Lenoir Preserve, Yonkers
A 39-acre Westchester County Park situated on a ridge top overlooking the Hudson River and Palisades. The
park consists of fields, native hardwood forest, imported
specimen trees, dragonfly pond, a large butterfly garden and
nature center.
Good fall hawk watch and fall migration. A large field overlooking the Hudson River gives a birder an opportunity to not only view migrating hawks, ducks and passerines but frequently their flight strategies. Depending on the wind and other conditions one can often see hawks try to gain altitude by updraft or thermal then make a decision on whether they are high enough to cross the Hudson and clear the Palisades or to head down river.
Waterfowl and other migrating flocks of passerines such as
blackbirds, Blue Jay and American Robin can also be viewed
streaming down the Hudson in the fall in large numbers. Eastern
Meadowlark and sparrows can be in the field in the fall.
Red-breasted Nuthatch frequently found in the evergreens in
winter.
Look for them as well as other winter
birds at feeders just outside observation windows at the nature
center
To bird the site, from the parking lot head up hill to the nature center. In the winter the county and the Hudson River Audubon Society of Westchester maintains a large bird feeding station. The conifers around the center are favored by wintering Red-breasted Nuthatches and spring and fall migrants. Head past the dragonfly pond up a hill till you get to a large field in front of the Lenoir Mansion. The Lenoir Butterfly Garden is situated on the northwest side of the field. Sparrows and large concentrations of flickers are frequently seen on the field in the fall. An immature male Rufous Hummingbird appeared here on November 17, 2001 and stayed into January.
For hawk watching, situate yourself with good views of the Hudson and the northern sky. Hawks usually come in from the northwest. Also keep an eye back over the mansion as kettles of hawks are seen riding thermals on calmer days. Lenoir Hawk Watch
Directions to the Site:
Take the Saw Mill River Parkway north to Exit 9, Executive Blvd. Take Executive Blvd. to North Broadway and turn right. Go 1/4 mile and turn left onto Dudley Street. Lenoir's parking lot is on the left.

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