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When discussing my birding plans for Sunday with some New Yorkers I was met with blank stares, queries about my sanity, and outright derision. Apparently, New Yorkers, at least non-birding New Yorkers, do not wake up very early on Sunday morning in Queens in order to take the F train all the way into […]

After birding all day on Friday with Mike and Charlie I dropped Charlie off at his hotel and Mike off at his house and then what did I do? Well, I went birding, of course! It really wasn’t my plan to continue birding but Daisy was working late and I didn’t have keys […]

After successfully finding an apartment on Saturday afternoon Daisy realized that suddenly Sunday was open for studying which meant that for me Sunday was open for birding. Sweet! A quick call to Mike confirmed that he could bird Van Cortlandt Park, which is conveniently located along the Major Deegan Expressway, the route I […]

One of the abundant benefits to keeping a nature journal, whether a blog or a book, is the opportunity to analyze species counts at your favorite birding spots over time. For example, I’ve been in the practice of visiting Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx every January. The main draw is Rusty Blackbird, […]

Alluring rumors of Pine Siskin enticed me to visit Van Cortlandt Park this weekend, but alas, just like every other time I’ve chased rarities there, I came up empty. New York City’s third largest park simply covers too much acreage, 1146 to be precise, with too few landmarks by which to chart sightings and too […]