Planning a Summer Birding Day Trip from NYC
A summer birding day trip from NYC was exactly what I needed to escape the city heat. With spring migration winding down and the parks growing quieter, I packed up my gear and headed toward the coast. Lido Beach and Nickerson Beach have become my go-to summer spots for coastal birds—skimmers, oystercatchers, terns, and the occasional surprise. When the city’s rhythm slows, the shoreline still has a lot to say.
Central Park in Summer: When the Rush Slows Down
Summer birding in Central Park becomes more of a gentle wander than a frantic chase. The sun beats down on the sidewalks. The hum of air conditioners replaces the morning chorus. And let’s be honest — those unmistakable New York City summer smells? Not exactly refreshing.
June, though, brought a reprieve. After our first real heat wave coming, and with migration tapering off, it felt like a signal: time to change landscapes. Time to reset.
Why I Head to the Coast: A Birding Reset
There’s something about early summer that gives me the itch to explore well if not to escape the heat, then to escape the weight of daily life. So, I traded the familiar trees of Central Park for the salt marshes and beaches of Long Island. Out there, the breeze carries the scent of the sea, and the stillness hits different. It’s like the air itself tells you: something new is possible. A fresh cast of birds. Nesting families. The beginning of life’s next chapter in the wild. That’s the beauty of birding in June; it invites you to expand your horizons.
The Joy of Birding With a Friend
And one of the best parts of this day? I wasn’t birding alone. There’s something special about sharing the experience with a friend who’s just as curious, just as willing to pause for a butterfly or scan the reeds for movement. As the saying goes, two sets of eyes are better than one. Sometimes they spot the bird; sometimes they spot the joy in the moment that you might have missed.
But beyond the birds, it’s also about the conversations. The laughter. The quiet stretches of trail where you don’t need to say anything at all. Birding with someone turns a day of exploring into something deeper maybe a reset not just for the senses, but for the spirit. It reminds you that the best discoveries aren’t always feathered, but they’re the ones you share.
Birding Lido Beach Passive Nature Area
Our first stop was the Lido Beach Passive Nature Area, and even the drive there was exciting. As we followed the highway, the landscape began to change where buildings gave way to open sky, and out the car window, we could already see wildlife in motion. Raptors glided above us, Ospreys perched, and everything just felt wide open. It’s the kind of shift that sparks something inside you. My heart started to race with anticipation: What would I see first? What would I hear when I stepped out of the car?
We pulled into the lot, and for a moment, I just sat there taking in the silence, the breeze, the possibility. The city felt far behind us. The air had changed too no thick smells of asphalt and steam, but the briny scent of the marsh. And there, perched right in the parking lot, were Purple Martins. Their bird houses were set up nearby, and it made for the perfect welcome with martins zipping and chirping overhead, some resting on the birdhouse poles like little greeters to this coastal sanctuary.
A Sanctuary Reclaimed: Lido’s Restoration Story
The Lido Beach Passive Nature Area spans 40 acres and plays a key role in protecting the Hempstead estuary system. Since a major restoration project began in 2005, the area has been cleaned up and thoughtfully developed with well-maintained trails, observation areas, and nesting platforms that truly benefit both birds and people. It’s one of those rare places that feels wild but accessible. The trails are flat, winding through salt marsh and grassland, and they guide you through protected habitat where birds clearly feel safe.
Marshland Highlights: Ospreys, Blackbirds, and Egrets
As we walked, an Osprey glided low across the water before rising again to perch on one of the installed nesting poles. Watching it settle in with its wings outstretched, surveying its territory almost felt like a scene from a nature documentary. We saw others calling from their nests or diving into the marsh, sometimes disappearing completely before bursting back into view. It’s easy to keep your distance here and let the birds be. With everything about this area is designed to support that balance.
Binocular Moments: Hidden Herons and Familiar Faces
Red-winged Blackbirds called from the reeds, flitting back and forth in their usual restless rhythm. Snowy Egrets—yes, we saw those signature yellow feet—landed right in front of us, feathers glowing in the sun. A Great Egret appeared soon after, followed by a Black-crowned Night Heron that was first spotted as a patch of white in the grass. We had to pull out the binoculars and scan carefully, but there it was completely still, like it was letting the world move around it. And in that moment, it felt like we’d won something.
Sharing Sightings and Stillness
There were other familiar faces too: Song Sparrows, Grackles, Double-crested Cormorants swimming in the inlet, even a few Boat-tailed Grackles and House Sparrows. We caught glimpses of Terns diving headfirst into the water, hunting with precision and grace. The salt air mixed with the sun and breeze, and I found myself breathing deeper than I had in days. Whatever I had left behind in the city, such as the schedules, the screens, the stress it stayed behind.
