Central Park Botany Walk with Regina Alvarez, 5/31/2025

Registrar:  Anne Lazarus
Participants:  15
Weather:  Cloudy early morning, then sunny, high 60 F.

May 31 was a perfect, sunny, mild day for a botany walk in the north end of Central Park. We met our wonderful leader, Regina Alvarez, who made sure we all had magnifying glasses. 

We began our day by examining leaf galls of the Washington Hawthorn tree. Plants defend themselves against invaders by isolating them in these galls. The eggs and  larvae develop in the galls, where they find nutrition and emerge at a later date as adults. Galls are specific for each tree. Adjacent to the Hawthorn tree were small plants in the buckwheat family. Buckwheats create a thin, leaf-like sheath around the stem, where the leaf blade attaches. Smartweed and Virginia Knotweed are in the buckwheat family. We examined the Smartweed without magnifying glasses.

We could have spent over an hour in this one spot because there was so much to see and examine. We were fascinated by the Bald Cypress. It is a conifer that sheds its leaves in the fall. This tree is monoecious, with both male and female flowers on the same tree. The female flowers are wind pollinated and develop into little cones, which we viewed in detail. This tree has “knee” projections from above the root. The reason for the knees might be related to oxygen access, but this is still being investigated. We learned that Bald Cypress trees growing in drier areas do not have “knees”—for example, the Bald Cypress of Strawberry Field does not have “knees”.

The small plants that spend their lives close to the soil also play their role. We examined the humble English and the American (native) plantains. The base of our native plantain is red, but the English Plantain’s is white. These plants are dicots, but the leaf veins are parallel, like those of a monocot. 

We then strained our necks to look up to the crown of the mighty Tulip tree. This tree loses its bottom branches as it grows taller and reaches for the sunlight. We learned that each plant species has its own strategy for survival and reproduction. Oaks are fine growing in the shade. An English Elm has been planted in the Loch, and has been placed in a cage for protection. 

A beautiful native birch is the River Birch. It can grow in difficult environments, and is a rugged tree with nutrients that attract a variety of birds. Many insect-eating birds also find nourishment in this tree. We examined many specimens of our native Sweet Bay Magnolia, Staghorn Sumac, Sassafras, and many other species. Ironwood trees create burls, a distorted outward growth on the trunk that forms from stress. The tree can survive well with a burl.

The London Plane tree is a hybrid of the American Sycamore and the Oriental Plane tree. It is infertile, but it can remove pollutants from the air.

We switched our attention to the tiny flowering plants that were floating in the Pool—Milfoil. It offers shade, fish cover, and habitat for invertebrates. Odonates are insect predators; they are attracted to the Pool. The tiniest plant that we saw was the Watermeal. It is rootless, but capable of spreading rapidly. The Duckweed keeps aggressive algae under control, and the shoreline plants also stop nutrients from feeding algae. Blue Flag Iris is a native shoreline plant at the Pool.

Many flowering shrubs captured our attention. We were happy to observe a native Azalea shrub. A sign of spring is the Trillium, which we saw in the Loch. It is a spring ephemeral, like violets. Jewelweed was starting to bloom in the Loch. Another favorite is the Columbine; leaf miners were tunneling their way through its leaf tissue, and will eventually emerge as adult insects. We took photos of the leaves and flowers. A valuable plant with fruit that nourishes many bird species is the Pokeweed. Burdock, another interesting plant, has a two-year reproduction cycle. This plant is the inspiration for velcro!

Ferns are an important part of the Pool’s ecology. They produce spores, not seeds. The sporangia seen on the back of the fern’s fronds, or on a separate frond, hold and release haploid spores (that is, spores with unpaired chromosomes in the cells) as part of fern’s complex reproductive process. A variety of fern species grow near the Pool: New York Fern, Ostrich Fern,  Royal Fern, and Christmas Fern are among them.

