[nysbirds-l] N.Y. County, NYC - Tues.-Wed., 9/28-29 - Clay-c. Sparrow; more CT Warblers; ongoing Gov.Island specials, & more!
Congrat's to A.V. Ciancimino of Staten Island (Richmond Co., NY) for the late-Wednesday find of a N. WHEATEAR, a great bird for anywhere and, obviously so for N.Y. City, state, and the southernmost county of NY state (yes, that’s Richmond Co.), and for all the others who were able to get there as well! (although not, by definition, a vagrant in this region; the species is a *very*-rare, but still regular fall passage-migrant & is found, most-often, by very active, keen observers, especially those in coastal parts of eastern N. America in early calendar-Autumn. If seen again further reports are very warranted and welcomed to this and any other regional list-serves.) - - - Well worth a mention of the Magnificent Frigatebird seen soaring by at least 2 observers at Oneida Shores park, out of Cicero, Onondaga County, NY on the morning of Mon., Sept. 27th; the report is confirmed in eBird, from obs. P. Novak & M. Fitzsimmons. (That bird could show yet again at some other localities, and perhaps in NY state.) …... New York City’s mayor announced on Tuesday that Governors Island will be opened YEAR-ROUND to all of the public this autumn - no more ending of entries to the general public on the last day of October. This is great news for everyone, certainly including all birders. There also may be new-increased ferry services. (The island is part of N.Y. City, and is considered to be within New York County.) One can walk the entire island, if one has the time, and fitness, in less than a day, and there is also the possibility of cycling (on a pedal-bike, no e-Bikes or other powered-vehicles), with pedal-power bicycles & others usually available for rent on the island, and if designated in one’s ferry reservation, the chance to bring your own human-powered cycle or scooter. Another Clay-colored Sparrow for N.Y. County, found at Inwood Hill Park, where later also photographed and seen by further observers; this was in the area of the regenerating-marsh project, near the northern section of that park, Wednesday, 9/29. That bird was still seen later in the day. (Photos of it have been made available on eBird / Macaulay Library archives.) . . . Tuesday, 9/28 - At Central Park (in Manhattan, N.Y. City) on Tuesday, 9/28, a (first-year) Yellow-crowned Night-Heron was (again) seen along the Lake shore (this latest at the n.-w. part of the lake, locally called the “upper lobe”), There were also at least several 1st-year Black-crowned Night-Herons in the same area of the Yellow-crowned, so scrutiny is warranted. (Yellow-crowned Night-Heron also continued at Randall’s Island, also within N.Y. County). A "male-plumaged" Hooded Warbler brightened the Ramble area of that park, presumably or at least very possibly same individual as seen in same area some days ago now. And again, it’s at least possible, unless the individual has been **observed** *singing*, (not merely a heard-bird, in that particular location) that the Hooded Warbler being seen is a female adult, as that gender in that species can sometimes show a plumage quite similar to and approaching that of a male in bright adult plumage, even at this season. In the ornithological journal “The Auk”, Wm. Palmer wrote a lot on this subject - in 1894. It may require more than one year, and possibly even more than 2 years for Hooded Warblers to acquire the fully-adult plumage. This has also been studied and written on, in more-recent times by among others, Douglass Morse (author of the excellent “American Warblers”) and also by E.S. Morton, each in the literature and in the more-modern era; interestingly, there are observations of same-gender activity (some at nests) by Hooded Warbler, as well as many other fascinating aspects of this species life-history (and of course also by some other species among the New World, or American warblers, of the family Parulidae). Some aspects of this also were studied by R. Mumme, also found in the literature. The first-of-season Brant (all presumed Atlantic Brant) came through on Tues. 9/28, with many others having been seen to the north of Manhattan as well as elsewhere; these were moving nearly at day’s end. Ruddy Ducks in Central Park numbered at least 12, by Tuesday. There also are at least several Wood Ducks in several locations there. A Solitary Sandpiper was reported from Inwood Hill Park.Both of our species of Cuckoo were again seen on Tuesday: Black-billed & Yellow-billed. There was a noticeable passage of Wood Thrush, in particular, among migrant thrushes; some observers still were finding Veery - in the singular now; and certainly some Swainson’s Thrushes, along with the less-numerous Gray-cheeked (&/or that type!) and some Hermit Thrush as well. There were still at least 22 warbler species in N.Y. County to Tuesday, with many species again being found in lower Manhattan, although also still very good diversity in the larger parks to the north
[nysbirds-l] N.Y. County, NYC - Tues.-Wed., 9/28-29 - Clay-c. Sparrow; more CT Warblers; ongoing Gov.Island specials, & more!
