Sunday, August 28, 2005

Central Park's North End Birds, including 8 warbler species

Though the north end of Central Park is generally considered the best birding location,  few reports come from there.  Perhaps this is because it was once considered an unsafe place, a haven for muggers and drug dealers. But  ever since a major Conservancy  restoration of the North Woods was completed a number of years ago,  I  believe it is as safe to walk there as in the Ramble. Here is yesterday's report from Phil Jeffrey, who is the public-spirited person running the e-birds listserv these days. [Ben Cacace was his predecessor.] There is info about e-birds on my Links page.

DATE: Saturday, 27th August 2005
LOCATION: Central Park - Ravine and North Woods
REPORTED BY: Phil Jeffrey

Northern Flicker
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Cedar Waxwing
Blue-winged Warbler (2, female type)
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler (female)
Black-and-white Warbler
American Redstart (many)
Northern Waterthrush
Canada Warbler
Baltimore Oriole

An unusual and somewhat distressing sight: an American Robin (juvenile
moulted mostly into adult plumage) was chased out of a tree by another but
in mid-flight plunged straight to the ground, striking with an audible thud.
I crossed the Loch to retrieve it and it had broken it's neck, although
the berry it was feeding on was still in it's bill. Seems unlikely it died
in mid-flight, but it was either that or a radical loss of control. The
flight feathers seemed in good condition along with the rest of the bird
(apart from the impact injury).