Shawn Billerman and I birded Central Park, AMNH, and Bryant Park today looking for all the long-lingering half-hardies and rarities.
We started at the North end of Central Park and walked south. On Harlem Meer: 18 GADWALL, 25 NORTHERN SHOVELER, 19 RUDDY DUCK, and 2 COOT. We checked the area southwest of Lasker Rink for the Orange-crowned Warbler reported a few days ago, but we couldn't turn it up. We did have two HERMIT THRUSH and a YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER there. On the Reservoir, there were 25 GADWALL and 4 COOT. There were 4 BUFFLEHEAD on Turtle Pond. There was one adult male EASTERN TOWHEE in Shakespeare Garden. Our eBird checklist for the northern half of Central Park - http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S9488493 At the 81st Street Entrance to the American Museum of Natural History, the long-staying RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD popped up after we waited in the brisk cold for about 25 minutes. It was feeding in the dense bushes with yellow flowers next to the west side of the entrance and may have been roosting in them when not in view. Our eBird checklist, with photos, for the Rufous - http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S9488514 We continued south through the Ramble. At the feeders, there was one very cooperative YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER, many WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS, HOUSE FINCHES, TUFTED TITMICE, WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, and more, but no Baltimore Oriole. We looked around a bit for the Barred Owl, but didn't know exactly where it has been roosting and found nothing. On The Pond in the southeast corner of Central Park, there were 4 WOOD DUCKS. We found the immature RED-HEADED WOODPECKER at its usual spot at the northwest end of the fenced-in sanctuary next to the Pond, sitting high in a tree. . Checklist for the southern half of Central Park - http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S9488601 In Bryant Park, we had most of the continuing birds. In the northwest corner, in front of Vegetarian Oasis, was a GRAY CATBIRD and an extremely tame OVENBIRD. The Ovenbird was taking handouts along with the House Sparrows, and even casually walked into Mmm... Enfes! looking for food. In the southwest corner, in an area with a fireplace and heaters, was a male COMMON YELLOWTHROAT. In the shrub strip along the north edge of the Ice Rink, we found a second GRAY CATBIRD. We also found a DEAD YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT. It was lying very dead under a shrub next to the eastern rink entrance. I tried to see if there was any obvious cause of death, but as soon as I did I got yelled at by security for leaving the path and entering the bushes. I do think it may have been dead more than one day, but I'm not sure. However, do not fear - there is still a living YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT in the Northeast corner of the park, east of the library. It is on the elevated terrace, in the corner outlined by squares of low shrubs with some lighted christmas trees. Ebird checklist, with PHOTOS of all the interesting birds including both chats: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S9488669 Good Birding, Nick Sly Ithaca, NY -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
