Birding Across The Pond - Part One

Date: 1st September 2017 - 14th September 2017

Location: New York > Niagara Falls > Las Vegas > San Francisco > New York

Weather: Everything but Snow!

Observation: We had planned a trip to United States earlier in year and the 1st of September came and we boarded a Virgin Atlantic jet bound for New York City, it was my first time although Lauren had been before (a few times!). 

I was reminded a number of times, it was not a bird-watching trip but my 400mm lens and binoculars were first things to pack! 

We arrived late afternoon and a short trip into Central Park was first on the cards, House Sparrow were everywhere in the Park, it seems they are having a very good year there. Then a shiny iridescent bird showed a Common Grackle the 400mm not needed as most birds I was seeing were very close, lots and lots of people in park, so I guess not bothered. 

Common Grackle

American Redstart

American Robin, lots of these in Park 30+ all posing and feeding. 

Blue Jays were calling they sounded like Hawks. 

American Redstart, Great White Egret so close you could touch them, almost! 

Song Sparrow and Northern Cardinal were my next new birds on this short visit. 

After visiting an extremely busy, extremely busy! Times Square, time for bed. An early rise and time for a boat trip to Liberty Island and the Statue of Liberty, Ring-Billed Gulls everywhere, 150+ and to think I rushed to Chew Valley for ONE! Laughing Gull in good numbers also perched up scavenging around picnic tables calling, can see why they are calling Laughing Gull. 

Double Crested Cormorants dotted around the Island too. Next up, One World Trade Centre and the site for the Old World Trade Centres, a huge waterfall now sits in the footprints where the buildings used to stand. 100’s of people stood remembering the disaster. A few trees dotted around the site and I spotted an American Redstart and a very smart Black n White Warbler! 

Lens out and a few snaps with 100’s of people around oblivious to them! While looking an Ovenbird also appeared. 

That evening we planned on going to Dumbo Park for a few night shots of the Manhattan Skyline, while there had an Eastern wood Pewee and a Philadelphia Vireo, thanks to the Merlin bird app for ID’s other would have taken ages to ID all these birds. 

Philadelphia Vireo

Next morning, another wander around Central Park picking up a few more birds including Peregrine Falcon, Northern Parula, Black-Crowned Night Heron, Grey Catbird, Northern Flicker, Common Yellowthroat plus an amazing Magnolia Warbler, lots of others too. 

Northern Flicker

Magnolia Warbler

Spotted Sandpiper

White-Breasted Nuthatch

Black and White Warbler

Grey Catbird

Off to Airport for the next part of the trip to Niagara Falls, our hotel was amazing with a view over both falls American Falls and Horseshoe Falls which make up Niagara Falls, while watching from the 48th floor, a Turkey Vulture casually drifts into view followed by a diving Peregrine Falcon!!!! 

A great place, American Goldfinch, Bonaparte’s Gull and again many Ring-Billed Gulls made up the majority of species around the Falls. After doing the boat trip to the waterfalls, amazing and very wet, we walked from USA to Canada across the very close Rainbow Bridge and on entering Canada saw a colourful Black-Throated Green Warbler with a Black-Capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse and a Downy Woodpecker. 

Black-Throated Green Warbler

Black-Capped Chickadee

 Black Squirrel

Groundhog / Woodchuck

Song Sparrow

Ring-Billed Gull

American Crows and even a California Gull with the hundreds of House Sparrows in the Picnic site! 

Had 1 Golden Eagle and more Turkey Vultures overhead. On going back through passport control and back into USA we headed for a small nature reserve called Dufferin Island, a walkable distance from Niagara just. It rained and we got lost a bit but it was worth it! 

When we found it we had Caspian Tern, massive! Red-Winged Blackbird, Willow Flycatcher, Downy Woodpecker so close, Red-Eyed Vireo, Belted Kingfisher plus many more a great little spot, time ticked on and we had to leave. 

