Spring 2017 AMNH Central Park bird walks

I have tallied up the cumulative bird lists for my Wednesday and Thursday morning AMNH Central Park bird walks. The lists are posted as separate pages here on my blog. The Wednesday total list is here and the Thursday total list is here. I have also prepared a combined cumulative list for the two sets of walks that can be found here.

May 28 - Bashakill State WMA and Sterling Forest State Park

Ann and I spent the morning and early afternoon birding around Bashakill. It was a lovely late spring morning, if a bit cloudy. There are two active Bald Eagle nests in the area, each with two large young. One is visible from the Haven Road causeway and the other is in the same place it has been for some years now visible from the main boat launch. Other nice breeders seen and/or heard included Acadian Flycatcher, Prairie Warbler, and Indigo Bunting. We also saw a large Snapping Turtle walking across the edge of a field into the woods.

In the afternoon we stopped at Sterling Forest State Park in Orange County on the way back to the city. We were hoping to pick up Golden-winged Warbler. When we arrived at the end of Ironwood Road, we heard Common Raven calling from the ridge. Two other birders were just driving away, but they told us where they had heard and seen a Golden-winged. We headed to the spot and Ann immediately heard the Golden-winged singing. We tried for a while, but could not locate the bird. We continued up the trail, because it had sounded like the bird went that way. We were rewarded with two Broad-winged Hawks circling and calling overhead, but no Golden-winged. A Painted Turtle sitting on the side of the trail was our second turtle of the day. Finally, we headed back since we still had the drive back to the city and did not want to get caught in Sunday afternoon traffic. As we approached the original spot we heard the Golden-winged singing again. Finally, I spotted it perched up high in a tree. It gave us nice binocular views, but I was only able to get some distant pictures.

Golden-winged Warbler 05/28/2017 Sterling Forest State Park

It was a great end to a great two days of birding.

Below are our bird lists for Bashakill and Sterling Forest.

Bashakill
Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Bald Eagle
Mourning Dove
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Acadian Flycatcher
Willow Flycatcher
Eastern Phoebe
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
Yellow-throated Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
American Crow
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
House Wren
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Veery
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Black-and-white Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart
Yellow Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Chipping Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Scarlet Tanager
Indigo Bunting
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Baltimore Oriole
American Goldfinch

Sterling Forest 
Green Heron
Turkey Vulture
Broad-winged Hawk
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Pileated Woodpecker
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Common Raven
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Tufted Titmouse
American Robin
Golden-winged Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Yellow Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Northern Cardinal
Indigo Bunting
Brown-headed Cowbird
Baltimore Oriole

May 27 - Shawangunk Grasslands NWR and Bashakill State WMA

Ann and I visited the Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge in Ulster County last Saturday (May 21) as part of our Great Gull Island Birdathon. We were pleased to see Grasshopper Sparrow there. We were disappointed to hear afterward, that while we were there a Dickcissel was found, but word did not get out about it until later. A couple of days later birders who had gone to see the Dickcissel discovered a singing Henslow's Sparrow within sight of the Dickcissel. This was too good to pass up. So even though we normally avoid traveling on Memorial Day weekend we headed up on Saturday to look for the two birds. It was easy to find where the Henslow's was being seen. You just had to look for the group of birders. When we got there Junko Suzuki pointed out the Dickcissel perched up down the trail. We took a quick look at it and then waited with the other birders for the Henslow's. After about 30 minutes we heard it calling and then it popped up about 25 feet in front of us and provided great views for the next 15 minutes or so. Henslow's Sparrows used to nest on these grasslands, before it was a National Wildlife Refuge. In fact, this is where Ann saw her life Henslow's on a Birdathon thirty-four years ago, but they have been gone from the area for many years. It would be great if they are returning to the area as breeders.

Henslow's Sparrow 05/27/2017 Shawangunk Grasslands NWR

After the sparrow dropped back into the grass out of site we continued down the trail to a blind to get better looks at the Dickcissel. It never got as close as the Henslow's, but i was able to get some slightly blurry pictures.

