New York County (in N.Y. City), including Manhattan, Governors Island, and Randall’s Island & the surrounding waters and skies above - Friday, May 6th, Sat., May 7th, and on into Mother’s Day - Sunday, May 8th:
(A long and much-annotated series of sightings-reports, and my own notes on some of them, in addition to listings of sightings from these 3 past days in N.Y. County.) All of the sightings noted have been from quiet observers noting sound as well as visuals on the birds being seen, and many of these sightings are also from reports by and included in observers with walks guided by and for not-for-profit organizations offered in Central Park & elsewhere by such org’s. such as the NYCAS (NY City Audubon) and the Linnaean Society of New York, as well as the series-walks for the American Museum of Natural History (A.M.N.H.) and multiple other non-profit org’s. My own recent sightings are subsumed in a number of these species - sightings, but the sightings and discoveries by others are featured prominently even if I have also been able to observe. None of the sightings in this report are from single-observers unless noted specifically - and virtually all, if not all, have additionally been documented with photos &/or videos or audio, and most-importantly with good textual descriptions of the birds, and their situational observations offered. Many observations of some of the semi-rare species for this county were made by from dozens to over-100 observers in the period of their sighting[s]. On the sighting of Kentucky Warbler, for which the date is not esp. early in this region, there were multiple observers offering details, and the bird was continuing as somewhat predictable in the vinicity of where many of the latter species end up if found nearby, in that section of that park. Some other (indeed almost all that are at all uncommon & many which are fully-expected now) migrant-sightings also have had details added textually, and many species noted below also have had photo or video added with some of the sighting-reports. Also seen by multiple obs. was a male Mourning Warbler in Central Park’s n. end which was clearly a good hot-spot on Sunday & with many coming to look there for parts of the day. This last 3 days had featured a very high diversity of migrant species in the time-period with some late-lingering species (as partially-noted below) and also some fairly-early arrivals for the period, also noted. There may well have been at least several additional migrants that are not included below as details (as of this writing) were unclear or not readily available in the usual formats on alerts, nor thru photos, etc. & so there may be additions to the several days of sightings. It also is somewhat likely a number of the species found thru Sunday may linger on a day or more longer in the current weather. There is a more-than-zero chance that the “magic number” of over 30 warbler species in one day was collectively seen by the huge number of birders & photographers in just one park - Central Park - on Sunday Mother’s Day. It is certain that at least 29 spp. of warbler were present there. In addition, many species of warblers and other spring migrants were found all around N.Y. County, some in parts of the county with relatively few regular birder / observer reports. A lot of the below notes relate to the warblers as they do comprise more than one-fourth of all of the species of migrants noted in one or more larger parks and perhaps even up to one-quarter or so of all migrants seen in the county in the period of this report. That balance can change in coming days as more variety of such groups as flycatchers and thrushes etc. push in, although there may be fewer of some the earliest passage migrants in various bird families that come thru as early as March into April. The recent weather systems have had a definite effect on the slightly unusual circumstances of a “fallout” of good proportions locally with also some species which had arrived earlier than average expected-first-arrival dates. And which “first expected” dates are changing, in the climate-changed-era in which we are living through now. I’ll be reading up for any forthcoming details (and/or photos/audio) on the reports for a few other reports as well, for Sunday. At least several species of migrants that were reported for N.Y. County have not been confirmed as of early Monday. Some of those are less-regular species for the county, and may have been seen (or reported) by just a few or even just 1 observer, although not unexpected for the local area. For those tracking a lot of reports out of CENTRAL PARK in Manhattan, at least **29 species of American Warblers** were being found from this Mom's Day’s (for 5/8 only) reporting, and observations there on Sunday, with many species in the multiple, some of the warbler species well into double-digit numbers per species, and a lot of others also in the multiple - along with plenty of other expected migrants. Some independent observers as well as various groups had found as many as 19+ warbler spp. for Central Park by *the noon-hour* on May 8th, and there were higher tallies by a few birders / groups who made longer stays &/or visited more areas within the park. There will be additions of more species in the coming days. See below for more on some of the many other Central Park sightings thru Mom’s Day. We may have - collectively for all solid reports - achieved 100+ species of wild birds on the day for Central Park alone; and that number easily far-exceeded for Sunday, in N.Y. County overall. In Central Park alone, at least 300+ individual warblers (of the various species noted herein) were found for the day and this total of individuals is surely extremely conservative - low - for all of the park as seen in sightings from all sectors of that park on the day. For some species, tallies of more than 40 and likely more than 50 individuals seen were noted and that is without any big morning-flight, rather for birds already in-place, starting at first-light in the rainy and northeast wind weather on the night prior and morning hours. The