Friday, 23 December, 2011 - Manhattan, N.Y. City The lingering Manhattan RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD was present again much of the day at the small park by the American Museum of Natural History, on the W. 81 Street side and near the entry to the Rose Center (aka "the planetarium"), in & around the plantings at that building's entry and occasionally buzzing around in the vicinity. look closely at all the plantings as the hummer may sometimes be quite unobtrusively feeding, as well as roosting, within, or on the various shrubs, including those with remaining blossoms (and some are green-flowered, not only red). (This hummingbird has generally offered excellent views to all who have sought it provided there is sufficient time allowed for viewing it; an hour is often more than enough.)
The brightly-colored DICKCISSEL (seeming to be an adult female) continues at the south end of Inwood Hill Park, immediately north of the western-most end of Dyckman Street, very often with a large flock of House Sparrows that roam from near the aforementioned street's edge to as much as 50+ yards in & along-side the sports fields. On all prior attempts as well as this afternoon, the Dickcissel is usually seen within some minutes, once the large flock of House Sparrows appears. They frequent the weedy area along a fence that parallels the western edge of the Amtrak railroad right-of-way & tracks, which are strictly off-limits (& well-fenced). The flock with the Dickcissel also wanders at times a bit to the north, in the sports field area, and also over towards the Hudson river very nearby but there are many times when it will feed (with that House Sparrow flock) in the short grasses of the mowed field, not too far from Dyckman Street. (Generally, with a modest amount of patience, this bird is also relatively easy to spot, & with a bit more patience, good close views may be obtained.) By the way this is not the only dickcissel being seen in the city of New York this month... but may be the more cooperative overall, according to the reports of anothers' sporadic appearances. A young (first-year) RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was seen again in the southeast part of Central Park, by the Hallett Sanctuary, which is a small fenced (with no entry permitted) area next to the north & west sides of a smallish water-body, called (officially), "the Pond". The woodpecker has been at least occasionally, if not regularly, visible from the path that is north & west next to the Hallett Sanctuary's fence &/or gate. It also might be heard calling a bit, at times, and then spotted. There are some other birds of interest in that vicinity (southeast part of Central Park) and, for those who wish to see some of the nice birds lingering in Bryant Park, mid-town Manhattan (and I had a number of birders & photographers saying that there are, with no question:) at least 2 Yellow-breasted Chats continuing in that small park, bordered by Fifth & Sixth Avenues, and by 40th and 42nd Streets, with additional birds being seen at Bryant Park including Lincoln's Sparrow, Ovenbirds (more than one, perhaps more than 2), & as of the other day 2 Common Yellowthroats, 2 or more Hermit Thrushes, Gray Catbird[s], & various others - plus "who-knows-what-else"... (The park is practically it's own little "CBC"-zone.) In Central Park there also is a continuing Eastern Phoebe at and near Turtle Pond, as well as a lingering Baltimore Oriole in rather drab plumage. The phoebe has often been hiding in and around Turtle Pond's vegetation and the oriole has wandered quite a lot, but has also favored the Ramble, including some forays to the feeders there, as well as along the Lake and multiple other areas of that part of the park... A few sightings along the Hudson river (on the N.Y. City side) included 2 Common Ravens (calling clearly and well-seen, photographed rather hastily with point-and-shoot) and in the same (mid-day) time- frame, a southbound adult Bald Eagle... plus various more typical species of the season, with both species of Kinglet in the mix on the "ground". For additional fun with all that's being seen in & near Manhattan, a Wild Turkey remains in a city park that sees tens of thousands of tourists a week (nope, not Central) - it's often a bit interested in people but is also wary even after years in the thick of the place also known as Gotham... as it well should be, since it is "wild" as it's name implies... Oh, and not to leave an Orange-crowned Warbler sighting out: one continues at Swindler Cove / Sherman creek park, at the eastern end of Dyckman Street, a patch of habitat that is along the Harlem "river" waterway. (Dyckman St. is at the exact latitude within Manhattan of 200th Street, & is a synonym for that number). There are various other birds of interest in a number of pocket parks, gardens, and other smaller green-spaces around Manhattan lately... as well as in some of the larger city parks - it's quite the December for "lingerers" in particular... with not too much 'chill' predicted. In the greater northeast / northern mid-Atlantic region (New England and New Jersey, etc.) are being seen at least 5 species of flycatchers this past week - E. & Say's Phoebes, Ash-throated Flycatcher, W. Kingbird, Cassin's Kingbird (still in e. Massachusetts), and a whole bunch of other normally-neotropical, or (some) very-southern-U.S. - wintering species, a menagerie of various species that are usually 'forgotten' in our region until April or May. Some month it's been, with 8 days still to go. Good birding / CBC-ing, and safe & happy holidays -ongoing and upcoming- to all... 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/ --
