Yep. Another great somewhat extra-limital bird: An *adult* Pacific Golden-Plover was found by Frank Mantlik in Stratford, Connecticut on Thursday, 10/29. Assists came from multiple other sharp birders, both on the virtual bird-net, & then in person as well from a few, but in particular by Julian Hough, who has written about the separation of Pluvialis [genus] plovers in the field, and helped to further clarify some of the fine points required for an ID with a number of the plovers in that genus. Tip of the hat also to at least one NYC-based birder, and others in CT, but above all to the finder of the bird. It is a species to be considered, ‘on the radar’ - especially later in the season as is getting to be. (watch the CT-Birds list-serve, in part, for updates if any, to that plover in CT.)
A very nice thank-you came in an eBirded report by Tom Warren, the original finder of the Tropical Kingbird in Westchester Co., NY (for at least 3 days), with tough conditions - and a possibly moving-on flycatcher (via his last report) by 10/29; his thanks were extended to all who came to see that rare, state-first-record bird, & who helped to get each other ‘on' it when or as needed. Bucephala islandica (that’s Barrow’s Goldeneye) was seen & photographed in Clinton County, NY - the northeasternmost county in the state, by the mouth of the Saranac river - & that is a nice indicator of the many many spp. of waterfowl just starting to appear in the state, with plenty more likely to arrive very soon, in a lot of locations. (that drake was eBird-ed by S. Robinson.) And as many will be aware, this is a time for Crane migration from the northeast region… keep an eye to the sky. — — — — — — New York County, including Manhattan, Randall’s Island, Governors Island, & the skies & waters above & around - .. A real surprise for the observer was an E. Whip-poor-will seen in diurnal flight on Sunday, 10/25 moving past the e. side of Manhattan and, as part of the unexpectedness for late Oct., that caprimulgid was being attacked by a Peregrine in the air… but apparently, maneuvered away… wow. Also noted on the day by the same keen observer were some E. Bluebirds, 3 (more) E. Meadowlarks on a day when that species was on the move along with so many other migrants - & a very good count of Pine Siskins, which of course have been moving by the tens of thousands (actually a lot lot more) in the past month thru our area, and continue to be on the move, still. Additionally from the same observer were a flock of 20 Rusty Blackbirds, a species not-often seen in the county in quite those numbers, but is from various places just next-door, both in migration as well as on-site in the colder months. - - - Tues, Oct. 27th through Thursday, Oct. 29th: -- Tues., Oct. 27 - A steady northwest wind blew all day, with clouds & some sun, & drying out a bit as the day progressed. A day which raptors, vultures, and a lot of other birds decided was very favorable to a lot of migratory movement. The highlight beyond some birds on the ground were those seen in flight on the day, with a possible record-high (at least for our current era) of Eastern Bluebird in the county achieved; well over 50 were seen altogether, including many over both Central & Riverside Parks & also from a bit north, at Fort Tryon Park. Multiple separate flocks of 8 - ten - twelve - fourteen were seen for separate hours all through the morning; a few bluebirds were still moving later in the day as well. A species for which there was rather grave concern even a short few decades ago, and just slowly seeming to have recovered somewhat. (It’s plausible the numbers moving past & thru Manhattan on the day were even greater (!), but I won’t ‘push’ that notion… this is already a very high count, and it may be tough to see a repeat.) A Nelson’s Sparrow (of one of the interior races, i.e. not the northeastern-coastal and Maritime-Canada breeding subvirgatus form) was found by D. Aronov in Central Park at the Pinetum (an uncommon find within Manhattan itself, but not unprecedented) & later seen by many including a Linnaean Society group bird-walk and with an assist by A. Burke, who also helped out on an informal raptor-watch session, on a day when a lot was happening (again) in the skies. In addition to sky-watchers at Central Park, there were some observers in a few other locations, also witnessing the large movements. More than 120 Turkey Vultures (likely a lot more) passed over Manhattan or the adjacent rivers thru the day, as well as at least 8 (& perhaps slightly more) Black Vultures, a possible high count of the latter for the county, but one which may be surpassed as that species is so vastly-more regular now (at this county, & region-wide with in particular major increases to the north, far into NY state & New England) than for example just a decade earlier. Many observers got to see a late-ish Broad-winged Hawk at Central Park (hardly unprecedented and there have even been exceedingly-less-likely Dec. records of the species in the region) and a great showing of other migrating raptors (in addition to some other birds on the wing, and besides the vulture migrations), with a minimum of ten diurnally-migrating birds of prey species found, thru much of the day, these including good counts of N. Harrier, a single (?) late-ish Osprey coming down along the Hudson river, more than 15 Bald Eagles on the day (and frustratingly nearby Golden Eagle was reliably reported the same day, moving down the Hudson, from a point only about 5 miles or less to the n. of northern Manhattan (where I spent about 7 hours on a sky-watch) by obsevers at a regular