Bird Watching at Staten Island - II

Staten Island is having rich botanical as well as zoological heritage. Previous article discussed some popular bird watching spots of Staten Island, rest popular spots are described here:

Miller Field - This is among one of the best places on Staten Island to look and listen for migrating bobolink and common nighthawk. Migrating shorebirds are visible on the widespread sport fields during fall. Savannah sparrows are easily available along the field edges in all seasons. Other popular species of birds available here are American golden plover, buff-breasted sandpiper, and whimbrel. The Miller Field beach offers a great access point to scan Raritan Bay for waterfowl, and northern gannets. During winter check the jetty at the end of New Dorp Lane for purple sandpipers, dunlin and black-bellied plovers.

Great Kills Park - The Great Kills Park is a part of Gateway National Recreation Area. The place is wonderful to visit any time in any season. Bird lovers can find great diversity of waterfowl and gulls in Great Kills Harbor, and on the Raritan Bay during Winters. The best way to get a good sample of both the waterfowl, and land birds present here is to a walk to Crooke’s Point. Snow bunting and horned lark spend most of the winter in the mowed grass area near the play grounds. The number of waterfowls increase in the bay and harbor area during early spring. By late spring, the waterfowl have left, but the land bird numbers peak. The best way to find song bird migrants is a walk along the blue-dot trail that parallels Hylan Blvd. Summer slows down, but most of the nesting species are still easy to find. As fall sets in, Great Kills Park becomes a trap for south bound sparrows, thrushes, and warbler.

Blue Heron Pond Park - Birding Blue Heron at any time of year can be very rewarding for bird watchers. Resident birds are easy to find along the extensive trail system. Spring and fall migration bring the usual suite of neo-tropical migrants to the young forest of the park. Make sure to check out the most interesting point that is feeding station, which can be viewed from inside the Nature Center. Many common woodland birds visit the station year round.

Conference House Park - Birding lovers can visit the Conference House park any time of year. During Summer season you can see, the white-throated sparrow, dark-eyed juncos and raptors can be seen in the woods, and American wigeon, 2 species of loons, horned grebe, and other waterfowl can be found in the Raritan Bay.

During spring the park becomes alive with songs, and sights of migrations. Rare bird species like hooded warbler, and summer tanager can be seen here each year, you need to keep your eyes and ears open to get the pleasure of watching. Most of the islands woodland, and edge habitat breeds can be found within the park during setting summer. Even, fall migration is not less exciting than spring migration at the Conference House Park. This Park is perhaps the premier spot in all of New York City for Connecticut Warblers.

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Bird Watching at Staten Island

Staten Island is a part of New York, but even after being a portion of world’s most magnificent city which is well known for its concrete jungle, Staten Island has more than 3000 acres of greenery spread in several parks of this area. The place provides enormous opportunities for nature lovers to come and explore the wild heritage of this place. If, people who don’t know about Staten Island come here first and see the natural beauty and its wide natural heritage, they will not believe that it is a part of New York City and situated nearby the city of skyscrapers. It’s simply unbelievable for them.

The forests and national parks at Staten Island have varied selection of wildlife. You’ll also find rare species of Birds here. The number and diversity of birds is really rare and enough to attract any bird lovers to Staten Island. There are several parks which has numerous species of birds, those includes:

Clovelakes Park - Clove Lakes Park is the prime spot for migratory birds on Staten Island. Northward bound migratory birds start coming in the park from late March. The number, and diversity of species increases along with progressing spring season. A bird lover can have glances of more than 25 different species of wood-warblers, along with other migrants such as rose-breasted grosbeak, flycatchers, cuckoos and vireos during a good sunny day in May. One can find spring migration hooded, prothonotary, and Kentucky warblers somewhere within the park boundaries every year.

South and Midland Beach Park - Midland and South Beach are among one of the longest open beach stretches in New York City. People should visit this park for waterfowl, eared grebe, harlequin duck, Barrow’s goldeneye and purple sandpiper. Red and White-winged crossbills and evening grosbeak are also found in the pines during winters.

