[nysbirds-l] Manhattan area, NYC incl. Iceland Gulls, Wood Thrush, R.-h. Woodpecker, etc.
Iceland Gulls have returned to birder’s attention, esp. with one again at the Central Park reservoir, in Manhattan (N.Y. City), possibly first ‘re’-found by A. Auerbach and also seen by others since Friday, Jan. 24th. This was / is a 2nd-cycle age gull, & could be in company with as many as 500+ other more-usual gulls of the most-typical 3 wintering species (Ring-billed, [American] Herring, and Great Black-backed), at the C.P. reservoir. Iceland Gull has also been seen on the East River and possibly elsewhere in New York County in recent days & weeks. A WOOD THRUSH has been sighted and photographed in the southwest part of Central Park, this a species that is not at all expected in the region in mid-winter (they do breed in Manhattan, typically vacating the local breeding areas as early as September each year to head far south), but for which there is a precedent, with sightings in other years here, even in February & on through a full winter, including in Central Park. A first-year RED-Headed Woodpecker has continued its winter stay in Central Park, regular at a site west of the S.W.edge of the North Meadow ballfields, and roughly east of W. 97th Street at Central Park West, also the nearest park entry for this bird, seen often by many, many observers. The red ‘hood’ has continued to slowly show development, as will continue for many more weeks. A number of observers have noted Common Raven while in or near Central Park, with some sightings also elsewhere in the county of late. An unusual ongoing bird for the county is also the Boat-tailed Grackle, roaming with a flock of much more expected Common Grackles in Central Park, among the latter species also an ongoing partially leucistic (white headed) individual, which has been seen over the years here. Other recent sightings in Central Park have included Common Loon, a (very much presumed feral, not wild) ‘greylag’ type goose, 2 Snow Geese (which latter species are annual in the 1,000’s as fly-overs in migration every year as noted by dozens of keen observers over many decades), Green-winged Teal, Wood Duck, & Pied-billed Grebe, as well as many other waterbirds. The Bryant Park (Manhattan) Veery of January & prior months there had not been sighted for a few days, but could still be present there. Other species far more regular, if uncommon for winter, were still being seen there, those including Common Yellowthroat, also Hermit Thrush and other lingering winter birds. At least one VESPER Sparrow was continuing on at Randall’s Island to Friday, Jan. 24, just east of Manhattan and within New York County, NYC. Further sightings of Black Vulture have come from the northern end of Manhattan island, around Inwood and vicinity and a bit farther south, by Riverside Park, has been Bald Eagle, a no-longer unexpected sight in New York City, although still uncommon and still ‘new ‘ to many observers. The latter species has nested successfully in the city, and has also done so within less than 5 miles of the recent very-publicized sightings at Riverside Park - the nesting having been within a protected zone across the Hudson River and along rocky cliffs and forest of the New Jersey Palisades escarpment. That nesting is well-documented. Many other species have been noted by multiple observers in the past week in New York County, & a more complete report may be given by February. Some of these other species have included Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Brown Thrasher, E. Towhee, Chipping Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, [Red] Fox Sparrow, Yellow-rumped [Myttle] Warbler, and more. Many of the readers of this list may enjoy reading a well-written review of the recent book, “Urban Ornithology” which is about birds in New York City, and is likely to be the history and ecology reader for the area for many years; one very thorough review of this book was posted by a well-known local birder and teacher, on the 10,000Birds blog-cooperative. Check it out at: https://www.1birds.com/urban-ornithology-150-years-of-birds-in-new-york-city-a-book-review.htm Thanks to all who choose to observe birds in an ethical way, with the birds best interests at heart. Good winter birding, 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/ --
[nysbirds-l] Manhattan area, NYC incl. Iceland Gulls, Wood Thrush, R.-h. Woodpecker, etc.
Iceland Gulls have returned to birder’s attention, esp. with one again at the Central Park reservoir, in Manhattan (N.Y. City), possibly first ‘re’-found by A. Auerbach and also seen by others since Friday, Jan. 24th. This was / is a 2nd-cycle age gull, & could be in company with as many as 500+ other more-usual gulls of the most-typical 3 wintering species (Ring-billed, [American] Herring, and Great Black-backed), at the C.P. reservoir. Iceland Gull has also been seen on the East River and possibly elsewhere in New York County in recent days & weeks. A WOOD THRUSH has been sighted and photographed in the southwest part of Central Park, this a species that is not at all expected in the region in mid-winter (they do breed in Manhattan, typically vacating the local breeding areas as early as September each year to head far south), but for which there is a precedent, with sightings in other years here, even in February & on through a full winter, including in Central Park. A first-year RED-Headed Woodpecker has continued its winter stay in Central Park, regular at a site west of the S.W.edge of the North Meadow ballfields, and roughly east of W. 97th Street at Central Park West, also the nearest park entry for this bird, seen often by many, many observers. The red ‘hood’ has continued to slowly show development, as will continue for many more weeks. A number of observers have noted Common Raven while in or near Central Park, with some sightings also elsewhere in the county of late. An unusual ongoing bird for the county is also the Boat-tailed Grackle, roaming with a flock of much more expected Common Grackles in Central Park, among the latter species also an ongoing partially leucistic (white headed) individual, which has been seen over the years here. Other recent sightings in Central Park have included Common Loon, a (very much presumed feral, not wild) ‘greylag’ type goose, 2 Snow Geese (which latter species are annual in the 1,000’s as fly-overs in migration every year as noted by dozens of keen observers over many decades), Green-winged Teal, Wood Duck, & Pied-billed Grebe, as well as many other waterbirds. The Bryant Park (Manhattan) Veery of January & prior months there had not been sighted for a few days, but could still be present there. Other species far more regular, if uncommon for winter, were still being seen there, those including Common Yellowthroat, also Hermit Thrush and other lingering winter birds. At least one VESPER Sparrow was continuing on at Randall’s Island to Friday, Jan. 24, just east of Manhattan and within New York County, NYC. Further sightings of Black Vulture have come from the northern end of Manhattan island, around Inwood and vicinity and a bit farther south, by Riverside Park, has been Bald Eagle, a no-longer unexpected sight in New York City, although still uncommon and still ‘new ‘ to many observers. The latter species has nested successfully in the city, and has also done so within less than 5 miles of the recent very-publicized sightings at Riverside Park - the nesting having been within a protected zone across the Hudson River and along rocky cliffs and forest of the New Jersey Palisades escarpment. That nesting is well-documented. Many other species have been noted by multiple observers in the past week in New York County, & a more complete report may be given by February. Some of these other species have included Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Brown Thrasher, E. Towhee, Chipping Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, [Red] Fox Sparrow, Yellow-rumped [Myttle] Warbler, and more. Many of the readers of this list may enjoy reading a well-written review of the recent book, “Urban Ornithology” which is about birds in New York City, and is likely to be the history and ecology reader for the area for many years; one very thorough review of this book was posted by a well-known local birder and teacher, on the 10,000Birds blog-cooperative. Check it out at: https://www.1birds.com/urban-ornithology-150-years-of-birds-in-new-york-city-a-book-review.htm Thanks to all who choose to observe birds in an ethical way, with the birds best interests at heart. Good winter birding, 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/ --
