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Eastern Screech-Owls at Night and Christmas Birds by Day: More Manhattan Bird Walks

Updated: Mar 1, 2020


Eastern Screech-owl at night in January 2017 at Van Cortlandt Park (Bronx)


20 December 2017

Keep an eye on the weather for this coming weekend: the Eastern Screech-owl walk at Inwood Hill Park (Manhattan) will take place even if raining lightly; but the Sun/Mon morning walks will be canceled if raining. Check our schedule page on this web site the morning of the walk for final details: https://www.birdingbob.com/birdwalks.

Detailed SCHEDULE NOTES! This Saturday (23 December/$10), at 6pm, we meet in upper Manhattan at the Inwood Hill Park (the Environmental Center whose "official" address is: 600 west 218th street and Indian Road so try that for your GPS). Here it is on a map: https://tinyurl.com/y9xtxnfr . We will do a 90 minute to two hour or so survey for Owls in the Inwood Forest and vicinity. I'll bring my owl calls (tapes) and big speaker, and we will try our best for Eastern Screech-owls. These owls have been heard here on each of the two previous weekends this December. We will also try for Great Horned Owls. Both of these owl species are year-round residents and nest here. Light rain is no problem - we will do the walk...but just to make sure, check our web site for any schedule changes/updates. Any questions, send an email or call us at home: 718-828-8262. There is more info about Inwood Hill Park below in the schedule section. Next Saturday (30 December, 5pm) we will be meeting at Van Cortlandt Park Bronx) for Eastern Screech-owls and Great Horned Owls. And don't forget our Sun-Mon bird walks in Central Park: Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (9:30am).

Our bird photos come from Deborah Allen (see her links below), and show Fox Sparrow, Flicker, Great Blue Heron and a Wilson's Snipe photographed in Central Park and the Bronx (snipe).

This week's historical notes provide all of the 1917 published Christmas Bird Counts from NYC and vicinity including the Bronx, Staten Island, Queens and Long Island. Oddly, no one submitted any reports for Central Park, or anywhere from Brooklyn, for Christmas 1917. The most interesting observations were 23 Meadowlarks in the Bronx + two Northern Shrikes at Van Cortlandt Park, Bx.; Eight Bobwhite Quail at Pelham Bay Park, Bx; On Staten Island, more than 50 American Tree Sparrows and Eastern Meadowlarks were tallied for the borough; On Long Island, 295 Snow Buntings at Orient, (north shore); but only 3 Cedar Waxwings for the entire area (including NJ). Meanwhile we begin the historical notes with an Eastern Screech-owl in City Hall Park in December 1887, some 130 years ago.



 

Deborah Allen sends photos two NYC Parks:


Central Park, Manhattan on 17 December 2017:

Pelham Bay Park, Bronx on 15 December 2017:

Wilson’s Snipe, Orchard Beach:

Link to Deborah Allen photos on Agpix site:



Harlequin Duck at Barnegat Lighthouse, NJ in March 2015


Good! Here are the bird walks for late December - each $10


1. **Saturday, 23 December - 6pm - Eastern Screech-owls of Inwood Hill Park (Manhattan)** 2. Sunday, 24 December - 9:30am - Central Park - Boathouse (74st/East Drive)

3. Monday, 25 December - 9:30am - Central Park - Boathouse (74st/East Drive)

**We meet at 6pm at the Inwood Hill Nature Center, sometimes called the Ranger Station, and sometimes called the Environmental Center. If you check the links below, you can get more info. The address of the center is: 600 218th street and Indian Road so try that for your GPS. Here it is on a map: https://tinyurl.com/y9xtxnfr

We should be in the field for a bit more than two hours...and the cost is $10. For Information on Inwood Hill Park: https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/inwood-hill-park and for directions to Inwood: https://tinyurl.com/yd4gg7vg

a. How likely are we to find owls on Saturday evening, 23 December? Pretty Good: I'd rate it as 75%. BUT, I cannot guarantee owls...I know Eastern Screech-owls are there - will they come in to my recorded calls as they usually do, and will they come in if we have a big group? They did at Van Cortlandt Park in January 2017...and March 2017. But nothing is ever a guarantee!

