I spent most of December doing my birding in Central Park without a camera. It was nice to just walk around and observe for a change. But I did do some owl watching over the holidays with a camera. Here are some of a Great Horned Owl pair in NYC.
I’ve been watching the Peregrines on the El Dorado over the last few weeks with my spotting scope. They’re doing well and have adapted to the façade work. I see them most frequently in the late afternoon, after the workers have left for the day.
But it was time to check in on the 86th and West End Pair yesterday. I saw one of them perched for over an hour before it flew off. Locals have been seeing lots of activity from both of them, so I’m not concerned I only saw on of them on my visit.
At least one flock of Cedar Waxwings have been in Central Park this week. They’re such wonderful birds. They have been seen in the fruit trees on either side of the West Drive, in the 70’s through the 90’s.
Small pocket parks in New York City can yield great birds as was the case this week with a Yellow-breasted Chat in Verizon Plaza just west of 3 Bryant Park, between 41st and 42nd and Sixth and Broadway. Chat’s can be hard to find, as they tend to hide in brush, and only come out into view ever so often. However, this bird, in this park during migration was easy to watch. It was a nice treat after the heavy rains we have been having.
A Clay-colored Sparrow was found and reported by Edmund Berry on Sunday afternoon in Central Park’s Pinetum. It was a great find, and was enjoyed by many birders, who ended up discussing the finer points of Spizella pallida identification, with Chipping Sparrows and Field Sparrows nearby.
I found some nice articles online, including this PDF.
I had brief looks at the Belted Kingfisher that was at Turtle Pond on Friday. I love seeing them during migration at Turtle Pond or year-round out on Randalls Island.
