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
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