As a follow-up to a post to this list, by J. Gluth on the sighting -by Jim Wood- in Wayne Co., NY, of a Black-billed Magpie, the eBird checklist with embedded photos has been available at this link - and is confirmed by reviewers - from March 27th, and with no further reports in eBird. https://ebird.org/checklist/S166143115
- - - - New York County -in N.Y. City- including Manhattan, Randalls Island and Governors Island, as well as skies above and adjacent waters, and some small islets in the county. Sightings up thru March 30th are included in this report... A fair number of migratory birds have been moving, in both fresh spring weather and some of what seemed foul-weather - many of the weather systems overall are coming in from the south and southwest of our region, as is typical anyhow. In many parks and greenspaces, trees, shrubs and other plants are far-along in getting greener, with for example willow trees now showing a lot of green. Natives in bloom recently include Shadbush, in the genus Amelanchier, in some parks such as Central Park mostly planted, and in some others, growing naturally. Many more trees are also blooming including a majority of the early-blooming Magnolia varieties and some cherries, though not-yet the famed Yoshino variety of cherry, which come a bit later. On to the BIRDS - Some, but hardly all of recent highlights include arrivals of Louisiana Waterthrush - at Central Park on Sat., March 30th and in-line with others coming in to the region; the so-far singleton in Central was in a site where the species is rather regular in spring; also present and ongoing have been some Pine Warblers - daily in Central Park in a few locations, including one drab female that seemed to have overwintered, a rare-but-not-unprecedented occurrence for that species; also around in the county have been Myrtle Warbler and, in a nice re-re-re-find, Orange-crowned Warbler again at the freshwater wetlands area of Randalls Island, a very-much-overwintered individual - there were at least a few others of that species which successfully overwintered in the county, as did at least a few of the Myrtle Warblers. There also was at-least one Ovenbird that made it all thru winter, in mid-Manhattan. The very scant Palm Warblers that came in March have not been seen again lately but a lot more are sure to begin showing soon. And, further arrivals / highhlights elsewhere, American Oystercatcher, as well as more of Wilsons Snipe, and American Woodcock, with far-more uncommon or rare Ruddy Turnstone - rare in New York County, that is. More details below in the listings of all species. Purple Sandpiper was also still showing in one location, as they have for months in the county to at-least Friday, March 29th, and Killdeer were ongoing as well. Of some other arrivals, more Great Egrets were starting to be seen, including some landing at busy parks such as Central Park, including at highly-watched Turtle Pond, etc. this week, and also a fair number as fly-bys on some days - and nights. Other such species have included just Great Blue Heron and Black-crowned Night-Heron in this county, although Yellow-crowneds have started to increase in the region, and Snowy Egrets also in the area recently. At Central Park, the rather-early Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher had persisted last week straight thru some of the big rains and was mostly seen very close by the boathouse cafe within that part of the Ramble area; it was not re-found by Friday, however. Many more will be expected in coming weeks. Three species of swallows have now been recorded in the county - and all 3 have shown in Central Park, at the Meer, by Thursday, 29th, with N. Rough-winged and single Barn Swallows being new for the year, then also detected at Randalls Island, including on Friday, 30th. The Tree Swallows have been moving for some weeks, but certainly more will be expected. It is on the early-side for Barn Swallow, yet this seems a pattern for the current millennium of a few or more showing even before April. N. Rough-winged Swallow are about on-time for first arrivers, and many more of them will also be expected for April. We also shall hope to see Cliff Swallow coming-back to the scarce nest-areas they have come to in recent years, in this county. Below are some of the species noted in N.Y. County in the past week, including some very recent arrivals. Birds seen from or on Randalls Island are denoted with -Rand- and some seen from and in Central Park are denoted -CP- with various others also annotated with some location-info. Atlantic Brant - at least 550 were present ON Randalls Island in the rains on Thursday, 3/28, these also are showing in many other county-locations, mostly in much smaller numbers. Canada Goose Mute Swan - ongoing in the East River only. Wood Duck - multiple fly-throughs on some days, and seen in a few locations but most-often as usual, from Central Park. Northern Shoveler - numbers bumped-up in the past week, and there were some in locations other than Central Park, but the highest numbers as is typical, from that park. Gadwall American Wigeon - the most-recent single-sighting appears to remain as March 21st, from Governors Island. An uncommon-to-rare species in the county. Mallard American Black Duck Mallard x American Black Duck - hybrids - which are seen regularly in the county, whether realized as-such by all who observe these; regular in many places and at many times of the year. Green-winged Teal - a few passing through, and the regular LONG-lingering pair at the