Monday, 30 April, 2012 - Manhattan, N.Y. City Migrant diversity increased somewhat today, even as some (but apparently not all) species noted Sunday lingered on. As an indicator of some of the activity, wood-warbler numbers were up to at least 24 species in Manhattan, with as many as 18 species in Riverside Park through mid-morning & afternoon. Central Park went a bit over that number with at least 20 warbler spp. noted on the day, perhaps more. (The Bryant Park Prothonotary warbler was likely the only one of its kind seen in Manhattan today.) I found both Tennessee Warbler (seen high in trees, and singing) and Canada Warbler as most notable in Riverside Park in the morning; most migrants were seen between about W. 110 - 122 Street "latitudes" within that park on the far west side. At the "drip" itself, a modestly increased flow of water may have begun to attract slightly more migrants, with at least 9 warbler species and an Indigo Bunting coming in there to bathe or drink in the mid-afternoon. Most of the warblers were species that have been around a while (in Riverside), with the exception of Black-throated Blue & Blue-winged Warbler[s]. A female (and looking like a first-spring) Hooded Warbler appeared briefly at about the same time as the Blue- winged but she did not stay at the drip long. It was as it often can be at the "drip" - long intervals of little action, and then brief flurries. A pair of American Crows that are nesting nearby have been frequent visitors to the drip and that brings a temporary slowing of smaller birds coming in. In the oaks closer to Riverside Drive and mainly seen in the morning hours were multiple Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Baltimore Orioles, and a few Scarlet Tanagers - these all present in Central Park as well, earlier on & presumably through the day in some locations there. Yellow-billed Cuckoo was also in Riverside Park as well as in Central's north end. New arrivals in Central Park included (early) Swainson's Thrush at the north end; Veery and Wood Thrush have been present in very modest numbers for some days; Hermit Thrushes are diminishing in numbers as the other 'Catharus' species continue to arrive. White-crowned Sparrows are starting up and more of the later-season sparrows and much more will be arriving any day now. It looks as though the first of May could be fairly productive. Thanks to Geoff Nulle for some of the Riverside Park sightings and getting the drip reinvigorated.
Good birding, Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES 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://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
