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FIELD TRIP / EVENT REPORTS
May 29, 2010 - GSBAS Field Trip to Jamaica Bay National Wildlife Refuge
by Michael McBrien

On the beautiful late spring morning of May 29th, I along with eight other birders proceeded to bird Jamaica Bay National Wildlife Refuge, searching for various shorebirds and late migrant songbirds. The South Garden yielded Yellow Warblers along with a male Blackpoll and a male American Redstart.  After receiving news of a Wilson's Phalarope on the West Pond, we soon found the breeding plumaged female phalarope feeding on the edge of the pond.  Also on the West Pond was a Gull-billed Tern among  other shorebirds and terns. Among the various wading-birds in the South Marsh, there was a stunning Little Blue Heron.  Upon the Osprey platform resided four young, which could be clearly seen when the parent flew in to bring a freshly caught fish to the nest.  Also in the area was a very cooperative Willow Flycatcher, allowing all of us to view it.  The field trip to Jamaica Bay was productive with 57 species recorded.


May 22, 2010 - Birding and Breakfast
Click the photos to enlarge

May 22, 2010, was a beautiful spring day that brought thirty-seven people to Connetquot River State Park Preserve to enjoy a sumptuous array of breakfast treats and a guided bird walk on the trails of Connetquot.  Given the large number of people that attended, two groups were formed and leaders Ken Thompson and Edith Wilson were kept busy pointing out birds as well as other wildlife and fielding the questions of their respective group.

East Islip High School sent a few students who needed the program to fulfill a requirement of their curriculum.  It was a pleasure to have these young people along as they seemed very interested in not only the birds, but plants, butterflies and other animals we encountered.  As we walked, bird song filled the air and challenged us to identify the species that produced it.  We heard more birds than we saw as the copious spring rains dressed the trees and bushes with a heavy suit of leaves that effectively hid wrens, pewees, phoebes and others from our view.  Nevertheless, we managed to tally a total of forty-six species seen or only heard by either group or both, as follows below. - Co-leader Edith Wilson

(Photographs courtesy of Patrick J. Burke)

The Birding and Breakfast program is a collaboration of Friends of Connetquot, Great South Bay Audubon Society, and NYS Parks.  The next program will be held on Saturday, September 18, 2010.  Reserve the date!

  1. Am. Crow
  2. American Robin
  3. Baltimore Oriole
  4. Barn Swallow
  5. Black-backed Gull
  6. Black-capped Chickadee
  7. Blackpoll Warbler
  8. Brown Creeper (H)
  9. Brown Thrasher
  10. Brown-headed Cowbird
  11. Canada Goose
  12. Carolina Wren (H)
  13. Cedar Waxwing
  14. Chipping sparrow
  15. Common Grackle
  16. Common Yellowthroat (H)
  1. Double-crested Cormorant
  2. Downy Woodpecker
  3. Eastern Kingbird
  4. Eastern Phoebe (H)
  5. Eastern Towhee
  6. Eastern Wood Pewee (H)
  7. European Starling
  8. Forsters Tern
  9. Gray Catbird
  10. Great-crested Flycatcher
  11. Green Heron
  12. Herring Gull
  13. House Sparrow
  14. House Wren (H)
  15. Mourning Dove
  16. Mute Swan
  1. Northern Cardinal
  2. Northern Mockingbird
  3. Osprey
  4. Ovenbird (H)
  5. Pine Warbler
  6. Red-eyed Vireo
  7. Red-winged Blackbird
  8. Rock Pigeon
  9. Ruby-throated Hummer
  10. Song Sparrow
  11. Tree Swallow
  12. Tufted Titmouse (H)
  13. White-breasted Nuthatch
  14. Yellow Warbler

Saturday, May 8, 2010 - Wertheim’s International Bird Migratory Day Celebration
Click photos to enlarge

Recap by Michael McBrien

On the morning of May 8, 2010, former GSBAS Chapter President, Alice Heller, and I met in the parking lot of Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge for our field trip for International Migratory Bird Day.  The weather forecst was ominous, with showers predicted, yet it appeared at 8 o'clock, that we had a break in the rain.  So we decided to take our group of 18 (including Alice and I) into the Impoundment section of Wertheim.

