Week 11 - Green-Wood Cemetery

Robert Arbib wrote in his 1966 book, "Enjoying Birds Around New York City", that March is "Often the month of hope denied". He was referring to migratory birds, but there were some tantalizing hints of the approaching waves of birds. There were also many botanic changes and an early butterfly sighting.

One of the earliest butterflies to appear in the spring is the Mourning Cloak. This hibernating species will spend the winter in tree cavities or under logs, which is why it is the first to appear in March during warm spells. I spotted my first one of the year near the Charlotte Canda gravesite this week.

Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa)

Before I get to the birds, here are some of the wildflowers and trees that have flowered this week. One of my favorite early-Spring (late-Winter?) native wildflowers is the "Spring Beauty". Claytonia virginica is low to the ground and easily overlooked as the flower is less than 1/2" across. Also, it is edible!

Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica)

Hoop Petticoat (Narcissus bulbocodium)

Early Squill (Scilla mischtschenkoana)

Red Maple

Yulan Magnolia (Magnolia denudata)

An early blooming azalea near the Civil War Monument has been discovered by the honey bees. Within the next 2 weeks they will have a much more varied menu from which to choose.

Honey bee and azalea

Cedar Waxwing numbers have increased with many feeding on the profusion of early cherry blossoms.

Eating Cherry blossoms

Before the migration gets into full swing, a favorite of most birders is the cryptically plumed American Woodcock. Woodcocks are primarily active at dawn and dusk, spending the rest of the day hiding motionless in leaf litter or among the needles and fallen cones beneath conifers. This week a few have begun moving through the cemetery. Easily overlooked, scan for a beaked pine cone with big eyes.

American Woodcock

Sparrows have started migrating with many more Song Sparrows now around the cemetery. Over the winter there were likely less than a half dozen in Green-Wood. Yesterday I counted 32. Many males are finding high perches and singing their appropriate "Hip, hip, hip hurrah boys, spring is here!" song. In addition, a few Swamp and Field Sparrows have joined the Songs as they head north.

Song Sparrow

Swamp Sparrow

Perhaps the most exciting observation for me this week was the arrival of a couple of species that usually mean that the full migration is "right around the corner".

Eastern Phoebes are one of the earliest songbirds to arrive in our area in the Spring. Timing their return with the emergence of multiple flying insects, look for them bobbing their tail from a conspicuous perch, then flying out to grab prey, usually returning to the same spot. I saw two this week, but expect to see dozens of them in the cemetery in coming weeks.

Eastern Phoebe

Every birder, even those just beginning, look forward to the arrival of the jewels of the avian world: New World Warblers. This diverse group of small, mostly colorful songsters will descend on our city in large numbers for a very short period on route to their breeding grounds. The Pine Warbler is always the first to appear. Like the Eastern Phoebe, they generally signal the start of the northbound migration. On Friday I heard the unmistakable loud, trilling song of one. I excitedly scanned the White Pine above me and quickly spotted the brilliant yellow warbler foraging among the tree's cones. I try to convince myself that, finally, next week they'll be lots of new birds around, but quickly recall Robert Arbib's caution and temper my optimism...but only for the moment.

Pine Warbler