12/21/03-- A remarkable photo of a Long-eared Owl yawning, taken by Cal Vornberger.
photo by Lincoln Karim
12/21/03
In this amazing photo you may see FIVE [count 'em 5, one a little hidden but there] Long-eared Owls huddling together in a single tree. A red-letter day in Central Park owl-watching!
photo by Lincoln Karim
CAUGHT IN THE ACT
Is it speeded-up evolution? Somehow or other, after decades of being successfully thwarted by the frisbee baffles hanging above the big plastic bird-feeders at the Evodia Field feeding station, the park's wily squirrels have learned to BEAT THE SYSTEM. That's the headline of Lincoln Karim's photograph, which catches one of the little varmints in flagrante delicto [so to speak].
photo by Lincoln Karim
Two days ago the photographer Lincoln Karim witnessed his first "fly-in". Many observers have witnessed Central Park owl "fly-outs", those quasi-religious events where people gather at the end of the day to witness an owl fly out of its roosting place. But very few have ever witnessed a fly-in, the arrival of an owl back at its daytime roost when the night's hunt is over. Here is a photo of such a rare event by one of the park's best photographers. I'm not sure how early Lincoln had to arrive at the Cherry Hill roosting tree to be sure to see the owl's return -- sometimes a fly-in can take place as early as 4:00 a.m. But this obliging critter sat for his portrait at 6:52 a.m on December 16, 2003.
Photo by Cal Vornberger
12/11/03
A GREAT PHOTO, BY CAL VORNBERGER, OF ONE OF THE FOUR LONG-EARED OWLS CURRENTLY RESIDING IN THE PARK. THIS ONE WAS IN A PINE NEAR BOW BRIDGE YESTERDAY, WHILE THE OTHER THREE WERE ALL TOGETHER IN AN EVERGREEN A BIT WEST OF CHERRY HILL.
[ACCORDING TO AN OWL EXPERT WE MET LAST YEAR, ALL THE OWLS SPENDING THE WINTER IN CENTRAL PARK ARE FEMALES.]
PS Why is the owl glowering so? The photographer notes that a dog arrived under the tree just as he was about to click his camera.
11/30/03 -- Thirty Days Hath...
The leaves are almost gone, except for the oaks and beeches. Tomorrow a new month begins and real winter looms. Though the illustration makes it appear huge, the bird shown here -- a Ruby-crowned Kinglet--is actually tiny. Yet it has adaptations that allow it to survive in extremely cold weather, and may be found in Maine and Canada throughout the winter months. Thus Central Park birdwatchers are not surprised to find a late November kinglet in the park. But they are always delighted when it shows up,as one did on a last-day-of-the-month birdwalk taken early this morning by Tom Fiore and Mike Freeman. Their complete bird list, 33 species in all, was reported on the New York City Bird Report [see LINKS] and may be seen below:
Canada Goose
American Black Duck
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Ruddy Duck
Red-tailed Hawk
Ring-billed Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Blue Jay
American Crow
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
Eastern Towhee
Song Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
House Finch
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow
Photo by Ardith Bondi
There's been a wild turkey hanging around Riverside Park, five blocks west of Central Park, for the last few months. Ardith Bondi, a regular Central Park birdwatcher, thought she'd check out this unusual visitor on a day when turkey was very much on everyone's mind. As the photo to the left demonstrates, and to the relief of the many local admirers of this splendid bird, nobody in the neighborhood is dining on wild turkey quite yet.
photo by Ardith Bondi
Three of the four birders in the photo to the right, taken this morning at the Evodia Field bird-feeding station, are well-known to readers of this website: From left to right, Tom Fiore, Jack Meyer, and me. The man on the right in the red jacket is John Forbes, a relatively recent addition to the ranks of Central Park Regulars. He's a photo editor at the NY Times.
Golden Eagle [Aquila chrysaetos].Was this the mystery bird?
On Saturday, 11/15/03, the photographer Lincoln Karim and several other observers witnessed an exciting drama: Pale Male and his current mate [now generally called Lola] pursuing a VERY large bird of prey, high above Madison Ave.& 71st Street. Lincoln reports that there were three separate sightings. Pale Male & Lola went after the intruder on the first and second occasion. On the third occasion the two resident redtails, along with a third unidentified redtail, merely soared above the nest at Fifth Ave and 74th Street. Though Lincoln took several photographs of the large bird, there has not been a positive identification yet. But Lincoln's guess is an exciting one: Golden Eagle!
That evening, at 6:30 p.m. Lincoln witnessed two Long-eared Owls setting forth on their night hunt. The next morning another birdwatcher, Rebekah Creshkoff, reported two Long-eared Owls [probably the same ones Lincoln saw] roosting in a tree in a high-traffic area of the North Woods. [Please note that in a protective spirit Central Park birdwatchers have agreed to be vague about owl locations in the park. An exact roosting spot is only revealed to other trusted birdwatchers.]
