Starr Saphir Memorial Spring Migration Walk with Lenore Swenson, 5/5/2023

Leader and Registrar: Lenore Swenson 
Participants: 14
Weather: Partly sunny, 50-56F, calm
Bird Species: 41

Our group started out at 7:30am at the Central Park West and West 81st Street entrance to the Park, which was Starr’s meeting place. We went along Naturalists Walk, past Triplets Bridge to Hernshead and the Lake. We then walked by the Upper Lobe, went up to the Castle, along the south side of Turtle Pond, and through the Maintenance Meadow, where 2 Red Bats were flying around. A Great Horned Owl was perched in a tree in the Ramble. The Point, Swampy Pin Oak area, and Azalea Pond yielded several more species including Purple Finch, Northern Waterthrush, and Red-tailed Hawk. The walk ended at 12:00noon with 41 species, including 9 species of warbler.

Birds
Canada Goose
Mallard
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Herring Gull
Double-crested Cormorant 
Black-crowned Night Heron
Red-tailed Hawk
Great Horned Owl
Red-bellied Woodpecker 
Downy Woodpecker 
Northern Flicker
Great Crested Flycatcher 
Blue-headed Vireo
Warbling Vireo 
Blue Jay
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Carolina Wren
Gray Catbird 
European Starling 
Veery
Hermit Thrush 
American Robin
House Sparrow 
Purple Finch
Chipping Sparrow 
White-throated Sparrow
Eastern Towhee 
Baltimore Oriole
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle 
Ovenbird
Northern Waterthrush 
Black-and-white Warbler
Common Yellowthroat 
American Redstart 
Northern Parula
Yellow Warbler 
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Northern Cardinal

Mammals
Eastern Gray Squirrel 
Red Bat

Herp
Red-eared Slider

Central Park-East Side with Janet Wooten, 5/2/2023

Registrar: Janet Wooten
Participants: 7
Weather: Intermittent rain throughout a cool morning with a southwesterly breeze
Bird Species: 30

Wet weather did not deter seven birders on the first Tuesday morning of May. We met at the Boat House and proceeded to search the Ramble and environs, the trees around the Castle, and Turtle Pond for migrating birds on their way to their breeding grounds. Despite periodic rain and cool temperatures, we managed to see six warblers, a Baltimore Oriole, and a Blue-headed Vireo. It was a challenging morning, but we prevailed with a final count of 30 species.

Species Lists

Birds
Canada Goose
Mourning Dove
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Egret
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)
Blue-headed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Gray Catbird
Hermit Thrush
Wood Thrush
American Robin
House Sparrow
Purple Finch
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Baltimore Oriole
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Ovenbird
Northern Waterthrush
Black-and-white Warbler
Northern Parula
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)
Black-throated Green Warbler
Northern Cardinal

Central Park with Ken Chaya, Lynne Hertzog and Kevin Sisco, 5/2/2023

Registrar: Steve Holleran
Participants: 57
Weather: Intermittent rain through late morning, then sunny and cool with a SW breeze
Bird Species: 70

It was a productive day to be out birding in spite of the showers that we endured during the morning hours. Our persistence paid off as we made it all the way to the north end to follow up on reports of Cerulean and Yellow-throated Warblers. Both were seen! We ended up with 15 species of warblers and a nice number of other migrants.

Species List

Birds
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Gadwall
Mallard
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift
Spotted 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
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
American Kestrel
Blue-headed Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Tufted Titmouse
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
House Wren
Carolina Wren
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
Veery
Gray-cheeked Thrush
Swainson’s Thrush
Hermit Thrush
Wood Thrush
American Robin
House Sparrow
House Finch
Purple Finch (Eastern)
American Goldfinch
Chipping Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-throated Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Baltimore Oriole
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Ovenbird
Worm-eating Warbler
Northern Waterthrush
Black-and-white Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart
Cerulean Warbler
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Palm Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Yellow-throated Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Northern Cardinal
Indigo Bunting

Central Park South End Afternoon Spring Walk, with Debbie Becker, 4/28/2023

Registrar: Debbie Becker
Participants: 8
Weather: Overcast with spotty rain
Bird Species: 17

This was the inaugural Central Park South End Afternoon Spring Walk.

Species Lists

Birds
Canada Goose
Mallard
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
Blue Jay
Common Raven
American Robin
House Finch
Field Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Northern Waterthrush
Northern Cardinal

Central Park with Ken Chaya, Kristin Ellington, Erika Piik, and Kevin Sisco, 4/25/2023

Registrar: Kathleen Howley
Participants: 55
Weather: Sunny, 48–54° F; 3 mph N wind
Bird Species: 65

Every birder is excited when spring arrives, and the migrants begin to appear. As you can see from the total number of species sighted on this walk— compiled from the three groups we split into—spring had definitely arrived. But it was the type of morning when you had to be in the right spot at the right time. Thanks to “word of mouth” and cellphone connections, each group got to see many of the species listed. One group even made it to the North End of Central Park, so it ended up with the longest list. I think for everyone it was an enjoyable and somewhat challenging bird walk.

