Observations, ideas, and wonderings on birds encountered in the landscape.
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Drawing Juncos
Lately I’ve been drawing and painting Dark-eyed Juncos, quintessential winter birds. During the recent snowfalls and bouts of freezing weather, I have looked for flocks of these little New World sparrows. I often find them in company of the Tufted Titmice, the White-throated Sparrows, and the Black-capped Chickadees, but sometimes the juncos are off on… Read more
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Hawks for the Holidays
A good way to start a busy morning during the holiday season is to walk into a forest and find a hawk. In NYC, Red-tailed Hawks are relatively common and make a good choice for hawk chasing. A Cooper’s Hawk may be around as well. With luck, you may find these two hawks chasing one… Read more
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The White-breasted Nuthatch Makes Good Company
While walking in the autumn woods of Inwood Hill Park, I often hear the insistent chuckle of a White-breasted Nuthatch. Cornell’s All About Birds (link) describes the sound as a “yammering.” These fast little birds scurry up and down and around tree trunks. They are black and blue-gray on the top with white breasts. Some… Read more
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The Great Tufted Titmouse Food Operation
Throughout a stressful week that began with a tumultuous election and ended with nearby wildfires, Tufted Titmice were pulling off a methodical food relay operation in a small area between the basketball courts and the forest of Inwood Hill Park. The Tufted Titmouse food operation was simple and brilliant. These little athletic birds like to… Read more
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Brainy Black-capped Chickadees Arrive En Masse
Black-capped Chickadees, the famously cute and clever birds of the northern latitudes, have been everywhere in Inwood Hill Park this past week. I’ve seen them flitting about trees in the sunken willow corner of the marsh path, perching on low branches on top of the W. 207th steps, jumping around trees on the trail leading… Read more
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Our American Kestrel
An American Kestrel, the smallest falcon in North America, has been visiting the athletic fields adjacent to the Salt Marsh in Inwood Hill Park. I’ve seen it three times now – on September 10, a month later on October 12, and then on October 17. The kestrel’s preferred perch, it seems, is one of the… Read more
Birds of Inwood 