Saturday, 28 August 2010 - Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City I am as surprised as I am pleased to read that some Brooklyn birders were able to see so many migrant songbirds, especially warblers at Prospect Park in Brooklyn. It seemed much slower-quieter in Central early on although I did not put in time in the Ramble today but at least some others did... "veterans", at that! I guess not every minute of migratory bird seeking offers dozens of migrants even in such a famed and hallowed land as the almost mythically bird-filled Ramble of Central Park. (Shocking but all too true.)
It sure would be nice if more of the "veteran", non-vetearn, old, young, in-between, everyday, once-a-year, and more or less every sort of observer of birds would take the time to report their bird sightings, even when a major rarity is not seen... as has, for about the thousandth or more time this "millennium", Jack Meyer, today with Pat Craig, in the Ramble area of the park. Not a big day with dozens of migrant species but at least 8 kinds of warbler with 3 Black- throated Green reported, along with Veerys, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, and some other species. Thanks to those who do submit reports! - - - At the north end of Central early on, relatively little migrant activity, yet the very first migrant bird I put eyes and binoculars on at the Great Hill was a Philadelphia Vireo, seen well and studied well to eliminate other potential "confusion" species. In seeing this, i initially thought, "no, this isn't what one sees first off, coming in to seek birds" - but that is what happened. In short order were also Warbling & Red-eyed Vireo, each being breeding birds of Central, but also now turning up as migrants. A couple of hours in the north end seemed to provide only scant additional migrants and at best, a half- dozen common warbler species, all in very modest numbers in the distinctly unhallowed and very myth-inducing northern realms of Central. A later visit to northern Staten Island in N.Y. City (not really seeking birds) turned up a few migrants including an immature female Wilson's Warbler at the Sailor's Snug Harbor Cultural Center. There were additional migrants at that location including a relatively "tame" Louisiana Waterthrush foraging along a man-made watercourse near the walled "Chinese garden", plus other warblers, vireos, and more. Also a bit of local & United States history with one of the oldest homes left standing in the city (300 yrs.+) being renovated almost next door. It's also the best deal on a boat ride anywhere - the cost: nothing. (Staten Island ferry, to and from lower Manhattan.) Good birding and timely reporting of birds, 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 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
