Registrar: Lisa Kroop
Participants: 16
Weather: 37°F–40°F, mostly sunny, wind NW, 6 mph
Bird Species: 26
It was a chickadee morning in Inwood Hill Park, with several flocks seen as we made our way from the park entrance through the woods and up to the higher reaches of the park. And it was a Red-tailed Hawk morning as well: we were greeted by a loudly vocal one perched above us as we were gathering, and, later, others were seen soaring overhead through the treetops. As we walked we came upon many of the expected winter bird residents, including woodpeckers, sparrows, American Goldfinches, and Blue Jays, among others.
In addition to the birds, our leader pointed out the noteworthy geological features that are a part of Inwood Hill Park. We passed the Inwood Hill caves, glacial potholes with spring water seeping from them, a whaleback rock formation, and, finally, at the crest of the Inwood Hill ridge, a panoramic view of the Hudson River and the New Jersey Palisades. And as we were walking through the woods looking for birds from the understory on up to the tall forest canopy of tulip trees and oaks, we learned that this is Manhattan’s only remaining natural forest, and that one of the tulip trees growing here is possibly the tallest in all of New York City.
On the way back from the ridge to the northern end of the park, we looked down on Spuyten Duyvil Creek and saw numerous Great Blue Herons on the north shore; and as we headed back to the lower, eastern part of the park, we found the salt marsh mudflats exposed at low tide. There were many Ring-billed Gulls busy poking in the mud and Mallards were dozing in the pools at the mudflats’ edge.
We were ending our walk, looking out to the east near the water’s edge, when in the distance a Peregrine Falcon appeared, flying fast and making a lovely conclusion to a wonderful walk. A big thank you to Annie for leading us.
Species Lists
Birds
Mallard
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Ring-billed Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Great Blue Heron
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Peregrine Falcon
Blue Jay
Fish Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Carolina Wren
American Robin
House Sparrow
House Finch
American Goldfinch
Dark-eyed Junco
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Mammals
Eastern Gray Squirrel
