Central Park Bird Report

Birds Reported:

EXTRALIMITAL***: 9 BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCKS at Marine Park in Brooklyn today!

Gadwall
Snowy Egret (flyovers)
Spotted Sandpiper
Yellow-Billed Cuckoo (few)
Black-Billed Cuckoo (few)
Common Nighthawk (evenings)
Olive-Sided Flycatcher (few)
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Yellow-Bellied Flycatcher
Alder Flycatcher
Willow Flycatcher
Least Flycatcher
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
BLUE-HEADED VIREO (north end Friday)
Warbling Vireo
Red-Eyed Vireo
Barn Swallow
House Wren
Veery
Gray-Cheeked Thrush
Swainson's Thrush
Wood Thrush
Cedar Waxwing (abundant)
Nashville Warbler (one)
Northern Parula
Yellow Warbler
Chestnut-Sided Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Black-Throated Blue Warbler
Yellow-Rumped Warbler (few)
Black-Throated Green Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler (several)
Bay-Breasted Warbler (one at Belvedere on Wednesday)
Blackpoll Warbler
American Redstart
Black-and-White Warbler
PROTHONTARY WARBLER (reported on Thursday at Azalea Pond)
Ovenbird
Mourning Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Canada Warbler
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT (Wednesday and Thursday at Strawberry Fields)
Eastern Towhee (few)
White-Throated Sparrow (several)
Scarlet Tanager
DICKCISSEL* (Young male at Great Hill on Friday and today)
Common Yellowthroat
Baltimore Oriole

Central Park Rare Bird Report 5/21/16

Gadwall*
Bufflehead* (one lingering on Reservoir)
Snowy Egret (flyovers)
Green Heron
Spotted Sandpiper*
Solitary Sandpiper
Laughing Gull (reported at Reservoir)
Yellow-Billed Cuckoo
Black-Billed Cuckoo
Ruby-Throated Hummingbird
Olive-Sided Flycatcher
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Willow/Alder Flycatcher
Least Flycatcher
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird*
Blue-Headed Vireo
Warbling Vireo*
Red-Eyed Vireo*
Tree Swallow
Northern Rough-Winged Swallow
Bank Swallow (few reports)
Barn Swallow*
House Wren
Veery*
Gray-Cheeked Thrush*
Swainson's Thrush*
Hermit Thrush (few)
Wood Thrush*
Cedar Waxwing*
Tennessee Warbler*
Nashville Warbler
Northern Parula*
Yellow Warbler*
Chestnut-Sided Warbler*
Magnolia Warbler*
Cape May Warbler*
Black-Throated Blue Warbler*
Yellow-Rumped Warbler* (few)
Blackburnian Warbler*
Palm Warbler (late, few)
Bay-Breasted Warbler*
Blackpoll Warbler*
Hooded Warbler (few)
American Redstart*
CERULEAN WARBLER (One or two seen at Gill Source and Humming Tombstone, 5/19)
Black-and-White Warbler*
Ovenbird*
Northern Waterthrush*
Mourning Warbler (few sightings)
Common Yellowthroat*
KENTUCKY WARBLER (One seen at Tueplo Meadow, 5/19)
Wilson's Warbler*
Canada Warbler*
Eastern Towhee* (few)
White-Throated Sparrow* (few)
SUMMER TANAGER (One or two seen at Captain's Bench and Humming Tombstone, 5/19)
Scarlet Tanager*
Rose-Breasted Grosbeak*
Indigo Bunting*
Orchard Oriole* (less)
Baltimore Oriole*

Cerulean Warbler!

On Thursday, a Cerulean and Kentucky Warbler were both seen in the Ramble, so that evening, I went out to the park, hoping to at least find the Cerulean. I got to the Humming Tombstone, and saw a large crowd of people gathered under the tree. Most were not looking up. But when I approached them, they told me it was in a big tree, but was not seen for a few minutes. Just a few seconds later, I saw movement and it turned out to be the CERULEAN WARBLER (Lifer!)! After that, me and Ryan ran up to the Reservoir, where the warbler show continued, as well as the Bufflehead, and I spotted a Spotted Sandpiper. A good day for all.

