2020 The Year in Birds

This was a super low year thanks to quarantine. I finished the year with 197 species, less than I’ve seen probably since I started counting. I never left New York City and rarely left Brooklyn. I didn’t even get to Jamaica Bay. Nonetheless I did get one life bird in 2020, a King Eider that was hanging out at the Brooklyn Army Terminal pier in December.

Besides the Eider, I added five birds to my Kings County list including:

  • A Western Tanager that spent a week or so in Greenwood Cemetery.
  • A Short-eared Owl flying around the Fountain Ave. Landfill on the Christmas Bird Count
  • Cliff Swallows that nested at Canarsie Beach Park under the Belt Parkway
  • A Harlequin Duck at Sheepshead Bay early in the year

    Complete year list follows:

    1. Canada Goose 01 Jan 2020 Prospect Park
    2. Mallard 01 Jan 2020 Prospect Park
    3. Mourning Dove 01 Jan 2020 Prospect Park
    4. American Coot 01 Jan 2020 Prospect Park
    5. Red-bellied Woodpecker 01 Jan 2020 Prospect Park
    6. Downy Woodpecker 01 Jan 2020 Prospect Park
    7. Blue Jay 01 Jan 2020 Prospect Park
    8. Tufted Titmouse 01 Jan 2020 Prospect Park
    9. Ruby-crowned Kinglet 01 Jan 2020 Prospect Park
    10. Carolina Wren 01 Jan 2020 Prospect Park
    11. Varied Thrush 01 Jan 2020 Prospect Park
    12. House Finch 01 Jan 2020 Prospect Park
    13. Dark-eyed Junco 01 Jan 2020 Prospect Park
    14. White-throated Sparrow 01 Jan 2020 Prospect Park
    15. Red-winged Blackbird 01 Jan 2020 Prospect Park
    16. Northern Cardinal 01 Jan 2020 Prospect Park
    17. Snow Goose 03 Jan 2020 Randalls Island–saltmarsh and backstop 42 vicinity
    18. Brant 03 Jan 2020 Randalls Island–saltmarsh and backstop 42 vicinity
    19. Northern Shoveler 03 Jan 2020 Randalls Island–saltmarsh and backstop 42 vicinity
    20. Gadwall 03 Jan 2020 Randalls Island–saltmarsh and backstop 42 vicinity
    21. Rock Pigeon 03 Jan 2020 Randalls Island–saltmarsh and backstop 42 vicinity
    22. Ring-billed Gull 03 Jan 2020 Randalls Island–saltmarsh and backstop 42 vicinity
    23. Great Blue Heron 03 Jan 2020 Randalls Island–saltmarsh and backstop 42 vicinity
    24. Cooper’s Hawk 03 Jan 2020 Randalls Island–saltmarsh and backstop 42 vicinity
    25. Peregrine Falcon 03 Jan 2020 Randalls Island–saltmarsh and backstop 42 vicinity
    26. American Black Duck 04 Jan 2020 Brooklyn Bridge Park–Pier 1
    27. Northern Flicker 04 Jan 2020 Brooklyn Bridge Park–Pier 1
    28. European Starling 04 Jan 2020 Brooklyn Bridge Park–Pier 1
    29. Northern Mockingbird 04 Jan 2020 Brooklyn Bridge Park–Pier 1
    30. House Sparrow 04 Jan 2020 Brooklyn Bridge Park–Pier 1
    31. Mute Swan 05 Jan 2020 Sheepshead Bay
    32. Greater Scaup 05 Jan 2020 Sheepshead Bay
    33. Lesser Scaup 05 Jan 2020 Sheepshead Bay
    34. Harlequin Duck 05 Jan 2020 Sheepshead Bay
    35. Bufflehead 05 Jan 2020 Sheepshead Bay
    36. Red-breasted Merganser 05 Jan 2020 Sheepshead Bay
    37. Herring Gull 05 Jan 2020 Sheepshead Bay
    38. Iceland Gull 05 Jan 2020 Sheepshead Bay
    39. Great Black-backed Gull 05 Jan 2020 Sheepshead Bay
    40. Double-crested Cormorant 05 Jan 2020 Sheepshead Bay
    41. American Crow 05 Jan 2020 Sheepshead Bay
    42. Red-tailed Hawk 05 Jan 2020 Brooklyn Bridge Park–Pier 5
    43. Common Raven 05 Jan 2020 Brooklyn Bridge Park–Pier 5
    44. American Robin 05 Jan 2020 Brooklyn Bridge Park–Pier 5