b. How likely are you to get parking near the Environmental Center? Arrive by 5:15pm and I'd give it 90% chance of parking nearby.

c. What to bring: warm clothes; I will have a powerful flashlight...and screech-owls often come in close (no need for bins), but a camera would be good. (Please no flash - my flashlight is powerful enough for digital photography - many photographers got great photos last January at VC Park with only the light from my flashlight.) For Great Horned Owls - they are much larger and tend to stay further away...so bins would be good for them. Mostly bring warm clothes and an umbrella. Leave your camera flash at home (please don't make Deborah and Bob upset)...and for the trails just use a small flashlight or even the light from your I-phone/Smart Phone. ================== 4. Saturday, 30 December - 5pm - Eastern Screech-owls of Van Cortlandt Park (Bronx).

5. Sunday, 31 December - 9:30am (only) - Central Park - Boathouse (74st/East Drive)

6. Monday, 1 January 2018 - 9:30am - Central Park - Boathouse (74st/East Drive)


The fine print: In December, our walks every Sunday meet at 9:30am at the Boathouse Restaurant (approximately 74th street and the East Drive on the lake; it is NOT one of the buildings on the nearby Model Boat Pond). Bathrooms are nearby and ok; they open at about 7:30am. On Saturdays we sometimes meet at the Boathouse (74th street and the East Drive) at 9:30am - but check schedule on web site and here because we often go further afield such as NYBG in the Bronx. Our home phone is 718-828-8262...and Deborah's cell is: 347-703-5554. Email is above (= rdcny@earthlink.net). We have a new web site...if in doubt about whether a walk will take place or not, check the web site the morning of the walk: info will be posted on the main landing page as well as the "Schedule" page by 6am the day of the walk, and usually by 7:30pm the night before. If still confused and as a last resort, call us at home - if no one answers it means we left for the bird walk!

We end all our weekend Central Park walks at the Boathouse at about noon - you can get a cup of coffee and a muffin there (around $6 total - coffee is now $2.75). Our Friday walks, we usually end up at (or very near) Conservatory Garden, most often at 106th street and 5th Avenue.


 

Here is what we saw last week (selected highlights) with some anecdotal notes and observations. Not all species we saw are reported here - we list the best:

Friday, 15 December (start at Conservatory Garden at 105th street at 9am) - it was cold (22f) and windy...and dark when I arrived. No wonder the only person who joined me was someone who grew up in Sri Lanka! There were a couple of Red-shouldered Hawks circling up over the North Meadow Ballfield area (one adult; one young bird). We had Ruby-crowned Kinglets and some flocks of migrating geese overhead - all Canada Geese. For the prior two days in the sudden and sharp cold snap, there was a big movement of both Canada and Snow Geese heading south over Central Park.

Deborah's bird list for the day: https://tinyurl.com/ya9qnfb9 ================================ Saturday, 16 December (start at the Boathouse Restaurant at 6pm)- there was a fun owl walk tonite. And though I had not heard of any owls in the park recently, one will never find anything if one does not go out and look. We did find 10+ rats of all sizes; perhaps one small mouse (or a young rat) - telling us that there is plenty of food in the Ramble for raptors...and one would hope no rat poison either. There were also three raccoons...and no owls. ================================= Sunday, 17 December (start at the Boathouse Restaurant at 9:30am) - Matthew from the UK was with us, and he found some good birds including Fox Sparrows and American Goldfinches. Carine Mitchell found the Boat-tailed Grackle (young male?) at the Bird Feeders, and the rest of us found Ruby-crowned Kinglets and at least three Golden-crowned Kinglets (Shakespeare Garden); a Cooper's Hawk (juvenile), flying across the lake to its NW corner; and assorted waterfowl (Wood Ducks, Hooded Mergansers...but Janet Wooten found the lone Gadwall we missed!). Later in the week (Tuesday), there was an adult male Cooper's Hawk at the Upper Lobe calling and calling seen with Wayne and Jennifer Deutscher and family.

