New York County, including Manhattan - with Central Park therein included - and Randall’s and Governors Islands April 6th, Thursday into Good Friday morning, April 7.
The [singing, male] Northern PARULA (further-confirmed in eBird, and with photos taken, on both April 6th and 7th) found and reported in the northern end of Central Park on Thursday, April 6th, was continuing into Good Friday, April 7th in the same general area, and has been seen by multiple and indepedent observers. This moderately-early arrival seems a modest trend of that species to have arrivals earlier, some by some weeks as compared with typical-expected peak-numbers arrivals of that species in the local area and broader region, which -possibly- could also be partialy due to more of the species having wintered increasingly within the U.S. in such states as from Florida west to Texas, i.e. along and near the Gulf of Mexico, and not going farther-south in the winters. If so, this stlll would apply for only a modest percentage of all wintering birds of that species over all of the total winter-ranges. With the above, one individual 'early-bird', there were at least 5 migrant warbler-species in the north end of Central Park alone, on Thursday 4/6 -as well as Friday 4/7- and it is quite possible one or two additional *may* be in the county - as to overwintering warblers, there were again still at least a few Orange-crowned Warblers in the county, with the most-watched of those most of this year being one of the ones on Randall’s Island, which is/[are] occasionally vocalizing (more) in recent weeks; that latter Orange-crowned still present to Friday April 7th, on Randall’s Island. The additional warblers being seen by many and in various locations, within Central Park, over recent days or longer, include Louisiana Waterthrush, Palm Warbler (of the ‘yellow’ form, primarily), Pine Warbler, and Myrtle/Yellow-rumped Warbler. The latter three species are also being found in many many other areas all through the county into Friday, April 7th. N.B. - there have, as-of Thursday, 4/6, been sightings of Yellow-throated Warblers -plural- in the nearby counties in NY state (Long Island) and those recent arrivals could suggest some others awaiting discovery in the region (potentially of course including any counties in N.Y. City, of which there are 5). For sightings from in particular, Central Park, it would be most imperative to see the bird[s], and to not only report a ‘heard-only’ sighting, in order to confirm such a find there. The Blue-headed Vireo (possibly 2) in the northern end of Central Park, first noted and well-photographed in that area on April 5th, was again seen by multiple observers by Thursday, April 6th; this is modestly-early for that species, although some, possibly many in some winters, do overwinter in the southern U.S.A., as do some White-eyed Vireos (in southern states, mainly). The Baltimore Oriole (male, in increasingly bright spring plumage after having over-wintered there) was ongoing at Union Square Park (just north of East 14th Street in Manhattan), seen by multiple observers (including this reporter) in recent days and into Friday, April 7th. And, as per the following para., there were more than one Savannah Sparrow in Union Square on 4/6, as seen and photo’d. there by multi-observers. A good (further) influx of Savannah Sparrow has taken place, with many dozens of these spread across New York County, and at least a dozen (likely more) having been in Central Park (in Manhattan) alone, on Thursday, 4/6. Those Thursday-Savannahs at Central Park were in locations from the northern edges to southern-most parts of that park,and as seen by multiple obs.; some, small groups of birders. That species also seen in numbers at Governors Island and additionals on Randall’s Island; yet additional of the species at Inwood Hill Park, and even in smaller greenspaces of the county, an impressive drop-in. Other sparrow species also have been on the move, with some in fair numbers. It’s an excellent time to be watching for Vesper Sparrow (in general, and in N.Y. County). An Eastern Bluebird was found in the Stuyvesant-town green-spaces (lower east-Manhattan) on Thursday 4/6, with multiple Savannah Sparrows also seen (and photo’d., R. Lulov) there. Three species of swallows have appeared in, and over the county in recent days and all 3 of those have also been seen in Central Park, including those passing thru and directly over - Barn (low-ish numbers), Tree (in particularly good numbers on 4/6) and now remaining - lingering, Northern Rough-winged Swallows, which have been regular over The Meer and elsewhere of Central Park’s water-bodies. Purple Finches have been moving through in recent days in fair numbers, with some stopping off in parks such as Central Park, where on Thursday for example, 2 bright males of that species were