Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City Sunday [ Mothers Day ], May 14th: A minimum of 25 species of warblers in Central Park on Sunday, 5/14 included the Yellow-throated Warbler near the King Jagiello of Poland statue just east of Turtle Pond; all 25 species of warblers (reported and confirmed in eBird, all with multiple observers) were seen in-part within the Ramble area and/or the immediate vicinity, as well as many additionally in the south and north sections of the park). Of the many warbler species, Bay-breasted were again seen in the multiple, with some observers reporting 'more than ten' on lengthier visits in Central Park, and with hatch-outs of insects later on bringing ‘canopy’ birds in lower at times. There were also multiples of Blackpoll Warbler, with a majority of those still being male birds. Multiple Hooded Warblers were present on Sunday in Central, with both female-plumaged and male-plumaged (some singing) birds around, in a number of areas, and with plenty of observers at various times and locations. Blue-winged Warblers were still around, with multiple observers around the park at varying times on Sunday, as were multiple Black-throated Blue Warblers, and also some Prairie Warblers - all of these also still with singing males present along with females of all these species.
Wood Duck (drake) was ongoing at Central Park; this bird was photographed by some of its many observers on Sunday, 5/14. A few noted the flyovers of [Atlantic] Brant, starting to gather for the long journeys north, which can be found occurring even later in spring. Both Black-billed and Yellow-billed Cuckoos were seen by discriminating observers in Central Park on 5/14. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds were seen again by many keen observers. Solitary and Spotted Sandpiper were again seen in the park by multiple observers on Sunday. Bald Eagle and Turkey Vulture were among flyovers observed from Central Park by multiple observers on 5/14. At least 3 species of swallow, as is expected now, were seen in and over Central Park on Sunday: Tree, Barn, and N. Rough-winged Swallow all in the multiple and with multi. observers. Red-breasted Nuthatches were found in multiple locations, by many observers through the park on Sunday, 5/14. A modest number of Ruby-crowned Kinglets were still present and this is not at all unusual in mid-May at this location (or this county). All three of the mimids were still present (all 3 breed in the park), with Brown Thrasher the scarcest, as is typical by now, and Gray Catbird still very numerous. Many Gray-cheeked (and gray-cheeked type) Thrushes were found, some singing clear Gray-cheeked song, as well as many reported as ‘silent’; that in addition to Veery, Swainson’s in good numbers, and even still some Hermit Thrush along with a modest no. of Wood Thrush (which attempt breeding in the busy park, and have had mixed success there over the years). Sparrows still present in Central Park on Sunday included Field, Chipping (an occasional to scant annual breeder), Song (regular breeder), Swamp, White-crowned (multiple and w/ multi. observers), Lincoln’s (also multi./multi.), and still some numbers of White-throated Sparrow (although the latter far-fewer than 10 days prior), as well as E. Towhee (which has bred in the park on multiple years, but certainly is challenged in that overly-busy urban park). Many, many other species were of course also seen on Sunday, with well over 100 species found collectively by quiet observers, out at varying times and in many locations in the park. Thanks to all of them for reports in eBird, GroupMe alerts, and as is usual through word-of-mouth. - - - - Note that the Purple Martin seen late by 2 experienced observers on Saturday 5/13, at the Meer in Central Park’s n. end, which was watched for several minutes is confirmed in eBird. Also seen in Central Park on “big day” Sat., 5/13 was Least Sandpiper, again with experienced observers. The Prothonotary Warbler of Thursday 5/11 at Central Park is also confirmed after a short interval, in eBird. (no newer sightings of that individual were reported, as sometimes happens with that species in even such a very-heavily-birded locale.) We have now had all 34 of the ‘usual’ spring-season warbler species that are somewhat typical of a season in this county (and often, for Central Park alone) each year. Good May birds 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/ --
