New York County (in N.Y. City), with mainly-Manhattan sightings -
Tues., Oct. 25 - *Yellow-breasted Chat* (viewed by 20++ observers including a
large group of participants in a not-for-profit Linnaean Society of New York
guided bird walk) was around the northeast portion of the Ramble; it is
possible that this is a bird that has lingered, stealthily, for some many days
(or not); also, Indigo Bunting in part seen with a group bird-walk led for the
N.Y.C.A.S., in Central Park. An ongoing Northern Waterthrush was also still in
that park, at “the Pool”, after weeks of near-‘residence' there within Central
Park. Multiple Rusty Blackbirds were in various locations. A major movement
of Yellow-rumped Warblers, along with many other migrants was seen, from
multiple points; possibly to greatest evidence in the western parts of Central
Park at times, and thru some of Riverside Park esp. from W. 96th St. south, and
also in at least some of lower Manhattan at times; many of these working thru
the tree-tops and doing fly-catching as well as, in places on the lawns and
wherever insect prey were being caught, as the day went along. Another area
with extremely high activity at one point of the morning, the “Pinetum” and
nearby, to Summit Rock, really most of the Great Lawn, with many hundreds of
White-throated Sparrows and a lot of other sparrow spp. (Juncos included, plus
Chipping, Song, and a mix of others such as a few White-crowned, etc.) and with
an additional mix of (the ongoing invasions of) Tufted Titmice ("filtered-out”,
there were still vast numbers of the other recent arrivals), some Black-capped
Chickadees, plenty of Ruby-crowned Kinglets and some Golden-crowned Kinglets,
Red-breasted and White-breasted Nuthatches, and a smatter of warbler species
besides the many Yellow-rumped; all of this activity thanks to hatches of
insect and other arthropod life, esp. notable as the day brightened up a little
- and there were quite a lot of other species taking advantage as well. An E.
Wood-Pewee was noted in the guided walk led for participants to the A.M.N.H.
(American Museum of Natural History, N.Y.) series, at Central Park. E. Phoebes
of course in many areas of the county. In addition to good sparrow numbers
were (again) a high count of E. Towhees, a species which can and does
over-winter in the area, including in N.Y. County, usually in modest to low
no’s. Purple Finches continue to be on the move, and days later this week
could be productive for some finch-seeking on winds out of northerly
directions, as well as of course a potential for later-season raptors,
waterbirds, and most any species that have potential movements at this time of
the year. There are some late reports of Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, thus far not
confirmed.
All (of Tuesday’s N.Y. County ) warbler sightings 'topped off' with a Prairie
Warbler at Canal Park (A. Evans) in lower Manhattan: that is, such a modest
park which over the years has produced an impressive array of migrants and
other birds. A Grasshopper Sparrow was seen & phone-photo’d. (N. Lynch) by the
South St. Seaport, in lower Manhattan. A variety of other migrants, some in
good numbers, were seen in parts of mid and lower Manhattan. A bit of a
minor-movement of Black-throated Blue Warblers on the day, seen in higher
numbers across the county than had been for many days. In contrast to the many
Yellow-rumped (all noted to be of the expected ‘Myrtle’ form) Warblers, there
were relatively fewer Palm Warbler, although the latter was seen in multiple
locations. There was a report of a deceased Orange-crowned Warbler, a likely
victim of collison-on-glass (window) in midtown Manhattan, a fate that is sadly
still all to regular and is a particular hazard on foggy migration nights and
days. The wider area has been subject to some occasionally-dense fogs lately.
More than 65 species of birds were on Randall’s Island (and its’ adjacent
waters and near-sky-spaces) on Tuesday morning. . We *may* not have had any
observations from Governors Island on Tuesday, where likely some good active
migration also took place! There were still many dozens (in total) of Chimney
Swifts seen headed for (a few) known roost-sites in Manhattan, on Tuesday at
the near-dusk hour.
good birding,
Tom Fiore,
manhattan
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