Happy Birdday!

2011-05-19T17:19:00.000-07:00

Marsh Wren in the bushes in front of the NYPL, at 40th and 5th.

2011-05-04T13:42:00.000-07:00

Rainy day. This AM 2 Northern Parulas in a tree behind the building. This afternoon a catbird.
Last week, same tree, an Eastern Towhee.

2010-10-22T07:47:00.000-07:00

This prothonotary warbler has been at the NY Public Library on 5th Ave btw 40th and 42nd. According to one non-birder he's been there for some time, but was first posted on the birding elist yesterday. Still there today, thank heaven, so I finally have seen a prothonotary warbler.
The bird has always intrigued me, even before I became interested in birds because of the role it played in the Chambers-Hiss episode. Chambers was able to help prove his link to Hiss because he recalled Hiss being excited about having seen the protho.
Anyway, a nice bird.

2010-10-15T11:47:00.000-07:00

A white-headed sparrow amidst the white-throated sparrows at St. Vartan's Park
1st Ave btw 35 & 36th.
A first for me.

2009-05-17T09:53:00.000-07:00

Finally some time in Central Park. Wednesday a common yellow throat, northern parula and a yellow rump by the lake.
Friday, yellow rump, female yellow throat, magnolia warbler, ovenbird, cedar wax wings, northern parula and chestnut-sided warbler in the Ramble. Baltimore Oriole on Falconer'sHill.

2009-05-09T10:37:00.000-07:00

Work, weather and weariness have kept me from getting out in the field. Around the neighborhood sightings have been rare. A house finch across 1st Ave from St. Vartan's Park on Friday and a white throated sparrow inside the garden, a common yellow throat inside the fence at St. V's garden today. Otherwise, Robins, mourning doves, pigeons house sparrows and starlings. On Wednesday I was heartened to hear and then locate a cardinal as I sat in the 5th floor lunchroom at work.

2009-05-03T09:35:00.000-07:00

Pretty slow bird weekend around the neighborhood. At St. Vartan's little park a few gray catbirds hopped around, along with American Robins, European Starlings and a white-throated sparrow. Mourning doves, house sparrows and rock pigeons as always.

2009-04-30T04:35:00.000-07:00

The only bird photo I took yesterday, an Eastern Towhee in the Ramble. Much of what I saw yesterday are FOS, and here's the list from 4/29:
Of course, the ubiquitous gang:
House sparrows
Rock pigeons
European Starlings
Blue Jaws
Mallards
Northern Cardinals
Canada geese
Then, in the Ramble and around the lake, brefly:
Eastern Towhee
Yellow rumps everywhere
Palm warbler (not FOS)
Black and white warbler
Northern Waterthrush
Hermit thrushes
Overnbirds
Tree sparrow
White throated sparrows
Titmouse (heard only)
Red-bellied woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Common yellow throat warbler
Ruby Crowned Kinglet

I had only a biref time, but was energized and heartened by the sight and sound of these beautiful creatures. It's like running into old friends.

2009-04-17T12:24:00.000-07:00

A hermit thrush in the little garden at St. Vartan's PArk on 1st Avenue between 35th an 36th.
It's been a bad week for birding. I burned my hand rather badly on Easter Sunday, and am missing the Spring migration. I managed to get to Central Park for a try at the yellow-throated warbler which has been around the model boat pond all week. The bird was not there when I was there; he has returned since, but I haven't. This litle thrush is the most exciting thing I've seen.

2009-03-19T16:32:00.000-07:00

In the East River near 53rd Brant below, and a gull on the esplanade in the 60s. As I can identify few gulls on working on this large gull, wanting to get it right. I think it's a glaucous gull.

2009-03-14T09:54:00.000-07:00

A Common Loon swimming in the East River. Earlier this week an American Black Duck.
I brought the spotting scope to the river today for the first time, and tried my hand digiscoping the Great Black-backed Gulls on U Thant Island, just south of Roosevelt Island. I have a lot of work to do on digiscoping.
Otherwise, one of the red-tails was overhead, around 38th and 3rd.Starlings, American Robin, house sparrows, pigeons, and other gulls, which I didn't bother to ID.

2009-01-26T11:48:00.000-08:00

On the 14th or 15th a Red Tail (adult, as far as I could tell) landed on the fire escape about 20 yards from my window, at eye level. The bird was just there for a few seconds, while everything else scattered, then he took off as well. Great moment.

