"Rumps" and "Pumps"

My friend Kimberly always refers to this time of year as the invasion of the "Rumps" and "Pumps". "Rumps" is her short name for Yellow-rumped Warbler. "Pumps" is her nickname for Palm Warblers because of their incessant tail-pumping behavior. In the short time I was out today I observed an abundance of both species. In the woods the leaf litter was dominated by another push of White-throated Sparrows, as well as, Hermit Thrushes.

While standing at the Butterfly Meadow on Lookout Hill I spotted a migrating Broad-winged Hawk flying overhead. Another new species for me this season was a lone Common Yellow-throat near the Wellhouse. He caught my attention with his raspy, "chit, chit" call.

Palm Warbler (Dendroica palmarum)

(Photo credit - Steve Nanz)

-Click here for more info on Wood Warblers-

Oak catkins

Flowering just in time for the warblers
(Photo credit - Rob J)

Red tulip

A bee's eye view
(Photo credit - Rob J)

Weeping Higan Cherry

Taken at the Vale of Cashmere
(Photo credit - Rob J)

Petals as confetti

(Photo credit - Rob J)

Sycamore tree flowering

(Photo credit - Rob J)

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Prospect Park, 4/21/2005
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Broad-winged Hawk (Flying over Lookout Hill, heading north.)
Belted Kingfisher (Ravine.)
Northern Flicker (Common.)
Blue-headed Vireo (3, Lookout Hill. 1, Neathemead.)
Barn Swallow (1, Nethermead.)
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Fairly common.)
Hermit Thrush (Abundant.)
Northern Mockingbird (3.)
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Abundant.)
Pine Warbler (1, Lookout Hill.)
Palm Warbler (Abundant.)
Black-and-white Warbler (1, Lookout Hill.)
Louisiana Waterthrush (1, Ravine. 1, Lullwater cove.)
Common Yellowthroat (Lookout Hill behind Wellhouse, at about 12pm.)
Eastern Towhee (2, Lookout Hill. 1, Ravine.)
Chipping Sparrow (10, Nellie's Lawn.)
Swamp Sparrow (1, Ravine. 1, Midwood.)
White-throated Sparrow (Abundant.)
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird (4, Nethemead.)
American Goldfinch (Fairly common.)

Other resident species seen (or heard):
Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, American Robin, European Starling, Song Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, House Sparrow

Hemlock Wooly Adelgid (Adelges tsugae)

It seems like all the park's hemlocks are infested with Wooly Adelgid
(Photo credit - Rob J)

-Click here for more info on Wooly Adelgid-