Mon.-Tues.-Wed-Thursday, 24-27 August, 2009 Central Park, Manhattan, New York City
Thursday, 8/27 - a few raptors were moving, notably Osprey (8+) and Northern Harrier (1) in the first 4 hours of daylight. I also received some reports of decent migration activity in 3 areas of the park including the Ramble & vicinity, the north end, & the park's SE corner near the Pond. A Philadelphia Vireo was 'tentatively' reported at the Loch & the more regular vireo species, Red-eyed & Warbling as well. The warbler tally again reached at least 14 species, with possibly a few more also being seen. Wednesday, 8/26 - still a reasonable number of migrants, similar to the previous day's sightings, with a visit to several areas in Central Park. I did not get to Riverside Park again. On Tuesday, 8/25 - a modest increase in migrants, including some Veery and a few more flycatchers, particularly some of the Empidonax (genus) group. Warblers of at least 14 species were noted when including the entire park, it seems that slightly less were noted for the Ramble area only. At Riverside Park, among the rather sparse migrants I noted in the northern section including at the "drip" was a fairly drab "Brewster's"-type hybrid, which has become an increasingly regular sight in migration, as the hybridization of the 2 parental species (Blue-winged & Golden-winged, & their fertile offspring) continues to increase in frequency in & north of our area. The Brewster's Warbler was not seen at the drip area, but nearby. On Monday, 8/24 - the north end of the park (north of the reservoir, to 110 Street) held scattered migrants, perhaps more than had been found over the weekend but not a great many. Slightly more in evidence were various flycatchers including Empidonax, such as (apparent) Least & Willow Flycatchers, as well as multiple Great Crested Flycatchers & Eastern Kingbirds, plus E. Wood-Pewees and a few that "got away", perhaps more of the Empidonax genus. Warblers were in fair variety and in a few places modestly concentrated, with no one species too dominant, although American Redstart and Black-and-white Warbler seemed a bit more common. The north end of the park is a difficult place to walk in right now for those, like myself, who knew many of the great old trees that stood there for fifty, seventy-five, & even a hundred or more years but are now felled, due to the damage a brief but powerful thunderstorm unleashed last Tuesday, 18 August. I had previously noted the 100+ (that's one hundred plus, possibly many more!) Common Nighthawks seen after 8 p.m. thru 9 p.m., Monday 23rd. In the (almost) better late-than-never category was a C.P. REPORT (from another list) of a Kentucky Warbler for Sunday 8/23... not sure who or how many actually saw it, how well, etc. - the report was from the Ramble area of the park & there were no follow-up reports, positive/negative or otherwise. Good birding, Tom Fiore, Manhattan _________ -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
