Inwood Hill Park - May 10 - Birds, birds, birds!

A great day of birding in Inwood! I was getting ready to leave the apartment and go into Inwood a little before 7:00 AM when my cell phone rang. It was Nadir Souirgi with word that he was looking at a Grasshopper Sparrow on the soccer fields! I told him I would join him in about five minutes. When I got to the northwest side of the soccer fields Nadir had already been joined by James Knox who had quickly bicycled over, having also gotten a call from Nadir. I got great views of the Grasshopper through Nadir's scope. It was feeding in the grass with a bunch of Savannah Sparrows. During the day a number of birders got up to Inwood to see this uncommon, rarely seen in NYC sparrow thanks to Nadir's getting the word out via the Internet. Not as high tech, but equally effective was my yelling out my apartment window to Danny Karlson about the sparrow when I spotted him drinking his coffee at the entrance to the park at 218th Street and Indian Road after I got home from my morning walk in the park. When I went back in at about 4:30 pm I found Danny and Anders Peltomaa looking at the Grasshopper Sparrow, still on the soccer field.

In the morning, Nadir had to leave shortly after I got there to lead his weekly trip in Van Cortlandt Park, but James and I went into the park, up the Clove and along the ridge for a fabulous morning of birding. We had over 70 species of birds including 20 warblers. My last bird of the morning as I left the park at 11:00 AM was an adult Bald Eagle flying northeast over 218th Street. In the afternoon, I went back in for another three hours, some of which was spent in the rain from a thunderstorm. I did not mind getting wet, but I did think it wise to retreat from the ridge to the valley during the active part of the storm. When I cam down the Clove I met Nadir and James coming in. After the rain we went back up to the ridge, which was quieter than in the morning, but still with a good variety of birds around. I added a few more species to my day list, including a Canada Warbler, my 21st warbler of the day. On our way out across the soccer field after 7:00 PM, Nadir spotted a Common Nighthawk flying north for my 78th species of the day. Anders earlier told me of an Olive-sided Flycatcher and two Black-billed Cuckoos he had seen, bringing the total count for the park to at least 80 for the day. My total list follows, with a few notes follows.

Canada Goose
Mallard
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron -1, flyover
Great Egret - 1
Bald Eagle - see above
Red-tailed Hawk
Greater Yellowlegs - 2, mudflats off soccer field in morning
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Common Nighthawk - see above (my first of the year)
Chimney Swift - finally back in some numbers
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Least Flycatcher
Eastern Phoebe
Great Crested Flycatcher - several on the ridge (my first of the year)
Eastern Kingbird
Yellow-throated Vireo - 1, on ridge in afternoon (my first of the year)
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
House Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Veery
Swainson's Thrush
Wood Thrush
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
Ovenbird
Northern Waterthrush
Blue-winged Warbler - 2
Black-and-white Warbler
Nashville Warbler - 2
Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler - 1, on ridge north of pine groves (my first of the year)
Blackburnian Warbler - 2 or 3 males
Yellow Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler - several
Blackpoll Warbler - 1 male on ridge (my first of the year)
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Palm Warbler - 1, getting late for this species
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Prairie Warbler - at least two on ridge
Black-throated Green Warbler
Canada Warbler - 1
Wilson's Warbler -1
Eastern Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Grasshopper Sparrow - 1, see above (my first of the year - naturally)
Song Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow - 1, near meadow on ridge
Swamp Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Scarlet Tanager - all over the ridge, males and females
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting - male on the ridge
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Orchard Oriole
Baltimore Oriole
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow

In the morning James and I came across a few flowers that hadn't been in bloom when I last got into the park last Sunday.

Lily-of-the-valley                                                                                        © Joseph DiCostanzo

Wild Geranium                                                                                      © Joseph DiCostanzo

We also came across a colony of Eastern Tent Caterpillars. If only there had been a cuckoo nearby to feed on them!

