Date: Friday, 11 June 2010 (6:30a-7:40p) Location: Goethal's Bridge Pond area, Great Kills Park & Mt Loretto Reported by: Ben Cacace
Visited a new site today by ending the day at Mount Loretto Unique Area which is a remarkable place. I walked more than I birded to get a feel for the place and it was worth the wait. On Mt Loretto Pond were 13 WOOD DUCKS including 7 ducklings. *Goethal's Bridge Pond & Old Place Creek* (2.75 hours): The reason for heading to the pond was to hear the rail reported by Catherine Barron recently. I arrived at 8:05a & after an hour of hearing nothing at the observation deck I moved over to the site at the northeast corner of the trailer park. At 9:25a I heard the VIRGINIA RAIL calling out twice. Another lifer. Shorebirds seen were 2 KILLDEER, 1 SPOTTED SANDPIPER, 1 GREATER YELLOWLEGS & 20+ SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS. Raptors seen around the pond were 2 TURKEY VULTURES, 1 OSPREY heading west & 1 RED-TAILED HAWK. Over Old Place Creek an adult male NORTHERN HARRIER was heading west of Western Ave. escorted by Red-winged Blackbirds and dove to a spot I've seen harriers heading to before. A heavily streaked GREAT BLUE HERON was chased off by a Red-winged Blackbird. *Great Kills Park* (3 hours): 6 BRANT continue off the salt flats. Two other unexpected birds continue which include a female COMMON EIDER and a breeding plumage HORNED GREBE. In addition to a BLACK SKIMMER seen heading from Staten Island to the Brooklyn area around 6:45a were 2 feeding & resting off the salt flats after 3:30p. Also seen was 1 LEAST TERN hunting close over the bay. Shorebirds seen were 3 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, 2 KILLDEER, 4 AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHERS & 4 SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS. *Mount Loretto Unique Area* (2 hours): A pair of GREATER SCAUP were close to shore on the bay. Two OSPREY were spotted heading to and from the bay. Also seen were 1 WARBLING VIREO & a BELTED KINGFISHER. *Total miles walked*: 11.9 *Transportation*: M15 bus to ferry, 6:30a ferry to S.I., S40 to Goethal's Bridge Pond, S40 to St. George Ferry Terminal, S.I. Rail to Bay Terrace for Great Kills Park, S78 to Mt Loretto, S78 to ferry, 9p ferry to M15 to home. Abundance categories below from 'The Birds of Staten Island' checklist last updated in 2000. Abundance categories below for 'Summer'. Taxonomic order follows abundance categories. Weather for 11-Jun for Newark, NJ (5:51a-7:51p) < http://tinyurl.com/28a58w3>: - Conditions: Mostly Cloudy to Scattered Clouds - Temperature: 57.9 to 71.1 F (14.4 to 21.7 C) - Wind direction: NNE / E / southerly / SE - Wind speed: calm - 10 mph (gusts to 16 mph) ** Total species - 69 ** Not listed as a 'Summer' resident [7 spp]: - Greater Scaup - Pair (m/f) seen S of entrance to Mt Loretto on bay - Common Eider - 1 female plumaged bird continues off Great Kills Park - Horned Grebe - 1 breeding plumaged bird continues off Great Kills Park - Semipalmated Plover - 3 on salt flats of Great Kills Park - Greater Yellowlegs - 1 seen & heard on Goethal's Bridge Pond - Semipalmated Sandpiper - 24+ incl. 20+ on Goethal's Bridge Pond & 4+ on salt flats at Great Kills Park - Bank Swallow - 50++ at Great Kills Park 'Rare' seen every 2-5 years [7 spp]: - Brant - 7+ incl. 6 off Great Kills Park & 1 off Mt Loretto - Great Blue Heron - 1 at Goethal's Bridge Pond - Osprey - 3 incl. 1 over Goethal's Bridge Pond & 2 over Mt Loretto - Virginia Rail - 1 heard at 9:25a at Goethal's Bridge Pond - Warbling Vireo - 1 at Mt Loretto - Cedar Waxwing - 6+ at Mt Loretto - Orchard Oriole - 2 at Mt Loretto incl. 1 adult & 1 first summer male 'Occasional' seen a few times per season [9 spp]: - Wood Duck - 13 incl. 6 adults (4m/2f) & 7 ducklings on Mt Loretto Pond - Little Blue Heron - 1 white morph with a little blue in wings on Great Kills Park salt flats - Northern Harrier - 1 adult male over Old Place Creek west of Western Ave. - Red-tailed Hawk - 1 adult over