The Staten Island (Richmond County, in N.Y. City) Wood Stork was continuing to be seen by many through at least mid-afternoon on Sunday, 8/1 - a great find by A.V. Ciancimino on July 31st.
… This is extra-limital and hardly ‘news’, esp. this week in the “if it ain’t a spoonbill just leave it alone” proliferation - it is simply … interesting… to note that within the state of New Hampshire, this past week -had one been so-inclined & able to drive just about one hour or so- it would have been possible to view a Snowy Owl, & then a few days later, a Roseate Spoonbill. I’m sure there are other areas seeing spoonbills recently with some very odd juxtaposed vagrants, but… Now, I suppose if one of the Spoonbills makes it to where Snowys breed, that would be quite the voyager... …... New York County (in N.Y. City), including Manhattan, Randall’s, and Governors Island[s], & surrounding waters & sky. Solitary Sandpipers have moved through in small numbers in the county, including a few in Central Park (to at least 7/25, reservoir) as well as one reported from Governors Island (7/25), as well as at Swindler Park-Sherman Creek (7/27), and possibly elsewhere, while Spotted Sandpipers were more regular - both should be possible well into Aug.; fairly few reports of Semipalmated Sandpiper so far this summer (in the county) at Randall’s Island’s mudflats, a small flock of the latter by 7/27, and on Manhattan island, few seen by multiple observers at Swindler Park-Sherman Creek’s mudflats, as well as a relatively-few Least Sandpipers, the latter also again showing at least briefly in Central Park, on the reservoir’s shores. The flats at the northern end of Manhattan, off Inwood Hill Park have also produced some shorebirds recently - and any location with a bit of habitat potentially could, in addition to fly-bys in various and sometimes less-expected places. Yellow-crowned Night-Heron sightings have continued at Randall’s Island, while beginning on 7/22, several observers noted 1 or 2 Cliff Swallows there (and some noting up to three at a time). Other swallow species are (also) on the move recently, including Bank Swallow, and in the wider region some Purple Martins are moving a bit along with the other regionally-nesting species of hirundines. The Cliff Swallows at Randall’s Island (N.Y. County) are thought to be nesting, & on 7/31, at least 3 individuals were found there. It’s also worth keeping eyes out for migrants among various (day-flying) birds. Common Terns are still rather regular as seen from the N.Y. Harbor area & esp. on Governor’s Island, more occasionally at points up the Hudson or East rivers. Some Wood Ducks have been moving a bit, and all thru July at least several were present in Central Park, others, mainly as singles, seen in a variety of locations including both Randall’s and Governors Island[s]. Belted Kingfishers have continued to be seen at times from (esp.) Randall’s Island. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds were seen in various locations including in Central Park, thru the end of July (& on Aug. 1st), and that wintering-spring-&-summering Barred Owl has been ongoing at Central, as seen (thru the seasons) by thousands, with fewer noting its’ occasional forays in the northern end of same park. A Wild Turkey was also ongoing in Manhattan’s northern section. Some more Yellow Warblers and Louisiana Waterthrushes returned to Central Park by Tuesday, 7/20, and the latter species was also recorded from Governors Island on 7/19, while (probably) one of the first Northern Waterthrushes (at least, for there) of the southbound season showed at Central Park on 7/22. A small number of N. Waterthrushes were reported (at least some photographed) by 7/23 in N.Y. City & in the area-of, and a few more by Sunday, 7/25, including one at Central Park’s s. end. [n.b., Northern Waterthrush were also already moving in modest numbers as of 7/22, in the nearby region.] Also, 7/23 brought a stronger southbound flight of Louisiana Waterthrushes, with a slight increase by Sun.-Mon. (7/25-26) - and with a seemingly-small assortment of other warbler species, the least-expected of those being one Tennessee, as well as Worm-eating, Blue-winged (1), Blackburnian (1), and Black-and-white (2) Warblers, all of which were in the county at least by Sunday, 7/25. In Central Park, by 7/26, all of those species were present and of them, Yellow Warbler was by far the most numerous, with sightings of more than a dozen through that park; also in numbers in locations where they are definitely not breeding; there were multiple Louisiana Waterthrush in Central through Sunday, 7/25 as well, corresponding to their modest increase city-wide & regionally, as more work their ways south. By Friday, 7/30 if not before then, Northern Waterthrushes outnumbered Louisiana in Manhattan, and likely around the city as well. American Redstarts were appearing on at least Manhattan by Wed., 7/28, & Yellow Warblers were continuing as migrants, some in locations where defintely not breeding or having attempted to breed, while additional (although still fairly few) Ovenbird, & American Redstarts were showing by 7/31, including in locations where they would not have attempted any breeding. So there’ve been up to 10 species of warblers in the county (Common Yellowthroat being among the ten) in the last week of July, and all of those species also have appeared in Central Park (with a number in other locations as well, esp. Yellow Warblers as they are the most-numerous southbound-migrant warbler in the area recently, and very much as expected). Bobolinks have been on the move, south-bound, and in modest numbers by Friday, 7/23 - & some might linger at esp. likely patches of habitat, one of such being on Governors Island (where small numbers of Bobolinks lingered a while in spring migration). As in all of the past week, Red-winged Blackbirds continued to make up the bulk of observable diurnal southbound flights, with B.-h. Cowbird also a modest component of same. Friday’s weather allowed for some vulture activity, including both Turkey & Black Vulture to be seen from n. Manhattan in particular, and there were again sightings of (few) Osprey as well as Bald Eagle. Common Ravens have been sighted in a number of locations, although reports have been slightly lower, in keeping with the fewer obsevers out in the county at this time of year. Several Swamp Sparrows have continued in Central Park, with at least one, possibly 2 in the Ramble area there (not in same specific area, and they are merely summering, not breeding). For White-throated Sparrow, there are multiple locations in N.Y. County with summering, non-breeding birds, including small no’s. (as is usual) for Central Park, and elsewhere. A presumed (by plumage) Least Flycatcher was being seen in Central Park on 7/31 (which does not breed in the county) and was again present on Aug. 1. At least 8 (of ten) warbler species were present (again) at Central & Riverside Parks, on Aug. 1st, & some of the migrants are now near-common (Yellow Warbler, N. Waterthrush in particular). More on Aug. birds, in a future report. All of the ten warbler species seen in N.Y. County by 7/31 had also been seen in various locations in the region in areas where each does not breed, in particular, that includes Tennessee Warbler, an unexpected but not unprecedented July migrant for the wider region. Many if not all of these species also were detected farther south again in locations where those species do not breed. At least 95 species of birds appeared in N.Y. County in the latter half of July, perhaps slightly more. Far more than that are of course expected with typically-swelling migration through August. … Some butterflies appearing in the latter half of July (if not earlier) in N.Y. County have included Pipevine Swallowtail (as well as the more-regular 3 swallowtail species), Gray Hairstreak, American Snout, Variegated Fritillary, Common Buckeye, Peck’s Skipper and Sachem, as well as fair no’s. of Monarchs, and some additional / typical butterflies. (All additionally found in in Central Park.) Some Monarchs that appear to have been migrating have been seen on some recent days, and others have been noted at locations in the region definitively headed south in some recent days. The presumed peak in our region for that species’ migration is some many weeks away. good August birding to all, and thanks to 90+ sharp-eyed observers over the latter part of July and the first day of August. Tom Fiore N.Y. City, & beyond -- 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/ --
