Tag: Inwood Hill Park
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Observing Warblers in Migration Through Moments of Chaos and Clarity

Small migratory birds such as warblers move through the landscape so swiftly and unpredictably that observing them can feel at times chaotic and overwhelming. Since the beginning of September, a few nights of high nocturnal migration have brought a flurry of new or returning birds to Inwood Hill Park. Experienced birdwatchers have gathered in the…
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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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Notes from Spring Migration 2024 – Common Yellowthroats at the Masked Ball

I’ll never forget the first time I saw a Common Yellowthroat. It was several years ago in Central Park during spring migration. I was new to birding and learning the ropes from seasoned birders. I was dazzled by the warblers and couldn’t quite keep up with the sightings. We were along The Loch on Central…