Dickcissel 05/27/2017 Shawangunk Grasslands NWR

The whole time we were there Eastern Meadowlarks and Bobolinks were singing and flying around us.

Bobolink 05/27/2017 Shawangunk Grasslands NWR

After leaving the Shawangunk Grasslands NWR we drove down to Wurtsboro, NY where we were spending the night. After dinner at Danny's in Wurtsboro we birded around the nearby Bashakill State Wildlife Management Area from dusk until after dark. We heard both Least and American bitterns calling. A group of 10 - 12 Common Nighthawks were feeding over the have Road causeway across the marsh. After dark we heard Eastern Whip-poor-wills and a Barred Owl calling. It was a great end to a great day's birding.

Below are our lists for Shawangunk and Bashakill.

Shawangunk Grasslands
American Kestrel
Barn Swallow
Brown Thrasher
Savannah Sparrow
Henslow's Sparrow
Dickcissel
Bobolink
Red-winged Blackbird
Eastern Meadowlark
Common Grackle
American Goldfinch

Bashakill
Wood Duck
Pied-billed Grebe
American Bittern
Least Bittern
Green Heron
Bald Eagle
Common Gallinule
Barred Owl
Common Nighthawk
Eastern Whip-poor-will
Eastern Phoebe
Eastern Kingbird
Warbling Vireo
Fish Crow
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Veery
Common Yellowthroat
Yellow Warbler
Song Sparrow
Scarlet Tanager
Red-winged Blackbird

May 25 - Central Park

The last Thursday morning AMNH bird walk of the spring was done in a steady light rain. One brave soul joined me for the walk. We managed to find 24 species in the rain. We went from sheltered spot to sheltered spot, trying to stay as dry as we could. Our best bird was a nice view of a Great Crested Flycatcher seen from the Rustic Shelter on the western side of the Ramble. At one point we had both the Great Crested and a Baltimore Oriole in the same binocular field. I will post a cumulative bird list for the spring as soon as I compile it. Below is the final morning's list. I wish everyone a good summer. See you in the fall.

Canada Goose
Mallard
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Egret
Rock Pigeon
White-winged Dove
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Great Crested Flycatcher
Warbling Vireo
Blue Jay
Barn Swallow
Swainson's Thrush
American Robin
Gray Catbird
European Starling
Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart
Magnolia Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Baltimore Oriole
House Sparrow

May 24 - Central Park

This was the last Wednesday morning AMNH walk of the season. We started out with some light rain, but it quickly stopped. We managed to find 36 species in the two hours. The best bird was a single Gray-cheeked Thrush. The full morning's list is below. I will compile a cumulative list for the season and get it posted as soon as I can. In the meantime i wish all my walk participants a good summer.

Canada Goose
Mallard
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Egret
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Red-tailed Hawk
Herring Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
Gray-cheeked Thrush
Swainson's Thrush
American Robin
Gray Catbird
European Starling
Ovenbird
Northern Waterthrush
Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart
Magnolia Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
White-throated Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Baltimore Oriole
House Sparrow

May 21 - Birdathon - Day 2

It has been a week since the Birdathon and I am still working on an account of our two days of birding madness. In the meantime, I will post that we found 186 species for the weekend. This is I believe just about our average number over the last ten or so Birdathons. More to come.

May 20 - Great Gull Island Birdathon - Day 1

It is 10:30 Saturday night. I have been up since 1:30 am (birding since 2:00 am). I have to get up again at 3:15 am for day 2 of the Birdathon (yes, I know we are crazy). Obviously, an actual report will have to wait. Our total for day 1 was 126 species (pending any hanging chads - but I think that number is pretty firm). That is a decent day 1 total, but probably not enough for us to set a personal record, though tomorrow will tell. In the meantime, here is the view at Bashakill Marsh this morning a few minutes before sun-up.

Bashakill Marsh - sun-up - 05/20/2017

May 19 - Central Park

After the early morning R-t Loon (see previous post), I was down in Central Park leading Paul Sweet's Friday morning AMNH bird walk. It was hot and fewer birds than earlier in the week, but we still had some nice birds. Easily the best was the fairly cooperative male Bay-breasted Warbler on the Belvedere Castle plaza. Somewhat surprising was an Eastern Phoebe at Hernshead - it is getting later for this bird in the park. Our full list of 35 species is below.