PALE MALE AND MATE PURSUE LARGE RAPTOR
On Saturday, 11/15/03, the photographer Lincoln Karim and several other observers witnessed an exciting drama: Pale Male and his current mate [now generally called Lola] pursuing a VERY large bird of prey, high above Madison Ave.& 71st Street. Lincoln reports that there were three separate sightings. Pale Male & Lola went after the intruder on the first and second occasion. On the third occasion the two resident redtails, along with a third unidentified redtail, merely soared above the nest at Fifth Ave and 74th Street. Though Lincoln took several photographs of the large bird, there has not been a positive identification yet. But Lincoln's guess is an exciting one: Golden Eagle!
That evening, at 6:30 p.m. Lincoln witnessed two Long-eared Owls setting forth on their night hunt. The next morning another birdwatcher, Rebekah Creshkoff, reported two Long-eared Owls [probably the same ones Lincoln saw] roosting in a tree in a high-traffic area of the North Woods. [Please note that in a protective spirit Central Park birdwatchers have agreed to be vague about owl locations in the park. An exact roosting spot is only revealed to other trusted birdwatchers.]
Photo by Cal Vornberger
11/9/03 -- One of Central Park's regular nature photographers writes:
"While I was photographing in the park today up near the Pool, a pair of EASTERN BLUEBIRDS showed-up. I got off a couple of shots before they
left."
P.S. The Pool is the body of water between 100th St and 104th St at the west side of the park.
Note: Please see the LINKS page for a link to Cal Vornberger's great web site.
Northern Pintail - Anas acuta
Though Tom Fiore's report for Nov. 6th [see below] still includes a few warblers and a vireo -- birds of the fall migration --- his focus, is turning towards waterfowl, [notably, a Northern Pintail on the Reservoir!] migrating raptors, unusual sparrows, and the return of the feeder Regulars: the titmice, nuthatches, woodpeckers, creepers and the like. Winter birdwatching.
DATE: Thursday, 6 November 2003
REPORTED BY: Tom Fiore
It seems at least some birds were attempting to move south thru this
morning, as evidenced by some flocks - such as a LOON, BRANT, Canada
Geese, & some waxwings. A few hawks were also migrating - despite the
very overcast sky, the breeze was from a northerly direction. An
impressive 14 WATERFOWL SPECIES were seen this morning, and even the
minimal 4 WARBLER SPECIES were a surprise to me. 8 (or 10, if one
counts towhee & junco) SPARROW SPECIES were also seen. Has SPOTTED
SANDPIPER simply decided to live at the Reservoir this fall? Once
again, there it was! A couple of LAUGHING GULLS also were seen along
the Reservoir's divider-dike, among the many Ring-billed, Herring, and
Great Black-backed Gulls. An American COOT on the Meer may be the
first to make it into the Park this fall, an earlier one tried, but
sadly was found dead out on Central Park West, last month. I should
note that some of the ducks I saw in the early morning on the
Reservoir I was unable to refind only a few hours later on a second
visit there, indeed the numbers of N. Shoveler seemed to have dropped
a bit by late morning. The 8 TREE SWALLOWS seen might seem "late",
which they are for Central Park, but at the nearby shore, in N.Y.C. &
elsewhere, Tree Swallows are still being seen.
Common Loon (1, flyover)
Pied-billed Grebe (1, Reservoir)
Double-crested Cormorant (1, Reservoir)
Great Blue Heron (2, 59 St. Pond & Turtle Pond)
Canada Goose
Brant (small flyover flock)
Mute Swan (2, Lake)
Wood Duck (1 female, Reservoir)
Gadwall (~15, Reservoir)
American Black Duck (on every larger waterbody in the Park)
Mallard
Northern Shoveler (100+, mainly Reservoir; & some on Meer)
Northern Pintail (1 male, Reservoir)
Green-winged Teal (1 female, Meer)
Lesser Scaup (3, Reservoir, 7:45 a.m. - 2 males & 1 female)
Bufflehead (12+, Reservoir; & several on Turtle Pond)
Hooded Merganser (2 males, Reservoir)
Ruddy Duck (35+, mostly on the Meer; a few on Reservoir)
Osprey (1, high flyover seen from the N. Meadow)
Northern Harrier (1, high flyover seen from N. Meadow)
Sharp-shinned Hawk (1, high flyover seen from N. Meadow)
Cooper's Hawk (1, hunting around perimeter of Great Lawn)
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel (1, N. end)
Peregrine Falcon (2, seen from S. end of Park)
American Coot (1, Meer)
Spotted Sandpiper (1, on edge of Reservoir, & in flight)
Laughing Gull (2, Reservoir dike)
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull (Reservoir)
Rock Dove
Mourning Dove
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (several)
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker (1, Cedar Hill)
Northern Flicker (20+)
Eastern Phoebe (several)
Blue-headed Vireo (1, near N. side of Hallett Sanctuary)
Blue Jay
American Crow
Tree Swallow (8, flying low/southbound past Castle)
Tufted Titmouse (fair number throughout the Park)
