We had a wonderful three hours, on a beautiful sunny morning in Central Park with Birding Bob .
Bird List
American Robin
American Kestrel
American Goldfinch
Black Throated Green Warbler
Black and White Warbler
Black Crowned Night Heron*
Bluejay*
Blue Headed Vireo
Belted Kingfisher*
Canada Geese*
Cormorant*
Common Grackle*
Downey Woodpecker
European Starling*
Green Heron*
Gold Crowned Kinglet
House Sparrow*
Hooded Warbler
Mallard*
Mourning Dove
Northern Cardinal*
Northern Flicker
Northern Water Thrush (a warbler)
Oven Bird
Palm Warbler
Red Tailed Hawk
Red Winged Blackbird
Red Bellied Woodpecker
Swamp Sparrow
Tree Swallow
Tufted Titmouse
White Breasted Nuthatch
White Throated Sparrow
Yellow Warbler
Yellow Rumped Warbler
Yellow Bellied Sapsucker
* are birds that we have seen before.
We also saw plenty of Squirrels, which is good for news for the Red Tailed Hawk, who nest near the park, and Turtles as well as one sleeping Racoon high up in a tree.
Monday, 29 April 2013
OUR JOURNEY HOME!
Saturday morning was spent packing with some last minute shopping but with some glorious minutes in The Roof Bar with a bottle of Bollinger and five plastic ‘glasses’. This was another birthday drink. The bottle came with the compliments of British Airways. All the five of us can speak highly of this ‘British Institution’ for their courtesy, friendliness and their high standards. Having arrived Sunday morning at terminal five we knew that we had hours to spend before our further flight to Alicante. Under normal conditions we would have been lumbered with the luggage until three hours before our 1505 flight was due. They changed the rules for us and booked in our bulky suitcases. We were very grateful and I suppose that is what good service is really all about. We will fly with them out of preference to any other operator. I am now looking forward to getting home.
An overnight flight to the UK, seven hours of waiting for our onward flight to Alicante was not a good way to spend one’s time but it had to be done. The British Airways flight home was superb. I was fed and allowed to sleep most of the way. We knew that the weather was changeable but we had heavy rain once on the road home. I didn’t really care as home is the best place to be when tired.
Would I go to New York again? Well maybe but it will be birding first and city second where ever we will go on a further planned trip.
An overnight flight to the UK, seven hours of waiting for our onward flight to Alicante was not a good way to spend one’s time but it had to be done. The British Airways flight home was superb. I was fed and allowed to sleep most of the way. We knew that the weather was changeable but we had heavy rain once on the road home. I didn’t really care as home is the best place to be when tired.
Would I go to New York again? Well maybe but it will be birding first and city second where ever we will go on a further planned trip.
OUR LAST FULL DAY!
FRIDAY – our last full day – was just that ‘full’. We had booked 30 minutes with Liberty Helicopters taking off from the southern tip of Manhattan Island. This is one of the best ways of seeing this city but at 246 dollars each you need to make the most of it. It was fun. We enjoyed it but beware it is cramped with six but excellent with only five.
Michelle and I wanted to visit Ground Zero. We had been to the locale before but before it had been completed. I had hoped to sit in peace and harmony in this place of remembrance. However it was at capacity with lengthy queues.
We needed to have booked but this was not a site to be rushed through which is apparently what does happen. We chose another way. This was to go and sit in the adjacent O’Hara’s Bar and Restaurant to reflect upon what had occurred over a decade before with a pint of Guinness in my hand. This we did with the help of a friendly barman and to remind us of our visit we bought O’Hara’s T shirt which is a reminder of 9/11. I will try and write something on these few minutes later when I am at home and can properly consider what to say.
Our afternoon was spent circumnavigating Manhattan Island on Circle Line Tours from Pier 83. This was a thoroughly enjoyable way to view the city and to catch up on some history after all George Washington did defeat the British Army to start to instigate what is now the U.S.A. We have considered that this tour would be an excellent way to acquaint oneself with the area on the first day or so of the holiday as opposed to reserving it for the last day which we have done twice. Take my advice do it first, weather permitting of course.