species-mix for Sunday also was not (much) filled with the often-numerous Myrtle/Yellow-rumped flight nor with other species that can be numerous to abundant in big arrivals as have happened in the past week in New York County and around the wider region on some mornings. This adds to the solid sense of birds that were counted in number of individuals for the morning hours mostly having stayed in for the rest of the day, even as natural sorting and ultra-local movement takes place with such moderate numbers on a given location. This is actually quite a modest, and perhaps even low number of individuals for that park or any such place of its’ size that can take in far more migrant birds such as warblers in a day for the number of trees and other habitats involved. The (male) Mourning Warbler found later in the day at Central’s north end, and also (male) KENTUCKY Warbler in Central Park’s north end was seen by multiple observers in the early parts of the day (for at least 8+ observers then) on Mother’s Day Sunday & will be the “latest" of the warblers to be confirmed for *the year* in that park, as well as in N.Y. County. They comprise at least the 31st & 32nd species of American Warbler to have arrived in the county, and in Central Park for this spring - and this year of 2022. Also there were multiple Hooded Warblers in both male-appearing & female-appearing plumages, with a couple of males vocalizing in song to confirm gender. These Hooded Warblers included individuals of both sexes from more than 2 areas within Central Park, with some in the Ramble, some in the n. end, and yet more elsewhere, a good day for the species just as it was for many other migrant species. Of Kentucky, however, we seem to have just the one - for now! (and not at all the first-of-season in N.Y. City) Thanks to the observers & reporters of that Kentucky for good descriptions and whereabouts. Please also note, in that park in particular, it will be best to try & observe this and some other species visually, and not rely solely on audibles unless one can positively ascertain that sound is emanating from an actual living bird in sight. Of course this won’t apply to birds singing well from high in trees… where some warbler species (and other migrant birds) can often be found. Thanks to, amongst others: A. Bielskas, E. LaBelle, R. Kesting, J. & J. Price, B. Moore, U. Mitra, M.B. Kooper, HJ Kim & B. Washburn, L. Brock, W. H-Smith, K. Victor, and L. Stevens as well as MANY others who came (back, also) to see and re-confirm the sighting later on in the day in the n. end of Central Park. This is a first-of-year for the county and for Central Park. This one individual bird moved a little predictably from upslope of the Loch, into that area later in the day, and was seen by many in both of the 2 adjacent areas. The Kentucky Warbler was also nicely photographed by some after it moved down. The Mourning Warbler was alerted in WhatsApp/ etc. for some seekers later on by Ed Gaillard, who was surprised by this early-arriving individual - still on the early-date side of May for that species, which is typically just-about the last of regular-annual spring migrant warblers to arrive passing thru this area and this county each spring. As noted many times previously, Mourning is NOT a rare warbler at all in this area or this county, it is simply one of the less-often well-seen, and is much a species found more often by those hearing them, and then if lucky and patient also seeing. (Some of those who saw this and added it to eBird reports made no comments at all on their sighting, beyond a general location for all of their birding day, if in the n. end of Central Park. So for tired, but happy observers in some cases it was just one more species, albeit a first-of-the-year in the county for any who saw it on Sunday. The bulk of Mourning Warbler migration is still likely more than 1 week -and possibly even farther- away, in/for this area.) A YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER in the park was again seen by multiple observers and has been in higher parts of tall trees much of Sunday, this is from the Ramble area, not the same individual as seen in the park’s north end over successive recent days. This warbler was seen as early as 6:15 a.m. by some early-active birders in the light drizzles and windy morning. For many, many other warbler species on the day and prior several days, see further below, all species are noted (as far as is known at time of this report). There are a very few thus-far unverified reports out, for a few-odd individual-reporter sightings, with no details given on rarer species as those reports were made. More than 25 species of American Warblers were in the northern end of Central Park on Mother’s Day Sunday, & all of those species seen by multiple experienced observers. The sightings were continuing on thru the day and with brighter weather later on. The possibiliity is that as many as 27 species of warbler were seen in the n. end of Central Park on 5/8, that’s if a few more reports can be confirmed thru details being provided and/or any photos, etc. The bright-adult RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was ongoing in the North End of Central Park, as seen again by many (!) for Sunday Mom’s Day May 8; this is the same adult-plumaged bird continuing in same general area from at least Friday afternoon’s first-discovery. For Central Park “only", we have at least 5 Vireo species for Mom’s Day, and at least 5 species of Catharus-type thrushes with a few 'Gray-cheeked type' thrushes again noted, as well as Wood, Swainson’s & Hermit Thrushes, plus Veery. We also have Scarlet Tanagers, Indigo Buntings, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, and both Orchard and Baltimore Orioles. And we have at least 8 sparrow species which included White-crowned, Lincoln’s, Savannah, Field, Chipping, Song, Swamp, and White-throated Sparrow[s], as well as Slate-colored Junco (getting a bit late!) and on the tribe of the group also ‘late-ish’ E. Towhee. The multiple Red-breasted Nuthatches are ongoing, in their excellent spring