Unfortunately, no re-find of a 2nd-state-record Painted Redstart in Brooklyn (Kings Co.), NY, after its’ one-day-wonder appearance there. However, very much farther west, and also very much out-of-expected range, a bird of that species was just found at Saint Paul, Minnesota (which will also be a 2nd-state-record there), continuing at least a minor trend of that species turning up this fall very far from its’ typical & expected range (in the U.S., in the southern southwest & there, mainly in only the appropriate habitat.) That Minnesota warbler is dealing with snow on the ground & temp’s. ranging in the 30’s (F.); sub-freezing weather and more wintry weather there thru the weekend. There also appears to be a LOT more going on with bird movements out-west, including some irruptive type species, and movements of birds coming from east, south, & north. And, there is that now-long-term mega-rarity (for the U.S.) European Golden-Plover, in n. New Mexico. _ In the N.Y. City area & also well-beyond, we are continuing to see the strong influx of Tufted Titmouse & Black-capped Chickadee, with one or the other sometimes appearing prevalent (between them) on given days, & varying locations, although in the past week or so, it has been the titmouse on the ascendant. Blue Jays also have continued in movement, although possibly winding-down, at least locally. And we can all keep ears & eyes open to the possibility of some of the other finches moving farther southward (besides those that have been regular to abundant just lately) including possible Eve. Grosbeak, Red Crossbill & perhaps, more, as the season rolls on.
— New York County, including Manhattan, Randall’s Island, & Governors Island (all in N.Y. City) Sunday, Oct. 18th through Wed., Oct. 21st A fairly late Yellow-billed Cuckoo was in Central Park on Sunday, Oct. 18th. At least several E. Wood-Pewees have remained into this week (with some seen calling). Single-digit numbers of Chimney Swifts continued to be seen to Wed., Oct. 21st. Several Rusty Blackbirds have been lingering, since the initial passage / arrival of some in Manhattan. There also were a few Baltimore Orioles continuing &/or passing thru. A few Rose-breasted Grosbeaks have also lingered thru the period, in scant numbers. At the Central Park reservoir, a Pied-billed Grebe continues; there have been several American Coots (often are not that visible along shorelines, with much vegetation), & there continue to be at least a few visiting Laughing Gulls, along with the far-more-numerous regular gulls of the area (Ring-billed, American Herring, & Great Black-backed Gulls), as well as some of the most-regular ‘winter’ waterfowl including N. Shovelers & Ruddy Ducks, which along with a few Wood Ducks & more-numerous Gadwall, also continue elsewhere in addition / instead of the reservoir. A Red-throated Loon remained just off Randall’s Island thru Wed., 10/21, and at least thru Sat., 10/18 there were still a minimum of 4 Yellow-crowned Night-Herons there. (Also occurring at Randall’s Island regularly are Black-crowned Night-Heron and Great Blue Heron.) On Tues. 10/20, a good count of 250+ Laughing Gull were found on the N.Y. Harbor, near the n.w. corner of Governors Island, but viewed from the passing Staten Island ferry (which is free, & needs no reservations) - & which was slowed for a short while on one run, as a huge vessel was towed in thru part of the harbor bordering the N.J. port-side - & allowing longer looks at the gulls. On Governors Island itself, at least one Vesper Sparrow was found as well as a lingering E. Meadowlark, to (at least) Sunday, 10/18. Nelson’s Sparrows also were contuing thru the same date, or later, in locations where they’d been recently - Randall’s Island, and at the marsh in Inwood Hill Park. Recently, besides Pine Siskin, Purple Finch also have been widely-found & reported as well as full-expected American Goldfinch in good numbers. There were still at least 20 species of American Warblers present in N.Y. County to at least Sunday, Oct. 18th, and most of those also seen on Monday, 10/19. While none of the species are at all unprecedented this late in the month of October, some are running fairly late *relative* to typical or ‘expected' departure dates. (It might surprise some readers, however - almost all of the warblers listed below have at some point been recorded - & documented - on local C.B.C.’s over the years, i.e., they have been found even into the early winter, some even to January dates in this city & the region. Of course for many, such late dates are the exception, and even now past the middle of October, the bulk of these species’ populations have moved south, many already in their respective wintering areas.) At least 16 of these species were still present in the county on Wed., 10/21, and all 16 species were present as well in Central Park on the day, as found by multiple observers over the day, variously covering much of that park. Besides the larger parks, there were also various lingering neotropical-winterers in various smaller greenspaces as well, through much of Manhattan. In some years, it can be the smaller parks & greenspaces (community gardens, for 1 example) that shelter late-staying birds that are unexpected in late autumn. Tennessee Warbler (at least 2 individuals to Monday, 10/19) Nashville Warbler (multiple locations) Northern Parula (multiple locations, to Wed., 10/21) Yellow Warbler (at least 2 individuals lingering to Wed., 10/21 with one at Randall’s Island & another in Central Park) Chestnut-sided Warbler (to at least Sunday, 10/18 in lower Manhattan) Magnolia Warbler (several to 10/21) Cape May Warbler (multiple locations, to Wed., 10/21) Black-throated Blue Warbler (multiple to 10/21) Yellow-rumped [Myrtle] Warbler (fairly common) Black-throated Green Warbler (multiple to 10/21) Pine Warbler (multiple through the period) Palm Warbler (multiple; in many locations) Blackpoll Warbler (at least several to Mon., 10/19) Black-and-white Warbler (several to Wed., 10/21) American Redstart (at least several thru Mon., 10/19; at least one to 10/21) Ovenbird (multiple locations - this species often attempts wintering in very low numbers in Manhattan) Northern Waterthrush (continuing in at least 2 locations, in Central Park, thru Wed., 10/21, multiple observers) Common Yellowthroat (multiple, through period) Hooded Warbler (1; dozens of independent observers, on Sunday, 10/18; still present/same area to Wed., 10/21) Wilson's Warbler (several, to at least 10/19) and of course, many other species of birds have been found in the county, in the same period, including other migrants. There is still fairly high insect-activity in the county, which can be expected to last as long as real frost has yet to occur; also there are still plentiful late-season flowers (cultivated and wild-growing) available to many arthropods that utilize these. Monarch butterflies have continued, as have over a dozen other butterfly species within the county (many of which may be found at Governors Island, in particular in the latter half of autumn). Some of us have been finding multiple Red Admiral (butterflies) which undertake migratory movements, a bit less widely-known than that of the Monarchs. - - - - - "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 birding to all - and thanks to the many who also keep the birds’ best interests at heart when out in the field - and limit any possible disturbances to the birds’ requirements for food, shelter, & safety, including for the many migrants a safe passage on their often long journeys. 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/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/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/ --
