September 30 - Central Park - overcast with a Dickcissel

When I went to bed Tuesday night the forecast for Wednesday morning was fairly miserable - rain and fog. It did, indeed, rain overnight, but this morning the weather radar showed that most of the rain was no past the city. Four brave birders decided to ignore the overnight forecasts and join me for my Wednesday morning AMNH bird walk in the Ramble. They were rewarded with only a few birds, but one of them was a really good one. We had a few minutes of light drizzle when we were by the Belvedere Castle, but this passed by the time we were on the road by the south side of Turtle Pond. We had a frustrating few minutes trying to identify a few warblers high in a tree. The light was bad and the birds were mostly silhouettes. One may have been a Blackpoll, another was certainly a Northern Parula. We headed around to the Maintenance Meadow where many birders had seen a Dickcissel on Tuesday. I checked the weedy area on the northeast corner of the meadow where the bird was reported yesterday, but there was no sign of it. A check of s group of House Sparrows west of the Maintenance Building also turned up nothing. As we headed out into the meadow itself, I saw a group of House Sparrows feeding in the middle of the meadow. Raising my binoculars, I spotted the Dickcissel with them! It was a very nice reward to the four brave birders who came on the walk. The full morning's list follows.

Canada Goose (on the Lake)
Mallard (the Lake and Turtle Pond)
Black-crowned Night-Heron (1, Turtle Pond)
American Coot (1, Turtle Pond - about two weeks now)
Herring Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift (a few overhead)
Ruby-throated Hummingbird (1, feeding on the large Jewelweed patch at the Oven)
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Blue Jay
White-breasted Nuthatch (1, heard)
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher (2, Evodia Field and south of Azalea Pond)
European Starling
Common Yellowthroat
Northern Parula
Eastern Towhee
White-throated Sparrow (10, various places)
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (1, near Belvedere)
Dickcissel (1, see account above; first I have ever add in Central Park)
House Sparrow

September 24 - Central Park - another beautiful morning, without a significant flight

A beautiful, pleasant morning for my AMNH Thursday morning bird walk, but once again without a big flight of birds. Our best bird was an uncooperative Worm-eating Warbler seen from the pavilion by the Belvedere Castle. The bird sat still for a long time, but well back behind leaves and hard to see. The coot continues on Turtle Pond, but we did not see the Ruddy Duck that has been on the Lake through yesterday. Today also marked the first time in three weeks that I did not see or hear a Rose-breasted Grosbeak in the Ramble. Full list of 33 species is below.

Canada Goose (6, the Lake – as usual; probably a family group)
Gadwall (Turtle Pond; also as usual)
Mallard (the Lake and Turtle Pond)
Red-tailed Hawk (1, Shakespeare Theater)
American Coot (1, Turtle Pond)
Herring Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift (high individuals)
Ruby-throated Hummingbird (2, at Jewelweed patches)
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (1, west of Belvdere)
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
“Traill’s Flycatcher” (1, perched high, south of Maintenance Meadow)
Blue Jay
American Crow
White-breasted Nuthatch (2, Shakespeare Garden)
Swainson's Thrush (1)
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird (2, high overhead at Maintenance Meadow and along the Gill)
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing (6, maintenance Meadow)
Northern Parula
Black-throated Blue Warbler (female, east of Loupot Bridge)
Yellow-rumped Warbler (2, s. end of Maintenance Meadow and Belvedere)
Black-and-white Warbler (1, near Azalea Pond
Worm-eating Warbler (1, Belvedere)
Common Yellowthroat
Scarlet Tanager (male, Maintenance Meadow)
Northern Cardinal
Common Grackle
House Sparrow

September 23 - Central Park - a beautiful morning for the first day of fall

My Wednesday morning AMNH bird walk group had an absolutely beautiful morning for our walk in the Ramble. The temperatures were very pleasant and the sky was spectacular. When we started at Hernshead by the Lake there was a flight of at least ten flickers going over, headed south. The Ramble started slow, but we managed to pick up a number of species as the two hour walk proceeded, including a few firsts for the fall. In the end we had 35 species.