Eastern Tent Caterpillars                                                                                     © Joseph DiCostanzo

As I finish this blog entry late Saturday night I see online that the winds are currently favorable for another flight tonight and the radar is indicating one is on. I have got to get some sleep so I can enjoy it in the morning!

Central Park - May 9 - Birds in the mist.

Well, it actually wasn't very misty, though it was a low gray overcast all day. I filled in for Paul Sweet on his Friday morning Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. bird walk since Paul had a family commitment.Half a dozen or so of Paul's regulars braved the somewhat daunting weather forecast and were rewarded with a very nice morning of birding. The weather was actually perfect for a classic fallout with south winds to our south and a storm system over New York that knocked the migrants down when they got here. We recorded a total of 51 species.

Canada Goose
Mallard
Northern Shoveler - pair still on the Upper Lobe
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Egret 1, Turtle Pond
Herring Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Least Flycatcher - 1, Hernshead
Eastern Kingbird - 1, seen from Hernshead on the west side of the Lake
Warbling Vireo - singing as usual at Hernshead; others heard around the Ramble
Red-eyed Vireo - on way to Belvedere and heard in other spots
Blue Jay
Brown Creeper - south side of Turtle Pond
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - south side of Turtle Pond
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Veery
Swainson's Thrush
Wood Thrush
American Robin
Gray Catbird
European Starling
Ovenbird - singing all over the Ramble
Northern Waterthrush - singing all over the Ramble
Blue-winged Warbler - 1, west of Azalea Pond
Black-and-white Warbler - all over
Nashville Warbler - on the way up to Belvedere
Common Yellowthroat - scattered individuals
American Redstart - all over
Northern Parula - all over
Magnolia Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler - 1, west of Azalea Pond
Yellow Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Wilson's Warbler - 1, Hernshead
Eastern Towhee
Song Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow - 1, near the feeders (I am not sure anyone else got on this bird before it disappeared)
White-throated Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow - 1, Hernshead (this was my 200th species for the year in New York)
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - pair, on the way up to Belvedere
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Orchard Oriole - 1, female, south side of Turtle Pond
Baltimore Oriole
House Sparrow

I also heard a Worm-eating Warbler sing once on the south side of Turtle Pond and saw a Black-crowned Night-Heron by the Lower Lobe on my way to a doctor's appointment after the walk was over so I did not include them in the group's total.

Central Park - May 8 - Drizzle and birds

The string of beautiful mornings broke this morning. Four hardy birders on my AMNH walk braved light rain and drizzle and were rewarded with some nice birding. The light rain at 7:00 am gave way to drizzle and then heavy overcast by the end of the walk at 9:00 am. We had a total of 40 species, including a dozen warblers, despite the weather.

Canada Goose
Mallard
Northern Shoveler - a pair lingering on the Lake
Double-crested Cormorant
Herring Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 1, by the wooden bridge at Azalea Pond
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Blue-headed Vireo
Warbling Vireo - singing at Hernshead as usual and a couple elsewhere
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - still good numbers around
Veery
Swainson's Thrush - 1, west of Azalea Pond
Hermit Thrush
Wood Thrush - singing birds around the Ramble
American Robin
Gray Catbird - lots
European Starling
Ovenbird - all over the Ramble
Northern Waterthrush - singing at Hernshead and birds seen in a number of places
Black-and-white Warbler - at least half a dozen
Common Yellowthroat - Hernshead and elsewhere
American Redstart
Northern Parula - all over
Magnolia Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler - male on the south side of Turtle Pond
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 1, on the way up to Belvedere
Black-throated Blue Warbler - all over
Yellow-rumped Warbler - only a very few still around
Wilson's Warbler - 1, south side of Turtle Pond (my first of the year)
Eastern Towhee
Song Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - male at the feeders
Common Grackle
Baltimore Oriole
House Sparrow

I went into the Ramble again on my own for a couple of hours in the late afternoon. The numbers of Ovenbirds were truly impressive. I encountered more Ovenbirds today than I normally find in an entire spring. I found the Wilson's Warbler again in the same tree as this morning and also added a few more birds for my own day list.

