[nysbirds-l] Syracuse area RBA
RBA * New York * Syracuse * May 10, 2021 * NYSY 05. 17. 21 Hotline: Syracuse Rare bird Alert Dates(s): May 10 to May 17, 2021 to report by e-mail: brinjoseph AT yahoo.com covering upstate NY counties: Cayuga, Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge and Montezuma Wetlands Complex (MWC) (just outside Cayuga County), Onondaga, Oswego, Lewis, Jefferson, Oneida, Herkimer, Madison & Cortland compiled: May 17 AT 4:00 p.m. (DST) compiler: Joseph Brin Onondaga Audubon Homepage: www.onondagaaudubon.org #752 Monday May 17, 2021 Greetings. This is the Syracuse Area Rare Bird Alert for the week of May 10, 2021 Highlights: --- RED-NECKED GREBE LEAST BITTERN BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON GLOSSY IBIS WHITE-FACED IBIS WHITE-WINGED SCOTER BLACK VULTURE GOLDEN EAGLE LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER HUDSONIAN GODWIT RUDDY TURNSTONE LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL LAUGHING GULL RED-HEADED WOODPECKER OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER PHILADELPHIA VIREO SWAINSON’S THRUSH PROTHONOTARY WARBLER GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER GRASSHOPPER SPARROW LINCOLN’S SPARROW CLAY-COLORED SPARROW ORCHARD ORIOLE EVENING GROSBEAK RED CROSSBILL Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge (MNWR) and Montezuma Wetlands Complex (MWC) 5/12: Found along the Wildlife Drive: LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, LEAST BITTERN, GLOSSY IBIS (only one), LINCOLN’S SPARROW. 8 Shorebird species including SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER were seen on the west side of Howland Island. 5/15: A WHITE-FACED IBIS was seen with the remaining GLOSSY IBIS in the Wildlife trail. 2 PROTHONOTARY WARBLERS were seen from kayaks on the west side of Howland Island. 5/16: A PROTHONOTARY WARBLER was seen in the wooded area of Armitage Road.An ORCHARD ORIOLE and a LINCOLN’S SPARROW were seen on the Wildlife Drive. 9 Shorebird species including SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER were seen from Carncross Road. Onondaga County 5/11: A WHITE-WINGED SCOTER was seen on the West Shore trail of Onondaga Lake and was seen through the 16th. 5/12: A LEAST BITTERN was heard at DewittMarsh. A BLACK VULTURE was seen at Jamesville Beach. 5/13: A GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH was seen at Highland Forest County Park. 5/14: Last sighting of the RED-NECKED GREBE on the West Shore Trail of Onondaga Lake. 5/15: A BLACK TERN was seen at the Honeywell Center on Onondaga Lake. An OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER was seen at Highland Forest Park.A RED CROSSBILL and a GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER were found on Woodmancy Road north of Vesper. 5/16: 2 RED CROSSBILLS were found on Shakham Road in the Morgan Hill State forest. An ORCHARD ORIOLE was seen at Green Lakes State Park. 5/17: A PHILADELPHIA VIREO was seen at the LeMoyne College Woods. Derby Hill Bird Observatory - Only 771 Hawks were counted at Derby this week. One GOLDEN EAGLE was seen. 12 EVENING GROSBEAKS and a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER were counted also. Oswego County 5/11: An EVENING GROSBEAK was seen on Skyline Drive in Oswego. 5/12: A RUDY TURNSTONE was seen at Biddlecum Road Marsh north of Phoenix. A LEAST BITTERN was heard on Depot Road in West Monroe. 