Still Some Migrants Coming Through

On Sunday, I went birding before the walk and didn't really see much in The Ramble. On the walk, we started with some glimpses of Orchard Orioles at the Turtle Pond dock along with several warbler species. Throughout The Ramble, warblers were seen in small numbers, except for American Redstarts, which were common, as well as Common Yellowthroats. At an arch there, I saw a flycatcher feeding in a open bush, not in the open like they usually do. Even though there was a shadow, I was able to see that it was a Yellow-Bellied Flycatcher. Other than that, there were still many of the later migrants coming through, such as Eastern Wood-Pewees and Cedar Waxwings. I saw 8 species of warblers today and heard 2 more. Good Birding!

Migration Starting to Slow Down

Sorry for the lack of posts lately. Birds are becoming less numerous, therefore reducing the number of interesting sightings greatly. I seem to be always below 10 species per day. Still,  First off, the SUMMER TANAGER was a new year bird on Wednesday. I was looking at warblers and orioles in a Tulip Poplar tree near The point with several others when one teenager (not me) spotted a young male Summer Tanager. I got a quick glimpse of it before it flew off. More interesting sightings came on Friday. Throughout the week, I went to The Gill to search for Gray-Cheeked Thrushes among the Swainson's. For some reason, likely related to habitat, I see more thrushes here than anywhere else, but only in the evenings or late afternoon. I struggled to tell them apart, so I was lucky today to run into a few birders who were also after these birds. After a bit, we were able to find a few definite Gray-Cheeked Thrushes, which were a new year bird. When we were done, I was about to leave when I spotted a yellow warbler bathing in The Gill. I initially blurted out Wilson's Warbler, but I noticed that the tail and face looked a bit odd. That's when the other birders chimed in. Hooded Warbler! We watched as the female bathed in the stream and went up into the trees until it disappeared. At the time, my year list was boosted to 130. I added 2 more today, but I'll talk about that in another post. Good Birding!

Fallout Birding?

Yesterday, I went to the park very early in the morning (6:45) to try to take advantage of what I thought could be a fallout day. On those days, rain and winds bring birds down in great numbers, resulting in lots of birds in the morning. That morning, a lot of rain fell the night before, and it was very damp and misty. I could hear several species of warbler before I even got into the ramble. When I got there, birdsong filled the air. As I started birding around the point, it became apparent that there was fallout, but it was more of quantity than quality. Common Yellowthroats could be seen around every patch of shrubs. Ovenbirds and Black-Throated Blue Warblers were heard singing everywhere. It was that kind of day. I did find a Canada Warbler at The Point. After many warblers (10 species) and after hearing a few Eastern Wood-Pewees, I found an empidonax species of flycatcher in the upper lobe. It looked a bit like Yellow-Bellied, but I'm not sure. Anyway, then I went to meet up for the walk I was going on at the Turtle Pond dock. After about 10-15 minutes and one Northern Waterthrush, I spotted a grackle chasing a much larger bird over the pond. A Green Heron! Anyway, by the time walk finally started, the clouds and mist had mostly cleared up. We did searches for a Mourning and Kentucky Warbler, but failed. We did see a Bay-Breasted Warbler at Azalea Pond, possibly a bird from the day before. When we went to The Point, we refound the Canada Warbler, and found a Yellow and Wilson's Warbler. At Captain's Bench, a location near The Point which we went to before and after we went there, there were many Scarlet Tanagers. When we went to the gill, we ran into other birders looking at a very visible Blackburnian Warbler in the exact same spot in which I saw the Bay-Breasted Warbler the day before. I missed the Mourning Warbler and a Summer Tanager by just a few minutes today, a bit of a dissapointment. But with 16 warbler species and 2(+1) new year birds, it was a good day to be out.

Bird List:

Warblers:
Yellow
Black-and-White
Blackburnian
Blackpoll
Canada
Ovenbird
Parula
Bay-Breasted
Wilson's
Yellowthroat
Redstart
N. Waterthrush
Black-Throated Blue
Black-Throated Green (heard)
Magnolia
Chestnut-Sided

Gadwall
Green Heron (addition)
Empidonax sp. (4-5. addition)
Eastern Wood-Pewee (addition. Heard, with some birds seen later)
Eastern Kingbird
Veery
Wood Thrush (heard)
Swainson's Thrush
Cedar Waxwing
Scarlet Tanager
Rose-Breasted Grosbeak
Baltimore Oriole
Northern Flicker
Warbling Vireo (heard)
Red-Eyed Vireo
Eastern Towhee
Song Sparrow

