Wed., Oct. 14th -

A Nelson’s Sparrow was found at Inwood Hill Park in northern Manhattan by Joe 
DiCostanzo & seen by multiple others, many of them also loyal regular birders 
in that park & more-generally northern Manhattan; this bird was still present 
thru the day there, & also nicely photographed. (Inwood is not to be denied, 
and is the site of many notable sightings, over many many years.)

A good many observers had been heading over to Randall’s Island (just east of 
manhattan) in part to see the Am. Golden-Plover, which was seen by a number of 
observers on 10/13, but possibly NOT found by any seekers on Wed./14th.  Also 
continuing to be found at Randall’s are modest no’s. of Nelson’s Sparrow, and 
some also are again reporting Saltmarsh Sparrow there (less so than for the 
Nelson’s). Pine Siskins & other migrants & visitors also continue at Randall’s, 
and there was 1 report of a Spotted Sandpiper. In addition, Yellow-crowned 
Night-Herons also continue; this remains the best site (in the county) to try 
for that species.

The Blue Grosbeak (presuming still the same individual, a likely female) at 
Central Park’s n. end compost / plant nursery area was re-found yet again, 
again this presumably the same bird seen in that area in recent weeks - a good 
bit of habitat for that species (Wednesday’s obs. incl. J. Suzuki); this bird 
could range around all of the section of the park; the wildfower meadow is only 
a quick flight across the park drive (E. Drive roadway), & that too has ideal 
habitat with a lot of room to hide at times, for that & other species.  There 
are also lingering Indigo Buntings in the same area, as well as a few elsewhere 
in the county, so ID putative grosbeaks with an eye for these buntings as well, 
all of which lately have been in drab immature &/or female plumage.

The arrival of more & more sparrows & other later-season migrants has been a 
signal of change in the season. Next - watch out for the geese! (and many other 
soon or already arriving later season migrants & visitors.)  Many locations, 
from Inwood Hill to Fort Tryon Parks, to Union Square & multiple other parks & 
greenspaces, have been receiving a variety of sparrow species, & some of those 
late/lingering neotropical-winterers as well.  

One observer at Central Park reported a modestly-late Solitary Sandpiper - this 
species had been moving thru the wider region into this week.  Overall, some of 
the neotropical-wintering migrants have become scant now. A N. Waterthrush was 
seen in the n. end of Central Park on Joe Giunta’s a.m. bird-walk, with group 
supporting the non-profit NYC Audubon, and they, & other observers found a good 
variety on the day.  Again it’s been a good season already for Lincoln’s & now 
White-crwoned Sparrows, with many sightings in many locations all around the 
county.

A very few E. Wood-Pewees have been seen, some photographed to 10/14. It is 
very much the season now to take a 2nd (and even 3rd) look at almost any 
flycatcher that appears not to be an E. Phoebe now, & also at many other groups 
of birds, such as tanagers (a few Scarlet Tanager have been going thru, to 
10/14), or buntings (watch for any with a greenish plumage!), hummingbirds of 
any sort, and so forth.  Chimney Swifts became very scarce of a sudden - I saw 
2 in one view over the N. Meadow of Central Park late on 10/14, some keen 
observers saw just one individual on the same day. (Huge movements of swifts 
took place in recent days in the region.)

A Yellow-crowned Night-Heron was lingering at Governors Island (part of N.Y. 
County, south of Manhattan island) and numerous migrants / visitors etc. were 
also seen there (C. Weiner), these included flock[s] of Pine Siskins, again 
being seen widely all around the region (as well as into the deep south of this 
country, by now).

- - -
The discussion on Bonaparte’s Gull - & also more broadly, species which have, 
or seem to have, diminished in numbers either locally or globally - has been 
very informative - even as it wandered (literally) away from the original start 
of the thread, which was particular to birds occurring in one fairly-small 
county in the southeastern region of NY state. Thanks to those who commented, 
or added their own observations on the subject.  I’m in agreement that 
Bonaparte’s Gull has seemingly been far less-numerous (broadly, but in 
southeast NY), in the past 10-20 years than the species seemed to be in the 
20th century in these same southeastern NY locations. However and again, I was 
not a party to the pre-1990’s (or some much before then) occurrences of large 
numbers of Bonaparte’s Gull in New York COUNTY (emphasis added), specifically, 
as is what started off the ‘thread’. And again, that was what Peter W. Post in 
his remarks was referring to (specifically) - to occurrence just in that ONE 
COUNTY (emphasis mine).  But the ensuing discussion is quite informative!

-  -  -  -  -
"This country will not be a good place for any of us to live in unless we make 
it a good place for all of us to live in.” - Teddy Roosevelt (26th president of 
the U.S.A.)
"If there is no struggle, there is no progress."  - Frederick Douglass 
(1818-1895; U.S. statesman, orator, writer)

good October birding to all, & thanks to many for their observations - & good 
ethics - out in the field,

Tom Fiore,
manhattan













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