[nysbirds-l] Unusual gull in Prospect Park

2021-02-05 Thread Joshua Malbin
On Thursday I was gulling in Prospect Park when I noticed an unusually
light first-winter gull fly in among the many first-winter Herring Gulls on
the lake. I thought it was a dark Kumlien’s Iceland Gull, possibly even a
Thayer’s, and posted a few photos to a gull forum. People looking at those
commented that it had a potbellied look and wondered whether it could even
be a Slaty-backed Gull. Open-winged photos were absolutely necessary for
that determination, they said, so I went back to Prospect on Friday and
eventually a bird showed up that I am pretty sure was the same one from the
day before. This time I was able to get some photos of the open wing and
the tail, though I was only able to get it bathing and flying. Since I
could not get it standing on the ice again in the same posture I can’t be
completely sure that Friday’s bird is the same as Thursday’s, but the bill
and head shape and pattern look the same to me. I have posted Thursday and
Friday’s photos in an album here:


https://flic.kr/s/aHsmU8fiKa


Assuming that they are the same, the bird does show many features that
appear to my inexpert eye to be consistent with first-winter Slaty-backed.


First the standing pictures: It has the potbellied, short-winged look that
first caught many people’s eyes. The primaries are soft brown, not as dark
as Herring, and the tertials are even lighter brown with pale edging. The
greater and median coverts appear plain and relatively unmarked. The
undertail is quite light, nearly unmarked.


The open wing and flight pictures: There is a strong secondary bar and a
distinct inner primary window. The outer primaries show a pattern with pale
tongues on the inner part of the feathers. The tail seems quite dark, all
the way to the outermost feathers.


I am aware that this is a very difficult identification to make, and West
Coast birders have a particularly hard time ruling out Herring x
Glaucous-winged Gull (Cook Inlet Gull) as a potential confusion taxon at
this age stage. Either Cook Inlet or Slaty-backed would be pretty rare for
the northeast. It could also still be a Thayer’s or even a very dark
Kumlien’s, as I originally pegged it. It appears smallish for either
Slaty-backed or Cook Inlet based on the photos of those I have reviewed,
for example, with a bill that may be too delicate.


If others with more expertise would be willing to review these photos and
let me know what they think, I would greatly appreciate it. If you are
interested in looking for the bird, gulls tend to start congregating on
Prospect Park Lake in midmorning. They come in to drink and bathe, and then
rest on the ice awhile and then leave. I had to wait nearly three hours on
Friday before this bird reappeared, which it finally did at around 12:30
p.m. On Thursday I think I had it about an hour earlier.


Good luck if you try.


Joshua Malbin

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[nysbirds-l] Unusual gull in Prospect Park

2021-02-05 Thread Joshua Malbin
On Thursday I was gulling in Prospect Park when I noticed an unusually
light first-winter gull fly in among the many first-winter Herring Gulls on
the lake. I thought it was a dark Kumlien’s Iceland Gull, possibly even a
Thayer’s, and posted a few photos to a gull forum. People looking at those
commented that it had a potbellied look and wondered whether it could even
be a Slaty-backed Gull. Open-winged photos were absolutely necessary for
that determination, they said, so I went back to Prospect on Friday and
eventually a bird showed up that I am pretty sure was the same one from the
day before. This time I was able to get some photos of the open wing and
the tail, though I was only able to get it bathing and flying. Since I
could not get it standing on the ice again in the same posture I can’t be
completely sure that Friday’s bird is the same as Thursday’s, but the bill
and head shape and pattern look the same to me. I have posted Thursday and
Friday’s photos in an album here:


https://flic.kr/s/aHsmU8fiKa


Assuming that they are the same, the bird does show many features that
appear to my inexpert eye to be consistent with first-winter Slaty-backed.


First the standing pictures: It has the potbellied, short-winged look that
first caught many people’s eyes. The primaries are soft brown, not as dark
as Herring, and the tertials are even lighter brown with pale edging. The
greater and median coverts appear plain and relatively unmarked. The
undertail is quite light, nearly unmarked.


