Date: Thursday, 20 May 2010 (9:20a-8:15p) Location: NW section of S.I., Clove Lakes Park & Great Kills Park Reported by: Ben Cacace
Abundance categories below from 'The Birds of Staten Island' checklist last updated in 2000. New checklist due to be released by Spring/2011. Abundance categories below for 'Spring'. Taxonomic order follows abundance categories. BANK SWALLOW status has clearly changed since 2000. Birding 3 sections of the county worked out well today. The northwest corner included Goethal's Bridge Pond, Old Place Creek and Western Ave. and produced 36 species. Next was Clove Lakes Park which added 28. The highlight was the salt flats at Great Kills Park which, surprisingly, added 15 more species. I arrived at Goethal's Bridge Pond shortly after low tide & was disappointed to see the low shorebird #s. Only GREATER YELLOWLEGS, SPOTTED SANDPIPER, KILLDEER & LEAST SANDPIPER were spotted. The highlight was seeing a pair of *LEAST TERNS* feeding and then resting on a busted up plastic barrel on the pond. Being able to see the evening low tide at another site made this a banner day. The activity on the salt flats at the north end of the beach off Great Kills Park was much better than at Goethal's Bridge Pond. Shorebirds seen here included AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER, KILLDEER, SPOTTED SANDPIPER, LEAST SANDPIPER, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, RUDDY TURNSTONE, SANDERLING & SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER. At 7:40p a single *BLACK SKIMMER* was seen heading south off Great Kills Park. Later on at 7:58p a pair of skimmers were heading in the same direction. After a few minutes one returned to feed in the shallow waters off the salt flats weaving its way through the feeding Brant. Transportation: M15 bus to ferry, 8:00a ferry, S40 to Goethal's Bridge Pond, S48 to Clove Lakes Park, S62 to St. George, S.I. Rail (SIR) to Great Kills Park, S79 to Bay Ridge Brooklyn, R train to 6 train to home. Weather for 20-May for Newark, NJ (8:51a-7:51p) < http://tinyurl.com/2b6spq6>: - Conditions: Scattered Clouds to Partly Cloudy - Temperature: 64.9 to 82.9 F (18.3 to 28.3 C) - Wind direction: Variable then changing to SSW to WSW - Wind speed: 3 - 13 mph (no gusts reported) ** Total species - 79 ** 'Rare' seen every 2-5 years [2 spp]: - Black Skimmer - 2 off Great Kills Park seen @ 7:40p & 7:58p - Bank Swallow - 30+ at Great Kills Park 'Occasional' seen a few times per season [4 spp]: - Little Blue Heron - 1 on the salt flats at Great Kills Park - Black-billed Cuckoo - 1 heard south of Martling Ave. @ the 1st red bridge in Clove Lakes Park - Carolina Wren - 1 heard from the salt flats at Great Kills Park - Boat-tailed Grackle - 8+ around the salt flats at Great Kills Park 'Uncommon' present but may not be seen [10 spp]: - Horned Grebe - 1 in breeding plumage off the salt flats at Great Kills Park - Turkey Vulture - 1 from Goethal's Bridge Pond - Red-tailed Hawk - Pair engaging in typical courtship behavior just N of Goethal's Bridge Pond - American Oystercatcher - 4 on the salt flats at Great Kills Park - Least Tern - 2 feeding & resting on Goethal's Bridge Pond - Willow Flycatcher - 1 heard from Western Ave. W of Goethal's Bridge Pond - Warbling Vireo - 1 in Clove Lakes Park - Northern Rough-winged Swallow - 2 incl. 1 at Goethal's Bridge Pond & 1 at Great Kills Park - Wood Thrush - 1 at the N end of Clove Lakes Park - Wilson's Warbler - 1 male at 1st red bridge N of Martling Ave. in Clove Lakes Park 'Common' certain in proper habitat [30 spp]: - Great Egret - 7 incl. 3 from the ferry, 2 over Bridge Creek & 3 over the salt flats at Great Kills Park - Snowy Egret - 10 incl. 6 on Goethal's Bridge Pond & 4 on the salt flats at Great Kills Park - Black-crowned Night-Heron - 20+ incl. 1 in Clove Lakes Park & 20 from the salt flats at Great Kills Park - Glossy Ibis - 1 at the 1st red bridge S of Martling Ave. in Clove Lakes Park - Killdeer - 4 incl. 2 at Goethal's Bridge Pond & 2 on the salt flats at Great Kills Park - Spotted Sandpiper - 13+ incl. 3 on Goethal's Bridge Pond & 10+ on the salt flats at Great Kills Park - Least Sandpiper - 10+ incl. 1 on Goethal's Bridge Pond & 10+ on the salt flats at Great Kills Park - Chimney Swift - 6 incl. 3 over Clove Road & Castleton Ave., 2 from Stapleton SIR Station & 1 at Great Kills Park - Red-bellied Woodpecker - 1 heard at Clove Lakes Park - Downy Woodpecker - 2+ heard at Clove Lakes Park - Eastern Wood-Pewee - 1 at Clove Lakes Park - Eastern Kingbird - 1 seen & heard at S end of Clove Lakes Park - Fish Crow - 7 seen & heard near the salt flats at Great Kills Park - Black-capped Chickadee - 1 heard just N of Martling Ave. in Clove Lakes Park - White-breasted Nuthatch - 1 just N of Martling Ave. in Clove Lakes Park - Veery - 1 on S end of bridal path in Clove Lakes Park - Swainson's Thrush - 5+ in Clove Lakes Park - Northern Mockingbird - At all sites including 3 at Goethal's Bridge Pond - Cedar Waxwing - 5 incl. 4 from Old Place Creek & 1 in Clove Lakes Park - Northern Parula - 5+ heard incl. 1 seen in Clove Lakes Park - Yellow Warbler - 1 from Goethal's Bridge Pond observation deck - Chestnut-sided Warbler - 1 just N of Martling Ave. in Clove Lakes Park - Black-throated Blue Warbler - 2+ females in Clove Lakes Park - Black-throated Green Warbler - 1 at N end of Clove Lakes Park - Blackpoll Warbler - 10+ heard & seen in Clove Lakes Park - Canada Warbler - 2 just N of Martling Ave. in Clove Lakes Park - Brown-headed Cowbird - 1 heard around the Goethal's Bridge Pond observation deck - Baltimore Oriole - 3 in Clove Lakes Park incl. adult male, female & subadult male - House Finch - 3+ seen & heard around the Goethal's Bridge Pond observation deck - American Goldfinch - 3 over Goethal's Bridge Pond 'Abundant' sure to see [33 spp]: - Brant - 200+ off the salt flats at Great Kills Park - Canada Goose - At all sites incl. 5 at Goethal's Bridge Pond - Mallard - At all sites incl. 2 at Goethal's Bridge Pond - Double-crested Cormorant - 12+ off the salt flats at Great Kills Park - Black-bellied Plover - 5+ on the salt flats at Great Kills Park - Semipalmated Plover - 10+ on the salt flats at Great Kills Park - Greater Yellowlegs - 3 incl. 2 on Goethal's Bridge Pond & 1 on the salt flats at Great Kills Park - Ruddy Turnstone - 7+ on the salt flats at Great Kills Park - Sanderling - 12+ on the salt flats at Great Kills Park - Semipalmated Sandpiper - 5+ on the salt flats at Great Kills Park - Laughing Gull - 30+ around the salt flats at Great Kills Park - Herring Gull - 100+ off Great Kills Park heading N at sunset - Great Black-backed Gull - 1 adult off Great Kills Park - Common Tern - 20+ incl. 20 following the ferry to S.I. & several (3+) off Great Kills Park - Rock Pigeon - At all sites incl. 12+ at Goethal's Bridge Pond - Mourning Dove - At all sites incl. 4+ at Goethal's Bridge Pond - Northern Flicker - 1 heard at Clove Lakes Park - Blue Jay - 1 heard imitating a Red-tailed Hawk at Clove Lakes Park - Tree Swallow - At all sites incl. 3+ at Goethal's Bridge Pond - Barn Swallow - At all sites incl. 1 at Goethal's Bridge Pond - American Robin - At all sites incl. 6+ at Goethal's Bridge Pond - Gray Catbird - At all sites incl. 3+ at Goethal's Bridge Pond - European Starling - At all sites incl. 2 at Old Place Creek - Magnolia Warbler - 10+ at Clove Lakes Park - Yellow-rumped Warbler - 1 at Clove Lakes Park - Black-and-white Warbler - 2 at Clove Lakes Park - American Redstart - 2 at Clove Lakes Park - Common Yellowthroat - At all sites incl. 2 at Goethal's Bridge Pond - Song Sparrow - At all sites incl. 2 heard at Goethal's Bridge Pond - Northern Cardinal - Pair at Clove Lakes Park - Red-winged Blackbird - At all sites incl. 12+ at Goethal's Bridge Pond - Common Grackle - At all sites incl. 1 at Goethal's Bridge Pond - House Sparrow - At all sites incl. 6+ at Goethal's Bridge Pond Taxonomic Order: - Brant - 200+ off the salt flats at Great Kills Park - Canada Goose - At all sites incl. 5 at Goethal's Bridge Pond - Mallard - At all sites incl. 2 at Goethal's Bridge Pond - Horned Grebe - 1 in breeding plumage off the salt flats at Great Kills Park - Double-crested Cormorant - 12+ off the salt flats at Great Kills Park - Great Egret - 7 incl. 3 from the ferry, 2 over Bridge Creek & 3 over the salt flats at Great Kills Park - Snowy Egret - 10 incl. 6 on Goethal's Bridge Pond & 4 on the salt flats at Great Kills Park - Little Blue Heron - 1 on the salt flats at Great Kills Park - Black-crowned Night-Heron - 20+ incl. 1 in Clove Lakes Park & 20 from the salt flats at Great Kills Park - Glossy Ibis - 1 at the 1st red bridge S of Martling Ave. in Clove Lakes Park - Turkey Vulture - 1 from Goethal's Bridge Pond - Red-tailed Hawk - Pair engaging in typical courtship behavior just N of Goethal's Bridge Pond - Black-bellied Plover - 5+ on the salt flats at Great Kills Park - Semipalmated Plover - 10+ on the salt flats at Great Kills Park - Killdeer - 4 incl. 2 at Goethal's Bridge Pond & 2 on the salt flats at Great Kills Park - American Oystercatcher - 4 on the salt flats at Great Kills Park - Spotted Sandpiper - 13+ incl. 3 on Goethal's Bridge Pond & 10+ on the salt flats at Great Kills Park - Greater Yellowlegs - 3 incl. 2 on Goethal's Bridge Pond & 1 on the salt flats at Great Kills Park - Ruddy Turnstone - 7+ on the salt flats at Great Kills Park - Sanderling - 12+ on the salt flats at Great Kills Park - Semipalmated Sandpiper - 5+ on the salt flats at Great Kills Park - Least Sandpiper - 10+ incl. 1 on Goethal's Bridge Pond & 10+ on the salt flats at Great Kills Park - Laughing Gull - 30+ around the salt flats at Great Kills Park - Herring Gull - 100+ off Great Kills Park heading N at sunset - Great Black-backed Gull - 1 adult off Great Kills Park - Least Tern - 2 feeding & resting on Goethal's Bridge Pond - Common Tern - 20+ incl. 20 following the ferry to S.I. & several (3+) off Great Kills Park - Black Skimmer - 2 off Great Kills Park seen @ 7:40p & 7:58p - Rock Pigeon - At