What’s a commercial bred of duck doing in Central Park?  For years there have been Pekin /Mallard duck hybrids up by the Pool, who always fool first year birders who try to find them in their guides.  But on Sunday, I saw a new pure bred farm duck in the fenced in area south of Turtle Pond.

Is this duck an escapee from a slaughter house or an Easter chick who grew too big for a household?

I got into the park on a sunny, warm Spring evening.  The park was full of birders.  I was able to photograph a Whip-poor-will and a Hooded Warbler.  The Whip-poor-will was a new bird for my Central Park list.

I spent an hour doing some “normal birding” while the spring migrants were still in the park.  I got this shot of a Belted Kingfisher.

An Orange-crowned Warbler has been in Central Park near Belvedere Castle.  The light was making it difficult to photograph the bird, but I got to add a new bird to my Central Park bird list. As often happens when lots of birders gather, two hard to find birds were also spotted while we waited for the Orange-crowned Warbler, a Blue-headed Vireo and Blue-gray Gnatcatcher.

A male Ring-necked Pheasant was reported by Starr Saphir and Lenore Swenson on Wednesday.  It was been staying in the area between Hernshead and Balcony Bridge, along the Lake.  It was still there on Saturday.  A new bird for my Central Park List.