Goethal's Bridge Pond - Belted Kingfisher - 1 at Mt Loretto - Willow Flycatcher - 2+ heard incl. Goethal's Bridge Pond & Mt Loretto - Northern Rough-winged Swallow - 3+ incl. 2 at Goethal's Bridge Pond & 1 at Great Kills Park - Yellow Warbler - 12+ incl. 6 at Great Kills Park & 6 at Mt Loretto - Boat-tailed Grackle - 10+ at the Great Kills Park salt flats 'Uncommon' present but June not be seen [12 spp]: - Double-crested Cormorant - 50+ incl. 5+ on Upper N.Y. Bay, 20+ off Great Kills Park & 25+ off Mt. Loretto - Turkey Vulture - 2+ incl. 1 over Goethal's Bridge Pond & 2 over Old Place Creek - American Oystercatcher - 4 around Great Kills Park salt flats - Spotted Sandpiper - 1 on Goethal's Bridge Pond - Least Tern - 1 off Great Kills Park - Black Skimmer - 3 incl. 1 over Upper N.Y. Bay at 6:45a & 2 off Great Kills Park salt flats after 3:30p - Fish Crow - 10 from Goethal's Bridge Pond - Tree Swallow - 5+ from Goethal's Bridge Pond - House Wren - 1 seen & heard at Goethal's Bridge Pond obs. deck - Brown Thrasher - 3+ at Great Kills Park - Eastern Towhee - At all sites incl. pair (m/f) at Goethal's Bridge Pond obs. deck - Brown-headed Cowbird - 7+ incl 1 at Goethal's Bridge Pond obs. Deck & 6+ at Great Kills Park 'Common' certain in proper habitat [16 spp]: - Great Egret - At all sites incl. 2+ at Goethal's Bridge Pond - Snowy Egret - 23+ seen simultaneously at Goethal's Bridge Pond - Black-crowned Night-Heron - 2 flyovers near Goethal's Bridge Pond - Glossy Ibis - 1 from Old Place Creek - Killdeer - 5+ incl. 2 at Goethal's Bridge Pond, 2 at Great Kills Park & 1 from Mt Loretto - Common Tern - 20+ from ferry over Upper N.Y. Bay - Chimney Swift - 1 from Great Kills Park over Raritan Bay - Downy Woodpecker - 2+ heard at Great Kills Park - Eastern Kingbird - 1 seen & very vocal near Mt Loretto Pond - Barn Swallow - 5+ over Goethal's Bridge Pond - Black-capped Chickadee - 1 heard at Goethal's Bridge Pond - Northern Mockingbird - At all sites incl. 1 at Goethal's Bridge Pond - Common Yellowthroat - At all sites incl. 1 at Goethal's Bridge Pond - Baltimore Oriole - 1 female at Mt Loretto - House Finch - At all sites incl. 5+ at Goethal's Bridge Pond - American Goldfinch - 4+ around Goethal's Bridge Pond 'Abundant' sure to see [18 spp]: - Canada Goose - 40+ incl. adult & young at Goethal's Bridge Pond plus 15+ flyovers & 20+ from Old Place Creek - Mallard - At all sites incl. 2+ at Goethal's Bridge Pond - Laughing Gull - 11+ incl. 5+ at Upper N.Y. Bay & 6+ around Great Kills Park incl. 1 sub-adult - Ring-billed Gull - At all sites incl. 1 first summer at Goethal's Bridge Pond - Herring Gull - At all sites incl. 3+ at Goethal's Bridge Pond - Great Black-backed Gull - 6+ off Great Kills Park - Rock Pigeon - At all sites incl 36+ at Goethal's Bridge Pond - Mourning Dove - At all sites incl 6+ at Goethal's Bridge Pond - Blue Jay - 5+ heard at Goethal's Bridge Pond - American Crow - 4 seen & heard near Mt Loretto - American Robin - At all sites incl. 6+ at Goethal's Bridge Pond - Gray Catbird - At all sites incl. 2+ at Goethal's Bridge Pond - European Starling - At all sites incl. 6+ at Goethal's Bridge Pond - Song Sparrow - At all sites incl. 2+ at Goethal's Bridge Pond - Northern Cardinal - At all sites incl. 2+ at Goethal's Bridge Pond - Red-winged Blackbird - At all sites incl. 15+ at Goethal's Bridge Pond - Common Grackle - At all sites incl. 12+ at Goethal's Bridge Pond - House Sparrow - At all sites incl. 12+ at Goethal's Bridge Pond *Taxonomic order*: - Brant - 7+ incl. 6 off Great Kills Park & 1 off Mt Loretto - Canada Goose - 40+ incl. adult & young at Goethal's Bridge Pond plus 15+ flyovers & 20+ from Old Place Creek - Wood Duck - 13 incl. 6 adults (4m/2f) & 7 ducklings on Mt Loretto Pond - Mallard - At all sites incl. 2+ at Goethal's Bridge Pond - Greater Scaup - Pair (m/f) seen S of entrance to Mt Loretto on bay - Common Eider - 1 female plumaged bird continues off Great Kills Park - Horned Grebe - 1 breeding plumaged bird continues off Great Kills