Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City - Thursday, Sept. 15th: A Connecticut Warbler delighted multiple groups with a number of not-for-profit guided bird walks, and also independent birders, with many many dozens of birders in total, luckily able to have views of this typically-skulking species. Found and reported quite early in the morning, it stayed in the area south of Summit Rock, the highest natural elevation in the park, which is a bit north, and slightly east of the park entrance at C.P. West and W. 81st St. - the location of this warbler also just n. of the “Ross playground” at West 81-82 St. inside the park. All of the characteristic field marks, and important as well the behavior of much deliberate walking rather than hopping, were seen; this individual likely a first-fall (hatched this year) bird. Thanks to those getting word out, including early alerts in the local whatsapp. (I'd learned of the bird’s early presence via E. Peterson, and others also had.)
Other warblers found in Central Park on Thursday included: Ovenbird, Worm-eating Warbler, Northern Waterthrush, Blue-winged Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, Tennessee Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Mourning Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Hooded Warbler (also w/ multiple observers, incl. in guided, not-for-profit bird walks, in 'the Ramble area'), American Redstart, Cape May Warbler, Northern Parula, Magnolia Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Palm Warbler (w/ both ‘forms’ noted), Pine Warbler, [Myrtle] Yellow-rumped Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Canada Warbler, and Wilson's Warbler, which total at least 28 species (with Connecticut one) of American warblers on the day in the one park, with all of the species seen by multiple observers, and a majority seen by great numbers of birders, and by photographers. Quite a lot of species were numerous (over all of the park, & more-broadly, thru all of Manhattan) and it’s tough to single out any one species in terms of an overnight increase, however there were Blackpoll Warblers around in more areas than any prior days this southbound-season. The Marsh Wren found (& photo’d.) at the “Pool” Thurs. morning (T. Zahner) is one of few so far for the season at Central Park. The (at least) several Ruby-crowned Kinglets seen in multiple locations on Thursday represent a slight increase from prior sighings in that park which were documented including noted to this list-serve, previously. At least one of the Ruby-crowned Kinglets was seen into the later-day in the Central Park Ramble. This of course a species that should be common in short order as more arrive, and some can potentially linger into winter in N.Y. City. Also found, although much less-noted, were Lincoln’s Sparrows, in at least a few locations (and besides Central Park within Manhattan, as well). A very modest arrival of some other sparrows, none unexpected, poss. slightly overlooked in all the warbler-frenzy and so forth. Some additional sightings also from a few (of multiple) not-for-profit guided bird-walks in Central Park - Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Brown Creeper (1st-of-season, seen by multiple obs., including some of the multi. Linnaean Society of N.Y. bird-walk participants), Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (several), good increase of Swainson’s Thrush, also some new arrivals in other thrush-species, including some ‘gray-cheeked’ types, as well as ongoing or newly-moving Veery, and Wood Thrushes. Many observers noted the numbers of Cedar Waxwings, an increase, and that some were seen flying in, through, over and onward at Central Park, particularly in all of the morning-hours - in total their numbers were well into triple-digits, with some moving flocks containing 20+, 30+ and more individuals. There also were good increases of such migrants as Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and Scarlet Tanager. All areas of Central Park had some activity, and some sections were extremely active. A later-day semi-impromptu hawk watch was made by some keen observers from Central Park’s Belvedere Castle area, & in additon to raptors, there was a good sighting of Blackburnian Warbler right at the castle area, that being one of multiple of the species on the day. -- Good to excellent diversity and numbers in some species of migrants were also seen at **many other locations** around Manhattan, and also more-broadly. Some small parks in various places in Manhattan had 8-10+ warbler spp. for the day, and in some, fair numbers of those + other migrants. A few larger parks did better and potentially rivalled Central Park, excepting in the no. of observers, which were vast in Central, and ongoing through all of the day. The morning arrival flight was quite evident in a number of locations. Many Y.-s. Flickers were among the arriving & passing early-birds. And as the diversity might suggest, a strong movement of warblers, with uncountable numbers of those having passed by and over in the night (Wed. night) and into early Thursday. The flight had multiple ‘elements’ also, that is, birds moved in a few (or more) flight-lines, depending where observations were made, just from Manhattan island. Also there was a ‘possible’ fly-thru Red-headed Woodpecker (if so, a first-year bird lacking in any red plumage) off the Hudson River in early morning, southbound. Some raptor flight again got going for this day (as it had on Wed.) and this again included Broad-winged Hawks (including passing over Central Park), with that species having a 2nd good flight at some watch-sites not far north & NE of N.Y. City, as well as farther-inland sites. Ospreys, Bald Eagles, & smaller 2 accipiter spp. - Sharp-shinned and Cooper’s Hawks, were joined again by some migrant Merlins and American Kestrels, as well as a smatter of vultures, including Black Vulture - seen from Manhattan. Also noted again were Common Ravens in various locations. There even are signs of some early-ish Blue Jay movements, but not so much just yet. peaceful 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/ --
