NYC Audubon Shorebird Walk at Jamaica Bay

On July 26^th, I volunteered as an assistant for a NYC Audubon Shorebird Walk at the Jamaica Bay wildlife refuge.   The walk was led by well known naturalist and long time Jamaica Bay guardian, Don Riepe. Walks with Don are never boring and he did not disappoint enamoring us with anecdotes of his upbringing in the neighborhood and also educating us on various butterflies, shrubs and wildflowers.   The walk started at 1:00 p.m. a late start of sorts by birding standards, since we would then be dealing with the midday/afternoon sun and indeed, it was a hot day.

We had about 15 of us, in attendance including two lovely ladies that I have come to know and appreciate Doris and Hela, who are actively involved in volunteer work around Jamaica Bay.   In fact, Doris always takes bags with her on her walks to pick up litter; she is truly a conscientious birder/naturalist and we love her for that.

Our bird sighting was not too shabby as we saw a number of birds including, the Ospreys and their fledglings, Dowitchers, Least Sand Pipers, Cormorants, Great Blue Herons, a Black Skimmer, Common Terns, Ring Necked Plovers, Ducks, Swans, Geese and their goslings, Great Egrets and Snowy Egrets to name a few.   We also saw horse shoe crabs, and some butterflies including the Red-spotted purple.

Here are some pictures from the walk.

Setting up on the West Pond.


Here is a picture with Laughing Gulls, a Semipalmated Sandpiper and a Canadian Goose.


A lone Semipalmated Sandpiper.


The Spartina grass looks beautiful in the background with number of Laughing Gulls, Canadian Geese and a Great Egret in the foreground.