[nysbirds-l] Hudson Yards Winter
As Awkwafina announced on the 7 line PA for one week in January, “Hudson Yards, last stop, hope you like weird architecture,” indeed. Although milder than usual - the winter wind barreling down from The Vessel across the concrete concourse surrounded by on-going construction makes for an exciting commute to and from work. After a drop in temperature in early November, we had a Winter Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Dark-eyed Junco, Fox Sparrow, and Carolina Wren pass through. By mid-November, an Eastern Phoebe, Hermit Thrush, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, and American Woodcock. A Wood Thrush also appeared - first hiding in the turning leaves of a tree by the playground. By early December, with the leaves gone, it had acclimated to the commuters and was hopping on the ground near the 34th Street subway with the sparrows. A pair of Ovenbirds did the same - first weaving among the hedges of the lawn behind the subway canopy, eventually chicken-walking the occupied benches along the pathways like the wintering Yellowthroat at Bryant Park. Unfortunately, none made it to the Christmas Bird Count. However, the Grey Catbirds stayed - up to 5 at a time. I had to continually override eBird’s insistence that more than one was rare. Perhaps it had to do with the isolated islands of over-landscaped gardens between the streets allowing them to stake out territory - although they were always visiting each other as if coming over to sup on runaway human lunches. At Bryant Park, when the concession stands folded and a major winter storm blew through, the winter hearties would usually all depart - but this winter has been mild and they’re sticking around. At least two Grey Catbirds, one or two Swamp Sparrows near the public restrooms, and one of three Easter Towhees - a female, a male, and a dark chocolate variant I believe is also a male - make my weekly bird count. I sense they recognize me as much as I recognize them. Also every week, above it all, around the Bolt Bus depot, a female American Kestrel watches over this sorry winter crew, scaring the living daylights out of the ubiquitous pigeons and starlings. We both wait for spring arrivals. Happy Winter Birding, Alan Drogin -- 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/ --
[nysbirds-l] Hudson Yards Winter
As Awkwafina announced on the 7 line PA for one week in January, “Hudson Yards, last stop, hope you like weird architecture,” indeed. Although milder than usual - the winter wind barreling down from The Vessel across the concrete concourse surrounded by on-going construction makes for an exciting commute to and from work. After a drop in temperature in early November, we had a Winter Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Dark-eyed Junco, Fox Sparrow, and Carolina Wren pass through. By mid-November, an Eastern Phoebe, Hermit Thrush, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, and American Woodcock. A Wood Thrush also appeared - first hiding in the turning leaves of a tree by the playground. By early December, with the leaves gone, it had acclimated to the commuters and was hopping on the ground near the 34th Street subway with the sparrows. A pair of Ovenbirds did the same - first weaving among the hedges of the lawn behind the subway canopy, eventually chicken-walking the occupied benches along the pathways like the wintering Yellowthroat at Bryant Park. Unfortunately, none made it to the Christmas Bird Count. However, the Grey Catbirds stayed - up to 5 at a time. I had to continually override eBird’s insistence that more than one was rare. Perhaps it had to do with the isolated islands of over-landscaped gardens between the streets allowing them to stake out territory - although they were always visiting each other as if coming over to sup on runaway human lunches. At Bryant Park, when the concession stands folded and a major winter storm blew through, the winter hearties would usually all depart - but this winter has been mild and they’re sticking around. At least two Grey Catbirds, one or two Swamp Sparrows near the public restrooms, and one of three Easter Towhees - a female, a male, and a dark chocolate variant I believe is also a male - make my weekly bird count. I sense they recognize me as much as I recognize them. Also every week, above it all, around the Bolt Bus depot, a female American Kestrel watches over this sorry winter crew, scaring the living daylights out of the ubiquitous pigeons and starlings. We both wait for spring arrivals. Happy Winter Birding, Alan Drogin -- 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/ --