On the way back we called in The Beer Authority for more alcohol and typical NY food. I can give it 10 out of 10 for its selection of quality beers but, the service was poor and the food only average.
We finished off our day with a night-time drink on the roof terrace of our hotel.
For our return trip to Kennedy we had booked an SUV which was much better than a Limo as it is better suited for people with luggage. Take my advice don’t bother with a Limo although it may suit your image better!
Michelle and I wanted to visit Ground Zero. We had been to the locale before but before it had been completed. I had hoped to sit in peace and harmony in this place of remembrance. However it was at capacity with lengthy queues.
We needed to have booked but this was not a site to be rushed through which is apparently what does happen. We chose another way. This was to go and sit in the adjacent O’Hara’s Bar and Restaurant to reflect upon what had occurred over a decade before with a pint of Guinness in my hand. This we did with the help of a friendly barman and to remind us of our visit we bought O’Hara’s T shirt which is a reminder of 9/11. I will try and write something on these few minutes later when I am at home and can properly consider what to say.
Our afternoon was spent circumnavigating Manhattan Island on Circle Line Tours from Pier 83. This was a thoroughly enjoyable way to view the city and to catch up on some history after all George Washington did defeat the British Army to start to instigate what is now the U.S.A. We have considered that this tour would be an excellent way to acquaint oneself with the area on the first day or so of the holiday as opposed to reserving it for the last day which we have done twice. Take my advice do it first, weather permitting of course.
On the way back we called in The Beer Authority for more alcohol and typical NY food. I can give it 10 out of 10 for its selection of quality beers but, the service was poor and the food only average.
We finished off our day with a night-time drink on the roof terrace of our hotel.
For our return trip to Kennedy we had booked an SUV which was much better than a Limo as it is better suited for people with luggage. Take my advice don’t bother with a Limo although it may suit your image better!
THURSDAY
THURSDAY. The weather was clear and sunny with yesterday being good as well the birds should be showing well. We met Bob the Birder at The Dock at Turtle Pond in Central Park. He knows this place and he knows his birds. We spent over three hours with some knowledgeable fellow birders that were very affable, helpful, enthusiastic and friendly. I will put the list on later with some of the better shots that Michelle was able to take. We had thirty first-timers – apparently referred to as ‘bimbos’ in Spain – as well as the ubiquitous House Sparrows and European Starlings.
Thursday evening was reserved for ‘Motown - The Musical’ that we saw in a wonderful theatre just off Broadway. Apparently ‘ the tune is in the groove’ but you may have heard on the grapevine!
There was great music, great songs with some great singers. This was Robbie’s choice while Yvonne toddled off to see Alan Cumming in a one and half hour version of Macbeth.
Thursday evening was reserved for ‘Motown - The Musical’ that we saw in a wonderful theatre just off Broadway. Apparently ‘ the tune is in the groove’ but you may have heard on the grapevine!
There was great music, great songs with some great singers. This was Robbie’s choice while Yvonne toddled off to see Alan Cumming in a one and half hour version of Macbeth.
UPDATE
Here we are – on 24th - in the Grill Bar of the hotel – which is adjacent to alcohol, of course – on the day after St George’s Day. Breakfast, American style, has been ordered and after a deep conversation about English breakfast tea I am trying to make sense of the past two days. Michelle has now inserted the photo from The Three Magpies which is certainly one for the archive. I think it deserves the caption ‘The Only Gentile in the Tribe! However, move on, stir the pot and hope it comes out a strong brown – second tea bag has just gone in. I suppose it is King George’s fault for upsetting those Bostonians centuries ago.
Now, to catch up, on Monday twenty-second. It was a quiet day and we went up above the ‘hurley-burley’ of Manhattan. This was one of our ‘target-events’ to walk what is left of a freight line that is labelled ‘The High Line’. For me, this is something that deserved to be preserved. The southern end had been re-cycled but public voice had ensured the rest remained instead of wiping some more history away to build a new stadium.