5/13: A LAUGHING GULL was again seen at the sandy Pond Outlet on Lake Ontario.At sunset Bay park on Lake Ontario the following were seen: LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, SWAINSON’S THRUSH, EVENING GROSBEAK and LINCOLN’S SPARROW. 5/15: 2 RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS were seen at Nine Mile Point Road near Noyes Sanctuary on Lake Ontario. A PHILADELPHIA VIREO and an ORCHARD ORIOLE were seen at Sunset Bay Park.A WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER was seen at Biddlecum Pond. A HUDSONIAN GODWIT was seen the Sandy Pond Outlet. 5/16: A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was seen at Sunset Bay park. 5/17: A LINCOLN’S SPARROW, an ORCHARD ORIOLE and an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER were seen at Sunset Bay Park. Madison County -- 5/12: An EVENING GROSBEAK was seen on Eden Hollow Road. 5/14: 6 EVENIN GROSBEAKS continue near Eaton Reservoir. 5/15: 2 WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS were seen at the Madison Street Impoundment north of Hamilton. 5/17: 2 PROTHONOTARY WARBLERS were seen at Woodman Pond north of Hamilton. Oneida County 5/12: 5/12: 2 BLACK VULTURES were seen from the Mohawk River Walk in Rome. 5/13: 2 RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS continue at Verona Beach State Park on Oneida Lake. 5/15: 1 RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was seen on Lakeshore Drive at the east ene of Oneida Lake. 5/16: An EVENING GROSBEAK was seen at Coleman Mills Road near the Oneida County Airport. A PHILADELPHIA VIREO was seen at the Lake Julia Preserve. A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was seen on Brown Tract Road in Remsen. Herkimer County 5/11: An EVEN GROSBEAK was seen in Cold Brook. 5/13: A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was seen at the corner of Albany and Soncody Roads south of West Winfield. 5/16: An ORCHARD ORIOLE was seen at Salisbury Corners. -End Report Joseph Brin
[nysbirds-l] Syracuse area RBA
RBA * New York * Syracuse * May 10, 2021 * NYSY 05. 17. 21 Hotline: Syracuse Rare bird Alert Dates(s): May 10 to May 17, 2021 to report by e-mail: brinjoseph AT yahoo.com covering upstate NY counties: Cayuga, Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge and Montezuma Wetlands Complex (MWC) (just outside Cayuga County), Onondaga, Oswego, Lewis, Jefferson, Oneida, Herkimer, Madison & Cortland compiled: May 17 AT 4:00 p.m. (DST) compiler: Joseph Brin Onondaga Audubon Homepage: www.onondagaaudubon.org #752 Monday May 17, 2021 Greetings. This is the Syracuse Area Rare Bird Alert for the week of May 10, 2021 Highlights: --- RED-NECKED GREBE LEAST BITTERN BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON GLOSSY IBIS WHITE-FACED IBIS WHITE-WINGED SCOTER BLACK VULTURE GOLDEN EAGLE LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER HUDSONIAN GODWIT RUDDY TURNSTONE LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL LAUGHING GULL RED-HEADED WOODPECKER OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER PHILADELPHIA VIREO SWAINSON’S THRUSH PROTHONOTARY WARBLER GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER GRASSHOPPER SPARROW LINCOLN’S SPARROW CLAY-COLORED SPARROW ORCHARD ORIOLE EVENING GROSBEAK RED CROSSBILL Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge (MNWR) and Montezuma Wetlands Complex (MWC) 5/12: Found along the Wildlife Drive: LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, LEAST BITTERN, GLOSSY IBIS (only one), LINCOLN’S SPARROW. 