Yellow-throated Warbler in Central Park - 28th April

The past week has been pretty wet, and few migrants have managed to make it this far north. Friday was set to be dry, so I got into Central Park by about 6:00am, and started at Strawberry Fields. Immediately it was clear that there had been a major fall. Every treetop was alive with warblers. The predominate species was Yellow-rumped Warbler, but soon enough we started picking up other species. A couple of Palm Warblers were the first non-yellow-rumps, followed by a Northern Parula, and American Redstart and then a Blue-winged Warbler. A White-eyed Vireo circled the area a couple of times, and a Blue-headed Vireo also showed up. A gorgeous Baltimore Oriole was next, followed by the first of many Black-and-white Warblers, and a lovely Yellow Warbler.

Next stop was the swampy Pin-oak which had a host of Ruby-crowned Kinglets, and singles of Common Yellowthroat, Nashville Warbler and a Northern Waterthrush. More Yellow Warblers here, as well as a Green Heron and a Hermit Thrush.

The last stop of the morning was The Point where a single tree produced a second Nashville Warbler and a Yellow-throated Warbler (ssp. albiloris), as well as another American Redstart. Nearby in the willows by The Oven was a Louisiana Waterthrush, a magnificent male Purple Finch and brief views of a Prairie Warbler.

The lores of this Yellow-throated Warbler are white, suggesting it is of the central race, Dendroica dominica albiloris. Compare this with the D. d. dominica that I saw at Valley Stream in April 2015.

This was first pointed out to me as a Northern Waterthush, but it is quite clearly a Louisiana Waterthush. (unstreaked throat, bubble-gum pink legs).