Very extralimital to the northeast, but interesting phenomenon with a 'usually-very-rare’ (and still is, yet...) showing of the mainly-Mexican species Rufous-backed Robin - now being seen (by many) in several states in the U.S. southwest, not only in Arizona (where the species has been rare but somehat regular closer to the U.S.-Mexico border areas) but in Nevada (Clark County, which is the county in which Las Vegas is found, and a state where a Rufous-backed Robin is extremely unexpected) and also in New Mexico (Sierra County, which is a bit north of the U.S.-Mexican border), and most-recently also in Montezuma County in Colorado (where the species is still considered very extraordinary). Montezuma Co. is the most southwesterly of the counties of Colorado. With more western birders perhaps realizing the potential for this species in multiple southwestern / southern Rocky Mt. states, it’s at least plausible that some additional sightings may come from unexpected locations. (Incidentally, the Desert National Wildlife Refuge in Nevada, where a Rufous-backed Robin has been, is the largest N.W.R. in the United States away from Alaska.)
- - It’s well worth noting that the Mountain Bluebird was continuing on at Esopus Meadows Lighthouse Park, in Ulster County, NY thru Thursday afternoon (1/20), with sightings from along River Rd. there and often where the Cedars are with their nutritious berries. - - - - New York County (in N.Y. City), including Manhattan, Randall’s Island, and Governors Island Wed., 1/19 and Thurs., 1/20 - Both of the Manhattan Western Tanagers were continuing at their regular recent locations; the “West 47th-48th St.” tanager has been showing at both the Hells Kitchen Park area, including some forays to W. 47th St. just near and east of Tenth Ave., while also semi-regular in and near the Clinton Community Garden, east of Tenth Ave. on W. 48th, and from that key-holders-only park (views through fence are often reasonable) that tanager has also been found in street trees & adjacent building’s ledges, fire-escapes, & etc. - it may take some patient searching about; the Carl Schurz Park W. Tanager has continued on its regular routines, often coming in to the feeder array that’s south of the main entrance, along the East End Ave. side of the park & south of E. 86th St. - up some stairs to where those feeders are; this is also just west of the n.-w. gate to the Catbird playground within that park. The Carl Schurz Park tanager is sometimes rather skittish if / when there are any raptors about, which can include the local Red-tailed Hawks. That tanager also may be furtive and be in the area of the noted feeders, yet stay mainly hidden inside yews or other evergreen foliage, as well as occasionally being up high in bare trees, and it does also move about to other areas of that park & may go to local street trees, etc. - for either tanager, patience may bring a sighting. Please offer normal respect to local residents and park-users. An Iceland Gull (of the form ‘kumleini’) was on the Central Park Meer on Thursday, where a modest ice-shelf continues, along with a smallish amount of open water. At Central Park’s reservoir, a single Snow Goose was still lingering, and there was a Lesser Scaup still on “The Pool” along with a Green-winged Teal. A Glaucous Gull was continuing to show on Randall’s Island, along with at least 2 Snow Geese, and a report of Black-headed Gull also came from that location as of Thursday, although reported flying off towards Queens County (NYC). Also ongoing at Randall’s Island has been the wintering adult Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, and a long-staying Orange-crowned Warbler; there have been internittent sightings of Common Goldeneyes from that island, typically off the n.-e. side, although some recently were a lot closer. The closest of all recent Common Goldeneyes to shore may have been a drake off Inwood Hill Park, which may be one of several in the general area. There also have been a few of that species showing in N.Y. Harbor and even on the Hudson, albeit typically distant from N.Y. County's shores. Bald Eagles have been continuing to show around N.Y. County, and at least several were on the move for Thursday, as seen from near & along the Hudson river. A few vultures, recently including Black, but mainly Turkey Vultures, have drifted by as well. At least a few American Tree Sparrows were showing in odd spots (odd perhaps, in that in most winters, the species is not at all regular in the county) including one or more north of the Central Park reservoir, and at least two in the southern third of the same park, in the prior several days, as well as at least one in Riverside Park (north) on Thursday. There have been some ongoing, but modest movements of blackbirds (perhaps semi-locally), mostly Red-winged Blackbird, along with some Common Grackles, in the past week. good birding to all, 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/ --
