Monday, 14 February, 2011 - Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City While most paths in the parks are becoming clear of snow or ice, there are going to be at least a few lingering icy patches or areas as ice build-up was so dense, more so than had been in many a winter in NYC. I have had more slips and slides in the parks than in any winter in recent memory. Next up, perhaps, the traditional "mud" season... good for woodcocks. We'll see...
The Varied Thrush lingering in the park has recently been varying its exact whereabouts - this was happening previously as well, but in the past week or more seemed to have increased - it will be interesting to see whether the thrush gets into new 'habits' or goes back to frequenting the same areas, especially as snow melts away in the park over the next week. The Varied Thrush has been seen in areas from as far east as the mid-slope of Cedar Hill, and by various others in the area of the Turtle Pond dock, as well as near the adjacent Delacorte Theatre, and has also visited the areas around the Shakespeare Garden & also the West 79 Street yard, where there is some tree and shrub cover. It also has continued to show up at times in it's originally- favored spots near the men's restroom of the maintenance field in the eastern edge of the Ramble, just south of the E. 79 Street transverse roadway & west of the East Drive of the park. However, on both Thursday, Friday (10-11 Feb.) and this Monday, the thrush was seen on the borders of the Great Lawn, Turtle Pond, and even to the west near the w. side of the Delacorte Theatre men's restroom and downslope to the west - which is not far from the West Drive of the park. I saw it on Thursday while also having a chance meeting with Rafael G. Campos of Brooklyn, adding the thrush to his local list. We watched it come into a tree just north of Turtle Pond and also to the "dock" itself, while we stood a few yards away & observed. On other days various other birders have seen the thrush more than a few times at this area, along with some sightings from the maintenance field and building north of that. On Friday morning it visited a number of areas, both at the "traditional" spot early on as well as this spot, near Turtle Pond. It may well wander a bit more, as snow melts away... or keep coming to the most-favored sites. It has brightened slightly in plumage and that has been rather gradual, so far... The (first-winter plumaged) Red-headed Woodpecker has continued on in the same general area, and has been seen as before both on the south side of the 66 Street transverse road, sometimes just west of the Carousel (or merry-go-round), and recently often nearer Sheep Meadow, in trees on that large lawn's SE edges. It has sported some more evidence of spring plumage, with a bit of red showing on it's otherwise not-very-colorful head. 2 drake Wood Ducks continue on at the Pond in the southeast part of the park. The reservoir is still frozen on its surface yet is likely to open up again with the coming milder weather. The ice is usually quite stubborn but will finally give way to liquid water in bright sun and well-above-freezing temp's. The feeders in the Ramble have continued to host sporadic visits from a few Pine Siskins, and a variety of more typical overwintering visitors, including the usual 2 nuthatch species and Brown Creeper, with Fox Sparrow possible near or under feeders, as well as a few scattered elsewhere in the park accompanying White-throated Sparrow flocks. Many birds have begun to give song, this perhaps most evident on less-windy early mornings, but increasingly could be heard at about any daylight hours. Some flocks of American Robins and small numbers of Red-winged Blackbirds, as well as a few Cedar Waxwings have been roaming around for at least the last 10 days, perhaps longer. Common Grackles were around all winter long, using a known roost area near the s.e. corner of the park. This is a relatively recent development as it used to be that grackles did not linger in any large number all thru winter here. We are getting close to a time of year that might bring a few early icterid flocks along. I was recently made aware of a photo-documented sighting of a Black Vulture seen low over Central Park back on 27 January. The observer- photographer for that was Jeanette Holmes. A once unheard-of sight over NYC, the presence of some seemingly resident on Staten Island may be a harbinger of more to be found in other NYC locations over coming years and in almost any seasons. Good birding, Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- 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/ --
