Sunday Birds
The fall migration still has some beauties coming our way, including this Cedar Waxwing, a House Finch and a male Wood Duck.
Category: Other Birds
What Is This?
I can’t figure out what species of bird this is. It was on the south shore of Turtle Pond. Is it just a strangely marked Rock Pigeon? If you know, please leave a comment.
I wasn’t able to get close to this bird, so I’m sorry if the photographs and movies aren’t that clear.
After two days, it’s clear it’s a Rock Pigeon. The behavior confused me, but the white cere should have been the giveaway.
Male Mandarin Duck
Turtle Pond was host to a male Mandarin Duck today. The species is not native to North America, so it was most likely an escapee from a zoo or collection.
Weekend Birds
I didn’t bird much this weekend but I did spend a few hours in Central Park on both Saturday and Sunday.
Pale Male, who usually is easy to find on fall afternoons west of the Met or around the Great Lawn has been hard to find this year. I wonder if the continued construction on the museum has him hunting in other places this year.
On Sunday, there were three Wood Ducks and and immature Double-Crested Cormorant on Turtle Pond. The Wood Ducks tried to take a nap, but got frightened by some cheers for NYC Marathon runners and left the pond.
Sparrow Rock on Sunday
Some fun birds while hanging around to see if the Eastern Bluebirds would reappear (which they didn’t). A Blue-headed Vireo, two Palm Warblers, a House Wren and a Brown Creeper.
Late Fall Has Arrived
Many birding guides for New York divide the fall migration into two parts, early and late fall. Late fall seems to be upon us, as the counties to the north and west of us had frosts and snow this weekend.
Warblers and early migrants are giving way to various sparrows, thrushes, woodpeckers, wrens and kinglets. Its a fun time to be in the park, enjoying the birds and watching the trees change color.
Fall is also a time to watch Pale Male and Lola on the Beresford Apartments. They’re regulars in the middle to late afternoons.
