January 7 - Inwood Hill Park - Gadwall and lots of Mourning Doves

I went for a mid-day walk around Inwood Hill Park today. One surprise was a male Gadwall in the bay north of the soccer fields. Though this is not an uncommon duck in the NYC region, it is uncommon in Inwood. I think I have only seen it in the park twice before. The tide was going out rapidly and the bay was already partly mudflats. After only a few minutes the Gadwall took off and disappeared towards the Hudson River.

Gadwall 01/07/2016 Inwood Hill Park

Once again, as on yesterday's walk, the woods on the ridge were fairly quiet. there were a few Black-capped Chickadees, Tufted Titmice, White-breasted Nuthatch, White-throated Sparrows, Dark-eyed Juncos, and single Red-bellied and Hairy woodpeckers. On the way back out of the park i was surprised by the numbers of Mourning Doves feeding on the soccer fields. I estimated there were sixty or more scattered around the field. Mixed in were few female Red-winged Blackbirds, and some Brown-headed Cowbirds.

some of the Mourning Doves feeding on the soccer fields 01/07/2016 Inwood Hill Park

In a tree on West 218th, near the corner of Indian Road, the large White-faced Hornet nest from this summer is rapidly deteriorating.

old hornet nest 01/07/2016 Inwood Hill Park