A Busy Saturday Afternoon

Today I went out for some afternoon birding in Central Park. I started at The Point, where there were many warblers, including many American Redstarts and Common Yellowthroats. I also saw a Chestnut-Sided Warbler bathing in the stream there. Then, I started to head north to Tupelo and Maintenance Meadows, but first I wanted to make a quick stop at Azalea Pond to see what was there. This turned out to be an amazing detour, harboring some of the best birds of the day. When I arrived, I saw a Canada Warbler and a few Scarlet Tanagers. I then ran into a guy and asked him what he saw. He told me (the usual suspects) and then spotted a perched Olive-Sided Flycatcher. It was high up, but it was out in the open and gave good views. I ran into a small group of birders and they told me they saw a Bay-Breasted Warbler at the other side of the pond that flew in this direction. I then spotted a warbler low in a tree. The Bay-Breasted Warbler! Almost immediately after that we spotted a second bird. Both birds, which were males, gave great views (some said there were 3). I then headed north to my intended destinations. I saw many Swainson's Thrushes and Ovenbirds, but nothing really of interest. I headed back to Azalea, where I saw the Olive-Sided Flycatcher be chased off by a grackle, as well as what might be my last flock of White-Throated Sparrows this season. The Olive-Sided Flycatcher, Chestnut-Sided, and Bay-Breasted Warblers raise my species total for the year to 125. Good Birding.

Lincoln's Sparrow!

Yesterday evening, I went into the park to try to find some good birds. I started at Turtle Pond (empty), so I went to Maintenance Field. I saw a Blackpoll and Canada Warbler, as well as seeing what was likely a Northern Parula. Next I went to Tupelo to look for stuff, including a Lincoln's Sparrow that was reported there today. I saw a Black-Throated Blue Warbler there. I also saw a small sparrow briefly fly above the very dense undergrowth, but I did not see it again. I went back to check Maintenance to see if anything new came there. Nothing. Then, I went back to Tupelo just in case the mystery sparrow may have come foward. When I arrived, there were no people anywhere near where I saw it. After about 30 seconds, I saw the sparrow fly and land between two bushes, being visible. I put my binoculars on it. Lincoln's Sparrow! This is a life bird for me, Not much later, I found out that there were at least 2 other birds around at seperate locations. Those were also more visible than my bird, which few people saw. I then went to the point, where I found a Canada Warbler and what might be my last Yellow-Rumped Warbler of the season, while missing a Chestnut-Sided Warbler that was also there. 23 species and 1 new year bird raises my species total to 122. Good birding!

Miserable May Morning?

Today was slow. I got to the park early expecting migrants, but didn't see/hear much. I heard a Wood Thrush and House Wren along with a few warblers, as well as seeing a pair of Eastern Kingbirds and Gadwall at Turtle Pond, but nothing much besides that. On the walk I went on, we saw very few birds. The only common warblers were Yellow-Rumped, Parula, and Blackpoll, as well as a few Black-Throated Blues and Ovenbirds. We heard a report of a Cape May Warbler at Tupelo Meadow, so we went over there. The bird was there, but it took extremely long to get views of it that were identifiable and more than a few seconds long, but when we did, it was amazing! After that, I heard that there were 2, so maybe that's why everyone was looking all over the place, apart from it being in a flock of Yellow-Rumped and Blackpoll Warblers. Now I don't have to say that my only Cape May Warblers were seen in the Bahamas. We also had a female Scarlet Tanager there. Not long after, I had to leave to celebrate Mother's Day. At one quick stop at The Point, a guy told me about a Yellow-Billed Cuckoo at Willow Rock. I went there to search for it. I found a tree that looked just right for a cuckoo, and almost immediately, I saw something move, It was a big bird with a slender body and long tail, but the light was so bad, I can't be sure if it was a cuckoo or a grackle. Therefore, it won't count for the year list. It disappeared before I could get my binoculars on it. Not a good day, but I got 2 year birds, which were the Cape May Warbler and a Red-Eyed Vireo heard and later seen

Species List:
CAPE MAY WARBLER
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler (heard)
Ovenbird
Black-Throated Blue Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Black-and-White Warbler
Yellow-Rumped Warbler
Gadwall
Eastern Kingbird
Veery
Wood Thrush (heard)
Baltimore Oriole
Scarlet Tanager
Red-Eyed Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Chimney Swift
Great Egret
Carolina Wren

