The City Birder: Week 40 - Green-Wood Cemetery

Forgive my late posting, I was distracted by New York Mets post-season excitement. That said...

We just finished week 40 at Green-Wood Cemetery, which means we are a little over 3/4 of the way through 2024. Here are a few of my observations from last week.

Diversity and abundance of sparrows has steadily increased, with many more Swamp, White-throated and Chipping Sparrows arriving. I've also heard and seen a few Eastern Towhees. Indigo Buntings have been in the area and I spotted my first Fall Blue Grosbeak.

Eastern Towhee

Song Sparrow

Swamp Sparrow

Indigo Bunting

Blue Grosbeak

As the days become shorter and the temperatures drop less insects become available for warblers to eat. More seed eating species arrive and the insectivores depart. There were still a few warbler species around, and the only species that increased in abundance were the hardier Yellow-rumped and Palm Warbler. In addition, the diminutive Ruby-crowned Kinglet is suddenly plentiful.

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Palm Warbler

Blackpoll Warbler

Cape May Warbler

Pine Warbler

Bay-breasted Warbler

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Brown Creepers have arrived and will be seen through much of the winter. Veery and Swainson's Thrush have left the area and have been replaced by the hardier Hermit Thrush. A small number of the Hermit Thrushes will actually stay the winter. Eastern Phoebes have also increased in number, but will head south once the weather gets colder. I was surprised to see a Marsh Wren foraging at the wildflower meadow. As the name suggests, they are primarily found in wetland habitats.

Brown Creeper

Hermit Thrush

Eastern Phoebe

Marsh Wren

The cycle of fruiting plants and the animals that eat them continues to evolve with the season. The last of the fruiting dogwoods have been exhausted but the two Winged Euonymus trees in the cemetery are still feeding the hungry birds. Some of the crabapple are the focus of the birds and, in coming weeks, they will switch over to the Green Hawthorns.

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Scarlet Tanager

Red-eyed Vireo

Gray Catbird

Green Hawthorn

Crabapple

Raptors are heading south, with some stopping off at Green-Wood Cemetery to spend the winter. At least one Cooper's Hawk has been hunting pigeons around the periphery of the cemetery. I've spotted several Bald Eagles passing overhead and a few Turkey Vutures. Merlins are on the move with Green-Wood being a favorite stop off. We usually see one or two overwintering here.