It seems highly plausible that a Black-necked Stilt that was seen from the Jamaica Bay area -of Kings and Queens Counties in N.Y. City, in totality- from only the morning of May 26th, and not-again there, is the same individual that then was found at more-northerly and easterly Hammonasset 'Beach' State Park on Long Island Sounds shore, at Madison, -Connecticut- and which bird was still in that latter location over some days to May 30th, additionally seen and photod by many at that latter CT site - as was the seen-in-flight Black-necked Stilt of May 26th over Jamaica Bays waters but with perhaps just one photographer in a kayak in the Kings County NYC -sector- of Jamaica Bay.
. . . . New York County -in N.Y. City- including Manhattan -with Central Park-, and Randalls, Governors, and Roosevelt Islands and the skies above and nearby waters - thru Thursday, May 30th - A female-type Blue Grosbeak and 2 in-flight American Oystercatcher were two of the species found at Randalls Island on May 27th. At Governors Island, more-recent sightings included a variety of flycatcher species with Olive-sided, Alder, and Willow Flycatchers among others, also having been found there in recent days were all of the other expected flycatcher species of the region, some of which are breeding there and some also breeding in other parts of N.Y. County, the regular breeders in some sites including Great Crested Flycatcher, E. Wood-Pewee, and E. Kingbird, and in more-limited sites in this county, also E. Phoebe, as well as the chance for breeding of at-least 2 of the 5 species of Empidonax-genus flycatchers which pass thru each spring and again by early fall, or by the calendar, as soon as late summer. The 2 potential breeders of the county in that latter genus are Willow Flycatcher and Acadian Flycatcher, with the other 3 Empidonax found as migrants here. Also seen again at Governors Island have been some Bobolinks, which are fairly regular there in mid to late May and again by August and into early autumn, typically in modest numbers there. Back to Randalls Island for the 5-27 sightings of Semipalmated Sandpipers, and in more general terms ongoing sightings of Spotted Sandpipers, as well as Killdeer which latter 2 species are found at multiple sites in the county. Also seen somewhat regularly recently and to May 30th have been Yellow-crowned Night-Herons on Randalls, with more than one per visit seen on some days. With the reports of Cliff Swallow -at least for fly-bys- at Governors Island, we also hope for some potential breeding of that swallow species, again, in the county. Now nesting have been Tree, Barn, and N. Rough-winged Swallows, and there are a small fraction of Bank Swallow sightings for the past week, those on-passage for this county. In a variety of sites around the county, we have ongoing Ravens and some of those are nesting pairs, additional to the very-few more widely-watched ones in Manhattan. Of overall migrations for the county, while diversity and big numbers of birds have slacked-off in recent days, there is and has been good ongoing movement, and in the county overall, as one example, up to 17 species of migratory American warblers were still to be seen in the county this week, and of those, at least 16 species were found in Central Park, as well as many in multiple other sites all thru the countys multiple islands. The most recent reports of Summer Tanager appear to be from May 26th, at Central Park, however that species could still be around in the county, following a very good month for the species showing in many, many county locations. Thrush species still passing thru have included even a few very-late Hermit Thrushes, and some Veery, while more common have been Swainsons and also Gray-cheeked Thrushes, the latter more regular in late spring than many - even keen observers - may realize as that latter species is highly adept at lurking in shaded places and in some sites even in ever-so-busy Central Park where they can and do escape most detection, including some areas few to almost-no birders tread and trod. Songs of all of these thrush species are occasionally to even-regularly heard, and that may include hearing in the small hours of mornings and at twilight, also in rainy weather, and for Wood Thrushes which breed, and attempt to breed, in the county, singing in some sites may well mean a nest is not very far away. The season of nesting is upon us for many birds, and all of our birds should be given every possible respect to allow their breeding successes a fair chance. Please do nothing that could jeopardize any native bird at a nest site or where breeding is a possibility - this is a most-critical time for the continuance of all species, for the places where they have set a territory or sector of whatever habitat has been selected by the birds. Thanks to all quiet and courteous observers and photographers, and for many reports of so many migrant, and some breeding or visiting-here birds. Good birding to all, Tom Fiore manhattan -- (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") NYSbirds-L List Info: NortheastBirding_DOT_com/NYSbirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/NYSbirdsRULES_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave_DOT_htm ARCHIVES: 1) mail-archive_DOT_com/nysbirds-l@cornell_DOT_edu/maillist_DOT_html 2) surfbirds_DOT_com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) birding_DOT_aba_DOT_org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: ebird_DOT_org/content/ebird/ --
