In Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City an American Redstart was seen on
Tues.-Wed., December 8 & 9, 2009. This is obviously an exceptionally
late date for the species, however there are some later records
including a small number seen on NY CBC's. There is also at least one
equally late sighting from Central Park at least a decade earlier.
The sighting this month was by Tom Perlman, on both days noted - and
the bird was also seen by 2 additional observers (same location) on
Wed., Dec. 9. (And thanks to Jim Demes for bringing this to my
attention initially). Some Snow Geese were seen (by me) on Saturday,
Dec. 12, working S. overhead.
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About late warblers, an Ovenbird successfully overwintered at
Riverside Park in the 1980's. It spent time near a dumpster and also
had access to an open and somewhat warmer garage area, near the old
boat basin.
- - -
Referring to birds of western and southwestern origins, species that
are very similar to others should be looked at with a critical eye -
photographed - picked up with care (if found dead) and brought to a
museum's bird collection - as we might discover more; and this could
apply to a fair number of birds that can be found breeding east of the
Rockies which also (as species, or as subspecies as currently
understood) are found farther west. It could be, as suggested, that
any number of birds seen in the off-season and very much after the
expected migration period have originated in the far west, southwest
and/or otherwise away from more expected breeding areas of some of our
migrants. It also might be very difficult to determine this from
viewing alone or even from good photos but the more closely examined
birds are, more may be learned.
The following examples don't indicate my personal preferences, in
favor or not, of banding. These were, & the results are interesting as
the species determined is generally understood as far more rare in the
east than Rufous, to which Allen's is so similar-looking, especially
females.
female Allen's Hummingbird banded in Pennsylvania, still there:
http://www.birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/PENN.html#1260653031
and, female Allen's Hummingbird banded in Ohio & still present:
http://www.birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/OHIO.html#1260570089
Good birding,
Tom Fiore,
Manhattan
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