Central Park NYC Sunday, July 16, 2016 OBS: Robert DeCandido, PhD, Deborah Allen, m.ob.
We couldn't relocate yesterday's Yellow-billed or Black-billed Cuckoos. Barn Swallows are doing well at the north end of the Reservoir, with all the young birds fledged. This morning I counted at least 17 Barn Swallows flying around the buildings at the Reservoir's north end. At one point I could see 8 young birds perched on one building and 4 perched on another. The young swallows impressed me with their energy and their ability to keep up with their parents. Last night I had gotten an email from Pat Dubren about an incident at the Reservoir. This morning she sent me photos. Then Junko emailed today. Basically, Junko spotted a Barn Swallow fledgling that had fallen into the water at the Reservoir Saturday (July 15). After swimming a short distance the young bird was sitting on some reeds at water level when it was killed and eaten by a Red-eared Slider. Pat took a series of photos which are not for the faint-of-heart. On a lighter note, this morning Warbling Vireos fledged near the north end of Iphigene's Walk. We got great looks at an adult feeding a fledgling, then Jeff Ward & I watched the fledgling attempt to fly after one of the adults. It fluttered down, and Jeff spotted it on the ground. The young bird hopped up on a low branch, and the adult found it immediately. Here are a few photos from Saturday & Sunday. Warbling Vireo Fledgling (Flying & Perched) near Iphigene’s Walk, Sunday July 16, 2017: https://www.photo.net/photo/18408385 https://www.photo.net/photo/18408376 Black-billed Cuckoo at Azalea Pond, Saturday July 15, 2017: https://www.photo.net/photo/18408402 Waiting for Warblers, Deb Allen -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --