10,000 Birds

MARCH 25, 2012

At the end of a half-morning’s birding I stopped at the south end of the Cross Bay Bridge, just north of Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge in Queens, New York. Though they seem to be learning from other geese and often feed on plain old grass like a Canada Goose.)

New York 198

New York North America Geese Jamaica 198

10,000 Birds

MARCH 6, 2011

Corey encountered a bunch of winners, but 24 Common Redpolls at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, in almost the exact same spot he saw them a couple of years ago, feeding on birch inflorescence by the East Pond, were easily his best birds of the weekend. However, I’ll bestow that honor upon my first local Common Grackles of spring.

2011 156

2011 New York Deer Birds 156

10,000 Birds

MARCH 11, 2011

Other birds with webbed feet, including ducks and geese, have only three webbed toes; the hallux (which in birds is usually the “hind toe&# and in humans, the “big toe&# ) is free. Feeding Frenzy at Jamaica Bay.Or That is to say, all four of their toes are webbed. What you “know&# is probably wrong!

2011 155

2011 Pelicans Papua New Guinea Birds 155

10,000 Birds

APRIL 5, 2016

Ducks, swans, and geese may initially appear easy to identify. I started out my birding life sitting on Benches 2 and 7 at the Jamaica Bay NWR West Pond, my Peterson’s in my lap, studying Green-winged Teal, Northern Shovelers, and the occasional Pintail. Or, for an increasing number of birders, an “interesting hybrid.”.

North America 161

North America Asia Europe America 161

10,000 Birds

MARCH 13, 2011

The Snow Geese at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge will soon be winging their way north, so he spent some quality time with them, his best birds of the weekend. Moved by an unseasonable bout of optimism, I went owl-chasing this weekend and actually encountered what has been a true nemesis bird for me: Northern Saw-whet Owl !

2011 133

2011 Deer Birds Owls 133