passage still moving thru for the month in the county, and in the multiple in Central. More than 90 species were seen in Central Park alone on Mother’s Day 2022 and that number may swell with further sightings to be added into the day’s record as noted by many many observers all through the park. (The number of species for all the entire county is of course far more.) Some and indeed likely a good many of species still being seen on Sunday were also found from Friday and Saturday in various respective locations, while at the same time, there have been plenty of migrants that were able to move, at least “locally” and for short distances or more, in the 2 days of this report’s earlier portions and which in many cases are not re-found for Sunday. In general, not a lot of small passerines moved overnight any long distances in the immediate areas of this report and any such movements were likely very-local in nature but all that noted, there will be a turn-over effect in any case, as is typical of these kinds of events connected with large migrations interrupted and partially also caused by the local / regional (bad) weather and what’s seen before-during-after such long-lasting weather. From the Heights (& Inwood area of Manhattan) to the Battery and Lower East Side / Alphabet-City & across to the west side and Chelsea to Hell’s Kitchen, as well as the Upper East into Gracie Mansion’s front-yard (Carl Schurz Park) as well as the hills and valleys of Harlem, and right smack in the thick of things at Bryant Square, Union Square, and other mid-Manhattan locations with green-spaces, as well as Riverside Park, & more, observers have been out, finding birds than any mom would be delighted to see and/or to hear all about. We even had sightings of the 'sweetest-dispositioned birds in the world', Cedar Waxwings, for a favorite of some moms - who are much adored. A (May 6th) Eastern Whip-poor-will (as well reported, and photographed with many observers, from Governors Island) - Brooklyn Birders have explored and found a LOT of migrants in this (NY County, but very near Kings County / Brooklyn, N.Y. City) island, esp. on the morning of Friday, May 6th, known as Governors (with no apostrophe), open all year round now, with first-ferries rather early on most days (and also late-evening hours with the longer days of the year). The ferries reach this island in New York harbor from both lower Manhattan and from Brooklyn’s western edges. A portion of the island is also under National Park Service administration and jurisdiction. There are small fees to some ferry riders, and generally no fees to bird in most of the fair-sized island’s areas. The entire island can be walked by those in fit condition in less than a half-day including the small hills in the south part as well as very-short hilly climbs to and from a few other sections. Overall the impression will be of flat-ground. Bicycles may also be brought, in most cases, on board ferries to use on the island’s (permitted) drives. No off-road cycling is permitted. A Seaside Sparrow was on Governors Island, first noted in any report after 5 PM on Thursday, May 5th - first notedby an ‘anonymous’ observer** (with photos included) and by far more observers Friday and Sat., May 6th & 7th - this was seen and photographed as well by many many dozens although also at times tougher to see, patience needed as is typical of this species (and its relatives among sparrows). This was one of MANY species of birds *found* by the great BBC (Brooklyn Bird Club) participants to Governors Island on Friday morning - the field trip that also featured the caprimulgid noted above, and lots more as well. And for a photo from rather more-difficult weather and somewhat late in the day on Saturday (winds at 20+ mph, chill-factor temp. approaching the 30’s F.) - of that Seaside Sparrow, by J. Suzuki (an honorary-permanent member of the North End & North-America birding-gang of UWS-Manhattan) in the archives of the Macaulay Library: https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/445498991 <https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/445498991> (actually a great photo in those weather conditions of an occasionally-hidden skulker and for a real-time look at what’s seen in the field under such conditions, when one is patient, vigilant & of course, skilled with sightings). And, from the trip-leader on that BBC field outing to Governors Island from Friday, R. Goldberg, a very nice photo of the Seaside Sparrow which was also singing and that vocal helping to clinch the ID and the find for that bird in some of the observations there; here is a link to the finder’s of the bird Macaulay Library archived photo: https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/444931801 <https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/444931801> made in somewhat less-difficult weather for Friday a.m., on May 6th! The observation by the apparent first-finder of presumably this same bird on Governors Island is also archived with photos in the Macaulay Library from Thursday, May 5th, and those include this portrait with fine details of that bird: https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/445170261 - and thanks to all of the reporters for these excellent sightings. Tip of the hat as well to Gigi A., M.B. Kooper, and E. Schumann, and C. Williams, as well as the ever-afield Annie Barry for being there so regularly and so-regularly reporting, to all and others for braving Sat./a.m. rain and wind to see & document this sparrow. (** N.B., A. Barry & then others add the note: this sparrow originally found by Loyan Beausoliel - one of our many NY County master rare-bird finders!) And that Seaside Sparrow was also still there for Sunday, with thanks to C. Weiner for the update and photos of this bird still in place on Mom’s Day, 5/8 - https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/445895551 The expected-there find of Common Terns (which may breed at Governors Island) are the more-or-less ‘default tern species on and around there, by this time of year into midsummer or so. With more field-work, it’s