May 2 - Central Park

We seem to have skipped spring and gone straight to summer, at least as far as the temperatures are concerned. In NYC today it broke 90° F. Local birders have been watching the weather maps and waiting for today for nearly a week. Last night's radar showed a fairly major migration taking place all along the East Coast. This morning there was certainly a bigger variety of birds around the Ramble in Central Park than we have had on any of my previous AMNH bird walks this spring, however, the huge influx of migrants many of us hoped for did not happen. This is not to say the morning was a disappointment. It wasn't. It just didn't live up to the hype of the last week. Nevertheless, my Wednesday group that started at 9:00 am did tally 45 species, with 12 warblers. We did continue a bit after our scheduled finish time of 11:00. I had gone in to the park earlier at 7:00 with a handful of my regular participants to scout ahead of the walk. During that earlier period we found 36 species with 11 warblers. As the regular walk ended and we were on the Oak Bridge at the Upper Lobe we had 10 warblers. I suggested we check the stream above Triplets Bridge to try for a Northern Waterthrush as our eleventh warbler. From the bridge on the park drive we immediately spotted a Northern Waterthrush. While I added that bird to our total and closed out my eBirds checklist on my iPad another waterthrush appeared and chased the first one. When I looked down at it I realized it was a Louisiana Waterthrush. It is one of a very few times that I have seen the two species together and they provided a nice opportunity for people to compare the differences between the two. The Louisiana's whiter, broader eyestripe was very apparent, as was its generally lighter tone. It is also fractionally larger than the Northern, but that is not something you would readily notice when seeing the birds separately.

Before presenting the full list of 45 species below, here is a picture of a White Trillium, one of several we saw on the way out of the Ramble. Below the trip list are six additional species seen on the earlier foray into the Ramble, bringing my mornings total to 51 species.

White Trillium 05/02/2018

Canada Goose
Mallard
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Egret (1, the Lake)
Green Heron (1, flying high over Azalea Pond, calling)
Red-tailed Hawk (1)
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Blue-headed Vireo (3)
Warbling Vireo (1, Maintenance Meadow)
Red-eyed Vireo (1)
Blue Jay
Tufted Titmouse (2, heard calling)
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (at least 10, scattered around)
Veery (1, Maintenance Meadow)
Hermit Thrush (2)
American Robin
Gray Catbird (3)
European Starling
Ovenbird (2)
Louisiana Waterthrush (1, see above)
Northern Waterthrush (1, see above. Also one seen and heard singing at the Upper Lobe early)
Blue-winged Warbler (1, early and regular walk)
Black-and-white Warbler (at least 6)
Common Yellowthroat (1, shore of the Lake)
Hooded Warbler (1, male; unfortunately only seen by a few people west of Maintenance Meadow)
American Redstart (1, male; early and regular walk)
Magnolia Warbler (1, male, Maintenance Meadow; same place early and regular walk)
Black-throated Blue Warbler (about 6 scattered around)
Yellow-rumped Warbler (scattered individuals)
Prairie Warbler (1, male; early and regular walk)
Eastern Towhee (1, heard)
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow (1, with the waterthrushes; the rufous crown practically glowed)
White-throated Sparrow (20+)
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (1, male; above the Upper Lobe)
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Baltimore Oriole (1, maybe 2)
American Goldfinch (2)
House Sparrow

The six additional species seen on the 7:00 am scout were:
Spotted Sandpiper (1, flying across the Lake)
Herring Gull (1, overhead)
Chimney Swift (1, high over the Maintenance Meadow)
White-breasted Nuthatch (1, the feeders)
Swainsons's Thrush (1)
Northern Parula (2)