hawk-watch site on the NY/N.J. border, that bird clearly having come through New York skies (perhaps either/both Rockland &/or Westchester Co’s. and potentially down into western Bronx Co., & then there were of course other Golden sightings in the wider region on the day), and (back in Manhattan) also a very good count of Red-shouldered Hawk (32 tallied from my location, at least 28 & possibly more from a bit farther south, and multiple individuals seen over various other locations on the day), accipiters of at least the 2 most-regular species here (with Cooper’s seemingly outnumbering Sharp-shinned, at least 30+ of the former, but nearly as many wind-sheared ‘Sharpies’ in the mix as well - no accipiters were suspected of being a third, larger species, not for lack of trying and trying!), and a component of Red-tailed Hawks that, in addition to the many - MANY - that reside in Manhattan & all of N.Y. City these days, a likely few that were on the move for real, as were also seen from many regional hawk-watch locations. Plus all 3 falcon species we typically see, including at least several Merlin, with Peregrine and American Kestrel both city-resident birds, & the chance that a few of the latter were also migrators. There were diurnal movements, including nearly all-morning flights, of such species as Black-capped Chickadee (100+++ from the edges of the Hudson river; also seen in numbers moving treetop-to-treetop hopping style, later in the day, with 99% of that movement being north-to-south) and Tufted Titmouse (lesser no’s. from where I visited and stood; and in my opinion overall the lighter movements by the latter species, but as always - location, location, location; both of these parid species have been having big influxes & those movements have been ongoing recently - some observers on the day may have seen far-higher no’s. of titmice than of chickadee, by comparison with my counts), American Robin (2,000+, possibly a bit too low), and more-modest no’s. of Red-winged Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, and Common Grackle. Finches also were moving to some extent, with American Goldfinch & Pine Siskin the ones evident to me, from my perches at Ft. Tryon Park. Some of the latter 2 species also stopped in to feed at times, and some may have lingered all day there. At least 1 (possibly 2 as plumage seemed to differ in two separated sightings) Baltimore Oriole (young male) was by the w. edges of the heather garden area in Fort Tryon Park (& this has been a slightly-favored spot within that park, for late, & even attempting-to-winter, Baltimore Orioles in the past). There were American Warblers of at least these 18 species found on the day in N.Y. County, with some of these, or maybe most, having been lingering a while in respective locations where seen, but also some that were freshly-appearing in some sites: Northern Waterthrush, Ovenbird, Tennessee Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Northern Parula, Yellow Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Cape May Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Yellow-rumped [Myrtle] Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Pine Warbler, Palm Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, American Redstart, & Common Yellowthroat - this is an impressive tally of species to be found this far into the fall season…. but, not unprecedented, and especially not this particular year with so many (including every one of these species) having been found in the region to about this date or very-nearly-so (within a day or two if not simultaneously, including elsewhere in N.Y. City). Some, indeed many, of these late/lingering warblers were also photographed by their observers &/or well-described. The locations ranged all through the county, but overall, as is not surprising, Central Park came in with a high percentage, although for some species, the sightings were from smaller greenspaces scattered in many locations, esp. in mid to lower Manhattan, which is also where a set of many small sites can hold any sort of (avian) surprises, particularly for ‘late’ seeming migrants in the fall and even, potentially, to winter. (In that light, & very mid-Manhattan-specific, it can be added that well-known Bryant Park, 1 block east of Times Square, has been undergoing the annual prep. for installation of its seasonal ice-rink, as well as the many small shops which are put in, atop where some birds might have wandered until all of this recent human-commercial activity, and thus, that park may be a bit less easy in which to find a variety of species, yet somehow, birds do continue to be found there, with warblers, sparrows, & others all a possibility into the winter. This week seems not to have produced all that many species there, & the hubbub of the ongoing work, most days lately, may have contributed to that. (but, even so, at least Ovenbird, Common Yellowthroat, Gray Catbird, Hermit Thrush, & some native sparrows all could be seen in the midst of all the pre-holiday human activities there, this week - & other species could well have been lurking, or will be at any date upcoming there.) -- Wed., Oct. 28 - Some drizzles & low clouds for the morning, with some rain having fallen overnight, & not a great deal of fresh overnight influx, but at least some semi-local exodus of migrants. The day brightened a bit as afternoon came along, and some birds were moving a bit in diurnal migration, albeit in rather lower numbers than the fabulous day prior. There’ve been ongoing walks by leaders for the NY Audubon (NYCAS), a non-profit org. as is the Linnean Society and as is the