Central Park has both native and non-native plants. The native plants offer the nourishment needed by bees and birds; non-native plants like Mugwort do not attract bees and birds. Poison Ivy, a vine, is native and an important source of nutrients for our birds. It does not cover and choke the trees. Non-native Porcelain Berry does cover and harm the trees by choking them. It is in the grape family. Unfortunately, birds love the fruit and spread its seeds.

Lichen are not plants but, rather, associations between specific fungi and algae or cyanobacteria. The algae or cyanobacteria provide nutrients from photosynthesis for the fungi, and the fungi provide structure and protection. There are three common types of lichen: foliose, which we observed at close range, crustose, and fruticose. Lichen appear worldwide and are a source of food for caribou. 

Plant diversity can seem overwhelming. We learned so much during our outdoor classroom, and we look forward to returning to learn more.


Species List

Birds
Canada Goose
Mallard
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)
Mourning Dove
Great Egret
Black-crowned Night Heron
Black Vulture
Downy Woodpecker
Rough-winged Swallow
Least Flycatcher                                
Gray Catbird
Blue Jay
European Starling
House Sparrow
American Robin
Black-and-white Warbler
Common Grackle

Trees 
American Sycamore 
Bald Cypress 
Black Cherry 
Black Locust 
English Elm, (sapling, non-native)
Hackberry 
Hickory Tree (sapling)
London Plane Tree ( hybrid of American Sycamore Tree and Oriental Plane Tree)
Sassafras 
Serviceberry
Staghorn Sumac
Sweetgum 
Sweetbay Magnolia 
Swamp White Oak 
Tulip Tree
Tupelo Tree
Washington Hawthorn Berry 

Bushes and Shrubs, Flowers
American Plantain (native)
Azalea, several native varieties (Flame and Pinxter)
Blue Flag Iris (native)
Blue Violet
Burdock (biennial)
Carolina Rose
Columbine
Common Reed (invasive)
Cone Flower
Duckweed (tiny flowering plant in water)
Japanese Knotweed (Buckwheat family, invasive )
Jewelweed
Mugwort ( tiny flowers, invasive )
Poison Ivy (Vine)
Pokeweed
Porcelain Berry (vine, invasive)
Smartweed (Buckwheat family)
Smooth Hydrangea
Spicebush
Swamp Rose
Sweet Pepper Bush
Trillium species (flower not showing ) 
Virginia Creeper (Vine)
Virginia Knotweed (Buckwheat family)
Virginia Sweet Spire
Watermeal (even tinier flowering plant in water – the tiniest plant we know)
Yellow Iris (invasive)
Yellow Violet
Yellow Wood Sorrel

Ferns
Christmas Fern
Maidenhair
Ostrich Fern
Royal Fern
Wood Fern

Fungus and Lichen
Crustose form of lichen on rock, very flat
Leafy Foliose (algae, cyanobacteria with a fungus symbiotic)
Taphrinna farlowii  (fungus on cherry leaves)
Tree Fungus (Brittle Cinder)

Herps
Snapping Turtle
Red-eared Slider

Mammals
Eastern Gray Squirrel

Insects
Elm leafminer (sawfly)
Hackberry star gall (psyllid)
Hackberry nipple gall (psyllid)
Hydrangea leafier moth (saw the leaf structure it makes)
Leafminer fly on Columbine
Rice root aphid gall
Witch hazel cone gall (aphid)

Butterfly
Question Mark

Central Park Spring Migration Walk with Alice Deutsch, Alan Drogin, and Kevin Sisco, 5/27/2025

Registrar: Catherine Ichord
Participants: 35
Weather: high 50s to mid 70s, partly cloudy, light breeze
Bird Species: 54

It was a beautiful day for the final walk in the Central Park spring migration series. Birders split into two groups and explored Strawberry Fields, the Ramble, and other nearby areas of the park. A combined total of 54 species were observed, including an Acadian Flycatcher and nine species of warblers.

