Van Courtlandt Bird Walk Report 3-26-2011...

American Coot

Last Saturday was one of our slowest days since we began the Van Courtlandt bird walk.  After meeting the group we worked the parade grounds, picking up a few Killdeers (Charadrius vociferus) loafing around in the field with American Crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos) lurking nearby.  For a few new attendees, these were life birds and like I always do with someone's life bird, I made sure they took some time out to get good looks.  We then headed around the lake for our walk.  Land birds and waterfowl were scarce and try as I might to search and listen for any early migrants, it did not pan out.  We did pickup Hooded Mergansers (Lophodytes cucullatus), Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) and a pair of Green-winged Teals (Anas crecca) on the lake.  That, coupled with the now familiar sight of the lone American Coot (Fulica americana) were the highlights of our walk.  I did take the group up Vault Hill where we poked around many of the small meadows in the hope for land birds.  We did manage to pick up some birds here and there, but all in all it was very quiet.  It is on days like these that I like to take the time to enjoy our more common species.  We took the time out to enjoy the American Robins (Turdus migratorius) whose numbers were definitely on the rise with well over 60+ in one area of our hike.  Despite the lack of birds, our group remained upbeat enjoying the hike and it was good to see their spirits high.  It is still early, but I am hoping that we see things picking up within the next week or so.  This week the Urban Park Rangers will be leading the walk, but I will be back the following week.  Here is a list of the species seen.

Canada Goose - Branta canadensis
American Black Duck - Anas rubripes
Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos
Green-winged Teal - Anas crecca
Ruddy Duck - Oxyura jamaicensis
Red-tailed Hawk - Buteo jamaicensis
Herring Gull - Larus argentatus
Rock Pigeon - Columba livia
Mourning Dove - Zenaida macroura
Red-bellied Woodpecker - Melanerpes carolinus
Downy Woodpecker - Picoides pubescens
American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos
Black-capped Chickadee - Poecile atricapillus
Tufted Titmouse - Baeolophus bicolor
White-breasted Nuthatch - Sitta carolinensis
Carolina Wren - Thryothorus ludovicianus
American Robin - Turdus migratorius
Northern Mockingbird - Mimus polyglottos
European Starling - Sturnus vulgaris
Song Sparrow - Melospiza melodia
White-throated Sparrow - Zonotrichia albicollis
Dark-eyed Junco - Junco hyemalis
Northern Cardinal - Cardinalis cardinalis
Red-winged Blackbird - Agelaius phoeniceus
Common Grackle - Quiscalus quiscula
Boat-tailed Grackle - Quiscalus major
Brown-headed Cowbird - Molothrus ater
House Finch - Carpodacus mexicanus
American Goldfinch - Spinus tristis
House Sparrow - Passer domesticus

Tags: American Coot, Van Courtlandt Park Bird Walk

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