Congrat's to A.V. Ciancimino of Staten Island (Richmond Co., NY) for the late-Wednesday find of a N. WHEATEAR, a great bird for anywhere and, obviously so for N.Y. City, state, and the southernmost county of NY state (yes, that’s Richmond Co.), and for all the others who were able to get there as well! (although not, by definition, a vagrant in this region; the species is a *very*-rare, but still regular fall passage-migrant & is found, most-often, by very active, keen observers, especially those in coastal parts of eastern N. America in early calendar-Autumn. If seen again further reports are very warranted and welcomed to this and any other regional list-serves.) - - - Well worth a mention of the Magnificent Frigatebird seen soaring by at least 2 observers at Oneida Shores park, out of Cicero, Onondaga County, NY on the morning of Mon., Sept. 27th; the report is confirmed in eBird, from obs. P. Novak & M. Fitzsimmons. (That bird could show yet again at some other localities, and perhaps in NY state.) …... New York City’s mayor announced on Tuesday that Governors Island will be opened YEAR-ROUND to all of the public this autumn - no more ending of entries to the general public on the last day of October. This is great news for everyone, certainly including all birders. There also may be new-increased ferry services. (The island is part of N.Y. City, and is considered to be within New York County.) One can walk the entire island, if one has the time, and fitness, in less than a day, and there is also the possibility of cycling (on a pedal-bike, no e-Bikes or other powered-vehicles), with pedal-power bicycles & others usually available for rent on the island, and if designated in one’s ferry reservation, the chance to bring your own human-powered cycle or scooter. Another Clay-colored Sparrow for N.Y. County, found at Inwood Hill Park, where later also photographed and seen by further observers; this was in the area of the regenerating-marsh project, near the northern section of that park, Wednesday, 9/29. That bird was still seen later in the day. (Photos of it have been made available on eBird / Macaulay Library archives.) . . . Tuesday, 9/28 - At Central Park (in Manhattan, N.Y. City) on Tuesday, 9/28, a (first-year) Yellow-crowned Night-Heron was (again) seen along the Lake shore (this latest at the n.-w. part of the lake, locally called the “upper lobe”), There were also at least several 1st-year Black-crowned Night-Herons in the same area of the Yellow-crowned, so scrutiny is warranted. (Yellow-crowned Night-Heron also continued at Randall’s Island, also within N.Y. County). A "male-plumaged" Hooded Warbler brightened the Ramble area of that park, presumably or at least very possibly same individual as seen in same area some days ago now. And again, it’s at least possible, unless the individual has been **observed** *singing*, (not merely a heard-bird, in that particular location) that the Hooded Warbler being seen is a female adult, as that gender in that species can sometimes show a plumage quite similar to and approaching that of a male in bright adult plumage, even at this season. In the ornithological journal “The Auk”, Wm. Palmer wrote a lot on this subject - in 1894. It may require more than one year, and possibly even more than 2 years for Hooded Warblers to acquire the fully-adult plumage. This has also been studied and written on, in more-recent times by among others, Douglass Morse (author of the excellent “American Warblers”) and also by E.S. Morton, each in the literature and in the more-modern era; interestingly, there are observations of same-gender activity (some at nests) by Hooded Warbler, as well as many other fascinating aspects of this species life-history (and of course also by some other species among the New World, or American warblers, of the family Parulidae). Some aspects of this also were studied by R. Mumme, also found in the literature. The first-of-season Brant (all presumed Atlantic Brant) came through on Tues. 9/28, with many others having been seen to the north of Manhattan as well as elsewhere; these were moving nearly at day’s end. Ruddy Ducks in Central Park numbered at least 12, by Tuesday. There also are at least several Wood Ducks in several locations there. A Solitary Sandpiper was reported from Inwood Hill Park.Both of our species of Cuckoo were again seen on Tuesday: Black-billed & Yellow-billed. There was a noticeable passage of Wood Thrush, in particular, among migrant thrushes; some observers still were finding Veery - in the singular now; and certainly some Swainson’s Thrushes, along with the less-numerous Gray-cheeked (&/or that type!) and some Hermit Thrush as well. There were still at least 22 warbler species in N.Y. County to Tuesday, with many species again being found in lower Manhattan, although also still very good diversity in the larger parks to the north
