[Because it was mentioned to this list, any links that go directly to *any* mention of a * “Least Bittern” * in Manhattan, N.Y. City in recent days might be offered, with a link to the sighting report &/or any documentation or notes regarding that species in the stated (‘unusual’) location, from whatever recent date. The species is rare but not unknown to the county over recent decades.]
- - - - - - Monday, Sept. 13th - A Clay-colored Sparrow was found & nicely photographed, seen by eventually multiple observers at Central Park’s (in Manhattan, N.Y. City) north end on Monday (sighting was in part placed in eBird reports in time for some to re-locate and observe the bird) - some good sightings were bing made even fairly late into the day. (I believe the Clay-colored was first noted by E. Paredes at the loaction where others came & also re-found the bird.). As many are aware, that species is not *quite* as rare as once was in our region, thanks in part to the spread into the northeast of the breeding-range of the birds which now include getting east into Maine. Also, some observers around the county again were able to see at least modest no’s. of Common Nighthawks, including some within (over) Central Park in the later-day period. A Connecticut Warbler was again seen in Central Park, this one on Monday 9/13 in the very heart of the Ramble, with a report now confirmed in eBird; the 2nd (at least) of that species to be seen, and also included in confirmed eBird sightings, for the fall season in Central Park. The Monday sighting was by more than one observer. Again, it is often the most quiet and unobtrusive observer[s] who happen to be “lucky” with this shy species, and there can be times when the species is better-seen by a small quiet group or a single observer. There were at least 23 warbler species seen in N.Y. County on Monday, and all of those species were found within Central Park, as well as many of the species being seen in a wide variety of other locations around the county. The “Brewster’s” type hybrid warbler was again seen in the Central Park Ramble on Monday (2nd day there), in the morning. That, as well as several Blue-winged Warblers in the area and around the county. A Worm-eating Warbler (now slightly-late for the species) was reported at Central Park on Monday as well. Although less numerous now, a number of careful observers were still finding Veery, amongst the more-frequent Swainson’s Thrushes of late, including a Veery within the Central Park Ramble, to Monday 9/13. A small number of Philadelphia Vireos were found in Central Park, and in a few other locations, part of the trend of sightings of the species in the wider region; these were not the first-of-season sightings, but had increased. Also again seen on Monday morning including within the Central Park Ramble, was Olive-sided Flycatcher. Shorebirds at Governors Island (part of N.Y. County) again included both spp. of Yellowlegs, Solitary, Spotted, Least, & Semipalmated Sandpipers and Killdeer, the last a very regular species on that island. .. ... .. Thank You to the team of expert and very keen birders who cover the illuminated-at-night “Tribute in Light” of the lower-Manhattan 9-11 memorial (in the times of its’ having the powerful beams into the night sky lit up) so as to monitor migrant birds (in particular) that can be attracted to, or potentially somewhat confused by, lights in structures and the like, especially so if foggy weather sets in; this being part of a long-term project with the NYC Audubon & other conservation-minded partners. good birding to all, 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/ --