Great Egret -1, Upper Lobe
Chimney Swift - approx. 10 over the Point
Hooded Warbler - male on the Point
Canada Warbler - edge of the Maintenance Meadow (my first of the year)
Indigo Bunting - one calling near the Tupelo Meadow
Swamp Sparrow - 4, scattered around the Ramble

Central Park - May 7 - Great birding

A big turnout for my Wednesday morning AMNH bird walk with a good turnout of birds also. There has just been a string of lovely mornings with lots of birds for the last several days.The group had 53 species though not everyone saw every bird, but I believe everyone saw all of the really goo birds.

Canada Goose
Gadwall - 2, pair on Turtle Pond
Mallard
Northern Shoveler - 1, male lingering on Upper Lobe
Double-crested Cormorant
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift - 2. overhead
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Eastern Kingbird - 1, Hernshead
Blue-headed Vireo - a couple still around
Warbling Vireo - Hernshead, Turtle Pond, Maintenance Meadow
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - singles in various locations
Swainson's Thrush - 1, Turtle Pond (seen only by Jeff, I think, though I saw one in the afternoon by the                               Rustic Pavilion)
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
Gray Catbird
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing - 2
Ovenbird -2, heard
Northern Waterthrush - 2, Hernshead and the Gill
Black-and-white Warbler - scattered around Ramble
Orange-crowned Warbler - singing male in Maintenance Meadow
Nashville Warbler - singing male on the way up to the Belvedere
Common Yellowthroat - male at Hernshead
American Redstart - scattered around Ramble
Cape May Warbler - male on south side of Turtle Pond
Northern Parula - scattered around Ramble
Magnolia Warbler - scattered around Ramble
Yellow Warbler - south side Turtle Pond
Black-throated Blue Warbler - scattered around Ramble
Palm Warbler - Hernshead
Yellow-rumped Warbler- still a few around
Black-throated Green Warbler - south side of Turtle Pond
Eastern Towhee
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow - Hernshead and Belvedere
White-throated Sparrow
Summer Tanager - male moving around south of Azalea Pond
Scarlet Tanager - 3 (may have been seen only by Jeff while the rest of us were looking for the Summer)
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Baltimore Oriole - scattered around Ramble
House Finch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow

In the afternoon I looped through the Ramble on the way to getting my allergy shots and picked up a few more species: Great Egret, Red-tailed Hawk, Swainson's Thrush, Veery, Worm-eating Warbler (Upper Lobe), and a Blue-winged Warbler (female, Upper Lobe).

Central Park - May 6 - Another nice day

Went into the Ramble in Central Park for about an hour and a half before work and on my lunch break. It was not as busy as yesterday, but there were still a good number of migrants around, including a few nice one. On the two walks combined I recorded a total of 46 species. The highlights, including 12 warbler species are below.

Ovenbird - several
Orange-crowned Warbler - male continuing in Maintenance Meadow, sometimes singing
Nashville Warbler - 1, south side Turtle Pond
American Redstart
Cape May Warbler - 1, male, south side Turtle Pond
Northern Parula - all over
Blackburnian Warbler - 1, male, south side Turtle Pond
Yellow Warbler  - 1, male, south side Turtle Pond
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Prairie Warbler - 1, male, south side Turtle Pond
Black-throated Green Warbler
Summer Tanager - 1, male, near Riviera
Scarlet Tanager - 1, female, south side Turtle Pond

I hope some or all of these stay around for my Wednesday morning walk. There are predicted northwest winds for tonight which is not favorable for migration.

Madison Square and Central parks - May 5 - Chasing uncommon birds.

It was quite a birding day - before and after work.