Species List

Canada Goose
Gadwall
Mallard
Mallard x American Black Duck
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift
Ring-billed Gull
American Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Double-crested Cormorant
Black-crowned Night Heron
Great Egret
Osprey
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
American Kestrel
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Empidonax sp.
Acadian Flycatcher
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Barn Swallow
Carolina Wren
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
Gray-cheeked Thrush
Swainson’s Thrush
Wood Thrush
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
House Sparrow
House Finch
American Goldfinch
White-throated Sparrow
Baltimore Oriole
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Common Grackle
Northern Waterthrush
Black-and-white Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart
Magnolia Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Canada Warbler
Northern Cardinal

Sterling Forest State Park with Tod Winston, 5/25/2025

Registrar: Lisa Kroop
Participants: 8
Weather: 51°F–57°F, clear with some clouds; 8 mph NW
Bird Species: 60

Birds were singing all around us as we gathered at the trailhead on the cul-de-sac of Ironwood Drive for our walk along the powerline in Sterling Forest State Park. The loudest was a Scarlet Tanager, and filling in between its songs were those of other birds, including Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Ovenbird, Field Sparrow, Indigo Bunting, and a Blue-winged Warbler, with its buzzy trill.

We soon had our first sightings: a Blue-winged Warbler in the low shrubs; a Yellow Warbler, its bright plumage highlighted against the dense foliage of a nearby tree; an Indigo Bunting perched on a bare branch of a distant tree; and an Eastern Kingbird in the same vicinity as the bunting— sallying and displaying the white of its tail. 

We proceeded to walk along the power line cut, starting in the southern section. Earlier, a few of us had seen a pair of Yellow-billed Cuckoos fly across the cut, and the group climbed the trail hoping to find them. We heard them calling as we walked, but didn’t manage to see them. We saw a flock of Cedar Waxwings flying overhead—the first of several flocks we spotted during the morning. Pausing at a high point, we observed a juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk flying in the distance, and a couple of participants saw a Common Nighthawk pass over and beyond the tree line. 

We turned around and headed toward the northern section of the power line, accompanied by the continuing tunes of Prairie Warblers and Field Sparrows, among many other birds. Despite hearing their songs, it took a while before we were actually able to see any of them, but we eventually did, and with very good views. Tod picked up the song of a Louisiana Waterthrush and we pursued it along a side trail that veered into the woods. We didn’t find the waterthrush, but we heard a Worm-eating Warbler and found it at eye-level in a tree, and saw an Ovenbird close to us on the opposite side of the path.

Returning to the rocky power cut trail, we met a man who excitedly told us that he had just seen a bobcat, and showed us a beautiful photo. As we continued up the trail, we heard two Scarlet Tanagers singing back and forth, one high in a dead tree and the second much closer to us, perched in a low tree—we could see and hear both of them from the spot where we had paused along the trail.
 
We met some other birders, who told us about an active Prairie Warbler nest. It took a bit to find it, but when we did, we also saw the protective mother in a tree nearby. Not surprisingly, we didn’t spot the bobcat.

After we turned around and headed back down the trail, a Pileated Woodpecker flew across the power cut in front of us, a Broad-winged Hawk flew across the cut behind us, and we observed a Ruby-throated Hummingbird perched on a bare branch ahead of us—one of two hummingbirds of the day. Near the bottom of the trail we heard another Worm-eating Warbler and spotted it perched on top of a horizontal branch, to the delight of all.

Cerulean Warbler and Hooded Warbler were the final highlights. As we passed through the patch of woods on our way back to the cars, some of the group heard a Cerulean and caught a glimpse of it as it was chased out of the nesting territory of a pair of American Redstarts, a ruckus which we all saw and marveled at. Hearing the Hooded Warbler from our cars as we drove away on Ironwood Drive, we stopped and walked down the trail to track it down. Persistence paid off, with a measure of good luck, and all were able to get their eyes on the bird.

While this power cut location is known for Golden-winged Warblers, the species hasn’t been reported this year, and we did not come upon one, or any of its hybrids. Instead we focused on all the other birds, saw and heard many, enjoyed the cool weather, the good company, and a fantastic leader. Many thanks Tod!