Fort Wadsworth - Fort Wadsworth is situated just beside Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, and provides a wonderful view of Lower New York Bay. Eurasian wigeon, Purple sandpipers are popular inhabitant of this place. During spring and fall migration warblers and bobolinks can also be found in the field. Even the woods around fort are good place to find common resident birds.

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Nightlife at Staten Island

It is well known that Staten Island is heaven for tourists. Its true for everyone. Kids can enjoy at Staten Island Zoo, and several museums, National Parks also attract them, whereas Elderly people can have their part of fun and enjoyment in Historical Museums and Richmond Park. They also love to spend some quality leisure time in dense greenery full of scenic and natural beauty. But it doesn’t mean that the Island attracts only these two inbound and outbound segments of tourists containing kids and elderly.

Staten Island also attracts music lovers with regular music shows and performances by prominent musicians and singers of the country. Staten Islanders are a great lover of music and it’s proved by the several successful shows which are organized here on regular basis.

The place is equally capable of providing the best entertainment facilities, best dining and drinking facilities in world as well as excellent nightlife to the young generation. Staten Island is full of such fun places which is a great attraction for youngsters. That includes exclusive world class restaurants serving mouth watering cuisines from all over the world, excellent wines and beers for drink enthusiasts, as well as happening nightclubs and discos forcing visitors to dance on the tunes of fast music of all kinds.

Among several available options for a night out or weekend party, I’m listing out a few of my favorites here:

Fushimi: Japanese Cuisines and Lounge

Finally, a standout sushi specialist on Staten Island locals laud this trendy Japanese spot for its top-notch fare, stimulating decor and gracious service. You’d almost swear you were in the city, especially when the check arrives. “Manhattan meets Staten Island” at this Japanese hot-spot of Staten Island, where one can enjoy “fresh-off-the-boat sushi” sliced in upscale lounge like digs accoustic wise. Its exclusive and crowded every time you visit the place. Prices are upto the mark according to the quality being served here. If you have plans to taste real Japanese cuisines, you should visit the place once. You’ll really love the vicinity as well as the proximity, but beware go early or go somewhere else because you will not get a place if you arrive late.

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Staten Island Pages - Review from Resident Eye

Staten Island is pride of New York City, or its better to say pride for the state of New York. You can easily witness the right blend of originality of small town and facilities of modern metros here at Staten Island. If you are a visitor, then Staten Island will give you loads of memories for lifetime, and invite you again and again to experience the beauty and leisure facilities, and if you are a resident of Staten Island, your love and affection with this place will get stronger with every passing days.

As being a Staten Islander you always need important information regarding this place, or information about important services or service providers. You need a one stop solution for your queries regarding this place. Staten Island Pages is doing same work since its inception. The main moto of this website is to provide every information of residents interest at one place. That includes a Market Place for everyday classifieds, sale, purchase and renting of properties, and even job related information like vacancies.

This is just beginning; Staten Island Pages can be very much useful for tourists from all over the world visiting this crown of New York State. They can one stop information of best dining and drinking restaurants and bars, enough information of places of public’s interest, clubs and nightlife details, as well as the best places for shopping of different apparel and jewelleries. They can also get details of vacation and leisure activities available in Staten Island.

The website also provides a perfect platform for Staten Islanders to interact with each other. All Staten Islanders can meet like minded people sharing same interests here. Staten Island Pages is in fact, a forum for all Staten Islanders aiming to bring them together at one place to hangout. It can be a better alternative for people living in Staten Island to socialize which is not possible or tough due to busy life schedule.

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Things to Do in Leisure – Attractions of Staten Island Part V

Staten Island is a place, which is situated nearby some most famous and busiest cities of United States or its better to say World like New York City and Manhattan. But the charm of this place is calmness, and a kind of peace feeling. The Staten Island provides with amenities of world class cities, but at the same time it lets you stay here with ease, without hustle and bustle of metropolitans.