It turned out we had made the right decision. We tallied 44 species. Earlier, we had seen 3 Wild Turkeys as we entered the refuge; we found another male on the drive to the Impoundments.  Upon entering the Impoundments, we were immediately greeted by Osprey, which nest in a dead snag near the road.  In the Impoundments, we found a good variety of shorebirds, including Solitary and Least Sandpipers, 2 Willets, a single Short-billed Dowitcher, and a Greater Yellowlegs.  We saw between 10-15 Glossy Ibis, including a group of 7 that was flushed from an area of the marsh near the side of the road.

In the classic area for finding rails, our group saw a Virginia Rail.  It was quite cooperative, giving everyone in the group exceptional views.

Fog was constant throughout the day, and this may have kept some numbers down.  However, during breaks in the fog, we were able to find Great and Snowy Egrets, Gadwall, and American Wigeon, among the other more common marshland birds.

As usual, warblers and songbird numbers were not as high as places in western Long Island, yet we did tally Yellow and Blackpoll Warblers, Common Yellowthroat, a brief look at Baltimore Oriole, Red-eyed Vireo (heard), and Swamp Sparrow (heard).

All in all, it was a great day, especially for such unfavorable weather.  I look forward to next year, when I hope to once again have the pleasure of co-leading this wonderful trip.

Thanks to Jody Banaszak for the following photos of an American Kestrel (“AK”) which were taken at Wertheim’s International Bird Migratory Day Celebration held on Saturday, May 8, 2010. The AK photographed is an injured bird that is used to educate the public.

Photos Courtesy of Jody Banaszak


February 21, 2010 - American Museum of National History, Ornithology Dept. Tour
Click photos to enlarge

The annual field trip to the “behind the scenes” of the Ornithology Department of the American Museum of Natural History was led by Judy Davis. We had a total of 18 who came on this field trip plus 3 who were guests of our host, Peter Capainolo, scientific assistant.

For some of us who arrived together earlier, the field trip started with visiting some of the other exhibits. An exhibit which opened in October and is in the Hall of Oceanic Birds is The Butterfly Conservatory: Tropical Butterflies Alive in Winter. A closed area was set up which had the environment’s temperature and humidity controlled for the butterflies and moths. In many cases, the butterflies were actually landing on people’s clothing, hands, etc., to extract the salts and other minerals from the surfaces. Though we had to pay extra to enter this exhibit, it was well worth it. After this exhibit, we decided to finish looking at the exhibits in that hall, then seeing how much time we had left, decided to go to the Hall of Minerals and Gems.

We met up with Peter, and he brought us into the Ornithology Department where he started our tour. The American Museum of Natural History has the largest collection of bird skins and skeletons of any museum in the world at over a million specimens. He first took us to the area with the skeletal cabinets and lab drawers. Some specimens that he brought out were: 1) the pelvic region of an Ostrich, 2) the skull of a Shoebill, a type of African Stork, and 3) a full skeleton of a Rufous Hummingbird.

Peter then took us to the room where the skins are prepared and the skeletons are dried. We were treated to viewing the partial skeleton of a Dodo, Raphus cucullatus, and the only full skeleton the museum has of an Ivory-billed Woodpecker.

We next went to a room filled with floor to ceiling cabinets holding draw after draw of skins. Peter brought out some specimens such as Bald Eagles, Andean Condors, some New Guinea bowerbirds, etc. Some of us did ask to see some specific bird species and it was amazing to see what kind of collection they had. However, I think the highlight of the specimen display he gave us were the birds of paradise. Two that I can recall quite well are the Red Bird of Paradise, Paradisaea rubra, wherein the two central tail feathers of the male have become two long, narrow, twisted ribbon-like plumes. The other was the Blue Bird of Paradise, Paradisaea rudolphi. The colors on this species were simply remarkable and it was amazing how well it stood up over the years. But this is what the science of taxidermy and preservation is all about.

Well, until next year.

Photos Courtesy of Steve D’Amato


January 17, 2010 - Children's Pinecone Feeder Workshop at Brookside
Click photos to enlarge

It was a fun time for all who made pinecone feeders at Brookside on January 17th.  Due to the misty, cold weather, we made our feeders indoors.  It was especially a delight to watch 18 month-old Sadie, with the help of her mother, spread the lard/cornmeal mixture onto the pinecones with a spoon, inspect the various materials we had on hand, and roll the sticky-coated cones in the birdseed and craisins.

Following the feeder making, we gleefully watched as Black-capped Chickadees sampled the pinecone feeders hung up near Brookside's butterfly garden and feeders, and also enjoyed seeing many gorgeous Northern Cardinals at the seed feeders.

