10,000 Birds

MARCH 15, 2012

Jamaica Bay National Wildlife Refuge, 15 March 2009 It was at about 1:30 AM on Saturday morning that I startled awake and found myself sitting in an empty subway car in an unfamiliar location. John from A DC Birding Blog , and Patrick from The Hawk Owl’s Nest at Jamaica Bay at 8 AM Saturday morning for some birding.

New York 200

New York Honduras Jamaica Geese 200

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 5, 2014

Populations in the eastern part of its range, including the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and the Lesser Antilles are resident while those in the western part of its range such as Florida, Cuba, Jamaica, and the Bahamas are migratory. By the end of September, the territorial birds that breed in the local parking lots are gone.

Dominican Republic 258

Dominican Republic Puerto Rico Miami Florida 258

10,000 Birds

MAY 16, 2017

A New York City Parks Department contractor just wiped out a breeding population of sparrows in tons of trouble already, on land owned by the parks department that was supposed to be protected as “Forever Wild.” This species is in too much trouble to throw away a breeding ground. Another is in the works. . By then it could be too late.

New York City 223

New York City New York Sparrows 2016 223

10,000 Birds

MARCH 9, 2011

The little stiff-tails are almost year-round at Jamaica Bay though almost all leave to breed in the summer and in the depths of winter, when the ponds are almost completely frozen, they tend to head for open water. I can see why you thought you had found a new breed with this one. Do you think it is the female?

Ducks 188

Ducks 2011 Jamaica Deer 188

10,000 Birds

MAY 20, 2012

When Francois sent me an image of a presumed Snowy Egret he got at Jamaica Bay this weekend I immediately set about trying to turn it into something else. It turns out that sometimes Snowy Egrets in breeding plumage have pink lores. And this bird had really pink lores! Check out the awesome shots Francois got.

Jamaica 162

Jamaica Breeding Birds 162

10,000 Birds

MAY 15, 2012

Sadly, it did not stick around to breed though I thought that it might. Eurasian Wigeon - 05 November 2011 – The bird I mentioned before, at Jamaica Bay’s East Pond. White Ibis - Two juveniles were spotted last year at Jamaica Bay but they turned out to be one-day wonders.

Connecticut 224

Connecticut 2011 Jamaica 2012 224

10,000 Birds

MAY 4, 2012

My spring has been pretty amazing so far with 146 species spotted since April 1 and Cerulean , Worm-eating , and Yellow-throated Warblers and a host of other species spotted before May even arrived, but the first couple of days in May have been even better.

New York City 178

New York City New York Litter 2009 178

10,000 Birds

MAY 13, 2013

I started at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge pre-dawn to pick up American Woodcock and then headed to the coast to see if there was any flight happening. From there I went back to Jamaica Bay where I was treated to a tanager, grosbeak, and wood-warbler show in the North Gardens. This one was at Edgemere Landfill. What was my route?

Jamaica 179

Jamaica Oakland New York City Bats 179

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 20, 2012

The best birds we came up with on our circuit of each island was Great Cormorants in breeding plumage, very nice birds to see but not the rare gulls for which we were hoping. The islands have long been abandoned and now host heronries in the summer and a horde of gulls in the winter. Can you guess how we spent our time?

New York City 204

New York City New York Jamaica Seals 204

10,000 Birds

JULY 5, 2011

I am used to seeing young Gadwall at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, sometimes under less-than-ideal circumstances , but I rarely get a chance to see an entire brood of ducklings close enough to get some pictures. Anas strepera is a common and widespread duck, breeding across northern Europe and Asia, as well as central North America.

United States 162

United States North America Jamaica Asia 162

10,000 Birds

MAY 27, 2013

Now that passerine migration has largely wound down the attention of this New York birder has shifted to seabirds, shorebirds, and the occasional trip looking for breeding birds. Dunlin in breeding plumage are sexy beasts. Someday, someone will figure out how Semipalmated Sandpipers manage not to land on top of each other.

Eggs 183

Eggs New York Wounded Jamaica 183

10,000 Birds

MAY 8, 2011

I was fortunate enough to spot the individual in this post at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge where it was foraging in bushes and small trees between four and fifteen off of the ground. It breeds across Canada’s boreal forest and most winter in the Caribbean, though some spend the cold months in Central America.