Good Afternoon Birding

Yesterday afternoon, I went rambling in the park looking for birds. I came across a birder I've met before named Fran, and we birded the point together. Within 10 minutes, I found an Indigo Bunting, Common Yellowthroat, Blackpoll Warbler, and Baltimore Oriole all bathing in the stream at The Point. I also found an Eastern Kingbird at the end of The Point. When we turned around, we found a Wilson's Warbler! We then continued on to the feeders, where we found 2 Scarlet Tanagers. I saw several more that day. We then headed for Triplet's Bridge to see a Mourning Warbler reported there. I searched for a Cape May Warbler the day before there, with no luck. Today would hopefully be different. But before we did that, we took a quick detour to Tupelo Meadow. We found a group of people looking at a Worm-Eating Warbler. A bad view, but a year bird nonetheless. I left Fran and continued on to Triplet's Bridge. When I arrived, the Mourning Warbler was only being seen by a few people, but we still had a Northern Waterthrush, Swainson's Thrush, and 2 Indigo Buntings to keep us company. During the time I was there, I had a handful of brief glimpses of the bird, which is considered "good views" if you're looking at a Mourning Warbler. At Turtle Pond, I saw a pair of Gadwalls. Maybe they will nest here? Today was a fun day, with 11 warbler species and 7 new year birds.

Species list:

MOURNING WARBLER (FOS)
Wilson's Warbler (FOS)
Northern Parula
Northern Waterthrush
Common Yellowthroat
Black-Throated Green Warbler
Worm-Eating Warbler (Lifer)
Blackpoll Warbler
Black-and-White Warbler
Yellow-Rumped Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Warbling Vireo
Eastern Kingbird (FOS)
Indigo Bunting (FOS)
Scarlet Tanager (FOS)
Baltimore Oriole
Brown-Headed Cowbird
Swainson's Thrush (FOS)
Chimney Swift
Brown Thrasher
Northern Flicker
Gadwall
Savannah Sparrow
Eastern Towhee (heard)
House Finch

Quick Sweep of the Ramble

Today I went on a quick sweep (30 minutes) through the Ramble. As I entered Maintenance Meadow, I saw a Baltimore Oriole singing, hopefully being a good sign. Not far in, I encountered my first Common Yellowthroat of the year! At the Gill, I found an Ovenbird feeding. Then I went to the point. There were lots of warblers there, mainly Yellow-Rumps, but there were at least a few Black-and-White Warblers and Common Yellowthroats. There was also a Northern Waterthrush. Just as I was about to leave, someone spotted a Canada Warbler. My first of the season! 2 new year birds today, which were the Yellowthroat and the Canada Warbler. I also went to the park Monday evening, but the best bird I saw there was a Savannah Sparrow, along with a heard only Blue-Winged Warbler.

The Waves of Warblers Have Arrived!!!

There were many more birds today than yesterday. I saw a Veery and Purple Finch before the walk at Maintenance Meadow, along with several species of warblers seen and heard.  When we started the walk at Turtle Pond, there wasn't much there. But as we got closer and closer to The Ramble, we could see (and hear) that there were a lot of warblers. There were many parulas, Black-Throated Blue, Yellow-Rumped, and Black-and-White Warblers. We also had many Blue-Headed Vireos and 3-5 Yellow-Throated Vireos. Tupelo Meadow was the place to be. We saw Blue-Winged, Black-Troated Blue, and Blackburnian Warbler, as well as one of the Yellow-Throated Vireos. At Willow Rock/The Oven, we saw Northern Waterthrush, Blackburnian and Blackpoll Warbler. Over by the Rustic Shelter, we saw Blue-Winged and Magnolia Warbler, as well as a Ruby-Throated Hummingbird. After the walk, I went to the Upper Lobe and saw a White-Eyed Vireo. 14 warbler species for today! 13 new year birds, bringing the total to 110 (Black-Throated Blue Warbler was #100). Good birding!

Birds seen today:

Chimney Swift
Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

Barn Swallow

Tree Swallow

Northern Rough-Winged Swallow

House Wren

Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher (heard)

Ruby-Crowned Kinglet

Gray Catbird

Veery

Hermit Thrush

Warbling Vireo

Blue-Headed Vireo

Yellow-Throated Vireo

White-Eyed Vireo

Rose-Breasted Grosbeak

Baltimore Oriole

Chipping Sparrow

Purple Finch

House Finch

Warblers:

Northern Waterthrush

Ovenbird (heard)

Blue-Winged

Yellow-Rumped 

Magnolia 

Yellow 

Nashville 

Northern Parula

Black-Throated Blue 

Black Throated Green 

Palm Warbler

Blackburnian 

Blackpoll

Black-and-White

First May Birding

I went rambling about this afternoon. There were less birds than I hoped for, but I still got some new year birds. I started at The Point, where there were many Yellow-Rumped and Black-and-White Warblers. A birder I ran into there said he had the continuing Louisiana Waterthrush down in the trickle of water that runs there. As I went to see it (I didn't), I spotted a male American Redstart! This is one of the more common and colorful warblers of spring. Many people got to marvel at this bird. Later, I went to the Upper Lobe, where I found a House Wren and a Yellow Warbler. Then, I went to Tupelo Field, where I spotted a thrush that didn't appear to be the usual Hermit Thrush. A Wood Thrush! After that, I went to Turtle Pond, where there was nothing there. Back at the feeders, I saw the continuing male Rose-Breasted Grosbeak, which I also saw on Thursday. After this brief excitement, I saw nothing much besides a second House Wren at the Swampy Pin Oak. Near the end of the day. I saw a spectacular show of dozens of swallows feeding over the lake. Most were Tree, with many Barn and at least one Northern Rough-Winged. I added 4 new species to my year list (I heard Cedar Waxwing), bringing my total to 97. I wonder what my 100th species will be!

