SEASONAL SPOTS FOR WINTER BIRDING
Montauk Point
Wonderful for winter birding. Ducks and pelagic birds can be seen at the lakes and from the concession stand near the Lighthouse. Here's two sites with further information:
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."
Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge
Bird watching here during the summer allows for great nest watching opportunities. Nesting birds found here are Osprey, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Ovenbird, Phoebes, Great-crested Flycatchers, Black & White Warblers and many others
Located off Montauk Highway in Shirley.
Massapequa Preserve, Massapequa
Southern State Parkway to Exit 30, south on Broadway. Park in Massapequa LIRR lot.
(click here for more information)
The preserve is a long strip of green bordered by a stream with five different ponds. The largest pond is wide and deep, and some of the smaller ponds are marshy and shallow. These different habitats draw a wide variety of waterfowl. The wooded areas along the stream and ponds also provide cover for wintering sparrows and passerines. Look for: Gadwalls, Shovelers, Mergansers, Widgeons, Yellowlegs, Snipe, Teal, Dowitcher, White Throated Sparrows, Winter & Carolina Wrens, Yellow Rumped Warblers, & many others.
WINTER WATERFOWL ON LI
North Fork "Ducking"
(with Jody)
Great places to view winter
waterfowl on the North Fork.
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.
For information call 631)854-3713. Open all year, 7 days.
Excellent Waterfowl viewing: From the Row Boat Dock on Stump Pond look for Northern Shoveler, Wood Duck, American Wigeon, Hooded Merganser, Ruddy Duck, Lesser Scuap, Ring-necked Duck, Bufflehead, Pied-billed Grebe, Great Cormorant, and American Coot. Also, north side of the pond look for Dark-eyed Junco, White-throatd Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Downey Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Black-capped Chickadee. Tufted Titmouse and nuthatches.
Directions: From Route 25 go south on Old Willets Road to Route 347 turn left (east) to the entrance of the park on the North side of the road.
Another great place for winter ducks. Located in a residential area, parking is on the side of the road. Mergansers, Widgeons, Teal, Ruddys, Grebes, Buffleheads are all common here. A good place to check out on a regular basis. Scope is helpfull here.
Location: East side of New Suffolk Avenue in Mattituck.
Ducks and easy to view. Lake not that big so ducks are within easy sight. Located in residential area with nice, but small, parking area. Mergansers, Coots, Scaup, Canvasbacks, Pintails, Shovelers...and others.
Location: Swan Drive off Montauk Highway across from Swan Bakery.
And while in Patchogue, don't forget to visit the ponds on Roe Blvd. (off of, and west of, Route 112)
Go here for more Winter Birding Spots
Recommended by John Turner,
naturalist and author of
"Exploring the Other Island"
