For all of N.Y. County (which is within N.Y. City and includes Manhattan,
Governors Island, Randall’s Island, and several more / smaller isles, as well
as waters and skies adjacent and visible from the preceding locations) -
Sunday, May 15th:
It appears that at least 161 species of wild, free and unrestrained birds were
tallied - collectively, by many hundreds of active observers all through the
day, and at least a few in pre-dawn or after-dusk hours, for the 24 hours of
Sunday, May 15th. A great day and yet this is not at all a record tally for one
day, and not for any day of May, for the county. The tally of Parulidae, the
American Warbler species, seems to be at least 29 full species (plus one named
hybrid) and this also not a record and not as many as on some prior days for
this month, though very close - the one species perhaps not seen by many obs.
was a Prothonotary Warbler at Riverside Park - all of the other species were
noted by multiple observers, and most by very many observers. In multiple
parks, more than 20 spp. of warblers were found for Sunday 5/15.
**Some of** the stand-out species seen on the day include: (in modern-taxonomic
order) - E. Whip-poor-will (from a location visited in night-hours, and not
disturbed or “taped-in”, also not ‘sought' in any way during full daylight),
Am. Coot (bit late for this county), TEN spp. of shorebirds or as known in
much of the world, waders - a good tally of species for this
not-so-rich-in-waders-county, and some of those species found for 5/15/’22
rather rare in the county, also a few which have been only v. rarely
well-documented; (also an amazing species for 5/14, which was not reported
again for Sunday 5/15, a WHIMBREL which was an 11th wader species over less
than 36 hrs. or total-elapsed time in the county!) - that and Sunday’s S.-b.
DOWITCHER the rarer of all shorebirds in a great weekend of sightings for N.Y.
Co., both of our regular Loon species (not at all rare here, but getting v.
slightly-late), 6 ardeid (heron and egret species, also none really rare here,
but a couple running either late or less-regular for mid-May into later in
spring, perhaps also somewhat overlooked in May), Glossy IBIS (those seen from
Governors Island, as flybys which is the most-typical sight of these for this
county, although have occured IN and ON the grounds / waters of some of our
parks in manhattan over the years & into the modern era - good to watch out for
these AND to watch out for *poss. other Ibis* species! - at least one of which
has occurred in the past in this county!), N. Harrier (a nice sighting for
mid-May here), Black Vulture (so much more regular just this year, with
mass-increase in the wider region and not as unexpected now as only 4-6 years
ago here), all owls for May, even if resident on Manhattan are notable, Y.-b.
Sapsucker (late, but seen regularly in recent years into the summer in v. low
numbers), all 3 regular falcon spp., Monk Parakeet (a somewhat unknown-status
species for the county, but likely breeds on irregular to regular basis IN the
county; the species is semi-established in at least 8 or more nearby counties
in at least 3 states including other counties of N.Y. City, and has bred before
in N.Y. County, albeit scarcely as far as known), at least 8 spp. of
flycatchers for 5/15 (but more were & will be possible in coming days and
perhaps weeks), Philadelphia Vireos as well as the 5 other regular migrant and
breeding vireo spp. of the area, Common Raven (now regular in the county and
around N.Y. City), Fish Crow (in fairly good no’s. where found in the county
this spring thus far), Purple MARTIN (scarce in the county even as increased
in the region and some breeding in N.Y. City; also may be rather undertected as
are other hirundines overall), Bank Swallow (a few, comments for underdetection
again in the county) - and on Fri., 4/13, at least a few Cliff Swallows
detected in passage in the county - also likely to be quite undertected in the
county over all passages, Golden-crowned Kinglet (late for NY County now, but
a no. of this species were ongoing to middle of May, an uncommon event here),
*BICKNELL’S THRUSH* - an endangered and protected species of the planet, and a
relatively-rare documented sight for the county, and also rather-rarely
lingering as long as the 1 individual this mid-May for Central Park, likely one
of the most-observed of this species individuals almost-ever! - in any location
- well photographed but most-importantly, audio-recorded for songs and calls in
its visit, also Gray-cheeked Thrush (some of those also seen singing or calling
for solid ID’s on the reports of that sister-species which is vastly more
abundant relative to scarcer Bicknell’s), Purple Finch (a good spring for this
species on the move for many weeks now), all of the many sparrows and icterids,
esp. the slightly-late (for this county) Rusty Blackbirds and the sighting of
Bobolinks which still can be a bit underdetected even in spring, from this
county, & the 3 (or more) Summer Tanagers for Sunday (and a good influx of
these in the wider region esp. just-lately) as well as more of many many more
migrant species - and warblers ranking high amongst them in popularity and
observations-of. ** Sorry if any of particular “favorites” were left-out of
this particular/above collection. The one Prothonotary Warbler of the day
appeared to have been a mainly sole-observer record, unusually for this county;
all other warbler-spp. of the day were seen by at least multiple, and almost
all by many, many observers. More notes to all of those in the full listing
below...
