NYSYBC Big Day

If you have been reading this blog, you've probably figured out that I'm an active member of the New York State Young Birder's Club (NYSYBC). Today, myself and fellow member Noam K. joined forces for a joint Big Day in order to raise money for the club's scholarship program.

Our first stop was Forest Park, a spot you'll remember from last spring as being a great spot. Before diving into the park, however, Noam and I paused to get his list on paper. You see, Noam had visited Prospect Park in Brooklyn earlier in the morning to give us more coverage, and he had already seen 26 species, which gave us 26 less species to worry about locating later on.

Arriving at the Waterhole, a small, often flooded part of the park, we found a party of birders consisting of almost every prominent birder in the region. This was a great advantage: more eyes deliver more birds. This quickly proved true as we added Northern Parula, Black-throated Blue, Chestnut-sided, Magnolia and Blackpoll warblers. A Scarlet Tanager followed soon thereafter. A quick jaunt into the woods behind the Waterhole provided Hermit Thrush, Veery, and Thrush Sp., which doesn't count. Curiously enough, two Laughing Gulls flew over.

There was one warbler in particular that I had been hoping for, and my wish was granted when a small brown bird hopped into a birdbath, causing the excited response of "Worm-eating Warbler!" Unfortunately, our admiration of this bird was nearly ruined by a group of tourists who were happy to see the Worm-eating by positioning themselves in front of other people so only they could see, yelling and waving their arms about in a seeming attempt to scare the bird away, and then acting like it was everyone else who was rude.

Worm-eating Warbler

Our next stop was not really a stop, but a drive-by bird. And it did indeed prove a drive by bird, as we stopped for less than half and hour in order to add Monk Parakeets breeding on telephone poles to our list. However, we also added a Double-crested Cormorant and a Turkey Vulture, thanks to our enthusiastic parents, who spotted the vulture.

Monk Parakeet

And then, after lunch, it was on to the stop that had the potential to make the day, or break it: Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. Here, we had hopes for a Bar-tailed Godwit that had been seen the day before, but it did not show. However, we did run into the considerate and helpful Steve Walter, who helped us to get a host of other shorebirds, including...

• Semipalmated Plover
• Ruddy Turnstone
• Red Knot
• Short-billed Dowitcher
• American Oystercatcher
• Black-bellied Plover

And some other birds that like water, such as...

• Forster's Tern
• Great Black-backed Gull
• Least Tern
• Great Egret
• Snowy Egret
• Great Blue Heron
• Yellow-crowned Night-heron
• Brant

Another thing about Jamaica Bay: swallows. Specifically, Tree Swallows. The Tree Swallows at Jamaica Bay are the most ridiculous thing you may see for a while. Nesting Tree Swallows! Fighting Tree Swallows! Almost-crashing-into-you Tree Swallows!

Tree Swallows

There actually at least three shorebird species in this picture. If you can find
them, more power to you.

At this point, we decided we were all pretty tired and had better be getting home soon. We took a walk around Big John's Pond at Jamaica Bay, hoping for a Barn Owl (we didn't get it) and then finished up our day together on a beach north of the East Pond.

But after leaving Noam, I was heading by myself to Alley Pond to see if I could fill in a few holes in our list. While I didn't get the songbirds we'd missed, I did pick up the Least Sandpiper that was too far out for a positive call at Jamaica, as well as the Spotted Sandpiper we had been running back and forth for at the same location. 

In all, it was a fun and successful day, despite our misses. Our final number was sixty-eight, which wasn't half bad considering that this year's migration has not exactly been the most spectacular. Here's our checklist, along with some of my other photos. Enjoy!

Semipalmated Plovers

Yellow Warbler

Least Sandpiper

NOTE: though I used the World Series of Birding Checklist, our Big Day had no relation to the World Series. Their checklist was used only because it is comprehensive, covers the Northeastern US and is small and easy to carry.