This is a quick post to acknowledge and celebrate the recent arrival of Baltimore Orioles in Inwood Hill Park. I saw at least four of them on the morning of Friday, April 26, 2024.
I first saw one high in a tree on the peninsula. It flew off over the river to the north side. On the east side of the marsh, I found two more high up in a London Plane tree. Later, as I was walking toward the entrance near 207th Street, I heard and saw another one.
They have arrived with their unmistakable orange plumage and mezzo-soprano voices. I like to think that baseball season has truly begun, as they join the Blue Jays and the Northern Cardinals throughout the park. Inwood Hill Park has long been associated with a robust baseball culture, and the sounds from the baseball fields frequently intermingle with the sounds of birds.
The arrival of the Baltimore Orioles also indicates spring migration is picking up the pace. Yesterday, many other new arrivals were spotted including Warbling Vireos and the Wood Thrush. I’ve frequently heard the vireos and the orioles in the same tree near the Salt Marsh.
The orioles also tend to arrive when the leaves come out, making efforts to photograph them more than challenging. When I saw the final one high in a tulip tree, I sprawled out on a park bench underneath to get a good picture. I did not succeed.
Cover: Baltimore Oriole in Inwood Hill Park. April 26, 2024
Sightings page for April
April is drawing to a close. See the latest pictures on the April page.
Birds of Inwood 