May 26 - Central Park - Mourning Warbler

Even warmer this morning than yesterday. As with my Wednesday morning AMNH Central Park bird walk group, last week was the last official walk, but I did one more this morning for the Thursday group. Also as with yesterday's extra walk for the Wednesday group, today's extra walk for the Thursday group was worth the trip. We had slightly fewer birds than yesterday, notably we missed yesterday's flycatchers, but we still had ten species of warblers and some quality birds. Easily the best was a singing male Mourning Warbler just south of the west side of Oak Bridge by the Upper Lobe. The bird exhibited its usual skulking behavior, but most of the group managed to get some good views. We then headed up towards the Belvedere Castle where the same Honey Locust tree that was so active with warblers yesterday was again a focus of attention for birds and birders, Again this morning there were at least six species of warblers feeding in the tree as well as Red-eyed and Warbling vireos. One Warbling Vireo was particularly accommodating to having its picture taken.

Warbling Vireo 05/26/2016 Central Park

 Later, we got a quick view of a Black-billed Cuckoo flying away from the same tree, south of the Maintenance Meadow that the Least Flycatcher was in yesterday. In the end we found 34 species for the morning. The full list of 34 species is below. I will be posting as a separate page the cumulative list totals for the Wednesday and Thursday walks.

Finally, to end with a non-bird sighting, here is one of the Red-eared Sliders on a floating branch south of Oak Bridge.

Red-eared Slider 05/26/2016 Central Park

Canada Goose
Gadwall
Mallard
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Black-billed Cuckoo
Chimney Swift
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
Gray-cheeked Thrush
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
Black-and-white Warbler
Mourning Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Eastern Towhee
Northern Cardinal
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Baltimore Oriole
House Sparrow