Red-breasted Nuthatch (2, one Cedar Hill, one East Pinetum)
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper (2, one at S. end, & one at N. end)
Winter Wren (1, Loch)
Golden-crowned Kinglet (several, Cedar Hill, S. end, & N. end)
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (several, Cedar Hill, S. end, & N. end)
Hermit Thrush (30+ throughout the Park)
American Robin
Gray Catbird (several)
Northern Mockingbird (several)
Brown Thrasher (1, Hallett Sanctuary, N. side)
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing (100+ in several flocks)
Yellow-rumped Warbler (10+, including 6+ around Cedar Hill)
Black-throated Green Warbler (1, Cedar Hill, with Y.-r. Warblers)
Palm Warbler (1, North Meadow knoll)
Ovenbird (1, Hallett Sanctuary)
Eastern Towhee (several, Ramble, & Hallett Sanctuary, & N. end)
Chipping Sparrow (80+, most at N. Meadow Knoll; few elsewhere)
Field Sparrow (3, Cedar Hill, N. Meadow Knoll, Great Hill)
Savannah Sparrow (1, N. Meadow Knoll)
Fox Sparrow (3, S. end, Ramble, N. end)
Song Sparrow (many)
Swamp Sparrow (few, Lake shore, & N. edges of Reservoir)
White-throated Sparrow (many)
White-crowned Sparrow (2, N. Meadow Knoll, & Great Hill)
Dark-eyed Junco (many)
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird (a few)
Common Grackle (a few large flocks, otherwise scattered)
Purple Finch (1, female-type plumage, Cedar Hill)
House Finch
House Sparrow
Good birding - Tom Fiore
11/3/03 -- Yesterday afternoon, not far from the madding crowds of spectators cheering on runners of the New York City Marathon, a small group of birdwatchers had the good fortune to discover a species of bird not often sighted in Central Park: the Eastern Meadowlark. Two of these handsome birds with their bright yellow throats and chests crossed by a large black V showed up on a grassy knoll just north of the North Meadow. The birds flew from tree to tree, and finally perched conspicuously for quite a few minutes, long enough for everyone to get very satisfying looks.
Also seen in the same area:
Palm Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Marsh Wren
White-crowned Sparrow
A wonderful Marathon Day, from the birding point-of-view.
10/31/03
From yesterday's e-birds, here is a report by one of Central Park's most reliable "Regulars" [and, by the way, one of the main characters of Red-Tails in Love]
DATE: Tue-Thu, 28-30 October 2003
LOCATION: Central Park
REPORTED BY: Tom Fiore
No mega-rarities, but certainly some interesting birds continue to be
seen... among the surprises have been how many warbler species keep on
going; also nice to see are some waterfowl turning up, & an ongoing
good mix of sparrows & other end-of-October migrants.
For highlights, take your pick: a BALD EAGLE, spotted by eagle-eye
Phil Jeffrey on Tues./28th, as the second-year eagle flew over those
dozen or so of us looking for a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW, that I had
rediscovered on Cedar Hill a short time before, calling over those
birders ogling the ridiculously out-there WILSON'S SNIPE - enjoying
itself in the rain puddles in the middle of the Maintenance Field as
seen there originally the day before - Mon. - by Jack Meyer & Marty
Sohmer. While we didn't re-find the Clay-colored despite very keen
eyes trying for it, the eagle was a very nice unexpected sight! (To my
knowledge, no one has seen a snipe, or a Clay-colored Sparrow in the
Park since then.)
Then there were the 13 WARBLER SPECIES noted on Tuesday, with an
ORANGE-CROWNED or 2 that Rafael Campos first identified on "Sparrow
Ridge" (a made-up name for the rock outcrop across the W. Drive from
Tanner's Spring, which FYI is NOT a made-up name but comes from the
physician, a Dr. Tanner, who in years preceding the creation of
Central Park prescribed the spring's water to patients!); other
birders got to see Orange-crowned thanks to Rafael's ID. A flurry of
warblers & other birds happened after sunrise on Tuesday at the Great
Hill, especially apparent in trees on the W. flank of the upper lawn -
with TENNESSEE, NASHVILLE, NORTHERN PARULA, CAPE MAY (adult female
plumage), BLACK-THROATED BLUE, BLACK-THROATED GREEN, PINE, PALM,
AMERICAN REDSTART (female) & OVENBIRD being the species seen there in
under an hour! A COMMON YELLOWTHROAT was added a bit later in the N.
end.
Ten or more waterfowl species were possible in the Park this week,
with a quartet of AMERICAN WIGEON on the Reservoir (2 drakes among the
4) on Tuesday. For some reason, unknown to me, this duck is never
commonly found in Central Park despite its being such a common migrant
& winterer in N.Y.C. A PIED-BILLED GREBE is now regular, if not always
easily found, on the Reservoir. NORTHERN SHOVELER have been most
easily seen in good numbers on The Meer, with 60+ there Thursday. At
least 4 BUFFLEHEAD on the Reservoir Thursday morning (3 of them
drakes) were a sign of the season, even if the weather's not showing
it...
