A late‑winter work trip to New Jersey turned into a chilly coastal run for alcids, gulls, and wintering ducks. From the snowy boardwalks of DeKorte Park to the windswept beaches of Long Island, this weekend delivered classic Northeast cold‑weather birding — complete with sea ducks, sparrows, and a few surprises along the way.
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Early‑Morning Birding at DeKorte Park
When I’m in Clifton, I always get up early to visit Richard DeKorte Park. The park features beautiful boardwalks and an incredible view of the New York City skyline. This time of year is fantastic for waterfowl, and we saw eight species of ducks, three types of mergansers (Common, Red-breasted, and Hooded), and a Mute Swan. We also found five mostly northern sparrows: White-crowned, White-throated, Dark-eyed Junco, Song, and my favorite, the American Tree Sparrow, which we rarely get to see.
A Snowy Start in Manhattan
After work on Friday, we arrived at our hotel in Midtown Manhattan at the same time—amazing, since I took the train from Newark and Mike flew up from Florida after a half-day of work. Following a lovely dinner at the R Lounge, where we watched a light snowfall on Times Square, we hit the sack early to rest up for the busy weekend ahead.
A Snowy Weekend on Long Island
Saturday morning, we drove through Central Park, which was beautiful under a fresh blanket of snow. The beach at our first stop, Point Lookout, was also stunning. Here, we found a mixed raft of Brant and Long-Tailed Ducks, and on the beach were at least 20 American Oystercatchers. Our next stop was Jones Beach State Park, where we saw more ducks, a few Black Scoters, and various shorebirds. Unfortunately, we missed the reported Snowy Owl that was apparently chased away by a photographer who lacked proper birding etiquette.
Lunch was some really good New York pizza, followed by a stop at Suffolk County Park, where we saw 75 Ruddy Ducks and a pair of Mute Swans. Continuing to West Hampton Beach, we ended up at Cupsoque Park, where we scoped the marsh and found American Black Ducks, Dunlin, and several types of gulls. We also had great views of a seal swimming close to us along the inlet. One more stop at the Shinnecock Inlet yielded a Common Eider and a Red-breasted Merganser just before sunset.
We checked into our room at the Inn Spot on the Bay in Hampton Bays. The accommodations were very nice with an excellent waterfront view. They also have an awesome on-site restaurant where we enjoyed a fine meal before hitting the sack early once again. Birders have to get up early, just like the birds do!
Montauk Point and the Eastern Tip of Long Island
Sunday morning, we headed to Montauk Point, the easternmost point on the South Fork of Long Island. We had stunning views from atop the cliffs on a clear, crisp morning. In the relatively calm waves below, we saw Surf, Black, and White-winged Scoters. In the nearby woods, we found American Robins and American Tree Sparrows. The lighthouse at Montauk is one of the most impressive we have ever seen. During a quick stop at Lake Montauk Inlet, we found two Great Cormorants, a bird that is rarely seen in Florida. At our next stop in Napeague Harbor, we saw more Common Eiders, Mergansers, and a pair of Red-throated Loons.
Final Stops Before Heading Home
On the way back west, we stopped in Riverfront, NY, for a delicious lunch at Jerry and the Mermaid. At the marina just outside the restaurant, we were lucky enough to spot a group of Hooded Mergansers, one of our favorite waterfowl species.
Just before heading to LaGuardia Airport, we made our final stop at Flushing Meadows Park, the historic site of the 1964 World’s Fair, where some of the original structures are still intact. The lake and grounds were loaded with Brant, Canada Geese, and Mallards, as well as a few Mute Swans.
It was a cold, beautiful weekend of Northeast birding, from snowy city parks to the open Atlantic. With sea ducks, sparrows, gulls, and a few species we rarely see in Florida, this trip added depth and variety to our 2015 list — and reminded us why winter birding in New York is always worth the layers.
Trip Totals: 55 species • 26 year birds • 0 life birds
2015 Totals: 160 year birds • 5 life birds
Next up: Spring Migration Meets Duck Dynasty
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