Quite extralimital, and stunning to see (reports and documentation of) are a duo of Abert’s Towhees, a species known to inhabit a relatively enclosed (if large in area by ‘eastern’ standards) ‘patch' in (primarily) the Sonoran-desert regions of the states of Arizona and of Sonora (in Mexico) as well as the barest slivers of s. New Mexico, s.-e. California, and barely into a miniscule bit of Nevada and s.w. Utah, plus northern Baja California; almost sedentary although movement just-barely south in non-breeding season has been recorded - this pair referenced here are being seen in Itasca County, ***MINNESOTA***. (If not believed transported-there artificially, this seems to be completely unprecedented for such a species.) The 2 Abert’s Towhees were still being seen and documented thru 6/23 at same location in Minnesota. It cannot be overemphasized how unusual this is for that species! And, since this is a quite midwestern sighting, it’s also quite-wild to see that *Limpkins* were appearing north to (at least) Nebraska and Iowa, in just recent days - not 100% sure, but possibly the 1st-state-records of Limpkin in each of those states, which are WELL north of the known typical range of Limpkin. (Next up - ‘roseate spoonbill staring down a polar bear in the Arctic’? Maybe-not but, strange-new-climate times.) Many reports on the 2 Abert’s Towhees are on the Minnesota eBird-R.B.A.
There is also this bird-saga being widely-shared recently all around the ether -of the little red-tailed hawk being raised by bald eagles, on Gabriola Island, British Columbia Canada- : https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/as-it-happens-the-monday-edition-1.6495076/an-eagle-snatched-a-baby-hawk-for-dinner-then-ended-up-adopting-it-1.6495246 <https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/as-it-happens-the-monday-edition-1.6495076/an-eagle-snatched-a-baby-hawk-for-dinner-then-ended-up-adopting-it-1.6495246> https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/blended-bird-family-bald-eagles-raise-redtail-hawk-chick-on-gabriola <https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/blended-bird-family-bald-eagles-raise-redtail-hawk-chick-on-gabriola> (and in other news-sources…) - - - - New York County (in N.Y. City), including Manhattan, Randall’s Island, and Governors Island summertime sightings - esp. Tues. 6/21 to Thursday, 6/23 - Some highlights include Black Skimmer, Cliff Swallow (nesting), & (uncommon so late) Red-breasted Nuthatch, plus many other species either nesting, visiting, or still-lingering. A Yellow-crowned Night-Heron was again seen at Randall’s Island to Thursday, 6/23 as well as Black-crowned Night-Herons (latter the more-often found recently), with Great & Snowy Egrets also regular from there. Killdeer have also been regular there (and also have been at Governors Island, as well as at least 1 regular location in n.Manhattan) with other species of interest on Randall’s Island including Green Heron. Spotted Sandpiper, Belted Kingfisher, at least 4 spp. of warblers (Blackpoll & Yellow Warblers, Common Yellowthroat, and American Redstart; the latter 3 all still present to 6/23), Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Indigo Bunting, and a species many have come out to see, Cliff Swallows some or all of which were nesting or attempting-to, with at least 4 nests attempted and up to 9 individuals including at least 3 young; also Tree & Barn Swallows as well as a few N. Rough-winged Swallow - all of the preceding within the past week or less. There are also Tree & Barn Swallows in multiple other locations, esp. at Governors Island, with some N. Rough-winged Swallows found in a few other areas of the county. Osprey sightings have continued from Randall’s Island while there also have been at least a few sightings from Manhattan as well as from Governors Island. Turkey Vultures (and occasional Black Vultures as well) have been observed, esp. from n. Manhattan, particularly from Inwood Hill Park. Showing its’ capacity to hold-on to migrants and visitants far longer than some other locations, Bryant Park in midtown Manhattan has most-unusualy had at least 1 singing male Magnolia Warbler for many weeks, to 6/23 (definitely a non-breeder!), and also present there were ongoing Ovenbird, Common Yellowthroat, Gray Catbird (at least several), and a minumum of 19 (likely somewhat more) White-throated Sparrows as well as at least 1 Swamp Sparrow [n.b. the White-thr. Sparrows and other species noted all found at first-light to 7:30 am with permission of security-details in that park, which can be gated, up thru 7 a.m.] still