Nickerson Beach: Skimmers, Sand, and Shared Space
Our next stop brought us to one of my favorite places: Nickerson Beach. What I love about it besides the surf and birds is how it seems to respect the delicate boundary between recreation and nature. As soon as we stepped out of the car and into the sand, we could hear the roar of the Atlantic calling us. The entrance to the beach is lined with simple barriers, such as snow fencing, rope, and signs gently reminding visitors that this is shared habitat, and that nesting birds come first.
A Parking Lot Surprise: Skimmers and Terns
Even the parking lot felt alive. Just off to the side was a small pond, fenced off for protection, but filled with energy. Black Skimmers skimmed and dove in graceful arcs. Common and Least Terns and Common Terns zipped overhead. A few Mallards and Gadwalls paddled in the still water, undisturbed by the action around them. We rolled down the windows, and for a moment it felt like we were sitting in our own personal bird blind. With the lens propped up and the ocean breeze slipping in, it was easy to forget the world beyond the car doors.
On the Sand: Oystercatchers and Beach Life
Once we parked and began our walk, the beach opened wide. As we moved across the sand while staying well back from the nesting zones as we heard the calls of Laughing Gulls and saw skimmers darting by like ink-streaks across the sky. A gentle hum of people echoed in the distance: kids laughing, waves crashing, someone jogging by. But the real soundtrack was all birds like the oystercatchers piping, terns squabbling, gulls chattering and it was glorious.
Respecting the Nesting Zones
The birds here weren’t just passing through, they were living their lives. We watched as an American Oystercatcher pair stood guard over three small, sandy chicks with bold little things strutting along the shoreline like they owned it. Around them, skimmers lined up in near-perfect rows along the dunes, occasionally breaking formation to chase off a trespasser or grab a fish. Terns zipped back and forth, carrying food to waiting partners. There was so much activity in such a small space, and none of it felt hidden. Unlike Central Park, where birds perch high or vanish into foliage, here they were out in the open, wings flashing, feet dancing across the wet sand.
And somehow, everyone, the birds and people they seemed to understand the boundaries. There was mutual respect. I saw beachgoers keeping their distance from the roped-off areas, admiring the birds from afar, letting them be. It was a small, heartening thing to witness and it reminded me how we can coexist when we slow down and pay attention.
By midday, the sun was strong, the breeze constant, and the birds still buzzing all around us. I kept sipping my drink, trying to stay hydrated, but my mind was focused on the moment. I find that kind of immersion incredibly relaxing. Your brain doesn’t have room for to-do lists or emails—it’s just you, the birds, the light, and the sound of the waves.
Unexpected Sightings: House Finches on the Shoreline
Then came a surprise: House Finches. Just a few of them, standing in the sand, watching everything unfolds. It’s a bird I often see in Central Park, but somehow it felt different here standing on the sand, surrounded by skimmers and surf. That contrast is what makes days like this so thrilling. Familiar birds, unfamiliar places. Little surprises that shift your perspective.
Why Nickerson Beach Belongs on Every Birder’s Map
Support My Work – Bringing Birding Moments to Life Through Art
With all the joy I get from spending a day at the beach or a morning birding in Central Park I truly love sharing my photographs and these experiences. It’s not just about what I see, but how it makes me feel. That’s what I try to pass on.
From Wall Art to Functional Gifts
For a long time, I struggled with how to share that feeling. A photo on the wall is beautiful, but not everyone has space for prints or connects with them in that form. That’s why I created my online store at DennisNewsham.com to offer wildlife-inspired items that are functional as well as beautiful. From pillow covers to reusable bags to small keepsakes like metal pins, I’ve tried to make my photography something you can use, gift, or carry with you.
How My Online Store Helps You Connect
Take something simple like a note card. When you send one, it’s like sharing that spark—that same sense of surprise and delight I feel when spotting a bird I didn’t expect. People don’t end cards much anymore, but maybe we should. Because those moments of connection, especially when unexpected, matter.
Whether it’s a puzzle you build with someone, a tote bag that reminds you of your favorite park, or a print that makes you smile every time you see it I hope something I’ve created helps spread joy. That’s why I do this. To help you feel what I feel out there: wonder, connection, and a little more love in the world.
📸 Discover NYC’s wildlife through my lens—shop prints, note cards & nature-inspired gifts at DennisNewsham.com
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