Deborah's bird list for the day: https://tinyurl.com/ycsesabx ======================================= HISTORICAL NOTES

AN OWL IN THE CITY [December 1887]. New York. A common screech owl put in his appearance a few days ago in the City Hall Park, and being spied by the keen-eyed (and evil-eyed) wielders of blacking brushes, was so pestered and driven about by them from bush to tree and branch to branch, that life must have seemed utterly miserable. A moment after his discovery the air was full of snow balls; stones, old hats snatched from each other's heads, and, in fact, everything that could be thrown, the individual aim being of little importance in the excitement of the moment. It was growing warm for his owlship when down swooped one or two policemen, and the bird, doubtless an eagle, at least, in the eyes of the urchins, who seldom see any feathered thing larger than a sparrow - was safe for the time. Was he a child of nature seeing the elephant, or had he escaped from some sanctum? F'LIN --------------------------------------------------- Bronx to New Rochelle - Christmas Bird Counts - December 1917

New York City (Clason Point, Unionport and Bronx Park). Trolley used between Unionport and Bronx Park. 25 Dec. (1917); 12 to 4.15 p.m. Cloudy; 4 in. of wet snow; wind northwest, light; temp. 32f. Herring Gull, 450; Black Duck, 55; Scaup, 1; Black-crowned Night Heron, 48; Red-tailed Hawk, 3; Sparrow Hawk, 2; Downy Woodpecker, 5; Flicker, 1; Blue Jay, 6; Crow, 52; Starling, 450; Meadowlark, 23; Grackle, 29; White-throated Sparrow, 4; Tree Sparrow, 100; Junco, 33; Song Sparrow, 44; Fox Sparrow, 2; Brown Creeper, 3; White-breasted Nuthatch, 2; Black-capped Chickadee, 1. Total, 21 species, 1,314 individuals. About 100 more Ducks on the Sound, too far away for identification. On 21 Dec., 2 Northern Shrikes were seen in Van Cortlandt Park. E. G. Nichols and L. N. Nichols. New York City (Pelham Bay Park region around City Island station). 22 Dec. (1917); 11 A.M. to 3.15 P.M. Clear; 8 in. of snow; wind west, fairly strong; temp. 40f. Observers together. Great Black-backed Gull, 1; Herring Gull, 100+; Duck sp., 1; Bobwhite, 8; Pheasant, 3; Red-shouldered Hawk, 2; Sparrow Hawk [Kestrel], 1; Hairy Woodpecker, 1; Downy Woodpecker, 3; Crow, 14; Starling, 45; Red-winged Blackbird, 1; Meadowlark, 3; Purple Finch, 1 brown; Goldfinch, 5; Tree Sparrow, 10; Slate-colored Junco, 9; Song Sparrow, 4; Brown Creeper, 2; White-breasted Nuthatch, 4. Total, 20 species, about 218 individuals. Walden Pell, 2nd, and S. Morris Pell. [Bob Note: Bartow-PELL is named after their family...it was their estate in the Bronx; and the Pell Grants that you got at University - yes a Senator in their family established them while he was in Congress.]

New Rochelle, N.Y. (Beechmont Park, Mount Tom Road and several other streets). 28 Dec. (1917); 9.30 A.M. to 12.30 P.M. and 2 to 3 p.m. Cloudy; 5 in. of snow; no wind; temp. 27f to 34f. Herring Gull, 7; Ring-necked Pheasant, 1; Downy Woodpecker, 2; Blue Jay, 3; American Crow, 5; Starling, 37; Goldfinch, 4; Junco, 2; Song Sparrow, 1; Brown Creeper, 5; White-breasted Nuthatch, 2; Robin, 5. Total, 12 species, 74 individuals. Olney M. Raymond. -------- Staten Island - CBC - December 1917