Regular Attractions for Everyone

There are several places in Staten Island, which can be ideal for people during their leisure time. Staten Island’s leisure facilities even attract people from nearby cities during weekends and holidays. One can find several things to do here, that too according to their own choices and mood. Beautiful Picturesque greenery spread over several acres of land, exclusive wildlife view at Staten Island Zoo, heritage monuments of historical importance, world fame Staten Island ferry ride, and museums attract global tourists and people living in and around Staten Islands.

Places of Indulgence during Leisure

Some famous time pass acts of Staten Islanders apart from these above described activities are Golfing, Fishing and Music & Arts. Ocean Breeze Fishing Pier is one of the longest in New York City. The Fishing Pier open in 2003, is 835 foot long. The unique design, shape and length make it unique and exclusive. Bronze medallions fixed alongside walkway illustrate different types of marine life. Restrooms and fish cleaning stations ensure pleasant and comfortable fishing experience. The most important and positive point is that this Fishing Pier is open year round. One can enjoy this experience anytime during year.

Staten Island Golf Courses

Staten Island has several Golf Courses of “Gold Standard” in New York City, which provides unique and world class golfing experience to Golf lovers. LaTourette Golf Course stretched over 6700 yards of beautiful and magnificent hilly terrains, South Shore Country Club Golf Course stretched over 6000 yards with well manicured greens, and Silver Lake Golf Course located within Silver Lake Park are crown’s of Staten Island serving the golf enthusiasts residents of Staten Island and neighboring areas.

Apart from these facilities, Island also offers several other facilities for Music & Arts lovers. We’ll cover them later.

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Staten Island – Borough of Parks and Nature Lovers

With Over 170 parks, it is no wonder that Staten Island is called “The Greenest Borough.” There are more than 12,300 acres of protected parkland – that’s more than one third of the Island’s total land mass! One can see rare variety of parks at Staten Islands. There is ice skating at Clove lakes, and swimming at South and Midland Beaches. Go horseback riding at Clay Pit Ponds State park of bird watching at Mount Loretto Nature Preserve. Traditional parks with playgrounds and ball fields give way to vast forests. Staten Island’s parks have something for everyone!

Willowbrook Park – This park features wildlife, ball fields, paths and the Carousel for all Children. Since 1999, this Victorian inspired ride has been delighting children and the young at heart. While riders can clamber onto traditional horses, they also have their choice of mythical beasts and endangered creatures, all of which are hand crafted and beautifully painted. And with a cost of $1 and fully-accessibility for those with physical impairments, anyone can ride.

Greenbelt Nature Center – The new Greenbelt Nature Canter, at Rockland Avenue, opened in 2004. It is the gateway to the Greenbelt and offers the best starting point for hiking trails and exploring. This greenbelt provides view of forest as Far as the eye can see in the big city. Moses Mountain in the Greenbelt provides a bird’s eye view of the Greenbelt forest canopy. With spectacular views of the Greenbelt’s 2800 acres of parkland, this Moses Mountain is just one of the many places you go to escape the hustle and bustle of modern life. The Greenbelt is a contiguous series of forests, meadows, wetlands, ponds and parks that stretch across the heart of Staten Island. At three times the size of Central Park, it is easy to spend a day wandering through vast natural area. Along the perimeter are LaTourette Park, with its beautiful golf course, Willowbrook Park, and High Rock Park, which is home to a visitor’s center and is the starting point for many hiking trails. The William T. Davis Wildlife Refuge, the first of its kind in New York City, is a wonderful place for bird watching. All this and more await the intrepid naturalist.

South Beach – Since the 19^th Century, Staten Island’s Eastern shore has been a heaven for tourists and beach bathers. The pride of the shoreline is the South Beach Boardwalk which stretches almost two miles! Recently restored, the Boardwalk area is enjoying a renaissance. New playing fields, a world-class fishing pier and the clean, and lifeguard manned beach make this a popular destination for family fun. A day at the beach with a view of the City: It’s a “shore thing” on Staten Island.

