Van Cortlandt Bird Walk Report 3-24-2012...

Our group gathered at the nature center for our Saturday morning walk at Van Cortlandt Park. I on the other hand was scouting the restoration meadows close by; I was looking for spring arrivals for our group and had in mind that it was a good day for an Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe). I heard the bird first then spotted an Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe), on the steps behind the Van Cortlandt Museum. I called one of our regulars, Frank Donovan, and had him bring the group over to where I was. However, by the time they arrived, the Phoebe had moved; though its occasional calls betrayed its presence in the area. With a little work, I was able to get a few people on the bird, but the looks were not great as it kept moving around. During our wait for the Phoebe to show itself well, we picked up a few passerines.  None, though were new spring arrivals.

Our walk around the lake was not a bird filled one and we had to work hard to pad our day list with the species that were around. Nevertheless, we had a good time and it was fun getting lifers for new people out on the walk for the first time. A hike into the North Forest did not pay dividends with American Woodcock or Wilson's Snipe as I had hoped for, but we did get great looks at Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura), Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus), Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) and Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus). The latter put on quite the show for us on our way back to the nature center. We ended our walk doing a little archery practice with the Urban Park Rangers. It was a tough day of birding, with nothing much around. Hopefully within the coming weeks we will begin to pick up more migrants as they move in to the area. Here is a list of birds seen.

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus)
Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia)
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens)
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)
House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus)
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis)
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)
Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus)
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)