American Museum of Natural History, all of whom give walks at various times including regularly in Central Park, with leaders of vast combined experience. Only the Linnaean walks in Central (& some other day-trip walks) are free of charge, and any & all fees paid otherwise are to support non-profit conservation and scientific organizations well-established in the city &, in the case of the American Museum, an institution of world reknown. These organizations & other non-profits that give back to the scientific and conservation communities are of course well worth support, whether one takes a walk or trip with them or not. And on rather rainy days, or mornings, it’s impressive to see some of these leaders and their groups getting out - and finding plenty of migrants here in town! The (interior-race) Nelson’s Sparrow found the day prior was still in place at Central Park’s Pinetum area, with many observers again. A Marsh Wren was still being found at Inwood Hill Park. A fairly good diversity of migrants and winter resident type species were seen in the county, and this included a selection of warblers, but not quite the diversity of species as found the day before. Some Rusty Blackbirds have lingered on, and more may be anticipated as November comes along. As is expected by now, diversity in neotropical-wintering species is dropping, and such birds as the migrant thrushes are (amongst those with ‘brown backs’) dominated by the still-expected Hermit Thrush, with a very scant no. of others including Swainson’s, Wood, and possibly Gray-cheeked just clearing out & headed south by southwest. -- Thursday, Oct. 29 - Remnant rain and some wind from the very large weather-system that was ‘Hurricane Zeta’ came northeastwards into the region, affecting not just N.Y. City but all of the area, with increasing rain, and mostly moderate winds. The rain which started in (for example) Central Park after daybreak, lasted all day & well on into the night - as well as the following (Friday) morning - a substantial 'drought-breaker', at the least! Temp’s. were in the 50’s (F.) - but dropping off a lot, overnight. (puddles for plovers, perhaps?) A Nelson’s Sparrow (‘interior' form) did indeed linger into this day, at the Pinetum of Central Park, as noted by some other observers who came inl later, enduring the weather. This is a great sparrow to have linger that length of time for Central. Having detailed some of the sightings I had in Central Park on the day, to this list already, I’ll just add that the 9 Lesser Scaup photographed were determined as that species based on several features still visible at the time I was observing, when visibility was actually quite good under light rain, but did deteriorate fairly quickly later. I did have a triple-check of these scaup just on the outside chance of some other species of Aythya (genus] but mainly to positively eliminate Greater as a possibility, rather than Lesser. The ‘peaked’ look of esp. the 3 males, & the size in direct, side-by-side views of all of the nine scaup, to some Ruddy Ducks, were helpful in adding to other aspects slightly more visible in photos, on such a rain-filled day. All waters are worth checking on as the storm passes, away. Puddles... & lawns, & etc.! The 1 male Evening Grosbeak in Central Park, which I too-briefly saw at close range (in the Shakespeare Garden) may possibly still be around, and further, more of that species could well be on the way or already present, as so many of them have been on the move, with sightings in the many-multiple far into the mid-south by now, and becoming somewhat regular in some parts of N.Y. state, New England & also far, far beyond where they do not breed. The species is also irrupting to some extent even in the far west, although there, a different set of mechanisms may be taking place to ‘push’ some irruptive, as well as mountain-dwelling, birds from more-typical patterns into unexpected locations & in unusual numbers. It’s worth learning the calls of that grosbeak as well as of most other (of all of the birds), as that knowledge will help many to more-readily find a lot of much-desired species, whether on migration, or in breeding areas, or other situations; this of course very much applies to the locating of bluebirds (of any species), as well. There were again Pine Siskins in various areas, & a few Purple Finch, along with plenty of American Goldfinch in some areas. Just a whole lot of birds all throughout, on a not-too-nice weather day - and, it seems that as many as 11 warbler species were found on the day, amongst those who had ventured out, as a total for the county… & it is possible some would have been ‘missed’ with so relatively few observers -understandably- out in the wet, & later on, the wind, as well as falling temperatures. There could be more to detail of just the past 3 days in one county... but, another report for another time, and likely a lot of migration to be seen on the upcoming weekend - good luck to all. - - - - - "This country will not be a good place for any of us to live in unless we make it a good place for all of us to live in.” - Teddy Roosevelt (26th president of the U.S.A.) "If there is no struggle, there is no progress." - Frederick Douglass (1818-1895; U.S. statesman, orator, writer) Good (cold-weather) birding to all - and thanks to the many who also keep the birds’ best interests at heart when out in the field - and limit any possible disturbances to the birds’ requirements for food, shelter, & safety, including for the many migrants a safe passage on their often long journeys. 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/ --
