A checklist with lovely photos of the *Mountain Bluebird* found by Jim Yates in Ulster County, NY - *posted* on 1/14 - [ however, date of the sighting shown on the checklist is from Tuesday, Jan. 11th] - is here: https://ebird.org/checklist/S100741969 - and thanks to Rich Guthrie for the heads-up on the rare sighting.
A Passerina [genus] bunting found in a corn field in Ulster Co., NY (on 1/11) by R. Howard *looks to have been determined to be* an Indigo Bunting; one of several photos at the Macaulay Library is here: https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/404764961 -seems likely a very-rare sighting for midwinter and especially away from coastal areas of NYS. But then there are also the ongoing / wintering Yellow Warbler, Tennessee Warbler, and 2 N. Parulas - all seen again (1/14) at the Newburgh sewage-treatment plant in Orange County, NY - so? Winter-wonders... - - - Manhattan, N.Y. City - Friday, Jan. 14th: While 2 Snow Geese were again seen over on Randall’s Island again (a short way east of Manhattan’s upper-east including E. Harlem), a single Snow Goose showed - and received plenty of birder’s attentions - at the Central Park reservoir, which also held 2 Mute Swans. Later in the day, a Bald Eagle got involved in the duck-watching business at the C.P. reservoir, and caused some ruckus as could be expected - mostly among ducks, gulls, and etc. Good numbers of Hooded Mergansers, & still more Ruddy Ducks were a part of the waterfowl scene. With that eagle perhaps a 'raptor too far’ (or too close), the Snow Goose came down on the Great Lawn, with some Canada Geese, as dusk was settling in. A Red-shouldered Hawk remained at Central Park, and in northern Manhattan, a Pied-billed Grebe continued off Inwood Hill Park’s n. end ‘lagoon' areas. The 2 Western Tanagers were each seen again in their respective areas, one at Carl Schurz Park, and the other at W. 47th-48 St. & east side of Tenth Ave., this latter often the tougher one to see, although sometimes not. An Ovenbird was confirmed from along lower First Ave. in Manhattan. (Other ongoing birds for Friday over at Randall’s Island also included a Glaucous Gull, an adult Yellow-crowned Night-Heron (as well as Black-crowned Night-Heron), Killdeer, and more.) Snow Goose is an uncommon sight in Central Park, but have occurred there and, as *migrants* observed as flyover-flocks the species is more regular (if often un-noticed, sometimes high in clear skies) than most realize, even among many regulars of that park. Mute Swans have been seen in Central Park many times over the years, as well as 'semi-regularly' in the county. Stlll being seen in Central Park on 1/14 were Wood Duck, Lesser Scaup, Green-winged Teal, & various many other birds with more 're-shuffling' likely among some, as an arctic cold snap again quickly blasts us all. good birding to all, 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/ --