Tigers 170

Tigers United States Jamaica Pennsylvania 170

10,000 Birds

MARCH 12, 2012

They breed in all five boroughs and can be readily identified in flight by their flashing yellow underwings and white rump. Now that flood of birds has been reduced to a trickle with the breeding populations north of the city greatly reduced and only a few birds are reported each year. ……… a.

New York City 262

New York City New York Woodpeckers New Jersey 262

10,000 Birds

MARCH 15, 2011

Over the next few days, the Alpine Accentors ( Prunella collaris ) will arrive on their high-Alpine breeding grounds – it is time to start singing, despite that the treeless Alpine landscape is still under metres of snow. all Alpine Accetor photos digiscoped (c) Dale Forbes. all Alpine Accetor photos digiscoped (c) Dale Forbes.

2011 235

2011 Breeders Deer Breeding 235

10,000 Birds

MAY 20, 2011

The Tree Swallows nest in Jamaica Bay, in the nest boxes, good old reliable Tree Swallows. I had discovered a new breeding species — or a new breeding species had discovered me. They hover near the bridge, near their nests. She could watch them for hours. Sure enough, Cliff Swallows.

New York City 212

New York City Turtles Jamaica New York 212

10,000 Birds

MARCH 17, 2011

The variety of plumages that they show and the way different individuals molt at different times is interesting to me and I have stopped being surprised at seeing a small flock of ruddies with some nearly in full breeding, or alternate plumage, while others are still in their basic, or non-breeding plumage. Get yours today!

Ducks 164

Ducks 2011 New York New York City 164

10,000 Birds

JUNE 21, 2018

And the results are indicative, representative and nothing short of surprising: Brunei, The Gambia, Belize, Jamaica, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Rwanda, Equatorial Guinea, Panama and Haiti top the list. Best timing here is the dry season, June to September, when most birds are breeding (3). And now you finally know where to travel next.

Rwanda 240

Rwanda Equatorial Guinea El Salvador Costa Rica 240

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 13, 2012

In the Greater Antilles, the Scaly-naped Pigeon , Plain Pigeon , and Ring-tailed Pigeon (endemic to Jamaica) inhabit mostly upper elevation forests while White-crowned Pigeons are restricted to the coast and mangroves.

Florida 216

Florida Miami Bahamas Mexico 216

10,000 Birds

JULY 12, 2019

Though I never cared much for the season growing up, my initial birding forays to Jamaica Bay in Queens were a welcome antidote to the smelly sidewalks and sweltering apartments that plagued my life in summer in New York City.

Detroit 196

Detroit Vermont New York City New York 196

10,000 Birds

MARCH 6, 2011

Corey encountered a bunch of winners, but 24 Common Redpolls at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, in almost the exact same spot he saw them a couple of years ago, feeding on birch inflorescence by the East Pond, were easily his best birds of the weekend. However, I’ll bestow that honor upon my first local Common Grackles of spring.

2011 184

2011 New York Deer Philadelphia 184

10,000 Birds

MARCH 16, 2012

Nassau County, New York, March 2009 After having fully explored the trail around the West Pond at Jamaica Bay , we four bird bloggers agreed to load up Patrick’s car and head over to Jones Beach to see what kind of birds we could find there and some other locations in Nassau County. And what a look at a life bird!

New York 160

New York Butcher Geese 2009 160

10,000 Birds

MARCH 11, 2011

Brown Pelicans , and the northernmost Brown Booby breeding colony on this side of the Pacific. Ringer Gannets and Boobies (Sulidae) Black-and-white gannets breed on the cold, rocky coasts of the northern and southern oceans. Feeding Frenzy at Jamaica Bay.Or What you “know&# is probably wrong! Make up your mind, Ringer!

2011 192

2011 Pelicans Papua New Guinea California 192

10,000 Birds

APRIL 10, 2016

Fortunately, Conesus Lake holds all manner of superb waterfowl, including more Common Loons in breeding plumage than I’ve ever seen at one time. Corey’s Best Bird of the Weekend was a cooperative Blue-gray Gnatcatcher at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge that contentedly foraged while Corey digiscoped. How about you?

Legislation 100

Legislation 2016 Jamaica Laws 100

10,000 Birds

JUNE 5, 2016

June in the Northern Hemisphere brings birds on their breeding grounds, some still frisky and others settled down taking care of their chicks. Lots of breeding songbirds live in those gorgeous woods, including several Hooded Warblers ! Lots of breeding songbirds live in those gorgeous woods, including several Hooded Warblers !