This AM, a chipping sparrow was in the space out back, mixing with the house sparrows. A mocking bird was in the shrubbery out front on Saturday, noonish. First ever for all these birds in my experience of the block.

2008-12-13T07:05:00.001-08:00

I came across a woodcock outside St. Vartan's Playground on the 36th St side, between 1st Ave and the tunnel entrance street.

2008-10-17T06:14:00.000-07:00

So I was sitting in Yanticaw Brook Park with Aunt Pat and wondering why bird activity was so minimal. A hawk soared above, briefly, then was lost in the clouds, so one might conclude the area was not hospitable for potential prey. Then Bam! A short cry and a few moments later a Red-Tail swooped a few yards in front of our bench, a squirrel in his talons. He perched on a tree branch and had his lunch. I hope the squirrel died sooner rather than later.

2008-10-13T04:24:00.000-07:00

1 & 2 Kinglets

3 4 5
Nashville Warbler ???

6 7 8 9
Orange Crowned Warbler

Murray Hill hopped with birds over the past week. The three guys above were all at St. Vartan's Park, the little enclosed garden on 1st Avenue. The other birds were in the area behind my building. I had no time to blog so I'll give them all a shout out now:
Nashville Warbler ( I think, double checking)
Yellow bellied sapsucker
Blue-headed vireo (which I had called "solitary vireo" in ebirds. Time to start using the newer Peterson's.
Red eyed-vireo
Common yellow throat (several)
White throated sparrow (a few)
Yellow-rump (2)
Northern Parula
Ruby crowned kinglets (a few)
Song Sparrow (several)
Blue jays (2)
House sparrows
Rock doves (of course)
Mourning doves
Double-crested Cormorant (East River)
Northern Juncos Slate variety (2)

2008-10-04T09:46:00.000-07:00

I returned and got some shots of his head and bill. Consensus from ebirds advisers is that it is a Virginia Rail.

I walked by the vacant lot which is bounded by 35th and 36th St and between 1st Ave and the FDR. I saw this little bird, pictured above and below. This is the best I could do, as he is behind a chain link fence. I saw a long bill before he tucked his head in.

2008-08-24T06:22:00.001-07:00

Cape May
My first time birding Cape May, limited though it was, gave me a taste for the spot. We just spent a short while at Cape May Point State Park but the appeal for birders is immediately obvious. I had my new spotting scope so concentrated on shorebirds and waders, but other birds were so obvious they must have felt slighted that I was paying them no mind. So, many Canada Geese, several mute swans, semi-palmated plover, common terns, Forsters terns, Great Egret, Eastern Kingbird, American Oyster Catcher, a small olive warbler, barn and tree swallows. That's the short list. there were things I never Id's and things I never saw or don't recall. Rather rushed feeling. Beautiful day.

2008-08-18T07:28:00.000-07:00

I joined a birding class led by Joe Giunta at Jamaica Bay on Sunday the 17th. I added a number of birds to my life list, and I'll try to set down everything I saw from memory:
Mute Swans
Greater Yellow Legs*
Lesser Yellow Legs*
Least Sandpipers*(above)
Spotted Sandpiper*
Semipalmated Plover*
Semipalmated Sandpiper*
Willet*
Pectoral Sandpiper*
American Oyster Catcher*
Glossy Ibis
Wood Duck*
Short-billed Dowitcher*
Least Fly Catcher
Mallards
American Black Duck
Tri-colored Heron*
Yellow Crowned Night Heron
Black Crowned Night Heron
Little Blue Heron
White phase immature blue heron
Green Heron
Snowy Egret
Great Egret
Great Blue Heron
Black Bellied Plover
Common tern
Foster's Tern*
Cedar Waxwing
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Laughing Gull
Boat Tailed Grackle*
American Goldfinch
Mourning Dove
Northern Mockingbird
Osprey
Double-Crested Cormorants
In Transit:
Rock Doves
House Sparrows
40 birds, I think 14 life birds

2008-07-16T05:58:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I rode the water taxi to Ikea in Red Hook (Brooklyn). The ride was fun, I love any excuse to be out on the water. The grounds around the store are park-like, with benches, grassy areas and walkways, all river (or estuary) side.
Before I went in the store I checked out the back area and behind a fence, with only small gaps for viewing, was a pond, fringed by reeds and cattails. Barn swallows perched on a wire overhead, and on the pond I caught a glimpse of a bird which I can't ID, but it had a distinctive ring around its bill. A grebe? Not sure; just couldn't get close enough.