On THURSDAY the Park was still producing warblers in nice variety,
with a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT seen by Wada & I in the Wildflower Meadow,
in shrubs near the eastern end, around 9:30 a.m. We also were seeing a
good mix of other birds including LINCOLN'S SPARROW (1, perhaps 2) &
INDIGO BUNTING, etc. Other warblers on Thursday included NASHVILLE,
BLACK-THROATED GREEN, BLACK-THROATED BLUE, PINE, PALM, OVENBIRD &
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT all seen in the north end; plus a NORTHERN
WATERTHRUSH in the Gill (in the Ramble) later on. A BALTIMORE ORIOLE
turned up at Willow Rock & The Point later on too. THRUSHES now
consist mainly of HERMIT, but at least one GRAY-CHEEKED was found by
Rafael Campos, who showed me the bird offering a super view on Summit
Rock; a couple of lingering SWAINSON'S seen in the Ramble and a WOOD
THRUSH at the Great Hill. Two AMERICAN PIPIT passed thru, one landing
at least briefly on the Reservoir's central dike near the South
Pumphouse early Thursday; another seen going by the North Meadow's
north edge a bit later the same morning. Pipits rarely linger in
Central.
SPARROWS continue in good supply, with those still being seen into
Thursday besides Lincoln's being: Chipping, Field, Savannah, FOX (a
few more may be showing up now), Song, Swamp, White-crowned (good
numbers continue, with multiple sightings in some areas), & of course
White-throated all over now, along with some E. Towhees & many
Dark-eyed Junco.
PURPLE FINCH may have slacked off a bit but are still quite findable,
if one keeps eyes & ears out for them - a few were seen Thursday in
Ash trees at the N. end, nibbling on their seeds.
Those interested in current daily bird reports for Central Park might
want to try the website Mike Freeman created -- see link below. There you'll see other parks & public
lands around New York City that will have active pages for reports on
this website as 2004 begins - but for NOW, Central Park is the only
one actively reporting, as it has been here since the first day of
this year. Just click on Central Park & then on any of the various
feature "buttons" to view reports & other data - NO advertising & the
most minimal graphics which allow quick loading to your browser.
Enjoy it; Good birding to all,
Tom Fiore
****************************
*****************************************************************
WILSON'S SNIPE UPDATE
10/30/03 -- The shorebird that attracted many Central Park birdwatchers to the Maintenance Meadow early this week[see article and photo below] seems to have moved on in its migration. It was not sighted yesterday, 10/29/03.
10/29/03 --The Wilson's Snipe, formerly known as the Common Snipe, is an elusive, long-billed, short legged shorebird that seems to show up in Central Park in March or April, and then again in mid to late October. On Monday, October 27 two extremely sharp-eyed birdwatchers, Marty Sohmer and Jack Meyer, spotted a Snipe in the Maintenance Meadow at 8 a.m. That is one day earlier than the 1992 Snipe, which showed up [or at least was first discovered] on October 28 of that year. On the other hand the 1999 Snipe was early, first seen on October 19. Last Monday's Snipe seems to have settled down in the park for a while. It has been sighted in the same location for the last two days.
BIRD WALKS BY A CENTRAL PARK REGULAR
[for Birders of ALL levels]
Though Jack Meyer did not arrive on the scene until after I had written Red-Tails in Love, he has taken his place as one of the Park's most faithful Regulars; he and a small number of others are there every morning all year round, often when rain or snow keeps others away. Consequently, he has a great sense of "where the birds are." He has been leading bird walks for the last few years, and they have been highly praised. To schedule a walk and for more information you can reach him at :
212-563-0038 (Not after 8PM please)
e-mail jackmeyer415@earthlink.net
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Lincoln's Sparrow
A quintessential late October birding report, followed by some identification tips for the Lincoln's Sparrow:
DATE: Sunday, 19 October 2003
LOCATION: Central Park
OBSERVERS: Ilenne Goldstein, Eve Levine, Phil Sussman
There was a nice flurry of activity at the Sparrow Rocks / Ridge near
Tanner's Spring between 3 and 3:30 today as the sun came out. In or
around the puddles on the rocks, all about the same time: Chipping
Sparrow, Field Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Song Sparrow,
Dark-eyed Junco, Scarlet Tanager bathing, Cedar Waxwing, Hermit
Thrush. A few minutes later, in a small crabapple tree with yellow
fruit just north of the rocks, a Lincoln's Sparrow repeatedly perched
briefly and then disappeared into the tall purple Smartgrass under the
tree.
****************************
ID Tips for the Lincoln's Sparrow [Melospiza lincolnii]
* Length: 4.75 inches
* Conical bill
* Brown crown with gray central stripe
* Gray face and supercilium
* Eye ring
* Brown streak extends behind eye
* Thick malar streak bordered by white throat and buff submustachial stripe
* Olive back with darker streaks
* Brownish-olive wings
* Buffy breast and flanks with fine streaks
* White belly
* Thin, rounded tail
* Sexes similar
* Juvenile (Summer) similar to adult but is buffier
Similar species:
The Song Sparrow can be told from the Lincoln's Sparrow by its larger bill, heavier streaking on the breast and flanks, lack of buffy color on the breast and face, brown back, larger size and longer tail. Juvenile Lincoln's Sparrows are very similar to juvenile Swamp and Song Sparrows. Savannah Sparrow is similar but has a yellowish supercilium and lacks a buffy breast. Swamp Sparrow has a rusty crown, rusty wings and much less streaking on the breast.