Canada Goose
Mallard
Great Egret (3, two flying over the Lake; one at Turtle Pond
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift (8, oerhead at Maintenance meadow)
Red-bellied Woodpecker (heard)
Downy Woodpecker (heard)
Northern Flicker (heard)
Eastern Wood-Pewee (1, heard and seen)
Eastern Phoebe (1, Hernshead)
Great Crested Flycatcher (1, maybe 2; heard)
Eastern Kingbird (1, Hernshead)
Warbling Vireo (3, heard)
Blue Jay
Tufted Titmouse 91, heard)
Swainson's Thrush (2)
American Robin
Gray Catbird
European Starling
Northern Waterthrush (1, heard)
Common Yellowthroat (2)
American Redstart (4)
Magnolia Warbler (4)
Bay-breasted Warbler (1, male, Belvedere)

Bay-breasted Warbler 05/19/2017 Central Park

Blackpoll Warbler (8, males and females)
Black-throated Blue Warbler (2, females)
Song Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Baltimore Oriole
House Finch (1, female)

House Sparrow

May 19 - Inwood Hill Park - Red-throated Loon

I woke up at 5:30 this morning to start a busy day. Before I had even gotten out of bed, my phone chimed to indicate an incoming message. I thought I should check it in case there was something interesting being reported from Central Park where I was going to be leading a bird walk later in the morning. It turned out to be a tweet from Nathan O'Reilly to the Manhattan Bird Alert Twitter feed. The message said: "A late Red-throated Loon at Muscota Marsh in Inwood Hill Park. 5:35am". I grabbed my binoculars and looked out the window - a winter plumaged Red-throated Loon was swimming away from the marsh. While it was not new for my apartment list, it is only the second I have had. Nice way to start the day!

May 18 - Central Park

Another big flight of migrants on radar last night; another disappointing morning. I suppose the disappointment is actually relative. Most of the spring has been so cool and wet and the migration has been so slow that everyone was looking for some spectacular flights this week now that the winds were predicted to be favorable (SW) and the temperatures were warming up. Indeed, Tuesday morning (which based on the overnight radar on Monday night was expected to be middling) was, in fact, quite good. The next two mornings, which everyone thought would be even better, just didn't measure up. This does not mean that we had a very poor morning, just a disappointing one. My Thursday AMNH bird walk group tallied forty species, with ten warblers, about half the warbler total of Tuesday morning. It would seem that the last two nights were so favorable for migration that the big numbers of birds picked up on radar just kept on going. Nevertheless, we had some nice birds: Great Crested Flycatcher, male Bay-breasted Warbler, and a male Scarlet Tanager. The list is below.

Canada Goose
Mallard
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Egret (1, flyover)
Herring Gull (2, flyovers)
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Red-bellied Woodpecker (heard)
Downy Woodpecker (heard)
Northern Flicker
Eastern Wood-Pewee (1, heard)
Great Crested Flycatcher (1, west of Azalea Pond)
Eastern Kingbird (3, Hernshead and Turtle Pond)
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo (3, heard)
Blue Jay
Tufted Titmouse (heard)
White-breasted Nuthatch (1)
Swainson's Thrush (1)
American Robin
Gray Catbird
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing (6, flock flying over)
Ovenbird (1)
Northern Waterthrush (1, heard)
Black-and-white Warbler (4)
Common Yellowthroat (3)
American Redstart (4)
Magnolia Warbler (6)
Bay-breasted Warbler (1, male se of Turtle Pond)
Blackpoll Warbler (5)
Canada Warbler (1, male singing south side of Turtle Pond)
Wilson's Warbler (1)
White-throated Sparrow (1)
Scarlet Tanager (1)

Scarlet Tanager 05/18/2017 Central Park

Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Baltimore Oriole
House Sparrow

May 17 - Central Park

Radar last night indicated a huge flight of birds through our area. Based on this morning's walk in Central Park, the important word in the previous sentence is "through". While there were indeed birds around, it was no where near as impressive or diverse as yesterday morning. We found fourteen warblers this morning, which was nice, but it seemed so much less than yesterday's nineteen and the numbers of individuals seen as down also. However, flycatcher diversity doubled, including the first Olive-sided Flycatcher of the year, plus an unidentified Empidonax on the south side of Turtle Pond. The full list of 43 species is below.