2008-07-04T11:23:00.000-07:00

So I finally got to JBWR to see the black-necked stilt. Good thing a woman was there to point it out to me, because I sure couldn't spot it with my Monarchs. I seldom feel the need for the expense of a scope, but for distant birds it's the only thing. Also for digiscoping. In the long run a decent scope would be like buying a camera lens as well.
I did get a nice tree swallow, above.

2008-05-30T03:29:00.000-07:00

Central Park, Thursday AM. A rather quiet day, and I just had time to sprint around the lake and the Ramble.
Black and White Warbler
Wilson's Warbler (above)
Red-Winged Blackbirds
American Redstarts (several)
Magnolia Warbler
Northern Cardinal
Blue Jay
Eastern Towhee
House Wren
Vireo (not sure which)
Wood Thrush
Hermit Thrush
Starlings
House Sparows
Rock Doves
Mallards

2008-05-26T06:49:00.000-07:00

Garrison, NY again on Sunday the 25th. An American Robin sang much of the day, and my highlight was again the Eastern Bluebird, female, and male (m pictured above.) I also snapped this house finch, which seemed larger than others I've seen, but I can't think what else it may have been. One bird was really intriguing. It had a pinkish tinge to its breast, I believe it was white on its belly, though streaked, dark above and acted like a flycatcher. The best I could do was the shot of its underparts. I can't find a flycatcher with the rosey breast. A swallow?

2008-05-25T05:16:00.000-07:00

Garrison, just up the Hudson was a birding disappointment, I thought, until late afternoon, when the sun finally put in an appearance. Then, in short order, I saw a tree sparrow, a group of Cedar Waxwings a magnificent Eastern Bluebird (I'm sure he knows he's magnificient) and a couple of goldfinches, one pictured above. I also spied a hawk I couldn't ID, a crow and some turkey vultures. I caught a flash of black and orange out of the corner of my eye, but too quick to focus on.
Funny thing about the Cedar Waxwings, on Friday I came across and posted a photo of a Waxwing that I'd taken years ago. I have seen few Waxwings in recent years, but immediately after posting one, I came across the others. Or they came across me.

2008-05-23T09:59:00.000-07:00

Pictures taken long ago, a yellow rump warbler in the Great Swamp in NJ, and a cedar waxwing in the tree at 427.

2008-05-21T14:00:00.000-07:00

Another quiet day in CP. The trees at the South Gate of the reservoir were jumping with warblers: Magnolia, yellow-rump, bay breasted and my first Chestnut sided warbler. On to the Ramble where I ticked off the usual suspects magnolia, yellow-rump, black and white warbler, lots of redstarts, American Robins, starlings, grackles, mallards, cardinals, blue jays, oven bird, veery, house wren, northern water thrush, Northern Flicker, red-bellied woodpecker, double-crested cormorant, swallows over the lake, I didn't take a good enough look to ID them. Gray catbirds, tufted titmouse (with such a prominent black forehead I thought I had a black crested titmouse). Red winged blackbirds in abundance. I saw a little olive bird which might be a vireo, and another yellowish bird which I can't guess at because I was distracted by the telephone. Not a bad day, but as migration season moves along one wants it all. Now.
The little guy above is a mystery, but is likely a common yellow throat, though in my previous, limited experience, they are not on the ground as much as this one.

2008-05-20T15:42:00.000-07:00

Monday in CP around the Ramble:
Black and white warbler
American Redstarts (M&F)
Grackles (lots)
American Robins
Magnolia Warblers
Mallards (in the Frick fountain)
Double Crested Cormorant
Starlings
Rock Doves
House Sparrows
White Throated Sparrows
A wren, not sure which one
Slow day, but better than no day.

2008-05-17T10:51:00.001-07:00

A quiet day in Central Park after a day of cold, heavy rain. Spent an hour and a half or so along the lake and in the Ramble.

White Breasted Nuthatch
Black and White Warbler
Black Thraoted Blue Warbler
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Yellow-Rump Warblers
Wilson's Warbler
Eastern Towhee
White Throated Sparrows
Red Bellied Woodpecker
Northern Cardinals
American Redstarts (several)
Starlings
House Sparrows
Rock Doves
Mourning Doves
Grackles
American Robins
Mallards (2)
Veery
Wood Thrush
Overbirds (several, seen and heard)
Downy Woodpecker
And a Raccoon in a tree.

2008-05-15T16:17:00.000-07:00

A quick visit to the park. Nice Green Heron sharing the Azalea pool with a mallard. Orioles male and female in the little rocky area above the pool. American Redstarts, Magnolia and yellow-rumps, black throated blue warblers, Cardinals, Starlings, House Sparrows, White-throated Sparrows, Grackles, Common Yellow throats, Northern Flicker, female Rose-Breasted Grosbeak and I think, a female Hooded Warbler.

2008-05-14T13:14:00.000-07:00

A lovely Scarlet Tanager today in the Ramble, as well as a Summer Tanager
Canada Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler (my first)
Yellow rump
Magnolia
Redstarts (male and female, several)
Common yellow Throat
Black throated blue Warbler
Baltimore Orioles (2)
Great Crested Fly Catcher
Black and white warblers (a few)
Swainson's thrush
Northern Water thrush
Oven birds (several
Gray Catbirds (several)
Blue Jays
Northern Cardinals
Great White Egret flyover
Mallard pair, male and female
Starlings
House Sparrows
White throated sparrows
Rock Doves
Mourning Doves
Wood Thrush
American Robins (lots)

2008-05-10T12:45:00.000-07:00

The May 10th list:
Scarlet Tanager
Indigo Bunting
Rose Breasted Gros beak (several females and one male)
Black-throated green warbler
Black-Throated blue Warbler
Several Common Yellow Throats
White throated Sparrows
Hooded Warbler (a first)
Bay breasted Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Northern Parula (My first)
American Redstarts
Northern Flicker
Baltimore Oriole
House Sparrows
Starlings
Rock Doves
Ovenbirds
Catbirds
Northern Waterthrush
Swainson's Thrush
Hermit Thrush
Blue Jays
Cardinals
Mallards
Cormorants
Green Heron
Great White Egret
Mourning Doves
Grackles
Downy Woodpecker
Black and white warbler
Yellow bellied sapsucker
Red bellied Woodpecker
Veery
Red Winged blackbird
Eastern Kingbird
Barn Swallows (three or four, over reservoir)
Wood thrush
American Robins
Great black backed gull
Herring gulls (three)
Canada Goose
Common Loon
I think that's 43, for anyone who made a pledge for the Birdathon. Oh, no one did? Not too late.
There are one or two things I described into the reocorder, and still have to see if I can ID them otherwise, that's it.

Missed the dickcissel and the Cape May Warbler sighted.
Don't care, I was pleased.
I started in the Conservatory Garden, headed up to the Meer, around Nutter's Battery, into the North Woods, along the lock, the pool, the Reservoir, down into the Ramble. The last stop at the Ramble is where I saw the Bay Breasted, the tanager, the Rose Breasted, the Hooded warbler, Northern Parula, Indigo Bunting, Eastern Kingbird, magnolia Warbler

2008-05-10T12:37:00.000-07:00

Double crested cormorant of the lake (above) was just one of the goodies to be seen this AM in Central Park Other fun birds included a green egret at the Meer:

2008-05-07T14:40:00.000-07:00

A super couple of hrs in Central Park this AM
2 Red Bellied Woodpeckers (Below)
Indigo Bunting
Black throated Blue Warbler Male
Hermit Thrush
Veery
American Redstarts (2)
Oven birds (several)
Mallards (several)
Cardinals ( a few, male and female)
Common Yellow throats (many, one playing peek-a-boo above)
White throated Sparrows (many)
Several black and white warblers
Black throated green warblers
House Wren
European starlings (many)
American Robins (many)
Red winged black bird
Grackles (a few)
Cat birds (many)
House sparrows many)
Mourning doves (2)
Rock doves (many)

I think that's the lot.

