Scarlet Tanager
A Scarlet Tanager, a bird usually seen high overhead, was at a reasonable height on the Point at The Lake in Central Park today. It was my first good look at one, although I’ve seen at least twenty in the past few years!
Sunday in the Ramble
After visiting the Riverside nest, I spent a few hours in the Ramble in Central Park. Birds were not abundant, but there some nice discoveries including a Prothonotary Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Black and White Warbler, Northern Waterthrush and Green Heron.
Riverside On Mother’s Day
Last year, Mother’s Day was the day we confirmed the deaths of the three 2008 eyasses. The cause ended up being secondary poisoning by rodenticides. It was on everyone’s mind this Mother’s Day.
This Mother’s Day, we had healthy eyasses and a mother adding greenery to the nest. It must need some freshening up with three babies. It will be interesting to see if she also starts to add a guard rail.
The father flew by a few times while I was there and perched near the nest as I was leaving. The mother was very cooperative and posed for Mother’s Day photos with her young.
Riverside on Saturday
The Riverside eyasses continue to get bigger. The parents continue to do an excellent job feeding them. We should start to see some wing feathers start to grow in soon.
Savannah Sparrow
Along with the Indigo Bunting in the grass on Saturday was a Savannah Sparrow. This is the last of the common Central Park sparrows that has alluded me, so I was happy to finally be able to add it to my Central Park list.
Indigo Bunting
On Saturday, three Indigo Bunting’s were sighted at 79th Street, just west of the East Drive. One Indigo Bunting was very cooperative, spending a great deal of time in the grass with a Savannah Sparrow.
It enjoyed being able to watch the Indigo Bunting eat grass seed. It’s lower mandible (lower half of the bill) is twice as wide as the upper mandible and it can husk grass seed without skipping a beat. It was great to have such a long look at the bird.
