Seen by multiple observers (not I) today, Monday 2/27, was the state- record Clark's Grebe (pending acceptance by NYSARC, of course!) at Oswego, NY's harbor area, near the "maritime museum" at times in the morning - and: "In channel near red buoy #4", from at least 4 observers later in the day. (No other updates for today seem to have been posted by anyone to this NYState list-serve, with the exception of inclusion in today's Syracuse RBA - a number of current eBird checklists were made available and are appreciated- it is a significant bird!)
------- Since there was a bit of "chatter" in this list regarding 2 "pinioned" swans, strongly-presumed to be (not free-flying) Trumpeter Swans, at Armonk, NY in Westchester County on 2/27 - the eBird list with photos & comment from Debbie van Zyl adds to that discussion: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S34849912 ----------- Monday - 27 February, 2017 - Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City Thanks to Ardith Bondi for an update on The Pond's recent-ongoing waterbirds, that area in the park's southeast corner. Present at the Red-headed Woodpecker site (west of East 68-69th Street area, within the park) was one of our most acclaimed nature photographers and birders, seeing the woodpecker, mostly high in trees later in the day, was a secondary treat; it was rather less vocal than on some other occasions, perhaps due in part to the hour. Seeing the red coming in about the head on this bird requires sharp eyes, good optics, bright lighting, and-or cooperation by the bird (or some combo thereof). At the CP reservoir, photographed today were: Common Loon, Pied- billed Grebe, Red-necked Grebe (the Loon, in basic [winter-type] plumage as are the ongoing 2 grebe species there, was seen out in the central parts of the reservoir but came in a bit to the SE for a time, then retreated to the center area, it was in among many Canada Geese at times. A general departure of some of the recent visitors, including some that were around for part of the winter, has been ongoing in the past week; goose flocks, modest numbers of ducks, cormorants, and various other species-groups have moved on - notably, these included a number of sparrows, esp. Song & {red] Fox Sparrows - although each species is continuing in smaller numbers thru today, and more of them can be anticipated with fresh movements on tap - and of many icterid species- flocks, primarily Red-winged Blackbird & Common Grackle in good numbers. American Robins, and to a less-evident extent in Central, Killdeer and American Woodcock have pushed through, with more of all of these also likely in coming weeks. Plants in bloom already are of more than 20 varieties and some among these include native species, but a majority are ornamental & not native to the area or (some) to the nation - all are of course very welcomed! These include a few very early cherry varieties (Great Lawn circle & elsewhere), a few early azalea varieties (various locations), & in many areas, the start of so-called "cornelian cherry", better called by its scientific name, Cornus mas - this small tree is nearly ubiquitous in much of Central Park, & can at times attract early- season migrants, as can any of a number of tree, shrub, and forb species which may be in bud or bloom soon. There is a high potential for an early start to bloom & to some leaf-out this year, with the very odd mild temperatures on so many days this month, and at times earlier in the winter, and depsite a few modest snowfall events. Many species of insect (for this early in the season) have been observed in their adult forms already, & the buds & blooms out or soon to be out may encirage more insect life, good for a multitude of birds, some not quite here just yet. Some of the additional species found today in Central were: Double- crested Cormorant, Wood Duck, Gadwall, American Black Duck, Mallard, Northern Shoveler, Bufflehead, Hooded Merganser (few), Ruddy Duck, Cooper's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, American Coot, Ring-billed Gull, [American] Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, [feral] Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Belted Kingfisher, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Downy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Red-breasted Nuthatch, White-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Carolina Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet (overwintered, not fresh arrivals), Hermit Thrush (one, overwintered), American Robin, Gray Catbird (overwintered), Northern Mockingbird, Brown Thrasher (overwintered), European Starling, Eastern Towhee (overwintered), Swamp Sparrow (overwintered), White- throated Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird (few), Common Grackle, Brown-headed Cowbird, House Finch, American Goldfinch, House Sparrow - and likely a few additional species! ------ "Listen to Otis Redding singing 'Try A Little Tenderness'. That was a man who understood what a man has to know in the world. Show me a real man now! Where are they?" - Christine Ellen 'Chrissie' Hynde, a founder of The Pretenders good birding, and thanks to those respecting all wildlife and other park users. Tom Fiore, manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm 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://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --