Central Park, in Manhattan - and elsewhere throughout New York County -in N.Y. City including Randalls Island and Governors Island and skies above, and adjacent waters. March sightings thru Thursday, March 14th -
A plethora of highlights could be listed, with few being state-rare, and many being standard and expected arrivals of spring-season migrants, such as Eastern Phoebes, a smattering of early and some overwintered warblers - Palm, Pine including bright singing males of this sp. at Central Park as well as the drab one there which overwintered, rarely-noted in recent weeks but ongoing, Orange-crowneds, several that overwintered, including at least one at Randalls Island, and a fine recent one at Canal Park in lower Manhattan, also a near-certain overwintered individual, and Myrtle Warbler also probably -and definitely-for-some of those- overwintered locally; a mass-movement of sparrows this week with very notable numbers of Red Fox Sparrows arriving this week, as well as other sparrow spp.; E. Meadowlarks in a few sites, Rusty Blackbirds in low-modest numbers as new arrivals. And plenty more: various raptors, our 2 spp. of vultures, the owls of native species which have included up to 4 spp., in this month, 3 of those within Central Park as well as elsewhere in the county, Kinglets of both of our species, with arrivals of some additional Golden-crowned, in addition to the wintering individuals of each Kinglet sp., as well as the now-expected movement of American Woodcocks of which some get stuck in midtown or other parts of urban Manhattan, but also many that have been coming thru at Central and multiple other parks and both of the other-islands of the county, plus Wilsons Snipe in several locations, and more-common Killdeer, with one that lingered at Central Park for a while - Sheep Meadow when closed to public entry, out there with the many American Robins; and, the long-showing Purple Sandpiper[s] of lower Manhattans Pier 26, at least one of the latter species still there into March 14th. We can expect more arrivals here in the coming weeks, even just-ahead of calendar-spring. Some of these to be reported in due course. In the list of sightings below, all of the species noted from Central Park are marked with -CP- many of these same species were also being found in multiple other sites in N.Y. County. A number of birds were seen in specific sites, such as Randalls or Governors Island, or northern Manhattan, or in parts of lower Manhattan, as well or in some instances, exclusively. Atlantic Brant Canada Goose -CP- and also, unless noted as such, seen in many other locations around N.Y. County. Mute Swan Wood Duck -CP- Northern Shoveler -CP- Gadwall -CP- Mallard -CP- American Black Duck -CP- Mallard x American Black Duck hybrid -CP- Northern Pintail Green-winged Teal -CP- Ring-necked Duck -CP- Greater Scaup Greater/Lesser Scaup - Aythya sp. Long-tailed Duck Bufflehead -CP- Common Goldeneye -one, CP- And, mainly seen in low numbers, off Randalls and Governors Islands nearby waters, in this month and previous recent months. Hooded Merganser -CP- Common Merganser -CP- Red-breasted Merganser -CP- Ruddy Duck -CP- And, n.b., this species also has been somewhat regular at parts of the upper East River off Manhattan, in varying, usually modest, numbers in recent weeks. Pied-billed Grebe -CP- Rock Pigeon -CP- Mourning Dove -CP- American Coot -CP- Killdeer (CP) And, mainly noticed elsewhere in sites where regularly-seen, which does include sites in Manhattan such as Sherman Creek. Purple Sandpiper - pier 26, lower Manhattan to March 14th - American Woodcock -CP- And, in many, many additional locations all around the county, which includes those few seen by now-100s of observers at Bryant Park, where this species is regularly seen and often stays a long while. Wilson's Snipe - several, in several sites including first at Governors Island, soon followed by Randalls Island, and other locations. Bonaparte's Gull - one report from the East River. Ring-billed Gull -CP- American Herring Gull -CP- Iceland Gull -CP- Lesser Black-backed Gull Glaucous Gull Great Black-backed Gull -CP- Red-throated Loon -CP- And, multiples in other areas, esp. NY Harbor, East River, and etc. Common Loon -CP- Great Cormorant Double-crested Cormorant -CP- Great Blue Heron -CP- Great Egret Black-crowned Night-Heron -CP- Black Vulture Turkey Vulture -CP- Osprey -CP- flyby on March 14th, modestly early. Northern Harrier Sharp-shinned Hawk -CP- Cooper's Hawk -CP- Sharp-shinned/Cooper's Hawk Bald Eagle -CP- And, many many sightings elsewhere in / over the county this month. Red-shouldered Hawk -CP- Red-tailed Hawk -CP- And, nesting or nest-making all around the county, many sites. owl species - 4 have been seen this month, all of those native to the region. Belted Kingfisher -CP- Yellow-bellied Sapsucker -CP- Red-bellied Woodpecker -CP- Downy Woodpecker -CP- Hairy Woodpecker -CP- American Kestrel -CP- Merlin -CP- Peregrine Falcon -CP- Monk Parakeet - regular in a few select locations in the county this month. Eastern Phoebe -CP- And, in many, many other locations - a nice arrival just this week, not at all unexpected for mid-March. Blue Jay -CP- American Crow -CP- Fish Crow -CP- American/Fish Crow Common Raven -CP- And, in many locations including a number of nest-sites in the county. This largest of corvids and of all passerine birds has certainly become a city-dweller, formerly a very rare sighting in decades of the past, in the megalopolis. Black-capped Chickadee -CP- Tufted Titmouse -CP- Horned Lark Tree Swallow -CP- However, easiest site to see now and often is on Governors Island; this species nests there each year. Also have shown in other locations, many as fly-overs moving on north. Some were arriving in early March locally. Ruby-crowned Kinglet -CP- Golden-crowned Kinglet -CP- And