NYC Audubon Bird Walk at Robert Moses State Park...Birding Dude

Today, I went as an assistant to Joe Giunta on an Audubon Bird Walk at Robert Moses State Park.  Our meeting place was outside of the NYC Audubon office at 71 West 23rd St. (6th Ave.) in Manhattan.  There, we boarded a bus and after doing a roll call departed for Robert Moses at around 10:05 a.m. with about 32 attendees as we lost a few…some were no-shows.  Along the way we had a bit of a misadventure, as our bus driver got lost probably due to poor directions; nevertheless, we arrived at Robert Moses around 11:40 a.m.

In the parking lot, at Field 5, we met with Shai Mitra who was going to co-lead with Joe.  Shai, boarded the bus before we disembarked and gave us a brief talk on the difference of birding on a barrier island as opposed to birding in places like Central Park.  Some of the folks were glad that the talk was brief as there was a dire need for a bathroom break.  After Shai’s talk, we disembarked and many folks headed out to the bathrooms before we began the walk.

In addition to Shai, we were also joined by a number of other folks in the parking lot, some were part of the group along for the walk, some were there to provide assistant in spotting and we had some reporters from the New York Times.   Also along with me to assist Joe and Shai was Kelly.  It turned out that including Joe’s, Kelly’s and the Audubon scope, which I was manning, we also had a number of additional spotting scopes in the group and that was a neat option to have because it is so much nicer to have birds in the scope to get better looks at the details.

Shai began the walk by leading us out to the fringes of the parking lot where the dunes were and asked us to look for action on the edge.  Immediately, we saw Yellow-rumped Warblers or Myrtle Warblers as Shai referred to them, which was the old name.  While looking at these birds, it was decided that someone should venture into the brush on the dune to flush out possible birds and Joe suggested that I help Shai.  I was a bit concerned about ticks as I had not sprayed my clothes, but headed out anyway.  Once in the brush, I flushed out some Savannah Sparrows and then headed back out into the parking lot.  Once back in the lot, the group was treated to sights of Juncos, Palm Warbler (Eastern and Western) and even more Yellow-rumpeds.  In addition, to birds on the ground, we saw flocks of Double-crested Cormorants and saw our first Peregrine Falcon of the day.  As we began walking along the edge of the parking lot heading towards the boardwalk, Shai flushed out what was for many, the birding highlight of the day as we got to see three Eastern Meadowlarks; further along the way, the group got good looks at an Eastern Phoebe, which posed on a fence for the group and a couple of us got looks at a brown creeper among the junipers.

We continued walking in the parking lot towards, the boardwalk and along the way Shai did some phishing and called in a number of Yellow-rumbed Warblers in a path of Bay Berries, it was here that I saw and later confirmed by Shai to be the first Swamp Sparrow sighting of the day.  Additionally, right in the same location we saw a common yellow-throat warbler.  We then continued on the boardwalk heading towards the Hawk Watch platform.  By this time, some folks were keen on finding a bathroom and were relieved to learn that bathrooms were available around the location of where we were heading.  Once we got to the Hawk Watch Platform, we found a bunch of sparrows feeding on the ground behind the bathrooms; some in the group zoomed in on the action and located chipping sparrows and juvenile White-crowned Sparrows.  We also found our second brown creeper and observed flying by Pine Siskins and Cedar Waxwings and additional Peregrines.

The group then spilt up into two, so that we were better able to manage traffic on the boardwalk while being respectful of other boardwalk users.  The group with Joe went on towards the lighthouse and I stayed with Shai at the Hawk Watch Platform, it was during this time that I saw another Swamp Sparrow and an Indigo Bunting.  We spent some time on the platform watching the incoming flocks, but the only action that seemed to be occurring were Double-crested Cormorants…just as we were about to leave, Pat Lindsay who was an observer on the platform called out three Royal Terns that were in a flock of Common Terns.  We all got good looks and that bird was a lifer for many present.

We then headed on the boardwalk towards the lighthouse and along the way we had good looks at a Pine Warbler and a Pine Siskin.  We also saw more Yellow-rumpeds and a couple of Northern Flickers.  Instead of going to the lighthouse we headed left towards the beach and checked for any birds that might be out there, but there was no action and so headed back towards the Hawk Watch Platform.   Back at the platform, we learned that Joe’s group had seen a Female Black-Throated Blue Warber.

We stayed at the platform for a bit and saw more Indigo Buntings, and Peregrine Falcons.  Then we headed back to the beach to do a sea watch; along the way, we saw more savannah sparrows, swamp sparrows and our first Field Sparrow, which I first spotted and Shai confirmed.  As we got to the location where we would setup for the sea watch, someone in the group noticed a Northern Parula on the ground feeding.  What a treat it was for many in the group, who all crowded around watching the Parula feed, who was really close to us but ignored the fuss being made.  Our sea watch was not successful as we did not get to see the Northern Gannets or Scoters that we were hoping to see.  We then decided to board the bus, which was around 4:40 and headed back to Manhattan.  We arrived at the Audubon Office at around 6:00 p.m. where Joe and I returned the Audubon scope and evaluation forms.

Some comments on Joe and Shai.  This was the first time I had met either of these gentlemen and they both lived up to the hype on their skills and personality. Their birding skills were obvious but more importantly it was their interaction with the group was was most impressive.  Both Joe and Shai, took the time out to answer many questions and were never put off by the level of the questions whether it was about a common or uncommon bird.  I hope I get to bird with both or either of them in the near future.

Here is a list of the species that I saw.