March 12 - Central Park

This was my first trip into Central Park since early January. I was in for two hours at noon doing leading Paul Sweet's AMNH lunchtime bird walk for him while he was out of town. We had beautiful weather, sunny and early springlike, though with a bit of a cool breeze. We had a good list of 26 species including a nice variety of waterfowl on the Lake. The total list is below.

Canada Goose - the Lake and Turtle Pond
Wood Duck - male on the Lake
Mallard - the Lake and Turtle Pond
Northern Shoveler - total of 30-40 birds on the Lake and Turtle Pond
Hooded Merganser - male on the Lake
Ruddy Duck - twoon the Lake
Great Blue Heron - 1 on the Lake shore north of Hernshead
Red-tailed Hawk - at least two circling overhead
Herring Gull - one flyover
Mourning Dove
Red-bellied Woodpecker -several
Downy Woodpecker - several at feeders
Blue Jay
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse - a lot of them around this winter; conservatively estimate at least 25 seen
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 2 at the feeders
White-breasted Nuthatch - at least 4
Chipping Sparrow - 1 coming into spring plumage, east side of Evodia Field
Fox Sparrow - 1 north of Hernshead
White-throated Sparrow - all over
Dark-eyed Junco - 2 near feeders
Northern Cardinal - males and females all around the Ramble
Red-winged Blackbird - male by the feeders
Common Grackle - 60, swampy Pin Oak vicinity
American Goldfinch - 12, mainly at feeders
House Sparrow