The open wing and flight pictures: There is a strong secondary bar and a
distinct inner primary window. The outer primaries show a pattern with pale
tongues on the inner part of the feathers. The tail seems quite dark, all
the way to the outermost feathers.


I am aware that this is a very difficult identification to make, and West
Coast birders have a particularly hard time ruling out Herring x
Glaucous-winged Gull (Cook Inlet Gull) as a potential confusion taxon at
this age stage. Either Cook Inlet or Slaty-backed would be pretty rare for
the northeast. It could also still be a Thayer’s or even a very dark
Kumlien’s, as I originally pegged it. It appears smallish for either
Slaty-backed or Cook Inlet based on the photos of those I have reviewed,
for example, with a bill that may be too delicate.


If others with more expertise would be willing to review these photos and
let me know what they think, I would greatly appreciate it. If you are
interested in looking for the bird, gulls tend to start congregating on
Prospect Park Lake in midmorning. They come in to drink and bathe, and then
rest on the ice awhile and then leave. I had to wait nearly three hours on
Friday before this bird reappeared, which it finally did at around 12:30
p.m. On Thursday I think I had it about an hour earlier.


Good luck if you try.


Joshua Malbin

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[nysbirds-l] NYC Audubon February Zoom Lecture on Monday: Brown Pelicans and Their Coastal Habitat

2021-02-05 Thread Kathryn Heintz
Please join NYC Audubon on Monday for our free February virtual lecture:



*Brown Pelicans and Their Coastal HabitatBy Juita MartinezMonday, February
8th, 7-8pm*


Take a trip to the barrier islands of Louisiana with researcher and
University of Louisiana PhD student Juita Martinez
 (https://JuitaMartinez.com/). Juita’s work
focuses on understanding the impacts of human-caused habitat changes on
coastal seabirds, including Brown Pelicans (known as #DinosaurFloofs on her
popular Twitter feed  (
https://twitter.com/juitamartinez)). Brown Pelicans were locally extinct in
Louisiana by the 1960s, but have seen a resurgence due to concerted
conservation efforts. In addition to her research, Juita’s photos of the
natural world  (
https://www.instagram.com/juitamartinez/) inspire thousands online, where
she also works to advocate for the BIPOC community. Registration required.
Limited to 500. FREE!  This series has been made possible by the generous
support of Claude and Lucienne Bloch.

Register for the Virtual Event Here:

https://nycaudubon.z2systems.com/np/clients/nycaudubon/eventRegistration.jsp?event=964;

Registration link is also available at our home page:

www.nycaudubon.org

Kathryn Heintz
Executive Director
New York City Audubon
71 West 23rd Street, Suite 1523
New York, NY 10010

646.434.0423
khei...@nycaudubon.org
www.nycaudubon.org
Twitter  | Facebook
 | Subscribe to our eNewsletter


   - Birding during Covid-19:  social distancing is not anti-social; it is
   imperative.
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   Advocate, follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook to keep in touch.
   - You are part of a caring NYC Audubon community.  Please reach out to
   us if you find yourself isolated or in need.

NYC Audubon has a fresh new look!



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[nysbirds-l] NYC Audubon February Zoom Lecture on Monday: Brown Pelicans and Their Coastal Habitat

2021-02-05 Thread Kathryn Heintz
Please join NYC Audubon on Monday for our free February virtual lecture:



*Brown Pelicans and Their Coastal HabitatBy Juita MartinezMonday, February
8th, 7-8pm*


Take a trip to the barrier islands of Louisiana with researcher and
University of Louisiana PhD student Juita Martinez
 (https://JuitaMartinez.com/). Juita’s work
focuses on understanding the impacts of human-caused habitat changes on
coastal seabirds, including Brown Pelicans (known as #DinosaurFloofs on her
popular Twitter feed  (
https://twitter.com/juitamartinez)). Brown Pelicans were locally extinct in
Louisiana by the 1960s, but have seen a resurgence due to concerted
conservation efforts. In addition to her research, Juita’s photos of the
natural world  (
https://www.instagram.com/juitamartinez/) inspire thousands online, where
she also works to advocate for the BIPOC community. Registration required.
Limited to 500. FREE!  This series has been made possible by the generous
support of Claude and Lucienne Bloch.