P.S. For readers of Red-Tails in Love, note that Ilenne Goldstein, one of the observers above, appears on p. 35 of the book in an incident that happened almost ten years ago, when she was a brand-new birdwatcher.
LATE FALL [AVIAN] REGULARS DOMINATE PARK
As the following two reports clearly demonstrate, the final phase of the Fall Migration has set in. This is the time when the focus is no longer on warblers, but rather on sparrows, migrating hawks, waterfowl and wrens. These are the weeks when Hermit Thrushes, birds that are often hard to find on their breeding ground, [except by the sound of their lovely song] are briefly a dime a dozen in Central Park. Birds that will be present in the park all winter-- titmice, nuthatches, brown creepers -- are moving in. And birdwatchers begin to think about stocking up their supply of handwarmers.
POSTSCRIPT:
Note that Jack Meyer's Fall Migration walks [see below] will end by the end of this month. However he is available for off-season walks, by appointment. You can phone him at
212-563-0038 (not after 8PM please)
or
email him: jackmeyer415@earthlink.net
DATE: Saturday, 18 October 2003
SATURDAY'S REPORTS:
1. REPORTED BY: Jack Meyer
Highlights:
Bufflehead (Turtle Pond)
Great Blue Heron (Lake)
Sharp-shinned Hawk (Riviera)
Hairy Woodpecker (Falconer Hill)
Belted Kingfisher (Point)
Tufted Titmouse (Several)
White-breasted Nuthatch (Several)
Brown Creeper (Several)
House Wren (Falconer Hill)
Winter Wren (Several)
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Sparrow Ridge)
Palm Warbler (Sparrow Ridge)
American Redstart (Summit Rock)
Eastern Towhee (Several)
Chipping Sparrow (Several)
Swamp Sparrow (Balcony Bridge, Upper Lobe)
White-crowned Sparrow (Maintenance Field, Tanner Spring)
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2. REPORTED BY: Neil O'Hara
Highlights:
Blue-headed vireo - 1 nr Laupot Br
Eastern towhee 2
Winter wren 2
Swamp sparrow - 1 upper Lobe
Song sparrow 2
Chipping sparrow 2
Swainson's thrush 1
Hermit thrush (everywhere)
Tufted titmouse 4+
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photo by Cal Vornberger
photo by Lincoln Karim
10/14/00 Yesterday afternoon, alerted by the angry cries of mobbing Blue Jays, two regular Central Park birdwatchers came upon a Long-eared Owl roosting in a tree not far from the Azalea Pond. This is one of the earliest owl sightings on record. As usual, the news spread rapidly in the Central Park birdwatching community. Since owls are vulnerable while roosting during the daytime, it is considered improper to divulge the exact locations of their discovered roosting spots on public forums such as this one, But Central Park birdwatchers will usually oblige trustworthy owl seekers by leading them to the roosting owl. In the meanwhile, here is a picture of this beautiful creature taken on the day of its discovery.
Photo by Lincoln Karim
What keeps those ducks in the Model Boatpond alive? People often ask that question. Lincoln Karim, the photographer [with the gigantic telescope] who is often stationed at the Model Boatpond, provides an indisputable answer in this photo taken on Saturday, October 11. I don't have an answer for the next question: Where do those goldfish come from?
Just when I thought things were slowing down in the Southbound migration, Tom Fiore sent a report to e-birds confounding my statement. Note that one reason Tom sees so many birds [besides being an excellent observer] is that he gets to the park around sunrise, and sees migrants actually arriving! Here's his report:
DATE: Fri. & Sun., 3 & 5 October 2003
LOCATION: Central Park, Manhattan
REPORTED BY: Tom Fiore
First, a few birds from Friday, Oct. 3rd & apologies for a belated
report:
RED-HEADED WOODPECKER (immature) at Falconer Hill, 7 a.m.,
Friday, Oct. 3rd
EASTERN BLUEBIRD (several early a.m. flybys, & 1 calling at the
N. Meadow around 8 a.m., Fri./3rd)
RUSTY BLACKBIRD (winter plumage) at Tanner's Spring, mid-day on
Fri./3rd
PURPLE FINCH (males & female) early a.m. at Falconer Hill, also
at Tanner's Spring, Fri./3rd
On that Friday (Oct. 3) morning there was a tremendous migration of
birds continuing into daylight, with literally thousands of Northern
[Yellow-shafted] Flickers streaming through & over the Park, as well
as great numbers of Blue Jays, American Robins, blackbirds, & some
warblers & other migrants streaming overhead even as the sun rose and
for a while afterward. Observed this from Falconer Hill between about
6:15-7:15 a.m.
