Trip Report, Rockland Audubon Society

Trip: Croton Point Park

Date: February 21, 2010

Leader:  Carol Weiss

Participants: Dan Albantides, Zenon Bachir, Drew Ciganek, Peter Johnson, Frank Kemmer, Veronika Krause, Caroline McDonald, Pat Murray, Howie Olsen, Jim Previdi, Tom Rowe, Julia Warger, Alan Wells, Della Wells.

Weather: Pleasant, spring-like day; temperatures in the mid-40s.

Highlights: Definitely the Red-headed Woodpecker. They are a very rare sight in the lower Hudson River Valley. And for some, the brief glimpse of the Great Horned Owl was a real treat. Sorry about the rest of us!

Lowlight: Not realizing that the previously reported Orange-crowned Warbler was still present and that we didn’t look for it! No sign of the Long-eared Owls.

Common Name	Comments
Fish Crow	At the train station
Red-tailed Hawk	Close looks at one that landed directly over the trail
Canada Goose
American Crow
Song Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow	Several near Park Office, seen by Drew
American Tree Sparrow	Several on grass near Park Office
White-breasted Nuthatch
Downy Woodpecker
Blue Jay
Northern Flicker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Tufted Titmouse
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Red-headed Woodpecker	Juvenile, near model airplane field
Mourning Dove
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Red-breasted Nuthatch	Several throughout campground and pines
House Sparrow
Bald Eagle	At least 2 adults, 4-5 juveniles
Dark-eyed Junco
Northern Cardinal
Hairy Woodpecker
Black-capped Chickadee
Carolina Wren
Bufflehead	Several on Hudson River
Ring-billed Gull
Peregrine Falcon	Fly-by
Northern Mockingbird
Great Horned Owl	Brief glimpse by a small group
American Black Duck
Mallard
Ruddy Duck
Rock Pigeon
European Starling
Common Merganser	Croton River, at train station
Mute Swan	Croton River, at train station
Herring Gull	Croton River, at train station
Great Black-backed Gull	Croton River, at train station

Figure 1. Got owls??? Searching in vain for Great Horned Owls. Carol, Della, and several others eventually found one. Photo by Alan Wells.

Figure 2. Juvenile Red-headed Woodpecker sunbathing near the model airplane field. Photo by Alan Wells.

Figure 3. Red-breasted Nuthatches were surprisingly numerous. Photo by Alan Wells.

Figure 4. Red-bellied Woodpecker about to snack on breakfast. Photo by Alan Wells.

Figure 5. Red-tailed Hawk that flew in just over our heads. Photo by Alan Wells.

Figure 6. One of many Northern Mockingbirds seen this season. Photo by Alan Wells.

Figure 7. In this period of economic hardship, Della makes a plea to save our Parks! Photo by Alan Wells.