April 17 - Metro New York birding

With friends Andy, Jen, and Simon today we visited Central Park, Jamaica Bay, and finally the Botanical Gardens.

In Manhattan's Central Park we dipped on the long-staying Varied Thrush but did see most of the regularly expected birds for this time of year. A Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher offered some of the better views.

Since it was quiet here we headed east out to Queens and Jamaica Bay's Refuge.  Here on the West Pond we got excellent views of a few Tri-Colored Herons ( a bird that I completely missed in 2010) and several Little Blue Herons.  Shorebirds seen were Dunlin, Oystercatcher, and a Pectoral Sandpiper.  Later on East Pond, we saw Blue-Winged Teal, Green-Winged Teal, Gadwall,  and a surprise in Cliff Swallow.

Lastly at Bronx's Botanical Gardens we got outstanding views of the early Prothonotary Warbler. Alos seen were Palm and Pine Warblers.