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