Birding the Bronx - Van Courtlandt Bird Walk

Can you find the American Black Ducks?

On Saturday, our group met at the Van Courtlandt Park Nature Center across from the parade grounds and began our walk navigating the snow filled trails.  It has not been easy going on our last few walks, especially with our older members and I want to remind those attending, to please wear good winter gear as the trails are snowed in and not very easy to manage.  Despite the snow, we had a good time outdoors.  Van Courtlandt Lake was pretty frozen over save for small sections and in these areas we picked up our usual waterfowl. This time around everyone got to see the American Coot as I picked it up hunkered down amidst a flock of Canada Geese.  Having the scope was very useful as trying to pick up the bird with binoculars proved difficult for almost everyone who tried that approach.  Other notables included Rusty Blackbirds and a Belted Kingfisher.



Location:     Van Courtlandt Park Bronx NY 10471
Observation date:     1/15/11
Number of species:     30

Canada Goose - Branta canadensis     21
Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos     8
American Coot - Fulica americana     1
Ring-billed Gull - Larus delawarensis     5
Herring Gull - Larus argentatus     3
Rock Pigeon - Columba livia     12
Mourning Dove - Zenaida macroura     3
Belted Kingfisher - Megaceryle alcyon     1
Red-bellied Woodpecker - Melanerpes carolinus     1
Downy Woodpecker - Picoides pubescens     2
Hairy Woodpecker - Picoides villosus     1
Blue Jay - Cyanocitta cristata     4
American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos     2
Black-capped Chickadee - Poecile atricapillus     4
Tufted Titmouse - Baeolophus bicolor     6
White-breasted Nuthatch - Sitta carolinensis     2
Carolina Wren - Thryothorus ludovicianus     2
American Robin - Turdus migratorius     2
Northern Mockingbird - Mimus polyglottos     1
European Starling - Sturnus vulgaris     9
American Tree Sparrow - Spizella arborea     4
Song Sparrow - Melospiza melodia     2
White-throated Sparrow - Zonotrichia albicollis     9
Northern Cardinal - Cardinalis cardinalis     6
Red-winged Blackbird - Agelaius phoeniceus     15
Rusty Blackbird - Euphagus carolinus     4
Common Grackle - Quiscalus quiscula     6
Brown-headed Cowbird - Molothrus ater     32
American Goldfinch - Spinus tristis     4
House Sparrow - Passer domesticus     9

Tags: Birding, Rusty Blackbird, Van Courtlandt Park Bird Walk

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