[nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC 5/5
Thursday, 5 May 2016 Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City Lots & lots of birders out again, never mind temp's again 10-20 degrees below typical norms for the date, damp easterly winds & overcast skies all day long. Over the past week, folks in points south / southwest (of N.Y. City) have been finding various spp. of Ammodramus [genus] sparrows. Thus not a big surprise that some are dropping in around NYC, too - and to have 3 Seaside on the w. side of Manhattan is an esp. nice find for the area. Of a reported Grasshopper Sparrow (from 5/4) at the Great Hill of Central Park, while it may have stuck, no birders I know of who were in the immediate area reported coming up with that species today. It is somewhat interesting, whether coincidental or not that of the multiple times that species has dropped into Central in the last 20 years or so, a preponderance have been at that particular location, or within about 1/4-mile. As far as we know, it's the most-regular of the Ammodramus to stop off on the island of Manhattan (that is, not including the islands in the East river which may be politically a part of N.Y. County, but are not geographically Manhattan island). Information on Wednesday's sighting at Central was provided word-of-mouth & my understanding is that only 1 person has reported the sparrow, and for that day only. Again today, a minimum of 18 Warbler species were seen in the park, with a Cape May at the Point lingering for a longer-than-typical length of time now, as well as a few other individuals that were pretty clearly lingering, yet also a modest number that may have arrived this or most recent days, despite the seemingly contrary winds. (there was migration last night, even if not that huge locally as could be for this date.) With respect to Evan Cutler, I made a slight detour within a standard route of my "big loop" of the park entire, such that I walked thru the area known as The Dene, located nearest Fifth Ave. & the mid-upper 60's of cross-streets within the park; one nice surprise there for me is that I will now know precisely where to seek spring breeding- plumaged dickcissels. (to understand this reference, one would have to be out there, & read new signage in place...) But I won't hold my breath for that... Other sightings today included: Horned Grebe (same breeding plumaged individual on the reservoir, missed my 1st 2 passes there today, as well as yesterday, but then seen again later on) Double-crested Cormorant (plenty at the reservoir & various fly-overs) Great Blue Heron (fly-over) Great Egret (several in the park & multiple n. end fly-overs) Snowy Egret (modest no. of n. end fly-overs) Green Heron Black-crowned Night-Heron Canada Goose Wood Duck Gadwall (multiple pairs) Mallard Bufflehead (at least 4 at the reservoir) Ruddy Duck (minimum of 16 counted & photographed in 1 group at reservoir) Osprey (fly-over) Red-tailed Hawk American Kestrel Peregrine Falcon (close fly-bys) Solitary Sandpiper (1 very early at the Meer, which was scared off by passing jogger, & flew towards the west) Spotted Sandpiper (multiples including at the Pond, the Lake, and several today around the reservoir) Laughing Gull (a few fly-overs seen from reservoir path) Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Great Black-backed Gull (mainly at the reservoir, or as fly-overs) Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Chimney Swift (25+, mostly found over the reservoir with many swallows, by walking the full reservoir loop) Ruby-throated Hummingbird Red-bellied Woodpecker Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (a few continuing, not too unusual yet, still early May) Downy Woodpecker Yellow-shafted Flicker Least Flycatcher (heard as well) Eastern Phoebe (1 which I saw) Great Crested Flycatcher (several, Ramble & N. end) Eastern Kingbird (a few lingering) White-eyed Vireo (seen by many in same place as prior recent sightings) Blue-headed Vireo (multiple, many singing) Yellow-throated Vireo (few) Warbling Vireo (multiple, in many areas, a number of them on territories) Red-eyed Vireo (still just a few) Blue Jay American Crow Tree Swallow (not than many, most are over reservoir lately) Northern Rough-winged Swallow (multiple, esp. at reservoir) Bank Swallow (1 or 2, reservoir, in late p.m. swallow-watch) Barn Swallow (many, esp. over reservoir) Black-capped Chickadee Tufted Titmouse White-breasted Nuthatch Carolina Wren (at least 1) House Wren (multiple) Ruby-crowned Kinglet (rather few, but not 'rare' at all yet) Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (a few) Veery (multiple and starting to ease out Hermit as most numerous) Gray-cheeked Thrush (1, singing typical song for this n. breeder, still an unusually early date) Swainson's Thrush (several, and 1 singing well, at Hallett Sanctuary, a.m.) Hermit Thrush (still fairly common, scattered all thru the park) Wood Thrush (several in various locations, some breed in Central, with much difficulty) American Robin Gray Catbird
[nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC 5/5
Thursday, 5 May 2016 Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City Lots & lots of birders out again, never mind temp's again 10-20 degrees below typical norms for the date, damp easterly winds & overcast skies all day long. Over the past week, folks in points south / southwest (of N.Y. City) have been finding various spp. of Ammodramus [genus] sparrows. Thus not a big surprise that some are dropping in around NYC, too - and to have 3 Seaside on the w. side of Manhattan is an esp. nice find for the area. Of a reported Grasshopper Sparrow (from 5/4) at the Great Hill of Central Park, while it may have stuck, no birders I know of who were in the immediate area reported coming up with that species today. It is somewhat interesting, whether coincidental or not that of the multiple times that species has dropped into Central in the last 20 years or so, a preponderance have been at that particular location, or within about 1/4-mile. As far as we know, it's the most-regular of the Ammodramus to stop off on the island of Manhattan (that is, not including the islands in the East river which may be politically a part of N.Y. County, but are not geographically Manhattan island). Information on Wednesday's sighting at Central was provided word-of-mouth & my understanding is that only 1 person has reported the sparrow, and for that day only. Again today, a minimum of 18 Warbler species were seen in the park, with a Cape May at the Point lingering for a longer-than-typical length of time now, as well as a few other individuals that were pretty clearly lingering, yet also a modest number that may have arrived this or most recent days, despite the seemingly contrary winds. (there was migration last night, even if not that huge locally as could be for this date.) With respect to Evan Cutler, I made a slight detour within a standard route of my "big loop" of the park entire, such that I walked thru the area known as The Dene, located nearest Fifth Ave. & the mid-upper 60's of cross-streets within the park; one nice surprise there for me is that I will now know precisely where to seek spring breeding- plumaged dickcissels. (to understand this reference, one would have to be out there, & read new signage in place...) But I won't hold my breath for that... Other sightings today included: Horned Grebe (same breeding plumaged individual on the reservoir, missed my 1st 2 passes there today, as well as yesterday, but then seen again later on) Double-crested Cormorant (plenty at the reservoir & various fly-overs) Great Blue Heron (fly-over) Great Egret (several in the park & multiple n. end fly-overs) Snowy Egret (modest no. of n. end fly-overs) Green Heron Black-crowned Night-Heron Canada Goose Wood Duck Gadwall (multiple pairs) Mallard Bufflehead (at least 4 at the reservoir) Ruddy Duck (minimum of 16 counted & photographed in 1 group at reservoir) Osprey (fly-over) Red-tailed Hawk American Kestrel Peregrine Falcon (close fly-bys) Solitary Sandpiper (1 very early at the Meer, which was scared off by passing jogger, & flew towards the west) Spotted Sandpiper (multiples including at the Pond, the Lake, and several today around the reservoir) Laughing Gull (a few fly-overs seen from reservoir path) Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Great Black-backed Gull (mainly at the reservoir, or as fly-overs) Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Chimney Swift (25+, mostly found over the reservoir with many swallows, by walking the full reservoir loop) Ruby-throated Hummingbird Red-bellied Woodpecker Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (a few continuing, not too unusual yet, still early May) Downy Woodpecker Yellow-shafted Flicker Least Flycatcher (heard as well) Eastern Phoebe (1 which I saw) Great Crested Flycatcher (several, Ramble & N. end) Eastern Kingbird (a few lingering) White-eyed Vireo (seen by many in same place as prior recent sightings) Blue-headed Vireo (multiple, many singing) Yellow-throated Vireo (few) Warbling Vireo (multiple, in many areas, a number of them on territories) Red-eyed Vireo (still just a few) Blue Jay American Crow Tree Swallow (not than many, most are over reservoir lately) Northern Rough-winged Swallow (multiple, esp. at reservoir) Bank Swallow (1 or 2, reservoir, in late p.m. swallow-watch) Barn Swallow (many, esp. over reservoir) Black-capped Chickadee Tufted Titmouse White-breasted Nuthatch Carolina Wren (at least 1) House Wren (multiple) Ruby-crowned Kinglet (rather few, but not 'rare' at all yet) Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (a few) Veery (multiple and starting to ease out Hermit as most numerous) Gray-cheeked Thrush (1, singing typical song for this n. breeder, still an unusually early date) Swainson's Thrush (several, and 1 singing well, at Hallett Sanctuary, a.m.) Hermit Thrush (still fairly common, scattered all thru the park) Wood Thrush (several in various locations, some breed in Central, with much difficulty) American Robin Gray Catbird
[nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC 5/5
On Newfoundland, the reports just get more & more impressive... the (up to 2) Common Redshanks are an extreme rarity for North America... and none of the other recent finds there is exactly 'shabby'...!!! Black-tailed Godwit - 9 Common Redshank - 2 European Whimbrel - 1 Dunlin (probably Icelandic origin) - 1 European Golden Plover - (+ / -) 150 Northern Wheatear - 16 Bonus Bird! Ross's Gull - 1 more about the above can be followed at: http://brucemactavish1.blogspot.com/ -- Congrats to Richard Veit, PhD, who found a Black-necked Stilt at the Goethal's Bridge Pond in Staten Island (Richmond County, N.Y. City) on Sunday, the bird being seen there again this Monday by multiple observers. The area may be accessed by an S40 bus from the Staten Island ferry terminal, in addition to car. It may be best to look in a mapping app. for directions - I have not been to the site that recently. (It is in the vicinity of the bridge for which the pond is "named") . A male Townsend's Warbler was photographed in Sussex County New Jersey on Sunday 4 May 2014, by observer Alan Boyd, at the "Walpack Valley I.B.A. = Important Bird Area. Mentioning this not so esp. as a suggestion to look for this individual as much as to be aware of this possibility in NY State at this time of year... we can hope. . ... .. Monday, 5 May, 2014 - Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City Sections of the park continued to have excellent variety & some obvious highlight birds... while some areas seemed relatively quieter, particularly as the day went along. A KENTUCKY Warbler remained in... (well, to read on about that little escapade, & a definite 'rant' on illegally UNleashed dogs, which is about their owners, and about the managers of the park - see below) - and there were some other warblers that were either highly cooperative &/or more difficult, but at least were seen. Among these an Orange-crowned Warbler was at times seen well, even superbly while often singing, at the Ramble's maintenance meadow. At least 21 additional warbler species were seen today (& I heard a rumor? that the Yellow-throated Warbler was found yet again south of the Tavern on the Green... which if so would add another to that tally by many observers. Of less-expected species as the season progresses, male Pine Warbler & Louisiana Waterthrush were both still present in the Ramble, and a number of Palm Warblers as well. Obviously a Chuck-will's-widow makes the highlight list, a life bird for at least some who had quite good views at various times, mainly in the Maintenance Meadow area, although initial sightings included some in-flight views. Those views allowed viewing of the relatively pointed wingtips, as compared with the blunter-ended wings of an Eastern Whip- poor-will, which this bird decidedly was not. In addition to that feature (pointed out first by Alan Messer, thanks Alan), the bird in sight was very obviously large, having wingspread greater than a female Merlin & so much larger than any whip-poor-will ever would or could be; also this bird was almost richly rufous-reddish brown in overall coloration. There were many hundreds of photos taken. The Chuck-will's-widow was reportedly in place for almost the entire day, through - whatever hour certain folks may have awaited it's evening fly-off & potential hunting forays, or, its potential departure flight on to, where next! A male Summer Tanager was quite the crowd-pleaser for many observers, often in trees near the lake shore from just east of Bow Bridge. A singing Tennesssee Warbler (perhaps several) gave some quite good views in some of that area as well as just north of the Point. In the north woods, 2 male (singing at times) Hooded Warblers were occasionally being seen simultaneously, mostly in an area of higher ground well north of the Loch. There were many other avian highlights for a lot of observers, in various parts of the park. A Golden-crowned Kinglet was running a bit late, as have a modest number of other usually-April migrants, locally this spring. An excellent report from the Stuyvesant-town Manhattan building complex and green-space within, located east of First Ave. in the teens (streets), includes a male HOODED Warbler that has been seen there for at least several days including today, Mon.; this is not an expected or regular migrant in this location (thanks to Anne Lazarus for the detailed report & historical records for this oasis of bird- habitat in downtown Manhattan - as well as to all who make observations in less-well-known such locations); also being seen recently in the Stuyvesant-town grounds have been, among others, Great Crested Flycatcher, Gray Catbird, Veery, Wood Thrush, Hermit Thrush, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Ovenbird,
[nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC 5/5 & 5/6 (+ 'elsewhere' rarities)
Although in Ohio, a singing male Kirtland's Warbler at Columbus (Ohio) is quite the find - the bird has been seen and heard by crowds of birders there over the past several days - quite the cooperative visitor! There'd also been a drake Garganey for some time in Ohio, and still no word that it's anything other than "presumed wild". The hordes of birders at the nation's newest spring hot-spot north of the Gulf Coast, Magee marsh area, have been enjoying hordes of migrants - there's a reason the place got so popular! As in most of the east, the very early trend has been noted in a lot of migrants first arrival dates... (Magee marsh is near Ohio's Lake Erie shores - these reports are detailed on that 'buckeye' state's birding list-serve.) While a small flock of Black-bellied Whistling Ducks were not reported again in Massachusetts, a White-winged Dove did just appear in that state. A Kentucky Warbler made it to Maine, on Monhegan Island off that state's 'mid-coast'. There are additional reports of Kentuckys that went a bit farther than the expected summer ranges. Keep looking up also, kites of at least two species (Mississippi and Swallow- tailed) have been reported recently from a bunch of places farther north than they (once were) "expected", including north of the southern parts of N.Y. A bit farther north than is "expected", a Gray Kingbird was photographed in North Carolina and was present from May 4-6th. The reports and photo-link are on the 2 state's birding list- serve. - - - - Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City - The Varied Thrush that stayed on so long may finally have gone, although the last time I wrote that, there it still was - a last definite report that I'm aware of was for Sunday, 1st of May. This bird surprised a few times already this spring, by staying on through strong migrations that took place earlier in April and just a week ago. - - - Friday 6 May, 2011 - A Red-headed Woodpecker remained in its favored area, south and west of Sheep Meadow's SE "corner" or slightly farther south & west, with the 66 Street transverse road a landmark, as well as the Carousel a bit farther south. The woodpecker is not "expected" to stay on a lot longer, and it's unusual that it has stayed even to this date. (Many have overwintered in Central Park and of those that have in the last several decades, the majority had moved on by this time of the spring.) Diversity continued to be quite good, with combined reports tallying at least 25 warbler species again, although it wasn't clear whether a Kentucky Warbler was in fact among these for a third day, nor if any Yellow-throated Warbler was found... however, a warbler species "du jour"could have been Cape May, with multiple sightings, and interestingly, there were multiples of that species reported from a number of locations around N.Y. City as well as outside the city; a seemingly simultaneous influx in the local area (although these had been found previously, it seemed even more reports came in). Thursday, 5 May - Despite a lot of individual birds having moved on since Tuesday's fall- out there were still a good diversity of species again - and it seems at least 25 (perhaps even more) warbler species were collectively seen in Central today - the Kentucky continuing at the slope north of "the Pool" east of West 103 Street, and at least one Yellow-throated Warbler also continuing near Bow Bridge, with various others including Tennessee, Cape May, Bay-breasted, Hooded, and Worm-eating Warblers among those still also being found, from the north end and/or Ramble areas. In overall numbers, far fewer than last Tuesday but in diversity, still plenty to see! - - - - - - A nice report from Karen Fung of a dozen warbler species (& other migrants) in a short early afternoon visit to Riverside Park's "drip" near W. 118-119 Street on Manhattan's far west side, for Friday, 6 May - this list suggest that a longer stay could have produced a longer list of species, although as KF noted, timing (and lots of patience) is almost everything at this location - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ebirdsnyc/message/9051 - with no sun, the drip itself is usually a very slow spot to see migrants; and with increasing foliage daily, a warm & sunny afternoon is perhaps the best time to try - sometimes the birds may also be active here in mid-morning, or at other times when truly hot weather occurs during migration periods - and most especially in periods with no appreciable rain for a few days or more. (It can then act as a sort of small oasis, with the water that reliably "drips".) 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)
[nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC 5/5 5/6 (+ 'elsewhere' rarities)
Although in Ohio, a singing male Kirtland's Warbler at Columbus (Ohio) is quite the find - the bird has been seen and heard by crowds of birders there over the past several days - quite the cooperative visitor! There'd also been a drake Garganey for some time in Ohio, and still no word that it's anything other than presumed wild. The hordes of birders at the nation's newest spring hot-spot north of the Gulf Coast, Magee marsh area, have been enjoying hordes of migrants - there's a reason the place got so popular! As in most of the east, the very early trend has been noted in a lot of migrants first arrival dates... (Magee marsh is near Ohio's Lake Erie shores - these reports are detailed on that 'buckeye' state's birding list-serve.) While a small flock of Black-bellied Whistling Ducks were not reported again in Massachusetts, a White-winged Dove did just appear in that state. A Kentucky Warbler made it to Maine, on Monhegan Island off that state's 'mid-coast'. There are additional reports of Kentuckys that went a bit farther than the expected summer ranges. Keep looking up also, kites of at least two species (Mississippi and Swallow- tailed) have been reported recently from a bunch of places farther north than they (once were) expected, including north of the southern parts of N.Y. A bit farther north than is expected, a Gray Kingbird was photographed in North Carolina and was present from May 4-6th. The reports and photo-link are on the 2 state's birding list- serve. - - - - Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City - The Varied Thrush that stayed on so long may finally have gone, although the last time I wrote that, there it still was - a last definite report that I'm aware of was for Sunday, 1st of May. This bird surprised a few times already this spring, by staying on through strong migrations that took place earlier in April and just a week ago. - - - Friday 6 May, 2011 - A Red-headed Woodpecker remained in its favored area, south and west of Sheep Meadow's SE corner or slightly farther south west, with the 66 Street transverse road a landmark, as well as the Carousel a bit farther south. The woodpecker is not expected to stay on a lot longer, and it's unusual that it has stayed even to this date. (Many have overwintered in Central Park and of those that have in the last several decades, the majority had moved on by this time of the spring.) Diversity continued to be quite good, with combined reports tallying at least 25 warbler species again, although it wasn't clear whether a Kentucky Warbler was in fact among these for a third day, nor if any Yellow-throated Warbler was found... however, a warbler species du jourcould have been Cape May, with multiple sightings, and interestingly, there were multiples of that species reported from a number of locations around N.Y. City as well as outside the city; a seemingly simultaneous influx in the local area (although these had been found previously, it seemed even more reports came in). Thursday, 5 May - Despite a lot of individual birds having moved on since Tuesday's fall- out there were still a good diversity of species again - and it seems at least 25 (perhaps even more) warbler species were collectively seen in Central today - the Kentucky continuing at the slope north of the Pool east of West 103 Street, and at least one Yellow-throated Warbler also continuing near Bow Bridge, with various others including Tennessee, Cape May, Bay-breasted, Hooded, and Worm-eating Warblers among those still also being found, from the north end and/or Ramble areas. In overall numbers, far fewer than last Tuesday but in diversity, still plenty to see! - - - - - - A nice report from Karen Fung of a dozen warbler species ( other migrants) in a short early afternoon visit to Riverside Park's drip near W. 118-119 Street on Manhattan's far west side, for Friday, 6 May - this list suggest that a longer stay could have produced a longer list of species, although as KF noted, timing (and lots of patience) is almost everything at this location - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ebirdsnyc/message/9051 - with no sun, the drip itself is usually a very slow spot to see migrants; and with increasing foliage daily, a warm sunny afternoon is perhaps the best time to try - sometimes the birds may also be active here in mid-morning, or at other times when truly hot weather occurs during migration periods - and most especially in periods with no appreciable rain for a few days or more. (It can then act as a sort of small oasis, with the water that reliably drips.) 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)
