Six Woodpecker Day!

Yellow-bellied sapsucker [showing the yellow belly!]

photo by DAVID SPEISER taken on April 8, 2008

There are six species of woodpeckers that have been seen in Central Park since record-keeping began in the late 19th century. These are:

Red Headed Woodpecker, Red Bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Yellow- Bellied Sapsucker, and Hairy Woodpecker

Yesterday [April 8 -- note date of photograph above!] sharp-eyed birdwatchers Ray Slyper and Mike Bryant saw all six species in Central Park. This doesn't happen often.

Spring Migration and a rare opportunity

PALM WARBLER -- Maintenance Meadow -- April 6, 2011

Photo by MURRAY HEAD

CHIPPING SPARROW -- Evodia Field-- April 6, 2011

Photo by MURRAY HEAD

Yesterday at 7 a.m. a group of birders convened on the park's west side for the first of eight Spring Migration Bird Walks . All will be conducted by Steve Quinn of the American Museum of Natural History. Most of us [if not all] had been attending these walks for many many years, and so it was a bit of a reunion. And a wonderful kick-off for the spring season. Not only did we see the two lovely red heads pictured above, but also a Pine Warbler, a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, an Eastern Phoebe. a Barn Swallow, both Ruby and Golden-crowned Kinglets, Fox, Song, Swamp and White-throated Sparrows, a Red-winged Blackbird and a partridge in a pear tree. [Just checking to see if you're alert...]

PS-- Though the Tuesday morning walks have been filled to capacity since January, this year for the first time Steve Quinn [a wonderful, inspiring leader] has been able to offer an additional walk. This will be held on FRIDAYs , also from 7-9 a.m. . A EARE OPPORTUNITY. You can call 212-769-5200 to see if there are still openings. As of yesterday there were still quite a few.