Canada Goose
Mallard
Double-crested Cormorant
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift (2, overhead)
Red-bellied Woodpecker (1, heard)
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker (1, heard)
Olive-sided Flycatcher (1, north of the Gill)
Eastern Wood-Pewee (1, west of park drive, 77th Street, calling)
Empidonax sp.? (1, south side Turtle Pond)
Great Crested Flycatcher (1, south side Maintenance Meadow)
Eastern Kingbird (1, path to Belvedere)
Blue-headed Vireo (1)
Warbling Vireo (2)
Red-eyed Vireo (4)
Blue Jay
Swainson's Thrush (1)
American Robin
Gray Catbird
European Starling (begging young all over)

young European Starling - 05/17/2017 - Central Park

Cedar Waxwing (8)
Ovenbird (2)
Northern Waterthrush (2)
Black-and-white Warbler (4)
Common Yellowthroat (3)
American Redstart (4)
Northern Parula (4)
Magnolia Warbler (4)
Blackburnian Warbler (1, female, south side Turtle Pond)
Yellow Warbler (1, Belvedere)
Blackpoll Warbler (2)
Black-throated Blue Warbler (1, heard)
Yellow-rumped Warbler (2, Belvedere)
Canada Warbler (1, south side Turtle Pond)
Wilson's Warbler (3)
Scarlet Tanager (2)
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Baltimore Oriole
House Finch
House Sparrow

May 16 - Central Park (lunchtime)

Today, I was back in Central Park in the Ramble at lunchtime, filling in again for Paul Sweet on his mid-day AMNH bird walk. It was not as busy as this morning, but there were still a fair number of birds around. Even before we entered the park we were looking down at an American Robin nest with young just off Central Park West.

American Robin with young in nest (lower left) - 05/16/2017 - Central Park

There were far more people in the park on this beautiful, sunny spring day than there had been around in the morning. That made the birding harder, but we still managed to find 36 species, including 12 warblers. The full list is below.

Mallard
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift (at least 10 overhead; mainly over the southeast side of Turtle Pond)
Red-bellied Woodpecker (1, heard)
Downy Woodpecker
Warbling Vireo (2)
Red-eyed Vireo (2, heard)
Blue Jay
Black-capped Chickadee (1, heard)
Veery (1)
Swainson's Thrush (1)
American Robin
Gray Catbird (5)

bathing Gray Catbird (in a rain puddle) - 05/16/2017 - Central Park

European Starling
Ovenbird (4)
Northern Waterthrush (3)
Black-and-white Warbler (4)
Common Yellowthroat (2)
American Redstart (5, including 1st year male)
Northern Parula (4)
Magnolia Warbler (5)

Magnolia Warbler - 05/16/2017 -Central Park

Chestnut-sided Warbler (1)
Blackpoll Warbler (2)

Blackpoll Warbler - 05/16/2017 - Central Park

Black-throated Blue Warbler (1)
Yellow-rumped Warbler (2)
Black-throated Green Warbler (1)
Canada Warbler (1)

Canada Warbler - 05/16/2017 - Central Park

White-throated Sparrow
Scarlet Tanager
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Baltimore Oriole
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow

My total count for the day, combining the morning and lunchtime walks was 51 species.

