New York County, including Manhattan, Randall’s Island, and Governors Island - Mon., Jan. 31st & Tues., Feb. 1st
with a retrospective look by multiple obsevers… thanks in great part to Anthony Collerton’s shrewd pick-up on new photos of gulls at Central Park / NYC… Many NYS-&-beyond birders will know Mr. Collerton, and many Central Park birders should be aware, he has been finding great birds in that park (and elsewhere) for a good many years. We also must thank E. Schumann for his eBird report (Feb. 1st) that included so many crisp photos which really got the idea moving on a rarer-than-Lesser-Black-backed being *the gull* in that report, from the C.P. reservoir. On Jan. 31st, what was at least on initial examination seen as an interesting gull, was put forth as a not-extraordinary Lesser Black-backed Gull (which have shown lately and occasionally in recent years, in the county and in Central Park as well)… then, on a series of sharp and close photos obtained for Feb. 1st, the assessment was made that this was indeed a Slaty-backed Gull, a much less expected creature than are Lesser Black-backed, almost anywhere in this area - although has been found in NY and elsewhere in the northeast, including in this winter. Thus the retroactive re-assessments and reports re-drawn, reflecting the ID as a Slaty-backed, for Monday, 1/31 and then also Tuesday, 2/1. The next question also may be, was the Slaty-backed also seen prior to Monday? A belated report adding Glaucous Gull to the other gulls of Central Park’s reservoir from Sunday, Jan. 30th - that does not quell the interest in the even-rarer gull. And that Glaucous Gull was also reported again for Monday, Feb. 1st - along with and Iceland Gull. Gulls don’t always mind a lot of ice… 😌 If the Slaty-backed is seen again, esp. if it seems to be there and lingering nicely, the track that surrounds the reservoir, which was designed in part for use by runners (and joggers, and walkers) is likely to be congested in places where potential gull-watchers gather. Try to keep in mind that not all share the obsession for birds - yes, some passersby, including some of the runners / joggers / walkers will have interest, and obvious curiosity, but it also is considerate to try and maintain a clear path - the cindered icy-snowy-mucky-wet path closest to the shore of the Central Park reservoir. If a large-enough crowd gathers in one area (a la the Kirtland’s Warbler occurrence of Central Park, which was of course in mid-spring and was also very near to the reservoir - just a few yards shy and that warbler occasionally seen in view of the actual reservoir then), it is possible the NYPD (police) will stop by, at the least to see what the fuss is all about, and to be sure that no one goes into any unwanted behavior. Again - please be courteous to and with others and use all commonsense in any very public, and very popular city park. Also note, as many as from several hundred to perhaps up to 1,000 gulls, a majority of those being Ring-billed Gulls, have been visiting that reservoir in recent days - numbers will vary by time of day - and there can be a lot of shuffling and re-shuffling, not least if a Bald Eagle -or some other raptor- shows, and decides it is hunting-time. Peregrine Falcon has been and will continue to be regular at & near the C.P. reservoir. There is & will be ice on the reservoir and other waterbodies; that ice will vary in coming days with milder temp’s & some rain possible. Some of the eBird reports of Slaty-backed Gull will attract attention from all over, as those reports can be included in a list of N. American rare birds: i.e. all of Canada and all of the U.S.A. … Two Western Tanagers were still in their 2 respective areas, one at Carl Schurz Park on Manhattan’s far east side, the other in the Clinton / Hell’s Kitchen area next to Tenth Ave. and a bit east of there on W. 47th & 48th Streets - the sightings were for early a.m. (east side bird) and later in the day (w. side bird) for these, on Tues., Feb. 1st, and - - - At least one Rusty Blackbird was still around at the Central Park Ramble. At least 6, and likely 7 sparrow species continued at Central Park, which included Chipping, Field, Swamp, [Red] Fox, Song, and White-throated Sparrows, and a likelihood for American Tree Sparrow as well - the latter possible in multiple areas of the county, including both Randall’s and Governors Island[s]. There also are no’s. of Slate-colored Juncos hanging in so far this winter in the county, & here & there, at least a few hardy E. Towhees, along with various other less-common winterers. - - A note on the movements (this winter) of American Robins - as some are aware, not just robins may move along with flocks of robins in winter; various other frugivoes can & sometimes do join in the roving food-seeking flocks. And - *rarely* - a rare or even very-rare bird may turn up in or near a flock of one of the robin flocks. Other species of thrush would be one example. As I noted previously here (and *not* applicable to the northeast region, nor even eastern regions), at least 4 U.S. states are continuing to host Rufous-backed Robins, which are essentially Mexican species. Rare frugivores that may (& sometimes have) shown in NY & around the northeast *could* be from the Pacific Northwest and/or from Eurasia and possibly via Greenland. The (ostenibly) rarest bird continuing on in the U.S. is in Texas (a first U.S. record) - the now long-staying Bat Falcon. It’s been some days since reports of a Steller’s Sea Eagle from Maine. -- Thanks as always to A. Baksh for his reporting to this list and elsewhere, and to all the many observers also out and about in the region, finding many great birds. Good luck on the gulls, Tom Fiore manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm 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://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
