Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City - From more than 40 correspondents who requested to receive a photo (just 1 discovered) of a flycatcher from Monday 10/31, which I had photographed (but never saw in the field; my focus being entirely on a flock of eastern bluebirds - the photo was from approx. 80-90 feet away on max. 48X zoom with a "point-&-shoot" camera), there were more than 20 responses, all (that I'm aware of) privately sent, and in the mix were a slight preponderance, just more than a third, responding that they believed the photo to show a young Eastern Phoebe; just about one-third believed the photo might show a Great Crested Flycatcher, and another third had no definite opinions, at least in their responses. No one expressed the view that the photo showed a Tyrannus [genus - kingbird] of any species :-) - and I am strongly- inclined to go with the Eastern Phoebe camp, after all, & chalk up the rather brief bit of excitement to a too-quick look at a photo later in the day, & then better looks (at photo) and thus simply going to the first choice in flycatchers as the most-common mid and late fall species hereabouts, as well as the structure & silhouette of the bird - sorry for the brief kingbird "call", even though reported as just a "possible" - and thanks again to the many who wrote about this, including at least one NYC birder just now in Australia!
- - - - - - - Tuesday, 1st of November, 2016 - A Yellow-breasted Chat continued through the day today, seen by many at intervals in the area just north of Winterdale Arch (over which the park's West Drive runs) and in vegetation on the lower slope beneath the rocks of the area given the sobriquet "Sparrow Rocks" aka "Sparrow Ridge" - east side of the West Drive, approx. 'latitude' of West 83 Street within the park. The Chat was in & out of view thru the day, for those with time & patience, it showed well in trees, on the ground, & at edges of vegetation multiple times. In the same area has also been an Indigo Bunting, and at one point mid-day, a not-that-high flyover of Red-shouldered Hawk. A Rusty Blackbird in rather matte-rusty winter (basic) plumage continues at the Gill (stream in the Ramble), seen in the morning at the area just east of the small western-most rustic bridge, and continuing to be rather shy. Overall, there were clearly far fewer migrants about that in recent days, yet there were still some lingering warblers besides the biggest one (Chat), which included: Northern Parula, Black-throated Blue, Myrtle, Pine, Palm and Blackpoll Warbler[s], Ovenbird, and Common Yellowthroat. A Northern Waterthrush at The Pond over the past 4 days was not much-sought today, but may have still been there. (A drake Wood Duck & single American Coot remianed there, in a quick morning pass through the park's south end.) At the reservoir, at least 4 Hooded Merganser, 6 or more Buffleheads, and the usual N. Shovelers, Ruddy Ducks, American Coots and others were present. Of course, many other migrant, visiting or resident species were about this Monday, but overall far fewer migrants than had been through the weekend. - - - - - - - "A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise." - Aldo Leopold (1887–1948), U.S. wildlife biologist, conservationist, professor, author, best known for his book "A Sand County Almanac" (1949), which has sold more than two million copies. good birding - and great birding for some at Marshlands Conservancy, Rye NY - Congratulations to the finders of the Virginia's Warbler there! 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/[email protected]/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/ --