Pennsylvania 100

Pennsylvania 2016 Jamaica New York 100

10,000 Birds

MARCH 2, 2018

Beehler set himself a lofty goal – following the spring songbird migration in the United States from the Gulf of Mexico all the way to the boreal forests of Canada and in the process seeing all thirty-seven species of eastern-breeding wood warblers, from Common Yellowthroat to Kirtland’s Warbler , on their respective breeding grounds.

Meat 118

Meat Reptiles United States Canada 118

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 7, 2013

May – Migration’s Peak and Breeding Begins. I also spent a bunch of time on the East Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge and, as usual, managed to see some birds on workdays. I really appreciated some very cooperative Indigo Buntings , a nice Blue-gray Gnatcatcher , and birds singing on territory.

2012 169

2012 Czech Republic Hedgehogs Hungary 169

10,000 Birds

MARCH 13, 2011

They breed across Canada and Alaska’s boreal forest near ponds and lakes, using nest holes made by woodpeckers, almost exclusively flickers. All of the shots in this post were taken on 1 March 2011 at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge’s West Pond as the sun was going down.

2011 150

2011 Ducks Deer Portland 150

10,000 Birds

JULY 2, 2024

A section in the Appendix, “Rare Shorebird Vagrants,” lists 16 additional species that do not show up annually in North America but who have more than ten records; the list notes where the species breed and where their vagrant paths have taken them within North American borders.

North America 264

North America America 2006 Delaware 264

10,000 Birds

JULY 19, 2021

The mosquitoes and other biting insects often make natural areas almost unbearable, the heat keeps many breeding songbirds from singing much, and migration doesn’t happen much at all except for southbound shorebirds. After the beach I decided to go back to the East Pond of Jamaica Bay again but to try to walk in from the north end.

Jamaica 264

Jamaica Birds New York City Ducks 264

10,000 Birds

JULY 5, 2017

The dog days of July, when birders desperately seek out south-bound shorebirds, odd breeding records, or anything else to keep themselves from losing their minds in a lousy birding time in the northeastern United States, is not my favorite time of year to bird.

Jamaica 112

Jamaica Wildlife Breeders United States 112

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 1, 2012

Early this morning I was out on the south end of the East Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge looking at common shorebirds and hoping for rare shorebirds. This one was not as bright as the one previously found but still retains some breeding plumage.

Jamaica 165

Jamaica New York Wildlife Falcons 165

10,000 Birds

MARCH 16, 2011

By March though Scandinavian Rock Pipit begins to show some changes into breeding plumage and outs itself as a migrant rather than a resident. Join Mike in Jamaica! The two images were taken a few minutes apart on the same day in the same location. I so miss it now that I live inland!!!! THAT was an adrenaline rollercoaster!

2011 202

2011 Deer Fish New York 202

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 19, 2016

On Saturday morning I was out on the East Pond of Jamaica Bay with Carlos and Anthony enjoying a mid-September search for shorebirds. It will never make it to the Paramo in the high Andes for winter nor return to the tundra to breed. Survival of the fittest isn’t a pleasant process to witness but it is marvelously efficient.

Culling 157

Culling Falcons New Jersey Jamaica 157

10,000 Birds

APRIL 18, 2011

On Saturday I met up with Seth and we headed out to Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge where we nearly froze to death and I refused to wear gloves because it is April and gloves aren’t necessary. Not much of a vignette but I have a nice picture of the sparrow so I feel that I had to mention it. Besides, suffering brings birds, right?

New York City 200

New York City New York Walruses Sparrows 200

10,000 Birds

APRIL 2, 2024

She explains complex and sometimes controversial topics including captive breeding, environmental toxins, feral cats and other invasive predators, Hawaiian avian extinction, avian disease, California Condor distribution and history, legal loopholes, and lead poisoning.

California Condor 187

California Condor Falcons California Coyotes 187

10,000 Birds

MARCH 19, 2011

Outside of the tropics, nesting would usually take place in the spring (in the southern hemisphere, spring and the height of the breeding season occurs before Christmas); these pictures were taken in March as the weather in Cape Town is beginning to cool.

2011 220

2011 Deer Africa Peru 220

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 11, 2017

(Like the ladies’ man above which Corey photographed a few years ago at Jamaica Bay in NYC.). Instead, they make a wide circuit of many different breeding sites, apparently geared more towards brief hookups with whichever females are in the area.

Russia 112

Russia Stray Alaska Rights 112