The MacGillivrays Warbler which was spotted first by Julian -Batista- for the 100th annual Bronx-Westchester C.B.C., with me for the morning, at Riverdale in the west Bronx count-sector, is a fine and welcome addition to this counts history. By later in the day, after we had some confiding and ID confirming views of the bird initially just south of West 231 St, and on western side from narrow-there Independence Ave, the warbler was also seen and heard chipping brilliantly by young Elias and his dad Patrick Markee who initially posted about this to this list, and then a good group of arriving seekers we’re treated to not just further views, as well as photo-ops which will help give this find the confirmed status it should receive. A look for this warbler will take place again on Sunday, that is also certain. Thanks to all who were able to make it on Saturday for this rare find, and for all additional help to the assembled group in re-finding it again.
I believe this may be an adult / fall male, photos and or video may help in making the age and gender clearer with some great photos already in the Macaulay Library of this Bronx bird. All who may come to try for this warbler should understand this is a very residential part of the Bronx, with a mix of private single family homes, some larger apartments and buildings and also such facilities as rest homes and care-places. Many streets can be very narrow and some lack real sidewalks. Above all, be considerate to all others and do not go into what may be private lawns, drives, lots, and such - whether labeled as private, or not obviously so. Birders on Saturday we’re considerate and some spoke with area residents to explain our passion for birds, and the citizen science of the CBC. I inherited the challenge and the joys of attempting to cover Riverdale, a sliver of both the West Bronx, and of the entire Bronx-Westchester CBC, from the late great Irving Cantor, a contemporary of Roger Tory Peterson back in Peterson’s youth, with the renowned Bronx County bird club of those long-ago years. Irv was a unique and wonderful person and very devoted to birds that he could locate in the Riverdale neighborhood, and I and others as well sometimes struggle to come close to filling the birding-shoes of Mr. Cantor. However in seeing some of the young birders of this age, I believe Irv would be not just smiling but beaming on these excellent newer students of our feathered tribe, the birds we are all still studying, and learning. Julian B initial eBird notes / report, below, for 12/23, starting at 9:45 am or nearly. Note too that we had the Nashville, and an Orange-crowned in more-standard warbler finds, a quarter-mile south of the MacGillivrays location, by the Spuyten Duyvil Park for those 2 other warblers, of course all super finds on the morning. https://ebird.org/checklist/S156957651 Many more reports and photos are appearing in eBird for this rare-in-region warbler. Congratulations to Julian, and then to all helping to conduct the bird counts, on this and all such days. We also cant resist a nod to Richard Veit and Paul Buckley, who many times lent their skills to this count, and also to the Riverdale West Bronx sector. Good ongoing CBC-ing, Tom Fiore Manhattan, N. Y. City -- (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") NYSbirds-L List Info: NortheastBirding_DOT_com/NYSbirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/NYSbirdsRULES_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave_DOT_htm ARCHIVES: 1) mail-archive_DOT_com/nysbirds-l@cornell_DOT_edu/maillist_DOT_html 2) surfbirds_DOT_com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) birding_DOT_aba_DOT_org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: ebird_DOT_org/content/ebird/ --