2008-05-03T10:00:00.000-07:00

I had a magical day in Northern Central Park. I arrived at the Conservatory Garden @8:30 spent two hours at the Meer, the North Woods, in the Ravine and along the Loch.
Black-Crowned Night Heron (above)
Great Egret
Mallards (several)
3 Canvas Back Ducks
Loads of
American Robins
European Starlings
and Catbirds
Northern Cardinals (several)
Indigo Bunting (my first) NW
Overbirds (my first)
Ruby-crowned Kinglets
Gold Finch
Titmouse
Black and white warbler
White throated sparrows (several)
Hermit Thrushes (several)
Northern Water Thrush
Louisiana Water Thrush
Veery
Swamp Sparrow
Common Yellow Throat
Yellow rumped warbler
Black throated green warbler (my first)
Baltimore Oriole
Song sparrow
Chipping sparrow
Black-throated blue warblers

2008-04-26T16:59:00.000-07:00

I did not see the Protonothary warbler in Central Park today, but between yesterday and today was happy to see a Northern Flicker, Belted Kingfisher(Meer), Northern Shovelers, Buffleheads, Hermit Thrushes, lots of white throated sparrows, loads of Robins, starlings, along with Mallards, and a Great White Egret (Meer). Here is one of the shovelers.

2008-04-21T12:25:00.001-07:00

On Saturday I caught sight of a Great Egret in flight over Rye, NY.

2008-04-17T17:57:00.000-07:00

Upper Montclair, NJ today, and a fine birding day it was. Without much movement at all I spotted three goldfinches high in a tree, a red-bellied woodpecker which stopped by briefly, two tufted titmice, a couple of black-capped chickadees, a female Northern Cardinal, a crow, many house sparrows, a white breasted nuthatch and a white-throated sparrow. On the journey through the Meadowlands via NJ Transit, mute swans were visible, as where egrets and other waterfowl too distant to identify. The sky was blue, the clouds were few and high, the weeping cherry in Aunt Pat's yard was showing off its brilliance, and the birds were too wonderful.

2008-04-14T16:14:00.000-07:00

A productive birding day. A new one for my life's list in the North Woods in Central Park, thanks to Malcolm who called me over to see a Screech Owl nestled in a tree. Also saw ruby crowned kinglet, hermit thrush, white throats, the bufflehead again, mallards, and probably some other things I have to recollect when I get a minute.

2008-04-12T12:20:00.000-07:00

I went to Central Park today, and did not see the vesper sparrow, the spotted sandpipers, or the ring-necked duck,
but did see a lot of the usual suspects, starlings, robins, house sparrows, more Yellow Bellied Sapsuckers, a Northern Flicker (yellow shafted), titmice, white breasted nuthatch, northern juncos, ruby crowned kinglets, a coot in the reservoir, a night crowned black heron and great blue heron, a cormorant, white throated sparrows, cardinals
and three additions to the life list: a palm warbler, a northern shoveler and a bufflehead which I managed to snap and are pictured here in that order, top to bottom. Still enjoying my camera, but am having a wee issue with the fact that when the long lens is used, the rangefinder is obscured. Not great for trying to capture a small object like a bird in sharp focus, but I'l figure it out.

2008-04-09T12:56:00.001-07:00

I caught sight of this immature Yellow Bellied Sapsucker on 31 st, lunching from a tree on which hung a feeder. I have been noticing more feeders lately than I recall seeing before, and more YBS's than I've ever seen in the city. I got a good shot, even without the telephoto lens, and am not unhappy despite cutting off the tail. I'm tempted to head out for a shot of the whole bird, but have work to do and don't want to be compulsive. I think I love my camera, the resolution is great, at 12.1, it should be. I just have to figure out how I cut off so much, when I thought I had it all centered.

2008-03-30T13:34:00.001-07:00

Finally got the little guy. This Yellow-bellied Sapsucker has been frequenting East 35th between 2nd and 3rd since at least the Autumn. I never seemed to have my camera, or he was too elusive when I had it, so it took me a while to get him. Nothing remarkable, but on 35th St. you are happy for every bird that is not a pigeon.

2008-01-28T06:48:00.001-08:00

Scott's Oriole
Photo link

2008-01-27T11:16:00.000-08:00

Scott's Oriole at Union Square

Rather jolly. Saturday morning I asked for a special bird this weekend (Whom did I ask? The creator of all birds and people and everything else.) Within minutes I read on a bird mailing list about a Scott's Oriole at Union Square. This bird is usually confined to the American Southwest, Mexico and parts south, not Manhattan, so this was a rare sighting indeed. I hightailed it down there, and didn't see the Oriole, but did see a nice red-tail, very close up. I tried again for the Oriole after mass this AM and sure enough, I got one for my life list. Feisty little guy, unfazed by all the attention. There was also a yellow-bellied sapsucker, which I didn't see, and a kestrel, or so I'm told.
A nice bird weekend. Just what I asked for. God is good.

2007-11-17T14:50:00.000-08:00

Juncos and black-capped chickadees in the space behind the building this morning. I don't think I've seen them here before.

2007-11-12T15:37:00.000-08:00

I saw my first woodpecker in my neighborhood this morning. I think it was a downy, because that is what seems most likely, but I thought it was rather dark and didn't show the markings I associate with downy or hairy. Got it: Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker. Picture to follow.

2007-03-31T06:31:00.000-07:00

It was a very birdless winter for me, and no time to lament the lack of birds. Now it is springtime and birds are returning to my area. I was in Montclair New jersey yesterday and saw a blackcapped chickadee in my aunt's yard, a red bellied woodpecker near the Upper Montclair train station as well as a red tailed hawk and what I eblieve was a broad shouldered hawk. I had a possible sighting of a peregrine falcon, but am not sure of that one. It was by the side of the road in cedar grove and we drove by fast enough to make it impossible to tell. Great day. Then i camehome to Murray Hill and song sparrows were in the area behind the building. I saw two, there may have been more. In addition, the fire escape that was the site of a mourning dove nest last summer is a highly desirable property this year. A pair of pigeons nested briefly. I later spotted their egg on the fire escape below and they were soon gone. Mourning doves and pigeon then took turns inspecting, beginning nests and leaving again. A pigeon appears to be nesting their now. Not exciting, but in Manhattan you take what you can get.

2007-01-14T11:02:00.000-08:00

Mockingbird on 35th and the exit for the midtown tunnel. First I've seen around here.

2006-10-21T10:22:00.000-07:00

I haven't been out looking for over a week, except to a vacant lot with a lot of brushy growth and grasses where I've seen some migrants. Then the lot was mowed and the weather was bad and even that option disappeared. Regardless, I asked God to send me a good bird today. Hours later while I was in the kitchen baking a pie I heard an uncommon bird song outside the window. Low and behold, an Eastern Towhee (Rufous-sided) was exploring the fire escapes across the way. Not a first, but a first since I've been in NY.
Deo gratias.

2006-10-08T14:11:00.000-07:00

There is a vacant lot two blocks away, on 1st Avenue between 35th and 36th. Although the lot has been prepped for construction, it's been quiet a long time, long enough so that tall grasses have sprung up around the perimeter. Where you find tall wild grasses you are likely to find birds. This morning I saw an intriguing yellow warblers with white wing bars on the back and a streaked breast, with a yellow eye stripe. I can't identify it, however, because nothing in the books looks like it. I went back later hoping to get a better look and saw instead a brown bird with white or pale yellow underside, black legs and feet and yellow on the tail. I haven't ben able to ID that bird either.

2006-10-07T08:39:00.000-07:00

No serious birding, but spotted a nice ruby crowned kinglet in the neighborhood while walking Gabby.

2006-10-01T06:48:00.000-07:00

On Thursday the 28th I made it to Central Park for an hour or so. Caught some mallards having a siesta, and saw two yellow birds, one tiny, like a kinglet in size, but bright yellow all over. I got aclose look at the thing, but still can't ID it. I saw a second yellow bird, much larger, and can't figure out that one yet either. I think its time I latched onto a group for some identification in the field before I waste time trying to get it all myself. I have forgotten a lot, it seems.

2006-09-24T06:45:00.000-07:00

On Thursday the 21st I had an hour or so to spend in Central Park and hustled through The Ramble, around the Lake and made my way to Belvedere Castle(pictured) not in that order. I was rewarded with a Swainson's Thrush, a Northern Pintail (both firsts)a song sparrow and the usual Robins (lots) mallards, catbirds,cardinals, a black and white warblers and other elusive creatures I couldn't spend time to ID.

2006-09-19T14:50:00.000-07:00

On Monday the 18th I left work for 90 minutes or so and walked over to Central Park for a bit of birding. I went to the Ramble, mostly, though I also went around the lake. It was slow. I saw a Wood Thrush, some Redstarts and Robins, a Cardinal, Catbirds, and a Northern Waterthrush. The big sight of the day was a red tailed hawk. It was pointed our to me by a woman watching the bird. He was on a low branch about 20 yards away. We watched for a while, and I saw him take a massive pee, he just raised up his rump and squirted. I had never seen that before. I had to move on, and the hawk moved on. A little bit further along the path I saw the bird again and I asked a woman with bins, "Did you see the red-tail?"
She was extremely brusque in replying: "It's a Cooper's hawk."
I said, "Oh. Some woman told me it was a red-tail."
"IT's a Cooper's Hawk," she applied, even more brusquely.
Oh, well, it was a nice bird.