Green, age 4, showed a great deal of enthusiasm in spreading cracked corn on the ground for the ducks out around the feeders.  It truly was a pleasure to see the interest shown by all who were there -- the children, their parents and GSBAS volunteers and tour guides Janet Gremli, Judy Davis and President Alice Heller -- in making something to be enjoyed by our feathered friends who are always a delight to watch as they go about their day.

Thank you to all who helped make the workshop a success!

Juliane Wohler, Education Chair


January 16, 2010 - Connetquot River State Park Preserve “Breakfast and Birding”
Click photos to enlarge

This Saturday field trip, which was hosted by Friends of Connetquot, was lead by Steven D’Amato and Alice Heller. It started in the general meeting building at Connetquot River State Park Preserve. Here, while people had breakfast, we showed slides of the possible bird species that could be seen at the preserve at this time of year.

We had a total of 37 people show up, between the members of Great South Bay Audubon and Friends of Connetquot, and saw a total of 35 species. Most of these were birds around the river. There were 15 species of ducks/geese/swans: Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Muscovy Duck, Gadwall, American Wigeon, American Black Duck, Mallard, Canvasback, Ring-necked Duck, Greater & Lesser Scaup, Bufflehead, Hooded & Common Merganser, and Ruddy Ducks. The other 6 species of birds in or near the water were: Pied-billed Grebe, Great Blue Heron, American Coot, and Ring-billed, Herring, & Great Black-backed Gulls.

The woodland species were a little disappointing. There was a total of 14 species but almost all of these birds could have easily been seen in our own backyards. Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers, pigeons and doves, crows and jays, chickadees and titmice, robins, starlings, and Song, White-throated, and House Sparrows, these birds most of us can see just as well around our own neighborhoods. I would say that the Golden-crowned Kinglet was probably the only passerine that was a more dedicated forest species than the rest we saw.

All in all, with the weather becoming sunny, it was still a good field trip.

Steve D’Amato


January 10, 2010 - Montauk Point Field Trip
Click photos to enlarge

So as far as GSBAS goes, there were 5 of us: myself (Mike Cooper), Larry & Helga Merryman and Edith & Bob Wilson, plus Doug Futuyma.

As for the birds, we had a steady stream of Razorbills and a steady stream of smaller numbers of Kittiwakes. At any time you could scan and see a group or two of 8-12 Razorbills and 2 or 3 Kittiwakes. Also, probably a hundred or two of Common Eider and scoters in the low thousands. Doug found a Harlequin along East Lake Drive, which we caught up with later, and another at Ditch Plains. He also re-found Angus' 2nd winter Iceland Gull on the beach near Gosman's, and the Wilson's re-refound it later on. That bird was kind of interesting. Not only an unusual 2nd winter, but also a heavily marked bird with a dark tail band.

Otherwise, some Canvasbacks on Fort Pond, Doug had White-fronted and Cackling Geese in Amagansett...not sure if the GSBAS group caught up with those.

A cold but nice day, when you were out of the wind. Probably birdier than Saturday was.

A couple of pics from Sunday.

Good Birding, Mike Cooper.


November 15, 2009 - Morton National Wildlife Refuge
Click photos to enlarge

Steve D'Amato provided most of these wonderful photos below on the Sunday, November 15th Morton National Wildlife Refuge Field Trip.  Please click the photos to enlarge and view the credits and captions.

 
 

November 10, 2009 - Sunken Meadow
Tuesday’s, November 10, 2009, Louise Titus Memorial Mid-Week Field Trip to Sunken Meadow was attended by 22 happy birders. Pictured is Field Trip Coordinator, Larry Merryman. Click photo to enlarge

 


November 8, 2009 - Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge
NOTE:
1.Weather conditions: Sunny and mild temperatures
2. Three (3) painted turtles seen @ trail marker 14.
Please see photos below courtesy of Steve D’Amato.

Trip Leaders: John Gluth, Robert Grover, and Alice Heller

Field Trip Report submitted by: Alice Heller and Steve D’Amato

Special thanks to GSBAS’s Trip Leader, Mike Cooper, who also attended and heard, identified birds in flight and excelled in the art of phishing.