Park - Double-crested Cormorant - 50+ incl. 5+ on Upper N.Y. Bay, 20+ off Great Kills Park & 25+ off Mt. Loretto - Great Blue Heron - 1 at Goethal's Bridge Pond - Great Egret - At all sites incl. 2+ at Goethal's Bridge Pond - Snowy Egret - 23+ seen simultaneously at Goethal's Bridge Pond - Little Blue Heron - 1 white morph with a little blue in wings on Great Kills Park salt flats - Black-crowned Night-Heron - 2 flyovers near Goethal's Bridge Pond - Glossy Ibis - 1 from Old Place Creek - Turkey Vulture - 2+ incl. 1 over Goethal's Bridge Pond & 2 over Old Place Creek - Osprey - 3 incl. 1 over Goethal's Bridge Pond & 2 over Mt Loretto - Northern Harrier - 1 adult male over Old Place Creek west of Western Ave. - Red-tailed Hawk - 1 adult over Goethal's Bridge Pond - Virginia Rail - 1 heard at 9:25a at Goethal's Bridge Pond - Semipalmated Plover - 3 on salt flats of Great Kills Park - Killdeer - 5+ incl. 2 at Goethal's Bridge Pond, 2 at Great Kills Park & 1 from Mt Loretto - American Oystercatcher - 4 around Great Kills Park salt flats - Spotted Sandpiper - 1 on Goethal's Bridge Pond - Greater Yellowlegs - 1 seen & heard on Goethal's Bridge Pond - Semipalmated Sandpiper - 24+ incl. 20+ on Goethal's Bridge Pond & 4+ on salt flats at Great Kills Park - Laughing Gull - 11+ incl. 5+ at Upper N.Y. Bay & 6+ around Great Kills Park incl. 1 sub-adult - Ring-billed Gull - At all sites incl. 1 first summer at Goethal's Bridge Pond - Herring Gull - At all sites incl. 3+ at Goethal's Bridge Pond - Great Black-backed Gull - 6+ off Great Kills Park - Least Tern - 1 off Great Kills Park - Common Tern - 20+ from ferry over Upper N.Y. Bay - Black Skimmer - 3 incl. 1 over Upper N.Y. Bay at 6:45a & 2 off Great Kills Park salt flats after 3:30p - Rock Pigeon - At all sites incl 36+ at Goethal's Bridge Pond - Mourning Dove - At all sites incl 6+ at Goethal's Bridge Pond - Chimney Swift - 1 from Great Kills Park over Raritan Bay - Belted Kingfisher - 1 at Mt Loretto - Downy Woodpecker - 2+ heard at Great Kills Park - Willow Flycatcher - 2+ heard incl. Goethal's Bridge Pond & Mt Loretto - Eastern Kingbird - 1 seen & very vocal near Mt Loretto Pond - Warbling Vireo - 1 at Mt Loretto - Blue Jay - 5+ heard at Goethal's Bridge Pond - American Crow - 4 seen & heard near Mt Loretto - Fish Crow - 10 from Goethal's Bridge Pond - Tree Swallow - 5+ from Goethal's Bridge Pond - Northern Rough-winged Swallow - 3+ incl. 2 at Goethal's Bridge Pond & 1 at Great Kills Park - Bank Swallow - 50++ at Great Kills Park - Barn Swallow - 5+ over Goethal's Bridge Pond - Black-capped Chickadee - 1 heard at Goethal's Bridge Pond - House Wren - 1 seen & heard at Goethal's Bridge Pond obs. deck - American Robin - At all sites incl. 6+ at Goethal's Bridge Pond - Gray Catbird - At all sites incl. 2+ at Goethal's Bridge Pond - Northern Mockingbird - At all sites incl. 1 at Goethal's Bridge Pond - Brown Thrasher - 3+ at Great Kills Park - European Starling - At all sites incl. 6+ at Goethal's Bridge Pond - Cedar Waxwing - 6+ at Mt Loretto - Yellow Warbler - 12+ incl. 6 at Great Kills Park & 6 at Mt Loretto - Common Yellowthroat - At all sites incl. 1 at Goethal's Bridge Pond - Eastern Towhee - At all sites incl. pair (m/f) at Goethal's Bridge Pond obs. deck - Song Sparrow - At all sites incl. 2+ at Goethal's Bridge Pond - Northern Cardinal - At all sites incl. 2+ at Goethal's Bridge Pond - Red-winged Blackbird - At all sites incl. 15+ at Goethal's Bridge Pond - Common Grackle - At all sites incl. 12+ at Goethal's Bridge Pond - Boat-tailed Grackle - 10+ at the Great Kills Park salt flats - Brown-headed Cowbird - 7+ incl 1 at Goethal's Bridge Pond obs. Deck & 6+ at Great Kills Park - Orchard Oriole - 2 at Mt Loretto incl. 1 adult & 1 first summer male - Baltimore Oriole - 1 female at Mt Loretto - House Finch - At all sites incl. 5+ at Goethal's Bridge Pond - American Goldfinch - 4+ around Goethal's Bridge Pond - House Sparrow - At all sites incl. 12+ 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/ --
