Central Park - 2 April

The first truly spring-like day of the year. I spent a couple of hours wandering on my becoming-regular route that starts at the northeast tip of the reservoir near 96th st, takes me around the reservoir anti-clockwise to the Pinetum, then down to Turtle Pond and then to The Ramble. A few spring migrants have arrived, most notably Eastern Phoebe, Hermit Thrush and Great White Egret.

There were a few winter birds still around. On the reservoir these included a fabulous breeding plumage Common Loon, several Buffleheads, Hooded Merganser and a pair of Red-breasted Merganser.

The feeders in the Ramble still had a few Fox Sparrows, along with the usual crop of Brown-headed Cowbirds, Common Grackles, Red-winged Blackbirds, American Goldfinch and others. It was a good woodpecker day, with Red-bellied Woodpecker, Northern Flickr, Downy Woodpecker and Hairy Woodpecker all active.

Common Loon, on the reservoir.

Hooded Merganser, a few still present.

The first two Great White Egrets of spring today, on the Turtle Pond.

Hairy Woodpecker.

Hermit Thrush have been in for a few days. This was on Tuesday 31st March.

Eastern Phoebe.

This amazingly confiding Racoon was climbing down a tree on the east side of the reservoir at about 11:00. It ignored (and was completely ignored by) the approximately 30 runners and other denizens of Central Park that passed it as it descended.