Bird watching in New York - Day one
I will look for birds in Central Park. I have consulted Central Park Conservancy web page “ Popular Places for Birding in Central Park
” They list 4 birding spots in Central Park.
1) North Woods - Also an eBird hotspot: Central Park--North Woods
2) The Ramble - Also an eBird hotspot: Central Park--The Ramble
3) Hallett Nature Sanctuary
4) The Pond
Hallett Nature Sanctuary and The Pond is one eBird hotspot: Central Park--The Pond and Hallett Sanctuary
I count to a total of 55 eBird hot spots in Central Park, totally crazy. At least I cannot keep track on where I am so I will use the eBird hot spot “Central Park”
If I start at The Pond I will change to “Central Park” when I am ready at The Pond
Saturday 6 th
of May 2023
and I left my room at 9 o'clock and I booked a car with my Lyft app. I put the destination “Lombard Lamp” in the SE corner of the Central Park. And I will start at the pond, eBird hotspot: Central Park--The Pond and Hallett Sanctuary
I got out of the car and I started the eBird app at 09:39 and I entered the Central Park for the first time in my life. I have walked past the park many times in the past, but I had never entered as back then I only had interests in finding a good bar.
Lombard Lamp
The Lombard Lamp, located at the southeast corner of Central Park, is a replica of one of the ornate streetlights lining the famous Lombard Bridge in Hamburg, Germany.
Designed by Hamburg sculptor Carl Borner, the Lombard Lamp has an elaborately decorated base adorned with cherubs and garlands. The cast-iron lamppost, though hollow, weighs 1,320 pounds and supports the lamp, which consists of five globes.
The lamp was presented to the park in 1979 as a symbol of friendship and goodwill between New York City and Hamburg. Another replica was also gifted to Chicago. The lamp illuminates a staircase that leads to the Pond.
From https://www.centralparknyc.org/locations/lombard-lamp
Enter Central Park at the Lombard Lamp
Enter Central Park at the Lombard Lamp
The pond
The pond
Turtles in the pond
The pond
The pond
I walk around the pond and I only see American Robins, Starlings and House Sparrows. And of course, Feral Pigeons. So, I was not very excited walking around and when I was at the bridge crossing the over the pond, I turned off the path to go down to check out the reeds.
A bit of wetlands and I could see birds bathing so I wasHopeful to get to see something exciting. House Sparrows and American Robins is what I saw, well, one Mourning Dove.
But when I left, I spotted a bird that I had never seen before, the Northern Waterthrush. I got a few pictures and I used the Merlin app to ID the bird. My first LIFER in New York. Now things started to get excited!
Northern Waterthrush
Common Grackle
Mourning Dove
The bridge over the pond
I cross the bridge and the plan is to walk back to where I had entered the park to complete the circle around the pond. Then I will turn around to walk back up north to explore the areas above the pond. I turn around and I walk back towards the bridge when I pass a couple of House Sparrows sand bathing.
They were not scared and I approached the birds and I had my video camera ready.
Dust bathing
Dust bathing (also called sand bathing) is an animal behaviour characterized by rolling or moving around in dust, dry earth or sand, with the likely purpose of removing parasites from fur, feathers or skin.
Dust bathing is a maintenance behaviour performed by a wide range of mammalian and avian species. For some animals, dust baths are necessary to maintain healthy feathers, skin, or fur, similar to bathing in water or wallowing in mud. In some mammals, dust bathing may be a way of transmitting chemical signals (or pheromones) to the ground which marks an individual's territory.
I continue and when I am back at the bridge, I see one Grey Catbird siting in a bush singing, or some kind of sub song. There is one guy playing the saxophone so we can hear him as well as the bird. I was grateful when he stopped playing and I could get the bird sound only.
I got a little bit of recording before the bird left and I was happy. I left a little of the saxophone in the recording to keep as a memory.
Listen to the Grey Catbird
Remarks from the Recordist
Recorded with my ZOOM H5 Handy recorder and High Pass Filter applied with Audacity
Sitting in a bush and I thought that the instrument player would never stop playing
I continue north and the last picture I take is of an American Robin sitting in a tree. There had been a lot less bird action around the pond than what I had expected when I got out of the car this morning.
American Robin
I reach the tennis courts
eBird Report
Central Park--The Pond and Hallett Sanctuary, New York, New York, US
May 6, 2023 09:39 - 10:46
Protocol: Traveling
1.63 kilometer(s)
11 species
Canada Goose 1
Mallard 5
Feral Pigeon 5
Mourning Dove 2
Common Starling 5
Grey Catbird 2
American Robin 9
House Sparrow 18 Collecting nest material
Red-winged Blackbird 1
Common Grackle 5
Northern Waterthrush 2 ID possible thanks to the Merlin app
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S136285114
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
Today's track at the pond - Central Park
I turn off my eBird app when I reach the tennis courts, they were playing tennis, but I think it is an ice rink during the winter. I change the hotspot to: Central Park--SE from 65th St. transv.-Center Dr.
I walked for about 10 minutes and there were no birds to be seen. After 10 minutes it is time to switch eBird hotspot again
eBird Report
Central Park--SE from 65th St. transv.-Center Dr., New York, New York, US
May 6, 2023 10:46 - 10:57
Protocol: Traveling
0.28 kilometer(s)
3 species
Common Starling 1
American Robin 4
House Sparrow 2
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S136287171
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
Today's track SE from 65th St. transv.-Center Dr. - Central Park
Reaching the road and time to change hotspot to Sheep Meadow
I cross a road and I change eBird app to the hotspot: Central Park--Sheep Meadow
and I walk along a huge lawn, disappointing as I had expected a meadow. And the birds, starlings and robins. Of course, House Sparrows and pigeons.
House Sparrow
House Sparrow
House Sparrow
eBird Report
Central Park--Sheep Meadow, New York, New York, US
May 6, 2023 10:57 - 11:14
Protocol: Traveling
0.54 kilometer(s)
4 species
Feral Pigeon 5
Common Starling 17
American Robin 9 Three birds looks to fight
House Sparrow 6 Collecting nest material
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S136290690
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
Today's track at Central Park--Sheep Meadow
And honestly, I was not very happy, switching eBird spots every 10 minutes and there were not any exciting birds. So, when I reached the Cherry Hill Fountain, I changed eBird hotspot to Central Park--The Ramble
This is ridiculous, to change eBird hotspot all the time and from now on I will concentrate on the birds and not to look where I am all the time.
Cherry Hill Fountain
At the top of the Cherry Hill, visitors will find Cherry Hill Fountain, designed by Jacob Wrey Mould as a drinking fountain for horses. It forms the centerpiece of an open plaza connected to the 72nd Street Drive that served as a place for carriage riders to rest, water their horses, and take in views of the [Lake].
The concourse is still a popular resting point and viewing spot for Park visitors.
From https://www.centralparknyc.org/locations/cherry-hill
I walked down to the bridge over The Lake
and I ran in to a stall selling water and snacks and I bought a bottle of water and two sweets that I enjoyed on the bench. I could see one bird of prey flying from a building and I used my Merlin app and it came up as a Red-tailed Hawk.
Red-tailed Hawk
Blue Jay
Canada Goose sitting on nest
I left the bench crossing the bridge and I ran in to a couple from Florida and we were chatting about birding in Florida and as we spoke, we had two Blue Jays in the trees next to us. I continue and now I think I am in the area they call the Ramble and I see some birders looking at something and it turns out to be a Hooded Warbler.
I never get a picture of the birds, but there was one Hermit Thrush coming to say hello. There was one Downy Woodpecker landing in the tree next to me so I was happy.
Grey Catbird
Downy Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Cardinal
Black-and-white Warbler
Listen to the Chimney Swift and the Black and White Warbler
Remarks from the Recordist
Recorded with my ZOOM H5 Handy recorder and High Pass Filter applied with Audacity
The recording starts with the Chimney Swift and we can hear the Black and white warbler at 00:04
Ovenbird
Ovenbird
Ovenbird
eBird Report
Central Park--The Ramble, New York, New York, US
May 6, 2023 11:15 - 13:35
Protocol: Traveling
2.09 kilometer(s)
20 species
Canada Goose 2 Sitting on nest
Mallard 1
Feral Pigeon 5
Mourning Dove 1
Chimney Swift 1 Heard only. With my recording of the Black and white warbler
Double-crested Cormorant 2
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Blue Jay 1
Common Starling 2
Grey Catbird 1
Hermit Thrush 1
American Robin 13
House Sparrow 15 Collect nest material
Red-winged Blackbird 1
Common Grackle 2
Ovenbird 1
Black-and-white Warbler 2
Hooded Warbler 1
Northern Cardinal 4
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S136318074
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
Today's track at the Ramble--Sheep Meadow
I had to ask for directions to find my way out of the park and I booked a car on my Lyft app. Going back to the hotel and I asked the driver to drop me on the 8th Avenue and I would walk down 39th St. I was going for lunch at the Japanese restaurant again.
I needed to buy a MAX as they did not have it at the restaurant. Yesterday and they confirmed that they had avocado and I told them that I would be back today for avocado and salmon sushi.
Today they told me that they could not make avocado and salmon sushi because it would be a different price.
- Just change the price, I suggested
This was impossible and I left for my room where I had tea and ham for lunch. I will go back to Central Park tomorrow and you can click HERE
to find out if there are any excitements.
eBird Trip Report
Since April 2023 eBird offer a new feature, to create Trip Reports. At least this is when I first heard of this feature and I have decided to make the eBird Trip Reports instead of my list of OBSERVED birds.
And of course, this also means that I will HAVE TO go back and do the same for my old birding adventures, WHEN I HAVE THE TIME!
Today's Trip Report: Birding in New York - Day 1 | Click HERE
Download | PDF
Lifers
Icons for lifers used in the eBird trip reports
Species lifer:First time that someone observes a species in their life
Photo lifer:First time that someone photographs a species in their life
Audio lifer:First time that someone audio records a species in their life
Exotic species
Exotic species flags differentiate locally introduced species from native species.
Naturalized:Exotic population is self-sustaining, breeding in the wild, persisting for many years, and not maintained through ongoing releases (including vagrants from Naturalized populations). These count in official eBird totals and, where applicable, have been accepted by regional bird records committee(s).
Provisional:Either: 1)member of exotic population that is breeding in the wild, self-propagating, and has persisted for multiple years, but not yet Naturalized; 2)rarity of uncertain provenance, with natural vagrancy or captive provenance both considered plausible.
When applicable, eBird generally defers to bird records committees for records formally considered to be of "uncertain provenance". Provisional species count in official eBird totals.
Escapee:Exotic species known or suspected to be escaped or released, including those that have
bred but don't yet fulfill the criteria for Provisional. Escapee exotics do not count in official eBird totals.