Light annotations to most of the below, which if my maths are correct, tally up
to 161 species (plus at least the one named hybrid of 2 warbler spp. and thus
is *not* counted as a species!) - all from just Sunday (unless clearly noted
otherwise) and all but one, or perhaps none, seen by just-one observer, most
seen by MANY and some seen by 100’s of observers on the very nice,
become-summer weather day - May 15th, 2022:
[Atlantic] Brant (many hundreds still in the county, not unusual into
May)
Canada Goose (many over all of the county)
Mute Swan (2)
Wood Duck (at least 3 still at Central Park to 5/15)
Northern Shoveler (a bit late)
Gadwall (uncommon but not scarce for the county)
Mallard (numerous to near-abundant in the county)
American Black Duck (uncommon but still regular in some areas)
Mallard x American Black Duck (hybrid) - a.ka./and unid. between these: Mallard
/ American Black Duck
Red-breasted Merganser (late)
Ruddy Duck (rather late for this county)
duck species (distant, NY Harbor area); also, "waterfowl species”.
Rock Pigeon (ultra-ubiqutous, and common nester for all of NYC)
Mourning Dove (common and widespread)
Yellow-billed Cuckoo (multiple, & increased now)
Black-billed Cuckoo (few noted to species so far)
Coccyzus sp. (either of above, the usually more-common here is the former sp.)
Common Nighthawk (multiple)
Eastern Whip-poor-will (ONE, seen & h. at night)
Chimney Swift (many on passage and many also being counted at some
roost-sites)
Ruby-throated Hummingbird (multiple still on passage, can be watched in case
any linger for poss. nestings)
American Coot (one or more, now a bit late for this county)
Semipalmated Plover (nice finds of this species for the county)
Killdeer (ongoing, multiple, and attempts to nest, in some areas)
Least Sandpiper (more turning up, a regular passage migrant for the county, but
also a bit overlooked at times)
Semipalmated Sandpiper (nice finds & ID’s of this species just now for the
county)
(also, “peep” i.e. Calidris species, but most-likely one of the above 2 spp.)
Short-billed Dowitcher (‘RARE' for New York County, just a few
definitive records in modern era)
Spotted Sandpiper (f. common as is expected, generally
in modest to low no’s. per any one site)
Solitary Sandpiper (still passing, in low no’s.)
Greater Yellowlegs(ongoing sightings from a few locations, passage migrants and
seen in better no’s. this spring than most springs here)
Lesser Yellowlegs (super sightings for NY County these recent days)
Greater/Lesser Yellowlegs - Tringa sp. / large shorebird sp. (one and-or both
of the above 2)
American Woodcock (one report, w/ photos; uncommon this late in this county)
Laughing Gull (can be found in some areas as numerous, mainly not, but
increased somewhat as expected now)
Ring-billed Gull (ongoing, decreased somewhat recentlly)
Herring Gull (numerous, to abundant in some locations)
Great Black-backed Gull (still numerous in some areas)
Larus sp. - some reports of additional sp. but without good details as of
this writing)
Common Tern (esp. as expected and noted from Governors Island and NY Harbor -
increased greatly in last 2 days)
Sterna sp. /
Common/Arctic Tern (poss. but would need more details & docu., for the latter
sp. to be added for 5/15!)
