Woodland · Shelter Island
Mashomack Preserve
The canonical East End forest bird site. A rare intact mixed hardwood ecosystem on an island, with breeding Hooded Warblers and Acadian Flycatchers you can't find anywhere else on the South Fork.
Access & parking
The Nature Conservancy's 2,000-acre preserve covers nearly a third of Shelter Island. Four marked trail loops from 1.5 to 11 miles. Visitor center at the entrance with trail maps.
Parking: Free paved lot at the preserve entrance off Route 114.
Restrooms: Flush restrooms at the visitor center during open hours.
Difficulty: Moderate
When to go
Seasons: Spring Migration, Breeding, Fall Migration
Time of day: dawn
Target species
- Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
- Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina)
- Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea)
- Hooded Warbler (Setophaga citrina)
- Acadian Flycatcher (Empidonax virescens)
- Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus)
- Great Egret (Ardea alba)
Rarities reported here
- Cerulean Warbler (Setophaga cerulea)
- Kentucky Warbler (Geothlypis formosa)
Photography tips
The Hooded Warbler breeds in the understory — a quiet approach and f2.8 glass handle the low light. Do not use playback; it stresses the nesting pair.
eBird hotspot
Open this hotspot on the Cornell Lab of Ornithology eBird database →
Nearby birds
Other woodland sites worth pairing on a day trip:
- Hallock State Park Preserve · Riverhead
Looking for the broader fauna calendar (whales, seals, sea turtles)? /wildlife covers every species on the East End.