Reservoir Warblers and Tennessee Elsewhere

So on Monday evening, I was birding in the Ramble where it was nearly devoid of birds, when I heard that Ryan had found a Bay-Breasted Warbler at the south side of the Reservoir. I rushed up there to find a large flock of many species of warbler. After a while, I got a brief look at the Bay-Breasted (#142), but the light kept getting worse and I left. The next day, I went there in the afternoon just to see if there was more to this place. Indeed, I saw 13 species of warblers there, including a few more Bay-Breasteds, a Cape May (also seen on Monday), and a Blackburnian. Today, I had similar haul, with about a dozen species seen there, including the previously mentioned three. Aside from that, I went to chase a Tennessee Warbler that was sighted at the Weather Station, Belvedere Castle, and Turtle Pond. I first went to the Turtle Pond dock, where there were a few warblers, but nothing special. Next, I went to Shakespeare Garden, where I heard calls that sounded suspicious, but it turned out they were coming from a cardinal. I then went to the path leading up to the castle, when I spotted a few warblers in the trees. I laid my eyes on a bird that looked a bit like a vireo, but smaller. I could have the bird in my sights! Now I just had to find a defining feature. Then the bird started to sing. It was an unmistakable Tennessee Warbler (#143) song! Somehow, I have managed to relocate this rapidly moving bird after hours of not being seen. And just as quickly as it appeared, it flew towards the Turtle Pond dock and vanished.

Central Park Rare Bird Report 5/16/16

I wasn't able to post this due to the big days, so here is everything that has appeared in the park since 5/7.

Gadwall*
Bufflehead* (one lingering on Reservoir)
Ruddy Duck* (two on Reservoir seen this weekend)
Common Loon (flyovers)
AMERICAN BITTERN* (Oven 5/8)
Great Blue Heron* (flyovers)
Snowy Egret (flyovers)
Green Heron*
YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERON* (Point 5/8)
Turkey Vulture (flyovers)
Osprey (flyovers)
Broad-Winged Hawk (flyovers)
Spotted Sandpiper*
Solitary Sandpiper
Laughing Gull (reported at Reservoir)
Yellow-Billed Cuckoo* (FOS, several)
Black-Billed Cuckoo (FOS, several)
Common Nighthawk* (one seen 5/15 roosting at Great Hill, others flying after dark)
CHUCK-WILL'S-WIDOW* (Mugger's Woods 5/8)
Ruby-Throated Hummingbird*
Olive-Sided Flycatcher* (FOS, several)
Eastern Wood-Pewee*
Willow/Alder Flycatcher (FOS)
Least Flycatcher*
Great Crested Flycatcher*
Eastern Kingbird*
White-Eyed Vireo
Yellow-Throated Vireo*
Blue-Headed Vireo*
Warbling Vireo*
PHILADELPHIA VIREO (North End 5/16)
Red-Eyed Vireo*
Purple Martin (one reported)
Tree Swallow*
Northern Rough-Winged Swallow*
Bank Swallow (few reports)
Barn Swallow*
House Wren*
Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher* (few)
Ruby-Crowned Kinglet* (few)
Veery*
Gray-Cheeked Thrush*
Swainson's Thrush*
Hermit Thrush* (few)
Wood Thrush*
Cedar Waxwing*
Blue-Winged Warbler* (few)
Tennessee Warbler (FOS, few)
Nashville Warbler*
Northern Parula*
Yellow Warbler*
Chestnut-Sided Warbler*
Magnolia Warbler*
Cape May Warbler*
Black-Throated Blue Warbler*
Yellow-Rumped Warbler* (fewer)
Blackburnian Warbler*
Prairie Warbler* (few)
Palm Warbler (late, few)
Bay-Breasted Warbler* (FOS, few)
Blackpoll* Warbler
Hooded Warbler* (few)
American Redstart*
Black-and-White Warbler*
Worm-Eating Warbler* (fewer)
Ovenbird*
Northern Waterthrush*
Louisiana Waterthrush* (few)
Mourning Warbler* (FOS, Oak Bridge and North Woods 5/15)
Common Yellowthroat*
Wilson's Warbler* (FOS)
Canada Warbler* (FOS)
Eastern Towhee* (few)
Chipping Sparrow* (few)
Field Sparrow* (few)
Savannah Sparrow (few)
Swamp Sparrow* (few)
White-Throated Sparrow* (fewer)
White-Crowned Sparrow* (small numbers)
Dark-Eyed Junco* (getting late, a few seen)
Summer Tanager (1 or 2 sightings)
Scarlet Tanager*
Rose-Breasted Grosbeak*
Indigo Bunting*
BOBOLINK (5/11-12 Ramble)
Orchard Oriole* (less)
Baltimore Oriole*

Big Weekend 2016

On Saturday I went to do a big day in Central Park. A big day is simply trying to find the most species of birds in a day. I was hoping to beat my previous total of 74 set on the 9th. I ended the day with 68 species, including 17 warbler species. Top birds were 2 Yellow-Billed Cuckoos at Maintenance Meadow and Azalea Pond, 2 Olive-Sided Flycatchers (FOY) at Summit Rock and Azalea Pond (self-found), 3 Cape May Warblers at Summit Rock, and my FOY Eastern Wood-Pewee (heard), Blackpoll Warblers, and Canada Warblers (several of each). The next day, I did another big day with some teen birders of the park, who were Ryan, Adrian, and Isaiah. We had nothing really rare, but we had some good stuff, including a Common Nighthawk (lifer!) at the Great Hill, 2 Spotted Sandpipers (FOY) at the Lake and the Reservoir, and a Mourning Warbler (FOY) that gave great views at Oak Bridge. That day, I had 75 species, and 2 of the teens reported 82 species. A very big weekend indeed!