It started with a subway ride down to Madison Square Park to try for the Prothonotary Warbler that was discovered there on Saturday. When I arrived there was a small group of birders at the south end of the park west of the Shake Shack. I went up to them and asked if there had been any sign of the Prothonotary and one replied it had been in the tree just in front of us but had flown off somewhere ten minutes earlier. As long as it had been seen I wasn't worried, figuring it is a small area and the bird was probably just making circuits. My only concern was how much time I could devote to waiting for it since I did have to get to work. After a few minutes I decided to start looking around. I suddenly heard the bird sing, but with the traffic noise wasn't sure where the song came from. Continuing to hunt for it, I happened to glance back and saw the small group of birders all either with binoculars raised or pointing into the tree to others. I quickly headed back and got nice views of the bird, which obligingly sang again while we viewed it. Then it was back to the subway and to work. The whole stay in Madison Square Park was only about 25 minutes.

At the Museum I heard about a Chuck-will's-widow in the Ramble in Central Park, but the bird had been flushed by another bird and flown off. Around noon Sean Sime called to tell me a post had gone out about the Chuck being refound. I decided to devote lunch to a run into see the bird. I missed it by about 30 seconds when it was flushed again, by a robin I think I was told. Disappointed I went back to the office. About 4:30 Sean called again to tell me about a new post going out to report the bird being refound, again near the Maintenance Meadow. I left work a little early to try for the Chuck again. Coming into the Meadow I saw a group of birders looking up into a tree. When I asked, hopefully, if they were looking at the Chuck, they said no, they were looking for an Orange-crowned Warbler (another uncommon bird for NYC, especially in the spring) that was high in the tree and the Chuck was in another tree around the northeast side of the Meadow. Leaving that group, without even trying to spot the Orange-crowned, I headed past the Maintenance Building to find another group of birders looking into a tree. Coming up to them, Lloyd Spitalnik very obligingly said: "Joe, just look through my camera." There it was!

After getting some nice, satisfying views, through my own binoculars I decided to head back to see the Orange-crowned. The other group of birders was still looking up at the same tree where the bird was being intermittently seen. Before I could spot the warbler, another birder walked up and announced she had just had nice views of the male Summer Tanager down by the Lake. For the second time in under a half hour I walked away from an Orange-crowned Warbler to chase after a rarer bird. It took a little hunting, but the tanager was finally tracked down on the "Riviera" between the Bow Bridge and the Point. Then it was back to the Maintenance Meadow for a look at the Orange-crowned. Back there I began to think the warbler may have had its feelings hurt by my twice snubbing it as it now proved to be elusive high in the tree. The tree in question was anything but quiet. While trying to spot the Orange-crowned we came across Warbling Vireos, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Northern Parula, Blue-winged Warbler, Nashville Warbler, and yes, at last the Orange-crowned. During the hunt I had also seen my first Ruby-throated Hummingbird of the year.

It was quite a bird list for a day which wasn't even supposed to be a birding day!

While watching the Chuck-will's-widow, the question that came up, quite naturally, among a number of birders, was how did we know this was a Chuck and not the very similar Whip-porr-will. After all, the birds are usually identified at night by their very distinctive calls. During the day, when they are only uncommonly seen, they both have extremely similar camouflage appearance looking like a bump on a tree limb. First, the Chuck is a much larger bird than the Whip, over two inches longer with a proportionately bigger head accentuating its size. But size can be a very hard think to judge, especially in species that are only rarely seen. However, the Chuck is a much browner bird overall with a brown throat and a usually thinner white neck collar. The Whip is also brown, but much grayer toned overall with a dark gray to black throat and a usually broader white neck collar.

