Extralimitally, a rather-large number of North American birders have made the journey out to ***Michigan*** (at Iosco County) for that somewhat-unexpected (!) SOUTHERN Lapwing in that state, seen for more than 1 week by now there, reports contuing at least to 7/16 and at the airport known by a few names out that way. Just a bit north of where more-expected, that one…!
- - - - - New York County (in N.Y. City), including Manhattan, Randall’s Island and Governors Island July 8, thru Saturday, July 16 - At least one Ruby-throated Hummingbird showed this week (an adult male) in Manhattan, and it is likely this was a bird done with some nesting (somewhere), or perhaps one that failed to have a mate and a nesting attempt. The species has tried nesting in the city before, and also has done so in Manhattan (including in Central Park) a number of times in the modern era. A Yellow-billed Cuckoo showed in n. Manhattan last Sunday, and this also of somewhat uncertain status, but is a species that nests in parts of N.Y. City, and could at least be a possible / potential breeder in N.Y. County. Osprey sighings have included some moving along the Hudson river, seeming to be south-bound, although other sightings may indicate still just local movements and any number that were non-breeders; there were / are also some that may have attempted nest-making or did so in the county and adjacent sites. Yellow-crowned Night-Herons (up to 3, as of 7/15) were out on Randall’s Island and that site has long been the likeliest of N.Y. County locations to find the species; also present there, as well as many other sites in the county, at appropriate habitats and times, are Black-crowned Night-Herons. Great and Snowy Egrets also continue, with again Randall’s sometimes being a very good site to observe each species in numbers. Great Blue Herons are also seen from there as well as the modest few in multiple other county-locations. The Green Herons which have nested in the county are being (happily) secretive with some young having come along. Some Least Sandpiper movement on July 9th & 10th, with at least one individual lingering around a part of Randall’s Island on the latter day, otherwise just very small groups moving past Manhattan and also Governors Island, the latter moving on in the direction of Brooklyn (N.Y. City). For other shorebirds, so far this month, mostly slow going, although another sighting of American Oystercatcher was made, from Governors Island but at great [scoped] distance. A few Spotted Sandpipers were moving by at least 7/12 (2 noted at Central Park, one at Sherman Creek, and a few more as well - and at least 1 or more at Randall’s Island, where seen to Sat., 7/16, although at the latter site poss. ongoing for this month - plus some Killdeer, in the few locations where regular in summer. Cliff Swallows have continued at their nest areas on Randall’s Island, with at least 4 nests there, and as many as 11 of that swallow around that area, including some of the nestlings and some successful fledges, by now. The other swallow-martin species of the county are more general, with the ‘rarest’ (most rarely noted and/or ID’d), Purple Martin, having shown (as a possible passage migrant) on Governors Island by Wed. 7/13 (also very poss. that that species had moved in other days in July, a potentially quite-early mover among the hirundines of our region, although all of our six regularly-occuring species can have at least local movements in July, such as some dispersal out to (or away from nest-sites) to where feeding may be optimal. Other swallows seen in N.Y. County continuously this month are Tree, Barn, and N. Rough-winged Swallows, the latter a bit more local but not all that uncommon; Barn being by-far the most commonly-seen now. The Red-breasted Nuthatches of summer continued in Central Park (where at least 8, and likely more, have continued thru this week, and at least 4 of those having been in the Great Lawn / and ‘Pinetums' [east and west], and near-to-reservoir areas all of which are essentially contiguous, others found scattered around more of that park), and there also have been at least a few around other places of Manhattan, including Fort Tryon Park, Inwood Hill Park, and Highbridge Park, in this week. White-breasted Nuthatches also are present, which are typical and expected in modest no’s. for summer-nesters in the county. Blue-gray Gnatcatchers have shown up in at least a few locations; while this species has nested in the county, there also might be at least a few on the move. Some further blackbird / icterid movement over the past weekend, which included Orchard Oriole, but with numbers of Red-winged Blackbird into the multi-dozens altogether, and (some) moving - that in addition to the various local-nesting individuals in many locations. White-throated Sparrows again include some summering (never-nesting) in the county, in larger parks such as Central, Highbridge, Inwood Hill, and Riverside, and (more) in places that are generally less-birded in midsummer in Manhattan locations that may include quite-small greenspaces as well as some modest-size parks, in midtown, lower Manhattan, etc. Warblers have included Yellow Warbler, of which there was at least a modest new push, with at least a few where they had not been in the days prior, and none heard singing; this included at least 5 in total through Central Park, as well as several in Riverside Park. At some other locations in the county the species has been breeding (or at least paired, and attempting to). Far less numerous are American Redtstarts, and of those at least one family has been disclosed at Randall’s Island, with a possible set of 3 in northern Manhattan (but not confirmed as breeding) and a very few others, including one (non-adult male) in Riverside Park on 7/12, where not noticed in some time. At least several Black-and-white Warblers have been found on Manhattan, with 2 perhaps still-lingering (Central Park) and another may have as well. Common Yellowthroats are seemingly-slim, but a few have remained in select sites. We also have had at least a couple of summering Ovenbirds (one in Central Park, and a few more in smaller parks / greenspaces of Manhattan), and there may well have been a few other warbler species that did not manage to make it into farther-north breeding-places this year, lingering on in N.Y. County, some of those species having been noted in prior reporting. Thanks to many observers who have been out in the heat as well as some slightly-cooler days, early-mornings, and evenings for a lot of ongoing sightings. All of us must remember to hydrate in the heat, as that is part of 'keeping our cool'. - - - - - - Although in New Jersey, this blog-entry from a state non-profit org. there is a great bit of news for the Piping Plover: http://www.conservewildlifenj.org/blog/2022/07/08/holgate-record-breaking-site-for-piping-plovers/ <http://www.conservewildlifenj.org/blog/2022/07/08/holgate-record-breaking-site-for-piping-plovers/> Good July 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/ --