May 16 - Central Park (morning)

This morning I filled in for Paul Sweet on his Tuesday morning AMNH bird walk in Central Park. It was easily the best morning of the spring so far (at least for warblers). We started well with two Eastern Kingbirds at and a Wilson's Warbler at Hernshead and then a singing Least Flycatcher as we left there for the Ramble. By the Humming Tombstone there was a Bay-breasted Warbler seen briefly, but we oved on quickly from there because of the disturbance caused by someone loudly playing recordings. The Belvedere was fruitful with the highlight there a gorgeous male Cape May Warbler. Along the south side of Turtle Pond we really struck it big with lots of warbler variety including three male Blackburnian Warblers. At one point we were using one of the Blackburnians as a landmark to get people on the nearby Worm-eating Warbler. My total was 45 species with 19 warblers for the two hour walk.

Canada Goose
Mallard
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Egret

Great Egret 05/16/2017 south side of Turtle Pond

Black-crowned Night-Heron (2, both flying)
Spotted Sandpiper (1, the Lake from Hernshead)
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Red-bellied Woodpecker (heard)
Downy Woodpecker (heard)
Northern Flicker (heard)
Least Flycatcher (1, Hernshead)
Eastern Kingbird (2, Hernhead)
Warbling Vireo (3)
Red-eyed Vireo (4)
Blue Jay
Swainson's Thrush (1)
American Robin
Gray Catbird
European Starling
Ovenbird (2, heard)
Worm-eating Warbler (1, south side Turtle Pond)
Northern Waterthrush (1, heard)
Black-and-white Warbler (5)
Common Yellowthroat (2)
American Redstart (5)
Cape May Warbler (1, male, Belvedere)
Northern Parula (6)
Magnolia Warbler (4)
Bay-breasted Warbler (1)
Blackburnian Warbler (3)

Blackburnian Warbler - 05/16/2017 - s. side Turtle Pond

Yellow Warbler (2)
Chestnut-sided Warbler (2)
Blackpoll Warbler (2)
Black-throated Blue Warbler (3)
Yellow-rumped Warbler (1)
Black-throated Green Warbler (2)
Canada Warbler (2)
Wilson's Warbler (2)
Scarlet Tanager (1, female, upper Lobe)
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Baltimore Oriole
House Sparrow

May 11 - Central Park

What a difference a day makes! Yesterday morning was cool with a light northerly breeze. This morning was the same. However, yesterday there was great birding in the park, but this morning things were relatively quiet for my Thursday AMNH bird walk group. instead of yesterday's total of over fifty species, this morning we only found thirty-seven.A nice non-avian sighting was the lady's-slippers in bloom near Azalea Pond.

Lady's-slipper 05/11/2017 Central Park

The full bird list is below.

Canada Goose
Mallard
Double-crested Cormorant
Herring Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Great Crested Flycatcher (1, heard)
Blue-headed Vireo (2)
Warbling Vireo (1, Hernshead)
Red-eyed Vireo (2, near weather station)
Blue Jay
American Robin
Gray Catbird
European Starling
Ovenbird (3)
Northern Waterthrush (1)
Black-and-white Warbler (4)
Common Yellowthroat (3)
American Redstart (4)
Northern Parula (3)
Magnolia Warbler (2)
Yellow Warbler (2)
Yellow-rumped Warbler (6)
Black-throated Green Warbler (2)
Wilson's Warbler (1, Turtle Pond)
Eastern Towhee
Song Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Northern Cardinal

Northern Cardinal 05/11/2017 Central Park

Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Baltimore Oriole
House Sparrow

May 10 - Central Park

Finally, a nice selection of birds on a mid-May morning. It was still a cool morning with light northerly winds for my Wednesday AMNH bird walk group, but it was easily our best morning of the spring so far. By my count the group had 53 species over 2.5 hours (some of us stayed in until 9:30, a half an hour past our official ending time of 9:00 am). Personally I tallied 48 species, but some members of the group added another five species that I missed, usually by being in the wrong place or looking in the wrong direction as something flew over. The list included eighteen warblers with a few nice ones such as Cape May and Bay-breasted. The areas around the weather station, Belvedere Castle and the south side of Turtle Pond were so productive we never made it into the Ramble proper. After walking through the Maintenance Meadow, which was surprisingly quiet, we just headed out along the edge of the Tupelo Meadow since it was now well after our regular ending time of 9:00 am. The full list is below.

