Date: 10/31/24 4:23 pm From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Thu. Oct. 31, 2024: Great Horned Owl, Cedar Waxwing Flock, Clay-colored Sparrow
Central Park NYC
Thursday October 31, 2024
OBS: Robert DeCandido, PhD, Deborah Allen, m.ob.
Highlights: Wood Duck, Great Blue Heron, Great Horned Owl, Cedar Waxwing (flock of 100+) Clay-colored Sparrow.
Wood Duck - 2 males Turtle Pond
Northern Shoveler - 5
Gadwall - 3
Mallard - around 60
Mourning Dove - 30-40
Herring Gull - 4 or 5 flyovers
Great Blue Heron - 1 Turtle Pone
Cooper's Hawk - 2 (immature Sparrow Rock, adult Turtle Pond)
Red-tailed Hawk - 4
Great Horned Owl - 1 Sparrow Rock, later at about 83rd St. west of Great Lawn (refind Caren Jahre)*
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 2 or 3
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - 2 (Pinetum, the Point)
Eastern Phoebe - 3 or 4
Blue Jay - 8-10
American Crow - flyover flock of 6
Common Raven - 1 over 5th Avenue and 72nd Street heading south (Deb - early)
Black-capped Chickadee - 5 or 6
Tufted Titmouse - 9 or 10
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 3
Cedar Waxwing - flock of 100-120
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 2 Pinetum
White-breasted Nuthatch - 3
Winter Wren - 1 Ramble
Gray Catbird - 1 Shakespeare Garden
Hermit Thrush - 30-35
American Robin - 15-20
Chipping Sparrow - 10-12
Clay-colored Sparrow - 1 Pinetum
Fox Sparrow - 1 on lawn northeast of Turtle Pond
Dark-eyed Junco - 6-8
White-throated Sparrow - 30-40
Song Sparrow - 8-10
Brown-headed Cowbird - 7 (6 males, 1 female)
Common Grackle - flyover flock of 40
Palm Warbler - 2 "Yellow" Pinetum
Pine Warbler - 1 Pinetum
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 5
Northern Cardinal 7 or 8
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*the Great Horned Owl was spotted by visiting British birders in our group as it was being harassed by three Red-tailed Hawks. We lost sight of the bird, but it was seen again later by many observers.
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Based on reports from banding stations north of us, it's possible that we may have an irruption of Boreal Owls this year. Look Saw-whets over carefully when they turn up. I haven't seen the following reported on this list: last Tuesday, Oct. 29th, a Saw-whet Owl was found by New Jersey birder Rich Krakowski at Gapstow Bridge and subsequently seen and photographed by many.
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Happy Halloween,
Deb Allen
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