Babies babies everywhere

Immature American Robin---photo by DAVID SPEISER http://www.lilibirds.com

This morning was a little bit slow in the park, but a few highlights were as follows: 2 Northern Waterthrushes (1 in Strawberry Fields, 1 at Upper Lobe), 1 Am. Redstart near the Gill, 1 Common Yellowthroat (SF), an Eastern Kingbird and a Warbling Vireo at Hernshead, 2 Baltimore Orioles (1 adult at Hernshead and 1 young bird in Tupelo Field), and 1 very early White-throated Sparrow hopping along the cement pathway near the Gill. In the cuteness department, there was a young Mockingbird foraging with its parent at the Castle, and there were many young Cardinals, Robins, and Catbirds everywhere. Happy birding, Stephanie Seymour Englewood, NJ

BLACKBURNIAN!!

Photo by DAVID SPEISER -- 5/8/08

A very short but pleasant walk through the Ramble this morning: Just
south of Maintenance Field, Blackburnian and Northern Parula warblers
(one each); also a Downy Woodpecker. Just north of Azalea Pond,
American Redstart and Baltimore Oriole. At Laupot Bridge, a Northern
Waterthrush.

-Ed Gaillard
Manhattan

PS by Marie

Ed Gaillard is very cool about his Blackburnian. If I had been reporting one I probably would have let myself go with CAPS and exclamation points!

EXCITING NEWS

... and 5 photographs to confirm it,  from photographer-writer Murray Head:

Hi Marie,

Looking back in your archives I find a Post on Groundhog Day-- Feb. 2,  2004:

"Though there hasn't been a groundhog [better known as a woodchuck] to be seen in Central Park since 1998, if one were to show up today it would definitely see its shadow." 
 
One showed up today... August 12, 2012.
I saw him on the grassy hill East of the 59th Street Pond.
He seemed not at all concerned about his shadow,
he was concerned about his lunch.

Murray
 

Photographs by MURRAY HEAD -- Central Park, August 12, 2012

PS from Marie: The vicinity of the 59th St. Pond is exactly where the "old" woodchuck of 1998 used to show up. An odd lady known as Sister Marlane would be waiting for him back then, with nuts and various goodies for his delectation.   He always made a beeline for her as soon as he ambled into view from God-knows-where.