

Saturday, November 22, 2025
McGolrick Bird Club at Monsignor McGolrick Park (in Msgr. McGolrick Park), Brooklyn
9:00am–11:00am
Free birding walks are held every Saturday at 9am, year-round. Meet at the Russell & Driggs entrance to McGolrick park.
Free

Sunday, November 23, 2025
Birding: Wild Turkeys at Pelham Bay Nature Center (in Pelham Bay Park), Bronx
11:00am–12:00pm
Come learn about one of the natives of the Bronx, the turkey! Come learn fun facts about this magnificent bird all while hiking Pelham Bay Park to spot one.
Free
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Best of the Fortnight

Here are my favorite photos that I took during the first two weeks of November. As you might expect at this time of year, I have a few fall foliage pics in the selection. Also, it's hard to believe that I only have three more "Fortnight" postings left for 2025! Enjoy:

Goldenrod gone to seed

Great Blue Heron

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Winged Euonymus

Three-flower Maple

Varied Thrush in Prospect Park

Sugar Maple

Merlin and American Kestrel

Pious American Kestrel

Hairy Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

Immature Cooper's Hawk

American Bittern in wrong habitat

Eastern Bluebird

Fog burning off at sunrise

Dawn Redwood

Cooper's Hawk

European Beech and Japanese Maple

American Woodcock

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Lace-leaf Japanese Maple

Ring of mushrooms

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Female Bufflehead

Blue Cornflower

American Woodcock