Overly Confiding Ovenbird at Bryant Park
By Corey • December 19, 2009 • 15 commentsAn intrepid New York City birder has been keeping tabs on an Ovenbird that has apparently decided to make the attempt to spend the winter in Bryant Park this year. This birder has also been kind enough to keep the rest of the New York City birding community aware of the Ovenbird through the wonder of the local listserv. Bryant Park, located between 41st and 42nd Streets on Sixth Avenue in Manhattan, is a pretty unlikely place for an Ovenbird to winter but compared to the rough streets of New York City it must appear as a veritable paradise to a hungry wood-warbler. Of course, midtown Manhattan is also a good place to get some much needed presents for the holidays, so on a recent present-buying expedition I decided to lug my camera and spend a few minutes trying to get better acquainted with the out-of-place Seiurus aurocapillus.
Almost as soon as I emerged from the F train stop on the corner of 42nd and Sixth I spotted the bird making its way between bushes. I tried to get myself in position to get better looks at it, but it fooled me by heading underneath a table at which two young women were sitting and drinking coffee. I got some weird looks from them as it probably looked like I was some kind of pervert staring under their table, so I quickly explained what I was doing and pointed out the bird which they decided was “Sooooo cute.”
Anyway, this Ovenbird was perhaps the most cooperative wood-warbler I have ever had the pleasure of photographing. It constantly amazed me with its boldness, even walking under a chair I briefly occupied. I am rather pleased with the shots I got with my 100mm macro lens, but, to be honest, it would have been difficult not to get some decent shots with a subject that was willing to walk underneath me!
Here’s hoping that this plucky little bird survives until the Christmas Bird Count in Manhattan and through the winter!
This post has been submitted to Bird Photography Weekly #69. Go check it out!
Tags: Bryant Park, Manhattan, Ovenbird, wood-warblers
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That’s phenomenal! He must be trying to assimilate with the House Sparrows
Geez Corey, I have problems getting bird photos with a 400mm lens and here you are with a macro lens
Amazing. Beautiful shots!
Whoa – how come you can’t do that with every post
Truly a beautiful bird, and really wonderful shots of him! I’ve seen the orange head before but never saw it look quite as glowing as this!
Doubt it will still be there on Monday, unless it learns to tunnel in snow…
What a cool encounter! And beautiful photos! I adore it’s devil-may-care attitude.
…what a sweetie, and your photos are gorgeous!
awesome up close and personal shots of this warbler. I haven’t seen one in way too long!
Super photos of the Ovenbird Corey! The first and last shots are most spectacular. I hope it stays around for the CBC too. Wouldn’t that be cool? Someone will have to write that up!
I selfishly hope it will stick around till my holiday break, so I can get photos like this. Very nice! (Of course, I used to work 8 blocks away, where was this Ovenbird then?)
Boy, would I love to have a close encounter like that with an Ovenbird! Another would-be lifer for me, too! Great shots, Corey!
Over the top, Corey. These are incredible photos.
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[...] No comments yetShareTweetWe light the oven so that everyone might bake bread in it.-José MartíFor the second time in three years there is an Ovenbird hanging around in Bryant Park well into December. I am convinced that, like José Martí, the Ovenbird seeks to nourish the [...]
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