Pool of Central Park, a natural waterbody in that parks NW quadrant. Lesser Scaup - a female has persisted in Central Park for many days at the reservoir, with by now, scores ands scores of observers and photos taken. This is a species that, like Canvasback, and some other Aythya -genus- ducks were common and annual, in the colder months at that reservoir, going-back mostly to the 1980s and earlier - some flocks of the Aythya could number into the thousands back in those days, unheard-of here now. - Long-tailed Duck - not reported again since sightings from off Governors Island last week. Bufflehead Hooded Merganser Red-breasted Merganser - at least a couple of this species have persisted at the Central Park reservoir, while also being seen in the rivers and N.Y. harbor off Manhattan, etc. this past week, mainly in low numbers. Pied-billed Grebe - not seen very recently, a long-lingering one at Central Park had likely flown, and a few others as well from other sites in the county have moved, as with other grebes such as Horned Grebe that had been off Governors Island this month of March. Mourning Dove -feral- Rock Pigeon --- a report of a ruby-throated hummingbird very recently from Manhattan was interesting, and would have ideally been accompanied by a very thorough description and, if possible by photos or videos; the odds of a ruby-throated this early are somewhat low, while other hummingbird species are at least very possible in late winter, to this early in spring season in our region, c.f. the ongoing Rufous Hummingbird at Prospect Park in Kings County / Brooklyn, N.Y. City which has both flowers and a feeder for nourishment and to help it get thru the cold and wet, as it has done there. ... I actually made an end-of-day foray to the vicinity of the reported ruby-throated in Manhattan, on same day as the report came thru -in eBird- but was unable to spot any hummingbirds; there are some flowers and indeed, enough flowers all around the county and the region, by now, to support a possible hummingbird being / lingering in the area. We shall see when the first better-documened Ruby-throateds begin to show in our area. American Coot - small numbers were ongoing at Central Park, plus a few elsewhere including the Hudson river edges, and at Randalls Island, etc. American Oystercatcher - one, which happily remained for at least one day, beyond March 28th and at-least to the early morning of Friday, March 29th, seen off the northeast shore of Randalls Island, out by Lawrence Point ledges. This species may be slightly more regular in occurrence in our modern era for the county, at least on migrations, and might be watched for as well off Governors Island and in the general area of N.Y. Harbor too. The sighting for 3/28 was in the rain, about which more below with the gulls of Randalls Island... Killdeer - ongoing with fair numbers in just a few locations where there are somewhat regular. Ruddy Turnstone - rare in N.Y. County despite being a common species at some locations in the same city and the broader region, coastally, this species also might be sought from Governors Island, and along that islands rocky shores, in any of the colder months and at migration seasons too. The two seen on the morning of March 29th, by a couple of our keen regulars to Randalls Island, were off the northeast side, and perhaps not easy to spot even then. Purple Sandpiper - up to 3 were around recently, on Pier 26 at the Hudson river and off lower Manhattan, and with some sightings to at-least Friday, March 29th - there could still be some lingering and we are very much still in the period when this species can be expected in the wider region. American Woodcock - many have come thru this month, with occurrences in dozens of locations, including at all of the larger parks in the county, and from both Randalls and Governors Islands; some were still moving thru in the past week and more could be in the coming weeks. The most-viewed of those seen recently have been, by far, those in Bryant Park in mid-Manhattan. Wilson's Snipe - good passages of these, esp. at Randalls Island, as recently as Thursday, 3/28 in the rains, when up to 5 or more were seen. Still very possible for more to show in coming weeks... Laughing Gull - relatively few so far, this species had shown at Central Park, and the East river a few times earlier, and most recently at least two in high plumage showed in the rains, as did more than 1,000 gulls, mostly of the following species, at Randalls Island on 3/28. Ring-billed Gull - many have been moving and/or massing, with a good concentration seen on Randalls Island in the rain on Thursday, 3/28, spread across multiple fields, with over 800 of them just in the northeastern quadrant plus some more on NW and other field areas. I had walked thru with the thought of rarer -possible- species in mind, in that rain, but was rewarded only with a single Lesser Black-backed Gull in the midst of the northeastern Randalls gull flocks - and that latter seen - perhaps same individual - on March 29th there as well, albeit in the usual gull-landing of the Post building off the Bronx kills east end. Laughing Gull will be increasing a lot this coming month, and in N.Y. County could be found almost anywhere, with the two larger out-islands, and the rivers as well as sometimes, Central Park reservoir among good places to try. American Herring Gull - this form of Herring Gull is the -default- for our county, unless otherwise well-documented. These are regular, and on March 28th at Randalls Island they may have made up to 25 percent of large gull flocks out in soggy, rain-soaked fields there. --- Iceland Gull - no apparent very recent or new sightings, but this species is very possible in April as well.