Bluebird of Happiness?

Eastern Bluebird --photo courtesy of Wikipedia

Tom Fiore reports:

Friday & Saturday, 25 & 26 March, 2016

A male Eastern Bluebird was found late Friday (3/25) on the Great Hill, by Tom Perlman; presumably that same individual was present most of today in the area, but had moved to a bit to the east, near the Blockhouse.  At 5:30 p.m. on a stroll in that n. area of the park, I encountered a photographer (a visitor from Russia, not a birder) who was clearly focused on a bird in a nearby tree and on glancing up, there was Sialis sialis, the E. Bluebird.

I asked the photog. if he 'knew' the bird, & he replied it reminded him a little of one he has seen at home, but "less blue"...   my sighting & his was a bit south of the Blockhouse, & the bird moved somewhat farther south in a small patch of woods as we watched. I think this was a first-of-year for the park but can't be sure.  In other birds, more generally there were Golden-crowned Kinglets in various locations, and at least several Pine Warblers.

E. Bluebird may be annual in Central but varies from rare to very uncommon; most don't seem to linger long there.

good birding,

Tom Fiore
Manhattan

PS from Marie: Happy Easter!