Fall Birds at The Battery - Woodpeckers, Warblers and Sparrows

You can experience Battery Park at its most peaceful time during early morning walks with expert birder and naturalist, Gabriel Willow. Despite ongoing construction to raise the edge of the waterfront to prevent flooding from rising sea levels and climate change, birds still live in the park’s woodland areas, and many migrating birds are stopping by on their journeys to southern wintering grounds. 

Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers are woodpeckers that make holes in the bark of trees to release sweet sap that they lap up with their long tongues, along with any insects attracted to the sap. 

 Northern Flickers are also woodpeckers and they will look for insects in the bark of trees too, as well as on the ground. 

And for the first time I saw a Red-bellied Woodpecker at The Battery, even though some of them stay in the area all year. The red is more noticeable on its head than its belly, though.

 

There haven’t been as many migratory warblers this season as I hoped for, maybe because of the wind and weather patterns. 

Still there have been many of the regulars, especially around the Labyrinth.

An Ovenbird crept around on the ground in the Labyrinth.

 Along with a Palm Warbler.

While a male Common Yellowthroat climbed on the Labyrinth fence. 

A Black-and-white Warbler hunted for insects on the Atlas Cedar in the Labyrinth.

 

Plus a Cape May Warbler.

 

And an American Redstart 

 

A tiny Ruby-crowned Kinglet flitted around.

 

A Baltimore Oriole was inconspicuous in drab winter feathers.

 

While a young Hermit Thrush scratched below in the leaves.

Throughout the city parks, White-throated Sparrows are arriving to stay for the winter.  

 

Along with Song Sparrows.

 

And a Brown Creeper that was creeping along a tree trunk - well-camouflaged except from the side, when you could see its light belly. 

It's been a good group to hang out with!

An October Walk at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge

Monarch Butterfly on Seaside Goldenrod

On October 5, we went on a walk with Jamaica Bay Guardian Don Riepe, from the American Littoral Society. It was a lovely fall day, not too windy, but we only saw a few migrating monarch butterflies. And one Common Buckeye. I learned that they also migrate to the southern states as the weather gets colder. 

Common Buckeye butterfly

Meanwhile, back at the Visitors Center there were butterfly-related activities led by Wing Kong, a local environmental artist and educator (wingny.com). She brought an enclosure with monarch butterflies and chrysalises to show participants, and then later released a newly emerged butterfly near the Pollinator Garden.

Wing Kong 

There was a large flock of Snowy Egrets gathered around the West Pond, resting for a while before resuming their journey south.

And Canada Geese flew by as well. 

Over at the East Pond, we saw a large collection of ducks, including the large billed Northern Shovelers.  

And Ruddy Ducks

Plus American Black Ducks.

 

Also Pied-billed Grebes were diving close by. 

A great day at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, right here in New York City.