Sunday, 31 January, 2016
on Randall's Island, in the East River east of Manhattan island (N.Y.
City), a Lapland Longspur was seen & photographed late this morning. I
did not discover it, another birder checking the island just before I
arrived did, first name Paul - and he gave me perfect directions to
see the bird as well - the site is accessed (by car) from the RFK (aka
"Triboro") bridge, getting off on Randall's Island - then to the
Sunken Fields loop, which despite having a bit of snow is perfectly
drivable; this loop is at the northeast corner of the island, & is
east of the portion of the RFK bridge span (once on Randall's) which
leads to the Bronx. The longspur was along the edge of the grass &
also on rocks just up the bank from the water's edge (one is able to
look east & north to both parts of n. Queens & the south Bronx from
this point) and there are ballfields (partially covered with melting
snow) numbered 31 (just to the north) and 28 (to the south) of the
point the longspur was seeming to want to be. It's a large area
there, however, and the longspur was entirely on its own, so it
seemed, with no other passerines at all in the vicinity (which the
other observer & discoverer also mentioned). I was able to approach
within less than 10 yards for a few photos. Not a great many other
birds were seen on or adjacent to Randall's island, mostly the most-
common & expected species. Just slightly unexpected for the season
was a Belted Kingfisher at a marshy area.
Yesterday (Sat. 30 Jan.) a good many observers were able to view an
Iceland Gull in Central Park, at the reservoir; I am not aware of it
being present today. Also Saturday, at the area on the Hudson river
just north of W. 125 St. (n. of the piers) were 2 Canvasbacks, which
were asleep when I viewed & photographed them, later in the day.
good birding, & thanks again to the kind birder I met at Randall's
island,
Tom Fiore
Manhattan
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