2006-09-02T16:13:00.000-07:00

This Mute Swan swims serenely in the lake of Branch Brook Park, Newark, NJ, in the 1930s. The Basilica of the Sacred Heart looms in the background.

2006-09-01T15:22:00.000-07:00

A good day for birding. I went to Montclair, hoping to spot some birds in Mills reservation off Normal Ave. No luck there: a couple of Mourning Doves. Anderson Park, ditto: an American Crow, house sparrows, starlings...
So I returned to Aunt Pat's house.In her yard, in short order I saw:
two Gold Finches
scads of Cardinals
House Sparrows
American Redstarts
two Ruby Throated Hummingbirds
Titmice
Chestnut-Sided Warbler(my first)
Downy Woodpecker
Mourning Doves.
Egrets, Blue Herons, on the train ride through the Medowlands coming and going.

2006-08-24T14:18:00.000-07:00

I sat in the backyard of relatives in Upper Montclair, N. J. today and in just a few minutes saw a catbird, a gold finch and a blackcapped chickadee. Typical for Montclair, NJ, but since I no longer live there, it's not typical for me. On the NJ Transit train ride through the Meadowlands there and back I saw egrets, herons, mute swans and gulls.

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/BOW/AMGO/

2006-08-23T15:10:00.000-07:00

I stayed close to home today, riding the 6 train to 92nd and heading over to Central Park. I covered the southeastern end of the reservoir and was rewarded with an American Black Duck, a first for me. I also saw an Eastern Kingbird, and a small group of Cedar Waxwings. I headed over to where the park abuts the Conservatory Garden at Fifth Avenue and 105th St. In a brief space of time, maybe 20 minutes, I saw
American Redstart (Female)
Oriole http://www.birds.cornell.edu/BOW/BALORI/
House Wren
Cardinals
Mockingbirds
Chipping Sparrows
and a delightful Black and White Warbler

Much closer and just as rewarding as the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge.

2006-08-18T04:50:00.000-07:00

Jones Beach offers plenty of space and foliage to birds, and in migration seasons it pays to bring the bins along. I spent no time looking for birds at the beach yesterday, but a red-winged black bird presented itself, as did a yellow warbler (too briefly for me to get a good look, but it was nice to see. Lots of peeps along the shore line, and the usual assortment of gulls (laughing, black-backed, ring-billed and herring).
Lots of fun. It was a good birdday, even without the effort.

2006-08-14T14:22:00.000-07:00

Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge

I made the trek to the today. I left the house @8 AM; #6 train, transfer to the 4 at 14th St.; transfer to the A at Fulton,walk from the Broad Channel Station to the center. About 2 hours. Return, walk to the station, ride the A (missed my transfer) to 14th, caught a crosstown bus at 23rd, rode a 3rd Avenue bus from 23rd to 31, where I stopped at a grocery store. Returned home around 2:45, about 90 minutes total travel time.

Was it worth the trip?
I saw:
Great Egret
Great Blue Egret
Glossy Ibis
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Snowy Goose
Osprey
Least Sandpiper
Laughing Gull
American Crow
Barn Swallow
Gray Catbird
European Starling
American Redstart
Northern Water Thrush
American Robins
Least Flycatcher
House Wren
and something near a small pool, which might be a house wren or a marsh wren or a Carolina wren or maybe a Northern Water Thrush. After reviewing my notes and consulting several bird identification guides I have decided this was a Carolina Wren. The deciding factor was the Kenn Kaufman Birds of North America. This has been a good addition to my array of birding materials.

Or a Northern Waterthrush http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Northern_Waterthrush_dtl.html
The behavior and size matches this bird, but I am not sure about the speckled breast. I wasn't focusing on that, and don't have my birding chops back yet, so can't focus on more than one thing at a time.

I like birds and trying to ID them: I never said I was an expert.

Yes,it was worth the trek. Plus they have a new facility which is delightful, particularly the restrooms, where in one finds a hand drying blower which is so powerful I had to hold on to the sink so as not to be blown away.

