Tuesday, 19 February, 2013 - Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City On a later in day look at the Central Park reservoir, the Black-headed Gull was not re-found by 2 of us scanning a while, nor did I come up with it again on a 4-4:30 p.m. attempt, by which hour many gulls had exited the reservoir & park - the Black-headed was present at about noon thru 12:45 or so. As noted by several astute readers this is quite likely an individual that had been seen at the same location just 3 weeks prior, and was also then photographed, by Karen Fung & perhaps by others. I had not been aware (nor was I that the uncommon-in-Central Park Common Merganser, at the Meer in that park, had been at that location for some time this mid-winter. Ah, the wonders of not being on all of the varied lists and services that presently offer bird reports to those with portable electronics, and in general on this medium... and more to the point, I also went thru the flu-like bug so many others also have dealt with this season & have been otherwise not up to speed on all the latest in NY area birding... but with a little help from one's friends!)
In any event, a look at the Lake did not provide Iceland Gull in the light afternoon rain, but the young Iceland did show at the reservoir as of about 4:15 pm, settling down with the other gulls that remained. I also went by the Ramble feeders, and on a second pass there, was able to see the Common Redpoll which I'd just been told had been again about, and with a modest wait there it was again at about 3:45 pm, amongst the many American Goldfinch. Also appearing briefly by the feeders was the Baltimore Oriole which has successfully been wintering in Central. I will likely try again for the Black-headed Gull on Wed. & report if it is seen then. - - - - On a completely different topic, a list-member very recently inquired about someone else's New Hampshire query on whether an E. Phoebe could possibly have been heard, or been present recently, in that state - and while I tentatively agree that the sounds uttered by Black-capped Chickadees are occasionally confused for the typical vocalization of E. Phoebe by some listeners, it is also very possible (if not very likely) that the phoebe could be in the northeast in the midst of winter, albeit maybe less likely this particular winter as it's been in NH. - From the book "Bull's Birds of NY State" published in 1998 (and thus not including many more recent records) by Cornell Univ. Press (E. Levine, editor) and the E. Phoebe species account by Stephen W. Eaton: "Nonbreeding" ... "It is difficult to separate late Feb. arrivals from possible overwintering birds." and, under the header, "Spring Maxima" ... Virtually every Region [TF - a reference to the 10 regions of NY state as used by The Kingbird, the journal of reference of the NY State Ornithological Association, and which take in all portions of NY state] has Dec., Jan., and Feb. records in mild winters; these birds switch to berry and backyard feeder diets in the insect-free months, but they most likely become victims of late-winter storms. A record of particular of particular note took place on LI, with a total of five birds recorded on 3 CBC's 16-29 Dec. 1980." ---- I'll add that "Birds of Massachusetts" by Richard R. Veit & Wayne R. Petersen (1993, Mass. Audubon) includes the following in that book's E. Phoebe account: "Nonbreeding" ... There are more than 30 reports since 1955 of E. Phoebes lingering into Jan. and Feb., and it is difficult to determine to what extent these birds move about during these months. ... "7, in Mass. west to Athol, 1-27 Feb. 1956" ---- thus, not strictly a very recent phenomenon! However - this is not to be taken as a report of the species for this February 2013. The question, posed to this list, may have been answered to the original questioner's satisfaction, in any event. Good birding, Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