Species List

Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Mallard
Mourning Dove
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Ruby-thorated Hummingbird
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Broad-winged Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Eastern Phoebe
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
Yellow-throated Vireo (h)
Warbling Vireo (h)
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
corvid sp.
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
White-breasted Nuthatch
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Northern House Wren
Carolina Wren
Gray Catbird
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
American Goldfinch
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Baltimore Oriole
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Common Grackle
Ovenbird
Worm-eating Warbler
Louisiana Waterthrush (h)
Blue-winged Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Hooded Warbler
American Redstart
Cerulean Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Pine Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Scarlet Tanager
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (h)
Indigo Bunting

Shawangunk Grasslands NWR and Wallkill Marsh with Tod Winston, 5/24/2025

Registrar: Christina Black
Weather: Cloudy and cold with a few showers, temperature in high 50s
Participants: 15
Bird Species: 66

Tod Winston led us on a lovely day of birding in several locations, with some of our warm coats coming off as the day progressed. The report here is provided by Tod:

Our day of birding started rather coolly at the Shawangunk Grasslands, but thanks to a warning from Christina, we had come well prepared. And, mercifully, the unseasonably crisp weather did not deter the birds! We quickly found the principal targets of the trip, including singing and displaying male Bobolinks, singing Eastern Meadowlark, and cooperative nesting Eastern Bluebirds. The small and reedy-voiced Grasshopper Sparrow proved a bit scarcer this year… but after a bit of a stake-out, sharp eyes spotted a perched and singing bird in the distance. As we made our way down the trail to check the wooded border of the grasslands, we watched Barn Swallows and Purple Martins swoop over the fields, found an American Kestrel pair perched together in the distance, and heard Field Sparrow and Blue-winged Warbler singing faintly from the opposite side. A second Grasshopper Sparrow granted us a good view, energetic Bobolinks were plentiful, and we got looks at singing Willow Flycatcher, Song Sparrow, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, and both male and female Red-winged Blackbird.

A saunter up the refuge’s driveway allowed closer inspection of the refuge’s Purple Martin colony, and also provided views of several Eastern Kingbirds, Tree Swallows, and more Willow Flycatchers. (Alas, no Alder Flycatcher was heard this year.) The pond and woodlands then supplied a slightly different set of birds, including White-breasted Nuthatch, Cedar Waxwing, American Redstart, Ovenbird, and a still elusive but more audible Blue-winged Warbler. Singing House Wren and Eastern Wood-Pewee also made cooperative cameos, and the high, ringing echo of a Blackpoll Warbler reminded us all of the passage of spring migration.

After a relaxed lunch in the gazebo, we headed off through the neighboring Blue Chip Farms property. This area did not prove as productive as it has in past years, but we did add a few more species to our day list, such as Cooper’s Hawk, Chipping Sparrow, and Warbling Vireo. Savannah Sparrows, however, were not to be heard.
 
Liberty Loop in Wallkill Marsh, our final destination of the day, has been in recent years a reliable spot for nesting Sandhill Crane and Common Gallinule. Despite much scanning and listening, however, we did not detect either of these species–but were ultimately rewarded with a number of other interesting wetland and scrub birds. From the parking lot, we spotted one Bank Swallow swooping over the marsh and heard the gurgling song of the Marsh Wren; and then, while waiting out a sudden rain shower down the street, we glimpsed a Great Blue Heron. Happily, the rain then abated, permitting us a lovely walk in the dappled shade along the refuge’s stream. Several Wood Ducks flew by, as did a Belted Kingfisher and two Green Herons. A Swamp Sparrow sang its wobbly trill, and a very skulky but ultimately cooperative singing young male Orchard Oriole provided a hard-fought thrill. His chattery song gave us  a useful comparison to several Baltimore Orioles in the vicinity. We also again heard a sharp “ping ping ping” call, which we had earlier concluded was the sound of one or more Spotted Sandpipers, seen near the parking lot. As noted by one astute longtime birder in the group, however, we had not actually seen any Spotted Sandpipers. This time, however, the “ping ping ping” very clearly issued from the open beak of that multi-voiced scoundrel, the Red-winged Blackbird! (Birds always have something new to teach you. It keeps things exciting ;-).)  We then heard the “wheep!” of a Great-crested Flycatcher and the distant “chebek” of a Least Flycatcher, and finished off our day with a group of excitedly singing and chipping male and female Indigo Buntings.