2006-08-13T11:54:00.000-07:00

Starlings, rock doves, sparrows, that's it for the neighborhood, except for the Mourning Dove nest where I still see only one chick. I don't look too closely for fear of spooking the Mama.

2006-08-08T04:43:00.000-07:00

Mama MoDo and the chick. The picture is not good. Even at this distance she seems to know when I pick up the bins or the camera and goes into freeze-mode, with the chick concealed underneath her. I don't like to intrude, so I won't get any good pics.
I was surprised this morning to see her pick up a big piece of egg shell and fly off from the nest. She returned and repeated the procedure. Maybe this is typical behavior, getting rid of the shell, but I didn't know about it. Could be that piece of stark white shell would attract predators to the nest.

2006-08-07T10:48:00.000-07:00

It is indeed a Happy Birdday! Mama and Papa Modo have a little strangerin the nest, possibly two, but from my angle I can only make out one. Pictures of the new arrival to follow if I can get them without upsetting anyone.

2006-08-04T12:11:00.000-07:00

Egret at Jamaica Bay.

2006-08-04T12:04:00.000-07:00

This is a narrow view of the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Preserve in Queens, NY. My lens isn't stong enough to get great shots of the birds, but I like looking at the blue water and the green foliage growing at the water's edge. Migration will be in full swing very soon and I hope to use a stronger lens and get better photos, to keep me through the cold winter.

2006-08-04T11:57:00.000-07:00

Here's the little MoDo nesting on the fire escape across from my PC station. The due date should be any time now. At least the heat wave has broken.

2006-08-03T12:42:00.000-07:00

I've added some links which I've found helpful in birding in the metropolitan area. More to come.
This is the third day of an awful heat wave (no, I don't believe it's "global warming." We had plenty of these days when I was a child. In fact, the weather now seems more like that of my childhood than did the weather of the intervening years.)
Through all this heat the Mourning Doves sit on the nest. I get tired watching.

2006-08-01T11:15:00.000-07:00

Solitary and still the Mourning Dove sits in the oven that is Murray Hill. No Mayzie the lazy bird is she, or they, because the male takes his turn on the nest as well.
Rock Doves
House Sparrows
Nothing else,and it's too hot to go looking.

2006-07-31T13:19:00.000-07:00

Murray Hill has been particularly still these past few days, as the heat blisters the sidewalks and sensible creatures stay close to the nest.
I saw a dead pigeon on the sidewalk a few blocks away. No injuries were apparent. I wonder if the heat caused his demise?
The Mourning Doves still steal my attention, and I feel bad for them in this heat, punctuated by the occasional fierce storm. The next couple of days promise 100 degree plus temperatures, with high humidity. I doubt I'll be in the field.
I visited Point Pleasant, NJ for a day on the beach on Saturday. I recognized Laughing Gulls, the other gulls I didn't ID; I don't know gulls very well, so that's no surprise.

2006-07-31T13:07:00.000-07:00

2006-07-28T10:15:00.000-07:00

Quiet. The Mourning Doves still tend their nest. Rock doves, house sparrows...

2006-07-27T07:02:00.000-07:00

Nothing new to report about the Mourning Doves. I look at them, and I fancy they look at me, but that might be nothing more than fancy.
I was pleased and surprised to hear an unfamiliar song from the rear of the apartment building. There is a spacious area behind with trees, abutting the terraces of the buildings on the next street.
The song turned out to be that of a house finch, or finches, as a group of them, adult immature, male and female were all present. Not a big deal in the scheme of things, but I had never seen them beforein my Manhattan neighborhood. They were joined by house sparrows and later a cardinal. A good start to the birdday.

2006-07-26T11:59:00.000-07:00

A MoDo Nests in Murray Hill

It's hotter than Hades in Manhattan today and I'm grateful for the AC. Yards away on a grimy and battered fire escape five stories up, a mourning dove, faithful to her nest, incubates her eggs. The nest, typically, is a skimpy contrivance, barely there. A broken board leans at an angle above the nest, sheltering it from the fierce, intermittent rains we've had over the past week. The incubation is shared by Dada MoDo, and I hope Mama has a green and shady spot for a respite. (The digital cam can't do this justice, so photos must wait for actual film development.)
The neighborhood otherwise yields the usual winged creatures:
House sparrows
Rock doves
Starlings