Apologies for the tardiness of the following report. This weekend was a busy one, and I could only notch out time for birding here and there. The weekend started out at Ward Pound Ridge. Ever since I first visited it in the fall, I wanted to bird it. My chosen target species were worm eating warbler and louisana waterthrush. I came up empty handed with both, but still had a very nice time. It's a beautiful park. Many suggested I focus my attention at Michigan Rd. and near the picnic area, which I did. The trailheads were easily the most active areas. I then managed to squeeze in some time in the city late afternoon to dusk. All time was spent at the ramble and around Belvedere Lake.
I had planned on visiting Doodetown at Bear Mountain based on Mr. Block's suggestion. I was unfortunately rained out Sunday morning, but was able to visit the area for a short period of time late afternoon while my wife shopped at Mohegan Lake. At first, I thought it would be a waste of time arriving so late in the day. It was dead. As if someone flipped a switch, Doodletown became a hotbed of activity. I was greeted by a female Hooded Warbler. Not bad for first bird for that outing. I immediately got another hooded right after that, followed by a few indigo buntings and a blue winged warbler. I wished that I had had someone with me, because there were too many birds to keep track of. My outing was cut short by a text from my wife, who wasn't feeling well due to a cold, so I turned around 30 minutes after arriving. Returning to my car on the way back down the hill just before the site of the last house to be torn down (don't remember the name), I was treated to an appearance of a worm eating warbler, one of my target species. I love it when that happens. Moral of the story: It pays to be a good husband. :-P Thank you all for generously sharing your information with me. ward pound ridge (Saturday, 5-14, 8 am -10 am): turkey (heard, not seen) tree swallow red bellied woodpecker northern flicker blue gray gnatcatcher black capped chickadee eastern kingbird eastern phoebe american goldfinch rose breasted grosbeak n.cardinal baltimore oriole red winged blackbird common grackle blue jay eastern bluebird am. crow canada warbler blackpoll warbler black and white warbler yellow rumped warbler yellow warbler prairie warbler ramble, central park ( Saturday, 5-15, 5pm -7pm) great egret chimney swift t. titmouse ruby crowned kinglet swainson's thrush robin blue jay crow cardinal am. crow wilson's warber (1 adult, 1 1st year) cape may warbler (female) yellow rumped warbler magnolia warbler am. redstart canada warbler ovenbird black throated blue c. yellowthroat doodletown (Sunday, 5-16, 4:50pm - 5:45 pm) blue jay cardinal eastern towhee indigo bunting warbling vireo blue gray gnatcatcher t. titmouse veery scarlet tanager baltimore oriole eastern wood-peewee hooded warbler (1 male, 1 female, 1 first year) am. redstart blue winged warbler worm eating warbler -- "If all mankind were to disappear, the world would regenerate back to the rich state of equilibrium that existed ten thousand years ago. If insects were to vanish, the environment would collapse into chaos. " -E.O. Wilson -- 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/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/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/ --