Monday, 9 May 2011 - Manhattan, N.Y. City Central Park continued to enjoy some of the same species it has been lately, including multiple Cape May Warblers, particularly at the old bridle path around the reservoir, which has had some nice flocks (of warblers in particular) in oaks and some other trees in the last few days. I made a full circuit around the reservoir and found a good mix of warblers in many trees all around, on each "side" in the morning. At least 2 sightings of Kentucky Warbler[s] have been reported, one this morning at the Great Hill's eastern upper edge, by Jim Demes, who also noted that it sang a bit; and another (presumably different) had been photographed a few days ago in the Ramble and may have been seen again, although if so, apparently by just a few observers (out of many seekers) there... all fairly typical of many Kentucky sightings. A number of people commented on this day being a bit less active than the day before. We are likely due for another push of migrants sometime soon, perhaps with more females of a lot of species as well as many more of some typically late-arrivers in the spring "schedule".
Probably the biggest news from Central Park was the discovery of a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher nest, in a fairly well-birded location, by some of the more active migration-period observers in the park. This might be a first nesting attempt by the species there, unless there are any very old records. This species has nested in perhaps all the other boroughs of New York City in recent years. - - - - - - - - - At Riverside Park's "drip" and vicinity, migrant activity was about half or less what it had been on Sunday. There were some birds, but not the same movement in the woods nearby, and as a result not all that much at the "drip" itself. That said, a male Summer Tanager, & at least 3 Scarlet Tanagers (2 females and a male) that showed, plus at least the following ten warbler species, and a feisty (bill- snapping aggressively at tough House Sparrows) female Rose-breasted Grosbeak, several male Indigo Buntings, an Eastern Kingbird hanging around all day, and a few more migrants species was at least some small reminder of what could be, with sun and perhaps a bit less wind, a good showing at this small site under the larger wooded bird sanctuary above. A lot of birders stopped by as well. The coverage went from around 12:30 p.m.- sunset, by a lot of folks at various times, including Geoff Nulle, who is responsible for a lot of the care the sanctuary receives, and monitors the birds and conditions in that area of the park. (We did not see any cuckoos today, nor did a Chat put in even a brief showing.) Riverside "drip", 12:30 - 7:30p.m. Northern Parula Yellow Warbler Magnolia Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler American Redstart Ovenbird Northern Waterthrush Common Yellowthroat Wilson's Warbler There was a report from an experienced observer in Connecticut of a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, which caught my attention, as I had found a (as it turns out, quite early) small flycatcher in Riverside Park at least 2 weeks ago now, which sang in exact match, as well as in plumage, for that Empidonax species. There are still a lot of that genus to arrive here and also more of a number of other flycatchers as well as thrushes, vireos, later warblers, and many other migrant song and "land" birds. A lot more of this month still to come. Good birding, Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES 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://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
