Wednesday 20 May 2009 - Birding in New York City - AMERICAN REDSTARTS in Central Park - 20/05/2009

Wednesday 20th May 2009

Birding in Central Park, NYC

AMERICAN REDSTART (male) - Photo kindly provided by Prairiedog

Well what a great morning!  As we entered the park from the south I could tell it was going to be a good day for birds... I could smell it in the air.  The usual American Robins were out in good number going about their business but it was Warblers that I was interested in.... New World Warblers.... and I was not to be disappointed.  As we strolled past Sheep Fields I noticed a movement in a sunny section of the canopy.  Wow my first gorgeous AMERICAN REDSTARTS, about six birds consisting of both summer plumaged males and the less colourful females zipping to and fro catching insects.  Also in the same area were 2 stunning male MAGNOLIA WARBLERS, an impressive start indeed.

Me at Strawberry Fields at Central Park, NYC - John Lennon R.I.P.

First of all we headed over to Strawberry Fields, a section of the park that was developed with wildlife in mind by Yoko Ono after the tragic murder of her husband John Lennon during December 1980.  She has reportedly spent over a $1 million over the years for the general upkeep of this peaceful area.  It was here that I had my one and only male COMMON YELLOWTHROAT as well as plenty more AMERICAN REDSTARTS and MAGNOLIA WARBLERS.  In addition there were the usual Blue Jays, Gray Catbirds, Northern Cardinals and Northern Mockingbirds as well as a solitary, skulking GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH.

A view of The Lake at Central Park, NYC.

We then headed over towards The Lake where a summer plumaged Spotted Sandpiper was picked up feeding along the shoreline.  Nearby 2 Black-crowned Night Herons roosted and Red-eared Terrapins were out of the water basking in the sun.  Soon I was watching my first ever male WILSON'S WARBLER feeding in the waterside vegetation as a WARBLING VIREO sang his heart out just above.  A Cedar Waxwing made a brief appearance and a Red-winged Blackbird was spotted catching insects at the waters edge.  In the clear blue skies above a Chimney Swift passed through as did an American Kestrel.

Moving up towards The Ramble a male HOODED WARBLER popped into view and showed well for a few minutes before darting off.  It was here that an Eastern Bluebird and an OVENBIRD were both heard singing but unfortunately not seen despite my best efforts.  A White-throated Sparrow made a brief appearance before retreating back into the undergrowth to sing his mournful song.  Even more AMERICAN REDSTARTS were found as well as the odd MAGNOLIA WARBLER.

As we walked up to the hill to Belvedere Castle, more Warblers could be seen flitting around at the sun-drenched summit.  As I lifted my a bins a magnificent male BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER came into view and showed well on and off in the same small tree for the next half hour.  This is a bird I've always wanted to see since I was a kid so I savoured every moment that it was on view.  Occasionally however I was distracted by a male BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER that also remained faithful to the same tree.

BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER (male) - Photo kindly provide by Gavatron

A view of Belvedere Castle from Turtle Pond in Central Park, NYC 

We then continued northwards until we came to the jogger-infested Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir (quite a mouthful heh?).  By now I was actually getting slightly bored of seeing AMERICAN REDSTARTS!  On the water there was no sign of any wildfowl at all but there were the odd Great Black-backed Gull, American Herring Gull and Ring-billed Gull as well as a pair of Double-crested Cormorants.  My first American Barn Swallows of the trip were also seen here.

Me scanning the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir at Central Park, NYC.

As we walked east towards the Metropolitan Museum of Art another of my ultimate fantasy birds was spotted hopping 'Nuthatch style' along the boughs of a tree, a superb BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER!  A fitting end to memorable morning of New York birding.

BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER

Photo kindly provided by Bill Kominsky