Species List

Birds
Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Northern Shoveler
Gadwall
Mallard
Bufflehead
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel
Great Horned Owl
Eurasian Eagle-Owl
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Blue-headed Vireo
Blue Jay
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Barn Swallow
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Carolina Wren
House Wren
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
Northern Mockingbird
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
House Sparrow
House Finch
Purple Finch
American Goldfinch
Chipping Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Common Grackle
Baltimore Oriole
Louisiana Waterthrush
Northern Waterthrush
Black-and-white Warbler
Northern Parula
Blue-winged Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Palm Warbler
Pine Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Northern Cardinal

Central Park Walk with Alice Deutsch, Alan Drogin, Lynne Hertzog, and Kevin Sisco, 4/18/2023

Registrar: Kathleen Matthews
Leaders: Alice Deutsch, Alan Drogin, Lynne Hertzog, and Kevin Sisco
Participants: 60
Weather: Cloudy with occasional sun, 52° F
Bird Species: 55

Four groups enjoyed a cool but pleasant morning of birding by fanning out into
Strawberry Fields, then moving to Hernshead, Oak Bridge, and into the Ramble. A
smaller group made it all the way to the Reservoir and North Woods. Highlights of the
day included a Red-Shouldered Hawk, multiple Sparrow and Warbler species, and both a
Great Horned and the well-documented Eurasian Eagle-Owl, nicknamed “Flaco”. Those
who made it to the Loch were rewarded with a lovely look at a Painted Bunting.

Species

Birds:
Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Northern Shoveler
Gadwall
Mallard
Bufflehead
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)
Mourning Dove
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Egret
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Great Horned Owl
Eurasian Eagle-Owl
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Blue Jay
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
White-breasted Nuthatch
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Carolina Wren
European Starling
Northern Mockingbird
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
House Sparrow
House Finch
American Goldfinch
Chipping Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Common Grackle
Northern Waterthrush
Palm Warbler
Pine Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Northern Cardinal
Painted Bunting

Green-Wood Cemetery with Rob Jett, 4/15/2023

Registrar: Russ Comeau
Participants: 17
Weather: 65°F. Mostly cloudy; humid; gentle breeze from SE–E.
Bird Species: 40

A morning chorus of melodious bird song wafted on the warm breeze as Rob Jett led us through the inner hills and dells of the NE, NW, and SW quadrants of this world-class arboretum. We skirted Green-Wood’s four ponds, and Rob chose different routes on the way out and back to maximize our coverage.

Rob concentrated on tall native trees that are budding and producing catkins (the hanging tassels of tiny tree flowers), which provide many birds with food—not just the edible buds and catkins, but the many juicy insects attracted to them as well. Tail-bobbing, bright yellow Palm Warblers and shrilly trilling Chipping Sparrows were most abundant in such trees, alongside other active songbird species as well. There were nice numbers and a diversity of woodpeckers as well.

On the walk out, Amy Simmons put us on a freshly arrived Blue-headed Vireo, which was a first-of-year look at this dapper species for many in our group.

As we reached the halfway mark, Jim Demers discovered a Wilson’s Snipe resting quietly in the shade of a manmade structure along a pond shoreline. Great views were had by all from a respectful distance, so as not to disturb this woodland member of the shorebird family.

We were delighted to see an Osprey fly overhead—and doubly delighted when the Osprey flew back again a few minutes later, this time gripping a glistening golden fish in its talons.

Amy got a brief glimpse of yet another elusive Blue-headed Vireo. Suzanne Zywicki scanned the nearby landscape and found it (or another one) taking a time-out on a low-hanging branch, then dropping into the grass, giving everyone great views.

We couldn’t have hoped for a better, birdier day than this, sequestered from the city amidst the early spring verdure of Green-Wood Cemetery.

Species Lists

Birds
Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Mallard
Mourning Dove
Wilson’s Snipe
Laughing Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Double-crested Cormorant
Osprey
Red-tailed Hawk
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Blue-headed Vireo
Blue Jay
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Red-breasted Nuthatch
European Starling
Northern Mockingbird
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
House Sparrow
House Finch
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-throated Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Common Grackle
Palm Warbler
Pine Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Northern Cardinal

Butterflies
Mourning Cloak

Mammals
Groundhog