Apropos Jack Rothman's post as to Rockefeller State Park, I now skip the "intensity" of Central Park altogether even though I work ten blocks from the south entrance. This morning Kyle Bardwell who drove down from Beacon and he and I spent about 3 hours covering about 4 miles of Fahnestock State Park, including a stretch I maintain for the NY/NJ trail conference. (His ears for all things high pitched and ear birding skills were key.) We put in on the Red Trail off Rte. 301 hiked to Beaver Pond and came out the Blue Trail onto the Appalachian Trail ending back on Rte. 301 at Canopus Lake. Other than at trailhead parking area like Jack yesterday, we saw absolutely no one, let alone anyone using incessant playback. We did however encounter 18 species of wood warbler; a few migrants but many on territory so when NYC migration is over there are numerous trails (with understory) in Fahnestock where you can get a warbler fix during summer. There is a breeding bird survey by Putnam Audubon and if anyone would like to come north and partake feel free to email me off line and I can put you in touch with the person who runs it. (Lots of good territory besides Fahnestock.)
Today we encountered some early showers, then a bit of harder rain, and then some clearing. Warbler highlights this morning were blackburnian, cerulean (2), chestnut sided, bay breasted, and hooded (other warblers yellow, yellowthroat, red start (10+), ovenbird (10+), magnolia, black throated blue, black throated green, N. parula, prairie, blackpoll, blue winged, northern waterthrush and many black+white). Other birds towhee (10+), red eyed vireo (10+), yellow throated vireo (4+), scarlet tanager (M + F paired up), rose breasted grosbeak (M + F paired up), black billed cuckoo, pewee, phoebe (2), pileated woodpecker, balt. Oriole, raven (several), veery, hermit and wood thrush (likely swainson's too), cedar waxwing, cat bird (20+), and a great blue heron (at beaver pond). Rain likely limited flycatchers. Mountain laurel starting to bloom, a few orchids as well. That stretch of trail has had in years' past ruffed grouse (most recent sighting I had was about three years ago, but I expect they still breed in Fahnestock). And very early mornings (certainly before I get there) along Rte 301 whip-poor-wills can be heard. L. Trachtenberg Ossining -----Original Message----- From: bounce-121545357-10490...@list.cornell.edu [mailto:bounce-121545357-10490...@list.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of Jack Rothman Sent: Friday, May 19, 2017 4:50 PM To: NYS Birds Post <NYSbirds-L@cornell.edu> Cc: ebirds...@yahoogroups.com Subject: [nysbirds-l] Rockefeller State Park Preserve Gerry McGee and I birded the preserve this morning and were pleasantly surprised. It was so tranquil and beautiful, we were the only two birders around. After all the intensity of Central Park this week, this was a kind of relief. Of course there were far fewer species but we had many long and focused views of Blue-winged Warblers, Eastern Bluebirds, Scarlet Tanagers and others. While sitting on bench overlooking a field under a tree, many birds came to visit. If you need a day off from the intense city birding style, I recommend this place with wide beautiful trails and more contemplative birding. Orchard Oriole (few) Yellow Warbler American Redstart (several) Cedar Waxwing (several) Scarlet Tanager (2) Great-blue Heron Red-tail Hawk Blue-winged Warbler (few) Baltimore Oriole (few) Red-winged Blackbird Gray Catbird Hermit Thrush Turkey Vulture Eastern Bluebird (several) Eastern Towhee Eastern Woods PeeWee (calling) Warbling Vireo Tree Sparrow Tree Swallow Blue Jay Eastern Kingbird Jack Rothman cityislandbirds.com -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