8 Shorebird species including SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER were seen on the west side of Howland Island. 5/15: A WHITE-FACED IBIS was seen with the remaining GLOSSY IBIS in the Wildlife trail. 2 PROTHONOTARY WARBLERS were seen from kayaks on the west side of Howland Island. 5/16: A PROTHONOTARY WARBLER was seen in the wooded area of Armitage Road.An ORCHARD ORIOLE and a LINCOLN’S SPARROW were seen on the Wildlife Drive. 9 Shorebird species including SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER were seen from Carncross Road. Onondaga County 5/11: A WHITE-WINGED SCOTER was seen on the West Shore trail of Onondaga Lake and was seen through the 16th. 5/12: A LEAST BITTERN was heard at DewittMarsh. A BLACK VULTURE was seen at Jamesville Beach. 5/13: A GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH was seen at Highland Forest County Park. 5/14: Last sighting of the RED-NECKED GREBE on the West Shore Trail of Onondaga Lake. 5/15: A BLACK TERN was seen at the Honeywell Center on Onondaga Lake. An OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER was seen at Highland Forest Park.A RED CROSSBILL and a GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER were found on Woodmancy Road north of Vesper. 5/16: 2 RED CROSSBILLS were found on Shakham Road in the Morgan Hill State forest. An ORCHARD ORIOLE was seen at Green Lakes State Park. 5/17: A PHILADELPHIA VIREO was seen at the LeMoyne College Woods. Derby Hill Bird Observatory - Only 771 Hawks were counted at Derby this week. One GOLDEN EAGLE was seen. 12 EVENING GROSBEAKS and a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER were counted also. Oswego County 5/11: An EVENING GROSBEAK was seen on Skyline Drive in Oswego. 5/12: A RUDY TURNSTONE was seen at Biddlecum Road Marsh north of Phoenix. A LEAST BITTERN was heard on Depot Road in West Monroe. 5/13: A LAUGHING GULL was again seen at the sandy Pond Outlet on Lake Ontario.At sunset Bay park on Lake Ontario the following were seen: LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, SWAINSON’S THRUSH, EVENING GROSBEAK and LINCOLN’S SPARROW. 5/15: 2 RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS were seen at Nine Mile Point Road near Noyes Sanctuary on Lake Ontario. A PHILADELPHIA VIREO and an ORCHARD ORIOLE were seen at Sunset Bay Park.A WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER was seen at Biddlecum Pond. A HUDSONIAN GODWIT was seen the Sandy Pond Outlet. 5/16: A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was seen at Sunset Bay park. 5/17: A LINCOLN’S SPARROW, an ORCHARD ORIOLE and an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER were seen at Sunset Bay Park. Madison County -- 5/12: An EVENING GROSBEAK was seen on Eden Hollow Road. 5/14: 6 EVENIN GROSBEAKS continue near Eaton Reservoir. 5/15: 2 WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS were seen at the Madison Street Impoundment north of Hamilton. 5/17: 2 PROTHONOTARY WARBLERS were seen at Woodman Pond north of Hamilton. Oneida County 5/12: 5/12: 2 BLACK VULTURES were seen from the Mohawk River Walk in Rome. 5/13: 2 RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS continue at Verona Beach State Park on Oneida Lake. 5/15: 1 RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was seen on Lakeshore Drive at the east ene of Oneida Lake. 5/16: An EVENING GROSBEAK was seen at Coleman Mills Road near the Oneida County Airport. A PHILADELPHIA VIREO was seen at the Lake Julia Preserve. A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was seen on Brown Tract Road in Remsen. Herkimer County 5/11: An EVEN GROSBEAK was seen in Cold Brook. 5/13: A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was seen at the corner of Albany and Soncody Roads south of West Winfield. 5/16: An ORCHARD ORIOLE was seen at Salisbury Corners. -End Report Joseph Brin
[nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Mon. May 17, 2021: Nest-building E. Kingbirds, Yellow-throated Vireo, Prothonotary & 18 more Wood Warbler Species
Central Park NYC Monday May 17, 2021 OBS: Robert DeCandido, PhD, m.ob. Highlights: Flyover Osprey, Nest-building Eastern Kingbirds, Yellow-throated Vireo, 19 Species of Wood Warblers including the continuing Prothonotary Warbler. Canada Goose - 6 Mallard - 5-10 Mourning Dove - 15-20 Chimney Swift - 8 Double-crested Cormorant - 3 Osprey - flyover Great Lawn Red-tailed Hawk - 2 flyovers Shakespeare Garden Red-bellied Woodpecker - 4 Downy Woodpecker - 2 Upper Lobe Northern Flicker - 4 Great Crested Flycatcher - 1 south of Belvedere Castle Eastern Kingbird - 2 pairs with nesting material (Turtle Pond, SW corner of Lake) Yellow-throated Vireo - 1 Balancing Rock Warbling Vireo - 6 Red-eyed Vireo - 4 Blue Jay - 3-5 Black-capped Chickadee - 1 Tupelo Field Veery - 5 American Robin - 50-75 Gray Catbird - 20-30 House Finch - 1 male Turtle Pond Dock White-throated Sparrow - 3 Orchard Oriole - second-year male turtle Pond Dock Baltimore Oriole - 6-10 Red-winged Blackbird - 3-5 Common Grackle - 5-10 Ovenbird - 3 Northern Waterthrush - 1 Turtle Pond Dock Black-and-white Warbler - 5 (1 male, 4 females) Prothonotary Warbler - female continuing at Oak Bridge Common Yellowthroat - 5 American Redstart - 10-15 Cape May Warbler - 2 males (Turtle Pond, Warbler Rock) Northern Parula - 15-20 Magnolia Warbler - 5-7 Bay-breasted Warbler - 1 male Balancing Rock Blackburnian Warbler - 5 (1 female, 4 males) Yellow Warbler - 5 Chestnut-sided Warbler - 2 (Humming Tombstone, Strawberry Fields) Blackpoll Warbler - 5 Black-throated Blue Warbler - 4 (2 males, 2 females) Yellow-rumped Warbler - 3 Black-throated Green Warbler - 3 (2 males, 1 female) Canada Warbler - 2 males (turtle POnd, Upper Lobe) Wilson's Warbler - 1 male Strawberry Fields (Paul Curtis) Scarlet Tanager - 1 male Balancing Rock Northern Cardinal - 5-10 Adding to the warbler count, David Barrett observed a singing Tennessee Warbler at the Locust Grove. For up-to-the-minute reports on Central Park birds see the Manhattan Bird Alert @BirdCentralPark on twitter. -- Deb Allen -- 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/ --
[nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Mon. May 17, 2021: Nest-building E. Kingbirds, Yellow-throated Vireo, Prothonotary & 18 more Wood Warbler Species
Central Park NYC Monday May 17, 2021 OBS: Robert DeCandido, PhD, m.ob. Highlights: Flyover Osprey, Nest-building Eastern Kingbirds, Yellow-throated Vireo, 19 Species of Wood Warblers including the continuing Prothonotary Warbler. Canada Goose - 6 Mallard - 5-10 Mourning Dove - 15-20 Chimney Swift - 8 Double-crested Cormorant - 3 Osprey - flyover Great Lawn Red-tailed Hawk - 2 flyovers Shakespeare Garden Red-bellied Woodpecker - 4 Downy Woodpecker - 2 Upper Lobe Northern Flicker - 4 Great Crested Flycatcher - 1 south of Belvedere Castle Eastern Kingbird - 