So yesterday was our
last day in USA. We met up early with star birders Doug and Tom at Central
Park. Weather was shit and so was the light for photography, but we did get
some good birding done and had a good laugh. We encountered some of the more
colourful characters of the Central Park birding scene, and got very important
advice on how to improve our birding skills.
I was impressed by
the habitat at Central Park. Yesterday the park was not pouring with migrants,
it was rather pouring with rain, but in some patches there was quite good
activity and we got eventually 15 warbler species, including Orange-crowned,
Bay-breasted and Cape May. Here are some record shots – light conditions were
really bad:
Black-throated Blue Warbler - always elegant
Blackpoll Warbler - the commonest at Central Park yesterday
Hooded Warbler - still don't have a proper photo
Wilson's Warbler
Northern Waterthrush
Swainson's Thrush
Baltimore Oriole
Lincoln's Sparrow - several seen
Warbler neck in process
Nice habitat
In the
evening we flew all the long way back home. I was very glad to get back home
and meet my family, but I already miss the USA, and need to return to get some
more proper birding done. Maybe next year?
It was a
fantastic visit, both professionally and for birding. Everywhere we visited,
and anyone we met, always we felt very welcome and well respected from all our
partners and friends. I am sure that new projects and cooperations will result
from this important visit.
On a
personal level, we met so many great people and made many new friends. Birding
was superb, especially with the help of our friends – thanks to you all!
And
finally, many thanks to my travel partners Dan and Jonthan, and for the NJ bit
also Tom Reed – it was great fun with you guys.
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