[nysbirds-l] Manhattan, NYC 5/19
Thursday, 19 May, 2011 Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City - A male Boat-tailed Grackle again turned up in the park's north end, back by the Meer, where it had first been found in early-mid April. It was rather vocal and did some "displaying" - but to what end? (No female or second male has been reported yet.) There are of course Common Grackles around, as always. Anyhow, this Boat-tailed was apparently seen quite early, and I came upon it around 8-8:15 a.m., but later attempts to see it were unsuccessful, including my tries for it again late in the day. Other birds that went "missing" today (not seen at all, to my knowledge) were the American Bittern (of Wednesday, at the Lake). A Summer Tanager was reported again, same location as the last sightings, at Strawberry Fields. The early, thick fog put a literal damper on some of the activity and song that would otherwise be so typical of a mid-May morning... still, some migrants and certainly nesting species were 'belting out' songs. In my wanderings in early morning and afternoon, it definitely seems that some of the same birds (& here I do mean the same individuals) have stuck around through the damp week and in some cases are in almost the same areas they'd been in all week. The overall number of migrants seems, to me, to have diminished a bit, however. I also saw slightly more females of some species today, but that might be just chance. ----- Riverside Park's northern parts (north of W. 106 St., to about W. 120 St.) had some migrants, and the "drip" was receiving warblers thru 5 p.m., to my surprise - I counted 8 species going in and bathing there in less than 1/2 an hour... they certainly had any number of other puddly places they might have got their wings wet. I'm guessing that all these were birds that simply went in to an area where they knew it was "safe" and had recently been going. I also saw a modest number of warblers & a few other migrant species in the trees of the "sanctuary" above the "drip" and just to the north & south; no very uncommon species, but a few more Blackpolls than I'd counted previously in Riverside, up to a dozen. ----- While the coastal parts may have been in a bit of a "holding pattern" for land-bird migrants, some of those have made their way inland & north towards their breeding destinations, with even Blackpoll and Mourning Warblers being seen in the multiple up in parts of Canada & elsewhere in the north country. It seems the European Hobby was not seen in Mass. (or any other eastern U.S. location) today - from what was reported. Good birding, Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES 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://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] whip-poor-will
A single whip-poor-will was heard this evening at the south end of Staller Drive, Oakville Estates, East Quogue, just south of Sunrise Highway at Exit 64 around 8:20. Eileen Schwinn Mike Higgiston -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES 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://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Sullivan County Bashakill
A descent fallout took place overnight at the Bashakill. I ended the morning with 19 species of warbler. The highlight of these were at least 25 BLACKPOLL WARBLERS on the Scotch Pines in the parking lot for the Orchard and Stop Sign Trail. I also had about two dozen Magnolia Warblers between there and the Nature Trail. The next highest count species was Canada Warbler with about 15 seen. A male BAY BREASTED WARBLER showed well for a short time. ALDER FLYCATCHERS are finally in at a couple of spots and an ACADIAN was found on Gumaer Falls Road. Flooding at the Bashakill has displaced many of the marsh birds, but fortunately, nesting had not really gotten underway for most of the birds. The Red-headed Woodpecker continues at Yankey Lake, but is getting harder to see as it has moved up slope from the road and can only occasionally be heard or spotted. John Haas -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES 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://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Hudson-Mohawk Birdline for 18 May
This is a summary of the Hudson-Mohawk Birdline reports for the week ending 18 May 2011. Report your sightings in New York's Hudson-Mohawk Region to birdl...@hmbc.net One hundred thirty-five species were reported this week including 23 warbler species. Best birds of the week: RED-NECKED GREBE: Alplaus Creek 5/11. BLACK VULTURE: Brunswick 5/12' Ravena 5/18 (2). RED-SHOULDERED HAWK: Northway Exit 16 5/12. MERLIN: Partridge Run 5/12. DUNLIN: Papscanee 5/14 -5/16 (4-6). BLACK TERN: Lake George 5/14. CAPE MAY WARBLER: South Glens Fall 5/12. CERULEAN WARBLER: Schodack Island SP 5/12-5/15. WILSON'S WARBLER: Schodack Island SP 5/12; Vischer Ferry 5/12; Brunswick 5/13, 5/16; Livingston 5/15 (5); Five Rivers 5/17. ORCHARD ORIOLE: Papscanee 5/14. EVENING GROSBEAK: Queensbury 5/12 (2). Other notable sightings: Ring-necked Pheasant: New Scotland 5/17. Great Egret: New Baltimore 5/12; Papscanee 5/17. Virginia Rail: Oppenheim 5/14. Sora: Oppenheim 5/14. Semipalmated Plover: Rensselaerville 5/11; Papscanee 5/14 (2). Yellow-billed Cuckoo: New Baltimore 5/12, 5/16. Black-billed Cuckoo: Schodack Island SP 5/12. Barred Owl: Lake Desolation 5/14. Horned Lark: Saratoga County Airport 5/12 (8). Swainson's Thrush: Brunswick 5/16. American Pipit: Rensselaerville 5/11. Tennessee Warbler: Saratoga 5/15; Livingston 5/15 (3). Bay-breasted Warbler: Brunswick 5/12. Canada Warbler: Lake Desolation 5/14; Five Rivers 5/17. Grasshopper Sparrow: Saratoga County Airport 5/12 (5). Lincoln's Sparrow: Queensbury 5/12. Rusty Blackbird: Vischer Ferry 5/12 (2). Pine Siskin: Brunswick 5/12(2), 5/16 (3). Thanks to Phil Whitney (Birdline compiler), Steve Abrahamsen (Oppenheim, Ames, Saratoga, Saratoga County Airport), Gerry Colborn (Rensselaerville), Alan French (Glenville), Rich Guthrie (New Baltimore, Papscanee, Coxsackie Grasslands, Ravena), John Hershey (Vischer Ferry), Eric Krantz (Lake George), Bill Lee (South Glens Falls, Queensbury), Priscilla Leonard (Jonesville), Anne Magee (New Scotland), Jim deWaal Malefyt (Schodack Island), Alan Mapes (Alplaus Creek), Curt Morgan (Schodack Island), Jeff Nadler (Collins Lake, Lake Desolation), Ellen Pemrick (Colonie), Will Raup (Cole Hill, Berne, Partridge Run, Albany, Papscanee), Alan Schroeder (Black Creek Marsh, Niskayuna, Guilderland, Wright's Loop), Sue Stewart (Burnt Hills, Ballston), Brad Walker (Brunswick), Tom Williams (Pachaquack, Papscanee, Five Rivers, Schodack Island) and Will Yandik (Livingston). -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES 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://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] [Mass.] Eur. Hobby, etc. & C.P., NYC 5/18
Wednesday, 18 May, 2011 - In Massachusetts, a European HOBBY has been reported; on the same list are reports of a lingering Cassin's Sparrow which has been in the same area for a while (many photos). http://groups.google.com/group/massbird/browse_thread/thread/2a8844b1d3ff4b32# http://groups.google.com/group/massbird/topics (reports) http://massbird.org/sightings/index.htm (rarities & photos) - - - - - - - - Phalaropes of at least 2 species were seen in Pennsylvania: Red (Chester County, and later, also in Bucks County, PA), as well as 2 together in Hampton, New Hampshire (noted in RBA) http://listserv.arizona.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind1105c&L=birdeast&P=916 - these all on 5/18; & Red-necked (multiple PA counties) Phalaropes, while Red-necked Phalarope has been reported as well in several NY counties & several New England states, so far in the region. Pix of the Chester Co., PA Red Phalarope 5/18, by J. Davis: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffamy/5734793273/in/photostream (NB: that Pennsylvania Red Phalarope was found by Larry Lewis) See: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/PENN.html for further updates on the PA sightings. - - - - - - - - Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City - An American Bittern was found on the Point & later moved a short way west along the lake (a bit closer towards Bow bridge) where it remained at least through 6:15 p.m. in the evening (in between the now- regular rains) - found and first reported by Ardith Bondi, & seen by multiple observers. (This is a fairly late date for the species at this location (NYC) but in spring 2006, an American Bittern was found in Central Park on May 26th.) In addition to an evening "bittern-watch", I went round the entire park checking out all the water-bodies (yep, even the small "sailboat pond", or Conservatory Water as it's officially known) with the understanding that these storm systems we're experiencing have the capability to "drop" an odd bird in to almost any possible location... the multiple phalaropes found elsewhere partly an example, although some of those were seen in well-known shorebird hotspots. (No C.P. phalaropes were found) The park held a fair number of migrant species and in breaks of almost- sunny weather, and even when less so, a goodly number of songbirds were singing, in the case of males... and the females active as well, when insect life was, in some areas - it was interesting to see that in a few areas, Chimney Swifts were nearly swarming (50-80+ at a time) just above places where there were also fair concentrations of warblers and some other arboreal-feeding birds. I saw &/or heard 15 species of warblers and heard about at least 2 additional species seen today, with Bay-breasted, Blackburnian and Wilson's represented by males and a Cape May female in the north woods fairly early on. In the evening after my rounds of the entire park (looking at all the water), I heard several Gray-cheeked Thrushes singing rather softly, as light rain began again, & also heard (more regular) Wood & Swainson's Thrushes, & Veery. There's also at least one male Indigo Bunting that's been singing every day in the same location for over a week, but that's happened other years in C.P. & no breeding took place. Still, it will be worth checking. A pair of Chipping Sparrows apparently are nesting again. Other birds are as well, of course - and all of us should be cautious about any potential disturbances to our native birds, even the more common species. In a place like an urban park, these birds are sometimes in as precarious a situation as can be, particularly those that nest below or at (human) eye-level. The European Starlings and House Sparrows also take their toll; unfortunately those two species are abundant in a place like Central Park. The Boat-tailed Grackle I photographed late in the day on Tuesday was not found again this day, to my knowledge - but i would not be surprised if it reappears. I would familiarize one's ears with the song & calls, which are distinctive from the "common" Common Grackle as a way of clinching the identity of this, at least in this park. That grackle was quite raucous (I'm assuming it's the same) when found 11 days after the original find (by Jane F. Ross) and observed for much of the day. That 2nd find was by Jacob Drucker, & I was possibly the last to see & hear the displaying Boat-tailed that April 20, even up to the sunset hour. if it does frequent the Meer, it will be a little easier to locate rather than seeking a single bird throughout all of Central Park. If there are more than one, then there may be a slight trend developing. Oh, I may as well add that in all my searching of the waters in Central, just one bird of minor interest was a drab Ruddy Duck, feeding vigorously at the Reservoir, quite late in the day. It's not the absolute latest I've se
