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