possible there could be more ID-verified sightings of Forster’s Tern for the county, but also possible that it is genuinely rather-scarce for this county, & their May 6th reporting is not verified in eBird so far; whereas the more-expected Common Terns seen and photo’d. from that site can be verified. Very high numbers of Laughing Gulls were reported for Randall’s Island (in particular) on May 7th with the passage of the nor’-easter type storm-system, and also some other high counts for the day there, such as for Barn Swallows. Common Raven, Fish Crow, and American Crow were all seen and heard in the county on 5/8, and multiple spp. of birds of prey were seen, that including a few of the nocturnal-hunters. Hirundines noted were mostly from the “usual” more-regular group of Barn, N. Rough-winged, and Tree Swallows in scattered areas of the county, including some that may have been attempting to move on north but also many still lingering as well as all 3 of those in select nesting-territories in the county. (There were some reports of at least a few Bank Swallows in the past few days, some of those sightings with limited, if any details - and all of the swallows seen by many experiened watchers in the n. end of Central Park for the 3 days of this report have included in particular N. Rough-winged Swallow, as well as some Tree and Barn Swallows; and zero-Bank, at varying hours on each day - “the Pool” and “the Meer” sightings.) Belted Kingfishers are still passing, with some sightings from areas of the county such as Central Park pertaining to likely migrators, rather than “summer visitors” by non-breeding birds or by scant area-nesters. Chimney Swifts have continued (in numbers) as well, as have Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, a species that has attempted to nest even in Manhattan, with very limited known success, in recent times. Greater Yellowlegs was among (photographed) sightings from Randall’s Island on May 6th, along with Spotted & Solitary Sandpipers there as well as the more-usual Killdeer. On Governors Island, at least 4 spp. of shorebirds were also being seen for the 3 days of this report, including Least, Solitary, and Spotted Sandpipers, as well as the Killdeer which are regular there as well. Plenty of migration has been seen from & on Randall’s Island all thru the start of May and to Mom’s Day Sunday, & thanks to the multiple devoted observers & reporters for that NY County site. N.B., the birders visiting Governors Island on the 3 days of this report, May 6th thru 8th, have found at least 19 species of warblers for that island including some which are less-commonly recorded there; this in part due to a good fall-out of diverse species of migrants from Friday morning, May 6, and with some species also found and noted later in the 3-day period. Among the notables from that island on the 3-day period were Worm-eating Warbler, Wilson’s Warbler and Canada Warbler, with at least several Cape May Warblers also in a nice round-up of species in the Parulidae from that one location over the days of this report. Also, thanks to all others who are reporting from as many as 40+ additional locations all around Manhattan & some other sites in N.Y. County, all adding to knowledge and giving great reports for so many local areas, including favored small and larger ‘patches’. A Red-headed Woodpecker was among the migrant species visting the north end of Central Park through Sunday, May 8th, and had been seen by many on the 2 prior days of Friday and Saturday as well. This was noted as found and reported from Friday, by T. Plowman, at that area of the park and as seen by many by Sat.-Sunday, in particular. An annually ocurring and aways popular species to see in any season, for the county. This species has also somewhat-rarely lingered into late May, more typically not lingering that long or late into the spring season for this county. The individual in the north end as reported here is a full-red-hooded adult, of unknown gender. Also noted by many from Central Park for Friday, May 6 was a Marsh Wren, another annual but not very-common species in N.Y. County (in migration) reports. Brown Creeper is one of a number of species, along with Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, and Winter Wren, stlll lingering in some areas in the county including thru 5/8 in Central Park. A few Common Loons in spring-breeding plumage were seen migrating over, into the strong morning wind, another example of the urge to the north - from all sorts of species, in this month of May. At least one keen group of birders report (and have a photo of) a Broad-winged Hawk moving on in the winds above Manhattan on Sunday, a good sighting by that group. 27+ Warbler species for Friday May 6th, and still at least 24 species of warblers detected for a wet and almost-cold Saturday, May 7th in New York County - that included a couple of species not yet reported for the spring, esp. Bay-breasted Warbler, at Central Park. All areas of the county had some of the warblers and in some locations, very good numbers of particular species. It also has been a notable increase (by Friday) of some, with even the usually less-seen / reported but annual species being seen in the multiple on these 3 days of this report. Of course some of these many individual birds also may have arrived in days prior, Thursday or earlier and held on in the county for a bit, with the inopportune weather also likely holding-on to some of the migrants until the winds and conditions overall improved. There are a few reports of "bay-breasted warbler” for Central Park, with some of those reports a little uncertain as to when and how well this species was identified and the possibility that another species was seen. The most-recent definitive species appears to be the above-noted (and well-seen & described) Kentucky Warbler, as well as the male Mourning Warbler in the n. end of Central Park. A couple of additional spp. of warblers may have been seen & were input to eBird for the county as of May 8, but again with (so far) no details on the sightings of fairly-scarce