A week mainly
site-seeing in the city; stayed The Park Central Hotel on corner
of 55th Street and 7th Avenue; two blocks
south of the south end of Central Park. Most birding done
during brief morning walks in Central Park, a long stroll in the
Park in hot weather on Sunday 16th pm and on
Wednesday 19th April on trip to Liberty & Ellis
Island. Unfortunately poor weather and limited time meant no
trip out of the city to wild life refuge @ Jamaica Bay (near JFK airport).
Most days wet
and cold with predominately north to NE wind; locals described
spring as one of coldest and wettest in recent years and birders
had noted few migrants yet appearing. Sunday am explored SE
corner of park but other mornings walked to the lake and
“ramble” area where most other birders were found. Only
migrants knowingly missed during the week were Purple Martin
reported on Reservoir, Pine Warbler and Blue headed Vireo seen
in the Ramble.
Red-throated
Loon |
Single flew
close past ferry on route to Liberty Island on 19/4. |
Common Loon |
Single flew
close past ferry on route to Liberty Island on 19/4. |
Double
Crested Cormorant* |
Central Park
lake & reservoir; most days; + Harbour and flying over
Manhattan |
Black
Crowned Night Heron |
Central Park
lake; male 20/4. |
Great Egret |
Central Park
Lake/ Pond & Hbr |
Mute Swan |
Nesting on
Central Park lake. |
Brant |
ca 100
hrota Hbr and several feeding on greens @ Flushing Meadow. |
Canada Goose |
Hbr &
Central Park reservoir. |
Mallard |
Central Park
Lake/Pond/reservoir; Hbr; seen daily |
American
Black Duck |
Central Park
lake & reservoir. |
Northern
Shoveler |
Central Park
lake & reservoir. |
Bufflehead* |
Central Park
reservoir; ca 16 birds including several males |
Ruddy Duck |
Central Park
reservoir; ca 10 individuals. |
Osprey |
probably 4
(two together) seen from Empire State Building on 20/4; ?
migrating. |
Red-tailed
Hawk |
3 over
Central Park on 18/4. |
American
Coot* |
Central Park
lake & reservoir. |
Spotted
Sandpiper |
Central Park
lake on 19/4 |
Laughing
Gull* |
several full
breeding adults Liberty Island |
Ring-billed
Gull* |
all ages
except full adult Hbr & Central Park lake & reservoir. |
Herring Gull |
large
variety @ Hbr & Central Park lake & reservoir. |
Great
Black-backed Gull |
Hbr &
Central Park lake & reservoir. |
Rock/Feral
Dove |
Central
Park++ |
Mourning
Dove* |
Central
Park; most days – best views @ Ramble |
Red-bellied
Woodpecker* |
Central Park
– mainly Ramble |
Northern
Flicker* |
Central Park
– daily |
Yellow
–bellied Sapsucker* |
Central Park
– only 16/4 |
Downy
Woodpecker* |
Central Park
– commonest woodpecker in park |
Hairy
Woodpecker* |
Central Park
– only seen in SE corner on 16/4 |
Blue Jay* |
Central Park
– common in most areas |
American
Crow* |
Central Park
daily and Ellis Island; possibly Fish Crow also |
Northern
Rough-winged Swallow* |
Central Park
lake on 17/4; only stayed for short while & only hirundine |
Tufted
Titmouse* |
Central Park
– regular in Ramble |
Black-capped
Chickadee* |
Central Park
- Ramble area only |
Brown
Creeper* |
Central Park
– not unlike familiaris |
Ruby-crowned
Kinglet* |
Central Park
- seen daily |
Blue-gray
Gnatcatcher* |
Central Park
Ramble area on 20/4 |
Hermit
Thrush* |
Central Park
Ramble area on 20/4 |
American
Robin* |
Central Park
– everywhere- equivalent to our Blackbird |
Northern
Mockingbird |
Central Park
– single singing @ close range outside Met Museum of Art
16/4 |
Brown
Thrasher* |
Central Park
– single in SE corner on 16/4 |
European
Starling |
common
everywhere |
Myrtle
Warbler |
Central Park
Ramble 2-3 on 20/4 |
Palm
Warbler* |
Central Park
Ramble 2-3 on 20/4 + single on 17/4 |
Chipping
Sparrow* |
Central Park
18&19/4 |
Fox Sparrow* |
Central Park
Ramble area 20/4 |
Song
Sparrow* |
Central Park
Ramble 18,19&20/4 |
Swamp
Sparrow* |
Central Park
Ramble 18,19&20/4 |
White-throated Sparrow* |
Central Park
– most days |
Dark-eyed
Junco* |
Central Park
most days – slate –coloured variant |
Northern
Cardinal* |
Central Park
most days. |
Red-winged
Blackbird* |
Central Park
most days. |
Common
Grackle* |
Central Park
most days. |
House Finch* |
Central Park
most days + birds singing in occasional tree in city. |
American
Goldfinch* |
Central Park
ramble on 19&20/4 |
House
Sparrow |
Abundant |
* indicates a
species new to me; total 55 species of which 34 new; no doubt a
trip 2 weeks later would produce a greater range of migrants.
Helped on identification by Chris and a number of other American
birders.