If you visit this city it is well worth the walk. The photographers were in their element with shots along the length, down onto the street and upwards to the high rise tops. Birches, Cherries, Forsythia with many other shrubs all under-planted with grape hyacinths, daffodils and multi coloured, multi-fluted tulips brought great colours to our morning. All of this in juxtaposition with metal railway lines, concrete and wood. Then there were the sculptures, wall art and the ubiquitous graffiti – all tasteful of course.
I have got my ‘snaps’, my notes and maybe I will get some decent lines from my experience. Awesome!
TUESDAY morning saw another season in NY. The temperature had dropped too bloody low and foolishly one member in the group had decided that a walk over the Brooklyn Bridge was the must thing to do. This was a very poor decision in cloudy, windy, cold conditions with the temperature peaking at five C. It was not the best of days and my intention was to go to The Churchill Bar to celebrate England and St George. I declined but Yvonne and Michelle had a successful evening there while Robbie and Neal renewed their acquaintance with The Heartland Brewery on the next block over.
WEDNESDAY had been reserved for a carriage ride in Central Park. Michelle missed out on this last time and ‘she sure has hell’ was going to do it this time. Yvonne and Robbie accompanied her while I went for another walk-about in the same park while Neal took more photos.
Four of us lunched in The Heartland Brewery on 43rd Street, whilst Yvonne rode an open top bus around Harlem. Neal and Michelle made a belated visit to The International Centre for Photography. Michelle thought that it was a brilliant exhibition but Neal was not enamoured by it. The first exhibition was photos by a photographer called Chim whose photographs showed some of the history of Europe from 1933 to 1956. The second exhibition was photos taken by Roman Vishniac of Eastern Europe and specifically Jewish life during and between the two World Wars.
Now, to catch up, on Monday twenty-second. It was a quiet day and we went up above the ‘hurley-burley’ of Manhattan. This was one of our ‘target-events’ to walk what is left of a freight line that is labelled ‘The High Line’. For me, this is something that deserved to be preserved. The southern end had been re-cycled but public voice had ensured the rest remained instead of wiping some more history away to build a new stadium.
If you visit this city it is well worth the walk. The photographers were in their element with shots along the length, down onto the street and upwards to the high rise tops. Birches, Cherries, Forsythia with many other shrubs all under-planted with grape hyacinths, daffodils and multi coloured, multi-fluted tulips brought great colours to our morning. All of this in juxtaposition with metal railway lines, concrete and wood. Then there were the sculptures, wall art and the ubiquitous graffiti – all tasteful of course.
I have got my ‘snaps’, my notes and maybe I will get some decent lines from my experience. Awesome!
TUESDAY morning saw another season in NY. The temperature had dropped too bloody low and foolishly one member in the group had decided that a walk over the Brooklyn Bridge was the must thing to do. This was a very poor decision in cloudy, windy, cold conditions with the temperature peaking at five C. It was not the best of days and my intention was to go to The Churchill Bar to celebrate England and St George. I declined but Yvonne and Michelle had a successful evening there while Robbie and Neal renewed their acquaintance with The Heartland Brewery on the next block over.
WEDNESDAY had been reserved for a carriage ride in Central Park. Michelle missed out on this last time and ‘she sure has hell’ was going to do it this time. Yvonne and Robbie accompanied her while I went for another walk-about in the same park while Neal took more photos.
Four of us lunched in The Heartland Brewery on 43rd Street, whilst Yvonne rode an open top bus around Harlem. Neal and Michelle made a belated visit to The International Centre for Photography. Michelle thought that it was a brilliant exhibition but Neal was not enamoured by it. The first exhibition was photos by a photographer called Chim whose photographs showed some of the history of Europe from 1933 to 1956. The second exhibition was photos taken by Roman Vishniac of Eastern Europe and specifically Jewish life during and between the two World Wars.
