I may be off-base here, but don’t think the area of 28th-29th Streets / Eighth 
& Ninth Ave’s. in Manhattan is a typical stop-off-spot for Cattle - or any 
other - Egret… sometimes the Cattle can be more than a singleton having moved 
into a region, so it is worth keeping an ‘egret-eye’ out for possible others - 
that species has a penchant for turning up in odd places at times… my old nabe!

- - - - - - -
Tuesday, 11 April, 2017 -
Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City

A brightly-sprightly RED-HEADED WOODPECKER continues its months-long stay in 
the area of the park just west of East 68th St. - this morning it was for a 
time working very high branches of a few trees taller than the Shagbark Hickory 
which is labeled, not far from the path just north of the rustic shelter in 
“the Dene”, that shelter atop a rock outcrop as a landmark - the woodpecker is 
virtually always in trees to the north.  (One anonymoose obs. would like it 
known that we are not assigning a gender to this individual - s[he] is what it 
is, and plumage that’s come in to bright color does not indicate a male of this 
species… lady-birds among Red-headed Woodpecker adults are just as spiffy as 
guy-birds for this species…)

The park & the region featured a strong overnight migration - and in the first 
hour, even first 2 hours of daylight this morning, there was a fairly good 
morning movement, which among many other species included at least 2 Eastern 
Meadowlarks at fairly low relative elevation but moving on north past the 
(observed) north edge of the park near C.P. West & 110th St. (observation point 
near the Blockhouse, in the far northwest corner of the park) - I even thought 
of checking the next available meadowlark-ish site which might be Morningside 
Park just NW of the above-noted location, but with birds around Central, no 
visit to smaller Morningside - yet. Many small birds, including some 
identifiable warblers (Palms of the ‘yellow’ or ‘eastern’ form) and Chipping 
Sparrows, as well as Y.-s. Flickers were on the move, certainly including some 
additional spp.

Many observers are out & about in the very warm & sunny weather; some groups 
are receiving excellent guidance from bird-walk leaders with a variety of 
non-profit institutions and organizations - the NYC Audubon, & National Audubon 
Society, the Linnaean Society of New York, the American Museum of Natural 
History - New York.  With these and other non-profit organization’s guides & 
leaders, one is assured of benefiting, and giving benefit to excellent causes 
and finding a lot of birds.  

IN the park thus far, are at least 5 Warbler spp., with Black-and-white, 
Louisiana Waterthrush, Myrtle (a.k.a. Yellow-rumped), Palm Warbler, the last in 
impressive numbers in some spots (30+ Palm Warblers were on the south-central 
portions of Sheep Meadow as of mid-morning, although the flock looked to be 
dispersing, and the more-so if / when that lawn is opened for people to 
recreate on), and at least some Pine Warblers all in various areas, although I 
found the southern-most end (near the Pond / Hallett Sanctuary) to be somewhat 
slow, in a single pass by there.  

Blue-Headed Vireo has again been sighted although the more-general arrival of 
that species has yet to occur (just as with Black-and-white Warbler); there are 
many Sparrows of at least seven species - Savannah, Swamp, Field, Chipping, 
Song, White-throated, & still a few [Red] Fox, though the latter is getting 
harder to find now - plus many Dark-eyed Juncos, and some Eastern Towhees.  
Both species of Kinglet are around, with Ruby-crowned starting to outnumber 
Goldens, as expected.  I found few Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, but there are at 
least a few in scattered locations.  Hermit Thrush are increasing, with 
multiples in most any part of the park now, but by far the highest numbers in 
the “NW corner woods” where there is less human disturbance. 

A Red-necked Grebe which is in increasingly-bright spring plumage was still on 
the reservoir this morning; there were suggestions of (migratory?) excitement 
with this & certainly with some of the waterfowl - the grebe, observed very 
near the SE corner area at one point, was accompanied by a modest raft of Ruddy 
Ducks which were moving about, flying a bit, and either rattling or being 
rattled by the grebe. Various other ducks remain, but not as many now - still 
fair no’s. of N. Shovelers, Buffleheads, a few Gadwalls and American Black 
Ducks.  A drake Wood Duck was on the Meer this morning;  American Coots remain 
but in slightly-reduced no’s. & at least 1 Pied-billed Grebe also continues. A 
modest flight of Common Loons overhead this early morning - with a majority of 
those very high, & going higher still as sunrise passed.

There are sure to be some further reports. Last night’s was a very strong & 
widespread migration; many of the regular species being seen now in NYC are 
also being seen into New England.

———
"Have we fallen into a mesmerized state that makes us accept as inevitable that 
which is inferior or detrimental, as though having lost the will or the vision 
to demand that which is good?”             - Rachel Carson (1907-1964; marine 
biologist, conservationist, author whose books include ‘Silent Spring’. Sir 
David Attenborough has remarked that that book may have had an effect on 
science second only to Charles Darwin’s “On the Origin of Species”.)

"A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability, and 
beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise.” - Aldo 
Leopold, conservationist, scientist, teacher, author of "A Sand County 
Almanac”, which has sold more than two million copies.

Good -and ethical- birding, and thanks to those who respect all the birds & all 
their observers,

Tom Fiore
manhattan


















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