Canada Goose (6, the Lake – as usual; probably a family group)
Gadwall (Turtle Pond; also as usual)
Mallard (the Lake and Turtle Pond0
Ruddy Duck (continuing male on the Lake)
American Coot (1, Turtle Pond)
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift (2, high over the Maintenance Meadow)
Ruby-throated Hummingbird (2, at Jewelweed patches)
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (1, Maintenance Meadow – our first of the season)
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker (10+ flying south over the Lake just after 7 am)
Eastern Phoebe (1)
Red-eyed Vireo (2)
Blue Jay
American Crow (1, heard)
Veery (1)
Swainson's Thrush (several)
American Robin (everywhere)
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher (2)
European Starling
Ovenbird (1, west side of hill by Evodia Field)
Northern Parula (1, Azalea Pond)
Black-throated Blue Warbler (female, Maintenance Meadow - thank you to Lenore for reminding me)
Yellow-rumped Warbler (1, s. end of Maintenance Meadow; our first of the season)
Black-and-white Warbler (1, near Azalea Pond
American Redstart
Common Yellowthroat
Eastern Towhee (1, heard)
Scarlet Tanager (1, near Belvedere)
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (2)
Common Grackle
House Sparrow

September 22 - Central Park - mainly overcast with pleasant temperatures

As for the last two weeks I led bird walks in the Ramble in Central Park for AMNH participants in the morning and again at lunchtime. Paul Sweet normally does these walks but had been out of the country, but will be taking them over again as of next week. Temperatures today were quite pleasant and fall-like. unfortunately the birding did not match. The winds were from the northeast and produced overcast skies in the morning, clearing skies at midday, but not a lot of birds. The best bird of the day was a Philadelphia Vireo in the Maintenance Meadow on the morning walk, which was unfortunately only seen by myself and a few others before it disappeared back into the dense foliage. Hummingbirds continue to feed on the various Jewelweed patches in the Ramble and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks continue to be heard and seen every day. The lists for both walks follow.

Morning walk (7-9 am)
Canada Goose (6, the Lake)
Gadwall (Turtle Pond)
Mallard
Ruddy Duck (male on the Lake)
Herring Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Ruby-throated Hummingbird (3)
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Eastern Phoebe (1, Turtle Pond)
Philadelphia Vireo (1, Maintenance Meadow)
Red-eyed Vireo (several)
Blue Jay
White-breasted Nuthatch
House Wren
Veery (1)
Swainson's Thrush (several)
American Robin (everywhere)
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher (Maintenance Meadow)
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing (small flyover flock)
Black-and-white Warbler
Common Yellowthroat (several)
American Redstart (scattered individuals)
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Common Grackle
American Goldfinch (1, heard flying over south of Belvedere)
House Sparrow

Lunchtime walk (12 – 1:30 pm)
Canada Goose (6, the Lake)
Gadwall (Turtle Pond)
Mallard
Ruddy Duck (male on the Lake)
Herring Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Ruby-throated Hummingbird (2)
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Blue Jay
White-breasted Nuthatch
American Robin (everywhere)
Gray Catbird
European Starling
Northern Parula
Black-throated Blue Warbler (male, east of stone arch by Upper Lobe)
Black-and-white Warbler
Ovenbird
Common Yellowthroat (several)
American Redstart (scattered individuals)
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (near Azalea Pond)
Common Grackle
House Sparrow

September 18 - Central Park - warm with few birds

The Friday morning AMNH bird walk to the Ramble in Central Park was warm, with not many birds around.In fact, from 9 - 11 am, we only found 19 species. My apologies to the group for not getting this list posted until today.

Canada Goose (6, the Lake)
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Northern Flicker
Blue Jay
Tufted Titmouse
American Robin (everywhere)
Gray Catbird
European Starling
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Northern Waterthrush
Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart (scattered individuals)
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Common Grackle
House Sparrow

September 17 - Central Park - lovely morning, fewer birds

My Thursday morning AMNH bird walk group had weather as pretty as yesterday, but fewer birds were around. One of the most active spots for the last week has been the section of the Gill above the iron railing bridge - this was true again this morning. Total list of 33 species is below.

Canada Goose
Gadwall (Turtle Pond)
Mallard
Red-tailed Hawk (1, Azalea Pond - nearly gave a Gray Squirrel heart failure)
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
American Kestrel (1, flyover)
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Eastern Wood-Pewee (2)
Warbling Vireo (1, along the Gill)
Red-eyed Vireo (1, along the Gill)
Blue Jay
Black-capped Chickadee (1, calling along the Gill)
Carolina Wren (several heard)
Veery (1, Azalea Pond)
Swainson's Thrush (several)
American Robin (everywhere)
Gray Catbird
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing (a couple of small flyover flocks)
Northern Waterthrush (1, north end of Upper Lobe)
Tennessee Warbler (1, along the Gill)
Black-throated Green Warbler (1, the Belvedere)
Black-and-white Warbler (several)
Common Yellowthroat (several)
American Redstart (scattered individuals)
Northern Parula (1, along the Gill)
Scarlet Tanager (1, along the Gill)
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (several)
Common Grackle
House Sparrow

September 16 - Central Park - Beautiful morning with birds

A nice morning in Central Park for my Wednesday morning AMNH bird walk group - blue skies, pleasant temperatures and birds to see. It was not a major flight of migrants, but there were birds around if you hunted for them. The best areas were the Maintenance Meadow and immediately south of it and along the Gill southwest of the Azalea Pond. The total list of 40 species is below.

