Under the guise of learning to drive in the US...my mother in law Lila and i went up to goose pond in Canaan to see what we could see birdwise. We got a bald eagle pretty close up, which was nice. Also a loon and a flicker.
We also checked out Marshall brook natural area and got a pileated woodpecker and a ruby crowned kinglet among others.
Also took a walk round lake runnemede. There were 50ish Canada geese which we saw land in the lake. Also got a great view of a northern harrier (we call it Hen harrier in the UK) doing aerobatics at 20 paces from us.
Also saw:
Am crows
Hairy and pileated wpecker
Lots of song sparrows with possible Lincolns in there
Mallards
Carolina wren
Saw a pair of grebes but have no idea what they're likely to be species-wise.
Also what looked like a pair of hooded mergansers, but don't know if they are likely to be there.
Wonder if anyone can help with the latter two.
Jack