A trip to New York State for a cousin’s wedding gave the opportunity to get in some birding whilst there. We flew into New York on 8th August and transferred by cab to the Marriott Hotel near Newark International Airport. On 9th we flew from there to Buffalo International and drove to Jamestown, Chautauqua County some one and a half hours south. At Jamestown we were based mostly at Hampton Inns (junction of I86 and SR60), but for 5 nights we stayed at the Best Western in downtown Jamestown. (We had originally intended to travel more widely around the state, but the Jamestown area [if not the town itself!] was quiet, relaxing and with lovely countryside, so we decided to stay in the area.)

On 23rd we returned to New York City and stayed for three nights, based at the Hudson Hotel before flying home on  26th August.

The reports below include good birds seen on the trip but may not necessarily include more common (but still enjoyable) birds seen almost everywhere, such as Turkey Vulture, Black-capped Chickadee, American Robin, Cedar Waxwing, and American Goldfinch.

08 – 09th August   Newark, NJ - Buffalo

Best birds were Red-winged and Rusty Blackbirds in the grounds of the hotel at Newark. A group of Wild Turkeys were beside the I90 en route to Jamestown.

09 - 14th & 19 – 23rd August              Hampton Inns, Jamestown and local area (principally three adjoining cemeteries overlooked by the motel)

A variety of habitat including weedy fields, open plan grassy cemeteries and woodland produced a variety of birds. Early morning walks resulted in Green Heron over, Cooper’s and Red-tailed Hawk, Downy, Hairy and Pileated Woodpeckers, Northern Flicker, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Great-crested Flycatcher, White-breasted Nuthatch, Yellow Warbler, Scarlet Tanager, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Chipping Sparrows, Baltimore Orioles (including a flock of 8 seen from our motel window on 21st) and Orchard Orioles. The cemetery grounds were also good for Groundhog.   

American Goldfinch

Great-crested Flycatcher

Groundhog

10 – 12th August  
The afternoon of the 10th, the mornings of the 11th (the day of the wedding) and 12th were spent around Jean and Thom’s (Julie’s sister and brother-in-law’s) very rural place outside Randolph.

Set amongst woodland with pond, stream and maize fields around provided good birding with an adult Bald Eagle over, Red-tailed Hawk, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds coming to the porch feeders, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Willow Flycatcher, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Wren, Yellow Warbler, breeding Indigo Buntings (2 pairs), Song Sparrow and Baltimore Oriole.

A trip to Salamanca in the afternoon of 12th produced Osprey along the Allegheny River.

Cedar Waxwing

Indigo Bunting

13 – 15th August   Visits to Lake Chautauqua and surrounding area

Evening meals taken at lakeside restaurants at Bemus Point were highlighted with Great Blue Heron, Caspian Terns and Purple Martins overhead.

A good birding spot was found at an I86 rest stop that overlooked the lake, weedy fields surrounded the parking area and nest boxes adorned the fences. Osprey, Red-tailed Hawk and American Kestrel all put in an appearance. Barn Swallows, Cliff Swallows and Purple Martins joined the large numbers of Tree Swallows feeding over the fields, and on the fences and in the fields were Eastern Kingbirds, American Pipit, Yellow Warblers, Common Yellowthroats, White-throated Sparrow, Bobolink and Brown-headed Cowbird.

15th August            Roger Tory Peterson Institute, Jamestown

An afternoon visit to the Institute was of interest, though few birds were evident in the grounds of the preserve. Best birds were Chimney Swifts overhead and an adult male Rose-breasted Grosbeak.   

16th, 18th, 19th & 22nd August              Audubon Center Sanctuary & Refuge, Jamestown 

A nature centre and preserve some 5 miles south of Jamestown off H62 incorporating woodland, lakes and fields provided excellent birding. Birds included Great Blue and Green Herons, Wood Duck, Bald Eagles (4 on 22nd), Cooper’s Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, Wild Turkey, Killdeer, Lesser Yellowlegs, Solitary Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher, Chimney Swift, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Red-bellied, Downy, Hairy and Pileated Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Great-crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Barn, Cliff and Tree Swallows, Purple Martin, Brown Creeper, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Hermit Thrush, House Wren and Winter Wren, Common Yellowthroat, Scarlet Tanager, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Savannah Sparrow, Baltimore Oriole (including a stunning summer adult male) and Red-winged Blackbird.

Eastern Wood-Pewee

Eastern Kingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Downy Woodpecker

Green Heron

17th August            Dunkirk, Lake Eyrie

A trip to the shores of Lake Eyrie produced American Herring Gulls and Caspian Terns among the hundreds of Ring-billed Gulls. Killdeers and a single Semipalmated Sandpiper were on the beach and lines of Double-crested Cormorants flew offshore.

En route back to Jamestown, 2 Eastern Kingbirds were on wires near Ellery Center.

American Herring Gull

Caspian Tern

Turkey Vulture

21st August am     Barcelona Harbour, Lake Eyrie

Birds included a Lesser Yellowlegs and Caspian Tern over the harbour.

21st and 22nd August            Laurie A Baer Trail, Plank Road nr Hartfield (A birding site mentioned in the Chautaugua County guide available from hotels and information centres)

Late afternoon visits to this very quiet spot, one-time rail tracks converted to trails alongside ponds, a stream and woods was good for birds and mammals. Sightings included Great Blue and Green Herons, Wood Duck, Northern Harrier, American Kestrel, Killdeer, Solitary Sandpiper, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Pileated Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Alder and Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbirds, Red-eyed Vireo, Tree Swallow, Yellow Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, American Redstart, Scarlet Tanager, Field Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Baltimore Oriole and excellent views of 3 Otters and 2 White-tailed Deer.

