The Braddock Bay (Monroe County, NY) migration-watch counted 10,083 Turkey Vultures on Thursday 3/31; a new daily-record for there - and there were over 60 other species tallied as well. . . . . New York County (in N.Y. City), including Manhattan, Randall’s Island, and Governors Island Tuesday, March 29, thru Thursday, March 31 -
A Western Tanager is continuing at Carl Schurz Park on Manhattan’s far-east-side, east of East End Ave. & when seen most often by a feeder array or its vicinity which is south of a main entrance at East 86th St., up a flight of steps to the south, closer to (across from) E. 85th. Or, put another way, just west of the n.-w. gate of the Catbird Playground whhich is inside the same park. The tanager may take patience to see, and may be best sought when brighter and also in morning to midday hours (although it’s sometimes seen later in the day, but less so). Finding it elsewhere in that same park or in the area is definitely a big challenge. (the other W. Tanager that wintered at W. 48th St. east of Tenth Ave. on Manhattan’s west side may not have been seen just- lately, although could possibly still be in that general area. That bird had many hiding-places and also no really-regular site where it would be found, in most of the winter months, and it also usually required a lot of patience, after its first appearances and more seekers going to look for it.) N.B. - the Carl Schurz Park tanager was ‘elusive’ on Thursday for some who sought it but was seen, and on some days this bird has shown itself only rather briefly; it does not spend a lot of time sitting in-view by feeders or, as far as known, anywhere easily in-view. An American Bittern in Central Park, found Thursday, gave views to hundreds of observers (some of them 'non-birders’) literally all day to near-dusk. 3 Eastern Meadowlarks were newly-arrived on Governors Island on Thursday, where a few other birds may also have just-arrived: although Pine Warbler had been found on that island already this year, but this was a good arrival-day. … “there be no bird better’n bittern”. N.B., everyone was being very respectful of the bittern; there was a fly-off when unleashed dog[s] were about - a typical situatuon in NYC, in many many parks & rules & reg’s. allow for dogs off-leash at certain early-hours; the bittern itself chose to hang out in a spot where many could be within a very short distance and even came out from a thin cover of reed (phragmites) at times to the delight of those watching at those times. All whom I observed (at varying times) were quiet, and kept their movements ‘easy' as well. The fly-off after dogs were running as any unleashed dog may, had the bittern remain by the “Pool” where it stayed all day long, so the distance flown in daylight was a matter of some yards. As noted briefly yesterday, Palm Warblers arrived in the county, in at least small no’s. &/but in widely-scattered locations, and more Pine Warblers were scattered about as well. There also were [Myrtle] Yellow-rumped Warblers here-&-there but certainly not in any great no’s. & that latter species had been present for weeks, and some for all of the winter (in a few locations). Fog, which came & went in much of the county, may have contributed to some early-day (on 3/31) efforts to see what was moving, migrating being hindered a bit. A Red-throated Loon continued on Central Park reservoir, thru Thursday. Multiple other Red-throated (& a few Common) Loons have been around the salt-waters of N.Y. County. Belted Kingfishers were re-appearing in a number of sites, just in recent days and most notably by Thursday. A lingering drake Ring-necked Duck was ongoing (but getting rather less-notice thanks to one bittern in the same north-section of park) at Central Park’s Meer, the northeastern-most body of water in that park. Also lingering, in Central Park have been N. Shovelers, Hooded Mergansers, & American Coots. Wood Duck also, which as noted previously were also on the move early on Thursday in good no’s., with many of those not seeming to put-down for the day, although some of our 'north-end regulars’ spotted a ‘Woodie' in a tree as that duck species of course will regularly do. Other waterfowl includes Buffleheads, Ruddy Ducks, Red-breasted Mergansers (latter in salt-waters), Gadwall, & etc. - and [Atlantic] Brant continued as expected in some locations. 3 Common Goldeneyes were noted by a couple of keen observers out off Randall’s Island early on 3/31, in a ‘usual wintering-place’ for the species’ we shall see how much longer that species could be found here. A Lincoln’s Sparrow was ongoing (**overwintered**) at Greeley Square, mid-Manhattan, thru at least Thursday, 3/31. This bird was seen well-prior to just the past week at that location, but not much noted for a long while, until just recently. (There’ve been rather few instances of Lincoln’s Sparrows wintering, but increasing numbers may have at least attempted to winter, with sightings into late fall and early winter at least on the increase in the area, and in N.Y. County specifically.) There's been a strong increase in E. Phoebe numbers, and a slight uptick of Y.-b. Sapsucker, as well as Golden-crowned Kinglet as of Thursday. Continued good no’s. of Cedar Waxwings were continuing in some locations. As some of these arrivals are being mentioned, we also have had Hermit Thrushes wintering (as is usual in typically-modest no’s. around N.Y. City and vicinity) and these are still being found, in such locations as (for just one example) Carl Schurz Park. All of the Gray Catbirds being seen are also overwintered birds, in N.Y. County (and most likely all in any part of this region too). N. Rough-winged Swallow (2 seen at Pool, then 1 photo’d. moving around Meer, while flying over the head of one person intently photo or video-ing the Meerisland BCNH, later in the day Wed. 3/30) - these sightings coming days-after the first of season N. R.-winged Swallows had been documented from a couple of locations, incl. the Central Park “Pool”, by multiple other observers. A very few more swallows were seen thru some morning fog, on Thursday, 3/31 & these included Barn (at least 3 in total) and (a few) N. Rough-winged at several locations, as well as Tree Swallows. Great Egret, Snowy Egret (few), Black-crowned Night-Heron, all had started to increase even before Monday, and a bit more so by now. Moving in better no’s. were Double-crested Cormorants. A notable movement of Great Blue Herons took place Thursday, along with a bit of an increase for Great Egret, and some uptick to Black-crowned Night-Herons at select sites. Wilson’s Snipe were reported from Randall’s Island again on Thursday, 3/31. Despite those recent chilly days, a fair no. of Osprey in particular were on the move. Many many other species were of course seen in N.Y. County over the 3 days of this report’s period - a full listing would run nearly to 100 species or perhaps a bit more. A slight chance that overnight storms all through the region may have put down some birds on the ground (or waters) & in locations both ‘expected’ & not-so-expected, as there was migration happening thru (& into) some of the storm-cells & showers. . . . . Plants of many kinds went not-quite-dormant in the recent chill, of course, but the progression of buds and what blooms were starting in the mild spell not at all long ago were minimized in the recent few frigid (for end of March) days all around the area. There’s a bit of apparent damage visible to some Magnolias that had already bloomed (but there are also those which had not yet) and to some other early-bloomers, these all not affecting the survival of the plants. Overall, many many trees and shrubs are showing leaf buds, and more of the early-bloomers are showing some colors. Most trees however are still very bare & wintry-looking as is expected, and many native plants are still a bit dormant-looking… all of that will change this month. Good birding to all, welcome to April... 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/ --