/--------------------------*
Sunday, Oct. 5th -
It was a rather good day with not only some lingering warblers & other
songbirds about, but a nice raptor flight thru the afternoon, along
with some waterfowl "trickling" in, & overhead. There were many
observers of the birds, especially at Tanner's Spring in the morning;
and also up on top of Belvedere Castle in the afternoon. Thanks to
Richard Leiberman for compiling the vulture/raptor numbers most of the
day & to ALL who observed. Brian Hart noticed that an "odd" Red-tailed
Hawk was in fact COLOR-MARKED with RED DYE - 2 large patches, one
centered on each underwing. In ideal light the red markings were
distinctive. In poor lighting/viewing conditions it was a bit weird.
Brian Hart, along with many others, helped spot numerous raptors. Two
esteemed visitors were Peter Post & Irv Kantor, with well over a
century of birding between them! Dennis Geisel & I got in a little
more hawk-watching with the last observed Sharp-shinned Hawk around
4:30 pm. - we'd seen a few more Broad-winged Hawks after 4 p.m. as
well.
The full day-list:
PIED-BILLED GREBE (1, Reservoir, N.E. corner)
Double-crested Cormorant (mainly on Reservoir)
Great Blue Heron (1 at Turtle Pond)
GREEN HERON (1, in the "oven" at Willow Rock, getting late for
this species)
Black-crowned Night-Heron (2, island in Meer)
TURKEY VULTURE (37, migrating in several flocks, seen from
Belvedere Castle)
SNOW GOOSE (30+, migrating at altitude in mid-morning, & thanks
to David Speiser for spotting them)
Canada Goose (including some flyovers)
Mute Swan (2, Lake)
Gadwall (6+, Reservoir)
American Black Duck (several, Meer/Reservoir/Lake)
Mallard
Northern Shoveler (at least 4, Meer)
LESSER SCAUP (1, Meer, N.E. corner in early a.m., presumed female
& in first-winter plumage - this was first noted the day
before by myself & Mike Freeman, same location)
Ruddy Duck (1, Lake & at least 7, Meer)
OSPREY (6, migrating, seen from Belvedere Castle)
BALD EAGLE (3: 1 in a.m., & 2 seen together from Belvedere Castle
approx. 3:30 p.m.)
NORTHERN HARRIER (4, migrating & seen from Belvedere Castle)
Sharp-shinned Hawk (9, migrating, seen from Belvedere Castle,
plus others hunting in park)
Cooper's Hawk (4, migrating, seen from Belvedere Castle, plus
others hunting in park)
RED-SHOULDERED HAWK (2, migrating, seen from Belvedere Castle)
BROAD-WINGED HAWK (at least 36, migrating, seen from Belvedere
Castle, still flying 4 p.m.)
American Kestrel (4, migrating, seen from Belvedere Castle, plus
others hunting in park)
PEREGRINE FALCON (3 possible/probable migrants on the day, in
addition to residents)
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull (mostly at Reservoir)
Chimney Swift (100+ in flocks later in day)
Ruby-throated HUMMINGBIRD (several sightings)
HAIRY Woodpecker (1 female in Ramble, & male & female in N. end)
Blue-headed Vireo (1, Lower Lobe)
Warbling Vireo (1 PROBABLE, very high in canopy above Tanner's
Spring, a.m.)
Red-eyed Vireo (small numbers, various areas)
Blue Jay (hundreds & hundreds moving through)
Tree Swallow (several fairly low flyovers very early at N. end)
Black-capped Chickadee (few)
Tufted Titmouse (few)
White-breasted Nuthatch
Red-breasted Nuthatch (Pinetum)
VEERY (1 at Tanner's Spring, getting a bit late for this species)
Gray-cheeked Thrush (several)
Hermit Thrush (2, Summit Rock, N.Woods... 1st report Fri., 10/3
by Alex Wilson)
Wood Thrush (several)
Gray Catbird (plenty)
Northern Mockingbird (regular at N. end)
Brown Thrasher (numerous, throughout park)
Cedar Waxwing (few)
Tennessee Warbler (minimum of 3 seen, Tanner's Spring, Summit
Rock, Great Hill)
Nashville Warbler (6+ seen today)
Northern Parula (12+ seen today)
Yellow Warbler (1, seen briefly above Tanner's Spring, early a.m.)
Magnolia Warbler (5+ seen today)
Cape May Warbler (1, first-fall plumage, Lower Lobe, 5:15 p.m.)
Black-throated Blue Warbler (12+ seen today)
Yellow-rumped Warbler (several)
Black-throated Green Warbler (10+ seen today)
Blackburnian Warbler (1, Strawberry Fields, N.W. side, 11 a.m.)