Register for the Virtual Event Here:

https://nycaudubon.z2systems.com/np/clients/nycaudubon/eventRegistration.jsp?event=964;

Registration link is also available at our home page:

www.nycaudubon.org

Kathryn Heintz
Executive Director
New York City Audubon
71 West 23rd Street, Suite 1523
New York, NY 10010

646.434.0423
khei...@nycaudubon.org
www.nycaudubon.org
Twitter  | Facebook
 | Subscribe to our eNewsletter


   - Birding during Covid-19:  social distancing is not anti-social; it is
   imperative.
   - Subscribe to our *eGret* online monthly news, sign up to be an Avian
   Advocate, follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook to keep in touch.
   - You are part of a caring NYC Audubon community.  Please reach out to
   us if you find yourself isolated or in need.

NYC Audubon has a fresh new look!



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[nysbirds-l] Croton Point Park

2021-02-05 Thread Trachlar
The birding at CPP the last several days has been excellent. There has been a 
very cooperative flock of common redpolls that has reached 25 or so birds 
moving a relatively short distance between a tree near maintenance yard to the 
landfill center path, on polls, I have even seen photos of redpolls landing on 
a scope.  
Also present are (at least) two Eastern Meadowlark and sporadic flocks of snow 
buntings and horned larks. Strong numbers of both Savannah and American Tree 
sparrows are also present. A few rough legged hawks and N. Harriers have been 
seen (briefly) joining resident red tails as well as cooper’s, red shoulder, 
several eagles and occasional falcon. 

If you come please stay on center and east side landfill paths and OFF of any 
side paths.  Stated otherwise read the signs.  

L. Trachtenberg 
Ossining. 

Sent from my iPhone
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Please submit your observations to eBird:
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[nysbirds-l] Croton Point Park

2021-02-05 Thread Trachlar
The birding at CPP the last several days has been excellent. There has been a 
very cooperative flock of common redpolls that has reached 25 or so birds 
moving a relatively short distance between a tree near maintenance yard to the 
landfill center path, on polls, I have even seen photos of redpolls landing on 
a scope.  
Also present are (at least) two Eastern Meadowlark and sporadic flocks of snow 
buntings and horned larks. Strong numbers of both Savannah and American Tree 
sparrows are also present. A few rough legged hawks and N. Harriers have been 
seen (briefly) joining resident red tails as well as cooper’s, red shoulder, 
several eagles and occasional falcon. 

If you come please stay on center and east side landfill paths and OFF of any 
side paths.  Stated otherwise read the signs.  

L. Trachtenberg 
Ossining. 

Sent from my iPhone
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[nysbirds-l] Re: [nysbirds-l] Re: [nysbirds-l] Re: [nysbirds-l] Re: Nelson’s Gull Central Park

2021-02-05 Thread Adelia Honeywood
 Would it also be possible to post the pictures somewhere that we all could 
view them?
On Friday, February 5, 2021, 10:32:34 AM EST, Andrew Baksh 
 wrote:  
 
 Were the details in support of Nelson’s shared? I second Angus’ suggestion as 
I am also keen would to see what were the details that excluded other 
possibilities.
Cheers,

“Tenderness and Kindness are not signs of weakness and despair but 
manifestations of strength and resolution” ~ Khalil Gibran
"I prefer to be true to myself, even at the hazard of incurring the ridicule of 
others, rather than to be false, and to incur my own abhorrence." ~ Frederick 
Douglass
風 Swift as the wind林 Quiet as the forest
火 Conquer like the fire
山 Steady as the mountainSun Tzu  The Art of War

(\__/)
(= '.'=)                                            

(") _ (")                                     

Sent from somewhere in the field using my mobile device! 

