Jewelweed Blooms, Hummingbirds Arrive

The temperature is getting a little crisper in the morning, the days are getting shorter and the Jewelweed is in full bloom in Strawberry Fields.  It must be close to Labor Day.

Jewelweed consistantly attracts two birds in the park, Ruby-throated Hummingbird while the flowers are in bloom and when there are seed pods, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks.

Today, right on schedule a Ruby-throated Hummingbird came in to drink the nectar of the Jewelweed flowers.  For the next few weeks, anyone wanting to see a Central Park Hummingbird, just needs to find the Jewelweed on the south central edge of Strawberry Field lawn and wait for a Hummingbird.  They usually have a route they repeat every twenty minutes in the early evening, so with a little patience you’re bound to see one.

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Black Skimmers

Black Skimmers have been fishing Central Park’s Model Boat Pond in the evenings this week.  Tonight there were two briefly, but only one worked the pond at a time. These birds are fascinating to watch as they gracefully skim the pond with their beaks, flying at a steady height and pace, as they slowly beat their long broad wings. 

Since they arrive after dark, the park has usually cooled off by the time they arrive.  Sure beats birdwatching in the summer sun.

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Northern California Coast

I’ve been on vacation for the last week, spending time in Northern California.  My sister and brother-in-law rented a house about 15 miles north of Mendocino for the first part of the trip.  The house had views up and down the Pacific coast and had a large Cormorant rookery on a large rock out in the ocean in front of the house.

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Falconer’s Hill

Falconer’s Hill which is about a block west of Central Park West at 71st Street had a wonderful male Dickcissel and a number of White-crowned Sparrows on Saturday.

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Dickcissel
White-crowned Sparrow
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White-crowned Sparrow