April 18/19 - Inwood Hill Park

In spite of the lovely weather, Inwood Hill Park was relatively quiet over the weekend. I found only 31 species of birds combined on several walks hrough the prk on Saturday and Sunday. Easily the best bird was a 2nd winter Lesser Black-backed Gull on top of one of the outer pilings on the Columbia dock on Saturday. However, it wasn't there long, being displaced by a Double-crested Cormorant just after I spotted it and flying off to the east.Saturday morning I saw my first swallows of the year in the park when I spotted three Rough-winged Swallows from my apartment window. Another notable bird was one I have not seen or heard in the park since December - Carolina Wren. This is a species that historically has suffered during har winters locally and we certainly have jus gone through a relatively hard winter. I have heard Carolina Wrens singing in Central Park this spring, but I have yet to hear one in Inwood Hill Park. The only warbler I saw in the park over the weekend was a lovely bright Palm Warbler today, with Danny Karlson, north of the Meadow Overlook. On Saturday I heard an Eastern Towhee singing on the east side of the ridge, my first of the year for the park. I also saw an American Robin on a nest in the same area.

In non-avain wildlife of note, I have not seen the Harbor Seal since Friday. In our relatively brief walk on the ridge today, Danny and I encountered three species of butterflies: Mounring Cloak, Spring Azure and a couple of Cabbage Whites.

The bird list for the weekend is below.

Canada Goose
Mallard
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Egret
Red-tailed Hawk
Ring-billed Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Blue Jay
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
Palm Warbler
Eastern Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Northern Cardinal
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
House Sparrow