Among more notable birds on Manhattan was a Cerulean Warbler at
Stuyvesant-town (near First Ave. & 18th St., at the "oval") found by
Anne Lazarus on Friday (9/19), one of a small number of sightings this
fall season in the NYC area. I am unaware if this bird was searched-
for after that day...
Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City
Appropriately warm and humid for the big march for climate-change
action on Sunday; the birds seemed to want to play their part in the
activities... a harbinger in the neighborhood of the march's
destination had been that collared-dove, a species that may one day
prove to be as not-rare-now as it's increasingly widespread relation
our familiar Mourning Dove - a species that is also a potential
"winner" in the role of those creatures and growing things that may do
all right as climate warms further.
As we get to the very last day of summer (by calendar) & the change -
over to more & more fall-like bird observations, there have been some
modest developments, already noted by some in the region... at least
modest numbers of Red-breasted Nuthatches have been moving; Black-
capped Chickadees as well, and more recently, Purple Finch & American
Goldfinch. Bursts of swallows have included all 5 of the regularly-
breeding NE species, with a very few Cliff, and good numbers of Tree &
Barn. Other species indicating the change in season have been Yellow-
bellied Sapsucker & Winter Wren, as of this weekend.
Through the prior week and as of Friday 19 Sept., there had been at
least 20 warbler species seen, these including modestly late Hooded &
Worm-eating Warblers; also appearing by Friday were Palm Warbler, Bay-
breasted, & Blackpoll, in addition to Pine which have been regular.
Tennessee Warbler has been seen occasionally and Cape May as well,
these in both the n. end and around the Great Lawn circle & edges of
the Lake areas.
There were also at least 6 sparrow species including Savannah, Swamp,
White-throated, Chipping, & Song, in addition to Lincoln's which have
been regular for more than a week; plus 'early' E. Towhee; thrushes
have included a number of Wood, Swainson's, and some Gray-cheeked type
Thrushes, along with modestly late Veery.
Ruby-crowned Kinglets have put in their appearance; Purple Finch have
been regular - if not necessarily hanging around. For vireos,
Philadelphia the most notable, with Yellow-throated, Blue-headed,
Warbling & Red-eyed all seen in the week prior, & the more common spp.
continuing. Yellow-billed Cuckoos have been seen in the prior week
including this weekend.
Common Nighthawk also a bit tardy yet still being seen in migration,
and in good numbers have been Ruby-throated Hummingbirds & Chimney
Swifts with new batches of each thru the week. Also being found, by
those looking up a lot: Bald Eagle, Osprey, N. Harrier, Sharp-shinned
& Cooper's Hawks, Broad-winged Hawk (few, at Central), American
Kestrel, Merlin, Peregrine, & of course Red-tailed Hawk, as well as
Turkey Vultures; other flyovers also including Canada Geese, Double-
crested Cormorants; a smattering of Great Egret sightings as high fly-
overs, & a few within the park in the past week. Spotted Sandpipers
have been around.
Also of interest have been the Monarch butterflies seen on the move,
some stopping off to feed & rest, & many simply passing through on
their route to, eventually, Mexico for the winter. The numbers in
general seem a little better than last year at the same time (which is
not saying all that much, as last year's movements were really low;
but they're still here, showing themselves). On some days, a few dozen
have been noted in the parks - both Central & Riverside & other places
in the city.
A change is in the air.
Tom Fiore
Manhattan
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