18 Warbler Day

On Monday, I started at Summit Rock and Tanner's Spring, where I found 11 species of warbler, including a Hooded Warbler (#132) out in the open. I then went to Turtle Pond where I found 12 species of warbler, including Blackburnian, Wilson's (#133), and 3 Cape Mays! I saw 18 warbler species in total, a new record for me! They were Ovenbird, Louisiana and Northern Waterthrushes, Black-and-White, Nashville, Common Yellowthroat, Hooded, American Redstart, Cape May, Northern Parula, Magnolia, Blackburnian, Chestnut-Sided, Black-Throated Blue, Yellow-Rumped, Prairie, and Black-Throated Green

Fallout in Central Park: Numbers, Quality, and RARITIES!

I arrived in the park at 7:30. but rain kept me stuck under the boathouse awning for more than half an hours. Many other birders joined me. When it opened, we had some quick refreshments and then got out. Within 5 minutes of going into the Ramble, it became clear that this was no ordinary good migration day. Flocks of warblers were singing from almost every tree. This was fallout. Fallout is what happens when a storm or pressure system forces flocks of birds to "fall" from the sky into an area. The result is some of the best birding days in the park. I started seeing many species everywhere, including Scarlet Tanager (#122) and Magnolia Warbler (#123), both of which I would see quite a few more. At Belvedere Castle and Turtle Pond, there was a lot of variety, including multiple Blackburnians (#124), a Cape May, and American Redstart (#125). Many more warblers were seen, and around 10:25 I received a text of an AMERICAN BITTERN at the Oven! I rushed over there and got great views of this lifer (#126), If that wasn't good enough, there was also a YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERON (#127) nearby! More warblers, Swainson's Thrush (#128) in Maintenance Meadow, Red-Eyed Vireo (#129) in Tupelo Meadow. Then I received a text of a Yellow-Billed Cuckoo at the Swampy Pin Oak. One of my nemesis birds from last year. I rushed over there and spent a lot of time looking for it (some say there were two). Just as I was about to give up, a large brown bird flew into a bush out in the open at eye level. The cuckoo (#130)! It then flew, and as the birders said earlier, it moved very quickly, but I caught up with it a minute later. Not long after, I received a text of a CHUCK-WILL'S WIDOW in Mugger's Woods. The chase was on! Birders were running throughout the Ramble. In less than ten minutes, more than 50 birders have swarmed to get a look at this pigeon-sized bird (#131) sleeping on a log. A great year addition, but not a lifer, as I had one last year in April in Bryant Park. I saw or heard 74 species today, a personal record, and had 16 warbler species. It was an amazing day!

Seaside Sparrows and Other Year Birds

On Monday I added a White-Crowned Sparrow at Locust Grove (seen again there Wednesday) and a Least Flycatcher at the Point to my year list (also had 2 Worm-Eating Warblers). On Thursday, I added Great Crested Flycatcher at the Humming Tombstone and a Lincoln's Sparrow at the Upper Lobe. That night that there were 3 SEASIDE SPARROWS at 12th avenue and 55th street. So on Friday afternoon, I went there and sure enough, there were three Seaside Sparrows there giving great views. Hopefully migration improves on the second week of May!

