A lovely spring morning in Central Park produced twenty migrating warblers, including the elusive Mourning Warbler that was seen by one of our participants. The Ramble echoed with the flute-like songs of Swainson’s and Wood Thrushes, while nesting Downy Woodpeckers, American Robins and Blue Jays were mostly silent. Turtle Pond was busy with breeding Red-winged Blackbirds and Eastern Kingbirds as a lone Great Egret sporting its fine white plumes rested on a rock.
Species Lists Birds Canada Goose Gadwall Mallard Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Chimney Swift Herring Gull Double-crested Cormorant Great Egret Red-tailed Hawk Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Eastern Wood-Pewee Great Crested Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird Warbling Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Blue Jay European Starling Gray Catbird Veery Swainson’s Thrush Wood Thrush American Robin Cedar Waxwing House Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Lincoln’s Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Common Grackle Ovenbird Northern Waterthrush Black-and-white Warbler Tennessee Warbler Mourning Warbler Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Cape May Warbler Northern Parula Magnolia Warbler Bay-breasted Warbler Yellow Warbler Chestnut-sided Warbler Blackpoll Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Prairie Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Canada Warbler Wilson’s Warbler Scarlet Tanager Northern Cardinal
Registrar: Michelle Zorzi Participants: 52 Weather: Warm and sunny, light breeze, temperature upper 60s to low 80s Bird Species: 78
On a warm spring morning, 52 eager birders gathered for an enjoyable morning of birding during the peak of spring migration. A total of 22 species of warbler species were seen, including a male Mourning Warbler sighted near Evodia Field by a few hardy birders who stayed out well into the afternoon. A highlight for one group was finding a Black-billed Cuckoo by the Rustic Shelter, where they enjoyed good views of this elusive bird. It was also a good day for Lincoln’s Sparrows, as several were seen by the groups. Overall, it was a great day to be in the park, with an impressive number of species seen.
Species List
Birds Canada Goose Gadwall Mallard Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) Mourning Dove Black-billed Cuckoo Chimney Swift Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Great Black-backed Gull Double-crested Cormorant Great Blue Heron Great Egret Black-crowned Night-Heron Red-tailed Hawk Great Horned Owl Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Olive-sided Flycatcher Eastern Wood-Pewee Least Flycatcher Great Crested Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird Blue-headed Vireo Warbling Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Blue Jay Northern Rough-winged Swallow Ruby-crowned Kinglet House Wren Carolina Wren European Starling Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird Veery Gray-cheeked Thrush Swainson’s Thrush Hermit Thrush Wood Thrush American Robin Cedar Waxwing House Sparrow House Finch American Goldfinch White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Lincoln’s Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Baltimore Oriole Red-winged Blackbird Brown-headed Cowbird Common Grackle Ovenbird Northern Waterthrush Black-and-white Warbler Tennessee Warbler Nashville Warbler Mourning Warbler Common Yellowthroat Hooded Warbler American Redstart Cape May Warbler Northern Parula Magnolia Warbler Bay-breasted Warbler Blackburnian Warbler Yellow Warbler Chestnut-sided Warbler Blackpoll Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Canada Warbler Wilson’s Warbler Scarlet Tanager Northern Cardinal Rose-breasted Grosbeak
This was our first field trip led by Todd Olson, who works in conservation for the Wildlife Conservation Society at the Bronx Zoo. We had a wonderful morning, starting early with the 7:00 am ferry to the island, so it was still nice and quiet when we arrived and we were able to enjoy the bird songs and other vocalizations. We took a leisurely walk, starting around Fort Jay and meandering our way to the hills, and also visited the piers where the Common Terns and Herring Gulls have nested for a number of years. The walk produced a nice mix of migrants, in addition to other birds that nest on the island. We look forward to Todd leading a similar walk in the Fall.
Species Lists
Birds Brant Canada Goose Gadwall Mallard American Black Duck Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) Mourning Dove Chimney Swift Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper Laughing Gull Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Great Black-backed Gull Common Tern Double-crested Cormorant Green Heron Osprey Red-tailed Hawk Red-bellied Woodpecker Northern Flicker Eastern Kingbird Warbling Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Blue Jay Fish Crow Tree Swallow Barn Swallow House Wren Carolina Wren European Starling Gray Catbird Brown Thrasher Northern Mockingbird Veery Swainson’s Thrush American Robin Cedar Waxwing House Sparrow American Goldfinch Chipping Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Song Sparrow Lincoln’s Sparrow Baltimore Oriole Red-winged Blackbird Brown-headed Cowbird Common Grackle Black-and-white Warbler Tennessee Warbler Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Northern Parula Magnolia Warbler Bay-breasted Warbler Yellow Warbler Blackpoll Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Prairie Warbler Scarlet Tanager Northern Cardinal
Registrar: Nick Dawson Participants: 8 Weather: Sunny, low to mid 60s Bird Species: 69
On a pleasant Sunday morning in late May, a small group of Linnaean Society birders journeyed up from New York City to walk the Liberty Loop trail, starting in New Jersey, moving into New York state, and then back to NJ. From the parking lot, we saw our first Sandhill Crane, a breeding bird at this spot that had evaded a group on the same trip the previous May. Later on, we were treated to more, including a female on her nest and a number of males competing for territory. The mixture of habitats—marsh surrounded by woodland and farm fields—offered up a nice variety of shorebirds, raptors, ducks, herons, woodpeckers, flycatchers, and migrant passerines. Other highlights of the morning, included a singing Marsh Wren, a Pileated Woodpecker, some Yellow-throated Vireos, and a Philadelphia Vireo—which, sadly, only some were able to get eyes on.
