April 15 - Inwood Hill Park

It was a lovely, sunny morning before the clouds came in later in the day. The birding was surprisingly quiet considering the pleasant spring weather. However, there were plenty of other natural history subjects of interest to be found. On Tuesday I had found a few Dutchman's-breeches wildflowers in bloom. Now the were large carpets of them in bloom in the Clove. Up on the ridge the first of the Cut-leaf Toothwort was in bloom.

Cut-leaf Toothwort 04/15/2017

Periwinkle and Lesser Celandine was in bloom everywhere. Along the stone wall of the overlook above the Indian Caves the Kenilworth-Ivy was starting to bloom. Here and there Dandelions were out.

On the way back down the Clove I spotted an Eastern Chipmunk, only the second I remember ever seeing in the park.

Eastern Chipmunk 04/15/2017

Along the edge of the mudflats, north of the soccer fields two Red-eared Sliders were sunning themselves.

Red-eared Slider 04/15/2017

Of note among the birds was a calling Pine Warbler on the ridge, first found by James Knox. There was also the first calling Eastern Towhee of the spring that I have heard in the park. My total bird list for the two hour walk is below (27 species).

Canada Goose
Great Egret
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Blue Jay
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Wren (1, singing)
American Robin
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
Pine Warbler (1, singing)
Eastern Towhee (1, calling)
Chipping Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow (more than in recent morning in the park; lots singing)
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird (1, female)
House Sparrow