Date: Sunday, 14 February 2010 (12:50p-5:00p) Location: Bronx Botanical Garden Observers: Eve Levine, Ben Cacace Reported by: Ben Cacace
Snow is pretty much cleared from all the paved paths. The trails still have a thick layer of snow. The ponds towards the north end are almost entirely frozen over and the Bronx River is clear of ice. Bird activity was quiet overall. Red-tailed Hawk sightings were numerous and could be boiled down to at least 3 individuals including 1 juvenile and 2 adults. Two other raptors were seen but too briefly to ID. One was an accipiter and the other a small falcon. A pair of Wood Ducks were on the Bronx River feeding with a small group of Mallards. Weather for 14-Feb in New York, NY (12:51p-4:51p) < http://tinyurl.com/ylzxr8q >: - Conditions: mostly cloudy - Temperature: 37.0 to 29.9 F (+3 to +4 C) - Wind direction: WNW - Wind speed: 13-17 mph (gusts to 30 mph) ** Total species - 23 ** 'Scarce' seen in habitat, but not daily [1 spp]: - Wood Duck - 2 incl. 1 male & 1 female on the Bronx River 'Uncommon' seen in small numbers; 1-3 per day in habitat [2 spp]: - Red-bellied Woodpecker - 5+ heard &/or seen - American Robin - 25+ 'Fairly Common' usually seen; 3-12 per day in habitat [8 spp]: - Hooded Merganser - 5 incl. 3 male + 2 female on the Bronx River - Red-tailed Hawk - 3+ incl. at least 1 sub-adult - Downy Woodpecker - 2+ - Black-capped Chickadee - 6+ - Tufted Titmouse - 4+ - White-breasted Nuthatch - 1+ - Northern Mockingbird - 1+ - Northern Cardinal - 15+ 'Common' seen easily; more than 12 per day in habitat [12 spp]: - Canada Goose - 11+ on the Bronx River - Mallard - 14+ (7m/7f) on the Bronx River - Ring-billed Gull - 4+ - Herring Gull - 2+ - Rock Pigeon - 1 - Blue Jay - 6+ - American Crow - 19+ - European Starling - 10+ - Song Sparrow - 1 - White-throated Sparrow - 20+ - Dark-eyed Junco - 30+ - House Sparrow - 15+ Abundance categories from 'The New York City Audubon Society Guide to Finding Birds in the Metropolitan Area' published 2001. Abundance season is 'Winter', December - February, and applies to all of New York City. Taxonomic order: - Canada Goose - 11+ on the Bronx River - Wood Duck - 2 incl. 1 male & 1 female on the Bronx River - Mallard - 14+ (7m/7f) on the Bronx River - Hooded Merganser - 5 incl. 3 male + 2 female on the Bronx River - Red-tailed Hawk - 3+ incl. at least 1 sub-adult - Ring-billed Gull - 4+ - Herring Gull - 2+ - Rock Pigeon - 1 - Red-bellied Woodpecker - 5+ heard &/or seen - Downy Woodpecker - 2+ - Blue Jay - 6+ - American Crow - 19+ - Black-capped Chickadee - 6+ - Tufted Titmouse - 4+ - White-breasted Nuthatch - 1+ - American Robin - 25+ - Northern Mockingbird - 1+ - European Starling - 10+ - Song Sparrow - 1 - White-throated Sparrow - 20+ - Dark-eyed Junco - 30+ - Northern Cardinal - 15+ - House Sparrow - 15+ -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