seen in a not-for-profit bird walk given by one of the many walk-leaders who offer such guided walks there in spring. This species has been found in many locations in the county in recent days, usually in very low numbers. There also were ongoing, and perhaps freshly-arrived Rusty Blackbirds, these also being pointed out for observers in guided walks led for and by non-profit organizations in the city (and, locally). Hermit Thrush numbers increased again by Thursday, with likely triple-digits achieved in the county, and even in Central Park alone, many many dozens for ALL of the entire park; many of these go rather un-watched in the quietest and most-shaded, and some fenced-off portions of woods, which (incidentally) includes the wooded parts of the C.P. Zoo, and a few areas in the north woods that have fenced exclosures. 3 migrant Hooded Mergansers were a nice addition to the many species noted over the seasons at Sherman Creek (just north of Swindler Cove) park[s] on the Harlem River north of the eastern terminus of Dyckman Street, in northern Manhattan. Yet another of the many Savannah Sparrows on the day were also found at these adjacent parks (M. Ryan) on 4/6, along with a multitude of other birds there. A female-plumaged Ring-necked Duck was lingering on the so-called “conservatory water”, also known colloquially and correctly as the model-boat pond in Central Park, just north of the East 72nd Street park entrance; again an odd-spot for a diving duck with a max. water depth of just a few feet. Wood Ducks, N. Shovelers, Gadwall, Ruddy Ducks, Buffleheads, and American Black Ducks, as well as Hooded Mergansers all continued in Central Park. Red-breasted Mergansers are still about on some of the waters in New York County and/or as seen from that county. American Coots also continue, seen most-often at Central Park. Among a great array of migrants, visitors, and semi-resident species on Randall’s Island on 4/6 were a magnificent sighting (*photo-documented*) for the county, of one-dozen Wilson’s Snipe, which although regular there and also a regular annual migrant in general for the county, are not typically in quite *that* number in the county, in any recent decades, or in general for the county, these seen Thursday by 3 of our very keen observers, plus additional observers able to see some, if not all of the total of one-dozen for the day’s efforts there. Also among notables at Randall’s Island on the day was Rusty Blackbird, and many many other birds as well. American Woodcocks were still being found, including at Central Park into Friday, April 7th (and in prior days there, and elsewhere), while Killdeer had continued in modest numbers in a few of the most-regular sites for that species on the 3 main isles of the county, which includes Manhattan island. A small number of Killdeer are semi-regular for long periods in one or more areas. Ospreys have been seen regularly in recent days, esp. so on Thursday and many observers have been finding that species moving over - and even fishing in, Central Park recently. Other raptors on the move have included (more) Bald Eagles, seen from various locations in the county. Ravens have also continued to be seen from a number of locations. More than 100 species of birds were noted in New York County in the increasingly-mild weather of April 6th, by literally hundreds of observers out in many, many locations all through the day, and for Central Park alone, more than 65 species of wild-and-free native or naturalized birds were seen on the one day, again with great numbers of observers in all corners of that park for all hours of the day, on Thursday. A great many of these species are not noted in the above partial-highlights. —— N.B. - there are no Red-eyed Vireos documented yet in reports from as far south as the U.S. state of Virginia (last sighting in that state, October 25, 2022) and the two vireo species that have arrived within N.Y. City this month are Blue-headed (which was seen in among other locations at Central Park, in Manhattan and by multi-observers there) and White-eyed Vireo[s]. —— With temperatures rising well into the 70’s [F.] on Thursday, the amount of blooms and leafing-out has increased commensurate with such mild weather, and also insect / arthropd life have responded similarly well. At least 4 butterfly species (perhaps more) - none unexpected by now - were recorded in Manhattan on April 6th in such warm-afternoon temperatures. Eastern Red Bat is among the various mammals that have appeared with the warm weather on some recent days, Thursday in particular having had such warmth. Thanks to all of many, many observers for so many sightings and, with many, also lovely photos, video, and great notes as well. Good Friday and a Happy Easter, for all observing - and good spring 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/ --
