Although Cape May, New Jersey is a “world-away” in some senses for arrivals in spring (relative to New York, even to N.Y. City, which has the southern-most county within its’ state), some of the species showing this past week there (Cape May) are indicators of what’s been moving north (various neo-tropical-wintering birds) - two of those (along with many other migrant species) have included Painted Bunting (a 1st-spring male bird, found by J. Amesbury, at Cape Island, Cape May Co., N.J.), and a Swainson’s Warbler, respectively seen there as of April 15 & 16th, the warbler lingering on in that county of New Jersey.
. . . Manhattan, N.Y. City - Wed. & Thursday, April 20th & 21st - Lots of fresh-arrival happening for Friday 22nd as well - and many birds also moving on through the region. N.Y. County had over 100 species of birds found in the 2 days of this report; so far this season, at least 16 species of American Warblers have been noted for the county - all appearing in Manhattan, and also all in Central Park (many elsewhere in addition). Thanks to many hundreds of observers offering their reports. Welcome day for The Earth (the blue planet). A male Prothonotary Warbler was continuing in Central Park thru Thursday. 4/21, at “the Pool” in Central Park’s n. end (nearer to C.P. West and W. 100th-103rd Streets, where park entrances are close to that waterbody). Still and always a very-popular sight, and there have literally by now been more than 1,000 observers (including folks who don’t carry binoculars around) over the course of this one’s stay in that park’s n. end - that total of observers spread through 6 days. 2 Hooded Warblers continued, one as prev. noted at Central Park, and another in the north section of Riverside Park (which latter individual warbler viewed by far-fewer observers) that was seen (at least) from Tues., 4/19 & Wed., 4/20 at the latter park. Some of the other warbler spp. ongoing in the county were: N. Parula, Black-throated Green Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Ovenbird, Louisiana Waterthrush, Northern Waterthrush, Black-and-white Warbler, Palm Warbler, Pine Warbler, Yellow-rumped/Myrtle Warbler - this last species, typically a very-common migrant of spring around here, has begun to show a bit of increase (as is expected) and these can sometimes be a portent of a broader, stronger migration to show soon (and with weather patterns shifting a bit that may turn out to be). By Thursday, Black-and-white Warblers were seen in at least 7 locations in Manhattan & also at least on Governors Island (n.e. groves) as well; as for Yellow Warbler although in poss.-fewer locations, there were a half-dozen or more that came in probably just Wed. night or the previous night. Additionally to the Hooded Warbler showing at n. sections of Riverside Park (n. of W. 97th St.) have been Black-throated Green, Black-and-white, Palm, Pine, and Yellow-rumped/Myrtle Warblers, as well as Louisiana Waterthrush, & Ovenbird. Many of the latter came in (it seems) over Wed. night into Thursday 4/21. No particular concentration of migrants, but the north-most wooded areas have been productive, with other migrants also (Blue-headed Vireo, House & Winter Wrens, E. Towhees and various sparrow spp., etc.) Some of these species seen in the multiple but *other* than for Palm & Yellow-rumped Warbler, not very many. The Riverside Park ‘Hooded' was last seen in the “Forever Wild” a.k.a. former goat-reserve, north of W. 119 St. past the main sanctuary section of that park. Central Park’s male Hooded was in the area of the Pool & s.w. edge of the Great Hill, but fairly mobile as well, and had regularly shown at “the Loch”/“Ravine” area, that’s assuming just one bird of that species in that area & over some days. And as for Yellow-rumped Warblers (esp.) these have come thru in triple-digits, but many are fly-by migrants first thing in recent mornings; however the species is getting more numerous with some in odd-spots where not noted previously for this year. At least a few of the sharpest observers also have noted a couple of Palm Warblers of the ‘western’ form, although a vast majority of sightings are, as expected, of the ‘yellow’ also referred to as ‘eastern’ type. Ruby-throated Hummingbird came in for Thursday, and that species has also been seen lately elsewhere in the region. Orchard Oriole also arrived, about on-time with at least one young (1st-year) bird in Central Park by Thurs. A few more Chimney Swifts turned up over Central Park (& Manhattan, more generally) by Wed. - and that species also can be a portent, or indicator, esp. when some numbers start to show, of greater migration on the way or already-in-progress in a particular area and region. A report came thru eBird of a Scarlet Tanager in a large area-courtyard in Harlem; a bit early for the species but in line with some other neotropical-wintering birds that are showing in the NYC region. At least some fresh arrival of some sparrows, including Savannah Sparrows in multiple locations in N.Y. County (and around Manhattan, in addition to Governors Island and Randall’s Island, where that species had been found in recent weeks). A few lingering [Red] Fox Sparrows will be more notable should any stay on to even the 1st of May. Rusty Blackbird also continued, at Central Park’s n. end. On the water, several American Coots were ongoing in Central Park, as well as Wood Ducks, N. Shovelers, Buffleheads, Ruddy Ducks, Gadwall, and some other waterfowl. Plenty of D.-cr. Cormorant movement, particularly by Thursday. The uptick for numbers of Chipping Sparrows was probably the most-visible (as expected) of the mainly-migrant sparrow reinvigorations. A Red-throated Loon was on the C.P. reservoir at least thru Wed., 4/20. Also moving in lesser no’s. were Red-throated & Common Loons, and some Turkey Vultures as well as raptors including the 2 smaller accipiter spp. (Sharp-shinned & Cooper’s), as well as Bald Eagles, and certainly some Ospreys (including ’semi-local' movements by the latter two species). Also some falcon activity, with all 3 of the regular spp. seen, most of all Amer. Kestrel, some of those on their way and also many of the resident city-breeders, far-fewer of Merlin, and scattered sightings of (mainly or all local) Peregrines. Other birds up-in-the-air were the 3 most-regular spp. (here) of hirundines: Tree, N. Rough-winged, and Barn Swallows, being seen in & from various locations all around the county, but no further sightings of purple martin or bank swallow, each of which (as well as Cliff) should be watched-for in the coming weeks. 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/ --