Red-throated Loon (uncommon by now, some still on the move, but decreased)
Common Loon (few still moving, & also - loon sp., being
one/both of above two)
Double-crested Cormorant - and,
cormorant sp., since so many Cormorants on the move, and Great not totally
ruled-out of all moving)
Great Blue Heron (scarcer now)
Great Egret (many in some locations and as frequent fly-bys in multiple
locations)
Snowy Egret (many in some locations, and as fly-bys in
select flyways etc.)
Green Heron (nesting and some
later-movers)
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron (and, Black-crowned/Yellow-crowned Night-Heron - a
few at night, poss. of either although BCNH the most-likely and vastly
more-common in NY County
Glossy Ibis (the fly-by group of 4 of these, seen from Governors Island)
Black Vulture (multiple & esp. so in views from northern Manhattan sky)
Turkey Vulture (multiple)
Osprey (multiple, and at least a few pairs preparing to nest or attempting to)
Northern Harrier (a nice find from Governors Island)
Cooper's Hawk (and, Sharp-shinned/Cooper's Hawk, either-both poss.)
Bald Eagle (modest no. of sightings)
Red-tailed Hawk (common to almost-abundant for all of the county, and many
pairs in nest situations as well as non-breeders)
2 owl
species for county each of which nest regularly and mostly not-disturbed, thank
you.
Belted Kingfisher (fewer now)
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (at least several lingering and “late” for this
county)
Red-bellied Woodpecker (many)
Downy Woodpecker (many over all of the county)
Hairy Woodpecker (scant, but regular for summer)
Downy/Hairy Woodpecker
Yellow-shafted [Northern] Flicker (uncommon and has issues trying to nest in
the county - starlings are one problem there)
American Kestrel (near-common and many breeding pairs in the county -
underdetected as such even now)
Merlin (scant for May, as would be typical)
Peregrine Falcon (not rare at all in N.Y. City nor in NY County, multiple
nesting pairs plus some non-breeders)
Monk Parakeet (‘rare’, but is seeming resident in low numbers, Manhattan,
&…?)
Olive-sided Flycatcher (uncommon, as is usual)
Eastern Wood-Pewee (increased)
Acadian Flycatcher (ongoing, not that uncommon now)
Willow Flycatcher (prob. 1st-documented definitively for the county by Sunday)
Alder/Willow Flycatcher (a.ka. Traill’s Flycatcher for this species-pair when
silent)
Least Flycatcher (still f. numerous)
Empidonax sp. - a modest number of this category for Sun. 5/15...
Eastern Phoebe (fewer by Sunday)
Great Crested Flycatcher (fair no’s. and some can nest in the county)
Eastern Kingbird (increased, some already on
territories in the county)
White-eyed Vireo (not that
common but can be watched for breeding potential in the county)
Yellow-throated Vireo (uncommon and a v. few have nested in the modern era in
the county)
Blue-headed Vireo (still in fair no’s.)
Philadelphia Vireo (impressive for spring here; at least 3 ID’d and possibly a
few more seen)
Warbling Vireo (numerous)
Philadelphia/Warbling Vireo (the most likely of confusion-issues for poss.
Philly in the spring)
Red-eyed Vireo (increased - to now near-common to abundant)
Blue Jay (many, & nesting)
American Crow (common)
Fish Crow (rather local but in some sites, can be f. numerous)
crow sp. - American/Fish Crow (some, if silent and/or more-distant or obscured)
Common Raven (multiple - over all of the county)
Black-capped Chickadee (not v. many, declined over the decades in NY County, &
esp. as nesters)
Tufted Titmouse (a not-rare nesting and resident species)
Northern Rough-winged Swallow (many - in various locations)
Purple Martin (several on the wing, passing lower and northern Manhattan via
Hudson River)
Tree Swallow (numerous in a few locations, scattered in many passages)
Bank Swallow (v. scant)
Barn Swallow (common to near-abundant in some areas at times)
(swallow sp. - some not ID’d to species but most-likely to have been from among
above swallow spp.)