migrant-species for the local area in N.Y. City. Details may yet be forthcoming for some of those species (not noted herein). Here are some of the warblers that have been seen in the *many-multiple* by the period of this report: Ovenbird, Northern Parula, Northern Waterthrush, Black-and-white Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Magnolia Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Myrtle / Yellow-rumped Warbler (in particular!), Black-throated Blue Warbler, and Black-throated Green Warbler. By some accounts and sightings, a few other / additional warbler spp. might have appeared to be numerous as well… all according in part to time and distances covered & also in what parts of the county they were seen, as well. Warbler species that have been seen in the multiple, but with fewer overall individuals (in N.Y. County so far) have included: Worm-eating Warbler, Blue-winged Warbler (this category of abundance is also scaled somewhat to the expected / typical numbers seen in most spring passages in this county, as a marker for each individual species - thus, for Worm-eating Warbler, a day with for example 5-10 individuals of that species seen in separate locations on the one day in this county is notable, but not to be considered as many-multiple; while for a species such as Blue-winged Warbler, a day of fewer than 20-30+ sightings, by separate location for the entire county in the height of that species spring-passage, is less than into the many-multiple *for that particular species*… and so on. A day of sightings with multiple Mourning Warblers in this county would be for example considered exceptional by many active observers, BUT that is a species with a moderately to very LOW detection-rate, and especially so for those not very familiar with its vocalizations in the peak spring passage; it is NOT a “rare” warbler at all, and also goes less-noticed as it tends to show in the parts of spring which have far-heavier vegetation-progression and is of course a somewhat skulking species by nature, as well as a less-familiar bird in general to many observers who do not bird in the breeding-areas of that species - as is so for almost any less-visible [songster] among migrants. If *for example* Chestnut-sided Warbler was very much lower in total population, we would all struggle to see a few of that species in migration, because of seeming “rarity” even if not actually “rare”), Hooded Warbler (lately including more female-plumaged-type - N.B. some female adults of this species can and do closely resemble the male adult plumage, see good references to ascertain this less-known fact in warbler watching and understanding… watching many many Hooded Warblers in breeding areas also can help eventually show this to be so, as well as readings), American Redstart, Cape May Warbler (often a bit underdetected as some of these will stay high in tall trees at times), Blackburnian Warbler (comments as for Cape May & applies to some other species as well), Blackpoll Warbler (nope these are still not in their abundant spring passage yet, and most just now are still full adult males), Prairie Warbler (the passage of these is interesting in that more and more are coming to breed in northern parts of central New England as far as at least central Maine, especially notable in power-line cuts as places where the species will pass and also where many may nest, on appropriate patches of shrubby-scrubby habitat, as well as in other parts of northeastern N. America farther north than just 25 years ago, also true of so many other migrant birds of all sorts, as well), and perhaps a few other warbler species in this less-common (by May 8th) category of sightings applied solely to N.Y. County. Additionals also include: Louisiana Waterthrush (this is by now rather scant and not as ‘expected’ as a county sighting for mid-May or later, but we do have precedents for very-late to move individuals of the species from some years - ideally, photographed well to add some rigor and vigor to any later-in-May reports or exceptionally in June reports here), Bay-breasted Warbler (so far seen by relatively few, many more could show up in coming days, however); Tennessee Warbler (which might fall into the above ‘middle’ category however many more should be passing in the coming week, for this and lots of other migrant warbler species; detected in particular by its’ very distinctive song which once learned well, is a head-snapping alert to the presence of these spring tree-toppers, an easier find in autumn / southbound migration, as seen at least by August in many areas including in this county, on into Sept. & less-often even later), Canada Warbler (which will be increasing in numbers soon enough in the county) and Wilson’s Warbler (to some extent as for Canada Warbler, usually not all that numerous in spring passage here, but also not-rare at all). A further category can be added for some species seen in this report’s period in the county: as noted for Sunday 5/8, Mourning Warbler (male), and Kentucky Warbler, the "newest of the new" arrivals in warblers *to the county*; with Orange-crowned Warbler at least to Friday May 6th in Central Park (detected more often in spring here than in days of long-ago, which for the young and newer birders is the ancient-days of the 1990’s to 2000’s! - this may be partly thanks to so many more keen observers and to photo-taking contrubuting to verifiable records of this species on passage as well as of course to skilled watchers and listeners who patiently observe sounds and sights), Palm Warbler (less expected as we go along into the mid-May period in this county, but has and can be detected some years into late May, with the occasional note for the “western” form of the species with its’ separate trinomial scientific taxon as designated by most authorities; the “eastern” or yellow form of Palm still being the vastly more-expected and noted form on spring passage here; this species has an uncommon added notation for having very-slightly expanded south in a few locations (notably, into a few appropriate patches of habitat in south-central Maine and New Hampshire, at least as visibly found by birders including yours-truly in recent years and with the expert ears and eyes of additional observers including, esp. B.E.I. on birding-expeditions in the northlands in years of this millennium), this also having been a trend over more years on some locations in the northern 2/3 of New England, and in a few semi-boreal - and also semi-deciduous woods locations on Canada’s lovely multiple Atlantic provinces as well as parts of Quebec which borders far-northern NY state), Pine Warbler (which has the potential of breeding even in N.Y. City and has in fact done so, and which is the one American warbler species which is very-nearly a North American “endemic” warbler species; the forms found as permanent-breeding-residents in Hispaniola, mostly in the higher elevations of Republica Dominican being a potential separate entity although usually not treated as separate despite the separation geographically in the Caribbean [Greater Antilles bio-region] - Pine is not too expected as a May migrant in this county, yet has been detected occasionally far into May, and can include possible non-breeding loners, again for NY County. Breeding in New York County seems rather unlikely but might be watched for in such locations as the northern parts of Manhattan, with white pine stands, and even on the other islands of the county in smallish pine stands; any reports of any warbler species at all breeding in NY County should be accompanied by un-obtrusive photos if possible and by rigourous observation of activity while also NOT disturbing any nest-attempts. Further, and at least *in my own opinion*, any such nesting areas should NOT be publicized or pinpoint-mapped at all in general, and specifically not for sensitive species for this county, or any species of migrant more-generally in the NY City local area. We are too numerous now as birders and photographers to have one nest-site visited by potentially hundreds or more of observers during the critical-to-success period of nesting for a vast array of species which DO nest in NY City, more than are commonly realized. In some areas, good habitat for breeding birds is reasonably protected i.e. Fresh Kills in Richmond County, NYC but there are also many less-well protected areas and patches of potential breeding habitat for a wide variety of species. There were also some sightings of a YELLOW-THROATED Warbler in Central Park for May 6th (from a sector of that park where sightings of that species had not come in any other recent days), and then there are some further sightings that may have had few to no details added, and are harder to confirm. However by Sunday 5/8, the species was fully-confirmed and had again been seen by multiple observers, including very early in the day on 5/8. This species does occasionally show up even to late May in the county, which may possibly represent individuals that will not breed for that same year, as with many of the species (in both of its’ known northeastern breeding forms) the typical nest timing is relatively early, not as late as would be for many of our more-boreal breeding warbler species of which a large number are passing on to Canada, and select areas in northern NY state and northern New England. Some Purple Finches have continued to pass thru into the heavier-weather of these last few days, this including Sunday in parts of the county, & there also are some sightings of Pine Siskin which, in many instances will be sorted-out from American Goldfinches (now occuring as migrants in the good numbers expected annually) by sound - and by some careful sorting-thru visually of goldfinch flocks, although Siskin also may appear on their own at times in this area, and also with some of the other many migratory small birds in flock activity, as well as in-flight. Pine Siskin is familiar to some birders who’ve spent time in the boreal as well as western parts of N. America, and thus who have learnt their calls and (more in breeding areas) full songs. (One of the Pine Siskins in the county which was well-photographed was seen on Governors Island back on May 2nd, but a few others also have been noted since then as have rather greater numbers of -sightings of- Purple Finch, and of course very large numbers of American Goldfinches, in many reports.) Not-a-lot in waterfowl to note at least from some Central Park sightings, but a scant few of N. Shoveler and Gadwall, at the least, and a few or more of American Black Ducks, as well as the most-common and year-round of that bunch. As well, there were still plenty of [Atlantic] Brant - as is expected well into May, in most years, and can be seen some years into June (in minimal no’s. by then, if still around) in the county’s brackish-bay waters and where appropriate food is found for the species. 2 Mute Swans were a not-altogether ‘wholesome' sight on Randall’s island into at least Friday, 5/6, as the species can unfortunately interfere when found to be breeding-nesting, with other (native!) spp. of birds of a variety of species, sometimes in situations where the native species is put at risk or in harm’s way by these admittedly graceful-in-appearance swans. All swan species are rather powerful, and this is esp. so of Mute Swan, which ought not be approached on the nest. Snowy and Great Egrets are now very regularly appearing as fly-bys from some locations in the county, with Randall’s Island being good for these egret spp. & also the north end of Central Park, for east-west or west-east flyovers & occasional landings. Also good can be sectors of Riverside Park at the Hudson River and some parts of the upper East River and lower end of the Harlem river estuary. The Night-Herons seen now are mostly Black-crowneds, but there are at least occasional sightings of Yellow-crowned, and a few of such sightings have been this May in the county, as flybys or as stop-ins at select (few) locations. A few observers were starting to note E. Wood-Pewee for May 6th and a few also before that date, and far more reporters have been including the following flycatcher species in reports of