Inwood Hill Park - May 4 - Another great migration day

Another great morning in the park for migrants! I went into the park twice during the day - first at 6:30 am. On the west side of the soccer fields I ran into Nadir Souirgi and we spent the morning birding the park together. Our combined list was 70 species, including 20 warblers. The weather kept changing. It was sunny, but a bit cool at first, then clouds moved in and it became mostly overcast. Interestingly, at one point during the overcast there suddenly seemed to be birds dropping out of the sky when we were on the northern part of the ridge. With the overcast it seemed to get cooler, rather than warmer as the morning progressed, but then as we left the park, it suddenly cleared again and warmed up. Ann and I went in to the park together at 12:30 for a few hours. Most of the time it was sunny, but we retreated towards the apartment when it clouded over and a light rain fell briefly around 3:30. by the time we were leaving the park, it was getting sunny again and the rest of the day was bright, but breezy. It was not as birdy the second time in so Ann and I concentrated a bit more on plants than birds. A spring wildflower we have been watching for has been Jack-in-the-Pulpit and in the afternoon I spotted one with Ann in the upper part of the Clove.

Jack-in-the-Pulpit                                                                         © Joseph DiCostanzo

Much showier, but also a spring favorite was the Flowering Dogwood now coming out in spots on the ridge.

Flowering Dogwood                                                                       © Joseph DiCostanzo

There were a number of other trees, vines, and wildflowers in bloom, many of which I am still learning to identify. I find plants much harder than birds, even though they don't move!

Another touch of color Ann and I came across was a bright orange fungus growing out of a small log at the top of the Clove road. I don't know what it is, but it certainly seems distinctive.

                                                                                                               © Joseph DiCostanzo

To finish up, the following are some of the highlights of the morning's bird list in more or less checklist order:
Common Loon - 2 breeding plumage individuals Nadir and I saw flying over as we left the soccer field
Spotted Sandpiper - 2 by Muscota Marsh at 6:30
Greater Yellowlegs - 1, Nadir spotted one on the flats north of the soccer fields that flew off to the south.                          Not common in the park.

Greater Yellowlegs                                                           © Joseph DiCostanzo

Nearly all of the following warblers were seen in the morning with things much quieter in the midday.
Ovenbird - a few, some calling
Worm-eating Warbler - 1
Northern Waterthrush - several calling as well as seen along the temporary running water in the Clove                             left by the recent rains
Blue-winged Warbler - 3, on the ridge
Black-and-white Warbler - all over
Tennessee Warbler - 2, on the ridge
Nashville Warbler - 3, ridge
Common Yellowthroat - lower Clove
American Redstart - a few all day, males and females
Northern Parula - all over the ridge
Magnolia Warbler - a few in the morning and midday
Blackburnian Warbler - 3, ridge
Yellow Warbler - on the edge of the soccer field
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 2, males on ridge in the morning and 1 male lower Clove midday
Black-throated Blue Warbler - all over the ridge all day
Palm Warbler - still a few around, but getting scarcer
Pine Warbler - Nadir spotted one in a far tree on the ridge which I missed, but didn't try very hard for                               since I have seen a number of them earlier in the park this spring
Yellow-rumped Warbler - fewer than yesterday, but still good numbers
Prairie Warbler - 2, ridge
Black-throated Green Warbler - scattered individuals on the ridge
Scarlet Tanager - 1, singing in the upper Clove in the morning
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - 1, a male on the ridge in the morning
Orchard Oriole - 3, an adult male and two first year males

Over the weekend, I recorded 75 species in the park. The winds are going back into the northwest tonight so I expect things will be much quieter for the next couple of days.

Inwood Hill Park - May 3 - The warblers have arrived.

A fairly birdy day in Inwood. The winds were right for a flight last night (west and southwest winds) and the day did not disappoint. As I was getting ready to leave my apartment a bit after 6:30 am, Nadir Souirgi texted me that he had heard a Nelson's Sparrow from Muscota Marsh at the north end. I did not find this bird but while looking for it I received another text from Nadir reporting a Marsh Wren in the reeds north of the soccer field. I quickly headed over there (flushing a Solitary Sandpiper from the mudflats along the way) where I met Nadir and got some nice views of the wren - a bird I rarely see in the park. Nadir and I briefly birded the north and west sides of the soccer field, but he had to leave to lead a trip at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx.

