(6/8/09) I have been working up in Orange County photographing male and female Golden-winged Warblers on their nesting grounds. These beautiful birds have been on the decline since the 1980's and I have been tagging along with a research scientist who is studying the phenomena.

(5/21/09) Rather slow in Central Park towards the end of the week. I went over to Riverside Park and got a shot of the Mourning Warbler that was feeding high in the Locust trees. Not my best work but interesting to see this bird in unfamiliar habitat. Also around were a female Scarlet Tanager, Red-eyed Vireo, and a very cooperative Black-throated Green Warbler.

(5/13/09) Got some nice shots of a Wilson's Warbler bathing as well as a beautiful male Rose-breasted Grosbeak and a Red-eyed Vireo. Also in a mix are photos of a Chestnut-sided Warbler preening and singing.

(5/12/09) Chestnut-sided and Magnolia Warblers were among recent sightings along with American Redstarts and a bathing Ovenbird (something I have never seen before). There were also several male Indigo Bunting scattered throughout the park and Black-throated Green and Black-throated Blue Warblers continued in abundance. A Savannah Sparrow (rare for Central Park) also made a brief visit.

(5/02/09) Lots of birds up high but very few came down to be photographed. Among the notables were Black-throated Blue and Black-throated Green Warblers, a Nashville Warbler, a Northern Parula, and a bathing Black-and-white Warbler.

(4/26/09) Weekend highlights in Central Park included a Blue-winged Warbler, Blue-headed and White-eyed Vireos, a Least Flycatcher, lots of Yellow-rumped Warblers, and a Chestnut-sided Warbler.

(4/23/09) A very cooperative Hooded Warbler visited the park this week along with Ruby-crowned Kinglets displaying very bright crowns. I found the male Hooded Warbler right after sunrise and the early morning sun made him look like a bright fuzzy lemon.

(4/13/09) There has been a very cooperative Yellow-throated Warbler hanging around the Model Boat Pond (aka The Conservatory Waters). The bird feeds along the edge of pond and seems oblivious to the tourists, bird watchers, and photographers hovering around. There have also been Chipping Sparrows moving through as well as late lingering Fox Sparrows and American Goldfinch. There was a also beautiful male Purple Finch in the Ramble for a few days. Unfortunately one eye was completely covered with a crust caused by mycoplasmal conjunctivitis, a disease that affects House Finches and other wild bird species in the United States and Canada

(4/3/09) A Pine Warbler was photographed in the Evodia Field feeding on the last remnants of this winter's feeder seeds. While nominally insectivores, at least during their time up north, this Pine Warbler fed greedily on seeds and grain from several of the feeders in the Evodia Field. Swamp Sparrows, Pine Siskin, and American Goldfinch were also present at the feeders.

Shorebirds are streaming into the area in late March while Harlequin Ducks still remain along the Jersey coast.