The Townsend’s Warbler was ongoing at Fort Green Park, in Brooklyn / Kings County, NY (N.Y. City) with many observers again, even after so many-hundreds have been, including observers from around NY state and beyond, to see that individual. One photo taken (M. Hernandez) on Tues., 11/22 from Fort Greene Park is here: https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/506261231 <https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/506261231>
-- It turns out that Suffolk Co., NY has had at least 2 species of hummingbirds for (at least) some weeks, with the other (besides the well-reported Calliope, still present in same location thru 11/22) being a Ruby-throated, in a different location in that county and lately enjoying a [private] feeder, to 11/21. Various other hummingbird species are or have been showing in the wider region (of the mid-Atlantic thru northeastern states) this month. --- ’Speaking of’ warbler [species] that are rare vagrants from the west, to the east, it looks plausible that the Black-throated Gray Warbler of southern Nassau County, NY which recently appeared all-too-briefly (for some lucky observers), *may* be the same individual that was then discovered on the shore of New Jersey, at Forsythe [“Brig.”] N.W.R. seen there on 11/19 & 11/20 at least (and photo’d-confirmed], and thus just a day or more after last reports of this species from s. Nassau Co., NY. It’s also entirely possible this was a different individual, which showed after the NY sighting, in southern New Jersey. Whereas, for a different example, the Townsend’s Warbler being seen (and photo’d) by many in the (downtown) Boston (Massachusetts) Public Gardens, on Nov. 20-21-22 (at least) is of course a *different bird* (and in differing plumage, as well) from that lingering Townsend’s Warbler in Brooklyn, N.Y. City… Further on “Townsend’s” - there is a confirmed Townsend’s *Solitaire* from Hammonasset S.P. in Madison, Connecticut as reported there into 11/22 (Tues.). The Fieldfare (a primarily-Eurasian-breeding -into Siberia and n. China- thrush species) first seen & photo’d. by many in *Quebec*, Canada beginning on Monday, 11/21/‘22 might give rise to hopes for more, ever a possibility in flocks of American Robins which have been moving en masse in recent days & weeks all thru the region, including NY state. A photo of that Fieldfare **from Quebec** is here, taken on 11/22: https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/506210041 <https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/506210041> ------ New York County (in N.Y. City), including Manhattan, Randall’s Island, and Governors Island Recent days thru Tuesday, Nov. 22nd - A Dickcissel was seen at Battery Park (T. Olson), in lower Manhattan, on Sunday 11/20. While not re-sighted by subsequent-seekers, this is a species that might linger, & can associate with flocks of House Sparrow. (the individual was noted as quite-drab, thus a poss.-prob. 1st-fall female.) On Mon., 11/21, a very unusual sighting (for the precise location) was reported (R. Lulov), a Horned Lark on the lawn in the StuyvesantTown complex, in lower-east part of Manhattan. This was not re-found later thru further searches. This area has been receiving a good variety of birds, some in fair numbers, in recent days and weeks (as has much of lower Manhattan, more generally). A Lesser Black-backed Gull was again [re]-found and again finely-photo’d. (A. Evans) on the Pier 32 kayak-dock area along the Hudson River (greenway) of lower Manhattan on Sat., 11/19. There are also the other-three typical gull species of most or all-year in the region, Ring-billed, [American] Herring, and Great Black-backed Gull[s] in the same area, as would be seen most places on the larger waters of the county. Long-tailed Duck is one of multiple waterfowl species moving recently, and at least 4 were seen along the Hudson River off n. Manhattan early on Mon., 11/21, while one was noticed in late-day (good) light off the n.-e. side of Randall’s Island. Also seen off n. Manhattan on the Hudson were 5 Common Mergamsers, plus “scoter species”, poss, Black or as-likely White-winged, with just some head-pattern briefly noted. A single Red-breasted Merganser was noted (D. Gochfeld) from Governors Island on 11/17, with more expected to show in coming weeks in the county. 2 Mute Swans were again seen near Randall’s Island, on Sunday and again Mon., late-days, 11/20-21, as well as into Tues., 11/22. An American Coot was also noted from the area on 11/22. A Wilson’s Snipe was (yet again) flushed accidentally from a part of Randall’s, raising a possibility the species has been trying to linger (long) there. A Black-headed Gull was noted Saturday & Sunday, both days along the East River, off Randall’s Island - the movements (and other areas this gull is moving to and from) not yet known; there were attempts to re-locate this bird on subsequent days, at times ranging from first-light thru near-dusk. It is possible (based on past appearances of the species in the county) that it could show again, whether near or on Randall’s, or on the river to the west (Hudson) or elsewhere at some water-body or simply at a roost. Any larger congregations of gulls in the county (and a bit beyond) might be checked for the species. N.B., there were some interesting extra-exposed mudflats on low tide times esp. on Mon., 11/21 with what the NWS / NOAA called “blowout”, extra low tide cycles, in part poss. based on some winds and current and of course on lunar-doings. (“Visions" of tattlers and other wild-waders danced thru, these tide-times, but ‘visions', at best were all that were imagined.) A brightening Baltimore Oriole has been at Union Square Park - ongoing into Tues., 11/22 (young male plumage) - photo’d. at times, and can be tricky some times of day. (As is so of many birds for that often busy park and neighborhood, with it’s 4-times a week well-known-the-world-over 1st-of-it’s-kind in NYC farmer’s GreenMarket. E. Meadowlarks … ongoing 2 birds at Randall’s Island …. E. Phoebe, Horned Lark, and at least a half-dozen American Pipits were also among various species noted on Randall’s Island into Sunday, 11/20; other species found there have included such as American Woodcock, Savannah Sparrow & more (including