Bird Species seen/heard (“H”) at Wertheim’s Impoundment Area and river trail listed in phylogenetic order:

  1. Mute Swan
  2. American Black Duck
  3. Mallard
  4. Northern Pintail
  5. Lesser Scaup
  6. Hooded Merganser
  7. Pied-billed Grebe
  8. Double-crested Cormorant
  9. Great Blue Heron
  10. Great Egret
  11. Northern Harrier
  12. Sharp-shinned Hawk
  13. Red-tailed Hawk
  1. Virginia Rail (H) (glimpsed by some)
  2. American Coot
  3. Greater Yellowlegs
  4. Least Sandpiper
  5. Dunlin
  6. Great Black-backed Gull
  7. Belted Kingfisher
  8. Downy Woodpecker
  9. Northern Flicker
  10. Blue Jay
  11. American Crow
  12. Black-capped Chickadee
  13. Tufted Titmouse
  1. Marsh Wren
  2. Golden-crowned Kinglet (H)
  3. Eastern Bluebird (H)
  4. Hermit Thrush
  5. American Robin
  6. European Starling
  7. Cedar Waxwing (H)
  8. Yellow-rumped Warbler
  9. Savannah Sparrow
  10. Song Sparrow
  11. Swamp Sparrow
  12. Red-winged Blackbird (in flight)
  13. Eastern Meadowlark (in flight)
Click photos to enlarge

Steve D'Amato took some of these wonderful photos below on the Sunday, November 8th Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge Field Trip.

 

September 26, 2009 - Connetquot River State Park Preserve
Click the photo to enlarge

Through a collaboration of Great South Bay Audubon, Connetquot River State Park Preserve and Friends of Connetquot a Bird & Breakfast program was held, as an Important Bird Area (“IBA”) activity. A group of 20 people led by John Gluth and Edith Wilson walked the trails of the park from 9:30 to 12:00p.m. and observed the following birds:

  1. Am Robin
  2. Am. Black Duck
  3. Am. Goldfinch
  4. Am. Kestrel
  5. Belted Kingfisher
  6. Black-and-White Warbler
  7. Black-capped Chickadee
  8. Black-throated Blue Warbler
  9. Blue Jay
  10. Canada Goose
  11. Carolina Wren
  12. Cedar Waxwing
  13. Chipping Sparrow
  14. Cooper’s Hawk
  15. Double-crested Cormorant
  1. Downy Woodpecker
  2. Eastern Phoebe
  3. Eastern Towhee
  4. Gadwall
  5. Gray Catbird
  6. Great Black-backed Gull
  7. Great Blue Heron
  8. Hairy Woodpecker
  9. Herring Gull
  10. House Sparrow
  11. Mallard
  12. Mute Swan
  13. No. Pintail
  14. Northern Flicker
  15. Osprey
  1. Pine Warbler
  2. Red-bellied Woodpecker
  3. Red-breasted Nuthatch
  4. Red-eyed Vireo
  5. Red-tailed Hawk
  6. Ring-billed Gull
  7. Scarlet Tanager
  8. Song Sparrow
  9. Swamp Sparrow
  10. Tufted Titmouse
  11. White-throated Sparrow
  12. Wood Duck
  13. Yellow-rumped Warbler
All attendees got to see a beautiful rainbow as we wound up our morning Connetquot Birding Field Trip and a small painted turtle.

Co-Field Trip Leader, Edith Wilson


May 9, 2009 - GSBAS Celebrates International Migratory Bird Day At Wertheim NWR
On Saturday May 9, 2009, a group of 12 led by GSBAS Chapter President, Alice Heller, met at Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge in Shirley for the International Migratory Bird Day bird walk. In the trees around the refuge headquarters, there were many Yellow Warblers, Northern Parula, and a few Blue-gray Gnatcatchers. Ken Thompson and I saw a drake Wood Duck flying up the river.

We proceeded to the Impoundment area of the refuge. A group of raucous crows alerted us to the presence of a large bird perched in a pine. The crows flushed a Great-horned Owl from the tree; it flew across the Impoundment road, landed briefly, and continued to fly from the pursuing crows.

When we arrived in the marshy area of the Impoundment, the fog began to roll in. We noted that the water level of the marsh was quite high. We found numerous Great Egrets. As we continued on, we found Forster's Terns, many of which were perched on the Wood Duck boxes. Tree Swallows were seen flying low over the marsh, with one pair nesting in a dead snag. A Canada Goose nesting pair was closely guarding their roadside nest containing 4 eggs. Farther up the trail, our group found Savannah Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, and a few Common Yellowthroats.