On the way up the Clove a Hooded Warbler sang from the west side of the valley before flying in front of me to the east side. A few feet beyond three Rose-breasted Grosbeaks (two males and a female) chased each other around the vegetation. Further up the Clove a Wood Thrush gave its characteristic whip call, but did not sing. Yellow-rumped Warblers seemed to be everywhere.

Yellow-rumped Warbler                                                                   © Joseph DiCostanzo

Across from the southern pine grove on the ridge I encountered my first Magnolia Warbler of the season, while an adult male Orchard Oriole was nearby a few minutes later. In the afternoon, when i was back in the park with Dale Dancis, an adult male Orchard Oriole was feeding in the trees over the Henry Hudson Parkway by the Meadow Overlook. There were good numbers of Northern Parulas at the northern end of the ridge in the morning.

Many of the trees are just getting small leaves. I had not been in the park since before Wednesday's heavy rains so it was nice to see the continuing progression of flowering trees and wildflowers. To mention just a few, the Eastern Redbuds in the woods (as opposed to the planted ones on the edges of the park are now coming into their own.

Eastern Redbud                                                                                      © Joseph DiCostanzo

Also adding color to the woods are various apples and crab apples.

Crab Apple                                                                                  © Joseph DiCostanzo

On the ground in various places Common Blue Violets are adding to the purple of the Periwinkles that have been in bloom for weeks.

Common Blue Violet                                                                               © Joseph DiCostanzo

Between a few hours in the morning and another couple in the afternoon, my bird list totaled 60 species. In the evening a Black-crowned Night-Heron heard from my apartment window brought the total to 61. The full list follows.

Canada Goose
Mallard
Double-crested Cormorant
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Solitary Sandpiper - 1 (see above)
Ring-billed Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift - 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Eastern Phoebe - calling in the Clove
White-eyed Vireo - 1, heard calling on ridge
Blue-headed Vireo
Warbling Vireo - several heard around edges of soccer field and on ridge
Red-eyed Vireo - edge of soccer field and on ridge
Blue Jay
American Crow
Barn Swallow - by the Hudson River near the Amtrak train bridge
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
Marsh Wren - 1 (see above)
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - still a few around
Hermit Thrush - several in the Clove
Wood Thrush - 1 (see above)
American Robin
Gray Catbird - all over
Northern Mockingbird - calling by Muscota Marsh area
European Starling
Ovenbird - on the ridge and singing in the Clove
Worm-eating Warbler - one east of the center trail on the ridge south of the meadow
Northern Waterthrush - singing off the northwest corner of the soccer field
Black-and-white Warbler - quite a few
Hooded Warbler - 1 (see above)
American Redstart - at least two adult males
Northern Parula - (see above)
Magnolia Warbler - (see above)
Yellow Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler - ridge
Palm Warbler - ridge
Yellow-rumped Warbler - everywhere
Black-throated Green Warbler - ridge
Eastern Towhee - male and female calling on the ridge
Chipping Sparrow - 25 or more on the soccer field in the later afternoon
Savannah Sparrow - at least 1 on the soccer field with the Chippings
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Scarlet Tanager - ridge
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - (see above)
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Orchard Oriole - (see above)
Baltimore Oriole
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow

The winds are predicted to be favorable for migration again tonight and on Saturday evening as I write this the NEXRAD radar is indicating a flight in the northeast.