2 pairs with nesting material (Turtle Pond, SW corner of Lake) Yellow-throated Vireo - 1 Balancing Rock Warbling Vireo - 6 Red-eyed Vireo - 4 Blue Jay - 3-5 Black-capped Chickadee - 1 Tupelo Field Veery - 5 American Robin - 50-75 Gray Catbird - 20-30 House Finch - 1 male Turtle Pond Dock White-throated Sparrow - 3 Orchard Oriole - second-year male turtle Pond Dock Baltimore Oriole - 6-10 Red-winged Blackbird - 3-5 Common Grackle - 5-10 Ovenbird - 3 Northern Waterthrush - 1 Turtle Pond Dock Black-and-white Warbler - 5 (1 male, 4 females) Prothonotary Warbler - female continuing at Oak Bridge Common Yellowthroat - 5 American Redstart - 10-15 Cape May Warbler - 2 males (Turtle Pond, Warbler Rock) Northern Parula - 15-20 Magnolia Warbler - 5-7 Bay-breasted Warbler - 1 male Balancing Rock Blackburnian Warbler - 5 (1 female, 4 males) Yellow Warbler - 5 Chestnut-sided Warbler - 2 (Humming Tombstone, Strawberry Fields) Blackpoll Warbler - 5 Black-throated Blue Warbler - 4 (2 males, 2 females) Yellow-rumped Warbler - 3 Black-throated Green Warbler - 3 (2 males, 1 female) Canada Warbler - 2 males (turtle POnd, Upper Lobe) Wilson's Warbler - 1 male Strawberry Fields (Paul Curtis) Scarlet Tanager - 1 male Balancing Rock Northern Cardinal - 5-10 Adding to the warbler count, David Barrett observed a singing Tennessee Warbler at the Locust Grove. For up-to-the-minute reports on Central Park birds see the Manhattan Bird Alert @BirdCentralPark on twitter. -- Deb Allen -- 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/ --
[nysbirds-l] Central Park (NYC) Prothonotary Warbler & lots more, Monday 5/17
Monday, May 17th -A Prothonotary Warbler was continuing at the n.-w. section of The Lake in Central Park (Manhattan, N.Y. City), with a lot of observers again this day. Closest park entrance to that part of the lake is W. 77th Street, down the hill from Central Park West, and just some yards north to the Oak bridge that crosses that arm of the lake.Also being seen again are a great selection of migrants, including more than 20 other warbler species, throughout that park, and likely all through N.Y. County, with good reports already in from multiple other Manhattan parks. good birding,Tom FioreManhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: Welcome and Basics Rules and Information Subscribe, Configuration and Leave Archives: The Mail Archive Surfbirds ABA Please submit your observations to eBird! --
[nysbirds-l] Central Park (NYC) Prothonotary Warbler & lots more, Monday 5/17
Monday, May 17th -A Prothonotary Warbler was continuing at the n.-w. section of The Lake in Central Park (Manhattan, N.Y. City), with a lot of observers again this day. Closest park entrance to that part of the lake is W. 77th Street, down the hill from Central Park West, and just some yards north to the Oak bridge that crosses that arm of the lake.Also being seen again are a great selection of migrants, including more than 20 other warbler species, throughout that park, and likely all through N.Y. County, with good reports already in from multiple other Manhattan parks. good birding,Tom FioreManhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: Welcome and Basics Rules and Information Subscribe, Configuration and Leave Archives: The Mail Archive Surfbirds ABA Please submit your observations to eBird! --
[nysbirds-l] N.Y. County & Central Park (NYC), addendum for 5/16 - 28 Warbler spp. incl. Cerulean, & Yellow-thr. Warbler, etc.