these 3 days in N.Y. County: Least Flycatcher (and also some wisely listing ‘Empidonax [genus] species, for some in that group when not heard vocalizing or unclear for what has been heard), Great Crested Flycatcher, E. Phoebe (in lower numbers now than in early May and in April), and E. Kingbird. The sightings for Olive-sided Flycatcher also continued into this report’s period, but not as reported by that many observers. The latter species is expected at any dates from now on into late May on passage, and can sometimes be heard as it sings or calls in characteristic vocalizations. Watch for the *visible bird[s]* if working areas in Central Park. The Emidonax [genus] Flyctacher species that have so far been definitively ID’d by vocalizations are just two, as reported, those are Least Flycatcher and Acadian Flycatcher. It’s also possible that others have been ID’d. by vocalizations for the county. Many Empidonax can be quite late to arrive and pass thru the area and in particular to this county, where some of the species may then linger or pass for some weeks in mid to late spring. One species to keep an ear out for is Acadian Fly. as the spring progresses, perhaps the likeliest candidate as a breeder for the county, with Willow as a 2nd less-likely contender - and probably no other Empidonax species. in N.Y. County (as a possible or potential county-nester, that is). Also, some Willow Flycatchers have been showing in N.Y. City and this species is also regular on passage in spring through N.Y. County as well as at least a ‘potential’ breeder, in some locations. It can be stated almost categorically that no Alder Flyctacher in migration can be fully identified on-sight alone, with no vocalizations noted, as this and at least Willow Flycatcher are only reasonably separated in places such as (for example) Central Park, by vocalizations heard, and then also by reasonable distinctions from cautious listening to those vocalizations - when reports are made of a “sighting” of that species-pair, with no notes added on vocalization, it’s best to (at the most) give the designation as Willow-Alder type [or, in the old name, “Traill’s” type] and/or even more-cautiously, simply designate the bird as an Empidonax-sp. (the genus in which Willow and Alder flycatchers each reside) and not presume to be able to see visible traits that can lead to the ID of these 2 species, which are separable in their summer breeding territories in many cases by area / latitude, and by habitat-preference to some extent in the breeding-grounds of each, but still only positively separated from each other by voice. Read the descriptions of these 2 species in such field guides and other books as the most-recent editions of the National Geo. guides or handbooks to N. American Birds, etc. - & also realize that in the field, if you are standing in Labrador Canada, you stand the reasonable chace of eliminating Willow Flycatcher from likely among Empidonax species (there), since the range of that species of flycatcher comes nowhere near that part of the boreal-north. Yet with climate-change, many of those ways of delimiting species-ranges might be seen as in flux. The best method of separation will still be by close hearing,&/or recordings, of these birds’ voice. If details emerge for the bird[s] in New York County (to have been heard), there may be some chance of confirming one or the other of this pair of species of flycatcher. Until at least the 1970’s these were not separated as species, but all were seen as one, known as “Traill’s” and then known for differing habitats and ranges - which eventually led in part to the splitting of the two, and naming for each based on some of the evident habitat preferences - of which even that has tricky-bits, since there are very-boreal types of willow “trees", some of which are shrub-like, and can be found in arctic regions (where Willow Flycatchers are thus far unknown to occur). And not all Alder Flyctachers breed in alder-thickets! (and etc.) Many more species for the county are not noted in this report, and an exhaustive list was not compiled, but may be in future, for some of these big-days of excellent fall-out (or “drop-ins” if one prefers), as well as some passage even into-the-wind by a few stronger fliers (species). And while species of Empidonax have been noted, with seemingly few details of vocalizations noted (as of yet), it’d best to err on the side of caution. The first and most-common of the Empidonax, of which a fair number have vocalized in their local appearances, have been Least Flycatchers. We have had a modest no. of Yellow-billed Cuckoos in the county, with just a few extra-early arrivals and a lot more expected, with the Black-billed Cuckoos also likely in coming weeks as more migration continues. - - - - - - - An E. Bluebird seen by one keen observer (E. Leonardi) from Thursday, May 5th in Central Park was not seen or reported again and may well have moved on somewhat quickly; this species is found occasionally in May migration in N.Y. County and in that month is typically “lost” quickly by any number of observer-reports, and the species may fly on during daylight as it is a regular somewhat diurnally-active migrator, in many instances. It is not a commonplace sighting at any time of year in the county, albeit more regularly-noted for the species fall migrations. Initial reports have begun for the species-pair of Bicknell’s / Gray-cheeked Thrush on migration, from Sat., May 7th. Without a singing bird this is not an easily distinguished ID out of that pair of species in the genus Catharus. Either is fairly possible starting in mid May (and occasionally earlier in May) with Gray-cheeked as equally possible as a migrant here as is Bicknell’s, the latter the vastly less-numerous of the two in total known world (western hemisphere) population. First reports, as caution has been applied, may say simply “Gray-cheeked type” thrush species. There are also numerous instances of beginner-birders and sometimes all of us seeing a quick-look at migrant (here in this city) Hermit Thrushes and “thinking” (or wanting) a