all sites incl. 12+ at Goethal's Bridge Pond - Mourning Dove - At all sites incl. 4+ at Goethal's Bridge Pond - Black-billed Cuckoo - 1 heard south of Martling Ave. @ the 1st red bridge in Clove Lakes Park - Chimney Swift - 6 incl. 3 over Clove Road & Castleton Ave., 2 from Stapleton SIR Station & 1 at Great Kills Park - Red-bellied Woodpecker - 1 heard at Clove Lakes Park - Downy Woodpecker - 2+ heard at Clove Lakes Park - Northern Flicker - 1 heard at Clove Lakes Park - Eastern Wood-Pewee - 1 at Clove Lakes Park - Willow Flycatcher - 1 heard from Western Ave. W of Goethal's Bridge Pond - Eastern Kingbird - 1 seen & heard at S end of Clove Lakes Park - Warbling Vireo - 1 in Clove Lakes Park - Blue Jay - 1 heard imitating a Red-tailed Hawk at Clove Lakes Park - Fish Crow - 7 seen & heard near the salt flats at Great Kills Park - Tree Swallow - At all sites incl. 3+ at Goethal's Bridge Pond - Northern Rough-winged Swallow - 2 incl. 1 at Goethal's Bridge Pond & 1 at Great Kills Park - Bank Swallow - 30+ at Great Kills Park - Barn Swallow - At all sites incl. 1 at Goethal's Bridge Pond - Black-capped Chickadee - 1 heard just N of Martling Ave. in Clove Lakes Park - White-breasted Nuthatch - 1 just N of Martling Ave. in Clove Lakes Park - Carolina Wren - 1 heard from the salt flats at Great Kills Park - Veery - 1 on S end of bridal path in Clove Lakes Park - Swainson's Thrush - 5+ in Clove Lakes Park - Wood Thrush - 1 at the N end of Clove Lakes Park - American Robin - At all sites incl. 6+ at Goethal's Bridge Pond - Gray Catbird - At all sites incl. 3+ at Goethal's Bridge Pond - Northern Mockingbird - At all sites including 3 at Goethal's Bridge Pond - European Starling - At all sites incl. 2 at Old Place Creek - Cedar Waxwing - 5 incl. 4 from Old Place Creek & 1 in Clove Lakes Park - Northern Parula - 5+ heard incl. 1 seen in Clove Lakes Park - Yellow Warbler - 1 from Goethal's Bridge Pond observation deck - Chestnut-sided Warbler - 1 just N of Martling Ave. in Clove Lakes Park - Magnolia Warbler - 10+ at Clove Lakes Park - Black-throated Blue Warbler - 2+ females in Clove Lakes Park - Yellow-rumped Warbler - 1 at Clove Lakes Park - Black-throated Green Warbler - 1 at N end of Clove Lakes Park - Blackpoll Warbler - 10+ heard & seen in Clove Lakes Park - Black-and-white Warbler - 2 at Clove Lakes Park - American Redstart - 2 at Clove Lakes Park - Common Yellowthroat - At all sites incl. 2 at Goethal's Bridge Pond - Wilson's Warbler - 1 male at 1st red bridge N of Martling Ave. in Clove Lakes Park - Canada Warbler - 2 just N of Martling Ave. in Clove Lakes Park - Song Sparrow - At all sites incl. 2 heard at Goethal's Bridge Pond - Northern Cardinal - Pair at Clove Lakes Park - Red-winged Blackbird - At all sites incl. 12+ at Goethal's Bridge Pond - Common Grackle - At all sites incl. 1 at Goethal's Bridge Pond - Boat-tailed Grackle - 8+ around the salt flats at Great Kills Park - Brown-headed Cowbird - 1 heard around the Goethal's Bridge Pond observation deck - Baltimore Oriole - 3 in Clove Lakes Park incl. adult male, female & subadult male - House Finch - 3+ seen & heard around the Goethal's Bridge Pond observation deck - American Goldfinch - 3 over Goethal's Bridge Pond - House Sparrow - At all sites incl. 6+ at Goethal's Bridge Pond -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