    45. Song Sparrow 05 Jan 2020 Brooklyn Bridge Park–Pier 5
    46. Yellow-rumped Warbler 05 Jan 2020 Brooklyn Bridge Park–Pier 5
    47. Surf Scoter 11 Jan 2020 Coney Island Beach
    48. Black Scoter 11 Jan 2020 Coney Island Beach
    49. Long-tailed Duck 11 Jan 2020 Coney Island Beach
    50. Hooded Merganser 11 Jan 2020 Coney Island Beach
    51. Ruddy Duck 11 Jan 2020 Coney Island Beach
    52. Purple Sandpiper 11 Jan 2020 Coney Island Beach
    53. Red-throated Loon 11 Jan 2020 Coney Island Beach
    54. Common Loon 11 Jan 2020 Coney Island Beach
    55. Northern Gannet 11 Jan 2020 Coney Island Beach
    56. American Kestrel 11 Jan 2020 Coney Island Beach
    57. Pied-billed Grebe 29 Jan 2020 Central Park–Tennis Center and vicinity
    58. Common Grackle 29 Jan 2020 Central Park–Tennis Center and vicinity
    59. Redhead 01 Feb 2020 Coney Island Beach
    60. Common Goldeneye 01 Feb 2020 Coney Island Beach
    61. Sanderling 01 Feb 2020 Coney Island Beach
    62. Razorbill 01 Feb 2020 Coney Island Beach
    63. Lesser Black-backed Gull 01 Feb 2020 Coney Island Beach
    64. Fish Crow 01 Feb 2020 Coney Island Beach
    65. Boat-tailed Grackle 05 Feb 2020 Central Park–Tennis Center and vicinity
    66. Painted Bunting 17 Feb 2020 Brooklyn Bridge Park
    67. American Wigeon 22 Feb 2020 Prospect Park
    68. American Goldfinch 22 Feb 2020 Prospect Park
    69. Brown-headed Cowbird 22 Feb 2020 Prospect Park
    70. Wood Duck 08 Mar 2020 Prospect Park
    71. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 09 Mar 2020 Prospect Park
    72. Hermit Thrush 09 Mar 2020 Prospect Park
    73. Hairy Woodpecker 14 Mar 2020 Prospect Park
    74. Eastern Phoebe 14 Mar 2020 Prospect Park
    75. Eastern Towhee 14 Mar 2020 Prospect Park
    76. Belted Kingfisher 15 Mar 2020 Prospect Park
    77. Black-capped Chickadee 18 Mar 2020 Prospect Park
    78. Golden-crowned Kinglet 18 Mar 2020 Prospect Park
    79. Pine Warbler 21 Mar 2020 Prospect Park
    80. American Woodcock 21 Mar 2020 Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn
    81. Monk Parakeet 21 Mar 2020 Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn
    82. European Goldfinch 26 Mar 2020 Prospect Park
    83. Fox Sparrow 27 Mar 2020 Prospect Park
    84. White-breasted Nuthatch 30 Mar 2020 Prospect Park
    85. Rusty Blackbird 30 Mar 2020 Prospect Park
    86. Tree Swallow 31 Mar 2020 Prospect Park, New York US-NY 40.67242, -73.96926
    87. Swamp Sparrow 06 Apr 2020 Prospect Park–Vale of Cashmere
    88. Louisiana Waterthrush 06 Apr 2020 Prospect Park–Vale of Cashmere
    89. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 08 Apr 2020 Prospect Park, New York US-NY 40.67242, -73.96926
    90. Palm Warbler 08 Apr 2020 Prospect Park, New York US-NY 40.67242, -73.96926
    91. Great Egret 14 Apr 2020 Prospect Park, New York US-NY 40.67242, -73.96926
    92. Northern Rough-winged Swallow 14 Apr 2020 Prospect Park, New York US-NY 40.67242, -73.96926
    93. Barn Swallow 14 Apr 2020 Prospect Park, New York US-NY 40.67242, -73.96926
    94. Laughing Gull 15 Apr 2020 Prospect Park, New York US-NY 40.67242, -73.96926
    95. Winter Wren 15 Apr 2020 Prospect Park, New York US-NY 40.67242, -73.96926
    96. Chipping Sparrow 15 Apr 2020 Prospect Park, New York US-NY 40.67242, -73.96926
    97. Black-crowned Night-Heron 21 Apr 2020 Prospect Park
