Thursday, 8 May, 2014 - Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City
Today was the most bird-filled day of the year thus far in Central. More than 120 species were recorded, among them at least 28 warbler species. On Wednesday, perhaps the first Bay-breasted Warbler of the season was found at the n. end of the park, and this species was also seen this day.
Other warblers present included (late) Pine, Palm, & (late) Louisiana Waterthrush, as well as Orange-crowned (Maintenance Meadow, yet again), Cape May, Blackpoll, Wilson's (in the multiple) and Canada... and for some of the more-common & typical warblers of May, some species were being seen in as high as triple-digit numbers.
The numbers of Yellow-rumped Warbler that moved through in the first 3 or so hours of daylight may have reached well into the 5-figures range. White-throated Sparrow numbers actually in the park all day may easily have exceeded 5,000. Other sparrows noted included some Lincoln's, White-crowned, Field, Swamp, and many hundreds of Chipping (as well as Song Sparrows). Indigo Buntings are now in fair numbers and Scarlet Tanagers also have increased... a somewhat less-expected species, Purple Finch, was seen & heard in a few locations. A rather "late" (for this date in NYC) Rusty Blackbird was at the Loch area in the early a.m. - a male in full glossy breeding plumage. A few duck species are now getting a bit late: N. Shovelers, Bufflehead, & Ruddy Duck - each species in 2's. Along with the usual Great & Snowy Egrets and Black-crowned Night-Herons that fly east or west along a "flyway" over & north of the n. end of the park, a rare-in-Manhattan Little Blue Heron was noticed yesterday, and today, a Glossy Ibis. Swallows seem generally still in short supply, and more are definitely expected to pass through.
A Common Nighthawk was found perched in the n. end near the end of the day, this about the 3rd day now that this species had been sighted in the park. A very modest number of shorebirds were found - at least several Solitary and Spotted Sandpipers. At least one Dark-eyed Junco was still lingering. As various other thrush species come through in greater & greater numbers, the relative number of Hermit Thrush remains high (for the date). Many Veery seemed to have arrived, as well as Wood Thrush and still-modest no's. of Swainson's Thrush, with a relative few Gray-cheeked types.
There are good prospects for the weekend's birding so long as stormy weather does not really get in the way.
8 days of May, & quite the start... 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/ --
