New York County -in N.Y. City- including Manhattan, Randalls, Governors, and Roosevelt Islands, and the adjacent waters and skies above - thru Thursday, January 2, 2025 -
The -Manhattan- Riverside Park lingering Dickcissel was ongoing into 2025, seen by multiple observers thru Thursday, Jan. 2nd at a suet-feeder and nearby, and, back on Dec. 31, in addition to multiple observers-photographers finding at and on a suet feeder as previously-regularly seen for more than one month, the Dickcissel was also seen in the area to the north of all of the tennis courts, now known as the Pollinator Meadow - easiest way up to that space is by a trail on the western edge of all of the tennis courts, but please be careful and cautious if wandering in there at this time of year, or at any time, even with the paved paths not that distant, this Pollinator Meadow area can be or feel quite isolated and is usually very-little used by regular park-goers. For January 1st and also at more times on Dec. 31, the Dickcissel made its appearances at the suet feeder and nearby, including being in brushy areas next to the adjacent slope, but also some yards south of the drip-area and where the suet-feeder is found. The feeder is sometimes not that apparent when unfilled, and those unfamiliar with the area may stand by a fence outside the Drip and adjacent feeder, just south of the tennis courts restrooms, all being at the latitude of about W. 119th St. inside Riverside Park, west of Riverside Drive, and downslope. Please do not pass inside fencing here. A single Snow Goose has again been on the move locally within the county, its 2 known-favored areas so far being northern edges at the Bronx Kill, or north fields on Randalls Island, and in Central Park when its friendly-flock of Canada Geese make the moves, as they have been - the Snow has shown in the Harlem Meer as well as the reservoir of Central Park, and has also turned up at least briefly at times, on the N. Ballfields and on other lawns in the north half of Central. It has regularly gone between Central Park and Randalls Island in one day, along with its Canadian goose friends. The flock it travels with may be as few as 40 Canadas, but at times might be greater numbers of the latter. And of course, in Central and at Randalls Island combined, there can easily be over one-thousand Canada Geese at any given moment in winter. For Jan. 1st and 2nd, the Snow Goose was on the Central Park reservoir all day long, especially near the South pump house on Dec. 1st, although also seen on the other end of the reservoir on same day and near or on the dividing-dike of the reservoir, with vast numbers of observers for 1-1-25. A drake Long-tailed Duck was seen and photographed -M. Ross- off Inwood Hill Park’s s.w. end at the Dyckman pier - which off the western terminus off Dyckman Street in upper Manhattan, flying along the Hudson River, on Jan. 1st. This species is seen at least very-occasionally at this location and area of the Hudson, and just-might be more regular there than is understood. This can easily represent a lot of waterfowl and waterbird movement still taking place into January - as has been increasingly noted in recent-modern birding-times, as so many rivers, lakes, bays, and ponds may stay open for far-longer to the north than was so in longer-ago times. A hen-plumaged N. Pintail was on The Pool, along with 2 lingering Green-winged Teal, etc. on Jan. 1st. 4 female-plumaged Common and 1 Red-breasted Merganser continued their recent stays on the Central Park reservoir. Other ducks ongoing at Central Park including Wood, American Black, Hooded Mergansers, and Ruddy Ducks as well as N. Shovelers, Gadwall, Buffleheads, and motley Mallards, along with whatever -exotica- has lately shown at The Pond in the parks southeast sector. A Black Scoter was seen - a very uncommonly-reported bird in N.Y. County - from off Governors Island on Dec. 31st. That island ought to have the highest potential for many types of wintering ducks offshore, yet can be a bit disappointing in that regard. A good scope is nearly essential if working the harbor waters to seek any birds out off the island. A Red-throated Loon seen -H. Russ- and photographed right off Inwood Hill Park’s north side was rather unusual for the specific location on 12-31-24. Slightly uncommon for that same area, a single N. Shoveler was also seen on the same day, as well as on some other days. An adult White-crowned Sparrow was found -K. Sisco et al- in the so-called Maintenance Meadow at the very northeastern edge of the Central Park Ramble, on Dec. 31st, later seen and photographed by multiple observers there, esp near the restrooms, which are north of the field, just west of the parks East Drive roadway, nearest to a latitude of E. 79th St. This species has rather rarely wintered thru in Central Park, sometimes by a feeder -not at the Ramble- and sometimes elsewhere, in past winters over some decades. More of the overwintering individuals of the past were in immature plumage as their winter began. It is also slightly-possible this bird on 12-31 was still a very-late transient, but as-or-more likely it is a lingering individual that had not been much noticed or had remained in some -other- area rarely-watched by birders. Some other sparrows also still showing for 1-1-25 included American Tree and Field, as well as the 2 still-lingering Chipping Sparrows, those last around the n.e. sector of Central Park, and which were seen on the C.B.C. in mid-December and also before and since then. Red Fox Sparrows are still widely if thinly distributed all around, often but not always among flocks of the many White-throated Sparrows of the county. Swamp Sparrow is not at all regular in winter but some are usually lingerers, and this winter is no exception. Song Sparrows are very widely continuing on. Pine Warblers were amongst that family - the Parulidae, or American warblers- to show up on Jan. 1st in the county, with three individuals at Randalls Island, and one still being found at Central Park. It is quite possible all are birds seen previously and were still in those areas but not showing for some lengthy stretches. Orange-crowned Warblers have remained in several locations, with the most-watched recently still being one at Carl Schurz Park, esp. around the s.w. corner -and adjacent feeder- at Gracie mansion at the parks n.w. edge - seen and photographed again on 1-1-25, and may at times come to the suet, but also remains hidden inside of the walled mansion-grounds at times, appearing on and around shrubberies and in trees outside there, and perhaps with some forays out farther from the mansion. A couple of other Orange-crowneds include one at Randalls Island, tough to see on some recent visits, and another lingering Orange-crowned at Central Park, seemingly sought by few, and also not found in just one area, but has sometimes been not far from the Discovery center building on the Meers north shore. Still more Orange-crowneds could well be lurking and lingering in some areas of the county. Also still around have been Ovenbird, Common Yellowthroat, and Myrtle form of Yellow-rumped Warbler, the latter two warbler species in thickets at -The Hills- of Governors Island, and the Myrtle Warbler also present in a few additional sites thru 1-1-25. Additional Common Yellowthroats include sightings at Bryant Park in Manhattan, and in a private greenspace in lower Manhattan, and perhaps still other locations. Further warbler locations, in Central Park may include the inner grounds of the zoo there, where an admission is charged to those not zoo-members, and of course only open at standard times. A hen Wild Turkey -called Astoria by some birders- has continued into 2025 at Roosevelt Island in the East River east of Manhattan, a part of N.Y. County. Good 2025 birding to all, and thanks to many finders and observers for many great reports. Tom Fiore manhattan -- (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") 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