March 13 - Inwood Hill Park - early spring flowers

It has been a while since I posted on this blog. Ann and I did a trip to the Dominican Republic in late-January to early-February (I will post some birds and things from that trip when I get a chance) and then I have been otherwise occupied.

We finally got into Inwood Hill Park on Sunday afternoon, March 13 to look for early spring signs. The Snowdrop flowers were well past their prime, but we were not disappointed to find other early flowers in bloom. On the ridge, just after coming up through the Clove we found a Forsythia just starting to bloom.

Forsythia 03-13-2016 Inwood Hill Park

Not far away a few Periwinkles were also open.

Periwinkle 03-13-2016 Inwood Hill Park

And later, coming down off the ridge we found some of the Daffodils opening, with one flower that was in a little warm microclimate next to an east facing wall where it got the most sun and warmth in the morning, fully open.

Daffodil 03-13-2016 Inwood Hill Park

 A Red Maple was also starting to bloom on the northeast side of the ridge.

Among the birds there were Common Grackles flying around and lots of American Robins on the lawns just in from 218th Street. We were hoping for some Eastern Phoebes, but did not see or hear any. Small flocks of Dark-eyed Juncos and White-throated Sparrows were found feeding in the leaf litter in a number of places.

White-throated Sparrow 03-13-2016 Inwood Hill Park

Off the northwest corner of the soccer fields a bright male Red-bellied Woodpecker was feeding at the base of a tree near the water's edge.

Red-bellied Woodpecker 03-13-2016 Inwood Hill Park

Unfortunately, I am going to be busy the rest of the week, so I will have to wait until next weekend to look for more signs of spring in the park.