Those wondering what was seen on the west side of the Hudson: http://www.birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NJBD.html#1261428032 (this is the "other half" of the CBC that takes in Manhattan, N.Y.C.)
At least 2 warblers were found in Manhattan during the Dec. 20th CBC, these each being found along the Harlem river near the eastern end of Dyckman St. by Inwood Park count participant James Knox: an Orange- crowned Warbler and more unusually, a Black-throated Green Warbler. There is a very small public park area & the gate is not always open, additionally nearby is the large HighBridge Park.
For Central Park (only) through the morning when that portion of the count is conducted, just 49 species were tallied, which is low for recent years, but is closer to an average count for that park in more historical terms. This year, no owls and no warblers were found (many recent years there have been one or more of both in Central). Wood Duck and a few regularly-wintering songbirds (Hermit Thrush, etc.) were highlights for Central. It's likely too that smaller parks, gardens, courtyards, etc. may have held a few additional species, had there been enough observers available to seek in all such places - some birds were counted in just a few such places.
Among the sightings on Sunday during the official Bird Count in Manhattan - a part of the Lower Hudson CBC, which takes in the adjacent parts of New Jersey, with many birds found on that side of the river, as well - were more than a couple of Bald Eagles moving along the Hudson River and an impressive number (2,000+) of blackbirds, primarily Red-winged Blackbirds and Common Grackles, also moving south in diurnal flight, through the day. Additionally, Canada Geese were moving in numbers with at least hundreds seen. Unusually, a movement of approximately 20 to 25+ Turkey Vultures were counted in flight moving past Manhattan - a high number for so late in the year and the location. Some of the above species were also separately noted in reference to Riverside Park's portion of the CBC. Exact numbers of some of these birds are to be calculated by the compilers: any number of groups saw various fly-overs from various vantage points!! (There was at least one group of 12 Turkey Vultures seen at one time and place at Ft. Tryon Park for example, plus many additional sightings.)
Inwood & Fort Tryon Parks featured a fairly good mix of raptors, with no owls but the bald eagles as well as Sharp-shinned & Cooper's & Red- tailed hawks (latter 3 noted at Central Park, as well), plus Merlin, American Kestrel and Peregrine Falcon at Inwood (and certainly more kestrels & peregrines present elsewhere in Manhattan, whether tallied for the CBC or not). At least one Great Blue Heron was seen flying south over Inwood & Fort Tryon Parks late in the day (as well as others in flight earlier from Riverside Park's counters, fide Jacob Drucker's post to the ebirdsnyc list). Fort Tryon Park and the "warbler area" near e. Dyckman St. also featured Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Gray Catbird, and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker as found by Alan Messer &/ or J. Knox. Farther south in Manhattan, a survey of Stuyvesant-town added an E. Towhee and Gray Catbird, among other species also counted, via Anne Lazarus. (All these sites featured many other counters adding their efforts to the day. It was actually not that bad weather- wise, as the snow ended in Manhattan by day-break and it was not nearly as heavy as had been seen farther east into Long Island, etc.)
One interesting aspect of birds seen in Manhattan lately has been a number of Ovenbird sightings - reaching up to 4 different sightings this month, & that's not including the indoor ones at the IBM building's atrium area. As to how many outdoor ovenbirds can possibly survive the current weather, one would think not a one, thru a winter, unless they all find indoor spaces of similar sorts? IBM's atrium also has had other lingering birds in all seasons, as have other indoor areas occasionally, in N.Y. City - are such birds to be counted? When found during CBC periods, why not? In most respects they are certainly wild, and can be presumed unrestrained.
Good birding, Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES Archives: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
