Sunday, 18 May, 2014 - Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City Interesting migration arrival, with the southern half of the park seeming to reap more of the benefit of both variety & numbers, which was just fine with the hundreds of observers who braved the rest of the Sunday crowds and the walk event, and enjoyed a fairly broad spectrum of land-bird migrants of the "2nd half" of their migration.
A first-year male SUMMER Tanager was observed by many around the north side of the Ramble, a bit west of the maintenance field - just for fun, a male Scarlet Tanager was also in the vicinity (with multiple other Scarlets also about in various locations of the park.) A Black- billed Cuckoo gave super eye-level views to over 2 dozen observers, with thanks due Alice Deutsch for a very timely text to the Manhattan bird-alert system; this sighting again at the w. edge of the Ramble's maintenance field. At least several Gray-cheeked Thrushes were observed singing in a few areas in the park. It is a good possibility that a full-sweep of the six species of northeasterly-breeding vireos was achieved, with a few reports of Philadelphia, generally the least-commonly found of the six in spring, and also uncommon in fall. Late Blue-headed in a couple of locations, a White-eyed, and the more-expected-now Red-eyed, Warbling, and Yellow-throated Vireos were all seen in descending order of abundance (of those 3). Warblers found included at least 21 species, with Bay-breasted a popular sighting in a modest number of locations; Cape May in slightly fewer places, and still some males of some of the earlier-arriving of the family. (In northern Manhattan, a minimum of 2 male Mourning Warblers were reported, in 2 adjacent parks up that way.) Sparrows were still diverse if not altogether numerous, and certainly White-throated are now far scarcer than in mid-winter; Lincoln's, White-crowned, Savannah and others were seen today. E. Towhee is on territory where no one can bother them if nesting takes place. Chipping Sparrow, less so... a fair variety of uncommon nesters have taken steps to eventual parenthood, among Central's somewhat sparse breeding land birds. A Ruby-crowned Kinglet (female) was getting rather late, but not quite unprecedented, particularly in this late-ish spring. A few Hermit Thrush, while running late here, would only set a precedent if they stay past mid-June as a few have been found in Central to about that time. Flycatchers were less-active than the last few days, esp. once clouds thickened again in the later p.m., yet at least 3 of the Empidonax genus were identified with others left at the generic level. There was a minor movement of E. Kingbird in the a.m., and E. Wood-Pewee continues it's moderate increase. Male Blackpoll Warblers still far outnumber females of the species. There were a lot of other birds seen today. good & responsible birding & walk-leading - think about how a tour-leader behaves with birds, other birders, and the general public. clue: if [s]he chases 100 other people away then there is likely very bad behavior in use. Tom Fiore Manhattan ................ From the American Birding Association's Code of Ethics - PRINCIPLES OF BIRDING ETHICS To avoid stressing birds or exposing them to danger, exercise restraint and caution during observation, photography, sound recording, or filming. Limit the use of recordings and other methods of attracting birds, and never use such methods in heavily birded areas. ... ... ... Group Leader Responsibilities [amateur and professional...] Be an exemplary ethical role model for the group. Teach through word and example. -- 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/ --
