Central Park Birds

NY Trip Day One:

A little too busy before the trip, I didn't have time to research....we headed to the Ramble, which runs from about 72nd to 80th Street in the center of the park. Here are the [boring everyday NY] birds (according to my mom) we found:

We started with three Red-tailed Hawks. These are the first two - the third was perched closely in a Spruce. 

When we got back to the house, we were looking at the photos and learning about Pale Male...long story short looks like we had an authentic sighting of this very famous NY Red-tail and his current mate Ginger. Hadn't been a goal, and it didn't occur to me while we watched the pair, but some anecdotal evidence suggests that's who we saw. FUN.

A Male Cardinal

and a female. I've always enjoyed the female more.

White-throated Sparrow. There's been one visiting Colorado, at the Red Rocks Trading Post. I was so excited to see this one - after a few moments though, we realized 

they're as common as House Sparrows in NY.

Tufted Titmouse. :)

Very Exciting Red-bellied Woodpecker [tongue searching for insects.]

(Another "boring NY bird" according to my mom..."Oh we get those in our backyard all the time.")

Male. I think we saw about 6 of them in the space of an hour.

White-breasted Nuthatch...tamer, friendlier and less likely to hide in the shade

than their Colorado counterpart.

Blue Jay.

and Grubby NY Squirrel.

Also viewed today: Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Mallard, American Robin, Mourning Dove, Rock Pigeon, (SHOCKING I know) House Sparrow, Downy Woodpecker, Black-capped Chickadee and American Goldfinch.