Gray-cheeked, and more-so, a Bicknell’s, to be the one in view when the bird is actually a Hermit Thrush; this happens annually in this city and in this (N.Y.) County. Hermit Thrush can be present as a migrant and late-lingering spring-dawdler on passage in N.Y. City even into June (when scarce) and these are sometimes construed as a ‘different' thrush species (rather than as Hermit). N.B., since it continued to appear in eBird and other distributed alerts / reports, an “unusual” Dove species which has been *marked as” an escapee or a release by many of us, lingering at the north end of Central Park in Manhattan, is noted in some reports as-though a *wild” and *free” European Collared-Dove, which is of course a possibilty in NY state and also at least a *possibility* for NY City, BUT this TYPE of Dove - in the genus Streptopilia - which also includes various other dove species of the world - has been often-used in the pet trade, in the act of ceremonlal and other types of intentional-planned releases, and in some escapes from these latterly-noted uses by many, over the years and including - in particular for the noted individual at Central Park, within that park over the years, some of these in past years in that park also being notably “tame”, approachable to a degree not in keeping with wild birds in general [or that genus in particular), and also in some instances, almost-begging for food / attention and even some being handled by pet-fanciers and more-rarely, even returned to cages from whence some individuals had come… we also have had instances of sightings of this genus of dove being reported locally, then traced to nearly-concurrent releases related to such events as weddings, special-events, etc, etc. and over many years in multiple locations, and in particular especially near-common for Central Park and in other ultra-popular sites where gatherings, celebrations, etc. are planned and also held for personal and on-the-spur events as well. eBird reviewers will be making decisions based on their own knowledge of the sightings submitted and whatever evidence is available, and experienced users of eBird will understand that there is a difference between reporting a species *as-if* a wild and free bird, and reporting as an escaped pet, or (for some species) as part of an established but *feral* population. I.E., there are no true native-wild Rock Pigeons as known now from the SW Mediterranean region of Europe or NW Africa etc. in N. America, but Rock Dove [*feral*] are hugely and succesfully established breeders in vast swaths of the planet. I don’t have any part in making these distinctions in eBird, or in any of the ways listing-of-birds is done for the world, and that includes for anywhere in NYC… with its almost uncountable numbers of feral Rock Pigeons. As an additional note, I’ve personally seen over 100 species of birds that are unknown or almost unknown as wild and free within North America showing just *in Manhattan* over the past 35 years, and which include free-flying - at least momentarily!! - birds, that sadly in my sense of what belongs where and what does not, multiple species of Macaw in “free” flight, and more than one-dozen species of other additional Psittacines (members of the Psittacines include the parrots, parakeets, macaws, and cockatoos and other related birds of the world, which have their center of diversity and probable evolutionary radiation origin in the Australian faunal realm - which also includes modern New Guinea and other islands of that region), as well as many many others families of (and species of) birds known in the pet trade, but which are not known in wild origins or occurences in N. America (some perhaps known on remote Alaskan islands in rare visits) - some of these NY County sightings of rather ’tame’ behavior on sightings… examples include birds in the finch and seedeater groups of the world, and a lot of others too. This has been especially noted for **many of the dove sightings** over the decades in places such as Central Park/NYC, where I have personally seen many many dozens of Streptopilia [genus] doves and also observed their releases, at times (some of which were not condoned or permitted by Parks or other NYC authorities, and definitely not encouraged or engaged by me and-or by friends or fellow birders I know and go birding with, mostly by non-birders in almost all situations I have witnessed). I’ve also occasionally seen re-captures of some of those kinds of doves by their releasers or others. …... This first week + of May and for Mom’s-Day as well, it was really a good indication of how strong bird diversity becomes with this month in this area, and far more species of course were also moving all through the region, from far off the Atlantic shores over the sea and to the ridges west and inland of N.Y. City, as well as into all of the rest of the area. We can expect much more of May-migration this week now. The trees and shrubs of this county are in good leaf-out, with some in full spring-leafout and others as usual slow to show, but in the coming week, warmer and sunny weather is sure to promote much more of plant-progress and the attendant increases in insects and other arthrpods on which so many of our migrant / breeding birds depend for their own sustenance, and eventually for the new birds of the year to feed on. We also may find it a little tougher to spot any number of the more secretive, and some high-canopy-feeding species of these many migrants. This is when knowing or learning songs and calls is so useful. Insects are around, as so many of the migrants showing now are rather dependent (many wholly-so, now) on these as prey items, while more sun & milder temp’s. should bring a lot more in insect / arthropod life into view for those observant of these very abundant and extremely diverse groups of life-forms. good & peaceful birding to all - and to mothers all over the land a huge thanks and wishes for the best, as well as in memory of all moms who are no longer with us on the Earth, we remember and are thankful. 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/ --