Andrew Bakshwww.birdingdude.blogspot.com

On Feb 4, 2021, at 11:50 AM, Angus Wilson  wrote:



Hi Peter, 
I think it would be instructive to everyone if you could summarize the details 
that are supportive of Nelson's Gull and how other possibilities can be safely 
excluded. 
I'm a little concerned about the structure and coloring of the bill, although 
perhaps I've not seen the best photos.

Thanks, Angus Wilson --  NYSbirds-L List Info:  Welcome and Basics   Rules and 
Information   Subscribe, Configuration and Leave  Archives:  The Mail Archive  
Surfbirds  ABA  Please submit your observations to eBird!  --
 --  NYSbirds-L List Info:  Welcome and Basics   Rules and Information   
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 Please submit your observations to eBird!  --  
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[nysbirds-l] Re: [nysbirds-l] Re: [nysbirds-l] Re: [nysbirds-l] Re: Nelson’s Gull Central Park

2021-02-05 Thread Adelia Honeywood
 Would it also be possible to post the pictures somewhere that we all could 
view them?
On Friday, February 5, 2021, 10:32:34 AM EST, Andrew Baksh 
 wrote:  
 
 Were the details in support of Nelson’s shared? I second Angus’ suggestion as 
I am also keen would to see what were the details that excluded other 
possibilities.
Cheers,

“Tenderness and Kindness are not signs of weakness and despair but 
manifestations of strength and resolution” ~ Khalil Gibran
"I prefer to be true to myself, even at the hazard of incurring the ridicule of 
others, rather than to be false, and to incur my own abhorrence." ~ Frederick 
Douglass
風 Swift as the wind林 Quiet as the forest
火 Conquer like the fire
山 Steady as the mountainSun Tzu  The Art of War

(\__/)
(= '.'=)                                            

(") _ (")                                     

Sent from somewhere in the field using my mobile device! 

Andrew Bakshwww.birdingdude.blogspot.com

On Feb 4, 2021, at 11:50 AM, Angus Wilson  wrote:



Hi Peter, 
I think it would be instructive to everyone if you could summarize the details 
that are supportive of Nelson's Gull and how other possibilities can be safely 
excluded. 
I'm a little concerned about the structure and coloring of the bill, although 
perhaps I've not seen the best photos.

Thanks, Angus Wilson --  NYSbirds-L List Info:  Welcome and Basics   Rules and 
Information   Subscribe, Configuration and Leave  Archives:  The Mail Archive  
Surfbirds  ABA  Please submit your observations to eBird!  --
 --  NYSbirds-L List Info:  Welcome and Basics   Rules and Information   
Subscribe, Configuration and Leave  Archives:  The Mail Archive  Surfbirds  ABA 
 Please submit your observations to eBird!  --  
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Please submit your observations to eBird:
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[nysbirds-l] Re: [nysbirds-l] Re: [nysbirds-l] Re: Nelson’s Gull Central Park

2021-02-05 Thread Andrew Baksh
Were the details in support of Nelson’s shared? I second Angus’ suggestion as I 
am also keen would to see what were the details that excluded other 
possibilities.

Cheers,


“Tenderness and Kindness are not signs of weakness and despair but 
manifestations of strength and resolution” ~ Khalil Gibran

"I prefer to be true to myself, even at the hazard of incurring the ridicule of 
others, rather than to be false, and to incur my own abhorrence." ~ Frederick 
Douglass

風 Swift as the wind
林 Quiet as the forest
火 Conquer like the fire
山 Steady as the mountain
Sun Tzu  The Art of War

> (\__/)
> (= '.'=)
> (") _ (") 
> Sent from somewhere in the field using my mobile device! 