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (fewer, while also a bit overlooked by now, esp. of some
of the females around)
Golden-crowned Kinglet (“rare" so late in NY County)
Red-breasted Nuthatch (uncommon quite this late - in most years, in this
county)
White-breasted Nuthatch (uncommonly noted as a nester but not at all scarce as
such)
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (still in numbers overall)
House Wren (f. common, and regularly nests)
Winter Wren (very late for this county by now)
Carolina Wren (regular residents and nesters)
European Starling (ultra-ubiquitous even now, with moderate declines in recent
times)
Gray Catbird (many)
Brown Thrasher (a scant and scarce nesting species, ought not to be disturbed
in any way at all now)
Northern Mockingbird (numerous - and some now nesting)
Veery (still numerous)
Gray-cheeked Thrush (no longer v. scarce as of Sunday)
Bicknell's Thrush (the ONE that has been very nicely-documented at Central
Park’s n. end, singing daily in its lengthy visit)
Gray-cheeked/Bicknell's Thrush (modest no’s. in multiple locations)
Swainson's Thrush (f. common)
Hermit Thrush (few, but not all cleared-out by any means - occ. seen into
June in the county - although not expected then)
Catharus sp.- some Gray-cheeked types, not ID. to species but either the latter
or poss. Bicknell’s that were non-vocal etc.
Wood Thrush (numerous and some trying to set up in breeding territories)
American Robin (nearly superabundant and many are in nesting stages or feeding
of young)
Cedar Waxwing (many, & some large flocks; this species nests in the
county as well)
House Sparrow (superabundant and unfortunately, as such is also a pest and
harms some native nesting birds at times)
House Finch (f. common and widespread, some also will move about too)
Purple Finch (the good & late-ish movements continued, with several sightings
for Sunday, 5/15 - w/ some photographed)
House/Purple Finch (a few of this ID-category)
American Goldfinch (still numerous and many now overlooked, even when in
numbers - often feeding in the treetops)
Chipping Sparrow (many still around, some of which may nest in the county)
Field Sparrow (few now)
White-crowned Sparrow (fewer now than over the past week+)
White-throated Sparrow (still moderate numbers, as the
big ‘clear-out’ not quite taken place in the county)
Savannah Sparrow (still in modest numbers from multiple locations incl.
in Manhattan, and there incl. from Central Park)
Song Sparrow (some nest, and some can be late to move on here)
Lincoln's Sparrow (fewer now than over the past week+)
Swamp Sparrow (modest no’s. but have decreased now)
Eastern Towhee (smallish no’s. still around, a rare nester in modern era, and
should never be disturbed in any way now)
Bobolink (multiple, and best noted for a couple staying part of the day on
Governors Island)
Orchard Oriole (uncommon but rehular nesters, and some still-lingering passage
migrants)
Baltimore Oriole (increased and some on territories, as a f. common nester in
all the county)
Red-winged Blackbird (now nesting in select areas)
Brown-headed Cowbird (passage continuing and some also linger to 'take up' with
the local-breeders / hosts)
Rusty Blackbird (2, barely even watched, as these were overlooked by those
seeking newer-arrivals & colorful migrants)
Common Grackle (numerous and widespread as a nesting species in the county,
plus some non-breeders that will linger)
- - - - - Sunday’s (“known") Warbler finds -
Ovenbird (many)
Worm-eating Warbler (multiple - while still uncommon for most areas)
Louisiana Waterthrush (at least one late - & lingering, at Central Park)
Northern Waterthrush (many)
Louisiana/Northern Waterthrush (some in this category, and incr.-likely to be
of the latter now-numerous Northern species)
Blue-winged Warbler (good numbers with some at least poss. hybrid back-cross
types as noted below:)
Golden-winged x Blue-winged Warbler (hybrid) - a.k.a., Brewster's Warbler
(hybrid) in the instance observed for Sun. 5/15.
Black-and-white Warbler (still many)
Prothonotary Warbler (at least one, at Riverside Park; also rep’t. in a few
other locations but with no-docu. as of this report)
Tennessee Warbler (more than just the prior day, and mostly
still-detected thru singing males high in trees)
Nashville Warbler (multiple)
Mourning Warbler (2 sightings both being males, one - at least - seen singing
early a.m.