New York City (Bull's Head to Richmond, via Greenridge, Staten Island). 27 December 1917; 9 A.M. to 4.30 P.M. Clear; snow on ground; wind northwest, fresh; temp. 15f, rising. Herring Gull, 10; Great Blue Heron, 1; Sparrow Hawk, 1; Belted Kingfisher, 1; Downy Woodpecker, 2; Crow, 8; Starling, 11; White-throated Sparrow, 2; Tree Sparrow, 18; Junco, 35; Song Sparrow, 14; Cardinal, 1. Total, 12 species, 104 individuals. MILTON H. HOGE. New York City (Staten Island, West New Brighton to Richmond to Bull's Head to West New Brighton). 26 December 1917; 8.30 A.M. to 2.30 P.M. Clear; about 3 in. of snow; wind westerly, light; temp. 15f to 25f. Herring Gull, 150; Red-shouldered Hawk, 1; Sparrow Hawk [Kestrel], 3; Screech Owl, 1; Hairy Woodpecker, 1; Downy Woodpecker, 8; Blue Jay, 12; American Crow, 80; Starling, 24; Meadowlark, 30; Goldfinch, 13; Pine Siskin, 38; Tree Sparrow, 46; Slate-colored Junco, 25; Song Sparrow, 30; Brown Creeper, 3; Cardinal, 7; White-breasted Nuthatch, 1; Tufted Titmouse, 3; Robin, 3. Total, 20 species, 428 individuals. WILLIAM H. LONG. New York City (Richmond Valley to Oakwood Heights, Staten Island). 23 December 1917; 7.15 A.M. to 5 P.M. Clear; ground snow-covered; dead calm; temp. 12f to 33f. Black-backed Gull, 1; Herring Gull, 5,092; Black Duck, 5; Greater Scaup, 1; Goldeneye, 6; Bufflehead, 27; Purple Sandpiper, 1; Ring-necked Pheasant, 2; Red-shouldered Hawk, 3; Sparrow Hawk, 4; Screech Owl, 1; Great Horned Owl, 1; Downy Woodpecker, 3; Northern Flicker, 2; Horned Lark, 13; Blue Jay, 6; American Crow, 30; Starling, 42; Meadowlark, 22; Goldfinch, 3; Tree Sparrow, 4; Song Sparrow, 10; Swamp Sparrow, 1; Northern Shrike, 2 (one sang); Myrtle Warbler, 1; White breasted Nuthatch, 1; Tufted Titmouse, 9. Total, 27 species, 5,294 individuals. HOWARD H. CLEAVES. ----------------------------------------------- Queens to Eastern Long Island - CBC - December 1917