In the wooded area of the Impoundments, we found many songbirds, namely Brown Thrasher, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, and Magnolia, Black-and White, and Pine Warblers. A few members of our group had the privilege of seeing a Ruby-throated Hummingbird zoom by. Back in the marshy area, there were three White-crowned Sparrows perched in a bare bush.

On the way out of the Impoundments, members of the group found Eastern Towhee, Wood Duck, and Blue-winged Warbler. Our trip had a grand total of 52 species.
Saturday, March 14, 2009 - Bluebird Nest Box Installation

Photos from the Bluebird Nest Box Installation at Connetquot River State Park Preserve
(Pictures courtesy of Mike & Michael McBrien)

Saturday, February 7, 2009 - West End/Jones Beach
Photos from this trip: Click photos to enlarge
 
Here are some photographs from the February 7th, 2009 field trip. Basically the only three species of birds I took photographs of were the Northern Saw-whet Owl, Savannah Sparrow, and Harlequin Duck. With the detail sections of the Savannah Sparrow and Harlequin drake, I also brought them into Adobe Photoshop to modify those details brightness and thus bring out the colors a little better. It didn't help that much with the Harlequin drake. - Steven D'Amato
Below are some photos taken by Michael McBrien on 2/7/2009:
Below are some photos taken
by John Gluth on 2/7/2009:
Steven D'Amato reports: Between my communication with Ken Thompson and John Gluth, hopefully I have the list for the field trip to West End, Jones Beach corrected and complete. Now not everyone saw all of these species (I know I didn’t), but as the group goes, here is the list:
American Black Duck Horned Lark Red-breasted Nuthatch
American Crow House Finch Red-necked Grebe
American Robin House Sparrow Red-tailed Hawk
American Tree Sparrow Lapland Longspur Red-throated Loon
Black Scoter Long-tailed Duck Ring-billed Gull
Bonaparte’s Gull Mallard Rock Pigeon
Bufflehead Merlin Ruddy Turnstone
Chipping Sparrow Mourning Dove Sanderling
Common Loon Mute Swan Savannah Sparrow
Cooper’s Hawk Northern Cardinal Sharp-shinned Hawk
Dark-eyed Junco Northern Flicker Short-eared Owl
European Starling Northern Harrier Snow Bunting
Great Black-backed Gull Northern Mockingbird Snowy Owl
Great Cormorant Northern Pintail Song Sparrow
Harlequin Duck Northern Saw-whet Owl Yellow-Rumped Warbler
Herring Gull Peregrine Falcon Brant
Horned Grebe Red-breasted Merganser Canada Goose

Now if any of you can remember any other birds which I am leaving out, let me know. If any of you would like to know where we saw any of the birds listed above that were not seen by all of us, I will try to get back to you with the answers.

February 1, 2009 - American Museum of National History, Ornithology Dept. Tour
Photos from this trip: Click photos to enlarge
(Pictures courtesy of Michael McBrien Sr. & Barbara McBrien)


Michael McBrien Jr. Reports: Our group of 14 began the tour of the Ornithology Department of the American Museum of Natural History, lead by Peter Capainolo from the museum. Peter first showed us and discussed, in depth, the study skins of the Birds of Paradise and the evolution of these birds by isolation and genetic variation. We saw a species of racquet-tailed hummingbird, and a Harpy Eagle whose talons were enormous. He discussed and exhibited three subspecies of the Peregrine Falcon.

Mr. Capainolo took out skins of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker. Unlike the male and female Pileated Woodpecker, the male Ivory-billed has a red crest and the female a black one. He showed us the differences between the underwing pattern of the Pileated and Ivory-billed Woodpecker. After seeing the Ivory-billed skins, we proceeded to the laboratory where the ornithologists prepare the skins. We saw Pileated Woodpecker skins that Mr. Capainolo had recently prepared, as well as a Broad-winged Hawk family, Ruffed Grouse and Blackburnian Warbler. In the lab, were also skeletons of many species of birds, including Black Vulture, Wild Turkey and Common Redpoll.

We concluded our trip by viewing a few of the bird mounts that previously had been on display in the museum. Herons, Loons, and Grebes were just a few of the species we saw.

Our group had a great day and learned so much. It's a field trip we won't soon forget.


September 26, 2008 - Gardiner County Park Owl Walk
Our first owl walk for the 2008-2009 season was on Friday night, September 26th at Gardiner County Park. The leaders, Alice Heller, Bob Grover, and I, met up with a couple of other people to take the walk. There had been the threat of rain from Thursday through the whole weekend, so unfortunately, I’m afraid that may have prevented others who might have come. Luckily for those who did go, the rain had stopped.