Common Yellowthroat (common in many locations, and also in many odd smaller
sites)
Hooded Warbler (still going with more in non-adult-male type plumages)
American Redstart (fairly numerous, but ’should be’ more-so very soon)
Cape May Warbler (multiple - and in many parks and other locations)
Northern Parula (still very numerous throughout the county)
Magnolia Warbler (many)
Bay-breasted Warbler (multiple and widespread in the county)
Blackburnian Warbler (multiple, & near-numerous throughout)
Yellow Warbler (numerous almost all through the county and in some breeding
areas now)
Chestnut-sided Warbler (increased to near-numerous, in many locations now)
Blackpoll Warbler (good numbers and also more females just-starting to appear
lately)
Black-throated Blue Warbler (multiple)
Palm Warbler (late for NY County - seen at Central Park, Ramble area to Lake)
Pine Warbler (late for NY County, drab female noted for one location & a couple
of reports w/ few details to elim. any other sp.)
[Myrtle] Yellow-rumped Warbler (near-abundant on morning flights and also
numerous in all sorts of locations now)
Prairie Warbler (multiple)
Black-throated Green Warbler (many)
Canada Warbler (increased to nearly-numerous)
Wilson's Warbler (increased)
warbler sp. (Parulidae sp.) - this is a common ‘category’ as many are not ID’d
to species and some not to genus. N.B., at least one Prothonotary Warbler was
reported and subsequently confirmed in eBird, from May 11th, at “the Pool” in
Central Park, although seemingly noted by very few, perhaps only 1 definitive
report made of that individual, and not found again since.
- - - -
Summer Tanager (turned out there were at least 3 in the county, one male, one
first-year male, and one female!)
Scarlet Tanager (very many of each sex)
Northern Cardinal (common resident & nesting species)
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (increased again)
Indigo Bunting (increased)
… in recent days, there were at least several sightings of Pileated Woodpecker,
from a few different parks in Manhattan, including Riverside Park and the
most-recent known location for N.Y. County, at Inwood Hill Park, where at least
6 reliable observers had a sighting or sightings of this species. There are
some further reports as well; that most-recent (of those known) was from
Saturday, May 14th. A species that also seems to have increased this spring in
general in the N.Y. City area, and with reports in other parts of the city
where considered generally rather rare. It is also impressive how such a large
and seemingly ’noticeable” species can also melt into foliage and areas of
denser woodlands, even in some parts of the borough of New York and in some
areas within Manhattan. All of such Manhatttan sightings seem to be restricted
to locations of the Hudson River edged parks, with much woods and also north of
(at least) W. 72nd St. - south of which has multiple ‘interruptions’ of any
sort of contiguous-woods or even of contiguous lines of tree-plantings. The
area of n.-w. Manhattan is where the vast majority of sightings that are
accepted / well-documented for NY County come, the Inwood areas in particular,
over the years (and not just from recent years). And a great bird to witness
any time and anywhere.
….
and also found in the county were many many insects and other arthropods, with
at least these butterflies seen: Black Swallowtail, E. Tiger Swallowtail,
Spicebush Swallowtail, Cabbage White, Sulphur sp. (likely Orange Sulphur),
Summer Azure, Eastern Tailed-Blue, Gray Hairstreak, Pearl Crescent, E. Comma,
Question Mark, Mourning Cloak, American Lady, Painted (a.k.a. “cosmopolitan”)
Lady, Monarch (several adults on the wing), Silver-spotted Skipper, Zabulon
Skipper, & a few other possible sightings with no or little docu. for
definitive ID’s, as of this report.
Many trees both native to the area and planted varieties and unusual species
are leafed-out in part or nearly-fully for spring, although some still in
early-stages. Flowers now include many of those ornamentals that are typical of
late spring, and in wildflowers (native, & some also planted but native) there
are also some expected for the later part of spring, while many of the earliest
blooming wildflowers and shrubs and trees have been to fruit and seed by now in
much of the county. The frequent and ongoing rains of this spring have meant
that plant-growth in general is luxurious or at least very-generous. Cooler
temp’s, now switching to some warm-humid weather for a change, have meant large
increases in insect and arthropod emergences - all to the good for migrant and
all other birds. Spring is quite fully-sprung.
and, many many more migrant birds are moving for the Monday-watchers.
Eyes-to-the skies as well for unexpected possibilities.
ongoing good birds to all - and thanks to all of so many observers out and
observing!
Tom Fiore
manhattan
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