Mary Beth Kopper found a Long-tailed Duck on the Central Park Reservoir on Saturday. A bird common in New York harbor, is very rarely seen in Central Park. The female slept most of the time it was on the reservoir before becoming active later in the day.
On Wednesday, thanks to a report from Deborra Mullins, I had my first warbler of the season, a Pine Warbler. Eastern Phoebes are also being reporting in Central Park. After a quiet winter, spring migration is very welcome.
There wasn’t much excitement this afternoon. Just the usual pre-brooding stuff. A copulation, some nest rearranging to make sure it is “just right”, and then lots of hanging around close to the nest. Bring on the eggs.
An American Woodcock was out in the open south of the Maintenance Field parking lot this morning. However it got spooked and flew west. It decided to stay the whole afternoon perfectly still. I came back at dusk and once it was dark it finally moved.
I stayed and listened for bats, and had two Big Brown Bats in clear view flying at times a few feet from me. I got some nice recordings. On my way out, I was able to record two more Big Brown Bates on Cedar Hill, and possible got two recordings of a Silver-haired Bat. I don’t usually listen for bats this early and thought I might be lucky with the warm weather and see an Eastern Red Bad, which I didn’t end up seeing or hearing.
I’m starting to receive Red-tailed Hawk nest reports from around Manhattan. Fort Washington and Tompkins Square Park have brooding hawks and there are reports of a nest being built on Governor’s Island. A pair of hawks has been seen copulating at 34th and 2nd Avenue, but the nest has not yet been located. Drop me an email or comment on Facebook if you have updated news on any Manhattan nest.
I got to see some nest renovations on Saturday and discover a few more perches, including a water tank on 96th Street. I expect to see them start brooding any day now.