    98. Field Sparrow 21 Apr 2020 Prospect Park
    99. Black-and-white Warbler 21 Apr 2020 Prospect Park
    100. Blue-headed Vireo 22 Apr 2020 Prospect Park
    101. Green Heron 25 Apr 2020 Prospect Park
    102. Northern Waterthrush 25 Apr 2020 Prospect Park
    103. Chimney Swift 28 Apr 2020 Prospect Park
    104. Turkey Vulture 28 Apr 2020 Prospect Park
    105. Warbling Vireo 28 Apr 2020 Prospect Park
    106. House Wren 28 Apr 2020 Prospect Park
    107. Gray Catbird 01 May 2020 Prospect Park
    108. Veery 01 May 2020 Prospect Park
    109. Ovenbird 01 May 2020 Prospect Park
    110. Wood Thrush 04 May 2020 Prospect Park
    111. Baltimore Oriole 04 May 2020 Prospect Park
    112. Common Yellowthroat 04 May 2020 Prospect Park
    113. Black-throated Blue Warbler 04 May 2020 Prospect Park
    114. Scarlet Tanager 04 May 2020 Prospect Park
    115. Hooded Warbler 06 May 2020 Prospect Park
    116. Northern Parula 06 May 2020 Prospect Park
    117. Rose-breasted Grosbeak 06 May 2020 Prospect Park
    118. Yellow Warbler 07 May 2020 Prospect Park
    119. Prairie Warbler 07 May 2020 Prospect Park
    120. Wilson’s Warbler 07 May 2020 Prospect Park
    121. Ruby-throated Hummingbird 08 May 2020 Prospect Park
    122. Red-eyed Vireo 08 May 2020 Prospect Park
    123. Lincoln’s Sparrow 08 May 2020 Prospect Park
    124. American Redstart 08 May 2020 Prospect Park
    125. Magnolia Warbler 08 May 2020 Prospect Park
    126. Black-throated Green Warbler 10 May 2020 Brooklyn Botanic Garden
    127. Least Flycatcher 10 May 2020 Prospect Park
    128. Worm-eating Warbler 10 May 2020 Prospect Park
    129. Chestnut-sided Warbler 10 May 2020 Prospect Park
    130. Orchard Oriole 12 May 2020 Prospect Park–Vale of Cashmere
    131. Cape May Warbler 12 May 2020 Prospect Park–Vale of Cashmere
    132. Olive-sided Flycatcher 13 May 2020 Prospect Park–Vale of Cashmere
    133. Great Crested Flycatcher 13 May 2020 Prospect Park–Vale of Cashmere
    134. Blue-winged Warbler 13 May 2020 Prospect Park–Vale of Cashmere
    135. Black-billed Cuckoo 16 May 2020 Prospect Park, New York US-NY 40.67202, -73.96903
    136. Eastern Wood-Pewee 16 May 2020 Prospect Park, New York US-NY 40.67202, -73.96903
    137. Willow Flycatcher 16 May 2020 Prospect Park, New York US-NY 40.67202, -73.96903
    138. Eastern Kingbird 16 May 2020 Prospect Park, New York US-NY 40.67202, -73.96903
    139. Yellow-throated Vireo 16 May 2020 Prospect Park, New York US-NY 40.67202, -73.96903
    140. Gray-cheeked Thrush 16 May 2020 Prospect Park, New York US-NY 40.67202, -73.96903
    141. Swainson’s Thrush 16 May 2020 Prospect Park, New York US-NY 40.67202, -73.96903
    142. Cedar Waxwing 16 May 2020 Prospect Park, New York US-NY 40.67202, -73.96903
    143. Tennessee Warbler 16 May 2020 Prospect Park, New York US-NY 40.67202, -73.96903
    144. Nashville Warbler 16 May 2020 Prospect Park, New York US-NY 40.67202, -73.96903
    145. Bay-breasted Warbler 16 May 2020 Prospect Park, New York US-NY 40.67202, -73.96903
    146. Canada Warbler 16 May 2020 Prospect Park, New York US-NY 40.67202, -73.96903
    147. Indigo Bunting 16 May 2020 Prospect Park, New York US-NY 40.67202, -73.96903
    148. Blackpoll Warbler 19 May 2020 Prospect Park, New York US-NY 40.67202, -73.96903
    149. Least Bittern 21 May 2020 Prospect Park, New York US-NY 40.67202, -73.96903
