Wednesday 20 May 2009 - Birding in New York City - ORIOLES stuffed in the Bronx! - 20/05/2009

Wednesday 20th May 2009

BALTIMORE ORIOLES stuffed in the Bronx!

This evening Sam and I took the subway from Manhattan to the Boogie Down Bronx for a spot of birding.  We didn't need any optical equipment though as the only birds we would be seeing would be the Baltimore Orioles baseball team.... or so I thought.  My favourite team were playing the famous New York Yankees in their gorgeous new ball park built just over the road from the old, decaying Yankee Stadium.

'Archie the Oriole' at Yankee Stadium, The Bronx. New York.

Whilst waiting for the game to start it was great to see skeins of Canada Geese migrating north over the stadium.  As we took our seats high up in the stands, Chimney Swifts and American Barn Swallows whizzed by, feeding around the floodlights.  Other species included fly-over Peregrine, Double-crested Cormorant and American Herring Gulls.  During play itself a Common Grackle even hopped on to the field to feed.

We enjoyed stunning views like this of Chimney Swift at Yankee Stadium

Photo kindly provided by Dan Kaiser

Despite the O's getting thrashed by the impressive Bronx Bombers by the score 11-4 and despite me getting a whole load of good-natured abuse from the Yankee fans we had a great time at the game and had some nice views of birds too.

New York Yankees vs Baltimore Orioles - Yankee Stadium, The Bronx, New York