Sunday, 9 March, 2014 - Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City The Red-necked Grebe found by Peter Post at the reservoir was by far the highlight of birds noted. Peter relayed that the last sighting of this species in Central Park may have been about ~ 40 years ago. At least several dozen observers got to see this one, & for those who stayed after 6 p.m. the views may have improved, as the grebe awakened and was a little more active, while still staying fairly close to the shore at the south end; as of this eve. the south-central part of the reservoir was still the main area with open water, although a lead was opening atop the central dike of the res., leading up to the north side. A good amount of waterbird movement has been going on and some observers noticed ducks, gulls and of course this species of grebe, having just arrived this day. A male & female Red-breasted Merganser were also present, as well as multiple N. Shovelers, and again, presumably the same 5 Wood Ducks that have been around over many weeks. (incidentally this grebe is a different individual from the one I found at the Hudson river 2 days prior; this grebe in very slightly grayer plumage, and with at least minor differences in facial marks.)
Other C.P. sightings today included lingering Am. Woodcocks, the Pine Warbler and 2 Baltimore Orioles, & various other lingering species... also, not mentioned here that recently, a few over-wintering species survived the cold & snow in Central, including Brown Thrashers, Gray Catbird, E. Towhee, and Hermit Thrush, as well as others more recently noted to this list. The woodcock have been seen by most observers in the Ramble, even though more have occurred in the n. end of the park. -------- A look around Swindler Cove park & adjacent Sherman Creek park (at & just n. of the east end of Dyckman St., Manhattan) early this a.m. had some common species in low (or singe) numbers such as Carolina Wren, Black-capped Chickadee, Brown Creeper, Swamp Sparrow, "red" Fox Sparrow, & 30+ Slate-colored Juncos, 40+ American Robins; also singing Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackles. I did not find much on or next to the water there besides the usual gulls, Mallards & Am. Black Ducks, & Canada Geese. At least some of the robins seen were moving along & not on the ground. A very brief look at Van Cortlandt Park (Bronx County), mainly the lake & Parade Ground area, found a lot of lingering ice & snow, but a few singing Red-winged Blackbirds in the marsh, and 2 pairs of Hooded Mergansers at a tiny bit of open water. A very, very brief look at Inwood Hill park's lagoon area (n. end of Manhattan off W. 215 St.) revealed a drake Wood Duck which took flight heading west after I noticed it in the lagoon; I heard 3rd-hand that the W.w. Scoter & Canvasbacks were still up there today, but I missed them & the wind there did not encourage my staying long. 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/ --
