Crystal blue skies and cool temperatures this morning for a walk in Inwood Hill Park. As in recent days, Red-winged Blackbirds were singing along the water's edge on the north side of the soccer fields.
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| Red-winged Blackbird calling 04/24/2016 Inwood Hill Park |
On Friday morning I had found Savannah, Swamp, and two Field sparrows on the soccer fields. There was no sign of those birds this morning, but there were a few Brown-headed Cowbirds and Chipping Sparrows feeding on the grass. As I started into the Clove, I encountered Danny Karlson and we joined forces. In recent days there were usually White-throated Sparrows feeding on the ground in the woods and singing everywhere. This morning we did not see or hear any. Up on the ridge, I finally saw my first Palm Warbler of the spring. I believe Danny had seen them at least a week ago, and I know they have been seen all week down in Central Park, but they had eluded me until today. The Palm was followed in quick succession by a Yellow-rumped Warbler and then a Black-and-white Warbler. These were the only warbler species we found this morning. On Friday morning I had encountered a Louisiana Waterthrush, an uncommon species in the park. On the ridge we ran into James Knox and Nadir Souirgi. They had heard and seen a Prairie Warbler shortly before we met them, but we never refound it. The four of us continued along the ridge. Lots of the residents were calling and singing, but the only other notable migrant encountered was a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. My full list of thirty-five bird species for the morning is below.
More and more wildflowers are coming into bloom. A couple I photographed this morning were Virginia Bluebell and White Trillium.
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| Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica) 04/24/2016 Inwood |
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| White Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum) 04/24/2016 Inwood |
Canada Goose
Mallard
Great Egret
Red-tailed Hawk
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Belted Kingfisher (1, heard)
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Blue Jay
Black-capped Chickadee (singing)
Tufted Titmouse (singing)
White-breasted Nuthatch (calling)
Carolina Wren (singing)
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
Black-and-white Warbler
Palm Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Eastern Towhee (calling)
Chipping Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
House Finch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow
On my way out, I couldn't resist a Great Egret that was "ready for his close-up"!
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| Great Egret 04/24/2016 Inwood |
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