Sunday, May 16th - Thanks to Scott Stoner for clarifying the (east not west) location for the Yellow-headed Blackbird at Albany airport (Albany County, NY), which he also offered to the H-M Birds list-serve earlier on Sunday, and that list having updates on that, & many other birds in the Hudson-Mohawk region of N.Y. … In New York County (within N.Y. City) as a whole, more than 130 species of birds were found, even with the paucity of waterfowl & other winter-lingered birds that are now presumed departed. A flyover Glossy Ibis seen from the n. end of Central Park in Manhattan was a part of the tally of species on the day (& not the first, nor 2nd nor 3rd time that that species has been observed over the years from that part of Central, including past occurences of the species IN that part of the park, albeit rarely-seen in that way). Common Nighthawks (in small no’s.) were again seen, & some also photo’d again, from locations in Manhattan. Also seen & in great numbers at times - Chimney Swift, some flocks up to 200+ individuals, and in all sectors of the county all day thru dusk. At Central Park, in Manhattan, at least 28 species of warblers were found on Sunday, with the late-day find of a Yellow-throated Warbler in the Ramble, by G. Willow, leading a bird-walk there. (A warbler of that species was not re-found at Canal Park in lower Manhattan, roughly 4 miles south of Central Park, by the observers for Sat., 5/15 at latter location nor by another observer there, on Sunday). Many later-season warbler species were seen in numbers, with again the numbers of Bay-breasted Warbler overall being quite impressive, and all through Manhattan. A female Cerulean Warbler was noted from at least 2 experienced observers, in Central Park near W. 86th St., west of the park’s west drive (north edge of the Seneca village vicinity of the park). Also noted in good numbers through the county on Sunday were Blackburnian Warblers in all the variations of sex & age plumages. Purple Finch & Pine Siskin, as well as much-more-common American Goldfinch were still passing through Sunday, and there were notable increases of Cedar Waxwing arrivals - and moving - on the day. There were very high numbers of Scarlet Tanager on the move, having further-arrrived on Sunday, with sightings even in some street-trees in Manhattan, and many (scores & scores) seen in the larger parks - as well as in many smaller green-spaces. A rather large departure was noted for White-throated Sparrow, even as that species was still not too tough to find. A drake Wood Duck was still in Central Park, one of the lingerers. We can at last thank Alexa Chabora for finding, and also thanks to Doug Futuyma for alerting other birders to the presence of the Sunday Prothonotary in Central, later seen by so many birders! That Prothonotary Warbler seen by so many at Central Park on Sunday *may* well have been a young (first-spring) male, as noted by some who took sharper photos, &/or had longer or closer views; I have seen adult females of the species (on breeding territories where the sex was not in doubt) which gave impressions similar to that I had initially of the 5/15 Central Park individual. (For now, I stick by the note that this bird’s sex is an adult female, but am happy to be shown that it’s a male.) If any observer SAW* the Prothonotary sing (& not just call) on Sunday, it would make clear the bird’s gender. (As an aside, that specific location within Central Park, & more so Central Park as a whole, has over the decades seen two Prothonotary Warblers turn up, of both opposite sex, as well as same sex, & linger together, at least twice in memory long-enough to begin to cause a bit of speculation as to what a pair with female & male Protho. might be up to, particularly when that occured into the month of May… although nesting has not been seen in Manhattan at least in living memory. Incidentally, the Sunday/16th Prothonotary was seen later in the day to explore into the edge of the Ramble’s n.w. edges a bit more, beyond the Lake-shore’s n.w. arm. (*note: in Central Park in particular, it’s best to see a bird singing, if one has a rarer species in one’s hearing, for the possibility that a song is being broadcast via someone’s electronic device - unless the song is very obviously coming from on-high in twigs.) … Going back to May 13th, a Lesser Yellowlegs which was photo’d (C. Quinn) at Governors Island in N.Y. County was a nice addition to the county species year-list; that bird not noted there again on following days, but the location can be good for the possibility of shorebirds & other birds that are less-expected on Manhattan island. (Greater Yellowlegs was still being seen at least to May 14th at Inwood Hill Park’s lagoon area, at the northern end of Manhattan.). Inwood Hill Park’s Marsh Wren was still present thru May 16th; that species also having been at Randall’s Island (in N.Y.
[nysbirds-l] N.Y. County & Central Park (NYC), addendum for 5/16 - 28 Warbler spp. incl. Cerulean, & Yellow-thr. Warbler, etc.
