There's at least potential for almost any bird to turn up at this time, particularly in the weather scenario that's playing out along the eastern seaboard and well inland. Among batches and bunches of interesting sightings was a photographed Cassin's Sparrow in Massachusetts, one report with photo link: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/MASS.html#1305503261 - note that that bird may not have been re-found. Also note that there had been a small push of that western sparrow species into the southeast recently, from reports in several southern states.
On the dove 'front', there are at least several additional W.-w. Dove reports up & down the mid-Atlantic to New England coast & also way "down-east", on Newfoundland, Canada. There are also reports of Eurasian Collared-Doves, continuing their infiltration to points north of where they've been a bit more established in recent years. But speaking of Newfoundland again, they have had the "usual" some number of Greater (a.k.a. European) Golden-Plovers, although don't hold the breath awaiting one to stray quite as far west as Long Island... still... maybe. Various "southern" strays have made their way far north, too - such as a number of summer tanagers to the Maritimes of eastern Canada, and a at least a few Kentucky warblers in that direction, and various others... Also, already appearing in some points well north (of the latitude of NYC, at least) have been Mourning Warbler and Empidonax of at least several species, as well as Olive-sided Flycatcher. Black- bellied Whistling Duck has been reported from some states well north of the Gulf Coast area - & could potentially show up almost anywhere now. There were a whole bunch of "big days" and various bird-a-thons, etc. over this weekend, among them one held throughout the southernmost county in NYC & state, Richmond County, also known as Staten Island - the combined tally for all those who participated in their "big day" was well over 150 species - and among the highlights was the still- lingering adult WHITE IBIS in Great Kills park / NRA (= National Recreation Area), along with plenty of other great sightings, by many observers. See: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SINaturaList/message/ 2325 - the big day there was held on Saturday, 5/14 and went from midnight to about dusk, 8pm. Speaking of dusk, Common Nighthawks are moving well up lately and more should be coming. - - - Sunday, 15 May, 2011 - Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City While an annual event brought thousands of young people thru parts of the park, and early rains dampened all a bit, birds were certainly still to be seen and heard, with a mix of migrants that was somewhat similar to recent days, and again included a few of the warbler & thrush species that usually get more numerous by about mid-May. At least 20 warbler species were found, & a good many, or even all, were still represented by males (as well as some, or many, females) and a lot of the latter were singing away right into the afternoon (I spent more time out after 9, than before.) A very modest number of Gray- cheeked (and all I saw well looked to be that, and not Bicknell's) Thrushes were in locations from the far north to far south sections of the park. There were far more swallows feeding than on any previous day this spring, the majority Barn Swallows, and the highest numbers over the reservoir. At least one fast cuckoo fly-thru was seen in the ramble - too fast to determine which of 2 species, Black-, or Yellow-, billed... There were also at least a modest number of some especially common migrants, mainly warblers, in some street trees, although not far away from either Central or Riverside Parks, Sun. - into the afternoon, some still singing then. A couple of Common Nighthawks made their way easily up-river along and over the shore & trees in Riverside, just shortly after the sky broke loose again with thunder and more rains, then a lull in any rains. 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/ --