Douglaston, L. I., N.Y. 23 Dec. 1917; 9 A.M. to 1 P.M. Clear; 4 or 5 in. of snow; wind northwest, light; temp. 19f at start, 34f at return. Observers together. Black-backed Gull, 2; Herring Gull, 90; (Goldeneye?) Duck, 15; Ducks (other than the supposed Goldeneyes), 16; (Short-eared?) Owl, l (flying over marsh); Belted Kingfisher, 2; Downy Woodpecker, 3; Crow, 35; Fish Crow, 75 (identified by their calls while feeding upon a garbage-dump with House Sparrows and Starlings); Starling, 400 (nearly all in one flock); Meadowlark, 7; Goldfinch, 4; Tree Sparrow, 24; Junco, 14; Song Sparrow, 24; Swamp Sparrow, 2; Black-capped Chickadee, 2 (one sang). Total, 17 species, about 716 individuals. MR. and MRS. G. CLYDE FISHER and RUTH ANNA FISHER. East Marion, L.I., N.Y. 26 December 1917; 9.30 A.M. to 4 P.M. Clear; ground nearly bare; wind northwest, light; temp. 20f at start, 23f at return. The chief territory covered was about a half-mile of shore along Peconic Bay and a piece of cedar and oak woods with adjoining fields. Horned Grebe, 1; Herring Gull, 150+; Scaup, 5; Old-squaw, 15; Surf Scoter, 20; Belted Kingfisher, 1; Downy Woodpecker, 1; Flicker, 4; Horned Lark, 3; Blue Jay, 5; Crow, 21; Starling, 70; Purple Finch, 1; Goldfinch, 4; Tree Sparrow, 50; Junco, 30; Song Sparrow, 1; Myrtle Warbler, 25; Black-capped Chickadee, 8; Robin, 2. Total, 20 species, about 417 individuals. An unusually small number of water-fowl were near enough to shore for identification. A Migrant Shrike was seen on 6 December. MABEL R. WIGGINS. Ft. Salonga, L.I., N.Y., near Smithtown. Covered most of the territory within a radius of 2 miles of Sunken Meadow. 27 December 1917; 7 A.M. to 3 P.M. Clear; 3 in. of snow; wind northwest, light; temp. 14f at start, 18f at return. Black-backed Gull, 1; Herring Gull, 101; Ring-billed Gull, 19; Bonaparte's Gull, 1; Black Duck, one flock of 1,500+, 7 single; Green-winged Teal, 1; Scaup, 1; American Golden eye, 34; Old-squaw, 21; American [Black] Scoter, 10; White-winged Scoter, 36; Surf Scoter, 3; Canada Goose, 1; Brant, l; Black-crowned Night Heron, 1; Wilson's Snipe, 1; Goshawk (?), 1; Red-tailed Hawk, 1; Bald Eagle, 1; Hairy Woodpecker, 1; Downy Woodpecker, 4; Flicker, 4; Blue Jay, 2; Crow, 300+; Starling, 100; Grackle, 3; Tree Sparrow, 57; Junco, 200+; Song Sparrow, 17; Myrtle Warbler, 16; Chickadee, 144; Robin, 1; Bluebird, 7. Total, 133 species, 2,700+ individuals. The Green-winged Teal arrived two months ago in some fresh-water ponds and has remained there ever since with a few tame Mallards. It is a fine male. THEODOR DREIER. Hempstead, L. I., N.Y. 23 December 1917; 8 A.M. to 3.30 P.M. and (after dark) 5.30 to 6.30 P.M. Clear; about 6 in. of frozen snow; average temp. 24f. Herring Gull, 27; Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1; Red-tailed Hawk, 1; Red-shouldered Hawk, 2; Sparrow Hawk, 1; Long-eared Owl, 1; Screech Owl, 3; Downy Woodpecker, 3; Horned Lark, flock of 58; Blue Jay, 21; Crow, 190; Starling, 58; Goldfinch, 8; Savannah Sparrow, 2; Tree Sparrow, 47; Slate-colored Junco, 92; Song Sparrow, 29; Towhee, 4 together; Winter Wren, 1; Brown Creeper, 5; Red-breasted Nuthatch, 2; Chickadee, 11; Robin, 2. Total, 23 species, 569 individuals. The four Towhees, three males and a female, allowed one to get within a few yards; also heard them call several times. They were seen several times before in the same place, oak shrubbery in a pine grove. The Savannah Sparrows, together, also permitted close approach so they could be accurately identified. They were also seen Dec. 15, and on the same date 3 Mourning Doves. Other occurrences that seemed unusual to me were: 2 Hermit Thrushes seen Dec. 9, and 2 Woodcock and 1 Fox Sparrow, Dec. 16. THEODORE ROEHNER. Long Beach, Nassau Co., L. I., N. Y. 20 Dec. (1917). Moderating after severe weather; temp. 35f at daylight and nightfall; ponds and marshes frozen; some remaining snow; wind southwest, light; morning gray, some half-sunshine in afternoon; a broad swell on the ocean breaking into a high, steady surf. Horned Grebe, 4; Loon, 1; Black-backed Gull, numerous, at one time fully 100 adults in sight; Herring Gull, abundant; Red-breasted Merganser, several pairs and single birds; Black Duck, innumerable, lying off shore in straggling beds extending with little interruption for several miles along the beach, very few in flight; Red-legged Black Duck, a perfectly fresh bird found dead on the shore; Mallard, a drake, with Black Ducks; Pintail, 5 drakes, with Black Ducks; Greater Scaup, two single birds, male and female, and well out three flocks of Scaups, 17 to 70; Goldeneye, 1 female; Old-squaw, 20; American Scoter, an adult; Surf Scoter, flock of 20 (several small flocks of Scoters were almost certainly of both these species); White-winged Scoter, two flocks of 20 and 30; all Ducks in continuous flight were going east w/ larger numbers approximate; Sanderling, 2 together; Canada Geese, 5 passing out to sea, southeast; Brant, 2 with Gulls on a sand-bar and one on the ocean shore, shot by a gunner, an immature bird; Sparrow Hawk, 1; Rough-legged Hawk, a pair; Horned Lark, frequent in small flocks; Starling, common, one flock of about 200; Meadowlark, 1; Ipswich Sparrow, 1; Sharp-tailed Sparrow, 3; Seaside Sparrow (?), a Passerherbulus, quite certainly this, but identification not technical; Tree Sparrow, small flock; Song Sparrow, several; Myrtle Warbler, locally numerous. A Northern Shrike seen at Hewlett, less than 3 miles from Long Beach. Total, 30 species. The best Long Beach bird-day for the season that I have ever known. E. P. Bicknell. Long Beach, Nassau Co., L. I., N. Y. 23 Dec. (1917); 10.05 a.m. to 5 p.m. Clear; ground bare, frozen; ponds and pools frozen, cakes of ice on the beach at Point Lookout; incoming tide; wind northwest, light; temp. 30f to 35f. Loon sp., 1; Black-backed Gull, 5; Herring Gull, 2,000; Red-breasted Merganser, 6; Black Duck, 3; Scaup, 6; Old-squaw, 22; American Scoter, 1; Sanderling 1 (flew by with strong, vigorous flight); Rough-legged Hawk, 2 together; Short-eared Owl, 1; Crow, 15; Starling, 5 (in the village); Tree Sparrow, 1; Junco, 1; Song Sparrow, 8; Myrtle Warbler, 4. Total, 17 species, about 2,083 individuals. The weather was too mild and calm for many water-fowl. George E. Hix. Orient, L. I., N. Y. 24 Dec. (1917); 6.45 a.m. to 2 p.m. (three observers); 3.30 p.m. until dark (Latham). Cloudy most of the day, with brief periods of sunshine; a little frozen snow on the ground; brisk westerly winds, veering slightly toward south after noon, becoming light with a trace of rain toward evening; temp. 31f at 6 a.m., rising above the freezing-point by midday, and thawing perceptibly in the sun. Country visited: Sound and Gardiner's Bay coasts, dune beaches, plowed fields, salt meadows, frozen swamps and lagoons, red cedar groves, deciduous woods on lowlands and hills. Horned Grebe, 4; Common Loon, 3; Glaucous Gull, 2; Iceland Gull, 1; Black-backed Gull, 6; Herring Gull, 280; Red-breasted Merganser, 60; Mallard, 1 (in gunner's bag); Black Duck, 16; Greater Scaup, 100 (some in gunner's bag); American Goldeneye, 5; Bufflehead, 65; Old-squaw, 200; White-winged Scoter, 525; Surf Scoter, 115; Virginia Rail, 1 (dead); Pheasant, 1 (in gunner's bag); Bob-white, 7 (in gunner's bag); Marsh Hawk, 1; Cooper's Hawk, 2; Sparrow Hawk, 3; Long-eared Owl, 2; Screech Owl, 2; Kingfisher, 2; Downy Woodpecker, 4; Flicker, 8; Horned Lark, 600; Blue Jay, 2; American Crow, 465; Starling, 125; Meadowlark, 12; Cowbird, 44; Rusty Blackbird, 3; Grackle, 11; American Goldfinch, 20; Snow Bunting, 295; Savannah Sparrow, 1; White-throated Sparrow, 1; Tree Sparrow, 75; Field Sparrow, 9; Junco, 3; Song Sparrow, 60; Northern Shrike, 3; Myrtle Warbler, 215; Carolina Wren, 2; Wren sp., 1; Black-capped Chickadee, 20; Golden-crowned Kinglet, 5; Robin, 34. Total, 49 species (including 4 dead), 3,212 individuals. The Virginia Rail was found by a wood road, frozen with its head tucked under its wing-coverts; it was so thin that it exemplified the adage, but it had not been long dead. At least two of the Horned Larks closely observed appeared to be Prairie Horned Larks, although most were the usual form. The unidentified Wren was not a Carolina and probably not a Winter Wren. On Dec. 23, Mr. Latham saw: Canada Goose, 5; Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1; Rough-legged Hawk, 1; Turkey Vulture, 1 (latest Long Island record); Fox Sparrow, 1; Brown Creeper, 1. On Dec. 22, Double- crested Cormorant, 1; Fish Crow, 1. On Dec. 25, Red-winged Blackbird, 7. Roy Latham, John Treadwell Nichols and Robert Cushman Murphy Speonk, L.I., N.Y. 28 December 1917; 8 A.M. to 3 P.M. Cloudy; ground bare; wind southwest to west, moderate; temp. 31f to 42f. Herring Gull, 17; Great Blue Heron, 1; Black-crowned Night Heron, 1; Marsh Hawk, 1; Rough-legged Hawk, 2; Sparrow Hawk [Kestrel], 1; Belted Kingfisher, 1; Downy Woodpecker, 2; Horned Lark, 33; Blue Jay, 12; Crow, 7; Starling, 28; Meadowlark, 55; Tree Sparrow, 70; Song Sparrow, 6; Northern Shrike, 1; Brown Creeper, 3; White-breasted Nuthatch, 1; Chickadee, 6; Golden-crowned Kinglet, 12. Total, 20 species, 260 individuals. LE ROY WILCOX. ---------------------------- Parts of New Jersey - CBC - December 1917

