Two reports, thus far, of Sooty Shearwater have come in via eBird, for the Richmond County - Staten Island - side of New York harbor, in N.Y. City, and thus far, for May 6, only. That species has been seen and photographed, in minimal numbers by onshore observers, in southern New Jersey ocean waters as well just this month. More of that species could well be in the larger regions sea-waters on passage, and certainly will be as this month goes along. Finding any shearwater not driven in by a tropical storm, IN the upper New York harbor, from the Verrazano Narrows and bridge of same name, or to the near-north, is exceedingly rare in this modern era.
------ New York County -in N.Y. City- including Manhattan, Randalls, and Governors Islands and other islands and adjacent waters of the county - Tuesday and Wednesday, May 7th and 8th - Some good fallout of migrants has been found in at-least select locations, with the storms that have been rolling through the region and into-thru this county, and it may be for at least several more days that some migrants will be revealed, which were already-arrived as of Wed, May 8th. A number of species were increased and, at same time by Wed., there were a lot of birds that had moved out, some just on Tuesday night and the wee hours of Wed, 5-7 and 5-8. As one example, many of the sparrows that were numerous just this past week, had moved on, such as White-throated Sparrows for a prime example. Some numbers of the latter are still about, here, but up to 95 percent of these moved out from this county. Those showing now also include fresh passage-migrants. The overall northbound migrations on Tuesday night were fairly intense in the entire region. If one has the chance, some Wed. birding may be very productive. A multiplicity of observers were out on Governors Island on Tuesday, 5-7 and some saw and photographed American Oystercatcher ON the island, at the pier area, which is where Common Terns also are regularly found in-season. There were also sightings of the species flying off and near the same island on Tuesday. Some other recent sightings have taken place by birders in and around N.Y. Harbor in the first week in May this year. No tubenoses, no pelicans, and it seems also no Purple Sandpipers were noted from Governors Island as of Tuesday, by the multiple watchers on the island and also some on ferries or watching parts of N.Y. Harbor from other shores. Many migrants are continuing to arrive, some in numbers and some still in minimal showings, although most of such are also showing lately in places to the north of this city already, in general, with some on territories as well. Most recently, as late as Wed. early-morning, May 8, are at least some of the Empidonax additional to the many Least Flycatchers that have been moving thru for a while by now, these have included at-least Acadian, and Willow Flycatchers, and possibly others in the genus Empidonax, A few Olive-sided Flycatchers also are showing recently with more E. Wood-Pewees in the area, and certainly still many Great Crested Flycatchers and E. Kingbirds, each of the 2 latter species also breeding annually in this county. A much-scarcer breeder in N.Y. County, E. Phoebe, have moved thru in numbers, with still some passage right now. Both species of Cuckoo to be expected are showing, or rather at-least being glimpsed and sometimes heard here, the more numerous so far, as expected are Yellow-billed, with Black-billed Cuckoo, just possibly building in numbers as-of Wed., 5-8. Also having arrived were some Common Nighthawks, which are regular in both spring and fall, and have been seen at both dusk and dawn hours locally. More are sure to be passing in coming weeks. All of these species noted are or have been found within Central Park, and however also are and can be found in other of the parks and greenspaces within the county. Yellow-billed Cuckoos have been seen in diverse locations in the county already, with of course multiples found at Central Park, where Black-billed were so-far more scarce, seen in that last and in a few other parks and greenspaces in recent days, including for 5-8 at Central. The sixth, somewhat expected but typically more-scarce Vireo of the migration seasons has arrived, Philadelphia Vireo, with at least two from Central Park, and should be watched for anywhere for now. The songs, if singing, can be tricky for many even when an observer is familiar with this species, so visuals are ideal in confirming this vireos presence on passage here. The other 5 expected vireos each continued to show, with at least 2 nesting annually and a 3rd a definite possibility, that last being White-eyed Vireo, some of which nest each year in proper habits in N.Y. City. There is also a chance for Yellow-throated Vireo as a breeder in N.Y. County, albeit quite scarce as-such over the decades. That species has however bred in even Central Park, more than twice in the past 40 years! At least 2 differently plumaged Summer Tanagers are being found in Central Park, and the species ought to be watched for really anywhere this month, as they can show in practically any habitats on passage. Scarlet Tanagers are passing as expected in higher numbers and including many of both sexes of that species. Many more Indigo Buntings also were passing thru, and this is also an occasional but rather scarce breeder and potential lingerer in this county. The 2 breeding species of Oriole, Orchard in modest numbers, and Baltimore Orioles in fairly good numbers have each been on territories already here, with still more likely to come in and on passage. Rose-breasted Grosbeak, yet another songbird with a possibility of breeding in, perhaps, the northern parks of Manhattan island, have been passing for weeks, and still more will be likely to come in and pass through. Some of the later-moving migrant thrush species are starting to pass through, these including some definitive Gray-cheeked Thrushes, of which a few have sung, and-or called. More of Swainsons Thrush, Veery and the other Catharus-genus thrushes we expect are also passing thru, while some Wood Thrushes are on potential territories and ought not to be disturbed in areas they may try to nest. The potential for arrivals of Bicknells Thrush exist in coming days-weeks, and on passage, attention should be paid to any possible vocalizations, and if possible those sounds recorded while such a thrush is being seen. Many of the Hermit Thrushes here have moved on, but some can often still be seen into mid or late May, and very rarely later still in this county. One of the anticipated migratory American warbler species that we see each May has begun to arrive, in very low numbers thus far, Mourning Warbler, which in the first appearances at least, are often best found by vocalizing birds betraying their presence. These may not always be on the ground, although that, or in low dense cover, is the usual way of finding them here as they pass through. This warbler species is not really rare as a migrant here, simply skulking and can be often overlooked if coming along with so many other neotropical -wintering migrants in the month of May. As this species was just arriving, there were also still some Pine Warblers passing thru here, as well as many many more of the migrant warblers. At least one male Mourning Warbler was in Central Parks southern edges at first-light on Wed, May 8th. A great many other warblers also continue into Wednesday for the county. Now that a few Mournings are showing, all of the many anticipated and expected spring warbler on passages have at least shown up, in this county, with certainly a vast many more individuals of many species still to come thru, and including many of the female birds in addition to some further males of most of those many species. A hen Wild Turkey was a very strange sight in midtown Manhattan on Tuesday, May 7 and 8th. What brought that bird in to the midst of midtown is not known, as far as anyone has told. This turkey was seen by many, including by multiple birders, and was ongoing for Wed., May 8th - early morning by 280 Park Ave. near 49th St., a business locality, thus not giving private residential address info - this in very busy midtown Manhattan. Still more observers of this very-odd-location wanderer. More reports in due course, as much migration will be at-or-near peak in this area soon. Good birding to all, Tom Fiore, manhattan -- (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/ --