Canada Goose
Mallard
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Egret (1, the Lake)
Black-crowned Night-Heron (1, the Lake)
Red-tailed Hawk (1, overhead)
Merlin (1, flying south over the Lake when we started)
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift (1, flyover)
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Eastern Wood-Pewee (1)
Least Flycatcher (1)
Blue-headed Vireo (1)
Warbling Vireo (2, Hernshead)
Blue Jay
Barn Swallow (1, flyover)
Tufted Titmouse (heard)
Wood Thrush (1, heard by Maintenance Meadow)
Swainson's Thrush (1, weather station)
American Robin
Gray Catbird
European Starling
Ovenbird (4, heard and seen)
Worm-eating Warbler (2, Upper Lobe and by weather station)
Northern Waterthrush (1, singing near hernshead)
Blue-winged Warbler (1, weather station)
Black-and-white Warbler (4)
Common Yellowthroat (4)
American Redstart (5, including first year males)
Cape May Warbler (2, weather station and Tupelo Meadow)
Northern Parula (6)
Magnolia Warbler (2)
Bay-breasted Warbler (1-2, weather station and Belvedere; possibly the same bird)
Blackpoll Warbler (1, weather station)
Yellow Warbler (3; including a cooperative one by the Belvedere Castle))

Yellow Warbler 05/10/2017 Central Park

Chestnut-sided Warbler (1, male, weather station)
Black-throated Blue Warbler (2)
Yellow-rumped Warbler (5)
Black-throated Green Warbler (1)
Wilson's Warbler (1, male, Hernshead)
White-throated Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow (1, adult by Bevedere Castle)
Scarlet Tanager (3, female and 2 males west of Tupelo)
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (1, heard singing near Belvedere)
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Baltimore Oriole (6)
House Finch (2, east of Maintenance building)
House Sparrow

May 8 - Inwood Hill Park

I went into Inwood Hill Park for a few hours Monday morning with some visiting birders. While it was mostly sunny, it was still cool and somewhat slow birding for the eight of May. Migration continues to be slow, apparently due to all the adverse northerly winds and cool temperatures.We still managed to find forty-seven species in about four hours in the park, but with only eight warblers.

Canada Goose
Mallard
Great Egret
Red-tailed Hawk
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Great Crested Flycatcher (1, calling up on ridge)
Blue-headed Vireo (1)
Warbling Vireo (along edge of soccer fields)
Blue Jay
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
Swainson's Thrush
Wood Thrush (2, in the Clove)
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
Ovenbird (1)
Black-and-white Warbler (1)
Common Yellowthroat (1, singing along the north side of the Clove)
American Redstart (4)
Northern Parula (2)
Black-throated Blue Warbler (1, male on the ridge)
Yellow-rumped Warbler (8)
Black-throated Green Warbler (1, singing on the ridge)
Eastern Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (1, male on the ridge)
Indigo Bunting (1, singing on south side of soccer fields)
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Orchard Oriole (2, adult male n. side of soccer fields; 1st year male on ridge)
Baltimore Oriole (6, all over)
House Finch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow

May 6 & 7 - Catskills

Ann and I went with our friend Georgia up to the Catskills for the weekend to visit another friend who has a lovely 18th Century farmhouse near the Ashokan Reservoir in Ulster county over the weekend. We went for the same weekend last year. Last year we found 66 species over the weekend; this year with the cool, wet spring we have been having our total was ten species lower - 56 species. Nevertheless, and despite cool temperatures and on and off rain over the weekend we had a wonderful time. Vince has extensive woods on his property and nearby and we went for a number of birding walks. On of the fun non-avian finds was the "Red Eft" juvenile, terrestrial phase of the Eastern Newt we found crossing a gravel road through the woods.

"Red Eft" (Notophthalmus viridescens)

Our total bird list is below.