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Attractions of Staten Island – IV

Staten Island is full of attractions, it's impossible for anyone to describe the places of attraction lying around Staten Island in few pages. This is our fourth article in order of an honest effort of highlighting the attractions of this wonderful place. This island is full of place of historical interest describe in previous posts, here we will have a glace of Conference House Park, and Fort Wadsworth, two historical heritage of United States.

Conference House Park – A Revolutionary History

Conference House Park is very famous in History of United States. In an effort to bring the Revolutionary War to an end, Admiral Lord Richard Howe from British Government and an American delegation of John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and Edward Rutledge met on Sept. 11, 1776. The site for this historic, but unsuccessful, treaty attempt was the Billopp Manor House on the southern tip of Staten Island and New York State.

Today, the Conference House is managed by the Conference house Association and is both a City and National Landmark. This Billopp House is the only pre-Revolutionary manor house surviving in New York City, is surrounded by a 267-acre park. The miles of trails and a pavilion that offers waterfront views of the estuary make it one of the most romantic sports of Staten Island. Seasonal events include re-enactments, family festivals, art shows, performances and holiday events.

Fort Wadsworth – One of the Oldest Military Sites in the United States

Built along the high ground by the Verrazano Bridge is Fort Wadsworth, a formidable structure that has guarded New York City for more than 200 years. Fort Wadsworth harkens back to an era when New York harbor was protected by military bases. An enemy entering the narrows would be caught in cross fire between Fort Wadsworth in Staten Island and Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn. During the war of 1812, Fort Wadsworth was crucial in protecting New York harbor from the British. During the Civil War the site was reinforced and made into the fortress that stands today. When it closed in 1994, Fort Wadsworth has been the longest active military site in the U.S. Today it is managed by the national parks Service and is open to the public as part of the Gateway National Recreational Area.

Visitors are welcome to tour Fort Wadsworth and see New York harbor from the perspective of the countless soldiers who helped to protect it. Informative tours led by Park rangers are available and the Visitor Centre features interactive exhibits and a map of the New York State harbor forts.

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Major Attractions of Staten Island - III

Staten Island has something for everyone that is the reason it is called as pride of New York. Now we’ll discuss about the pride of Staten Island that’s Staten Island Zoo, and the historic Richmond Town.

Staten Island Zoo

The Staten Island Zoo offers a delightful peek at the world of wildlife. Indoor exhibits include a Tropical Forest, African Savannah, an Aquarium and one of the Nation’s finest reptile exhibits. Outdoor activities showcase an otter habitat, red pandas, foxes, birds and prairie dogs. A popular Children’s Zoo recreates a barnyard setting. The new Kid’s Corral invites children to enter and pet the goats. But the Staten Island Zoo’s pride and joy is a petite prognosticator, Staten Island Chuck, the Groundhog.

Fear Zone is one of the most important attractions of Staten Island Zoo. Surround yourself in the world of snakes and other reptiles at the Staten Island Zoo’s new Fear Zone. This Fear Zone is one of the most modern reptile exhibits in the Nation, the 15,000 square foot facility houses 120 species of amphibians, lizards, turtles, alligators and snakes, including one the largest collection of rattlesnakes in U.S.

Richmond Town – Exhibit of History

New York City’s only historic village is a collection of 28 landmarked building in a park like setting. Visitors can stroll through this open air museum and experience the life in 19^th century Staten Island. Watch a carpenter or tinsmith honing their trade. Learn how to make soap or see one of the oldest operating printing presses. Visit the Voorlezer’s House, circa 1695, the oldest schoolhouse in the United States. Workshops give guests the chance to bake, learn English Country dancing, spin wool or make candles. All this and more awaits you at Historic Richmond Town. Richmond Country fair is old fashion fair, which is country fun in Staten Island-style. Live Concerts, crafts and games guarantee a great time for the whole family during the fair.

Staten Island is the crown on New York State, a matter of zealous for any city or metropolitan city. New York City’s fast and tough life and Staten Island’s cool and relaxing environment both are supplementary to each other.

Read our next article for information about other attractions of Staten Island.

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