Sandy Hook, N. J., and Lower New York Bay. 22 Dec. (1917); 8.15 a.m. to 4.40 p.m. Mostly clear; ground bare; wind northwest, brisk; temp. 33f at noon. Ten miles by steamboat, 6 on foot. Observers together after 11 a.m. Holboell's [Red-necked] Grebe, 1; Black-backed Gull, 3 adults; Herring Gull, 1,000; Bonaparte's Gull, 1; Black Duck, 10; Goldeneye, 1; Old-squaw, 2; White-winged Scoter, 14; Downy Woodpecker, 1; Flicker, 8; American Crow, 50; Fish Crow, 75; Starling, 70; Meadowlark, 1; Snow Bunting, 3; Ipswich Sparrow, 5; Sharp-tailed Sparrow, 2 (one seen excellently, P. caudacutus ­ C. H. Rogers); White-throated Sparrow, 9; Tree Sparrow, 10; Junco, 38; Song Sparrow, 5; Cardinal, 8; Cedar Waxwing, 3; Northern Shrike, 2; Myrtle Warbler, 35; Brown Thrasher, 1 (seen excellently ­ J. P. Y.); Carolina Wren, 2; Black-capped Chickadee, 2 (one sang); Hermit Thrush, 2; Robin, 100; Total, 30 species, about 1,465 individuals. John P. Young and Charles H. Rogers.

