Capping off what has been a wonderful fall birding season for me was a male Evening Grosbeak, found by Terence Zahner. The bird was just south of the Green Bench in the north of Central Park when I arrived. Nice to have a life bird in December!
Located in Central Park’s Ramble, the Evodia Field has the only sanctioned bird feeders in the park. They are supported by great volunteers. Indirectly, they end up feeding one or two Cooper’s Hawks who enjoy the buffet of sparrows and similarly sized birds during the winter. One young Cooper’s Hawk in particular is enjoying the easy pickings this Fall.
The Pond had the Mandarin Duck, who had returned, but also had an unusual visitor for so late in the year, a Juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron. As a birder, the Heron won. As a photographer, the Mandarin Duck won. So, I guess it was a tie.
As the title says, “Juvenile Red-tailed Hawk Eats A Tuffted Titmouse”. Viewer beware. (The video is without audio as there was a middle school class watching the Red-tailed Hawk eat.)
South of Sparrow Rock and across the West Drive there was a flock of at least 45 Cedar Waxwings eating berries this afternoon. The Cedar Waxwing is a beautiful bird and it was great to watch a flock this large.
The male Mandarin Duck continues to be New York City’s most famous escapee. Even the discovery that he spends time in New Jersey hasn’t tarnished his reputation. Lucky for him he doesn’t have to take PATH or NJ Transit!
