Spring Birding on the US East Coast

Located at the mouth of the Hudson River, New York lies on the Atlantic Flyway. In New York, travel is mainly via the public transport system, as we explore Central Park, Brooklyn, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge and other areas of the city. Central Park covers over 840 acres in the centre of New York City and typically records over 210 species of birds each year. Many species live there all year round; however, it’s also an important feeding and resting point for spring and autumn migrants due to its diverse range of habitats. During the spring migration, we are looking out for North American warblers, vireos, grosbeaks, tanagers, flycatchers, kinglets and cuckoos, as well as other passerines, along with waders and other waterbirds. The North Woods take up 40 acres and include a series of pools, which provide bathing and drinking opportunities. The Ramble is a wooded area that is one of the main places for birdwatching in the park, as feeders draw birds in. The Hallett Nature Sanctuary and the pond lie in the south-east corner of the park. The Hallett was closed for many years and only re-opened to the public in 2013 after extensive renovations. The pond sits alongside Fifth Avenue, with a backdrop of some of the city’s striking skyscrapers. It attracts a number of waterbirds and it’s also an area where you may spot Red-tailed Hawks, which nest in the trees along the road.

Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge is around 20 square miles of saltmarsh, mudflat, open water and woodlands. Over 300 species of birds have been recorded here, including flycatchers, warblers, terns, shorebirds and waders; it’s considered to be one of the best places in the area to go for migrating birds. During the spring months, American Woodcocks perform their courtship displays. Diamond-back Terrapin, butterflies, moths and wildflowers can all be seen here too. Two large, manmade ponds, called East and West Ponds, contain brackish water and the East Pond has the ability for the water levels to be manipulated throughout the year, so it provides excellent feeding grounds for migrating waders. The visitor centre has a small exhibition about the reserve and what can be seen there.

Another site that may be visited is Prospect Park in Brooklyn. It is one of the key spots to look for migrating songbirds during the spring, and such species as Myrtle or Yellow-rumped, Black-throated Green, Pine, Parula and Yellow-throated Warblers, Red-winged Blackbirds and vireos.

Cape May also lies along the Atlantic Flyway, but a little further to the south. It’s in an advantageous position for birds to arrive at after, or depart from for, the crossing of Delaware Bay, with many stopping here during their journey. Despite being on a similar latitude to Madrid, spring arrives quite late here. Optional early morning excursions are the best time to look for recently arrived warblers, including Cape May, Chestnut-sided, Blackburnian and Black-and-white Warblers. From our accommodation in the resort town of Cape May, we will visit a number of key birding sites, the exact ones varying with the conditions on the day. Among these will be Cape May Bird Observatory, Cape May Point State Park, ‘The Beanery’ and Sunset Point.

Cape May Point State Park is near the lighthouse and is a fantastic area to look for the swallows and Purple Martins that use the nest boxes here. The grassy areas are good for American Robin, while the bushes near the car park may yield Blackpoll or Myrtle Warblers. The park covers over 200 acres, including coastal dunes, woods, ponds and meadows. With so much area to cover, it’s likely that we will visit more than once. Cedar Waxwings are possible in the treetops and Eastern Phoebe dart out to catch flies. Along the beach there may be Least and Forster’s Terns, while waders, such as Least Sandpiper, Killdeer and Greater Yellowlegs, can be found in the pools, and flocks of Red-winged Blackbirds display amongst the marshes.

The Beanery is a small area of flooded forest where we could find Green Heron and Red-eyed Vireo. This used to be part of a lima bean farm but is now managed by the local Audubon group as a birdwatching site. Due to its location and shelter belt of trees, it can be one of the warmest places in the Cape May area, which encourages migrants to linger in the hedges. Out at Sunset Point we’ll look out for various ducks and passing seabirds, if the conditions are right. Continuing along the eastern shore of Delaware Bay, there are various places that are excellent to look for shorebirds, such as Red Knot, Ruddy Turnstone and Laughing Gull. High tide roosts could contain Semipalmated Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher, Dunlin, Grey Plover, both Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Least Sandpiper and more. Pairs of Bald Eagles can sometimes be found keeping a close eye on these large flocks of birds. Inland lies the Belleplain State Forest, a large, managed, mixed woodland where we can look for more localised species, such as Worm-eating Warblers, flycatchers and possibly Ruby-throated Hummingbirds or Louisiana Waterthrush, among many others.

Both of these tours offer an excellent opportunity for spring birding in North America, and it’s possible to combine the two tours to allow for a further selection of species to be seen.