Catching up: Woodcocks in the Ramble; Spring closing in on Van Cortlandt Park

Sorry for the silence. Saturday, Elena and I went to Central Park. There were two American Woodcocks in the Ramble, just northeast of Azalea Pond. One of them gave us a pretty good look. The Pine Warbler is also still around; I saw it bathing in the Gill just north of Azalea Pond, along with the American Tree Sparrow and a Cedar Waxwing. And the Baltimore Orioles are still at the Evodia feeders.

Sunday we went to the Bronx to visit my aunt who's rehabbing after a hip replacement, and we spent an hour in the southwest part of Van Cortlandt Park. Spring is coming--there were red-Winged Blackbirds calling all over the place, especially in the little freshwater marsh south of the Van Cortlandt mansion. There were also several Titmouse (Titmice? Titmousim?) and Chickadees. Van Cortlandt is the only place either of us has seen Titmouse since last Spring. There was still a lot of snow and ice in the park, and the path south of the Parade Ground was completely flooded in spots (and bordered by very slick ice). I can see why the city wants the Central park conservancy to share some of its resources--Van Cortlandt could really use some help.

Van Cortlandt Park: Rusty Blackbirds and Tufted Titmouses

Friday, I closed out January by going to Central Park in the morning (and failing to find the Pine Siskin reported the previous day) and then up to the Bronx for a stroll through the southwest part of Van Cortlandt Park before visiting my aunts.

The highlight was a flock of 35 to 40 Rusty Blackbirds, foraging on the grass between the marsh area north of the soccer field and the nature center at the south end of the Parade Ground. It was a lovely sight. I've never seen so many Rustys at once.

Just east of the Parade Ground, I saw a few Tufted Titmouses (Titmice? Titmousim?), my first of the year and in fact my first since last Spring. Charming as always.