All in all, we ID’d 66 species on the trip. You can view that complete list below (in addition to three trip checklists in the eBird Trip Report).

Species List

Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Mallard
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift
Killdeer
Green Heron
Great Blue Heron
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Cooper’s Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Belted Kingfisher
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
American Kestrel
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Willow Flycatcher
Least Flycatcher
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Common Raven
Tufted Titmouse
Bank Swallow
Tree Swallow
Purple Martin
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Barn Swallow
White-breasted Nuthatch
Northern House Wren
Marsh Wren
Carolina Wren
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
Eastern Bluebird
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
House Finch
American Goldfinch
Grasshopper Sparrow
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
Ovenbird
Blue-winged Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart
Yellow Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Northern Cardinal
Indigo Bunting

Central Park Spring Migration Walk with Richard Davis, Alan Drogin, Alice Deutsch, and Kevin Sisco, 5/20/2025

Registrar: Steve Holleran
Participants: 41
Weather: Cool and partly sunny
Bird Species: 68

Forty-one birders set out in three groups to explore the Ramble, Turtle Pond, and Reservoir areas of the park, with a combined total of 68 species observed. Notable sightings included a Bald Eagle, Osprey, and Bicknell’s Thrush, as well as 18 species of warblers!

A couple of our more unusual observations involved non-avian players. The first case was a small flying squirrel that was under attack by a group of jays. Twice we saw it knocked down out of a tree, both times gliding down to the base of another tree, where it climbed back up. We didn’t see the end of the drama, but we think it may have escaped unharmed.

A short while later we came upon a tiny bat lying motionless on the pavement. When gently roused it flew up among us and attached itself to a nearby tree.

Species List

Birds
Canada Goose
Gadwall
Mallard 
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift
Spotted Sandpiper
Ring-billed Gull
American Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Double-crested Cormorant
Black-crowned Night Heron
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Bald Eagle
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
American Crow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Barn Swallow
Northern House Wren
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
Veery
Gray-cheeked Thrush
Bicknell’s Thrush
Swainson’s Thrush
Wood Thrush
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
House Sparrow
House Finch
American Goldfinch
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Baltimore Oriole
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Ovenbird
Northern Waterthrush
Black-and-white Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart
Cape May Warbler
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Canada Warbler
Wilson’s Warbler
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Mammals
Hoary Bat
Flying Squirrel

Central Park Spring Migration Walk with Ken Chaya, Alan Drogin and Kevin Sisco, 5/13/2025

Registrar: Sarah Dahl
Participants: 54
Weather: Cloudy and low 60s at the start
Bird Species: 53

A cloudy morning greeted an energetic group of 53 birders.  The skies threatened rain that held off, but the day remained cloudy.  Things started slowly but eventually picked up a bit as the morning went on.  It was a lovely spring day to be in the park nonetheless.

Species List

Canada Goose
Mallard
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift
Ring-billed Gull 
American Herring Gull 
Great Black-backed Gull 
Double-crested Cormorant  
Great Egret  
Red-tailed Hawk
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Red-bellied Woodpecker  
Downy Woodpecker  
Northern Flicker  
Eastern Wood-Pewee  
Great Crested Flycatcher  
Eastern Kingbird
Blue-headed Vireo 
Warbling Vireo  
Red-eyed Vireo  
Blue Jay  
American Crow  
European Starling  
Gray Catbird 
Veery 
Swainson’s Thrush 
Wood Thrush  
American Robin  
House Sparrow  
House Finch  
American Goldfinch  
White-throated Sparrow  
Baltimore Oriole  
Red-winged Blackbird  
Common Grackle  
Ovenbird  
Northern Waterthrush  
Black-and-white Warbler  
Nashville Warbler  
Common Yellowthroat  
American Redstart  
Northern Parula  
Magnolia Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler  
Blackpoll Warbler   
Black-throated Blue Warbler  
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Canada Warbler (Heard only)
Scarlet Tanager  
Northern Cardinal  