Central Park - May 2 - More birds

I went into Central Park this morning for a few hours - just birding on my own, not leading a walk, though I, of course, ran into many other birders. Yesterday's flight continued, though this morning started with a lovely, partly cloudy sky instead of the lower than building tops overcast of yesterday. Having heard from Dale Dancis that the Yellow-throated Warbler was seen again in the vicinity of Tavern on the Green, I started down there and spent a frustrating 45 minutes or so searching for lamppost 6461 which was where the Yellow-throated was supposed to be. I encountered about half a dozen other birders also searching for the elusive warbler and the seemingly also elusive lamppost. Finally, finding the lamppost, there was of course no sign of the warbler. Somewhat frustrated, I headed up to the Ramble where I was getting cellphone calls from Dale about lots of birds. The Ramble was indeed busy with birds and birders, though it often seemed the latter were in higher numbers and certainly in greater concentrations in many spots. As I was about to head to the office, Dale got a text message that the Yellow-throated Warbler was being seen again at the ~&?#@%$ lamppost 6461. Grumbling, I headed south again. When I arrived I encountered a couple of frustrated birders leaving the area who had had no luck with the warbler. After another fruitless search, I decided to give up and head for the office. I had only gone about 25 feet when the Yellow-throated Warbler finally decided to sing from a tree top ahead of me. I got one decent look at the bird before it shut-up and disappeared again. Now happy, I went to work. My morning's list follows.

Canada Goose
Mallard
Double-crested Cormorant
Green Heron - south side of the Lake
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Blue-headed Vireo - scattered birds
Blue Jay
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - individuals all over the Ramble
Veery
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
European Starling
Ovenbird - Azalea Pond
Northern Waterthrush - singing birds Upper Lobe and the Oven
Blue-winged Warbler - west of Azalea and the Point
Black-and-white Warbler
Hooded Warbler - west of Azalea, probably more than one
American Redstart - female on the Point
Northern Parula - several
Yellow Warbler - the point
Black-throated Blue Warbler - west of Azalea
Palm Warbler - fewer than recently, but still small numbers around
Yellow-rumped Warbler - all over
Yellow-throated Warbler - the infamous!
Prairie Warbler - Azalea Pond and the Point
Black-throated Green Warbler - several
Song Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Indigo Bunting - on park drive east of Tavern on the Green
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Baltimore Oriole - various places
House Sparrow

Central Park - May 1 - The birds have arrived!

What a difference a day makes! Six of the regulars on my Thursday morning AMNH bird walk were not intimated by the forecasts for more rain and were rewarded by a great morning. The walk started out with heavy, gray, low clouds - almost a mist - but it never actually rained. After yesterday's near record rainfall many paths were flooded. I have never seen the Lake so high. But we did get the first significant migration morning of the spring. We had a total of 39 species.

Canada Goose
Mallard
Northern Shoveler - still 6 on the Lake
Double-crested Cormorant
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Eastern Kingbird - 1, on the Point (thanks to Anders Peltomaa)
Blue-headed Vireo - several
Warbling Vireo - 1, singing west of the Maintenance Meadow (which we did not go into because
                            of the flooding
Blue Jay
House Wren - 1, singing near the Upper Lobe
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - scattered individuals
Wood Thrush - 1, west of the Azalea Pond
American Robin
European Starling
Ovenbird - 2, seen and calling by Azalea Pond
Northern Waterthrush - 2 heard, Upper Lobe and the Oven
Black-and-white Warbler - 2
Common Yellowthroat - 1, singing at Hernshead
American Redstart - 1, adult male on the Point
Yellow Warbler - 1, male singing on the Point
Palm Warbler - several
Yellow-rumped Warbler - scattered all over
Prairie Warbler - 2, between Hernshead and Bank Rock Bridge and one singing west of Azalea
Black-throated Green Warbler - 2, males east of Upper Lobe
Song Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - 3, males below the weather Station
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Orchard Oriole - 1, south of Tupelo Meadow (thanks to Chris Cooper)
House Finch - feeders
American Goldfinch - feeders
House Sparrow

We also heard about a number of other birds from other birders, including: Great Crested Flycatcher, Blue-winged Warbler, Northern Parula, Magnolia Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, Worm-eating Warbler, Scarlet Tanager, and Indigo Bunting.

I got back into the park in the afternoon and tried unsuccessfully for the Yellow-throated Warbler. I did get to see the Blue-winged and Worm-eating warblers within a few feet of each other in the Maintenance Meadow. By the afternoon it was in the 70's with a bright blue sky.