Latest spring arrivals

House Wren --- first sighting of 2011 yesterday
photo by LLOYD SPITALNIK
taken in Central Park 7/7/06

Louisiana Waterthrush first sighting of 2011 TODAY
Photo by LLOYD SPITALNIK -- taken in Central Park 5/12/07
http://www.lloydspitalnikphotos.com

besides the Waterthrush, other warbler arrivals this spring: Pine Warbler, Palm Warbler, Black and White Warbler.

Boat-tailed Grackle in the park--first ever!

Boat-tailed Grackle in Suffolk County, NY -- November 6, 2010

Photo by LLOYD SPITALNIK

Boat-tailed Grackle in Central Park -- April 9, 2011

Photo by JANE F. ROSS

The item appeared on the listserv NYSbirds-l:

Saw what I believe is a boat-tailed grackle at the west end of the Meer (flying from the little island) on Saturday afternoon. Agressive and chatty and larger than regular grackles. Photos here don't quite capture the width of the tail, but it was quite broad in flight.

http://rossbirds.blogspot.com/

Jane F. Ross
International Education Consultant

I quickly [and I must admit somewhat skeptically] emailed the NYSbirds entry and a series of photos of the bird from Jane Ross's blog to Lloyd Spitalnik, my major birdwatching guru. He quickly answered back the exciting news: It WAS a Boat-tailed Grackle.

This is the first recorded appearance of a Boat-tailed Grackle in Central Park's history! Check it out on The Birds of Central Park checklist:

http://www.joinnewyork.us/uploads/birds%20of%20cpark

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