New York County -in N.Y. City- including Manhattan, Randalls, and Governors Islands into Saturday, Oct. 14 -
A Lark Sparrow was found and photographed at Randalls Island early in the day on Friday, Oct. 13, first seen by L. Musher, and then also photod by D. Aronov; that bird not re-found later in same day. It could potentially be lingering, however. Rare there but not the first nor 2nd-ever of the species to that island. A Vesper Sparrow also found early in the day at Randalls, farther to the north, did linger for many more additional observers. A Nelsons Sparrow was also seen, again at Randalls as on prior days. Up to 3 Forsters Terns were seen, part of the contingents of that species that came into less-regularly frequented parts for that tern, on Randalls on 10/13. Laughing Gulls were still being seen, most as fly-bys, from Randalls, but dwindling in numbers as expected by now. Also found, 2 Lesser Yellowlegs roosting in a not-that unusual location for the genus, just along the Bronx Kill edges by the n.w. side of the Randalls totality. A Pied-billed Grebe was noted in the area, as well. Eastern Meadowlark, American Pipit, and Pine Siskin were among many many other migrants to show at Randalls Island Oct. 13 or 14th. These last 3 species have also occurred, some as fly-bys, at a number of other sites in the county, with E. Meadowlark and Pine Siskins at least, continuing at Central Park from Fri.-Saturday / 14th. The most-viewed of those meadowlarks was one on the Great Lawn in Central Park thru Saturday afternoon. Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, a sort of specialty of Randalls Island was still present there to Oct. 14th. On Governors Island, a Saltmarsh Sparrow was present on Fri., 10/13, and while the rarities of Oct. 11th, in particular a Western Kingbird on the latter date, were not being re-found again on Governors, a good deal of migration was also ongoing there, with many additional sparrow species, as seen elsewhere around the county coming in numbers by the 13th. E. Meadowlark also were in the multiple at Governors by then, continuing into 10/14. Yellow-billed Cuckoo was among the late-movers, and also other more-typical migrants at Governors on the 13th, thanks to D. Gochfeld for some of the nicely documented sightings. Pine Siskins have now been seen in at least several locations, with both fly-thru flocks and some settling in further, such as in Central Park, etc. - these are part of a very broad movement of the species lately, and which was already predicted in this seasons annual winter-finch-forecast, available here, listed as a non-profit org: https://finchnetwork.org/winter-finch-forecast-2023-2024 Marsh Wrens have been found in a number of locations in the county lately, including at Randalls Island and in the multiple on Governors Island, and in several places in Manhattan, including on the Hudson River edges in lower Manhattan, and at Central Park where the species is uncommon but annual - as it likely is on the 2 other islands just mentioned. Sparrows have arrived in yet-larger numbers in recent days and among those, none more numerous, overall, in the county than White-throated Sparrow with some locations giving the chance to view 50+ and more in one view, for those who add these to their view-counts! There are sure to be yet more of these and other sparrows. Also increased, E. Towhee, with some locations having had up to five in fairly small contained areas, and generally around the county. Often rather overlooked, Song Sparrows also have increased - as have 5 or more other sparrow species, notably again, Savannah Sparrow which had seen some modestly-early arrivals in the early fall. More Canada Geese have been starting to show up, and with those, worth checking for any that dont quite fit with that species. Overall, the waterfowl have been much as they had - not a lot of arrival into the county, but in the region, esp. to the north, there has been a lot of such activity. While warblers have continued in fair to good species-diversity, the numbers of most species have certainly dropped. As cooler or so-called cold-fronts push thru, we have seen some late-ish arrivals of some of the warblers, while many have also taken off for points-south. The majority of warblers now are made up of newly-arriving Myrtle / Yellow-rumped, with still some numbers of Palm and more-modest numbers of a half-dozen or more other species. In this county, many warbler species have at least rather rarely been recorded to December, so definitions of what is late can be tough to state precisely. However, such ones as waterthrushes are all now of the Northern species, all Louisianas look to have made their ways south. We have seen N. Waterthrush in Manhattan, rarely at least to early Dec. in past / recent years. This species was seen again at Morningside Park into Oct. 14, where the one fairly small pond has habitat to interest it - this is a different individual from one of that species at Central Park's n.w. quadrant which also was lingering to 10/14. Also with some fresh / recent arrivals, Black-and-white Warblers have shown in various parks, multiples in Central Park and a few other locations, and singly in an array of smaller parks and greenspaces, where some still were into Oct. 14th. This is yet another species of warbler that just-rarely will be found into December in the county. Many Golden-crowned and still-higher numbers of Ruby-crowned Kinglets have been noted, some from street trees and all thru the county, in some small locations even into the dozens in total, with vastly more in the larger parks. Hermit Thrushes are taking their expected place as the most common thrush of later-fall, and at least some, or many may linger for quite a while, including thru all but the harshest of winters. A few Wood and Gray-cheeked Thrushes, and slightly more Swainsons Thrushes were still lingering. Any report of Veery by this date, and onward into winter should ideally be well-documented, preferably by crisp photos or video, as the vast majority of that species are far, far south by now. Besides the nice push of E. Meadowlark into the county, other members of the Icteridae have included Baltimore Oriole, in small numbers, as well as the expected arrivals of more Red-winged Blackbirds, Common Grackles and Brown-headed Cowbirds. Bobolinks have mostly faded, headed south with a few sightings in the last week from the county, particularly at Governors Island. Thanks to many observers, some out in not-the-nicest weather at times, with many reports. 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/ --
