Category: Salt Marsh
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A Heavenly Host of Egrets and a Bald Eagle Strikes a Pose
News from Birds of Inwood includes stories of Great Egrets and a Bald Eagle. Egrets Let’s start with the egrets. A multitude of Great Egrets appeared on August 8 for two years in a row. Circle August 8 on the calendar for next year. Park regulars in Inwood are so accustomed to seeing just one…
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A Hot Heron Summer at the Salt Marsh
The summer of 2024 has been hot in New York City, with successive heat waves and uncomfortable levels of humidity. Still, the early hours of the summer mornings have been mostly tolerable for rewarding outdoor excursions in Inwood Hill Park. Low tide at the Salt Marsh is the best time to watch herons fishing, but…
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Early Morning Birdwatching in the Heat of Summer
Birdwatching during the early morning hours is often a favorite time for birders in general, but during a summer heatwave, the earlier the better. The month of July is frequently hot in New York City, but in the past few days the heat has been amplified by high humidity and poor air quality. Still, an…
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A Common Grackle Takes the Waters of Inwood Hill Park
A Common Grackle has lately been foraging for food and bathing in a flooded part of the path leading to the open athletic fields in Inwood Hill Park. I’ve observed it splashing in the puddle and dipping berries into the cool water. Many other birds have taken to this large puddle, including Mallards, European Starlings,…
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The Double-crested Cormorants of Spuyten Duyvil
Double-crested Cormorants frequent the waters of Spuyten Duyvil Creek, a turbulent tidal estuary that runs between the Hudson and Harlem Rivers at the top of Manhattan Island. These inky-colored waterbirds possess a strong hooked bill that gives them efficient powers over small fish. While Double-crested Cormorants are large and strong, their impressive feathers lack…
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Red-winged Blackbirds Return to the Marsh
Red-winged Blackbirds returned to Inwood Hill Park’s Salt Marsh with the arrival of Daylight Saving Time. Their distinct cries fill the marsh as they claim territory, displaying fiery wing patches. The author observed and painted the birds, preparing for the appearance of the female to choose a nesting site. The marsh’s vitality is crucial for…
Birds of Inwood 