Friday & Saturday, 20 & 21 May, 2016 Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City
Many of the individual migrants present in the park have moved on, however plenty of species are still present. At least 24 species of warblers continued thru the 2 days, with more than 20 still present on Saturday. These continued to include Cape May, Bay-breasted, Hooded (& Mourning to at least Friday in the north end), as well as rather late Palm Warbler, and also Worm-eating Warbler both to Saturday. Blackpoll Warblers have increased to perhaps 4 or 5 times the numbers of that species a week ago, & still very common are American Redstart, Ovenbird, Common Yellowthroat, and perhaps above all, Magnolia Warbler.
Summer Tanager has been continuously present but there have been at least 2 differently-plumaged individuals in the Ramble the past 4 days, & others may have been seen in other parts of the park in addition. Scarlet Tanagers also are still about, with females lately predominant. Sparrows are not common the past 2 days (discounting House, which is wholly unrelated to any N. American sparrow) but some Chipping, Song, Swamp, White-throated, & Lincoln's have continued. Also still about, E. Towhee which might be simply late but also could be on territories. Indigo Buntings continue with both males & females and there were a couple of Orchard Orioles in a location where they'd nested in the past, in Central. Many Baltimore Orioles are on territories by now. Thrushes are predominately Swainson's but still a few Hermit have lingered along with Veery, & some Wood, the latter also nesting with off-&-on success in Central; Gray-cheeked & its close cousin are also ongoing now, although the "other" rarer species is mainly just presumed, since some definitely pass thru NYC each spring & fall. Vireos still include a few late Blue-headed, as well as Yellow-throated, & the more-usual Warbling & Red-eyed, each nesting in Central, as well as some still passing thru. Rose-breasted Grosbeak also is still moving thru, and there are increasing numbers of Cedar Waxwings over the past week, some of which also nest. Flycatchers include ongoing Olive-sided, and some Empidonax [genus], as well as modest no's. of E. Wood-Pewee (which nests in very low density), plus Great Crested Flycatcher & E. Kingbird, each of which nest, the latter much more visibly. A very few Ruby-crowned Kinglets have continued, which is getting quite late by now.
The reservoir has continued to host a male Bufflehead & swallows of the 2 most-usual species, each nesting, &/or including lingerers... more Great Egrets & Black-crowned Night-Herons are using the reservoir lately to feed, some have seen up to 15 or more of each, if on the running track at first light (ie, before 5 a.m. now).
Plenty more of migration still to come along... Good birding & quiet observing to all, Tom Fiore Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