Central Park North Woods with Ursula Mitra and Kevin Sisco, 5/11/2025

Registrar: Suzanne Zywicki
Participants: 37
Weather: Sunny, light wind, temperatures ranging from 59-72 degrees
Bird Species: 65

Unlike spring migration walks of years past in Central Park’s North Woods, we had beautiful weather for this May’s field trip. Ursula Mitra and Kevin Sisco capably led a comparatively large group of enthusiastic birders in exploring a part of Central Park that was less familiar than most to many of the participants. Our group was a nice mix of experienced and newer birders, with those possessing stronger birding skills willingly helping others to identify and focus on the birds.

After meeting at 108th and Central Park West, we made our way to the Great Hill, where the morning began with an abundance of warbler sightings, including Blackpoll, Wilson’s, Blackburnian, and Blue-winged, among others. We also viewed several Baltimore Orioles and Scarlet Tanagers in and around the tulip tree.

We then made our way through the jug-handle into the North Woods, where we continued to see warblers in addition to two Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, a few Rose-Breasted Grosbeaks, and examples of several other species.

Our next stop was the newly opened Davis Center in The Meer, where we were treated to good views of a Black-crowned Night Heron and some Double-Crested Cormorants. After a group lunch at the Green Bench, we explored the compost heap and the nursery, where we saw an Eastern Wood-Peewee, our only flycatcher of the day. We then headed into the Loch, where we had great views of a Canada Warbler near the Glen Span Arch.

We continued on to The Pool, where new birds for the day included two Solitary Sandpipers. Our day ended back on the Great Hill, after almost seven hours of birding! All told, we saw over 20 warbler species and 65 species in total. A big thank you to Ursula and Kevin for sharing their knowledge of the North End and giving us such a fun and rewarding day.

Species List

Canada Goose
Mallard
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift
Solitary Sandpiper
American Herring Gull
Double-crested Cormorant
Black-crowned Night Heron
Snowy Egret
Great Egret
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Red-tailed Hawk
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Blue-headed Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
swallow sp.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Veery
Swainson’s Thrush
Wood Thrush
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
House Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow  
Swamp Sparrow  
Eastern Towhee  
Baltimore Oriole  
Red-winged Blackbird  
Common Grackle  
Ovenbird  
Louisiana Waterthrush  
Northern Waterthrush  
Blue-winged Warbler  
Black-and-white Warbler
Common Yellowthroat  
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  
Prairie Warbler  
Black-throated Green Warbler  
Canada Warbler  
Wilson’s Warbler  
Scarlet Tanager  
Northern Cardinal  
Rose-breasted Grosbeak  
Indigo Bunting  

Central Park Spring Migration Walk with Ken Chaya, Richard Davis, Alan Drogin, and Kevin Sisco, 5/6/2025

Registrar: Kathleen Howley
Participants: 25
Weather: Overcast, some rain; 58–63° F
Bird Species: 47

On this Tuesday morning, only half the number of birders who registered for the walk showed up at 7:30 am because the weather report indicated rain within an hour. However, as it turned out, it did not really start raining hard until about 10 am, and by that time we had birded our way to the Castle, which afforded us good protection from the downpour.

The rain stopped by 10:30 am, and we resumed our walk, going along the south side of Turtle Pond. Birds were singing away, especially Yellow-rumped, Black-throated Blue, Magnolia, and Common Yellowthroat Warblers. Overall, it was not easy birding, but no one regretted showing up for the walk.

Species List

Canada Goose
Mallard
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift
Spotted Sandpiper
American Herring Gull
Double-crested Cormorant
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)
White-eyed Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Hermit Thrush
Wood Thrush
American Robin
House Sparrow
House Finch
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Baltimore Oriole
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Baltimore Oriole
Ovenbird
Northern Waterthrush
Black-and-white Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak