[nysbirds-l] Varied Thrush etc. Central Park, NYC 2/18
Friday, 18 February 2011 - Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City The VARIED THRUSH is, as it has been for at least 2 weeks or more, wandering widely beyond the area where it had first been discovered - one of the several alternate areas it has taken to visiting is only about 1/4 mile (as the thrush flies) from the maintenance field & men's restroom location (which is a bit west of the East Drive of the park and immediately south of the E/ 79th Street transverse) - & is perhaps 10 minutes walk or less from that "original" area, at the Delacorte Theatre & surroundings, including the extreme SW corner of the Great Lawn and the dock at Turtle Pond's NW edge, in view of Belvedere Castle. The thrush has on some occasions cast it's lot, feeding with or near, flocks of American Robins, although the thrush is also very much independent of many other birds and definitely seems to chart its own daily course & behaviors, rather than strictly following any given flock. That said however, it does tend to appear at times with other wintering songbirds also in its general vicinity - and it certainly knows when a diurnal raptor is on the hunt. The thrush was in (this morning) at least 3 locations, and was also seen moving about, first at Cedar Hill's upper slope in amongst the conifers and then shortly after, by about 7:20am, at the "usual" area just east of the men's restroom at the Ramble's maintenance building, and then also (briefly) in the brush about ~30 yards west of there, as well as flying by and possibly farther to the west, along and well above the 79 Street transverse road. A modest flock of American Robins which have been somewhat regular in the lawn & vicinity of Winterdale Arch (and just west of the bridle path, east of the park's West Drive) were looked at, as that other thrush might occasionally join the robins feeding but it was not noted by me in that location today. I hope that some of the several other birders out seeking the thrush were able to see it this morning - it clearly moves around quite a bit and patience is often needed to have it come in to the one location where most birders have sought it out. Also in the vicinity of the transverse, on both sides (north & south) were male Eastern Towhee and a few "red" Fox Sparrows, along with more usual species. The Varied Thrush is in brighter plumage and it may attain a bit more color in coming weeks, assuming it stays. It also has been giving calls, especially very early as well as towards dusk. The 1st-year Red-headed Woodpecker has remained in the same general area where it was discovered and can be tricky at times while for some it appears immediately - it is basically staying in the trees adjacent to the 66 Street transverse road, not far west of the "East" Drive of the park, although it's actual location is roughly half-way between the east & west outer perimeter walls of the park entire... the Carousel (merry-go-round) is a somewhat prominent landmark that is just east and/or south of the areas this woodpecker has been frequenting. It will at times spend many hours in one very particular spot, even on one tree limb, and can thus be undetected if seekers are not searching a relatively wide (150+ yards) circle in the area. The woodpecker has been seen to the south of the south, mainly almost southeast portion of Sheep Meadow, mostly closer to the transverse road, and also has spent much (increasing?) time on the south side of the transverse, near or to the west (and sometimes quite well west) of the Carousel. It is showing a very modest amount of red on its head but is still mainly a "gray-headed" Red-headed. It also will occasionally chase after Red-bellied Woodpeckers in that area, as well as after European Starlings, Blue Jays and various other species near it. Among other birds noted this Friday morning with a lot of the snow (but still not all) melting & ice finally thinning on all of the water- bodies, were the 2 lingering drake Wood Ducks on the Pond, and nice to see that the reservoir is beginning to open, with enough room in the (still relatively small at 9 a.m.) amount of open water there for: at least 3 Hooded Mergansers, 30+ Northern Shovelers, 25+ Buffleheads, 14+ Gadwall, a fair number of Mallards & a few apparent American Black Ducks with 90+ Canada Geese scattered thru open water & icy portions, as were the (still increasing at the early hour) many hundreds (800+) of gulls, all appearing to be of the 3 most regularly-seen winter species (or at any time in Central): Ring-billed, American Herring, and Great Black-backed Gulls. At least one (dead) gull kill was evident and the wounds suggestive of a Peregrine attack. In other raptors actually seen in the park this morning, at least 2 different accipiters, one an adult male Cooper's and one possibly a female Sharp- shinned with less bold
