Gabriel and all, On some days at least, at times the Prothonotary Warbler referred to below has been observed in the locust trees adjacent to the main entrance of the New York Public Library at 41 Street on Fifth Avenue and that warbler has been seen a number of times in the vicinity of where (multiple) sapsuckers have been: on at least some occasions just moments or even seconds "behind" a sapsucker and investigating the sap wells. However as you allude to, it had not been seen actually seeming to attempt feeding from them, as many other insectivores with a taste for something sweet (nectar etc.) such as often seen with Cape May and some other warblers, for example. If this (or any) Prothonotary were to actually stay on & survive into the Xmas bird count period here it would of course provide an unheard-of record on that event, locally. There are a fair number of records of the species on CBC's in the USA but I assume most are from our southernmost states. There is an apparent record from NY listed in the National Audubon Society database for CBC season 72, which is the count year 1971-72, yet in the edition of Birds of New York, under the species account by Paul R. Sweet, it is stated that "there are no substantiated CBC or winter records" and the latest "extreme" date given is for 15 Oct. (coastal) so the Nat'l. Audubon Soc. record is perhaps in question. (Anyone have direct knowledge of that NY state CBC record?) The normal winter range of Prothonotary Warbler is from Mexico into northern S. America, not the USA.
Tom Fiore, Manhattan - - - - - - - - - - - Begin forwarded message: From: gabriel willow <gabrielwillow [AT] yahoo.com> Date: October 27, 2010 2:54:18 PM EDT To: nysbirds-l@cornell.edu Subject: [nysbirds-l] Bryant Park sightings Reply-To: gabriel willow <gabrielwillow [AT] yahoo.com> On my final NYC Audubon Bryant Park walk of the season, we saw some nice birds. It's getting harder and harder as the available birding areas shrink in the already small park due to the rink construction. There were many (20+) White-throated Sparrows mixing with the House Sparrows. There was also a particularly colorful Swamp Sparrow hopping under tables and in puddles at the East end behind the Library. The Ovenbird that has taken up residence in the patch of pink begonias in front of the restrooms is still skulking around there (I assume it's the same individual that's been there for a month or so). And of course the local celebrity Prothonotary Warbler was still flitting around in front of the library, at the north end this time. There were also 7 (!) Y-B Sapsuckers on the locust trees, including a couple of males still in bright breeding plumage. I'm surprised the Prothonotary seems uninterested in the sap wells, unlike other warblers I've seen. Cheers, Gabriel Willow -- 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/ --
