Sunday, 20th November, 2016 - All - the Ash-throated Flycatcher that Dave Nyzio found on Saturday 11/19 & seen by a number of others later that day (& thanks, Paul Sweet) was NOT found by some of us searching in the morning on Sunday 11/20 at the same north Brooklyn (that's Kings County, NYC) location - this area is what was meant to be a NYC public park, on & near the East River - but has not been opened as a park, despite some signage (official NYC-Parks Dept.) that would seem to suggest it may be -or was- or will in future be - a public park (there are small public parks on the same street, within a few short blocks, with some East River views, both to the north & south of this area**).
It was two birders, me being one of them, who were approached by 2 uniformed NYPD officers (with back-up in another vehicle on the street, which was an unmarked NYPD car). From my perspective, the area was & is not clearly signed nor marked as either private or non- public, and the presence of an official NYC Parks Dept. sign (with the name of the park, the insignia & identification of the preceding & of normal / full size), may all suggest the area is not "closed" or "off- limits" - however, it IS fenced, with a few holes in said fence that may have been made some while ago, &, after the conversation with 3 NYPD officers on-scene, it is now clear that no one ought to enter inside the fence. Interactions with the NYPD officers was calm, quiet, fairly low-key, and non-agressive; in my opinion the officers were thoroughly professional, and my impression was that the main concern from them was that no one become hurt or suffer by being in a dis-used park / waterfront area, with the East River just some yards away (rough rocks & slabs of broken concrete & such, in the small inlet area, with trash & weedy growth obscuring some of the uneven ground, etc.) and, their not initially knowing what we were about - the best outcome perhaps would have been the rare flycatcher re-appearing as we spoke, & the chance to show a "good" bird to some locals 'on the job' this Sunday morning! Anyhow, bottom-line as Sean Sime pointed out to this list: don't go into any areas if unsure the status of that property, &: if there are any further reports, stay on the outside, with a scope, for all viewing chances. It ought be added that a modest-sized accipiter which I took for a Cooper's Hawk was hunting in the precise areas of the Ash-throated's known whereabouts of the day before - this hawk was chased a bit by a few American Crows, but it came back in - & was in trees very near, even same precise spot, where the Ash-throated had been photographed & observed on the day before - no, I am not suggesting the flycatcher was taken-out by the hawk, but it *might* have either chased it to a new location, or kept it sitting quietly so as to stay out of harm's way, if it was still in that area Sunday. I was not in a position to seek this bird Saturday, & that day was far better as far as insectivorous birds, with an air temperature 30 degrees higher, and much less wind to contend with than Sunday. I'm glad to have seen a report to this public list. Incidental to the birding there, the NYPD officers spoken with included a variety of ethnicities and the officer in command was a woman. Of (a few) other birds noticed in the area, a Red-tailed Hawk, a few Dark-eyed Juncos, at least 1 White-throated Sparrow, & a N. Mockingbird (that in the same area the Ash-throated had been seen on Saturday) were some; there were typical ducks & geese, gulls, & no doubt some other species in the immediate area - this is in the Williamsburg area, northern edge of Brooklyn close to the border with Queens Co.- & in excellent view of the East River & much of the Manhattan sky-line. **The local street on which there is access to aII of this is Kent Avenue. And finally, thanks & props to Brooklyn- birders! -------------- A citizen’s basic responsibility is to be aware of the consequences of his or her acts. 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/ --