[nysbirds-l] Varied Thrush etc. Central Park, NYC 2/18
Friday, 18 February 2011 - Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City The VARIED THRUSH is, as it has been for at least 2 weeks or more, wandering widely beyond the area where it had first been discovered - one of the several alternate areas it has taken to visiting is only about 1/4 mile (as the thrush flies) from the maintenance field men's restroom location (which is a bit west of the East Drive of the park and immediately south of the E/ 79th Street transverse) - is perhaps 10 minutes walk or less from that original area, at the Delacorte Theatre surroundings, including the extreme SW corner of the Great Lawn and the dock at Turtle Pond's NW edge, in view of Belvedere Castle. The thrush has on some occasions cast it's lot, feeding with or near, flocks of American Robins, although the thrush is also very much independent of many other birds and definitely seems to chart its own daily course behaviors, rather than strictly following any given flock. That said however, it does tend to appear at times with other wintering songbirds also in its general vicinity - and it certainly knows when a diurnal raptor is on the hunt. The thrush was in (this morning) at least 3 locations, and was also seen moving about, first at Cedar Hill's upper slope in amongst the conifers and then shortly after, by about 7:20am, at the usual area just east of the men's restroom at the Ramble's maintenance building, and then also (briefly) in the brush about ~30 yards west of there, as well as flying by and possibly farther to the west, along and well above the 79 Street transverse road. A modest flock of American Robins which have been somewhat regular in the lawn vicinity of Winterdale Arch (and just west of the bridle path, east of the park's West Drive) were looked at, as that other thrush might occasionally join the robins feeding but it was not noted by me in that location today. I hope that some of the several other birders out seeking the thrush were able to see it this morning - it clearly moves around quite a bit and patience is often needed to have it come in to the one location where most birders have sought it out. Also in the vicinity of the transverse, on both sides (north south) were male Eastern Towhee and a few red Fox Sparrows, along with more usual species. The Varied Thrush is in brighter plumage and it may attain a bit more color in coming weeks, assuming it stays. It also has been giving calls, especially very early as well as towards dusk. The 1st-year Red-headed Woodpecker has remained in the same general area where it was discovered and can be tricky at times while for some it appears immediately - it is basically staying in the trees adjacent to the 66 Street transverse road, not far west of the East Drive of the park, although it's actual location is roughly half-way between the east west outer perimeter walls of the park entire... the Carousel (merry-go-round) is a somewhat prominent landmark that is just east and/or south of the areas this woodpecker has been frequenting. It will at times spend many hours in one very particular spot, even on one tree limb, and can thus be undetected if seekers are not searching a relatively wide (150+ yards) circle in the area. The woodpecker has been seen to the south of the south, mainly almost southeast portion of Sheep Meadow, mostly closer to the transverse road, and also has spent much (increasing?) time on the south side of the transverse, near or to the west (and sometimes quite well west) of the Carousel. It is showing a very modest amount of red on its head but is still mainly a gray-headed Red-headed. It also will occasionally chase after Red-bellied Woodpeckers in that area, as well as after European Starlings, Blue Jays and various other species near it. Among other birds noted this Friday morning with a lot of the snow (but still not all) melting ice finally thinning on all of the water- bodies, were the 2 lingering drake Wood Ducks on the Pond, and nice to see that the reservoir is beginning to open, with enough room in the (still relatively small at 9 a.m.) amount of open water there for: at least 3 Hooded Mergansers, 30+ Northern Shovelers, 25+ Buffleheads, 14+ Gadwall, a fair number of Mallards a few apparent American Black Ducks with 90+ Canada Geese scattered thru open water icy portions, as were the (still increasing at the early hour) many hundreds (800+) of gulls, all appearing to be of the 3 most regularly-seen winter species (or at any time in Central): Ring-billed, American Herring, and Great Black-backed Gulls. At least one (dead) gull kill was evident and the wounds suggestive of a Peregrine attack. In other raptors actually seen in the park this morning, at least 2 different accipiters, one an adult male Cooper's and one possibly a female Sharp- shinned with less bold coloration, were about south
