April 22 - Central Park

A beautiful morning in the Ramble for my Wednesday morning AMNH birdwalk group, though it did start a little on the cool side. Given the weather forecast of sw winds and radar images of a fairly strong migration flight I expected more birds than we actually found. A few days ago I emailed Ed Eden that the forecast looked good for a good flight on Wednesday morning, though I included the the Yoggi Berra quote: “It's tough to make predictions, especially about the future.” This morning Ed texted me: "Very quiet so far. Mr. Berra was right." I shouldn't really complain. the weather was beautiful and there was more bird activity than in recent weeks. I guess we are all just anxious for that first big push of migrants after the severe winter and the so far, cool spring. Still, we found 39 species in two hours. The list is below.

Canada Goose
Wood Duck (pair on the Lake)
Mallard
Double-crested Cormorant (singles in the park, plus one "V" formation of about 30 migrants overhead)
American Coot (still one lone bird on the Lake)
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift (one flying high over the Ramble; my first of the season)
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker (1)
Northern Flicker
Blue-headed Vireo (1, my first of the season)
Blue Jay
American Crow
Brown Creeper
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (scattered individuals)
Hermit Thrush (1-2)
American Robin
European Starling
Louisiana Waterthrush (1, by the stream west of bank Rock Bridge on the way out)
Black-and-white Warbler (1-2)
Palm Warbler (seemed to be all over; sometimes several in a tree)
Pine Warbler (1, Turtle Pond)
Yellow-rumped Warbler (scattered all over)
Prairie Warbler (1, lovely male on the Point)
Common Yellowthroat (1, Lenore spotted one at Turtle Pond)
Eastern Towhee (2, including a male seen at the Oven)
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow (1, briefly in a tree on the Point)
Song Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow (still good numbers around; lots of singing)
Dark-eyed Junco (1)
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird (pair at feeders)
American Goldfinch

House Sparrow