Registrar: Evelyn Huang
Participants: 40
Weather: 49-63° F; clear, mostly sunny; light winds from the north
Bird Species: 60
Due to the high number of registrants, our leader Ursula arranged for a second group to go out with Michelle and Evelyn, and we were able to have 40 participants (including the leaders). The first group set off from 108th Street and Central Park West at 7:30 am and the second group departed 7:45, following the same route. Ursula had thoughtfully mapped a route that started with the less well-known birding hotspots and ended at the popular Loch and Pool.
Both the weather and the birds favored us. The sunny spring morning started out brisk and warmed to the mid-60s by early afternoon. Many new species of warblers seem to have arrived overnight, as the day before had been pretty quiet, with few birds in the park.
The route started with the Great Hill (and bathrooms) and proceeded to cover the Children’s Glades, the South Blowdown, the Pool, the Balancing Rock, the Jughandles, the East Blowdown, the High Meadow, the Lily Ponds, the Block House, the Loch, the Wildflower Meadow, the Grassy Knoll, the Compost Pile, the Nursery, the Conservatory Garden (another bathroom opportunity), the Harlem Meer, the Green Bench, and, again, the Loch and the Pool.
At the Great Hill, one group saw a Blue-winged Warbler, and the other group the first of three Scarlet Tanagers they would see that day; it was a good sign for the rest of the walk. At the Balancing Rock, both groups found Blackburnian and Prairie Warblers, as well as a Black-throated Green Warbler and a Northern Parula. Eastern Towhees appeared in good numbers, and there were numerous Yellow-rumped Warblers and Ruby-crowned Kinglets throughout the walk. After emerging onto the road from the Block House, Ursula’s group found a Yellow-throated Vireo. Although the second group searched for it, they did not see the Vireo, but they did see a Blue-winged Warbler, which they had not found at the Great Hill. Everyone saw the Green Heron which had been at the Loch a few days, and also Black-throated Blue Warblers and an Ovenbird. Although we searched for the Hooded Warbler that had been seen at the Loch by others earlier that morning, we did not find it. At the Conservatory Garden, we found a Wood Thrush and House Wren and ate the lunch or snacks we’d brought while admiring the secret tulip garden under the wisteria trellises. From there we also got some good views of the Red-tailed Hawk’s nest on the Terence Cardinal Cooke building at 105th Street and Fifth Avenue, where two adult hawks were on their nest, one clearly feeding at least one chick.
We ended the walk a little after 1 pm. Half the participants having left earlier, the two groups had earlier merged into one group of 20 birders, who all expressed satisfaction with a very enjoyable day of birding.
Thanks to all the avid birders who participated and a huge thanks to Ursula and Michelle for sharing your expertise and knowledge of the North Woods with us.
Species Lists
Birds
Canada Goose
Mallard
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift
Ring-billed Gull
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Egret
Green Heron
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Eastern Phoebe
Great Crested Flycatcher
Yellow-throated Vireo
Blue-headed Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Tree Swallow
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
House Wren
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
Veery
Hermit Thrush
Wood Thrush
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
House Sparrow
House Finch
American Goldfinch
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Baltimore Oriole
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Common Grackle
Ovenbird
Northern Waterthrush
Blue-winged Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
Northern Parula
Blackburnian Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Palm Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Scarlet Tanager
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