Species List:

American Redstart
Yellow Warbler
Palm Warbler
Yellow-Rumped Warbler
Black-and-White Warbler
Barn Swallow
Tree Swallow
Northern Rough-Winged Swallow
Blue-Gray Gnatcather (heard)
House Wren
Cedar Waxwing (heard)
Wood Thrush
Hermit Thrush
Rose-Breasted Grosbeak
Brown-Headed Cowbird
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
House Finch

May Targets

During the month of April, I crushed my expectation total of 15-25 species with 34 new ones, bringing my 2015 year list to 93. Top birds that month were Prothonotary Warbler (The Point,CP), Chuck-Wills-Widow (Bryant Park), Marsh Wren (The Pond,CP), Common Loon (The Reservoir,CP), Rusty Blackbird(The Gill,CP), and Fish Crow(Cal Schurz Park), as well as many others. I feel very confident about May, and great conditions are coming early next week. I aim to see 35-50 species of birds. It might sound high, but I'll be out a lot, and know several websites/mailing lists that help report rarities and other stuff so you can find them. Anyway, here is what I want to find.


Year List To Date: 2014:123   <   2015: 132(+1)

Added so far this month: 40(+1)
Probable
Ruby-Throated Hummingbird (numerous migrants, may be seen at Swampy Pin Oak)
Gray Catbird (nesters arrive)
Cedar Waxwing (migrants)*
House Wren (migrants)*
Eastern Kingbird (migrants/nesters arrive)
Least Flycatcher (migrants arrive)
Willow/Alder Flycatcher (migrants arrive)
(Empidonax sp.)
Eastern Wood-Pewee (migrants)
Red-Eyed Vireo (migrants/nesters arrive)
Warbling Vireo (migrants/nesters arrive)
Wood Thrush (migrants)
Swainson's Thrush (migrants)
Veery (migrants)
Prairie Warbler (migrant arrive)*
Ovenbird (migrants)
American Redstart (numerous migrants)
Common Yellowthroat (numerous migrants)
Black-Throated Green Warbler (migrants)
Black-Throated Blue Warbler (migrants)
Blackpoll Warbler (migrants)
Wilson's Warbler (migrants)
Magnolia Warbler (numerous migrants)
Canada warbler (migrants)
Chestnut-Sided Warbler (migrants)
Scarlet Tanager (migrants)
Indigo Bunting (migrants)

Possible
Great Blue Heron (wanders)*
Green Heron (migrants)
Turkey Vulture (flyovers)*
Osprey (flyovers)
Spotted Sandpiper (migrants)
Solitary Sandpiper (migrants)
Laughing Gull (near the river.migrant/nester)
Yellow-Billed Cuckoo (migrants)
Black-Billed Cuckoo (migrants)
Belted Kingfisher (wanders)
Yellow-Bellied Flycatcher (second half of month)
Olive-Sided Flycatcher (migrants)
Great-Crested Flycatcher (migrants)
White-Eyed Vireo (migrants)*
Yellow-Throated Vireo (migrants)
Gray-Cheeked Thrush (migrants
Nashville Warbler (migrants arrive)
Yellow-Throated Warbler (overshoots)
Worm-Eating Warbler (migrants)
Cape May Warbler (migrants)
Blackburnian Warbler (migrants)
Bay-Breasted Warbler (migrants)
Hooded Warbler (migrants)
Mourning Warbler (second half)
Yellow-Breatsed Chat (migrants
Summer Tanager (overshoots)
Orchard Oriole (migrants)
Lincoln's Sparrow (migrants)
White-Crowned Sparrow (migrants)*

Longshots
Yellow-Crowned Night Heron (fallout)
Merlin (sometimes wanders into the park)*
Any kind of rail (annual)
Red-Headed Woodpecker (Can appear in May)*
Common Raven (flyovers have been reported)
Eastern Bluebird (one could turn up)*
Golden-Winged Warbler (rare but regular migrants)
Cerulean Warbler (rare but regular migrants)
Kentucky Warbler (migrants)