[nysbirds-l] N.Y. County (NYC) - American Golden-Plover (thank you!), Y-br. Chat, 24+ warbler spp., & etc. - Sunday, 10/11
First & foremost, Congratulations to Gloria Hong of Manhattan for the first in New York County (!) find of an American Golden-Plover - on Friday, 10/9 - AND for the re-find of that same bird on Sun., 10/11 (!!) - with great & diagnostic photos within eBird checklists, both (days’ lists) very promptly submitted, as well as the early report of the re-find to this NYS list-serve. MANY (more) birders were flocking out to observe this fine shorebird on its’ rediscovery-day. (Referring to the bird found on Randall’s Island, New York County, east of Manhattan island, in N.Y. City). Of course, it is virtually certain this is the same individual both days, & thus likely the golden-plover was present, most likely still at Randall’s, for the intervening day of Saturday, 10/10 as well. ... Some of us can be certain that the late, great Starr Saphir would be smiling down on those seeking & finding all of these great birds, and a walk in her honor, the annual Starr Saphir memorial bird walk was again held in Central Park, happily with fine weather, on Sunday, 10/11, for & with participants of the Linnaean Society of New York. Ms. Saphir, a long-time Manhattan resident and educator, started many a birder’s interest in and increased knowledge of our birds and a lot more of the natural world; she also led walks regularly for the Linnaean Society as well as the NYC Audubon, over many years working in N.Y. City. The memorial walk was a great success, as are so many of the walks done by this, as well as another non-profit organization, the NYC Audubon, which offer walks & field-trips. …. On Sunday, Oct. 11th, a minimum of 24 species of American warblers were found in N.Y. County, all of these occurring on Manhattan island, and at least 22 of the warbler species being seen within Central Park alone (& also substantial numbers in a variety of other parks, such as Riverside, Inwood Hill, Battery, & others from the ‘top’ to the ‘bottom’ of the island). More-modest diversity from the ‘other islands’ of the county on the day (Randall’s & Governors) with the warblers. ... Congrat’s also to A. Burke, for ongoing finds of (most years, not nearly as regularly-found, even at the fall peak of occurrence) Connnecticut Warbler, this latest one for Manhattan, N.Y. City as he posted promptly to this list-serve. (That neighborhood is also known as Clinton, as seen in names of some smaller parks, gardens, etc.- and no, not named for any of the 'ex-Arkansas’ Clintons.) Many observers on Sunday found very high numbers / concentrations of Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, almost suggestive of some ‘pushback’ effect (or analogous effects partly as a result) of the remnants of what had been “Hurricane Delta”, that storm system slowly encroaching on at least southeastern NY, & expected to move through overnight through Monday. Just one example of the day’s increase of Y.-b. Sapsucker were the 19 of that species recorded in just one linear-type park - Morningside Park, by one careful & experienced observer; this sort of pattern with this species also noted from at least several other parks, as well as multiple smaller areas. There were also some batches & patches of further Black-capped Chickadee arrivals, along with already noted high numbers and distribution of Tufted Titmouse. It was reported that on Governors Island, many flocks of Pine Siskins were seen & heard in flight, ongoing for some while on Sunday. In an expected vein there have been good sparrow arrivals, with White-Crowned Sparrow amongst those starting to show in numbers, and also many other species of ’new world' sparrow. Multiple Vesper Sparrows seen recently in the county included one seen well on Sunday, 10/11, at Inwood Hill Park, by at least 4 experienced observers who cover that park frequently. The first of season [Red] Fox Sparrows have arrived in Manhattan, and at least several were found in Central Park by Sunday, 10/11, & this brings the American sparrow species-tally for N.Y. County to at least 16 for just this ‘southbound’ season, & possibly more with a few not positively confirmed / identified to species-level. Incidentally, more observers will hopefully be able to get a few decent photos at some point of the Ammospiza (genus) Sparrows occuring in particular at Randall’s Island in the saltmarsh grasses… these birds do occur here annually in (presumed!) low densities, and of them at least some are being assigned the species (by some observers), as ‘Nelson’s', and also at times, other species, in that same genus. And - there are other possibilities for sparrows (as we have seen), even in Manhattan. 16 sparrow species for this county, in one season, that is hardly even started - for sparrows, at least - is getting off to a good rolling start! Of a Vesper Sparrow at Inwood Hill Park, a keen birder (L. LaBella) who came in a bit later on 10/11 not only captured some nice photos of the Vesper, with credit to