Wednesday, 24 April 2013
SUNDAY
Sunday morning came at a good pace and I investigated the birds in Central Park. There was not that much on show but I did identify a Brown Tree-creeper with the rest being the ubiquitous House Sparrows, Swallows, Starlings but being outnumbered by American Robins. Canada Geese swam on the lake, Stock Doves flew and I am left with one to identify but now I know where all the meeting points are for later in the week.
I caught up with myself while others were shopping. After a siesta, drinks in the bar we made the mistake of eating in The Hard Rock Café in Times Square. This was a mistake for this was the worst one that we have been to. Mediocre at the best and we should have looked at ‘Tripadvisor’ before we went there. I can quote the usual advice preparing to plan etc…… You can read Neal’s superb, to the point, criticism on their website. We didn’t dally and then back for a coffee and a chat.
I caught up with myself while others were shopping. After a siesta, drinks in the bar we made the mistake of eating in The Hard Rock Café in Times Square. This was a mistake for this was the worst one that we have been to. Mediocre at the best and we should have looked at ‘Tripadvisor’ before we went there. I can quote the usual advice preparing to plan etc…… You can read Neal’s superb, to the point, criticism on their website. We didn’t dally and then back for a coffee and a chat.
BIRTHDAY
Michelle’s birthday started early with her running in Central Park with Neal. Robbie watched while I watcher for the birds. Then it was back to the hotel for breakfast followed by a ‘yellow taxi’ ride to Chelsea Pier for the start of our Brewery Tour at Chelsea Brewery. You can always tell when you are greeted by an enthusiast. Tom the assistant brewer obviously loves his work and his lively description of the brewing process was a joy to listen to.
Then we were on the bus for an historical tour through Manhattan, Brooklyn, Williamsburg, Bushwick, and Astoria Queens (the latter named for William Astor in the hope that he would invest there – he didn’t!) We passed brewery buildings that no longer brewed but had been preserved for future generations. I wonder how many other people will have the same interest in later years. The graffiti strewn walls hide other activities that are going on in some of them but not all as some are obviously derelict.
The Breweries we visited were as follows:
Chelsea Brewery, Manhattan
Brooklyn Brewery, Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Spuyten Duyvil, Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Old Brewers Row, Bushwick, Brooklyn
Bohemian Beer Garden, Astoria, Queens
I have much praise for the entrepreneurs who have created this tour. Check out their website at www.thenewyorkbeerandbrewerytour.com
We met three guys from New Jersey who helped make our day more complete by sharing our enthusiasm for brewing and for being friendly and communicative. It’s good to have a sociable drink in good company.
We returned to the hotel for champagne and cake!
The evening was reserved for a meal with live music at The Prohibition on Upper West Side. Jammed with people but we still ate and listened. Almost a bit too much for all needed a comparatively early night to ensure that we enjoy the next day as much as we had done this one.
Then we were on the bus for an historical tour through Manhattan, Brooklyn, Williamsburg, Bushwick, and Astoria Queens (the latter named for William Astor in the hope that he would invest there – he didn’t!) We passed brewery buildings that no longer brewed but had been preserved for future generations. I wonder how many other people will have the same interest in later years. The graffiti strewn walls hide other activities that are going on in some of them but not all as some are obviously derelict.
The Breweries we visited were as follows:
Chelsea Brewery, Manhattan
Brooklyn Brewery, Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Spuyten Duyvil, Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Old Brewers Row, Bushwick, Brooklyn
Bohemian Beer Garden, Astoria, Queens
I have much praise for the entrepreneurs who have created this tour. Check out their website at www.thenewyorkbeerandbrewerytour.com
We met three guys from New Jersey who helped make our day more complete by sharing our enthusiasm for brewing and for being friendly and communicative. It’s good to have a sociable drink in good company.
We returned to the hotel for champagne and cake!
The evening was reserved for a meal with live music at The Prohibition on Upper West Side. Jammed with people but we still ate and listened. Almost a bit too much for all needed a comparatively early night to ensure that we enjoy the next day as much as we had done this one.
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