WFB 195- Journal 5: Good Birding Site at Van Cortland Park
Date: May 28, 2021
Start time: 6:55
End time: 11:30
Weather: 57° F partly cloudy
Location: Van Cortland Park Bronx, NY
Habitat: Northwest Forest (oaks, tulips, and hickory), Old Croton Aqueduct Trail (woodlands filled with elms and sugar maples), Van Cortland Lake & Meadow
This morning was quite cold and I originally was supposed to go to the Woodlawn Cemetary when I reached the entrance, it was closed off and there was no one at the booth. There was another entrance but it was pretty far, luckily there was an entrance to Van Cortland Park right in front of the cemetery so I made my way into the forests! I began to hear some Song Sparrows, Blue Jays, Northern Cardinals, and House Sparrows. There was a wetland near the trail so I sat here for a bit and found a white-breasted nuthatch climbing down a tree near me, I was excited because this was my first time finding one! I also heard a Wood Thrush, it took me a little bit to recognize the song but I definitely improved from my trips before. I continued down another trail and ended up entering a different trail that lead me on a path that was very close to the Mosholu Parkway, because of this I struggled with getting a lot of recordings and identifying species. As I kept moving, I did get further away from the parkway and heard and Eastern Wood-Pewee. I tried to track it down but had no luck. In tracking it, I began to hear drumming in the distance and of course tried to figure out which species it was. I eventually found a Northern Flicker and I really wanted to get a recording of the song so I played some out loud in hopes that it would begin to sing. It did and as I kept playing the song and different calls, 2 other Northern Flickers began flying around frantically. I watched them for a while and got distracted but I did enjoy watching/hearing them! Along this trail I also heard American Redstarts, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Baltimore Orioles, and a Tufted Titmouse.
To end my trip I decided to visit the Van Cortland Lake and ended up finding tons of Canada geese, Mallards, and a Double-crested Cormorant. I watched it swim around and then exit the lake to dry off its wings.