    150. American Oystercatcher 02 Jul 2020 Marine Park, New York US-NY 40.60234, -73.93279
    151. Forster’s Tern 02 Jul 2020 Marine Park, New York US-NY 40.60234, -73.93279
    152. Snowy Egret 02 Jul 2020 Marine Park, New York US-NY 40.60234, -73.93279
    153. Yellow-crowned Night-Heron 02 Jul 2020 Marine Park, New York US-NY 40.60234, -73.93279
    154. Osprey 02 Jul 2020 Marine Park, New York US-NY 40.60234, -73.93279
    155. Clapper Rail 03 Jul 2020 Plumb Beach–West
    156. Least Tern 03 Jul 2020 Plumb Beach–West
    157. Black Skimmer 03 Jul 2020 Plumb Beach–West
    158. Common Tern 07 Jul 2020 Brooklyn Bridge Park
    159. Acadian Flycatcher 21 Jul 2020 Prospect Park
    160. Little Blue Heron 08 Aug 2020 Prospect Park, New York US-NY 40.65899, -73.96288
    161. Semipalmated Plover 18 Aug 2020 Canarsie Beach Park
    162. Killdeer 18 Aug 2020 Canarsie Beach Park
    163. Least Sandpiper 18 Aug 2020 Canarsie Beach Park
    164. Spotted Sandpiper 18 Aug 2020 Canarsie Beach Park
    165. Solitary Sandpiper 18 Aug 2020 Canarsie Beach Park
    166. Semipalmated Sandpiper 20 Aug 2020 Canarsie Beach Park
    167. Greater Yellowlegs 20 Aug 2020 Canarsie Beach Park
    168. Cliff Swallow 20 Aug 2020 Canarsie Beach Park
    169. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher 30 Aug 2020 Prospect Park
    170. Red-breasted Nuthatch 30 Aug 2020 Prospect Park
    171. Blue-winged Teal 18 Sep 2020 Prospect Park
    172. Blackburnian Warbler 18 Sep 2020 Prospect Park
    173. Philadelphia Vireo 21 Sep 2020 Prospect Park
    174. Green-winged Teal 22 Sep 2020 Prospect Park
    175. Common Nighthawk 23 Sep 2020 Prospect Park
    176. Savannah Sparrow 28 Sep 2020 Marine Park, New York US-NY 40.60234, -73.93279
    177. Pine Siskin 09 Oct 2020 Brooklyn Botanic Garden
    178. Orange-crowned Warbler 09 Oct 2020 Brooklyn Botanic Garden
    179. White-crowned Sparrow 09 Oct 2020 Prospect Park
    180. Northern Harrier 10 Oct 2020 Prospect Park, New York US-NY 40.67242, -73.96926
    181. Black-bellied Plover 15 Oct 2020 Gateway National Recreation Area – Jamaica Bay, New York US-NY 40.58413, -73.92710
    182. Royal Tern 15 Oct 2020 Gateway National Recreation Area – Jamaica Bay, New York US-NY 40.58413, -73.92710
    183. Brown Creeper 18 Oct 2020 Prospect Park, New York US-NY 40.67242, -73.96926
    184. Vesper Sparrow 19 Oct 2020 Floyd Bennett Field
    185. Purple Finch 27 Oct 2020 Brooklyn Botanic Garden
    186. Eastern Bluebird 14 Nov 2020 Prospect Park
    187. Red-shouldered Hawk 18 Nov 2020 Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn
    188. Ash-throated Flycatcher 18 Nov 2020 Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn
    189. Western Tanager 18 Nov 2020 Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn
    190. King Eider 16 Dec 2020 Brooklyn Army Terminal Pier 4
    191. American Tree Sparrow 19 Dec 2020 Shirley Chisholm SP (Fountain Ave. Landfill)
    192. Sharp-shinned Hawk 19 Dec 2020 Spring Creek Park Preserve (Brooklyn)
    193. Short-eared Owl 19 Dec 2020 Shirley Chisholm SP (Fountain Ave. Landfill)
    194. Merlin 19 Dec 2020 Shirley Chisholm SP (Fountain Ave. Landfill)
    195. Bonaparte’s Gull 27 Dec 2020 Veterans Memorial Pier
    196. Common Eider 28 Dec 2020 Coney Island Pier
    197. White-winged Scoter 28 Dec 2020 Coney Island Pier View all

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