Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City - Monday p.m., 19 November, 2018 - A female-plumaged Evening Grosbeak was discovered at some point during the day at the Great Hill, n.w. sector of Central Park & is the first photo-documented sighting of this year for that species in Central Park. A number of other observers were on the scene, and I, just passing by, heard & briefly saw the grosbeak (when it was up) from the park drive, although sightings were also had by others (earlier, & poss. later also) of the bird on the ground, this in the eastern part of the hill, not far west of the West Park Drive (roadway) & very slightly south from that road’s highest point on its passage over the hill. Nearest park entrances to this area would be at West 103rd or West 106th Streets from Central Park West.
Not all who came in to particularly seek the above managed views, some may have heard; learning-familiarizing with vocalizations of many birds is a helpful addition to anyone’s suite of bird-finding skills & tools, and then where possible, careful attentive listening. Let’s hope more sightings come with a view of these wonderful winter finches for all to see, as well as being heard. As many as 8-10 Purple Finch were still feeding in the general area as the sun was nearly setting, some right where the Eve.-beak had been, & some just a bit south of that. A lot of birds were on the move this day, including (esp.) waxwings, robins, icterids (grackles in particular), & finches (with American Goldfinch easily the most numerous amongst the latter group, overall & as seen from several locations in Manhattan through the day). There was also an Eastern Red Bat, a species that has been seen actively feeding in N.Y. City even on (some) mild winter days or evenings; this one was plenty busy, as insect life was very much in evidence around the Great Hill & in general with such a mild afternoon. Plenty more to report on for all of Manhattan etc., at a later date. Thanks to any & all who found, reported, observed, & took photos on the site this afternoon. My understanding, fide other birders, was that NYS Young Birders Club member Isaiah Sigman-Wender was the finder of this grosbeak on the Great Hill - sharp eyes, ears! Good birding, Tom Fiore manhattan -- 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/[email protected]/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/ --