Red-Winged Blackbird

Caspian Tern

Northern Cardinal

Red-Eyed Vireo 

Downy Woodpecker

New York City @ Night

Niagara Falls, Canada

Part Two: https://goo.gl/GZNdoP 

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New York, Washington DC + Buffalo - Part One

Date: 2nd - 7th September 2016

Location: New York City, Washington DC + Buffalo (Niagara Falls)

Weather: Blue Sky, Sunny + 30+ Degrees

Other Species: Ring-Billed Gull, Laughing Gull, American Redstart, Common Yellowthroat, Grey Catbird, Double Crested Cormorant, Blue Jay, White-Breasted Nuthatch, American Robin, Mourning Dove, Downy Woodpecker, Red Cardinal, Pied Billed Grebe, Red-Tailed Hawk, Black Capped Chickadee, Rock Pigeon, House Sparrow, Mallard, Gadwall, Shoveler, Northern Mockingbird - Of Note

Observation: With Dad off in Majorca (see previous posts) me and my sister headed off to America. The trip which we had been planning and saving for over 18 months had finally arrived, the trip involved 7 flights and 5 states over the course of 2 weeks. I set an aim of 1 new bird for each state we visited (as I wasn't going actually going birding and didn't have my 400mm or binoculars with me). All images and wildlife seen were photographed with my Canon 7D and Canon 18-135mm lens ONLY so excuse some of the images.

First stop off was New York City, places visited included Liberty Island, DUMBO Park and of course a day in Central Park (would have been rude not to!)

I caught the boat across from Battery Point to Liberty Island, and there was an abundance of Laughing Gulls, Ring-Billed Gulls and Greater Black Backed Gulls. A few smaller birds including Common Grackle and Blue Jay's also around the Island.

The same day I visited DUMBO Park across the Brooklyn Bridge to do some night pictures (I'll include these at the end of the blog). Whilst I was waiting for Sunset, a quick search of some new ticks was in order. Within minutes I spotted this adult Grey Catbird feeding this single Juvenile. When the adult had left I moved around but couldn't find a better angle (They were well hidden in the bushes and the other side of a large fence).

Here's the Juvenile in between feeds.

I settled down on some rocks as Sunset approached and this little one hopped down in front of me, my first new tick! A Common Yellowthroat (Female).

With my aim achieved for this state and on the first day I was very happy!

We visited Washington DC for a day trip via the Amtrak service. Just past the Capitol Building I heard a small woodpecker type call to look up and distantly see this....
White-Breasted Nuthatch. My second new tick again within hours of arriving!

(I promise the Nuthatch is in the picture!)

With my aim achieved once again, I decided to improve some of my previous ticks.

This moulting Blue Jay was more than happy to pose for a few shots!

American Robin's seem to always been in groups when feeding, unlike ours?

Now back in New York for a final day, this was the one day I was allowed to go birding in Central Park (was on holiday with a non-birder!).

At the Boating Lake, this moulting Red Cardinal is always a highlight to see, so camouflaged for such a bright bird!

I sat for a short break in a sheltered area, where someone had put some oat flakes down on the rocks. Within minutes of settling, 4 Mourning Doves landed to take advantage of the oat flakes.

This one seemed to be confused by the sound of the shutter!

The blue ring around the eye indicates they are Adults.

I walked around the Reservoir which is located on the northern part of Central Park in the hope of some new water birds.

A few Double-Crested Cormorants were present.

A bit of a surprise find, Pied Billed Grebe! It was fishing further out but seemed to come right into the shoreline to pose for the pictures!

The Terrapins were taking advantage of the sunny weather.

I was a little disappointed that I hadn't seen any Red-Tailed Hawks this time until I heard the familiar call which sounds like our Buzzard and looked up to find this....

It seemed to be very happy with the catch of a Grey Squirrel!

Next up on our travels was Buffalo (Niagara Falls). We stayed on the American side and enjoyed the Falls!

In Niagara Statepark, I was amazed to find some Black Squirrel's, I asked and they advised these are common and also have the Grey Squirrels and also Yellow Squirrels within the park!

I come across a group of Black-Capped Chickadee high in the trees, they were very much like our Coal Tits but alot larger! Another new tick for me!

So far the trip was going extremely well, with 3 new ticks (1 in each place).

In the next blog, I visit Los Angeles, San Francisco and a final few days in New York.

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