SEASONAL SPOTS FOR FALL BIRDING
THE place to be on Long Island during fall hawk migration!! The watch platform is staffed by volunteers from the Fire Island Raptor Enumerators from Sept. 10 - Nov. 10.
Driving directions: Proceed south on Robert Moses Parkway, over the bridge to Robert Moses State Park. From the water tower circle (check for PG), proceed East to parking lot #5. From the NE corner of the lot, walk east toward the lighthouse. We watch from the highest point near the road barriers.
Hard place to find, but well worth the effort. Great place for warblers, tanagers, thrushes! Dirt road leading in, but recently kept in fairly good order (may not be good after rains). Fairly isolated, so as much as I hate to say it...women should probably not go alone.
Directions: Sunrise Highway to Route 51 north toward Riverhead/Eastport. Go exactly 3.0 miles and look for dirt road leading into woods on west side of Route 51. (There is a median cross-over directly at that point. If you reach Suffolk Community College you have gone too far.) If you are going north on Route 51, the dirt road is directly past the sign that says "Town of Riverhead/ Eastport".
Great place to bird during fall migration; also for incoming ducks. Wide, well kept trails with a wide variety of habitats; fields, marsh, woods and beach.
Parking is limited and access is due to the good graces of the Boy Scout Camp. So, be respectful and do not go in large groups. Best time to go is during the week when the camp is not in session.
Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge,
Quickly becoming one of my favorite places. A great place to watch and study bird behavior. Bird watching during the spring and fall migrations allows you to view a variety of birds including raptors, waterfowl and songbirds. Many wonderful overlooks (water and fields). The paths are wide and well maintained and there is a great handicapped accessible trail.
Located off Montauk Highway in Shirley.
For information call 718-318-4340. Open all year, 7 days, sunrise to sunset.
Visitor's Center: 8:30 to 5:00.
Excellent Waterfowl viewing due to freshwater ponds and tidal marshes. In the fields Short-eared Owls, Horned Larks, Snow Bunting. At East Pond Scaup, Brant, Mergansers & Canvasbacks. Marsh & bay south of West Pond are good for Buffleheads, Black Ducks, Grebes, Scaup and sometimes Clapper Rails.
And don't forget the feeders near the Visitor's Center.
Nice nature trail, and great observation platform overlooking the marshes. Lots of great wading birds!
Also available at the preserve are two large picnic areas, a large meeting room for classes, restrooms, a marina and fishing dock. During spring to early fall, hours are 9 am to 11 pm. For information, call (516) 571-8685
Oceanside Marine Nature Study Area
Great Saltmarsh areas, comfortable walking on boardwalks. Great looks at all kinds of wading birds, with an Osprey nest and possilbe Rail sightings.
253 bird species have been recorded there.
The preserve is closed Sundays, Mondays and holidays. On other days, it is open 9 am to 5 pm. Bring insect protection. For further information, call 516) 766-1500. Their address is 500 Slice Drive, Oceanside, NY 11572.
Connetquot River State Park Preserve
for information call (631) 581-1005
"Connetquot River State Park Preserve covers 3,400 acres of woodlands, and wetlands with the Connetquot River flowing through park. This park was once a hunting and fishing preserve for wealthy individuals. The park has fifty miles of trails and several ponds that make for great bird watching, Some of the birds that can be seen here are Common Bobwhites, Ruffed Grouse, Wild Turkey, Blue Jays, Great Crested Flycatcher, Woodcocks, Piloted Woodpeckers, Blue-Winged, Prairie, Chestnut-Sided, and Canada Warbler. Toward evening listen for Whip-poor-wills. The magnificent Wood Duck nest here. Hermit Thrushes, Veeries, White-eyed Vireos, and Ring-necked Pheasants add to the wonder of this location. Be sure to look the Ospreys that hunt over the river."
Located along the Atlantic Flyway for North American bird migration, Prospect Park has been designated as an Important Birding Area in New York State by the National Audubon Society. Around 200 species of birds can be spotted in the Park seasonally. The Park’s significant native and migratory bird population contributed to it being selected as the site for the nation’s first urban Audubon Center, opened in April 2002.
Visit these two places together. They are close to each other and make for a great birding day!
Forest Park, 538 acres of trees and fields, is a jewel of a park in Queens, New York, bordering the neighborhoods of Richmond Hill, Kew Gardens, Forest Hills, Glendale, and Woodhaven. Check out “the waterhole” area for migrating birds during spring time.