Andrew Baksh
www.birdingdude.blogspot.com

> On Feb 4, 2021, at 11:50 AM, Angus Wilson  wrote:
> 
> 
> Hi Peter, 
> 
> I think it would be instructive to everyone if you could summarize the 
> details that are supportive of Nelson's Gull and how other possibilities can 
> be safely excluded. 
> 
> I'm a little concerned about the structure and coloring of the bill, although 
> perhaps I've not seen the best photos.
> 
> Thanks, Angus Wilson
> --
> NYSbirds-L List Info:
> Welcome and Basics
> Rules and Information
> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave
> Archives:
> The Mail Archive
> Surfbirds
> ABA
> Please submit your observations to eBird!
> --

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ARCHIVES:
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2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01

Please submit your observations to eBird:
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[nysbirds-l] Re: [nysbirds-l] Re: [nysbirds-l] Re: Nelson’s Gull Central Park

2021-02-05 Thread Andrew Baksh
Were the details in support of Nelson’s shared? I second Angus’ suggestion as I 
am also keen would to see what were the details that excluded other 
possibilities.

Cheers,


“Tenderness and Kindness are not signs of weakness and despair but 
manifestations of strength and resolution” ~ Khalil Gibran

"I prefer to be true to myself, even at the hazard of incurring the ridicule of 
others, rather than to be false, and to incur my own abhorrence." ~ Frederick 
Douglass

風 Swift as the wind
林 Quiet as the forest
火 Conquer like the fire
山 Steady as the mountain
Sun Tzu  The Art of War

> (\__/)
> (= '.'=)
> (") _ (") 
> Sent from somewhere in the field using my mobile device! 

Andrew Baksh
www.birdingdude.blogspot.com

> On Feb 4, 2021, at 11:50 AM, Angus Wilson  wrote:
> 
> 
> Hi Peter, 
> 
> I think it would be instructive to everyone if you could summarize the 
> details that are supportive of Nelson's Gull and how other possibilities can 
> be safely excluded. 
> 
> I'm a little concerned about the structure and coloring of the bill, although 
> perhaps I've not seen the best photos.
> 
> Thanks, Angus Wilson
> --
> NYSbirds-L List Info:
> Welcome and Basics
> Rules and Information
> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave
> Archives:
> The Mail Archive
> Surfbirds
> ABA
> Please submit your observations to eBird!
> --

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[nysbirds-l] N.Y. County (NYC), Feb. 3 & 4 - Gr. W.-fr. Goose, W. Tanager, Iceland Gulls, etc.

2021-02-05 Thread Thomas Fiore
New York County, including Manhattan & Randall’s Island, N.Y. City
Wed. Feb. 3rd, & Thursday, Feb. 4th -

On Wed. 2/3, the Greater White-fronted Goose (of the form flavirostris) was 
continuing at the Central Park reservoir, among many Canada Geese; on Thursday, 
I was unable to find it there and am not sure of anyone else finding it then; I 
checked on Randall’s Island (after going into Central, & then Carl Schurz Park) 
& while I scanned thru more than 450 Canada Geese (with 1 ‘runt’ sized Canada 
not passing muster for a poss. Cackler) there, in multiple flocks and areas, no 
white-front was found. 

Iceland Gulls (all presumed the form kumleini) have been seen in both Central 
Park at the reservoir, and to the east, with one on Thursday at Randall’s 
Island/Bronx Kill; there also was a general mixed-gull flock of 300+, at the 
eastern edge and outlet to that waterbody, and for a small drama in early 
afternoon, a sudden frantic lift-off of all the previously lazily-loafing or 
half-heartedly feeding gulls there, was a signal - sure enough, less than a 
minute later, an adult Bald Eagle came along, drifting southwest, looping with 
no flaps around the area all the gulls had just vacated, and then soaring back 
north. Some but not all of those gulls resettled; the many Canadas did not 
react nearly as strongly, and none took off as the eagle came near.  Out on the 
waters of westernmost L.I. Sound, towards Queens NYC, were some 11+ Common 
Goldeneye (one hen actually dared poke into NY County waters), & several 
Red-throated plus one Common Loon[s], some Red-breasted Mergansers, [Atlantic” 
Brant, & extremely distant other waterbirds on the waters.