Central Park Weekly Bird Report 5/6/16

Bufflehead (getting late, but a few remain on the Reservoir)
HORNED GREBE (Reservoir all week in breeding plumage)
Great Egret
Snowy Egret (flyovers)
Black-Crowned Night Heron
Green Heron
Osprey (flyovers)
Spotted Sandpiper (several a day at water bodies)
Chimney Swift (many)
Ruby-Throated Hummingbird (a few)
Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker (getting late, but several seen throughout the park)
Least Flycatcher
Eastern Phoebe (one or two sightings)
Great Crested Flycatcher (several seen in past few days)
Eastern Kingbird (several)
White-Eyed Vireo (a few)
Blue-Headed Vireo (lower numbers)
Warbling Vireo
Red-Eyed Vireo (several)
Tree Swallow
Northern Rough-Winged Swallow
Bank Swallow (few)
Barn Swallow (many)
House Wren
Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher (several)
Ruby-Crowned Kinglet (less)
Gray-Cheeked Thrush (FOS, few)
Swainson's Thrush (FOS, few)
Hermit Thrush (less)
Veery
Wood Thrush
Gray Catbird (many more)
Ovenbird
Northern Waterthrush
Louisiana Waterthrush (few)
Yellow-Rumped Warbler
Pine Warbler (few)
Prairie Warbler
Palm Warbler (less)
Black-and-White Warbler
Northern Parula
Black-Throated Blue Warbler
Black-Thriated Green Warbler
HERMIT WARBLER (5/1 at Triplets Bridge, second state record)
Yellow Warbler
Chestnut-Sided Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler (several)
Nashville Warbler
Blue-Winged Warbler
Northern Parula
American Redstart (few)
Cape May Warbler (continues at Oven)
Common Yellowthroat
Hooded Warbler (FOS, 2 at north end)
Worm-Eating Warbler (many sightings)
Eastern Towhee
Field Sparrow (few)
Chipping Sparrow (several)
Swamp Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow (FOS, a few)
White-Crowned Sparrow (FOS, several)
White-Throated Sparrow (less, but still a lot)
Dark-Eyed Junco (very few)
Scarlet Tanager (few)
Rose-Breasted Grosbeak
Baltmore Oriole
Orchard Oriole

EXTRALIMITAL: 3 Seaside Sparrows along the bike path of the West Side Highway around 55th street since 5/5.

White-Crowned at Least

On Monday in Central Park, I entered at the Reservoir and walked through Locust Grove when a White-Crowned Sparrow (Year Bird #117) flew right in front of me, and gave me great views of it. In the Ramble, I found decent numbers of warblers around, including two WORM-EATING WARBLERS, which were at the Humming Tombstone and Evodia Field. Then. someone spotted a Least Flycatcher in a tree near Evodia Field and we got decent looks at this bird (#118). Two new year birds and two Worm-Eating Warblers made this day!

May Targets

These are my target birds for May. Because the last two weeks of April were so successful (around 30 new species), my expectations for this month are a bit lower than before, but I still hope to find 20-35 new year birds this month.

Probable
Eastern Wood-Pewee (Migrants)
Yellow-Bellied Flycatcher (Migrants)
Willow/Alder Flycatcher (Migrants)
Least Flycatcher (Migrants)
Great-Crested Flycatcher (Migrants)
Red-Eyed Vireo (Common migrants/Nesters)
Carolina Wren (Somehow haven't gotten)
Swainson's Thrush (Common migrants)
Magnolia Warbler (Common migrants)
Blackburnian Warbler (Migrants)
Blackpoll Warbler (Common migrants)
American Redstart (Common migrants)
Canada Warbler (Common migrants)
Wilson's Warbler (migrants)

Possible
Spotted Sandpiper (Lake/Reservoir)
Solitairy Sandpiper (Lake/Reservoir)
Yellow-Billed Cuckoo (Migrants)
Black-Billed Cuckoo (Migrants)
Olive-Sided Flycatcher (Migrants)
Gray-Cheeked Thrush (Migrants)
Tennessee Warbler (Migrants)
Bay-Breasted Warbler (Migrants)
Hooded Warbler (Migrants)
Mourning Warbler (Migrants)
Lincoln's Sparrow (Migrants)
White-Crowned Sparrow (Migrants)

Longshots
Common Nighthawk (Migrants)
Red-Headed Woodpecker (Sometimes one will show up)
Other Swallow Species (Scarce)
Marsh Wren (Scarce migrants)
Prothonotary Warbler (Spring overshoot)
Cerulean Warbler (Scarce migrants)
Yellow-Breasted Chat (Scarce migrants)
Summer Tanager (Spring overshoot)

Unexpected
Hermit Warbler? (Triplets Bridge 5/1)
Seaside Sparrows (Hudson River Greenway, 5/5)
American Bittern (The Oven, 5/8)
Yellow-Crowned Night Heron (The Point, 5/8)
Chuck-Will's-Widow (Mugger's Woods, 5/8)
Philadelphia Vireo (Belvedere Castle and Great Hill, 5/16)

New Year Birds 4/29-4/30

On Friday. I went on a school field trip to the Statue of Liberty, where I added two new year birds, which were Fish Crow and Laughing Gull. Both birds are often found in the harbor, but are hard to find in Central Park. Later in Central Park, I added an Indigo Bunting at Tupelo Meadow to my year list.

On Saturday, I went to Central Park, and was about to give up on finding a year bird, when an Eastern Kingbird flew overhead, giving me year bird #116.