Englewood Region, N. J. (Palisades Park, to Nordhoff, to Teaneck, through Englewood to Englewood Cliffs, and along foot of Palisades to Edgewater). 22 Dec. (1917); 8 a.m. to 4.30 P.M. Clear; 8 in. of snow; wind northwest, brisk; temp. 30f to 40f. Fifteen miles on foot. Herring Gull, 300; American Merganser, 4; Black Duck, 15; Marsh Hawk, 1; Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1; Red-tailed Hawk, 1; Duck Hawk, 1; Hairy Woodpecker, 1; Downy Woodpecker, 10; Flicker, 1; Blue Jay, 11; Crow, 15; Starling, 90; Red-winged Blackbird, 1 female; Meadowlark, 6; Goldfinch, 3; White-throated Sparrow, 23; Tree Sparrow, 21; Junco, 15; Song Sparrow, 33; Fox Sparrow, 3; Brown Creeper, 10; White-breasted Nuthatch, 1; Tufted Titmouse, 1; Black-capped Chickadee, 3; Robin, 1; Bluebird, 2. Total, 27 species, about 574 individuals. Clark L. Lewis, Jr., and Edward G. Nichols.

======================================= Deborah Allen and Robert DeCandido PhD www.BirdingBob.com

Follow us on Twitter: @DAllenNYC

Along the Bronx River (West Farms) in December 2010



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