Canada Goose (Ashoka Reservoir and heard along the nearby Esopus Creek)
Bufflehead (1, male on the reservoir)
Common Merganser (2 - 3 pairs on reservoir)

male Common Merganser

Common Loon (1, on resevoir)
Double-crested Cormorant (1, on Reservoir)
Turkey Vulture (several)
Osprey (1, over resevoir)
Bald Eagle (1 adult over reservoir)
Red-tailed Hawk (1)
Mourning Dove
Barred Owl (2, heard at night and just after dawn from house)
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Downy Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker (a couple heard, but Vince photographed one outside his window after we left)
Eastern Phoebe (nesting in Vince's garage)
Great Crested Flycatcher (several)
Yellow-throated Vireo (1, heard)
Blue-headed Vireo (2 - 3)
Warbling Vireo (1, heard)
Red-eyed Vireo (1, heard)
Blue Jay
American Crow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow (1, over Esopus Creek)
Tree Swallow (over reservoir)
Barn Swallow (over a nearby pond)
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse (lots)
White-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
House Wren (nesting by house)
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Eastern Bluebird (pair on phone lines on front lawn)

female Eastern Bluebird

Hermit Thrush
Wood Thrush
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Ovenbird
Louisiana Waterthrush (1, singing in wet area near house)
Nashville Warbler (1, singing by Esopus Creek)
American Redstart (lots)
Northern Parula
Yellow Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Eastern Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Scarlet Tanager (1, male)
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird (by resevoir)
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Baltimore Oriole
House Finch
American Goldfinch

May 4 - Central Park

Another beautiful morning in Central Park, this time for my Thursday AMNH bird walk group. This is the first week since the spring walks started at the beginning of April that both Wednesday and Thursday mornings had good weather. For the last month it has alternated between the two walks as to which one was the wet one. Though the weather was sunny with bright blue skies, it was a bit cooler than yesterday and with somewhat fewer birds. Nevertheless, we still had a good list of 42 species with some new ones not seen yesterday. The best was a female Orchard Oriole on Hernshead soon after we started. Another good find at Hernshead was a Least Flycatcher. I also got into the park again at lunchtime and picked up a few more species on my own (see below). The photos were taken on my lunchtime break.

Canada Goose
Mallard
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Egret (1, The Lake)
Turkey Vulture (1, distant flyover seen from Turtle Pond)
Ring-billed Gull (flyover)
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Least Flycatcher (1, Hiernshead)
Blue-headed Vireo (1, heard by King of Poland statue)
Blue Jay
Tufted Titmouse
Veery
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
Gray Catbird
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing (2, Tupelo Meadow)
Ovenbird (3)
Northern Waterthrush (8, they seemed to be everywhere, singing)
Black-and-white Warbler (4)

Black-and-white Warbler (female) 05/04/2017

Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler (1, heard singing south of "Humming Tombstone")
Black-throated Blue Warbler (2)
Yellow-rumped Warbler (still lots around)

Yellow-rumped Warbler 05/04/2017

Prairie Warbler (1, Hernshead)
Black-throated Green Warbler (2)
Eastern Towhee (1, heard)
Chipping Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Orchard Oriole (1, female, Hernshead)
House Sparrow

On my lunchtime walk I added a few species to my personal day list in the park. Easily the best was the Red-headed Woodpecker that has been frequenting the feeders periodically over the last few days.

Red-headed Woodpecker and House Sparrow 05/04/2017

I will end with a picture of a Mayapple flower, many of which are in full bloom now in the Ramble.

Mayapple 05/04/2017

May 3 - Central Park

Finally, a beautiful morning for one of my AMNH Central Park walks! Crystal blue skies and some birds! As we walked onto Hernshead we could hear that the Warbling Vireos had finally arrived, with at least two singing. On the shoreline there was a Solitary Sandpiper and two Spotted Sandpipers. A singing Northern Waterthrush was the first of 13 warblers for the morning. The best bird of the morning was a Black-billed Cuckoo in the Maintenance Meadow. We ended with a total of 48 species.

