Other Birds

Daylight Saving Time

Over the past two weeks, I’ve been unable to make it into the park after work before it gets dark, and certainly won’t be able to now that we’re on standard time.  So, I wanted everyone to know that this blog is only going to have weekend updates until late winter.

Other than it getting dark so early, late fall is an interesting time in the park.  The fall migration is ending, but there are still plenty of things to discover including interesting waterfowl and raptors.

A pair of swans are on the Lake, lots of uncommon Central Park birds are on the Reservoir including a Pied-billed Grebe, Wood Duck, Ring-necked Duck and Hooded Mergansers.  Raptors continue to migrate south over the park with sightings of Osprey, Cooper’s Hawks, Eagles and Turkey Vultures.

The leaves have turned to wonderful colors over the past few weeks.  If you have a chance, take a walk in the park before it’s too late.

Below are pictures of a Pied-billed Grebe from Saturday on the Reservoir.

Pied-billed Grebe
Pied-billed Grebe
Pied-billed Grebe
927 5th Avenue Red-tailed Hawks

Lola and Pale Male on Sunday

Lola and Pale Male were both in a tree on the east side of the Great Lawn when I arrived in the afternoon.

Lola
Lola
Pale Male then flew to a tree on the west side of the Great Lawn, leaving a small snack for Lola.  Soon she flew over to join him.  They stayed in the tree for about an hour.
Near dusk they both flew north.  Pale Male stopped in a tree in the west Pinetum.
He was harassed by a number of birds and moved to another tree…
…with a view of the Reservoir and the Police Station.
Other Birds

Blue Grosbeak “Whiskers”

The Blue Grosbeak I photographed on Sunday, had a set of “whiskers” over the inner portion of its beak.  My first guess was that the function of these “whiskers” was that they help the bird position seeds in its beak while husking them.

I’ve done a number of searches on the Internet, to try and learn the scientific name and purpose of these “whiskers” without finding any information.  If you know of a source of information about this anatomical feature, please leave a comment.

Blue Grosbeak Rictal Bristles