Sunday Birds
The fall migration still has some beauties coming our way, including this Cedar Waxwing, a House Finch and a male Wood Duck.
Fifth Avenue Hawks
Sunday had Lola on both sides of the park, and Pale Male eating a squirrel west of the Great Lawn.
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.
Saturday Hawks
On Saturday, I had a Cooper’s Hawk in the Ramble. It was easy to find because of a group of Blue Jays, and the lack of any birds eating at the feeders!
And of course, the required photographs of Pale Male and Lola, as well.
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.
