Sorry for the long absence. With temperatures over 15 degrees below average over much of the last few weeks, as well as a few winter storms, there aren't that very good of conditions for birding. Also, this is the time of year were birds are the scarcest. In December and January, there are sometimes late migrants and straggelers, such as kinglets or a few species of warblers, as well as irruptions taking place in some years. In March, migrants, such as phoebes, woodcocks, and a few warblers will begin to arrive. But in February, there are usually no migrants, and nearly all irruptions stop by mid-month.
Anyway, today I went to Central Park on the birdwalk. We went to take a quick look at the feeders to find not much other than a Fox Sparrow. We then went past Azalea Pond, where we found a horde of titmice, cardinals, House and White-Throated Sparrows eyeing us. We gave them some peanuts for a few minutes. As we fed them, a Brown Thrasher, seemingly intrested by the flock of birds, decided to have a look. Year bird 51! We then went the Upper Lobe where the flock (including the thrasher) followed us. After that, we went to the near-completely frozen Reservoir. There were many gulls, Mallards and geese, one of the latter which was dead, along with small numbers of shovelers, a few coots, and a single, long-staying female Wood Duck recently nicknamed "Willow". After all this time of the Reservoir being frozen, the Mallards often come up onto the path to feed on regular handouts by several people. We then took a quick look at the feeders, saw the Tree Sparrow for a minute, behind us strangely, and then went to lunch.
After lunch, I went back to the feeders and spotted the continuing Common Redpoll for only a minute before it flew off. I also found out that titmice apparently will take rice cake pieces, although they prefer peanuts. I wasn't expecting much and that is exactly what happened, but the Brown Thrasher was a cool new addition to the year list!
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