Pine Warbler (several, Pinetum & N. end)
Prairie Warbler (1, Tanner's Spring)
Palm Warbler (several)
Bay-breasted Warbler (1, Great Hill)
Blackpoll Warbler (8+ seen today)
Black-and-white Warbler (10+ seen today)
American Redstart (12+ seen today)
Ovenbird (several)
Northern Waterthrush (several)
Common Yellowthroat (20+ seen today, esp. at N. end)
Canada Warbler (1, not in good shape, Central Park Zoo grounds,
in shrubs near "monkey pond" - this is certainly the same
individual recently noted by David Speiser in this
location, & is quite a LATE DATE for this species)
Scarlet Tanager (few)
Eastern Towhee (several)
Chipping Sparrow (few, including on Great Hill)
Field Sparrow (1, Great Hill)
Savannah Sparrow (1, Great Hill)
Lincoln's Sparrow (1, Great Hill)
Swamp Sparrow (1, Great Hill)
White-throated Sparrow (hundreds, throughout park)
White-crowned Sparrow (1, Great Hill)
Dark-eyed Junco (1, Great Hill)
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (5+)
Indigo Bunting (several lingering at wildflower meadow)
Red-winged Blackbird (small numbers of flyovers at sunrise)
Baltimore Oriole (6+, including several in bright plumage at
Tanner's Spring)
House Finch
American Goldfinch (2 younger birds seen being fed by 2 adults at
wildflower meadow, an observation also noted by Alex
Wilson recently in the same location... just feeding, no
proof of nesting!)
Monarch butterflies were seen migrating south today as they have each
day recently. Among odonates casually noted were a few Common Green
Darners & some (possibly Yellow-legged) Meadowhawks.
/--------------------------*
A note from the southeast corner of the Park late on Sat., Oct. 4th: a
keen birder visiting while on a break from school in Syracuse, NY & I
were lucky to observe 3 PEREGRINE FALCONS interacting just above The
Pond near 59 St., as we stood on Gapstow Bridge - 2 appeared to be the
regular pair seen in that area, & when a third bird appeared, one of
the pair came alongside, & talons were out amidst high-speed
aerobatics, with some lively vocalizations from the falcons
accompanying the aerial struggle. The "interloper", if indeed that's
what "No. 3" was, soon got away and the local pair settled down again,
after a few wide circles flown high over the buildings. It was a good
show and was also enjoyed by some of the many tourists who frequent
the area. We also noted some migrant birds even at the very southern
perimeter of the Park, including both kinglet species.
Good birding & good luck to all,
Tom Fiore
****************************
MIGRATION SLOWS DOWN
10/5/03 -- The warbler migration begins to slow down [at least in diversity] by mid October. But numbers of thrashers, thrushes, grosbeaks, buntings, orioles will continue to show up in Central Park throughout the month. As the great Tupelo tree in the eponymous Tupelo Meadow comes into fruit in a week or two, the numbers of thrushes and flickers will swell. Sometimes you can see fifty or more flickers in that same tree, gorging on the black tupelo berries.
Here is Jack Meyer's report from Saturday, 10/4: [Note -- his walks will continue until November -- see details a few paragraphs below]
DATE: Saturday, 4 October 2003
LOCATION: Central Park
REPORTED BY: Jack Meyer
Highlights:
Brown Thrasher (many)
Gray-cheeked Thrush (two at Azalea Pond)
Warblers:
Northern Parula (Tanner Spring)
Black-throated Blue (Ramble)
Black-and-white (Tanner Spring)
Palm (Tanner Spring)
American Redstart (Tanner Spring)
Common Yellowthroat (Balcony Bridge)
Yellow (Castle)
****************************
FALL MIGRANTS STILL POURING IN
10/3/03 -- As you can see from the following reports, the fall migration is still in full swing:
DATE: Thursday, 2nd October 2003
LOCATION: Central Park
REPORTED BY: Phil Jeffrey
(All sightings from Tanner's Spring 8-10:30am)
Accipiter sp., probably Sharp-shinned Hawk
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Northern Flicker
Eastern Phoebe
Red-eyed Vireo
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Gray-cheeked Thrush
Swainson's Thrush
Wood Thrush
Brown Thrasher
Tennessee Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Cape May Warbler (Immature female)
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Pine Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
American Redstart
Northern Waterthrush
Common Yellowthroat
probable Field Sparrow (v. brief look)
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Baltimore Oriole (incl one male in full breeding plumage)
****************************
DATE: Thursday, 2 October 2003
LOCATION: Central Park
OBSERVERS: Mary Birchard, Lynette Connelly, Audrey Weintrob,
Patty Pike, Hillary, Jack Meyer
REPORTED BY: Jack Meyer
Highlights:
Sharp-shinned Hawk (Flyover Maintenance Field)
Cooper's Hawk (Hunting at Tanner Spring)
Chimney Swift (Many)
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Several at Falconer's Hill & in Ramble)
Eastern Phoebe (Tupelo Field)
Great Crested Flycatcher (Willow Rock)
Red-eyed Vireo (Ramble)
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Many on Falconer's Hill and in Ramble)
Gray-cheeked Thrush (Maintenance Field and Azalea Pond)
Swainson's Thrush (Many in Ramble)
Wood Thrush (Gill)
Brown Thrasher (Many throughout Ramble)
Scarlet Tanager (Maintenance Field)
Eastern Towhee (Tupelo Field)
White-throated Sparrow (Several in Ramble)
Warblers:
Tennessee (Maintenance Field)
Nashville (Maintenance Field)
Northern Parula (Several in Maintenance Field)
Magnolia (Willow Rock)
Black-throated Blue (Many at Azalea Pond and Gill)
Black-throated Green (Several in Ramble)
Black-and-white (Falconer's Hill)
American Redstart (Maintenance Field)
Ovenbird (Tupelo Field)
Common Yellowthroat (Willow Rock)
****************************
DATE: Thursday, 2 October 2003
LOCATION: Central Park - north end
REPORTED BY: Pat Pollock
Wildflower Meadow:
a number of Indigo Buntings
Wilson's w.