Canada Goose
Mallard
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Egret (1, the Lake)
Black-crowned Night-Heron (2, the Lake and the Upper Lobe)
Spotted Sandpiper (2, Hernshead)
Solitary Sandpiper (1, Hernshead)
Ring-billed Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Black-billed Cuckoo (1, Maintenance Meadow)
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker

Northern Flicker 05/03/2017 Central Park

Blue-headed Vireo (1)
Warbling Vireo
Blue Jay
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Veery (2)
Hermit Thrush (1)
American Robin
Gray Catbird
European Starling
Ovenbird (4)

Oenbird 05/03/2017 Central Park

Northern Waterthrush (2)
Black-and-white Warbler (3)
Tennessee Warbler (1, heard only, Turtle Pond)
Common Yellowthroat (1)
American Redstart (3)
Northern Parula (2)
Magnolia Warbler (1, Azalea Pond)
Yellow Warbler (1, heard only)
Black-throated Blue Warbler (1)
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler (2)
Wilson's Warbler (1, Hernshead)
Eastern Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Scarlet Tanager (1, Balcony Bridge)
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Baltimore Oriole (2)
House Finch
House Sparrow

I went back into the park briefly at lunchtime and was rewarded with two lovely Cape May Warblers on Summit Rock.

Cape May Warbler 05/03/2017 Central Park

May 2 - Inwood Hill Park

I went into the park for about two hours this morning. It was not as birdy as I thought it might be, but still I found 43 species. The highlight was on the way out when i encountered the winter plumaged Red-throated Loon that James Knox had reported yesterday. It was in one of the channels of water north of the soccer field that are present when the tine is partway in (or out). I have seen the species here before, but that was in the winter. In the spring it is possible to spot one (or a Common Loon) flying over, but it is surprising to find one lingering in the waters around the park. This bird may be oiled - at least it appears to have something on the underside, visible when it reared up out of the water.

Red-throated Loon 05/02/2017 Inwood Hill Park

Red-throated Loon 05/02/2017 Inwood Hill Park

Another surprise was a group of eleven Leasst Sandpipers on the mudflats north of the soccer fields at the north end of the park.

Least Sandpipers 05/02/2017

The full list (including nine warblers) is below.

Canada Goose
Mallard
Red-throated Loon
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Egret
Red-tailed Hawk
Least Sandpiper
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Great Crested Flycatcher
Warbling Vireo
Blue Jay
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
Veery
Wood Thrush

Wood Thrush working on a nest 05/02/2017 Inwood Hill Park

American Robin
Gray Catbird
European Starling
Ovenbird
Blue-winged Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
Nashville Warbler
American Redstart
Northern Parula
Yellow Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Eastern Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
Baltimore Oriole
House Sparrow

April 28/29/30 - Great Gull Island

This past weekend we did the move out to Great Gull Island to start the 2017 field season. Matthew Male has actually been out on the island for a couple of weeks now clearing areas with the tractor. We were supposed to go out last weekend, but the seas were too rough for a landing so we had to put it off for a week. This week we made it out with all the gear from the Museum as well as loads of lumber and firewood. Matthew had seen a few tern scouts during the week and about sixty birds Friday (04/28) morning. A couple of hundred Common Terns and three Roseate Terns came in Saturday before sunup and more birds on Sunday. Saturday morning in the fog a number of migrants also dropped out of the sky. The pines by the Carpenter Shop attracted most of the passerines seen. Over the weekend we found 55 species, with 50 on Saturday alone. The list is below with a few pictures.

Canada Goose
American Black Duck
Common Eider
White-winged Scoter
Red-breasted Merganser
Common Loon
Northern Gannet
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Egret
Osprey
Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Merlin
Peregrine Falcon
Killdeer
American Oystercatcher
Spotted Sandpiper
Greater Yellowlegs
Purple Sandpiper
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Roseate Tern
Common Tern
Mourning Dove
Downy Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

Blue-headed Vireo
American Crow
Barn Swallow
Red-breasted Nuthatch

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Carolina Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Gray-cheeked Thrush (1, early for this species and rare on Great Gull Island)
Hermit Thrush
Gray Catbird
European Starling
Ovenbird
Black-and-white Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Northern Parula
Yellow Warbler
Palm Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler

Black-throated Green Warbler

Eastern Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird

Red-winged Blackbbird displaying

Brown-headed Cowbird
House Finch
American Goldfinch