Canada Goose (2, the Lake)

Gadwall (Turtle Pond)

Mallard

Osprey (1, flying south over the Lake early)

American Coot (1, Turtle Pond - a surprise, they are usually on the Reservoir in the winter)

Rock Pigeon

Mourning Dove

Ruby-throated Hummingbird (1, s. end of Maintenance Meadow)

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Eastern Wood-Pewee (2, Lenore heard one at Belvedere; everyone saw one s of Maintenance Meadow)

Great Crested Flycatcher (1, spotted high in a tree by Lenore Swenson sw of Azalea Pond)

Red-eyed Vireo (along the Gill)

Blue Jay

American Crow (group of a dozen or more flew over)

Black-capped Chickadee (1, heard by Belvedere Castle)

White-breasted Nuthatch (1, heard)

House Wren (1, Hernshead)

Swainson's Thrush (various places)

American Robin (everywhere)

Gray Catbird

European Starling

Cedar Waxwing (small flocks flying over)

Ovenbird (1, path at s end of Maintenance Meadow)

Blue-winged Warbler (1, found by Chuck McAlexander s end of Maintenance Meadow)

Black-and-white Warbler

Common Yellowthroat

American Redstart

Northern Parula (1, along the Gill)

Magnolia Warbler (1, along the Gill)

Bay-breasted Warbler (1, briefly at the Belvedere)

Yellow Warbler

Blackpoll Warbler (1, along the Gill)

Prairie Warbler (1, along the Gill)

Scarlet Tanager (1, along the Gill)

Northern Cardinal

Rose-breasted Grosbeak (there have been individuals all around the Ramble for the last week)

Common Grackle

House Sparrow

September 15 - Central Park - a beautiful fall day

It was a beautiful day for the AMNH Tuesday morning and lunchtime bird walks in the Ramble in Central Park. Crystal blue skies with pleasant, cool temperatures in the morning. Still cloudless blue skies, though warmer at lunchtime. It was not a spectacular flight of birds by any means, but both walks had a few nice birds. There was at least a small hawk flight going over as evidenced by the harrier in the morning and the Red-Tail (high overhead) and the Osprey at lunchtime. The full lists are below.

Morning Walk (7-9 am)
Canada Goose (6, the Lake)
Mallard (the Lake)
Northern Harrier (imm., flyover)
Herring Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift (small flocks overhead)
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker (a number moving through)
Eastern Wood-Pewee (2, s. of Maintenance Meadow and along the Gill)
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (1, s. of Maintenance Meadow)
Blue Jay
Tufted Titmouse
Carolina Wren
House Wren (1)
Veery (1, Maintenance Meadow)
Swainson’s Thrush (3, Maintenance Meadow)
American Robin
Gray Catbird
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Northern Parula
Yellow Warbler (1, along Gill)
Blackpoll Warbler (1, s. of Maintenance Meadow - my first of the Fall)
Black-and-white Warbler
American Redstart
Common Yellowthroat
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Belvedere & along Gill)
Common Grackle
American Goldfinch (along Gill)
House Sparrow

Lunchtime walk (12 – 1:30 pm)
Canada Goose (2, the Lake)
Mallard (Turtle Pond)
Osprey (1, flyover by Turtle Pond)
Red-tailed Hawk (flyover Maintenance Meadow)
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Ruby-throated Hummingbird (the Oven)
Northern Flicker
Blue Jay
White-breasted Nuthatch (1)
American Robin
Gray Catbird
European Starling
Magnolia Warbler (1, Azalea Pond)
Black-throated Bluel Warbler (female, Azalea Pond)
Black-and-white Warbler
American Redstart
Hooded Warbler (male, north of the Oven)
Scarlet Tanager (along Gill)
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Azalea Pond)
Common Grackle
Baltimore Oriole (along Gill)
House Sparrow

September 11 - Central Park - Finally a fall morning

Finally a nice fall morning for the Friday morning AMNH Central Park bird walk group. Several times the skies looked threatening, but we never had any rain and the temperatures and humidity was pleasant for the first time this week. We found 31 species with six warblers. The list is below.

