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
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
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
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
A brave group of 28 birders arrived at our meeting place even though the forecast threatened rain. Luckily, the rain held off for most of the morning, and some new migrants may have even been blown in by the approaching storm.
The walk started with the Great Hill and proceeded to cover the Children’s Glades, South Blowdown, Pool, East Blowdown, High Meadow, Lily Ponds, Blockhouse, Loch, Wildflower Meadow, Grassy Knoll, and Compost Heap, finishing with another look around the Pool.
We found several warblers low in the trees around the Pool and some rarer ones (Nashville and Blue-winged) somewhat higher along the ridge trail. At the Loch, some of the group saw our first Wood Thrush of the year, and we all stopped for a look at the Flaco, the Eurasian Eagle-owl that escaped from the Central Park zoo a few months ago.
We ended the walk a little before noon, just as the rain was starting to grow heavy.
Species Lists
Birds Canada Goose Mallard American Black Duck Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) Mourning Dove Herring Gull Double-crested Cormorant Great Egret Osprey Eurasian Eagle-Owl Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Blue-headed Vireo Warbling Vireo Blue Jay American Crow Ruby-crowned Kinglet Red-breasted Nuthatch White-breasted Nuthatch Blue-gray Gnatcatcher House Wren Carolina Wren European Starling Gray Catbird Swainson’s Thrush Hermit Thrush Wood Thrush American Robin House Sparrow House Finch Chipping Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco White-throated Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Eastern Towhee Baltimore Oriole Red-winged Blackbird Common Grackle Ovenbird Worm-eating Warbler Northern Waterthrush Blue-winged Warbler Black-and-white Warbler Nashville Warbler Northern Parula Yellow Warbler Pine Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Prairie Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Northern Cardinal
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
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
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