At the nearby Winding Waters Trail, also part of Wallkill River NWR, we were treated to nesting Eastern Bluebirds and Baltimore Orioles, plus Orchard Orioles on territory. Following a quick post-lunch stop at Owens Station Crossing and Wallkill River NWR’s headquarters, the birders who had stuck it out until mid-afternoon enjoyed a memorable final at Knapp’s View, where throngs of breeding Bobolinks can reliably be found mixed in with Red-winged Blackbirds and a few Eastern Meadowlarks.
Species Lists
Birds Canada Goose Wood Duck Mallard Mourning Dove Yellow-billed Cuckoo Chimney Swift Sandhill Crane Semipalmated Plover Least Sandpiper Solitary Sandpiper Lesser Yellowlegs Great Blue Heron Black Vulture Turkey Vulture Northern Harrier Bald Eagle Red-tailed Hawk Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Pileated Woodpecker Northern Flicker Eastern Wood-Pewee Willow Flycatcher Least Flycatcher Eastern Phoebe Great Crested Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird Yellow-throated Vireo Philadelphia Vireo Warbling Vireo Blue Jay American Crow Common Raven Tufted Titmouse Northern Rough-winged Swallow Purple Martin Tree Swallow Barn Swallow House Wren Marsh Wren Carolina Wren European Starling Gray Catbird Brown Thrasher Northern Mockingbird Eastern Bluebird Wood Thrush American Robin House Sparrow American Goldfinch Chipping Sparrow Field Sparrow Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Eastern Towhee Bobolink Eastern Meadowlark Orchard Oriole Baltimore Oriole Red-winged Blackbird Brown-headed Cowbird Common Grackle Common Yellowthroat Yellow Warbler Blackpoll Warbler Prairie Warbler Northern Cardinal Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Registrar: Janet Wooten Participants: 11 Weather: Sunny and clear, 57F-64F, light breeze Bird Species: 54, plus 1 hybrid
It was peak migration in Central Park on May 9th and the birds were everywhere, flying from tree to tree as they foraged for insects among the leaves. Many birds sang from the canopy level and were challenging to see but one in particular, the rare hybrid Brewster’s Warbler, caused great excitement. Birders listened patiently for its song and were delighted when it finally flew down low enough to give excellent views. While this Blue-winged Warbler/Golden-winged Warbler cross certainly made our day, we were equally dazzled by the stunning Summer Tanager, another rare visitor, with it’s all red plumage and large pale bill. It was a terrific morning of birding in the Ramble!
Species List
Birds Canada Goose Mallard Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) Mourning Dove Chimney Swift Double-crested Cormorant Great Egret Red-tailed Hawk Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) American Kestrel Great Crested Flycatcher Warbling Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Blue Jay Ruby-crowned Kinglet House Wren European Starling Gray Catbird Veery Swainson’s Thrush Hermit Thrush Wood Thrush American Robin House Sparrow American Goldfinch Chipping Sparrow Field Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Eastern Towhee (Red-eyed) Baltimore Oriole Red-winged Blackbird Common Grackle Ovenbird Worm-eating Warbler Northern Waterthrush Brewster’s Warbler (hybrid) Black-and-white Warbler Nashville Warbler Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Northern Parula Magnolia Warbler Yellow Warbler Blackpoll Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) Prairie Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Summer Tanager Scarlet Tanager Northern Cardinal
Registrar: Sally Weiner Participants: 60 Weather: Sunny early, then clouding over, winds calm, temperature upper 50s to upper 60s Bird Species: 74
In nearly ideal weather conditions, many birders—both locals and visitors from as far away as South Africa—joined together for a rewarding morning. Increasing numbers of warblers and other migrants overlapped with lingering winter birds to produce a rich variety. A Summer Tanager, perhaps the star of the walk, was well seen high above Azalea Pond and in the nearby area. Birding (for some!) extended into the early afternoon, yielding an impressive number of species.
Species List
Birds Canada Goose Gadwall Mallard Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Chimney Swift Ruby-throated Hummingbird Solitary Sandpiper Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Great Black-backed Gull Double-crested Cormorant Great Blue Heron Great Egret Black-crowned Night Heron Red-tailed Hawk Great-horned Owl Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Great-crested Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird Eastern Wood-Pewee Blue-headed Vireo Warbling Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Blue Jay American Crow Ruby-crowned Kinglet Carolina Wren European Starling Gray Catbird Veery Swainson’s Thrush Hermit Thrush American Robin House Sparrow House Finch Purple Finch American Goldfinch Chipping Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco White-throated Sparrow Lincoln’s Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Eastern Towhee Baltimore Oriole Red-winged Blackbird Common Grackle Ovenbird Northern Waterthrush Worm-eating Warbler Northern Waterthrush Brewster’s Warbler (hybrid) Black-and-white Warbler Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Cape May Warbler Northern Parula Magnolia Warbler Blackburnian Warbler Yellow Warbler Chestnut-sided Warbler Blackpoll Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Prairie Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Wilson’s Warbler Summer Tanager Scarlet Tanager Northern Cardinal Rose-breasted Grosbeak Indigo Bunting
This was the second Central Park south end afternoon spring walk.
Species Lists
Birds Canada Goose Gadwall Mallard Mourning Dove Double-crested Cormorant Great Egret Red-bellied Woodpecker Blue-headed Vireo Blue Jay Ruby-crowned Kinglet Hermit Thrush American Robin House Finch White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Common Grackle Northern Waterthrush Black-and-white Warbler Northern Parula Black-throated Blue Warbler Northern Cardinal