various warbler species). (of these, ongoing into at least Mon. 11/21 were the 2 E. Meadowlarks, and at least 2 American Pipits, as well as a mininum of 8 sparrow species with early-ish American Tree Sparrow amongst those.) The E. Phoebe (1 individual there, it seems) and at least 1 American Tree Sparrow, as well as [Red] Fox Sparrow and multiple Savannah Sparrows were ongoing on Tues., 11/22 at Randall’s. Lincoln’s Sparrows were ongoing in at least several locations, including at along the Hudson River greenway, lower Manhattan (to 11/22) as well as the ‘Hudson Yards’ area of west/mid Manhattan, and also, Battery Park, and Bryant Park to Monday, 11/21. There has been a bit of a push of Kinglets lately (after a larger push that had occured weeks ago), with Golden-crowned the featured species, in modest numbers overall, although as is typical in this county, plenty of Ruby-crowned are around, and may linger longer. A very few Chipping Sparrows have lingered on, but see (above) that American Tree Sparrow is arriving recently, even though the latter species is usually fairly uncommon in Manhattan (and not-very-common at all in any part of this county, in most winters). Chipping Sparrow becomes increasingly ‘rare’ as the autumn fades to actual (calendar) winter, in this county. An Osprey was still lingering in Central Park: it had been seen ’shuffling’ about and catching some fish at times, so it may simply be enjoying the food available, although of course a very late lingerer, esp. for that location, or the county; sightings there were ongoing to at least Sunday, 11/20. An Osprey (a different individual) was also seen from northern Manhattan, over the Hudson River, on 11/17. Waterfowl of at-least these species has been in the county in the past week: Canada Goose, [Atlantic] Brant, Mute Swan, Wood Duck (at least several in Central Park), Northern Shoveler (increased, now in triple-digit numbers), Gadwall (increased), Mallard, American Black Duck (increased a bit), Mallard x American Black Duck (hybrid), Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Scoter [sp.], Long-tailed Duck, Bufflehead (increased a bit), Hooded Merganser (increased, most are being seen in Central Park), Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser (at least one, as noted from Governors Island), Ruddy Duck (increased modestly). American Coots also are around, with most (as is typical) being noted from Central Park, in this county. Large movements of American Robins, Red-winged Blackbirds, Common Grackles, & (in rather lower numbers) American Goldfinch and other finches, which have included a modest number of Purple Finch (while the usual good numbers of House Finches in the county add to slight confusion for some observers), and also at least one or more Pine Siskin passing - and potentially, lingering in the county. It’s also worth a note that a high number of Cooper’s Hawks have been coming in, many of these lingering and of course hunting. On a very few occasions, this species has been mistakenly seen as a ‘harrier’, which is vastly less-regular either as a passage-migrant or any kind of lingerer in the county, as compared with Cooper’s Hawk in this (or any recent) decade. Many, many daily reports / lists are however noting Cooper’s Hawks, some times in the multiple and in even quite urban settings apart from all of the larger parks or more open greenspaces. Multi. owls have been seen, and a few of these regularly-noted, as had been over recent weeks. Greater numbers of E. Bluebirds, with at least some observers finding 4 or more on windy-Sunday 11/20; almost the only other members of the thrush family in the past week in the county have been Hermit Thrushes (still in many locations, but lowered numbers by now, as expected) and American Robins, which have greatly increased overall, and have been seen in great numbers on early a.m. and also some later flights, on some days. Any other thrush species to be found in the county, or this city at this date or thru early-mid spring would be rare or exceedingly rare, and should be well-photographed as well as closely observed with many notes taken. A Swainson’s Thrush was reported (and confirmed in eBird) from the ‘Hudson Yards’ area of Manhattan - this is rare-enough (for date) to show in the state-wide NYS RBA now. A very late Blackpoll Warbler is one of the more notably-late species to be confirmed in the county, seen Sat., 11/19 at Randall’s Island. Also late (but with a bit more of precendents in the region) was a Black-throated Blue Warbler at Highbridge Park, n. Manhattan thru 11/21. These were each (independently, by separate obs./photographers) photographed. A Nashville Warbler (which although quite scarce so late, is a species that’s been found on December C’B’C.s in the county, and city, and region multiple times) was still present on Randall’s Island to at least 11/21, and could be lingering on. (The same is at least possible of a few other species of warblers that have been seen in the past week or more in the county). Orange-crowned Warblers were in the multiple (again), at least thru the past weekend, & at least 3 into Monday 11/22 - several in northern Manhattan, and *at least* 2 more (1 per) for the outlaying islands, Randall’s Island and Governors Island; at least one on Randall’s Island was still present thru Tues., 11/22… and others could well be around the county, still. This is a species which has successfully (and fully) over-wintered at least occasionally in the county (and elsewhere in N.Y. City). Additional warbler species ongoing to Tues., 11/22 included multiple of: Palm (few), and [Myrtle form] Yellow-rumped Warbler[s], as well as multiples of Ovenbird and Common Yellowthroat, these last two species in a number of Manhattan locations, including some quite-small greenspaces, as well as some larger parks. [N.B., various many-other warbler spp. have been seen (& documented) in other counties of N.Y. City and in the local region as well, in the past week. Some are species that were seen in N.Y. County into November.] Thanks as always to so many observers all thru the county -and beyond- for offering many excellent sightings. good birding and a Healthy Thanksgiving 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/ --
