A short trip to Central Park netted these insects. I spotted these at the south end of the lake where there is a wildflower patch and nature trail. The excellent entomologists at www.bugguide.net helped me identify the Drone Fly. The rest I figured out on my own.
Went to Central Park yesterday. It was hot so I moved slowly. I dusted the small bee-like fly (only 5 mm) with stars, the rest are as photographed.
Last one of a set of 4 posts. The Grey Catbirds arrived in what seemed like one day. The little female Scarlet Tanager looks exhausted by the journey. It is getting very hot, time for baths. On May 16th, there was a huge termite hatch out in New York after the rains. This coincided with a record number of warblers (did they know this?). A feast was had by all. This starling kept coming for beakfulls at a time for its family. The bullfrog may have been hoping for a careless warbler to fly by.
These are some of the larger migrants. Some will stay. Blue Jays are in Central Park year-round. I managed to capture a liquid drop at the end of the Oriole’s bill while it was feeding on the Tulip Tree blossoms. Nighthawks are rarely seen. Word got out, and we flocked to see it in a tree overlooking Azalea Pond.
Here is the second set. I need to get out there and photograph some more before Spring migration is over.
Tuseday this week was the best day for Spring warblers in Central Park. I will post my May photographs over the next few days. Hope you enjoy them.
A Blue Grosbeak (probably first year) has been staying by the bee hives in Battery Park, New York City this week. I was lucky, I didn’t nead to search or wait, there it was. The bird looks a bit scruffy and feather worn, but seems to be surviving well by bashing bees to death and eating them.
I saw these birds on the same day as the Red-headed Woodpecker (previous post) in the Ramble, Central Park, NYC. The first one is a composite I created of a bird in a series—like a mini movie left to right. Click on the image to view larger.
