Happy Birdday!

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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:

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

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

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

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)

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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.