While leading a group on a tour around Strawberry Fields & The Ramble on this damp & chilly morning, we spotted some nice migrants, the highlight of which was a young Blue Grosbeak along the edge of the lake south of the Bow Bridge. It was flitting through the cattails and then flew up into a weeping willow by the water, affording us a good view. It looked to be a first-year bird judging by the bright rusty plumage. It was giving its distinctive ringing call.
We also saw a nice assortment of warblers, and numerous Ruby-throated Hummingbirds and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks hanging around the jewel weed growing by the Oven. Also spotted was an unusual first-year male Northern Cardinal that I've seen several times now by The Oven and the Maintenance Meadow. He has a freakishly long crest, about 2-3 times as long as a typical cardinal's crest I'd say. Has anyone else seen this unusual bird? I've named him "Cresty the Cardinal". I wonder if he'll maintain the extra-long crest through future molts? Good birding, Gabriel Willow NYC Audubon -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
