Shawangunk Birds

Sherry Felix

We went on a field trip with the Linnaean Society of New York. I got to see many of my old friends. It was below freezing on Saturday, March 6 at the Shawangunk Grasslands NWR in Ulster county, New York. Formerly the Galeville Military Airport, it was decommissioned in 1994 and turned over to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service in 1999. It serves as a waypoint for grassland-dependent migratory birds. Area: 0.84 sq mi (2.2 km²).

The hawks were seen at great distance. More to come…

  • American Kestrel (Falco sparverius), Shawangunk Grasslands NWR 3/6/2021
  • Shawangunk Grasslands NWR 3/6/2021
  • Rough-legged Hawk (Buteo lagopus), Shawangunk Grasslands NWR 3/6/2021
  • Northern Harrier (Circus cyanus), Shawangunk Grasslands NWR 3/6/2021
  • Common Redpoll (Acanthis flammea), Shawangunk Grasslands NWR 3/6/2021
  • Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus), Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) and Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis), Shawangunk Grasslands NWR 3/6/2021
  • American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) and House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus), Shawangunk Grasslands NWR 3/6/2021
  • Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus), Shawangunk Grasslands NWR 3/6/2021
  • Northern Harrier (Circus cyanus), Shawangunk Grasslands NWR 3/6/2021
  • Northern Harrier (Circus cyanus), Shawangunk Grasslands NWR 3/6/2021
  • Shawangunk Grasslands NWR 3/6/2021

11 thoughts on “Shawangunk Birds”

  1. doerfpub 2021-03-09 / 10:32 am

    A good collection of sightings – redpolls still on my list to track down!

    Reply
    • Sherry Felix 2021-03-10 / 6:29 am

      Most years I never get to see redpolls. This year I missed out on crossbills and a winter owls. Doesn’t matter to me. I am happy seeing birds of any sort.

      Reply
  2. Anne Lazarus 2021-03-09 / 6:55 am

    These pictures are a beautiful memory of the trip. The redpolls , bluebirds, chickadee and more bring it to life. No other trip posted has E Bluebirds and C Redpolls, unique to this trip. The other pictures are lovely also.

    Reply
    • Sherry Felix 2021-03-09 / 7:13 am

      Thank you Anne. You are such a good trip leader.

      Reply
  3. shoreacres 2021-03-09 / 6:49 am

    We’re sharing Chickadees just now; they’re one of my favorite birds. The House Finch stays here, although the Goldfinches move on in spring. (The Kestrel didn’t load for me, either.)

    Reply
    • Sherry Felix 2021-03-09 / 7:20 am

      Thanks. This is the last of the winter birds this month. I reloaded the kestrel.

      Reply
      • shoreacres 2021-03-09 / 7:27 am

        There it is! We have these in winter (at least, I’ve only seen them in winter). They’re a beautiful bird. I think I read that they’re the smallest of our falcons.

        Reply
  4. derrickjknight 2021-03-09 / 3:59 am

    A good set. The American Kestrel didn’t load on mine

    Reply
  5. Sue 2021-03-09 / 3:43 am

    Wonderful!

    Reply

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