Egret

Murray Head took these pictures a few days ago and wrote:

I spotted the Egret at the West side of the Point... way off in the distance.

Naturally I want a closer look to see some feathers.

So all it took was to run like the devil was chasing me from the Oven around to the Point... slide and tumble down an embankment and take the pictures.

He showed me feathers, plume and a tuft.

Latest arrivals.

David Speiser, Photographer, took these great pictures yesterday in the park.It's almost as good as being there!


Ruby-crowned Kinglet


Purple Finch


Pine Warbler


Louisiana Waterthrush


Winter Wren

Camouflage and migrant update

Photographer Murray Head writes:

As I rambled along yesterday I noticed that most of the birds were pretty well camouflaged:




Except for this guy. He had his headlights on:
Four photos taken on 4/7/09 by Murray Head

Migration update:
Three to add to the list, reported today by Susan Schulz:
BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER - Azalea Pond
HERMIT THRUSH - various places
LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH - Gill

Pale Male schedule [approx] and spring migration news

Pale Male and Lola on nest - March 24, 2009
Photo courtesy of PaleMale.com

Pale Male ETA [of chicks this year]:

According to Jim Lewis creator of the masterly [annually updated] "History of the Fifth Avenue Red-tailed Hawks" the estimated hatch date [if all those crossed fingers do the trick this year] is April 13th, give or take a couple of days in either direction.

Spring Migration update:
Palm Warbler ---- should be here very soon
photo by Lloyd Spitalnik --4/13/08
http://lloydspitalnikphotos.com


While I was out of town the migration accelerated a bit. It's still early, but within a few weeks the annual spring festival will be in full swing.Coming up within the next few days, maybe even today [based on my records of previous years]: the Blue-gray gnatcatcher and the Palm Warbler.
Below, a report from yesterday by a regular Central Park birdwatcher:


Site: Ramble area
Date: Sunday, 4/5/09
Reported by Pat Pollock

Rusty Blackbirds seen by me and others southside of Turtle Pond wading on edge. Someone said Chris Cooper had one earlier at Lower Lobe.
Pine Warbler continues to show up at intervals at feeders
Pine Siskins
Eastern Phoebes are increasing in number - T. Pond, Main. Fld., Azalia Pd.
Brown-headed Cowbird no. side of T.Pond
Several Brown Creepers
Golden Crowned Kinglet - gill west of Az. Pd.
Swamp Sparrow - Lower Lobe
Dennis showed us where he'd seen a Woodcock, high rock no. side of Azalea Pd. - we searched, didn't find.
(M) Purple Finch seen by some folks at Castle steps
Juncos
Goldfinches

and shortly thereafter, Susan Schulz added a Winter Wren