Central Park, New York – May 16th 2010

Finally a JFK layover at our Manhattan hotel!
After narrowly evading the ever-spreading ash cloud from the Eyjafjallajökull just west of Iceland by some creative thinking by Chris, we landed on-time on Saturday May 15th. Beer & pork was consumed in copious amounts shortly thereafter on 46th Street with my fellow aviators James, Chris & Al. It was good to be back! And a big thanks to Captain James ‘voice of Sam Elliott’ Whitlock for showing us this great eatery. Let’s do it again James!

A fantastic Sunday was spent walking in Central Park the following Sunday, after waking up confused at the ungodly hour of 03:15 am.
Blue skies once the sun decided to get up, lots of people around but also good number of birds. I walked from 6 -9 am after delivering my old MacBook Pro for repair at Apple 5th Avenue (open 24 hrs/365 days), then from 1-4 pm before picking up my repaired Mac and preparing for the flight back to Dubai.

Two lifers were seen, both self-found: Mourning Warbler (sorry Knut) and Bay-breasted Warbler.
Met Bob and enjoyed a nice chat with him while checking out the warblers flitting about. He is good company.
The park was alive with birders, birdwatchers and dudes. A very different scene from Dubai and the UAE where you would be lucky to bump into another birder.

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Ovenbird, Seiurus aurocapilla aurocapilla

Several Ovenbirds were seen: always a fun bird

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American Redstart, Setophaga ruticilla

American Redstarts were conspicuous and often showing off their flashy tails

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Blue Jay, Cyanocitta cristata bromia

This Blue Jay was feeding on termites in The Ramble

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Mourning Warbler, Oporornis philadelphia

Here seen with lots of termites in the background

Mourning Warbler, Oporornis philadelphia

Mourning Warbler, Oporornis philadelphia

Mourning Warbler, Oporornis philadelphia

This AMAZING bird was found behind the Boathouse during my afternoon walk, and the first bird I saw after entering the park!  It had been present since yesterday, and it was pure luck that I found it. It later moved to a termite mound that had thousands of winged termites flying off to the delight of the Grackles, Cowbirds, Thrushes, Warblers and Jays in the area.

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American Robin, Turdus migratorius nigrideus

This good-looking thrush was nesting nearby, and was very happy to feast on the escaping termites.

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Chestnut-sided Warbler, Dendroica pensylvanica

The only male seen

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Chestnut-sided Warbler, Dendroica pensylvanica

Chestnut-sided Warbler, Dendroica pensylvanica

Chestnut-sided Warbler, Dendroica pensylvanica

This stunning female kept watch at the termite mound for over an hour

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Black-throated Blue Warbler, Dendroica caerulescens caerulescens

Very unassuming compared to the flashy male. A termite wing was stuck to her bill

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Grey-cheeked Thrush, Catharus minimus

Grey-cheeked is almost impossible to distinguish from Bicknell’s Thrush, but the song was apparently heard by other birders confirming its identity

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Magnolia Warbler, Dendroica magnolia

The most numerous warbler in the park today

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Swamp Sparrow, Melospiza georgiana georgiana

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Bay-breasted Warbler, Dendroica castanea

A crap photo, but at least it shows my second lifer of today! Found just as I was leaving the park, with hundreds of people milling about

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Whatever happened to old fashioned vaseline?

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16.05.2010 NYC; Central Park (New York, USA)

Atlantic Canada Goose (Branta canadensis canadensis) 2

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos) 6

American Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax hoactli) 1

Feral Pigeon (Columba livia ‘feral’) 50

Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura carolinensis) 4

Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) 1

Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens medianus) 1

Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus olivaceus) 1

Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata bromia) 8

Grey-cheeked Thrush (Catharus minimus) 2

American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 30

American Robin (Turdus migratorius nigrideus) 2

Grey Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) 4

Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris vulgaris) 100

Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) 1

Northern Parula (Parula americana) 3

Chestnut-sided Warbler (Dendroica pensylvanica) 3

Magnolia Warbler (Dendroica magnolia) 4

Black-throated Blue Warbler (Dendroica caerulescens caerulescens) 2

Myrtle Warbler (Dendroica coronata coronata) 2

Blackburnian Warbler (Dendroica fusca) 1

Bay-breasted Warbler (Dendroica castanea) 1

Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) 1

American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) 4

Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla aurocapilla) 3

Mourning Warbler (Oporornis philadelphia) 1

Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas trichas) 3

Canada Warbler (Wilsonia canadensis) 2

Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) 1

Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana georgiana) 1

Eastern Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra rubra) 6

Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis cardinalis) 4

Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus phoeniceus) 1

Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula stonei) 10

Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater ater) 4

Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) 3

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus domesticus) 100