Sunday, May 16th - Thanks to Scott Stoner for clarifying the (east not west) location for the Yellow-headed Blackbird at Albany airport (Albany County, NY), which he also offered to the H-M Birds list-serve earlier on Sunday, and that list having updates on that, & many other birds in the Hudson-Mohawk region of N.Y. … In New York County (within N.Y. City) as a whole, more than 130 species of birds were found, even with the paucity of waterfowl & other winter-lingered birds that are now presumed departed. A flyover Glossy Ibis seen from the n. end of Central Park in Manhattan was a part of the tally of species on the day (& not the first, nor 2nd nor 3rd time that that species has been observed over the years from that part of Central, including past occurences of the species IN that part of the park, albeit rarely-seen in that way). Common Nighthawks (in small no’s.) were again seen, & some also photo’d again, from locations in Manhattan. Also seen & in great numbers at times - Chimney Swift, some flocks up to 200+ individuals, and in all sectors of the county all day thru dusk. At Central Park, in Manhattan, at least 28 species of warblers were found on Sunday, with the late-day find of a Yellow-throated Warbler in the Ramble, by G. Willow, leading a bird-walk there. (A warbler of that species was not re-found at Canal Park in lower Manhattan, roughly 4 miles south of Central Park, by the observers for Sat., 5/15 at latter location nor by another observer there, on Sunday). Many later-season warbler species were seen in numbers, with again the numbers of Bay-breasted Warbler overall being quite impressive, and all through Manhattan. A female Cerulean Warbler was noted from at least 2 experienced observers, in Central Park near W. 86th St., west of the park’s west drive (north edge of the Seneca village vicinity of the park). Also noted in good numbers through the county on Sunday were Blackburnian Warblers in all the variations of sex & age plumages. Purple Finch & Pine Siskin, as well as much-more-common American Goldfinch were still passing through Sunday, and there were notable increases of Cedar Waxwing arrivals - and moving - on the day. There were very high numbers of Scarlet Tanager on the move, having further-arrrived on Sunday, with sightings even in some street-trees in Manhattan, and many (scores & scores) seen in the larger parks - as well as in many smaller green-spaces. A rather large departure was noted for White-throated Sparrow, even as that species was still not too tough to find. A drake Wood Duck was still in Central Park, one of the lingerers. We can at last thank Alexa Chabora for finding, and also thanks to Doug Futuyma for alerting other birders to the presence of the Sunday Prothonotary in Central, later seen by so many birders! That Prothonotary Warbler seen by so many at Central Park on Sunday *may* well have been a young (first-spring) male, as noted by some who took sharper photos, &/or had longer or closer views; I have seen adult females of the species (on breeding territories where the sex was not in doubt) which gave impressions similar to that I had initially of the 5/15 Central Park individual. (For now, I stick by the note that this bird’s sex is an adult female, but am happy to be shown that it’s a male.) If any observer SAW* the Prothonotary sing (& not just call) on Sunday, it would make clear the bird’s gender. (As an aside, that specific location within Central Park, & more so Central Park as a whole, has over the decades seen two Prothonotary Warblers turn up, of both opposite sex, as well as same sex, & linger together, at least twice in memory long-enough to begin to cause a bit of speculation as to what a pair with female & male Protho. might be up to, particularly when that occured into the month of May… although nesting has not been seen in Manhattan at least in living memory. Incidentally, the Sunday/16th Prothonotary was seen later in the day to explore into the edge of the Ramble’s n.w. edges a bit more, beyond the Lake-shore’s n.w. arm. (*note: in Central Park in particular, it’s best to see a bird singing, if one has a rarer species in one’s hearing, for the possibility that a song is being broadcast via someone’s electronic device - unless the song is very obviously coming from on-high in twigs.) … Going back to May 13th, a Lesser Yellowlegs which was photo’d (C. Quinn) at Governors Island in N.Y. County was a nice addition to the county species year-list; that bird not noted there again on following days, but the location can be good for the possibility of shorebirds & other birds that are less-expected on Manhattan island. (Greater Yellowlegs was still being seen at least to May 14th at Inwood Hill Park’s lagoon area, at the northern end of Manhattan.). Inwood Hill Park’s Marsh Wren was still present thru May 16th; that species also having been at Randall’s Island (in N.Y.
