Observations, ideas, and wonderings on birds encountered in the landscape.
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Swan Lake at the Salt Marsh
Just when you expect to see tiny warblers, a large waterfowl pirouettes into the Salt Marsh of Inwood Hill Park. A Mute Swan, a native to Eurasia, was visiting the main inlet early this week. It was sleeping when I first saw it, a pile of white feathers floating in the water. Then it raised Read more
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Thrushes and Towhees Go Rummaging, and Other Spring Arrivals
This week I’ve witnessed many birds foraging on the forest floor. While the Hermit Thrushes hop gracefully among the fallen leaves, the Eastern Towhees and the newly arrived Wood Thrush vigorously rummage through the piles of decaying debris on the ground. Many birds do this, but the thrushes and towhees are by nature ground foragers. Read more
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Meditations on a Great Blue Heron
And more tales of flight from early spring migration Great Blue Heron A Great Blue Heron arrived at the Salt Marsh a couple of days ago, basically on time compared with previous years. In an erratic and unpredictable time characterized by volatility and uncertainty, the heron’s appearance brings a comforting sense of continuity. I do Read more
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Hooded Mergansers Join the Early Spring Party in Inwood Hill Park
Even among a hundred gulls, dozens of ducks, and a score of geese, a pair of small Hooded Mergansers stood out in the waters of the park on the morning of March 25, 2025. They were festive looking creatures, discernible by their small size and their vigorous wading and diving. The bright white head patch Read more
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Birds of Inwood in a Golden Light on the Last Full Day of Winter
Cover: A Great Egret arrives on a rock in the Salt Marsh as a goose flies overhead. March 19, 2025. 7:31 a.m. Inwood Hill Park, NYC. A bright sunrise at 7:01 a.m. brought a golden hue to Inwood Hill Park. The last full day of winter is a good time to observe the birds of Read more
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Heron Homecoming 2025: A Great Egret Returns
A Great Egret returned to Inwood Hill Park over the weekend, an expected homecoming for one of the stars of the park’s Salt Marsh. I have lived in the Inwood neighborhood for over a decade, and I’ve observed at least one Great Egret every year. Sometimes, more of them will appear, but often it’s just Read more
Birds of Inwood 