Have you ever wondered what the scenery looks like at The New York Botanical Garden, Pelham Bay Park, Turtle Cove, 23rd street, City Island, Turtle Cove, Central Park or any of the other birding areas in NYC? These are my birding hot spots.
The New York Botanical Garden
The New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) is a birding paradise all year round. The 250 acre living museum is located in the northwest Bronx and is open six days a week. It is closed on Monday. The garden has water falls, ponds, lakes and the Bronx River. There are meadows, fields, rocky areas, and a beautiful forest. It is located on the Mid-Atlantic Flyway a path for migrating birds. Warblers, sparrows, hawks and even shorebirds find their way to the garden and stop over. With over 200 species of birds visiting yearly it is one of the best birding hot spots in NYC. I lead Bird Tours every Saturday at 11am. Meet at the Reflecting Pond.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
City Island, Hart Island, Twin Island and Pelham Bay Park
City Island/Pelham Bay ParkCity Island is a one mile island located right off the coast of the Bronx and Westchester. It is a quaint fishing village with quirky shops and resident artists and musicians. Each block on the island has its own private beach and from these beaches you can spot some pretty good birds. On the north side of the island facing Hart Island you can see many different water fowl and shorebirds. On the south side of the island, gulls dominate and occasionally an uncommon bird or hawk will fly off the landfill at Pelham Parkway towards the island.
Pelham Bay Park is one of the largest parks in New York City and has beautiful glacial rock formations on its northern tip. Harbor Seals dot the surf in the winter and great blue herons promenade during the summer. It is still a wild place with owls coming to roost during the winter months. There are many trails leading to Hunter Island, Twin Islands and other areas. It is always advisable to bird with a friend when on these trails. Many of the off path areas can lead to quick sand or sinking mud, gnarly vine patches and other natural hazards. |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bartow Pell Mansion
Bartow Pell Mansion is located between City Island and Pelham Manor on Shore Road. It is in Pelham Bay Park and across from the Split Rock Golf Range. Nestled between the woods and rocky shoreline of the lagoon at Orchard Beach, the Mansion attracts an array of birds throughout all four seasons. In winter, it is a haven for owls. Barred, saw-whet, long eared, and great horned owls frequently visit the Mansion. The open water attracts ducks, such as bufflehead, widgeons, black, scaup, redhead, goldeneye and more. During the spring migration, the area is filled with the songs of warblers in the woods and in the meadow. Summer brings nesting and the raising of young. Orioles, blue gray gnatcatchers, brown thrashers, flycatchers and some warblers nest in the area. Shorebirds are also attracted to the brackish water pond in back of the Mansion and the lagoon. Great blue herons, egrets, little blue herons, gulls, terns, and ibis all walk the rocky shores picking at the mussels and crabs. In the fall we see osprey, eagles, falcons and returning warblers accompanying flocks of sparrows; white crowned, vesper, clay, savannah and more.
Bartow Pell is truly a birding paradise all year round. |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Turtle Cove, Pelham Bay Park
Some of the best birds I have spotted were observed from the path at Turtle Cove. Sparrows, buntings, kingbirds, orioles, kingfishers, osprey, falcons, ravens, flickers, wrens, clapper rails and sandpipers all love the marshy areas of Turtle Cove. Hidden in the reeds are a vast array of birds - all year long. It was along the path we found the red headed woodpecker - a truly amazing bird! If you wear insect repellent and don't mind blazing heat or freezing cold then Turtle Cove will reward you every time you visit!
|