Randall’s Island also featured 3 ardeid spp. on the day, the adult 
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron which was hunkered in a non-regular winter-spot, but 
still at Little Hell Gate saltmarsh, and a young Black-crowned Night-Heron, 
also very skulking when seen, and a couple of sightings of Great Blue Heron, 
perhaps 2 different, or the same moving about in the course of a few hrs.

Additionally seen from Randall’s were at least 3 Turkey Vultures (seen 
simultaneously) which seemed to be ever-so-slowly drifting n./n-e. - there had 
also been at least one T.V. going north over Manhattan (seen from Central Park) 
and another sighting from by the East River. Other birders also reported the 
species over Manhattan, at differing hours. A Yellow-rumped [Myrtle] Warbler 
was seen at Randall’s Isand later on Thursday, perhaps a bird overwintering.

Carl Schurz Park on Thursday had the Western Tanager (female) which I saw (& 
photo’d) just 2 minutes after arriving in the morning, at the suet/nut-cake or 
log, along with other more-usual birds there; the Orange-crowned Warbler, 
long-lingering now as well, was tougher, & gave just a short showing, near the 
Peter Pan statue in the park’s n.e. sector, and may have flown off, as I did 
not connect with that as hoped for closer photos. That tanager has been 
available lately at times for photos taken from a yard out.

I began Thursday with a walk ‘round all of the North Meadow in Central Park, at 
first-light & while no really amazing sights were seen by doing so, I was 
slightly surprised to find a Common Grackle flock, coming into the park from 
the s.w. at about W. 96-97th, & consisting of 650+ birds as it passed over, 
low-ish but possibly flying on northeast out of the park, unless the flock 
settled in the area not far from or at the Meer. A somewhat larger number of 
that species, for so early in Feb., than I’d think ‘usual, although they have 
been around all this winter so far, but in lesser numbers, at least recently.  
On the reservoir, although lacking (as far as I found) any white-fronted 
goosage, a drake Wood Duck, a hen Red-breasted Merganser, & a Common Loon all 
were continuing, & a nice bonus bird was an Iceland Gull which was not the same 
individual as seen later at Randall’s, the latter an older gull.  As far as I’m 
aware, there have been no further sightings of that potential / putative 
'Nelson’s Gull' (hybrid of Glaucous & Herring) at the C.P. reservoir, nor 
anywhere else in the county, however it could well return to where first noted.

Other sightings in Central for Thursday 2/4 included Field, Chipping and 
American Tree (latter also being seen elsewhere) Sparrows in a little group at 
ther park’s n. end (all continuing from at least the day before; Chipping has 
been overwintering there & in a couple of other Manhattan locations); a Rusty 
Blackbird long-lingering in the Ramble of Central, all 3 falcon species 
(Merlin, Am. Kestrel, & Peregrine Falcon), a couple of Ruby-crowned Kinglets (& 
there’ve been a few others in other parts of Manhattan, all assumed wintering), 
& plenty of other overwinterers, such as Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Winter Wren, 
Carolina Wren, Brown Creeper, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Hermit Thrush, Brown 
Thrasher, Gray Catbird (esp. in some of the smaller parks and green 

[nysbirds-l] N.Y. County (NYC), Feb. 3 & 4 - Gr. W.-fr. Goose, W. Tanager, Iceland Gulls, etc.

2021-02-05 Thread Thomas Fiore
New York County, including Manhattan & Randall’s Island, N.Y. City
Wed. Feb. 3rd, & Thursday, Feb. 4th -

On Wed. 2/3, the Greater White-fronted Goose (of the form flavirostris) was 
continuing at the Central Park reservoir, among many Canada Geese; on Thursday, 
I was unable to find it there and am not sure of anyone else finding it then; I 
checked on Randall’s Island (after going into Central, & then Carl Schurz Park) 
& while I scanned thru more than 450 Canada Geese (with 1 ‘runt’ sized Canada 
not passing muster for a poss. Cackler) there, in multiple flocks and areas, no 
white-front was found. 

