Excellent birding day at NYBG. We started out by chasing a TREE SPARROW that darted through the birches in the Native Plant Garden. A small flash caught our eyes and an ORANGE CROWNED WARBLER jumped up and then quickly down. Suddenly a flock of small birds flew by our heads landing in an adjacent tree- PINE SISKINS on every branch! There were PURPLE FINCH throughout the garden along with House Finch- more numbers than we have seen in many years. American Goldfinch were feeding in the sweet gum as were the Purple Finch and Siskins.
Hawks were plentiful as we watched a skillful NORTHERN GOSHAWK maneuver through the forest trees. Down by the lake an AMERICAN KESTREL sat stop a tree. A sharp- shinned hawk and Cooper's hawk were also nearby. Red tailed hawks were perched on branches. A Belted Kingfisher rattled its presence midair as it circled the Twin Lake.
The garden was full of birds, throughout.
Chipping sparrow-1
White throated-100+
Song sparrow-4
American Tree sparrow-4
Fox sparrow-3
Cardinal-10
Hermit thrush-6
Mallard-8
Belted kingfisher-1
Rusty blackbird-1
American Robin-15
Blue Jay-26
Pine Siskin-20+
House finch-21
Purple finch-6
Junco 200+
Red breasted nuthatch-1
White breasted nuthatch-3
Chickadee -5
Hairy woodpecker -1
Downy woodpecker -1
Red bellied woodpecker -1
Yellow bellied sapsucker -1
American kestrel-1
Cooper's hawk-2
Sharp shinned hawk-1
Northern goshawk-1
Red tailed hawk-3
Grackles 300+
Mockingbird-1
Red winged blackbird-1
Mourning dove-32
Special thanks to young birder Christopher.
.
__,_._,___