Friday, 7th of April, 2017 Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City A clear highlight for being this early was the ORCHARD ORIOLE (an adult male, which has been photographed) in the eastern parts of the Ramble today; if not an earliest record for this park, it likely comes fairly close - and does not appear to correspond with many, if any, other unusually early species being documented during this week in Central.
A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER remains in the same area of the park as has been for the past few months, showing fine bright plumage lately, it’s most often nearest to the first path west of Fifth Avenue inside the park, parallel with about East 68th Street, or a short way north, occasionally flirting with farther-off areas, but has been loyal to the noted patch of territory. How much longer might it linger there - uncertain but this species often moves out sometime in April after overwintering (as this one has), although some have also lingered (and fresh migrants appeared) into early -& more rarely, well into the middle of- May. A few LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH have been in this week, the longest-lingering in one area of the park apparently that which I first reported Monday at the Loch, and reliably reported there in the afternoon today as well. Other warblers continuing have been Pine, Palm (all of “eastern” or yellow type, as far as seen & reported thus far), and Myrtle (a.k.a. Yellow-rumped) Warblers, the latter in modest numbers only. For other migrants expected now, Blue-gray Gnatctachers are a bit more regular as of today, and both species of Kinglets are although Golden-crowned may yet have the edge - not for long… Eastern Phoebes have been numerous, and Hermit Thrush showing an increase through this week. Winter Wren has been a tougher bird than it “should” be, but their prime movement is still to come… soon enough. Rusty Blackbirds have been in, with a couple moving in at the Ramble & Lake edges perhaps observed by more observers than elsewhere, one or more at the Loch being a bit more elusive. Not many swallows have shown just yet, but at least the 3 species so far reported were in this week, and 2 of those seen today, Barn (still a bit early) and N. Rough-winged Swallow being seen at the reservoir late in the day, & N. Rough-winged also at some other locations, most expected at the Meer (which can be a very good site for observing swallows, sometimes more satisfactory than viewing from the reservoir’s track). Tree Swallow also has been thru, but typically not too many of them linger in the park in the first weeks that they are appearing locally; by mid-spring however, with swallows becoming commoner, Tree will be seen in good numbers here. A Red-necked Grebe in brightening plumage that has been lingering, present again today at the reservoir, is certainly going to be watched with increasing interest should it linger on through this month, such behavior could then indicate with that much more likelihood that this is that same bird which was rehabilitated locally, and released to the CP reservoir. This reasoning however might be seen as flawed, since it rests in part simply on the paucity of the species occurrences in this specific location, Central Park. It nonetheless may offer an indication as to whether this is 1 and only one this spring, and since the mid-winter, or is a newer arrival which wanted to visit & perplex some. Also present again at the reservoir have been at least 2 Common Loons. A fair variety of water-birds: ducks & coots & pied-billed grebe, complement the Great Egrets & Black-crowned Night-Herons that have been around this week. A modest movement of Great, as well as 2 Snowy Egret, plus some 14 Great Blue Herons, were seen moving across the sky from the north end of the park in early morning. (the flight direction for the egrets was east, and - mostly - west, while the Great Blues were all moving much more due-northerly, clearly aimaing to some breeding areas out of Manhattan and probably onward well out of N.Y. City. Sparrow movement has hardly peaked, but there are some indications it may start to, with more Field Sparrows (often a precursor here in CP to additional good sparrow arrival, in spring) and Chipping Sparrows, as well as modest new Swamp & White-throated, & very modest no’s. of [Red] Fox Sparrow, plus Dark-eyed Juncos, on the move or hanging-in for a while. We also await the major movement of E. Towee, and of course many other birds as April progresses on. More & more trees & some shrubs & various flowers are showing lately, and again the East Drives of the park are really a showcase just now, with early Cherry varieties and Magnolia trees, as well as more of other trees & shrubs starting to offer up hints and more-than-hints of colors, greens also amongst the pastel flowers. The entire park may well be ‘bursting' with bloom in the next few days, as temperatues warm by Sunday-Monday (& as more fresh migration is anticipated here), and no shortage of watering in all the rain. ——— "Have we fallen into a mesmerized state that makes us accept as inevitable that which is inferior or detrimental, as though having lost the will or the vision to demand that which is good?” - Rachel Carson (1907-1964; marine biologist, conservationist, author whose books include ‘Silent Spring’. Sir David Attenborough has remarked that that book may have had an effect on science second only to Charles Darwin’s “On the Origin of Species”.) Good -and ethical- birding, and thanks to those who respect the birds & all their observers, Tom Fiore manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm 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://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
