Birds

Scarlet and Indigo at the Forest Park Waterhole

May 7, 2018 by Corey 3 Comments

Nothing makes me happier in the midst of spring migration than spending some quality time at the Forest Park waterhole watching a variety of brightly colored birds come in to bathe and drink. This evening after work was particularly pleasing when a variety of wood-warblers were making regular visits, to say nothing of orioles, tanagers, and buntings. But I was really lucky to catch video through my digiscoping rig of both an Indigo Bunting and a Scarlet Tanager preening post toilette. Few birds are as brilliant as this pair and I couldn’t wait to share the videos.

The sirens wouldn’t let me forget I was in an urban environment despite the tranquil view of an Indigo Bunting preening and singing. Amazingly, another ambulance went by as I was filming the Scarlet Tanager below.

What more can a birder ask for? Well, maybe if the female Summer Tanager that made a brief appearance would have posed for its own video. Oh well, I need an excuse to go back again anyway, right?

Written by Corey
Corey is a New Yorker who lived most of his life in upstate New York but has lived in Queens since 2008. He's only been birding since 2005 but has garnered a respectable life list by birding whenever he wasn't working as a union representative or spending time with his family. He lives in Forest Hills with Daisy and Desmond Shearwater. His bird photographs have appeared on the Today Show, in Birding, Living Bird Magazine, Bird Watcher's Digest, and many other fine publications. He is also the author of the American Birding Association Field Guide to the Birds of New York.