present to 6/23, & in the past week also present there had been American Redstart and Blackpoll Warbler (female, v. late). Multiple other exceedingly-late migrants at Bryant Park that were present well into June may have moved on. This spring provided a great many migrant species lingering far past the ‘expected’ late date-ranges for particular species in this county. At least 1 male Blackpoll Warbler was still seen singing at Central Park to June 17th, & there were some others in the county at around that date. Of White-throated Sparrow, that species also has lingered in small no’s. in multiple locations of Manhattan, some in Central Park (& a couple had also been late into June at Inwood Hill Park), with more being found in a wide variety of smaller parks, some local gardens and varied other green-spaces of Manhattan island. The other regular (and many nesting) sparrow species, Song Sparrows are on all 3 of the main islands of the county; at least a few other Swamp Sparrows also have been noted, which is not too uncommon as lingering non-breeders, similar to the much-more-numerous lingering White-throateds of the county. Some Yellow Warblers have nested (& some nests have fledged young, while some also have fledged Brown-headed Cowbird too) on all 3 of the islands of N.Y. County this month; some of these warblers may be working on 2nd-nestings, not too uncommon for that species; there also may be some unmated males (or females) about, particularly on a few locations in Manhattan but there also are at least some nest-successes on Manhattan - most of those known are in n. Manhattan areas. Common Yellowthroats are at least attempting to (or were) nest[ing] in a number of locations, that species usually have a tough ‘go' of it in this county but there are known successes now & then. The status of any other warbler (mainly American Redstart) that may be lingering and also could be potential-nesters is seemingly undetermined. An intriguing species for the county (which has attempted nesting in the modern era, with at least v. limited successes some years), Indigo Buntings have been ongoing in at least some locations, incl. on Manhattan island. Many other species are nesting, some already with young, and some also having fledged young. It has to be obvious that many locations in such a densely-populated and busy urban enviriomnent are not easy-going for a lot of native nesting species, yet we do have a fair variety of birds which do nest successfully each year. Some are in more ‘intermittent’ successes category, and there may also be some rarer nesters, some of which do not get much (if any) mention - and still might not. The Cliff Swallows at Randall’s Island have been widely-visited this month, since the discovery of at least 1 initial nest. Hopefully that effort by the swallows will result in yet more success for them in coming seasons. A lot of further nesting-activity for multiple species in many bird-families, around the county. Just a bit farther back but only 1 week ago, Black Skimmer was again noted off Manhattan’s south tip, and then the most-recent perhaps that seen from The Battery out over NY Harbor later in the day on Wed., 6/22. [n.b., this species has sometimes been found feeding in Manhattan, including coming in to the waterbodies of Central Park, in early & mid summer & it is possible this could happen again this year; sightings are also certainly possible from any location, and this species can be active both crepuscularly and nocturnally.] Uncommon siighting so deep into the year (indeed, on summer-solstice day), a Red-breasted Nuthatch was photographed at Central Park on Tuesday, June 21 (photo is in the Macaulay Library archive); the one definitely-breeding nuthatch species of that park & elsewhere in the county is White-breasted. It was a very strong spring (& last winter to some extent) for Red-breasteds and this presumably is a lingerer, though rather unusually late for this area, however there were other sightings (& in other locations) in the county this month. --- As can be expected for summer, insects of many-1000’s of species are out and active; sightings are taking place virtually anywhere. In this county, the observed diversity will likely increase as the summer continues. Some further reports as summer moves along; thanks to multiple observers still watching all around the county. My own recent efforts have been mostly from the northern half of Manhattan, with just a few shorter forays on Randall’s Island as well as lower & mid-Manhattan sites. good summer 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/ --