Iceland Gulls (all presumed the form kumleini) have been seen in both Central 
Park at the reservoir, and to the east, with one on Thursday at Randall’s 
Island/Bronx Kill; there also was a general mixed-gull flock of 300+, at the 
eastern edge and outlet to that waterbody, and for a small drama in early 
afternoon, a sudden frantic lift-off of all the previously lazily-loafing or 
half-heartedly feeding gulls there, was a signal - sure enough, less than a 
minute later, an adult Bald Eagle came along, drifting southwest, looping with 
no flaps around the area all the gulls had just vacated, and then soaring back 
north. Some but not all of those gulls resettled; the many Canadas did not 
react nearly as strongly, and none took off as the eagle came near.  Out on the 
waters of westernmost L.I. Sound, towards Queens NYC, were some 11+ Common 
Goldeneye (one hen actually dared poke into NY County waters), & several 
Red-throated plus one Common Loon[s], some Red-breasted Mergansers, [Atlantic” 
Brant, & extremely distant other waterbirds on the waters.

Randall’s Island also featured 3 ardeid spp. on the day, the adult 
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron which was hunkered in a non-regular winter-spot, but 
still at Little Hell Gate saltmarsh, and a young Black-crowned Night-Heron, 
also very skulking when seen, and a couple of sightings of Great Blue Heron, 
perhaps 2 different, or the same moving about in the course of a few hrs.

Additionally seen from Randall’s were at least 3 Turkey Vultures (seen 
simultaneously) which seemed to be ever-so-slowly drifting n./n-e. - there had 
also been at least one T.V. going north over Manhattan (seen from Central Park) 
and another sighting from by the East River. Other birders also reported the 
species over Manhattan, at differing hours. A Yellow-rumped [Myrtle] Warbler 
was seen at Randall’s Isand later on Thursday, perhaps a bird overwintering.

Carl Schurz Park on Thursday had the Western Tanager (female) which I saw (& 
photo’d) just 2 minutes after arriving in the morning, at the suet/nut-cake or 
log, along with other more-usual birds there; the Orange-crowned Warbler, 
long-lingering now as well, was tougher, & gave just a short showing, near the 
Peter Pan statue in the park’s n.e. sector, and may have flown off, as I did 
not connect with that as hoped for closer photos. That tanager has been 
available lately at times for photos taken from a yard out.

I began Thursday with a walk ‘round all of the North Meadow in Central Park, at 
first-light & while no really amazing sights were seen by doing so, I was 
slightly surprised to find a Common Grackle flock, coming into the park from 
the s.w. at about W. 96-97th, & consisting of 650+ birds as it passed over, 
low-ish but possibly flying on northeast out of the park, unless the flock 
settled in the area not far from or at the Meer. A somewhat larger number of 
that species, for so early in Feb., than I’d think ‘usual, although they have 
been around all this winter so far, but in lesser numbers, at least recently.  
On the reservoir, although lacking (as far as I found) any white-fronted 
goosage, a drake Wood Duck, a hen Red-breasted Merganser, & a Common Loon all 
were continuing, & a nice bonus bird was an Iceland Gull which was not the same 
individual as seen later at Randall’s, the latter an older gull.  As far as I’m 
aware, there have been no further sightings of that potential / putative 
'Nelson’s Gull' (hybrid of Glaucous & Herring) at the C.P. reservoir, nor 
anywhere else in the county, however it could well return to where first noted.

Other sightings in Central for Thursday 2/4 included Field, Chipping and 
American Tree (latter also being seen elsewhere) Sparrows in a little group at 
ther park’s n. end (all continuing from at least the day before; Chipping has 
been overwintering there & in a couple of other Manhattan locations); a Rusty 
Blackbird long-lingering in the Ramble of Central, all 3 falcon species 
(Merlin, Am. Kestrel, & Peregrine Falcon), a couple of Ruby-crowned Kinglets (& 
there’ve been a few others in other parts of Manhattan, all assumed wintering), 
& plenty of other overwinterers, such as Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Winter Wren, 
Carolina Wren, Brown Creeper, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Hermit Thrush, Brown 
Thrasher, Gray Catbird (esp. in some of the smaller parks and green