--- Lesser Black-backed Gull - at least one very-recently, at Randalls Island northeastern sector, on both March 28 and 29th. A few prior reports from elsewhere, with some barely seen from the county itself... Red-throated Loon - multiple but not that many - locations around the countys salt-waters - and the one long-lingering at Central Parks reservoir, seen by hundreds and hundreds of observers there over many weeks by now. Common Loon - multiple locations, including most recently, several showing at Central Park. Incidentally, the appearance of breeding-plumaged Common Loon at Centrals reservoir is not that unusual and there have been many in that plumage over many decades; there was a year when, more-unusually, many of that species came, some persisting at that reservoir well into May, of that one year, and with multiples in high plumage as well as much cacophony then of actual calls from this iconic northern-breeder; actual as in the actual birds making the calls heard then, and not by other-loony other-means. Double-crested Cormorant - many are arriving, up to several dozens in a day on some arrival days, and many more starting to show in multiple locations this past week. Great Cormorant - scarcer but a few still lingering, in some typical locations, esp. off the tow out-islands of Randalls and Governors Islands. Great Blue Heron - modest numbers, some seen migrating on some days. Great Egret - multiple fly-bys on some days, and slow increases for some locations. More will be seen in the coming weeks and months. Black-crowned Night-Heron - only modest numbers so far, more are likely in coming weeks and months. Black Vulture - multiple sightings, esp. from northern Manhattan watches, but also occasional for other locations in recent weeks, including this past week. Turkey Vulture - increased and in modest numbers some days, passage migrants. Osprey - increasing and regular in the past week, including passing over Central and other parks and over the two other large islands of the county. Northern Harrier Sharp-shinned Hawk Cooper's Hawk Accipiter sp. - some sightings of the above last-2 species are best left marked as simply accipiter species, when the specific identity is not certain. Bald Eagle - good numbers on some days, and seen daily this past week, multiple sightings from over Central Park and many, many more county locations. Red-shouldered Hawk - getting scarcer, but still a few sightings in the past week. Red-tailed Hawk - many sightings and many nest-making pairs all around the county. Eastern Screech-Owl and Great Horned Owl, each again being found in the county, one a definite breeding native resident, and the other at least an often-suspected breeder. Other owls of this past winter may have moved on to their more northerly breeding areas. Belted Kingfisher - small to modest numbers so far. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - interestingly, some had already moved on, but more will be passing thru as well in coming weeks. Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker - uncommon, a rather-few pairs regularly nest in the county. Yellow-shafted Flicker - obvious increases of the past week plus, and many still lingering in some parks into this weekend. More will be moving in coming weeks. American Kestrel - multiple nesting pairs around the county, seen from many, many locations. Merlin - few sightings of the past week, but still likely to be on the move now. Peregrine Falcon - multiple nesting and hunting locations around the county. Monk Parakeet - ongoing at few select sites in the county. Eastern Phoebe - ongoing, with more arrivals for each day starting now and in coming weeks. Blue Jay - in good numbers. Northern Raven - the nesting pairs are doing well. And there are multiple additional sightings from around the county, as well as those known to be nesting. American Crow - the commoner crow of the county. Fish Crow - told from above species with care, these are somewhat scarce relative to the American Crow. Black-capped Chickadee Tufted Titmouse Northern Rough-winged Swallow - these have come in the modest-multiple by at least Thursday, 3/28 and have by now been seen in multiple locations in the county. Present at the Meer of Central Park by 3/28, and also seen at Randalls Island by same day. Many more are sure to arrive and pass thru in short order. Tree Swallow - some increase in passage over the past week, and sightings have come from multiple locations, with the most-obvious site to find nesting Tree Swallow in the county on Governors Island, with their many nest-boxes. Barn Swallow - a very few already showing, at least one at Central Park as well as at Randalls Island on 3/28, a few more starting to show by 3/29. These are still on the early side but late March sightings are now fairly standard, and the species has been detected well to the north of the county as well in recent days. Ruby-crowned Kinglet - numbers lately seem to reflect a modest movement, but also likely include many that wintered very locally. Golden-crowned Kinglet - excellent passages in recent weeks and days, and still coming thru - some of these also wintered in the county, this past winter in fair numbers. Red-breasted Nuthatch - scant so far, and a very few seemed to have wintered in the county. White-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper - modest increases over recent days, with some sightings in places that more-strongly indicate their passages, such as from city-street trees, and small greenspaces. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - one that had lingered a while, and was a bit early, has not been seen in the past few days at Central Parks Ramble. Many more will be coming in the month of April. Winter Wren - seen every day at Central Park, with many many observers, and also found in multiple other locations in the county recently. Carolina Wren - regulars in multiple locations. European Starling Gray Catbird - those seen this entire month of March are overwintered individuals, no arrivals this early. In some sites, multiples made it thru the winter, as has been over many other past winters as well. Brown Thrasher - modest numbers overwintered; this includes at least several at Central Park. Northern Mockingbird Hermit Thrush - while a fair number of these overwintered successfully in many locations, including at Central Park, there also was a very small increase this past week, perhaps of some additionals that had wintered mostly or all fairly locally. Many more will be expected to begin arriving in April. American Robin - many continued to arrive, passing thru, as well as the many already on their territories and even with some early nests made, and plenty of singing at all hours, some at night. Cedar Waxwing - scarcer this past week, as modest numbers seemed to dwindle a bit. House Sparrow - overly ubiquitous. House Finch Purple Finch - very few sightings, more may be coming along in April. Pine Siskin - much scarcer than the preceding species lately. American Goldfinch - still just modest numbers. Chipping Sparrow - a few that were showing in some locations including Inwood Hill and Central and Riverside Parks, etc. were still around this week. Far more will be expected soon. Field Sparrow - the relative-few that showed were still around this past week, in a few locations of the county. Red Fox Sparrow - ongoing in a number of locations, after a very strong passage this month, with a chance of some more passage at any time soon. Many have been singing. Slate-colored Junco - fair numbers with many more possible at any time shortly, on passage. White-throated Sparrow - good numbers all around the county, some modest movements may have also occurred, but the mass-passage arrivals of spring are still to come through. Vesper Sparrow - one at Central Parks north end on March 30th, not seen by many - so far, in a location where the species is seen at times, on migration. A slighly-early date for this park, but hardly out of the norm. Song Sparrow - many on passage plus some that are set up in nesting areas. Lincolns Sparrow - one that wintered all the way thru March may still be around in Manhattan. Some additionals also could be around which were documented far into the winter here. Swamp Sparrow - in multiple locations. Eastern Towhee - modest numbers had wintered and some of those were continuing, this includes at least several around Central Park, and others in other county locations. Baltimore Oriole --- this is reported by an experienced observer, from lower Manhattan, it would be a quite-early arrival and could suggest a bird that wintered somewhere in the area. Red-winged Blackbird - many set up in possible nest sites, also still passing thru. Brown-headed Cowbird Rusty Blackbird - scant this past week, more are very likely into April, on passage. Common Grackle - many all around the county. ----- reports of Boat-tailed Grackle should be accompanied by documentation including photos in this county. Still a rather scarce species, perhaps most likely to be found at the south edges of the county - such as on Governors Island... - Ovenbird - at least 1 individual passed the winter in Manhattan. Louisiana Waterthrush - one noted from Central Park by Saturday, March 30th. More are certain to show in the coming weeks. Orange-crowned Warbler - a small number of these overwintered; one was found again at Randalls Island to Saturday, 3/30. Others may still be lingering in some areas as well. Palm Warbler - the few that came in March could have moved on. Far more will be here soon. Pine Warbler - ongoing at Central Park, to March 30th and at least one of those had overwintered there. Others in brighter plumage, including some singing males, were ongoing in a few locations, esp. as found by multiple observers in Central Park over many recent days. A further regular male Pine was near the Delacorte Theatre area of Central Park on all recent days in March. Myrtle -a.k.a. Yellow-rumped- Warbler - multiples but not many, all probably rather locally ovrwintered. The main true passage arrivals of these are yet to come in April and on into May. - Northern Cardinal. - - - - - Again, many many trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants are in bloom, with more and more showing color and greening-up each day now. This also supports more insects and other arthropods emergences, and in part, offer a lot of good food for arriving hungry migrant birds. A happy Easter Sunday to all who celebrate, and a glorious day to all - with fair weather for a change in two days of a local weekend as well. Good birding to all, with thanks to the hundreds and hundreds of keen, quiet observers and reporters of so many birds all through the county, Tom Fiore manhattan -- (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") 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