Wed., 21 May, 2014 - Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City Another very good day, and this time a fair number of specialties could still be found in the mid-day & later hours. A Pied-billed Grebe is running quite late at the reservoir, this individual there at least since 17 May. A Yellow-crowned Night-Heron was reported, this actually a second sighting of this week, in Central. 2 male Wood Ducks were at the reservoir, & a pair of N. Shovelers still refuse to get moving. More shorebirds of the same spp., Spotted & at least one Solitary Sandpiper going thru.
A male SUMMER Tanager was seen again in the north end; & there were a lot of Scarlet Tanagers of both sexes, likely the most of them here so far this season. For warblers, there was a pretty good mix of species and certainly still many, many singing males. A possible exception, a female Hooded Warbler in the Ramble, and of course multiple females of many more- common species. There were reports of Mourning Warbler from as many as SEVEN locations. Even allowing for some ranging around by one or two, there were pretty clearly a minimum of 5 males: in the NW Ramble, close to &/or at the "oven" (south side of Ramble), at Summit Rock & vicinity, at the north side of tennis courts, & at the west end of the Loch. This is usually an uncommonly-seen migrant, so any number above two is quite notable in a relatively small area. A couple of the Mournings gave a bit of song. A note of thanks to Steven Chang for his observations on multiple Mournings & those who also observed them, & to Tom Perlman for similar good gen as well as a few dozen or more other observers out & about today. A male Kentucky Warbler was found & re-found a few times on the south slopes of Summit Rock and wandering thru the plantings near Tanner's Spring as well as over to the fence at a playground near the W. 81 St. park entrance. The Kentucky was mostly quiet, but did sing a few times. One group sighting took place in mid-afternoon. NB: an astute Manhattan / world-birder sent a note reminding that the genus of Mourning & Kentucky Warblers was taken away, and then simply merged into the same genus that also represents the Yellowthroats - our "Common", & a bevy of others in the new world. This is fairly recent but it is reflected in some of the latest literature to be published, as well as in the newest guides. The genus is Geothlypis. (but Oporornis sort of rolls off the tongue in a more-pleasing way.) The number of Bay-breasted Warblers was again very good, and a few Cape May and at least several Tennessee Warblers were also noted. In thrushes, many Gray-cheeked were seen and some also heard, & there were a couple of reports of singing Bicknell's Thrush, which is a rare but not extremely rare occurrence on spring migration in Central. By far, Swainson's Thrush was the default Catharus thrush seen & heard, all over, in great numbers. Wood Thrush & a few Veery were also in the thrush migration mix, with a very few Wood attempting nesting, as they usually do in a few areas. Flycatchers included Olive-sided, Yellow-bellied, Acadian and Willow, all singing, and of course E. Wood-Pewees, as well as Great Crested, and E. Kingbirds. Both Cuckoo spp. were represented, with Yellow- bellied seen more than Black-billed. Late-ish species included Blue-headed Vireo. There were modest numbers of sparrows, with still some Chipping, Swamp, & even Field, as well as Savannah, Song (nests) & very thin numbers of White-throated, White- crowned, & Lincoln's Sparrows. A few E. Towhee also have been in, possibly lingering on in pairs. Swallows still seem in short supply and it will be a surprise if a large influx do still arrive and linger as has often been so in May. Orioles are as usual mostly Baltimore and a number are setting up nesting, with a much smaller number of Orchard around, possibly including a nesting pair or two... good late-May 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/ --
