March 31 - Eastern Towhee

Today I took a quick trip around Garret Mt. and still had 20+ Tree Swallows on Barbour's Pond and good numbers of Dark-eyed Juncos. Some Fox Sparrows have been singing. Another stop today was Fred P's house for my first Towhee of the year. Kearny East had a Snowy Egret, Common Goldeneye, Pintails, Buffleheads and both Scaup. 60+ cormorants were sitting around at the radio station walkway. I'm gonna try to start using migrants so Eastern Towhee will be the bird today

March 30 - Greater Scaup

Made a trip to Sandy Hook today with a few stops in The Meadowlands along the way. First Snowy Egrets of the year in Kearny East along Belleville Tpk. (Rt. 7). Once at the Hook I found 4 Oystercatchers and 2 Piping Plovers (new for the year) near C lot. Brown Thrasher flew across the road to the fishing beach. Northern Gannets flying about off the beach. Still a large raft of Scoters and Long-tailed Ducks in the ocean. There was still a few Greater Scaup around which will be my bird today. 8 Great Blue Herons migrating north. At the Hawk Watch, 1 Coot and 1 Tree Swallow flew by in the afternoon. Most of the flight today shut down around 1 PM when the winds shifted.

March 29 - Northern Flicker

In a morning trip to Garret Mountain about 30 species were seen including 24 Tree Swallows still hunting Barbour's Pond. Nothing new for the year yet there and no hawks migrating. All birds probably held up by the jet stream currently keeping things cold here. I'll have to choose from my saved list, a list of birds I could use almost anytime. Looks like Northern Flicker today. Flicker photo is from Garret, just not today.

March 28 - Hairy Woodpecker

Today with not much being reported around I went to Mill Creek Point to look for a Bald Eagle, but the only raptor was a Harrier. I checked the Teal at Mill Creek Marsh for the Common Teal, but had no luck. I went to Garret Mountain next to see if any more birds arrived. 24 Tree Swallows were on Barbour's Pond. A lot of regulars were around. I'm choosing Hairy Woodpecker to use today.

March 27 - Fish Crow

With little time today other than the morning to bird I tried a couple of places on my way to White Plains, NY. Overpeck Park I saw 2 Pied-bill Grebes, but they were already used. Very little to be seen other than 2 Titmouse seen at State-line Lookout on the Palisades. While loading the vans a big number of crows came to roost in the area. Among the American Crows were a few Fish Crows. After leaving White Plains I made a sundown stop at Piermont Pier to search for any odd gulls. Almost all gulls seen were Ring-billed Gulls. Fish Crow would be my bird today

March 26 - Purple Sandpiper

A morning trip to Rye Playland and out to the pier again. Windy and cold in the upper 20's!! Purple Sandpipers were out on the jetty. Nice and easy but very cold for springtime.

March 25 - Long-tailed Duck

Today I'm working at a weekend Baseball Card Show at the Westchester County Center. After speaking with Mike N. from The Meadowlands, he suggested Rye Playland as a birding location if I had the time. I made a lunchtime stop at Rye Playland and walked out the pier to spot Purple Sandpiper, Horned Grebes and Long-tailed Ducks. I'm using the Long-tailed Duck today hopiing to see the Purple Sandpiper again tomorrow. It should be around.