A Good Couple of Days

~My first Eastern Kingbird of the year in Orange County, at Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge, 05/04/19.~

The last couple of days were very busy birding-wise, with many birds moving into and through our area. On Friday after work I went to Sterling Forest State Park. I birded the Ironwood Drive area and I did pretty well, getting 15 new county birds for the year:

  • Eastern Whip-poor-will
  • Yellow-throated Vireo
  • Wood Thrush
  • Gray Catbird
  • Baltimore Oriole
  • Ovenbird
  • KENTUCKY WARBLER
  • Common Yellowthroat
  • Hooded Warbler
  • American Redstart
  • Cerulean Warbler
  • Black-throated Blue Warbler
  • Prairie Warbler
  • Scarlet Tanager
  • Rose-breasted Grosbeak
~Wood Thrush at Pochuck Mountain State Forest, 05/04/19. Photo by Linda Scrima.~

This morning I met up with Linda Scrima and we birded Pochuck Mountain State Forest. It was a slow start, but then it got pretty busy; at times it was hard to know which bird to look at there were so many. We had a total of 37 species; highlights included my FOY Great-crested Flycatchers and Veery, Scarlet Tanagers, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, and 10 Species of Warbler:

  • Ovenbird
  • Worm-eating Warbler (FOY)
  • Black-and-white Warbler
  • American Redstart
  • Northern Parula (FOY)
  • Magnolia Warbler (FOY)
  • Black-throated Blue Warbler
  • Yellow-rumped Warbler
  • Prairie Warbler
  • Black-throated Green Warbler
~Scarlet Tanager at Pochuck Mountain SF, 05/04/19.~
~Yellow-rumped Warbler at the Route 207 Marsh at Stewart Forest, 05/04/19.~

Afterwards, we went over to the Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge. Highlights included my first Orange County Eastern Kingbirds of the year, a flyover of 2 SANDHILL CRANES, hearing a couple of SORA calling, and a handful of shorebirds (Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Solitary Sandpiper, Wilson’s Snipe, and Killdeer).

~It was nice to see the Sandhill Cranes at Wallkill River NWR, 05/04/19.~

I spent the afternoon trying to find more shorebirds. At the Camel Farm I had more yellowlegs and although they were distant, I believe I had 3 Pectoral Sandpipers. On Lynch Avenue in the black dirt I had the same shorebirds that we had at Wallkill River NWR, plus I added my FOY Spotted Sandpiper. My final stop was at Stewart Forest; I stopped quickly at Ridge Road (one Solitary and one Spotted), and then spent some time at the 207 Marsh, where there were many shorebirds present, but I did not add any new species.

For the day today, I added 9 more county year birds – that’s a total of 24 new birds in 2 days, which sure makes for some fun birding.

~Greater Yellowlegs at Lynch Avenue in the black dirt, 05/04/19.~
~Here’s a nice comparison of a Greater Yellowlegs and a Lesser Yellowlegs, in flight at Wallkill River NWR, 05/04/19.~

4 thoughts on “A Good Couple of Days”

  1. Sounds like a marvelous couple of days of birding and photography, Matt. Such a great photo of the Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs in side-by-side flight!

    1. The birding was great for sure… the photography I’m not so sure about, lol. I do like that yellowlegs photo – it’s always great to see them side by side. Matt

  2. Picked up 19 yr. birds on Fri and Sat . Learned of the Wilson’s Plover at Sea Brightsnd was able to get it with little difficulty. Had sen the bird once before in the south but not in New Jersey . Had 7 Rose Breasted Grossbeak at a feeder on Friday
    Bruce

    1. That’s a good bird for NJ for sure! They were one of my favorites in Texas. On Friday night I watched 5 Rose-breasted Grosbeaks settle in for the night in a bush at Sterling Forest, it was sweet. Good to hear from you.

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