Canada Goose (the Lake)
Mallard
Gadwall (on Turtle Pond)
Herring Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
Black-capped Chickadee (Maintenance Meadow)
Tufted Titmouse
Veery
Swainson’s Thrush
American Robin
Gray Catbird
European Starling
Yellow Warbler (Belvedere)
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler (1)
American Redstart (including adult males)
Common Yellowthroat
Scarlet Tanager (along Gill)
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (1, along Gill)
Common Grackle
Baltimore Oriole (along Gill)
House Finch (along Gill)
American Goldfinch (along Gill)
House Sparrow

September 10 - Central Park - a bit wet

My first Thursday morning AMNH Central Park bird walk for the fall was a bit damp - actually it was just plain wet. For more than half the two hour walk there was a steady light rain, though there were clearer areas visible to the east. At one point we actually had some fairly bright sunshine while it continued to rain! Six intrepid birders met me at 7 am and did the whole two hours with me. We were actually rewarded with a few nice birds. The list follows.

Mallard
Gadwall (on Turtle Pond)
Solitary Sandpiper (2, on rocks below Belvedere Castle, south side Turtle Pond)
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift (about 20, flying north over Belvedere)
Blue Jay
White-breasted Nuthatch
Veery (south of feeders)
American Robin
Gray Catbird
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing (along Gill)
Northern Parula (along Gill)
American Redstart
Common Yellowthroat
Scarlet Tanager (2, along Gill)
Eastern Towhee (male, south of feeders)
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (1, along Gill)
Common Grackle
Baltimore Oriole (south of Gill)
House Sparrow

September 9 - Central Park - still warm, but a few birds

This morning was the first of my Wednesday morning AMNH bird walks in Central park for the Fall. It was a bit cooler than yesterday morning, but still warm and quite humid. The winds were from the south overnight, so it was not a good night for migration. Despite that we did manage to find a few birds. The total list of 36 species is below. [When I first posted this list I accidentally left off a few species - Thanks to Lenore Swenson for the heads-up.]

Canada Goose (6 on the Lake)

Mallard

Gadwall (on Turtle Pond)
Black-crowned Night-Heron (adult, Upper Lobe)

Herring Gull

Rock Pigeon

Mourning Dove

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Warbling Vireo (1, heard at north end of Maintenance Meadow)

Red-eyed Vireo 

Blue Jay

American Crow

Black-capped Chickadee (1, below Belvedere Castle)

White-breasted Nuthatch

Carolina Wren

Veery

American Robin

Gray Catbird

Northern Mockingbird (1, Maintenance Meadow)
European Starling

Northern Parula (along Gill)

Magnolia Warbler (2)

Black-and-white Warbler (1)

American Redstart

Northern Waterthrush (2, Hernshead and Upper Lobe)
Common Yellowthroat

Scarlet Tanager (along Gill)
Song Sparrow

Northern Cardinal

Rose-breasted Grosbeak (1, heard north side of Turtle Pond)

Common Grackle

Baltimore Oriole

House Finch (along Gill)

American Goldfinch (along Gill)

House Sparrow

September 8 - Central Park - AMNH fall walks begin.

My fall walks in Central Park for the American Museum of Natural History began today. Actually, my own walks begin tomorrow, but Paul Sweet, who leads the Tuesday morning and Tuesday lunchtime walks is out of the country so I am covering his walks while he is away. I did two walks today in the Ramble; the first from 7:00 - 9:00 am and the second from 12:00  - 1:30 pm.While the morning walk was in warm temperatures, the noon walk was probably in the hottest temperatures I have ever done any of the AMNH Central Park walks. Despite the unseasonable temperatures and southerly winda, which did not fave migration we did manage to see a few birds, though nothing unusual. Below are the lists for the two walks.

Morning walk
Canada Goose (6 on the Lake)
Mallard
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift (1, high over Maintenance Meadow)
Red-bellied Woodpecker (several heard)
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Warbling Vireo (1, heard at north end of Maintenance Meadow)
Red-eyed Vireo (1, Maintenance Meadow)
Blue Jay
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee (1, heard below Belvedere Castle)
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird (1, Maintenance Meadow)
American Redstart
Ovenbird (1, west of Tupelo Meadow)
Northern Waterthrush (1, by Oak Bridge at Upper Lobe)
Northern Cardinal
Common Grackle
House Sparrow

Lunchtime walk
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Blue Jay
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Northern Parula (1, near Azalea Pond)
Black-and-white Warbler (1, near Azalea Pond)
American Redstart (1, adult male near Azalea Pond)
Scarlet Tanager (1, by Azalea Pond)
Northern Cardinal
Common Grackle
Baltimore Oriole (1, sw of Azalea Pond)
House Sparrow

(By midday temperatures were in the 90's and the Lake was clear of waterfowl due to all the people and boats.)