Another sign of spring

Eastern Bluebird -- Central Park, 11/03/09

photo by DAVID SPEISER

An exciting report came in less than

two hours ago.:

A male Eastern Bluebird was seen on the western side of the north ball fields today around noon. Thanks goes to Tony Prastaro for the tip.

Hello and Goodbye

Hello

Goodbye

Photos by MURRAY HEAD 3/1/11

Spring signs and a hawk PS

Sharron Crocker, a correspondent of this website, wrote yesterday [2/28/11]:

There are signs of spring everywhere -- here's a picture of the first Song Sparrow I've seen and heard this year ... it was being quite vocal for a long period of time ...

PS: Bruce Kerr writes:

I think Pale Beauty is quite an appropriate name for Pale Male's current mate as the Latin name for the Buzzard family [Buteo] is pronounced "Beauty-o"

A steady hand helps

Everyone knows that it's not too hard to get chickadees and titmice to feed from the hand. But downy woodpeckers? That's an uncommon achievement. By dint of incredible patience and perseverence birdwatcher Rebekah Creshkoff has managed to tame a pair of North Woods downies who regularly come for their [pun alert] hand-outs. Note in photo #1 Mrs. Downy waiting her turn as a chickadee feeds. A titmouse and another titmouse conclude the sequence. You can see it in live action on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygqhEnJwn14

photos by Leonard J. Friedland

Sunday in the park with Ken

Witch-hazel in the snow
photo by Ken Chaya 2/22/11

Ken Chaya creator of Central Park Entire: the Definitive Illustrated Map [a wonderful new resource for all who love the park--see the website at centralparknature.com ] writes today's report:

I took a wonderful walk in the park today. It was cautiously whispering “spring” everywhere. Snowdrops were emerging from beneath the leaf litter and the witch hazel continues with it’s showy blossoms. Perhaps the best moment for me was meeting a senior couple I know who have been birding the park since the sixties (but took time off for children and business etc). They had not yet seen the Varied Thrush, and I was very pleased to be able to locate it for them. There is that magic moment “that look” you know, when a person gets a “lifer.” So much fun!

PS from Marie The map include a legend identifying ALL CP's trees, and ALL the trails in the Ramble and North Woods. I don't think that has ever been done before!