The Park is free and open to all from Nov. 1 – April 30. We request a permit to get complimentary admission for participants on our walks during the months that otherwise require a beach pass, so let the front gate staff know you are coming for the bird walk during May – October. Please bring binoculars. Meet near the main (southern) concession by the beach. Return time is approximate according to the birds we find, and you are always free to leave the group as needed.
2025
September 7, 9:00 – 11:30 am – Migration is in full swing for shorebirds and swallows. The confusing fall warblers will test our ID skills. And a good northwest wind could bring the first hawks and falcons to hug the coast on their way south.
October 5, 9:00 – 11:30 am – More migration. Frenetic Yellow-rumped Warblers dart among the brilliant fall leaves in search of insects and avoidance of hungry Sharp-shinned Hawks. Learn to look beyond drab brown to see sparrows and thrushes in a symphony of subtle color variations.
November 2, 9:00 – 11:30 am – Sparrow migration continues, while some of the waterfowl that winter in Long Island Sound could start to arrive. Be sure to dress warmly since the Sound breeze can bring an extra chill to the air.
December 7, 9:00 – 11:30 am – We’ll survey the Point in advance of the Christmas Bird Count later this month in search of winter waterfowl, woodpeckers and whatever else comes our way.
2026
January 4, 9:00 – 11:15 am – Loons, ducks, grebes, and mergansers are some of the winter waterfowl to expect in the Sound. We’ll be sure to check the bird feeders for the regulars and any unusual species.
February 1, 9:00 – 11:15 am – Dress warmly to avoid winter’s bite. Now is often a good time for owls – but not disturbing these nocturnal creatures is critical. Scaup, Long-Tailed Ducks, Buffleheads, and Common Goldeneye should be in abundance off shore.
March 1, 9:00 – 11:15 am – Enjoy the amazing mating displays and calls of waterfowl getting ready to return to their breeding grounds. Woodpeckers will be checking out nest holes and Great Horned Owl chicks may be present.
April 5, 9:00 – 11:30 am – We will scan the shore for lingering winter waterfowl and migrating shorebirds, then look for early returning migrants including Great Egrets. Purple Martins, and Eastern Phoebe. Ospreys may be reclaiming their nests.
May 3, 9:00 – 11:30 am – Migration is in full swing so we will use our eyes and ears in search of warblers, flycatchers, tanagers and more. Many resident birds may be nesting, while avian migrants will be stopping by briefly to refuel before continuing to breeding grounds.
June 7, 9:00 – 11:30 am – Nesting birds are on eggs or may be feeding young. We will look for shorebirds feeding at the water’s edge, ospreys feeding newly hatched chicks, and yellow warblers singing their sweet-sweet-sweet- oh-so sweet songs.
July 5, 9:00 – 11:15 am – Celebrate the holiday with a quiet walk bt the water and through the woods. Egrets may be feeding young offshore but come here to fish for themselves. Late nesting American Goldfinches are are pairing up and finding downy plant fibers to line their nests. We will stop by the Purple Martin gourds to see the status of the fledglings.
August 2, 9:00 – 11:30 am – Young Ospreys should be perfecting their flying skills and learning to fish. Keep an eye on the shoreline for the first shorebirds to make their way back south for the winter. The young of the year are in abundance on land and sea, so we will do our best to try to identify them.
First Sunday Bird Walk at Greenwich Point 