Edith Read Sanctuary, Rye

Edith Read Sanctuary is one of the top places to bird in Westchester County. It's part of the Westchester County parks system. (914) 967-8720

A spotting scope is useful here to pick out birds on the lake and sound. Large concentration of waterfowl in winter, large winter Great Blue Heron roost. Sound has wintering loons, grebes, Long-tailed Duck, Common Goldeneye. Scoters and Northern Gannet are most often seen in late winter, early spring. The sanctuary has yielded many rarities including Snow Bunting, Snowy Owl, Barrows Goldeneye, Red-necked Grebe, Eared Grebe.

The sanctuary adjoins Playland Amusement Park off U.S. Route 1 in Rye.
To reach Playland Park, take Exit 19 from Interstate-95 (New England Thruway) and go east on the Playland Parkway approximately 1.6 miles. Go around traffic circle and drive through the large parking lot and go to the far right corner. Ignore the "Road Closed" sign, the idiots who management of Playland hate the sanctuary even though both properties are County Parks. Take road out to Sanctuary.

Another good winter birding spot is Rye Beach. Take Forest Avenue south from Playland Parkway to fist left onto Dearborn, parking available on the left. Look for Purple Sandpipers on jetty in winter.

For more information on the park check out Westchester County Park's Web Site

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