Manhattan, N.Y. City - Wednesday, 1st of May:
An adult male Summer Tanager continued at the Clinton Community Garden, on West 48th St. - between Ninth & Tenth Avenues. It could again be viewed through a fence, even when this garden space was locked. Also continuing (in northern Manhattan) was a female-plumaged Blue Grosbeak, near the Cloisters within Fort Tryon Park. A Yellow-throated Warbler (male, sometimes singing) found by A. Collerton in the Central Park Ramble was also enjoyed by many later observers. (Thank you, Anthony!) Overall, my own impression (mostly from throughout Central Park, from 110 Street to 60 Street, & from Fifth Ave. to Central Park West in 8+ hours) was that while a fair amount of fresh migration may have occurred on Tuesday night, there was also a lot of exodus. Species-diversity was still fairly good, & many observers were able to add “first-of” birds to personal lists. At first, I had thought that numbers of Yellow-rumped [Myrtle] Warbler were not that high, given the May 1 date, but after walking 6-7 miles through most of the 1 park, I’d seen many hundreds and while scattered all around, this at least showed some influx, after a recent period when this species seemed low in numbers. (there also have been other days when numbers of that warbler were fairly common, however, and that species has a tendency for onward migration on mornings with fog or drizzles, as has been the usual of late.) The numbers of certain warbler species on Wed. 5/1 seemed to have increased just in Central Park, such as Blackburnian (8+ park-wide), Black-throated Green (25+ park-wide), & Ovenbird (30++ park-wide). Also almost certainly increased were Scarlet Tanager (with at least 4 in one large oak tree at one time just n. of the Central Park boathouse cafe in the Ramble area, & 15+ park-wide), and also Veery (25+ park-wide). In addition, even if heard singing or chattering far more than seen, Baltimore Oriole were found in most parts of the park (20++ park-wide). Also evident was an additional surge of Purple Finch, with some small flocks of 8-10 (& totals of 40+ park-wide). At least a few Pine Siskins also were in several locations, often near or with American Goldfinch which are starting to mass, and no longer most-common at or around feeders (many have been high in the trees, along with plenty of other migrants with the inclement or cloudy weather). A species some think a bit uncommon (but not, once peak migration is upon us), Yellow-throated Vireo was also in fairly good number (7 - 8+, park-wide) on Wednesday. Blue-headed & Warbling Vireos continued in numbers, the latter species a Manhattan breeder as well as a common migrant. Red-eyed Vireo have yet to show in their great numbers. The most interesting bird I found in Central Park (for the May 1st date) was a single female Golden-crowned Kinglet, at the Hallett Sanctuary - a bit late but hardly unprecedented. Ruby-crowned Kinglets are still numerous, & far more expected for early May here. good month of May birding, Tom Fiore manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm 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://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
