A Ferruginous Hawk for the state of Maine, a first state record there if accepted by their rare-bird-committee, was seen by a number of observers at the Lewiston Maine airport area, on 7-14 and, if it should not stay in that area and not be re-found might get at least some eastern-NYS birders to keep a watchful eye to the sky. New York states first Ferruginous was also not so very long ago, some will recall...
In New York on 7-14, the American Flamingo was again enjoyed by multiple watchers at Georgica Pond in e. Suffolk County, as in other past days of its showings there. The same cautions on parking restrictions are of course ongoing in that location. - - - New York County -in N.Y. City- including Manhattan, Randalls, and Governors Islands and the skies above and waters adjacent - thru Sunday, July 14 - A very few shorebird species in the county have included a rare-in-county Willet -seen by L. LaBella- on July 12th off Manhattan along the Hudson River, a species that is very-typical in other places in N.Y. City as a breeding and regularly visiting summer species, but is decidedly rare in N.Y. County, in part due to lack of much habitat really appropriate to their liking. 3 Least Sandpipers showed on the flats at Sherman Creek, just north along the Harlem River from Swindler Cove Park, all east of the east terminus of Dyckman Street in upper Manhattan, on Sunday noted -and photod- by MW. and P. Waldron. A few American Woodcock have been seen, at Bryant Park in midtown Manhattan this is only a long-laggard and might be seen as -trapped' in that park, not a breeder there, while the species at Governors Island has a chance of breeding, as had happened before in areas not fully-accessed by all of the hordes of tourists and other regular visitors each day on that easily-visited island. Common Terns have been nesting in fairly good numbers again, on the piers they are able to use at the Governors Island shore. Killdeer are in a number of N.Y. County locations, including at Randall's, Governors and also on Manhattan island, and there have been a few Spotted Sandpipers, as well as at least 1 early-ish Solitary Sandpiper in the past week, all rather typical for the month. More shorebirds might be watched for any time of this summer, at multiple sites in the county, even if it is certainly not the most-productive county in the city or region from which to try and find a diversity of those diverse birds. At Randall's Island, sightings have continued of at least one adult Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, also an uncommon but much more regular species in the county, especially at that one location. In some sites in the county this month, a fair to high number of Snowy or Great Egrets, sometimes both, have been observed, usually as fly-bys, more than any great numbers seen feeding, and Black-crowned Night-Herons are regular in a number of sites; Green Herons as well as nesters, but with relatively few reporters of those. Reports of 3 Hooded Mergansers, all perhaps nonbreeders in this summer -elsewhere- showed for the Central Park reservoir, a bit earlier than the typical fall arrivals. Wood Duck is continuing at Central Park as is typical about every summer, but with no evidence of any breeding. Other waterfowl have included some Mute Swans seen over the Hudson and also East Rivers lately, and the usual modest numbers of Gadwall and of course Mallards and feral-ish Canada Geese as well, with the occasional American Black Duck sightings for summer. Both Yellow-billed and, more unusually Black-billed Cuckoo have shown in the county in the past week. Some (perhaps few) warblers have been seen, of which just two species can be placed in a possible-breeding category in N.Y. County, Yellow Warbler and Common Yellowthroat. A Mourning Warbler was still at Bryant Park in midtown Manhattan, and is simply stuck there, hopefully at least to get moving south when the time comes. At least one of that species had been in that park for far more than a month. Some birds of interest for the first half of July in New York County included Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - which has nested in other years in several parks - recently found in Central Park, and at least a few of Scarlet Tanager, and Indigo Bunting, the latter at least having made nests in some county locations into recent years, with varying success in bringing any young up. Many more songbirds and other species have been nesting, and lately raising or fledg young in a number of places in the county, some of these species very quiet and not much noted as they continue in this urban county. Of other warblers not noted above, at least one or two Black-and-white Warblers, a few American Redstarts, a few Ovenbirds, and at least several other warbler species were all lingering, now considered to be summering in the county, but none of these believed to be trying to breed, although -redstarts- anywhere in N.Y. City in summer might be watched, to see if there is real evidence for any breeding-attempts. Some, but not all of the warblers lingering thru this summer are in Manhattan, including Central Park and also in mid and lower Manhattan. There have been a couple of appearances by Red-breasted Nuthatch, including some at Central Park, in the past week, however whether any trend, or not, will take a bit of time to determine as the year goes on into early fall. Thanks to many who have been out, with some slight respite from hot weather on just a few days in the county, for so many fine sightings and also many great photos. Good birding and take real care in the excessive heat for many areas in coming days, Tom Fiore manhattan -- (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") 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