Prairie w.
Blue-winged w.
B&W w.
Common Yellowthroats
Lincoln sp.
Field sp.
2 (F) Scarlet Tanagers
Phoebe
R.T. Hawk
Broad-winged Hawks 3
American Kestrels 2
House wren
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Magnolia
Black-throated green w.
Palm w.
Swainson's thrush
Song sps.
Wh. thr. sps.
Loch:
R.S. Towhee
Belted Kingfisher
Chipping sp.
Turkey Vulture
R.C. Kinglet
Winter wren
(M & F) Rose-breasted Grosbeaks
Pat Pollock (and other observers at times: T. Fiore, Alex Wilson, Mike Freeman)
****************************
DATE: Thursday, 2 October 2003
LOCATION: Central Park - The Pond & Hallett Sanctuary
REPORTED BY: Ben Cacace
Before entering the park around 1:00p I spotted a raptor high, naked eye, above the southeast corner of the park. After crossing 5th Ave., at the park's edge, I brought out the binoculars and quickly spotted a
small kettle of hawks which soon grew to thirty raptors. Most were BROAD-WINGED HAWKS ... a few others were identifiable as SHARP-SHINNED, COOPER's and a single RED-SHOULDERED HAWK. Within 8 minutes 50+ raptors passed overhead heading WSW before I even entered the park. In the park I met up with Denis Giesel and we picked up another 20+ raptors over the next 10 minutes including an AMERICAN KESTREL, 2 TURKEY VULTURES and a few Sharp-shinned and 2 Cooper's
Hawks. The flurry died down soon after ... A local PEREGRINE FALCON was perched on the fencing below the roof of the G.M. Building's north face.
****************************
photo by Lincoln Karim
This photo of Pale Male and his latest mate, variously called Mom III or Lola, was taken a few days ago. But the two "babies," now big, capable young raptors, haven't been seen for over two weeks. This is the way it happens every year: the fledglings stay in the park through the summer, and then take off in the early fall. They cannot stay in Central Park -- it is the parents' territory. In a few months [by late December, usually]the cycle will begin anew -- courtship, mating, laying and incubating eggs, feeding the young, watching them fledge, and then teaching them how to survive on their own.If all goes well we'll have another chance to observe these exciting events from our front-row seats at the Model Boat Pond. And hawk mania will reign again
Connecticut Warbler [Oporornis agilis]
DATE: Monday, 22 September 2003
LOCATION: Central Park
REPORTED BY: Alex Wilson
An adult male CONNECTICUT WARBLER was at the base of the Great Hill
this afternoon at 3:45. It flushed from the brush at the southeast
corner of the Hill, just to the west of the paved path that runs up
the Hill from the Pool. It flew a bit further up the slope, and posed
briefly at the bottom of a woody thicket.
It was my first encounter with an adult male, much brighter than the
dusky young birds I've seen previously. He topped off a day that saw
some nice birds, though numbers and diversity seemed to be down a bit
from Sunday.
Other interesting sights included a Yellow-breasted Chat popping out
of the Wildflower Meadow, and a White-eyed Vireo along the Loch. A
Kingfisher circled the Meer at dawn, but later turned up in the Loch.
Lincoln's, Swamp, Chipping, and White-throated Sparrows, along with
Dark-eyed Juncos, were on hand to mark tomorrow's Equinox.
Best of luck to all,
Alex Wilson
****************************
LATEST MIGRATION REPORT
DATE: Sunday, 21 September 2003
REPORTED BY: Jack Meyer
Highlights:
Osprey (3 flyovers)
American Kestrel (flyover)
Chimney Swift (Many over maintenance field)
Eastern Wood-Pewee (Ramble)
Eastern Phoebe (Two or more in maintenance field)
Blue-headed Vireo (Maintenance field)
Red-eyed Vireo (Strawberry Fields, maintenance field)
Veery (Ramble)
Swainson's Thrush (Strawberry Fields, maintenance field)
Brown Thrasher (Azalea Pond)
Cedar Waxwing (Flock over Strawberry Fields)
Scarlet Tanager (Strawberry Fields)
Lincoln's Sparrow (Maintenance field)
White-throated Sparrow (Ladies' Pavilion)
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Several, maintenance field)
Baltimore Oriole (Strawberry Fields)
Warblers (all in maintenance field unless noted):
Blue-winged
Tennessee (two)
Nashville
Northern Parula
Yellow
Chestnut-sided
Magnolia
Cape May (adult m, f, two immature)
Black-throated Blue (Tupelo field)
Black-throated Green
Palm
Blackpoll
Black-and-white (several, maintenance & ramble)
American Redstart (several, maintenance & ramble)
Common Yellowthroat (Strawberry Fields & maintenance)
Wilson's
****************************
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