USA January (Part 1)

Date: 19-26th January 2018

Location: USA New York (Mainly Central Park)

Weather: Assorted but Cold - Temps

Species Highlights: 
Cooper's Hawk, Red Tailed Hawk, White Throated Sparrow, Hermit Thrush, Fox Sparrow, Golden Crowned Kinglet, Common Grackle, Bufflehead, Hooded Merganser, White Breasted Nuthatch, Dark Eyed Junco, Northern Cardinal, House Finch, American Goldfinch, American Robin, Yellow Bellied Sapsucker, Red Billed Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker.

Observation: 
A return visit to New York a birthday treat for Lauren, and me as we had such a great time back in September 2017, didn't really know what to expect this time round as weather was slightly different, temperatures were around freezing with snow and ice everywhere, last time we wore t-shirts and shorts, this time, thermals and layers!

On the 20th we arose early, taking advantage of the Jet Lag still dark on leaving the hotel and a short walk into Central Park, first bird was a Red Tailed Hawk and sunrise!

Watched the Hawk drop to ground and collect his breakfast a squirrel, amazing and almost no one around, a feat in itself with 9 million people living in New York.

Not the famous Pal-Mall as I was informed that bird died some 10 years previous but saw many Red Tailed Hawks on our travels around the Park.

Had been following local sighting and knew the best place to visit this time of year was the Ramble and Feeders, after feeding the many Northern Cardinals and House Sparrows on the way there we also saw White Breasted Nuthatch. 

Plus a new species a Fox Sparrow looking splendid amongst the leaves.

A sit down by the feeders and plenty of birds incoming Dark Eyed Junco, House Finch, Downy Woodpeckers.

White Throated Sparrow.

We walked back via the Pond another good area.

Black Duck 

American Coot 

Wood Duck plus a few American rarities like Northern Pintail we only spent 2.5 hours birding. 
Bit of sightseeing and Coney Island would be next destination. After a short tube ride a walk along the beach we had Ring Billed Gulls in the hundreds and American Herring Gulls.

Floating of shore Bufflehead and Scaup

Coney Island only 16 miles from Times Square, also saw Long Tailed duck, Goosander and fly over Brant geese.

Another short tube ride and Prospect Park was next, saw my first Red-billed Woodpecker.

A cracking little Song Sparrow.

Plus a Ruddy Duck along with Ring Billed Gull, Herring Gulls and even a Twitch going on guess what for ..........?

Common Gull or Mew Gull, LOL.

Next off to Philadelphia not much going on bird wise but a nice city.

Lauren's great picture from the banks of the Delaware River, another Ringed billed Gull.

So after 3 days with 3 new species and another state visited plus plenty of great birds seen that's end of Part 1.

Thanks For Looking! 

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