Sunday, the 1st of May, 2016 Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City With a 2nd *potential* state-rare bird in Central Park in less than 3 full days, the search is on, for the apparent Hermit Warbler found earlier today near the park entrance at West 77 St. and the small stream that is just to the NE of that park entrance area. Various contingents came & went thru all of the day after the initial sightings at the above location. We did see some warbler activity, giving ongoing hopes to the efforts, but as far as heard, no one was coming up with even a hint of a possible Hermit Warbler in the afternoon. I was in the vicinity from 5 thru nearly sunset. While some dutifully tried mostly near the site of original sighting, I also wandered as far as the n. tip of Strawberry Fields, the Ladies Pavillion / Hernshead, the Shakespeare garden, Tanner's spring, & even up by the Castle and the NW Ramble area, especially the "upper lobe" (of the lake). But in none of these areas did I see or hear much of any migrant activity, and certainly no BT Greenish song or sight. So it's back to the original area in the a.m. unless there's an absolute deluge.
A reasonably good May-day for overall migration, but a lot may have moved on ahead of the wet weather, last night. There was still at least 1 Hooded Warbler, a singing male, at the Loch (Ravine) at almost mid-day, but I failed to find many other uncommon spp. of migrants in the n. end & while the lucky ones were gazing upon the presumptive Hermit Warbler, I was enjoying the azalea show (which is gorgeous, but) at the Pond & Hallett Sanctuary, which was rather quiet for birds when I made my rounds of it. On the CP reservoir in addition to the lingering Horned Grebe were a couple of Spotted Sandpipers (seen in a.m.), at least 2 lingering Ruddy Ducks, and a modest no. of swallows which included Bank, but were mainly Barn & No. R.-winged, as well as 2 Laughing Gulls amongst the usual 3 gull spp. that are seen about all year. A most unexpected sight were the 2 Yellow-crowned Night-Herons that overflew the reservoir rather early, and circled a little, but then kept on flapping north at moderate elevation. In watching, I almost thought one was trying to convince the other that the "fishing is good" at the reservoir, which it clearly is to support 25+ D.-cr. Cormorants at times each day. And to have seen (& photo'd) the H. Grebe there getting its fill of small fish... what's the next warbler-rarity for Central? I have a request in for a Golden-cheeked, but it's really more like a "tongue-in-cheeked". good birding & thanks for all the great sightings from earlier, esp. the rare warbler report and info - brightened up a chilly damp day. 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/ --
