Birding Bobs Guided Tour - Central Park - Sunday March 18th 2012 & Afternoon trip to Riverside Park & Hudson River

So the morning after St Paddy's day I am up with gusto at 9am and heading to the Boathouse for Birding Bob's guided tour. Following a relatively eventful birding session the previous weekend I had high hopes. These hopes were soon shattered when I arrived at Central Park and the half marathon had been underway for the last one and a half hours, however although the general bird activity was greatly diminished we did manage to get some good birds over the proceeding three hours. The light was quite poor as the Sun had not as yet had a chance to burn through the clouds.

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

Arriving at the Boathouse there was a similar sized crowd to last week 20-ish. We made our way into the Ramble  and before heading to the bird feeders took a left to some habitat that attracts Snipe, however we had no luck with the Snipe. Arriving at the feeders there were the usual array of House, White-throated and Song Sparrow, with Dark-eyed Junco mixed in the flock feeding on the floor. There were many more Common Grackle than last week and the park was teaming with Blue Jay. We got some great views of Red-bellied and Downy Woodpecker.

We moved on the route up toward Belvedere Castle via the lake, as with last week on the hunt for Pine Warbler, a second week of no luck with this bird. The Belvedere Lake area was quiet with bird life and no sign of Bufflehead which have been regulars recently. I did get some reasonable shots of Mourning Dove in the undergrowth.

Mourning Dove

We continued on from the Castle and meandered through Shakespeare's garden, picked up a new tick for the US a Brown Creeper, the 'americana' version of the 'Certhia' family very similar to the 'familiaris' cousin found in the UK. Unfortunately I was unable to get a shot of this little tree climbing bird. Just along the way from the Brown Creeper another new tick for me in the US quickly appeared with 6 Golden-crowned Kinglets in the Pine Trees. Got some good views in the bins but no chance of a photo with these 'flitty' little birds - same family members as the Crests found in Europe.

American Coot

Arriving at the reservoir we found 100+ Northern Shoveler, 50 + Ruddy Duck and a male and female Bufflehead. Another tick for me in the US with a pair of Pied-billed Grebe associated with some good views close to the waterside. Managed to get some good snaps of American Coot, easily distinguished from their UK counterparts with the small red knob. The Gull presence was much lower this week in the centre of the water, Great Black-backed, Ring Billed and Herring Gull present.

Blue Jay

At this point I left the group choosing to attempt to get a good snap of Blue Jay. Although very common as yet have not managed to get a great one. Looking at the attached I still have someway to go although it does capture the essence of the awesome plumage of the wing feathers.

On the walk back through the park I was very lucky to pick up a Great Egret flying into the lake at Belvedere and got some good views, too far for the camera lens though. I also picked up a female Northern Mockingbird on the outskirts of the Ramble.

I headed home for a well earned lunch and to pick up some new bins as the prisms had finally gone in the pair I have had for the last 8 years, my birding companions have been all around the world with me in that time (RIP).

Obviously excited having picked up the new bins I went out on a short excursion to Riverside Park on the Hudson River (the second patch near me in Manhattan). The sun was now beaming in the sky and Manhattan felt like summer - bad news for me as the Hudson Waterfront was extremely busy with walkers, runners, sunbathers and readers. However not to be deterred I stuck to the plan and I am glad I did.

Within my hour excursion I saw 2 x American Black Duck, a first for me in the state of NY having seen them in on a trip to Cape Cod last year. I also saw 6 x Gadwall (3 of each sex) another tick for the US, I haven't seen a Gadwall for a long time and had completely forgotten what a good looking bird the male duck is. Given the amount of human activity there was little else around with the exception of lazy Ring-billed Gulls relaxing on the wooden posts in the river getting sun drenched so I retreated onto 10th Avenue for the return walk home.

Another good little days birding - see you again in my next post.