Otter

White-tailed Deer

23rd – 26th August                                New York City

A busy, busy place, the tourist bit was interrupted with quieter times in Central Park plus a boat trip round the harbour to view Ellis Island. Birding highlights included Red-tailed Hawk and 2 Eastern Kingbirds in the Park along with hundreds of American Robins, and a Great Black-backed Gull on Ellis Island.                  

Species	Life List	Comments/Locations
Double-crested Cormorant		Dunkirk 17/8
Great Blue Heron		Lake Chautauqua, Audubon Refuge, Plank Road
Green Heron		Jamestown Cemetery, Audubon Refuge, Plank Road
Canada Goose		Common
Wood Duck		Audubon Refuge, Plank Road
Mallard		Fairly common
Bald Eagle		Randolph, Audubon Refuge (up to 4)
Turkey Vulture		Common
Cooper’s Hawk		Jamestown Cemetery 9/8, Audubon Refuge 18/8
Northern Harrier		Plank Road (1 on 21/8)
Osprey		Salamanca 12/8, Lake Chautauqua 14/8
Red-tailed Hawk		Fairly common
American Kestrel		Lake Chautauqua, Audubon Refuge, Plank Road
Wild Turkey		Beside I90 9/8, Audubon Refuge 19/8
Killdeer		Audubon Refuge (6+), Dunkirk 17/8, Barcelona 21/8
Lesser Yellowlegs		Audubon Refuge 19/8 (2), Barcelona 21/8
Solitary Sandpiper		Audubon Refuge 16 & 18/8, Plank Road 21/8 (4)
Semipalmated Sandpiper		Dunkirk 17/8
Least Sandpiper		Audubon Refuge (up to 6)
Short-billed Dowitcher		Audubon Refuge (up to 2)
Ring-billed Gull		Very Common
American Herring Gull		Dunkirk 17/8, + occasional sightings
Great Black-backed Gull		Ellis Island 25/8
Caspian Tern		Lake Chautauqua 13/8, Dunkirk 17/8, Barcelona 21/8
Rock Dove (Feral Pigeon)		Common in towns
Mourning Dove		Common
Chimney Swift		Peterson Institute 15/8, Audubon Refuge 18 & 22/8
Ruby-throated Hummingbird		Randolph, Audubon Refuge, Plank Road
Belted Kingfisher		Audubon Refuge
Red-bellied Wodpecker		Audubon Refuge 18/8
Downy Woodpecker		Jamestown Cemetery, Audubon Refuge
Hairy Woodpecker		Jamestown Cemetery, Randolph, Audubon Refuge
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker		Plank Road
Northern Flicker		Audubon Refuge, Plank Road
Pileated Woodpecker		Jamestown Cemetery, Audubon Refuge, Plank Road
Eastern Wood-Pewee		Jamestown Cemetery, Audubon Refuge, Plank Road
Willow Flycatcher	***	Randolph 11/8
Alder Flycatcher	***	Plank Road 22/8
Great Crested Flycatcher		Jamestown Cemetery, Audubon Refuge, Plank Road
Eastern Kingbird	***	Lake Chautauqua, Audubon Refuge, Ellery Center, Plank Road, Central Park NY
Red-eyed Vireo		Plank Road 22/8
Blue Jay		Common
American Crow		Common
Barn Swallow		Fairly common
Cliff Swallow	***	Lake Chautauqua, Audubon Refuge
Tree Swallow		Lake Chautauqua, Audubon Refuge, Plank Road
Purple Martin	***	Lake Chautauqua, Audubon Refuge 22/8 (3)
Black-capped Chickadee	***	Common
Brown Creeper		Audubon Refuge 18/8
White-breasted Nuthatch		Jamestown Cemetery, Randolph
Red-breasted Nuthatch		Audubon Refuge 18/8
House Wren		Randolph
Winter Wren		Audubon Refuge
Hermit Thrush		Audubon Refuge 18/8
American Robin		Common
Grey Catbird		Common
American Pipit	***	Lake Chautaqua 14/8
Cedar Waxwing		Common
European Starling		Common
Yellow Warbler		Jamestown Cemetary, Lake Chautauqua, Plank Road
Blackburnian Warbler		Plank Road 22/8 (4)
American Redstart		Plank Road 22/8 (2)
Common Yellowthroat		Lake Chautauqua, Audubon Refuge
Scarlet Tanager		Jamestown Cemetery, Audubon Refuge, Plank Road
Northern Cardinal		Common
Rose-breasted Grosbeak		Jamestown Cemetery, Peterson Institute, Audubon Refuge
Indigo Bunting		Randolph (2 pairs)
Chipping Sparrow		Jamestown Cemetery
Field Sparrow		Plank Road
Song Sparrow		Randolph, Plank Road
Savannah Sparrow		Audubon Refuge
White-throated Sparrow		Lake Chautauqua 14/8
Baltimore Oriole		Jamestown Cemetery, Randolph, Audubon, Plank Road
Orchard Oriole	***	Jamestown Cemetery 14/8 (4)
Bobolink	**	Lake Chautauqua 14/8
Red-winged Blackbird		Newark Marriott, Audubon Refuge
Rusty Blackbird	***	Newark Marriott
Brown-headed Cowbird		Lake Chautauqua 14/8
Common Grackle		Common
House Sparrow		Common
American Goldfinch		Common

Total species:       81
Life List ***:        9

North America
List ***/**:          10

Mammals seen include Groundhog, Otter and White-tailed Deer             

Bob Marchant, 13th November 2007, email: bob.marchant@ntlworld.com