[nysbirds-l] N.Y. County (NYC) - American Golden-Plover (thank you!), Y-br. Chat, 24+ warbler spp., & etc. - Sunday, 10/11
First & foremost, Congratulations to Gloria Hong of Manhattan for the first in New York County (!) find of an American Golden-Plover - on Friday, 10/9 - AND for the re-find of that same bird on Sun., 10/11 (!!) - with great & diagnostic photos within eBird checklists, both (days’ lists) very promptly submitted, as well as the early report of the re-find to this NYS list-serve. MANY (more) birders were flocking out to observe this fine shorebird on its’ rediscovery-day. (Referring to the bird found on Randall’s Island, New York County, east of Manhattan island, in N.Y. City). Of course, it is virtually certain this is the same individual both days, & thus likely the golden-plover was present, most likely still at Randall’s, for the intervening day of Saturday, 10/10 as well. ... Some of us can be certain that the late, great Starr Saphir would be smiling down on those seeking & finding all of these great birds, and a walk in her honor, the annual Starr Saphir memorial bird walk was again held in Central Park, happily with fine weather, on Sunday, 10/11, for & with participants of the Linnaean Society of New York. Ms. Saphir, a long-time Manhattan resident and educator, started many a birder’s interest in and increased knowledge of our birds and a lot more of the natural world; she also led walks regularly for the Linnaean Society as well as the NYC Audubon, over many years working in N.Y. City. The memorial walk was a great success, as are so many of the walks done by this, as well as another non-profit organization, the NYC Audubon, which offer walks & field-trips. …. On Sunday, Oct. 11th, a minimum of 24 species of American warblers were found in N.Y. County, all of these occurring on Manhattan island, and at least 22 of the warbler species being seen within Central Park alone (& also substantial numbers in a variety of other parks, such as Riverside, Inwood Hill, Battery, & others from the ‘top’ to the ‘bottom’ of the island). More-modest diversity from the ‘other islands’ of the county on the day (Randall’s & Governors) with the warblers. ... Congrat’s also to A. Burke, for ongoing finds of (most years, not nearly as regularly-found, even at the fall peak of occurrence) Connnecticut Warbler, this latest one for Manhattan, N.Y. City as he posted promptly to this list-serve. (That neighborhood is also known as Clinton, as seen in names of some smaller parks, gardens, etc.- and no, not named for any of the 'ex-Arkansas’ Clintons.) Many observers on Sunday found very high numbers / concentrations of Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, almost suggestive of some ‘pushback’ effect (or analogous effects partly as a result) of the remnants of what had been “Hurricane Delta”, that storm system slowly encroaching on at least southeastern NY, & expected to move through overnight through Monday. Just one example of the day’s increase of Y.-b. Sapsucker were the 19 of that species recorded in just one linear-type park - Morningside Park, by one careful & experienced observer; this sort of pattern with this species also noted from at least several other parks, as well as multiple smaller areas. There were also some batches & patches of further Black-capped Chickadee arrivals, along with already noted high numbers and distribution of Tufted Titmouse. It was reported that on Governors Island, many flocks of Pine Siskins were seen & heard in flight, ongoing for some while on Sunday. In an expected vein there have been good sparrow arrivals, with White-Crowned Sparrow amongst those starting to show in numbers, and also many other species of ’new world' sparrow. Multiple Vesper Sparrows seen recently in the county included one seen well on Sunday, 10/11, at Inwood Hill Park, by at least 4 experienced observers who cover that park frequently. The first of season [Red] Fox Sparrows have arrived in Manhattan, and at least several were found in Central Park by Sunday, 10/11, & this brings the American sparrow species-tally for N.Y. County to at least 16 for just this ‘southbound’ season, & possibly more with a few not positively confirmed / identified to species-level. Incidentally, more observers will hopefully be able to get a few decent photos at some point of the Ammospiza (genus) Sparrows occuring in particular at Randall’s Island in the saltmarsh grasses… these birds do occur here annually in (presumed!) low densities, and of them at least some are being assigned the species (by some observers), as ‘Nelson’s', and also at times, other species, in that same genus. And - there are other possibilities for sparrows (as we have seen), even in Manhattan. 16 sparrow species for this county, in one season, that is hardly even started - for sparrows, at least - is getting off to a good rolling start! Of a Vesper Sparrow at Inwood Hill Park, a keen birder (L. LaBella) who came in a bit later on 10/11 not only captured some nice photos of the Vesper, with credit to