now, including arrivals all around the county as well. Red-breasted Nuthatch -CP- White-breasted Nuthatch -CP- Brown Creeper -CP- Winter Wren -CP- And in at least a few other sites, where a small number have overwintered, which is not unusual at all. Carolina Wren -CP- European Starling -CP- Gray Catbird -CP- Plus, all the many that overwintered in a number of odd locations, all thru the county. A small number wintered in Central Park alone, and far more in other urban sites. Brown Thrasher -CP- Multiple overwinterers for Central, and also some in other county sites. Northern Mockingbird -CP- Eastern Bluebird -CP- Yep. Hermit Thrush -CP- Modest numbers overwintered thru the county, including in Central Park. American Robin -CP- Good numbers have been moving in, and many also passing over, northbound in recent days. Cedar Waxwing -CP- This species has shown pretty well all this late-winter to just now, in mostly-modest numbers. As a somewhat irruptive / dispersive winter-frugivore, they showed in recent weeks and months around this county, some years there are very few seen here in midwinter or very-early spring. House Sparrow -CP- House Finch -CP- Purple Finch -CP- n.b., scarce for the most-part lately, but a few have passed thru in various locations in the county, including thru Central. Pine Siskin -CP- In this month so far, mostly a singleton being found in lower-east Manhatta, but at least a few have shown elsewhere, including at Central Park. American Goldfinch -CP- Chipping Sparrow Field Sparrow -CP- Red Fox Sparrow -CP- DOZENS have arrived this week, and many also singing where lingering; these were being found all thru the county in appropriate locations as well as some in slightly unexpected smaller sites. Slate-colored Junco -CP- White-crowned Sparrow - reports from Governors Island could represent an overwintered bird - this species does so in some years in N.Y. County, and regularly does so at some locations in the wider region, usually in low numbers. The expected timing for spring arrivals of White-crowned Sparrow, locally is many, many, many weeks out - mostly late April into May in these parts. Thus, this species seen now is a likely locally-wintered bird or birds. White-throated Sparrow -CP- And, one of, if not the most-common overwintered native passerine bird of this county. Their spring-arrival period is still some weeks away for the most part. We have up to hundreds wintering in Central Park alone in many winter seasons. Savannah Sparrow Song Sparrow -CP- And, some arrivals of this early-moving species, along with the many that overwinter around the county. Yes, and many are singing a lot lately. Lincoln's Sparrow - the several individuals known to be wintering have continued; most sightings are from lower Manhattan, lately. Swamp Sparrow -CP- in modest numbers with a bit of local-movement in recent days. A not-too-rare overwinterer, in the county. Eastern Towhee -CP- Multiples of this species wintered in the county, just a few of those in Central Park. Eastern Meadowlark - most of the sightings are from Governors Island this week, however the species also came thru at some additional locations, including -CP- and elsewhere. Red-winged Blackbird -CP- And, on some mornings very high numbers of flyovers headed north. Brown-headed Cowbird -CP- Rusty Blackbird -CP- A nice arrival of more of this species, with more somewhat likely as spring comes in; some also seen-heard as flybys. Common Grackle -CP- And, on some mornings very high numbers of flyovers headed north. Ovenbird Orange-crowned Warbler - multiple locations, including at Canal Park as-of March 14th. Nashville Warbler Common Yellowthroat Palm Warbler - Governors Island, photo in the Macaulay Library archives by C. Weiner, on March 14th. This could be an early-ish arrival and also may represent a bird that wintered not so far away. Pine Warbler -CP- multiples of this species were showing, with at least several in Central Park alone as of March 14th, esp. at the far-north end of the park, where one individual in very drab plumage has also overwintered successfully. A few have wintered in that park in past years. Myrtle -a.k.a Yellow-rumped- Warbler -CP- And, at least a few showing elsewhere such as a wintered individual at Governors Island, and some -few- elsewhere this week. The one at The Pool area of Central Park had been seen by many dozens of birders by this week, and is possibly an overwintered, drably-plumaged bird. Northern Cardinal -CP- . . . . . There are also some additional species which have been reported this month for N.Y. County. In the very warm weather just lately, a LOT of plants have responded with early blooms, and some of even native trees or shrubs with at least a few buds or blooms. The insect-life and other arthropod life have also responded vigorously to the warmer recent weather. At least 4 species of butterflies were seen in the county already this month, they are - Cabbage White, Orange Sulphur of the pale-form, Eastern Comma, and Mourning Cloak. It is very possible that some additional species could be about. There also have been some snake, frog and certainly turtle sightings in the county, although not all of the latter are native-to-this-area turtle spp. And of mammals, a good many have been sighted, in addition to the coyotes of the county, Racoons, marmots also known as the Groundhog or woodchuck, cottontail rabbits, chipmunks, and a few more native species as well. We also had at least one -native- Red Bat sighting in the mild weather. Good birding to all, and thanks to the many keen observers, and some guides who work with our nonprofit organizations and local institutions, museums, and etc, for many great recent sightings. Tom Fiore manhattan -- (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") 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