Wednesfay, 7 September 2011 Thanks in great part to a timely post by Joe DiCostanzo to ebirdsnyc, I spent a bit of extra time in Central Park's (Manhattan, N.Y. City) Ramble and was able to see the adult Red-headed Woodpecker that Joe reported (with Chuck McAlexander & perhaps some additional observers) - the woodpecker was not very easy to view well, in the part of the Ramble that some of us took to calling the "Tupelo Meadow" which refers to a large, fenced, tupelo tree in a lawn area in the Ramble, a little ways north of the Azalea Pond. Comes late word from Bob Krinsky, a long-time park birder as well, that the adult Red-headed was actually present as early as Monday - Labor Day, 9/5 - seen by B.K. on that day in "roughly the same area" as it was today. A very modest assortment of more typical early Sept. migrants otherwise graced the park in general in my somewhat limited wanderings in the morning, a damp and notably cool one at that. A lot of us anticipate a good push in the next few nights with the current weather clearing! We will see...
,- - - - - - - - Per the very recent upsurge of interest in a very common species to lands south of Texas, here's a bit more on the Great Kiskadee's overall range. Incidentally in my travels through every state in Mexico, as well as in a few other places in more recent years, I have seen these birds be quite unafraid of humans and also (in a few towns in Mexico, 18 years ago and since) have seen the species in cages, as both "pets" and for sale as such - not often, but a few times there, and as noted, some years back. I wonder if there are any populations that are thought to be at all migratory, such as in Argentina well south of the equator - thus "austral" migrants which would be moving north around this time just as our N. American-breeding migrant tyrannidae head to more southerly latitudes. http://neotropical.birds.cornell.edu/portal/species/distribution?p_p_spp=477836 Also, I might mention I stopped by the "Intrepid" this afternoon, and spoke with one young man employed there, who mentioned - without my asking - that a large cruise ship had been docked less than 10 city blocks up the Hudson river, in "the past week" that had, as one of its ports of call, Bermuda. I would think the schedules of ships that dock in Manhattan might be discoverable if anyone really felt it to be of great enough interest - but in any case, as noted by at least 2 other NYC birders today, no kiskadees were found (by us) in the vicinity. There is a 4 p.m. closing time at the "Intrepid" (including the free-admission public areas) and as might be understood, government-issued photo ID is required, with a bag-check also very likely, if entering. (It's quite the feat to manage a Northern Wheatear and a Red Phalarope in NY state in the same day, both photographed!... hats off to John Haas of Sullivan County, who posted earlier.) - - - - - - In response to Fred B's questions re: N. Wheatear attempts (for Thursday) my responses to his queries would be: 1. Yes. 2. Yes. 3 Yes. 4 Yes. 5 Yes. - however I am familiar with the site of the Croton-Harmon Metro-North Railroad Station. Which also prompts a note to all in range of that train system, the wheatear is eminently "chaseable" via the train, with plenty of stations served, including of course that in mid-town Manhattan, and direct service at most hours. The fares are not too steep either, even better for those in the "senior" fare age class. 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/ --