We started our walk down the main trail which leads through the forest towards the Great South Bay, all awhile having Bob Grover whistling the mimic of the ’whinny’ call of an Eastern Screech Owl (Otus asio) while I was mimicking its ‘trill’ and Ken Thompson played both on his iPod. Unfortunately, all the way down the main trail, we got no response. About 100 yards back from the end of where we stopped on the main trail, we came to a cross trail which led east to a parallel trail back to the parking lot. Bob suggested we take these trails, which seemed a bit darker than the main trail. At first, our whistling the screech owl calls got no response. We then decided perhaps we could try for a Great Horned Owl (Bubo Virginianus), since they also reside at Gardiner County Park, and we might get a response from that species. Surprisingly, after Ken Thompson played the hoo hoo-HOO hooooo hoo call of the Great Horned Owl on his iPod, we now started to hear the ‘whinny’ of a screech owl. So Bob started ‘whinnying’ the screech owl call again, and the screech owl started getting louder, suggesting it was coming in closer to us. It got to the point where it was very loud, and using our hand held spotlights, we attempted to find the bird in the upper tree branches around us. Bob got the owl in his spotlight, a gray-phase Eastern Screech Owl, which was leaning flush against the side of a branch, being about the same diameter as the owl, and both now being ~70-75º off the horizontal. The owl stared at us while we were all excited looking at it.

After observing the owl for 2-3 minutes, we decided to move on, continually playing screech owl calls, and heard a second owl, definitely identifiable as such because the call’s pitch was noticeably higher. So the field trip turned out to be a success.

Walking back to the cars, we talked about the fact that the screech owl didn’t start his calling until AFTER the ‘call’ of the Great Horned Owl. This seemed somewhat of a paradox because Great Horned Owls will eat screech owls, and since nocturnal owls hunt by sound, it seemed strange that the screech owl would only start calling after hearing a potential predator nearby. Well, I’m sure Mother Nature knows what she is doing, even if we don’t.

September 13, 2008 - Connetquot River State Park Preserve, Birding and Breakfast
This was an interesting ‘field trip’ through the Connetquot River State Park Preserve. We first started with a ‘workshop’ wherein a slide presentation showing those who attended the possible birds that might be found at the preserve during this time of the year, resident, migrant, and Fall visitor. So we had our ‘breakfast’ first while watching the slide presentation, then we headed out into the field.

We saw a total of 32 species of birds. Using their field card, the BIRDS OF CONNETQUOT RIVER STATE PARK PRESERVE, and looking at the Summer/Fall columns (I know, technically Fall wasn’t starting until September 23rd, but since this was very close to the Summer/Fall boundary, some birds may have been finishing their Summer season whereas other species may have started their Fall migration), using the state park preserve’s field card’s presence status categories: A-Abundant, C-Common, U-Uncommon, O-Occasional, and R-Rare, the highlights were Pied-billed Grebe (F:U), Double-crested Cormorant ((Su:O, F:O), Great Blue Heron (Su:O, F:C), Wood Duck (Su:C, F:U), Gadwall (Su:U, F-C), Osprey (Su:C, F:C), Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Su:O), Eastern Phoebe (Su:O), White-eyed Vireo (Su:C), Cedar Waxwing (Su:C, F:C), Northern Parula (F:U), Black-throated Blue Warbler (just listed as Common in Spring column, not listed in any other season columns, however, we saw a female Black-throated Blue Warbler), Black-throated Green Warbler (Su:O, F:C), Pine Warbler (Su:C, F:C), American Redstart (Su:U, F:C), Common Yellowthroat (Su:A, F:C), Red-winged Blackbird (Su:C, F:U), and American Goldfinch (Su:C, F:C)

There are over ½ dozen bird species which are recorded only in the Spring and Fall columns. One can see they are just migratory species, some actually being listed as common here as they migrate through in the Fall (e.g. the Blackburnian and Palm Warblers).

For those who would like to visit the preserve on their own, a permit is required to gain access. This can simply be acquired by writing to Connetquot River State Park Preserve, P.O. Box 505, Oakdale, New York 11769, giving name, address, purpose of visit, and the expected number of family members in party. Permits for groups can be obtained by contacting the preserve office at (631) 581-1005.
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