Discovery at The Point

Murray Head writes:

Hi Marie, This IS news! I found the place in The Park where Fall begins!


Also at The Point... warblers. A sampling:
American Redstart -1

American Redstart -2


Black-throated Blue Warbler - 1

Black-throated Blue Warbler - 2


Black-and-white Warbler


Photos by Murray Head -- 9/1/10

It's just 20 minutes from Grand Central

Bird's eye view of the Visitor Center
just before opening --April, 2004
Carol Capobianco, Editorial Content Manager at the The New York Botanical Garden [Bronx] sent me the following note today. Central Park birdwatchers might be interested in taking a short subway ride to the Bronx to take advantage of the opportunity Carol writes about:

Hi Marie,

I hope your summer is going well. I just wanted to let you know about today’s blog post, which may be of interest to your readers.

Every Saturday at 11 a.m. throughout most of the year, [ beginning next Saturday] a few dozen people gather at the Reflecting Pool in the Leon Levy Visitor Center with binoculars and high hopes. They’ve come to go on a walk in search of the birds that live at the Botanical Garden either year-round or temporarily during migration period. The tour leader, Debbie Becker, who this season marks her 25th year conducting bird walks at the Garden, knows all the nooks and crannies, and all the favorite spots of many of the 200-plus species that have been recorded in the Garden over the years. In other words, if someone wants to see a particular bird—say, the resident great horned owls or the aberrant white-winged crossbills—Debbie can deliver.

Read more…http://www.nybg.org/wordpress/?p=6852

How to get there:

Public Transportation

By Metro-North Railroad

Take the Metro-North Harlem local line to Botanical Garden Station. Walk across Kazimiroff Boulevard to the Garden's Mosholu Gate entrance. Just 20 minutes from Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan! Also convenient from other locations.

By Subway

Take the B, D, or 4 train to Bedford Park Blvd Station. From the station exit:

• Take the Bx 26 bus east to the Garden's Mosholu Gate entrance.
• OR walk eight blocks down the hill on Bedford Park Blvd to the end (approximately 20 minutes). Turn left onto Kazimiroff Blvd and walk one block to Mosholu Gate entrance.

For schedules and maps, visit the MTA Web site.

Driving Directions

From Manhattan (West Side)

West Side Hwy North to Henry Hudson Pkwy North to Mosholu Pkwy (Exit 24). Continue to the end. Turn right onto Kazimiroff Blvd. At the third traffic light, turn left into the Garden.

From Manhattan (East Side)

FDR Drive North to Robert F. Kennedy Bridge (formerly the Triboro Bridge) to Bruckner Expwy East (I-278) to Bronx River Pkwy North to Fordham Rd (Exit 7W). Merge onto Fordham Rd and stay in right lane. Turn right onto Kazimiroff Blvd, and continue to the Garden entrance on the right.

Run don't walk

American Robin at nest -- 5/23/08
photo by LLOYD SPITALNIK

Stephanie Seymour, of Englewood, N.J., posted this report on eBirds yesterday. Odds are you'll find the robins there today too. Meanwhile, the warbler diversity may be increasing:



If you like Robins, quick!, run to Central Park. Today is your day.

If you are looking for warblers and other smaller migrants, well, they are there too, but they're just a bit harder to find today. From 7 to 9 am, highlights included:

2 Canada Warblers
3 Magnolia Warblers
1 Ovenbird
2 Black and White Warblers
5 Redstarts
2 Common Yellowthroats
(others saw a Chestnut-sided Warbler, but I missed it)

1 RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH (pine trees near the theater/bathrooms)
1 E. Towhee (early?) (near Tanner Spring)
2 E. Wood-Pewees (both calling)
1 Flycatcher sp.
2 Veerys
1 Warbling Vireo
3 Red-eyed Vireos

Plus a lot of other usual suspects. Most of this was in the Ramble, the Upper Lobe, and Maintenance Field.

Happy birding,
Stephanie Seymour