[nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Fri. April 1, 2022: Pine & Palm Warblers, Louisiana Waterthrush, Black Vulture, Ring-necked Duck
Central Park NYC Friday April 1, 2022 OBS: Deborah Allen, m.ob. Highlights: Pine & Palm Warblers, Louisiana Waterthrush, Black Vulture, Ring-necked Duck, uptick in numbers of Eastern Phoebes. Canada Goose - 17 Northern Shoveler - 4 at the Harlem Meer, around 130 at the Reservoir Gadwall - 10 Mallard - 30-35 Ring-necked Duck - 1 male Harlem Meer Bufflehead - 9 Hooded Merganser - 4 Ruddy Duck - 15 Mourning Dove - 8 American Coot - 4 Ring-billed Gull - 3 Harlem Meer Herring Gull - around 25 Great Black-backed Gull - 15 Double-crested Cormorant - 9 Great Egret - 1 Harlem Meer Black-crowned Night-Heron - 2 Harlem Meer Island Black Vulture - 3 flying east together over Conservatory Garden (Betsy) Red-tailed Hawk - 2 or 3 including pair nesting on Cardinal Cooke Red-bellied Woodpecker - 2, others heard Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - 3 Downy Woodpecker - 5 Northern Flicker - 2 (Blockhouse & North Woods) American Kestrel - 1 westbound flyover plant nursery north end Eastern Phoebe - 15 Blue Jay - 6-8 American Crow - 2 flyovers Golden-crowned Kinglet - 2 (the Pool & the Loch - Karl Bakeman) Cedar Waxwing - 14 (2 flocks) Brown Creeper - 1 Blockhouse (Betsy), another in the Ramble after lunch Hermit Thrush - 2 (1 Wildflower Meadow, 1 Mugger's Woods after lunch) American Robin - 30-40 Chipping Sparrow - 3 Wildflower Meadow (Scott) Field Sparrow - 1 Wildflower Meadow Fox Sparrow - Mugger's Woods after lunch Dark-eyed Junco - 18 White-throated Sparrow - around 30 Song Sparrow - 17 Swamp Sparrow - 1 along the Gill (after lunch) Red-winged Blackbird - several males singing (Meer & Pool) Common Grackle - 1 at the Pool Louisiana Waterthrush - 1 west end of the Loch (first reported early a.m. by @Above96th) Palm Warbler - 2 at the Pool (Karl Bakeman) Pine Warbler - 1 male at the Pool Northern Cardinal - 4 or 5 Deb Allen -- 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/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/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/ --
[nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Fri. April 1, 2022: Pine & Palm Warblers, Louisiana Waterthrush, Black Vulture, Ring-necked Duck
Central Park NYC Friday April 1, 2022 OBS: Deborah Allen, m.ob. Highlights: Pine & Palm Warblers, Louisiana Waterthrush, Black Vulture, Ring-necked Duck, uptick in numbers of Eastern Phoebes. Canada Goose - 17 Northern Shoveler - 4 at the Harlem Meer, around 130 at the Reservoir Gadwall - 10 Mallard - 30-35 Ring-necked Duck - 1 male Harlem Meer Bufflehead - 9 Hooded Merganser - 4 Ruddy Duck - 15 Mourning Dove - 8 American Coot - 4 Ring-billed Gull - 3 Harlem Meer Herring Gull - around 25 Great Black-backed Gull - 15 Double-crested Cormorant - 9 Great Egret - 1 Harlem Meer Black-crowned Night-Heron - 2 Harlem Meer Island Black Vulture - 3 flying east together over Conservatory Garden (Betsy) Red-tailed Hawk - 2 or 3 including pair nesting on Cardinal Cooke Red-bellied Woodpecker - 2, others heard Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - 3 Downy Woodpecker - 5 Northern Flicker - 2 (Blockhouse & North Woods) American Kestrel - 1 westbound flyover plant nursery north end Eastern Phoebe - 15 Blue Jay - 6-8 American Crow - 2 flyovers Golden-crowned Kinglet - 2 (the Pool & the Loch - Karl Bakeman) Cedar Waxwing - 14 (2 flocks) Brown Creeper - 1 Blockhouse (Betsy), another in the Ramble after lunch Hermit Thrush - 2 (1 Wildflower Meadow, 1 Mugger's Woods after lunch) American Robin - 30-40 Chipping Sparrow - 3 Wildflower Meadow (Scott) Field Sparrow - 1 Wildflower Meadow Fox Sparrow - Mugger's Woods after lunch Dark-eyed Junco - 18 White-throated Sparrow - around 30 Song Sparrow - 17 Swamp Sparrow - 1 along the Gill (after lunch) Red-winged Blackbird - several males singing (Meer & Pool) Common Grackle - 1 at the Pool Louisiana Waterthrush - 1 west end of the Loch (first reported early a.m. by @Above96th) Palm Warbler - 2 at the Pool (Karl Bakeman) Pine Warbler - 1 male at the Pool Northern Cardinal - 4 or 5 Deb Allen -- 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/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/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/ --
[nysbirds-l] Save the date and register! Queens County Bird Club/New York 5/18/22 Zoom Presentation featuring Ron Magill, Zoo Miami "The Harpy Eagle Project/Panama"
Save the date and register for this upcoming Queens County Bird Club/New York Zoom Presentation! Members and Non-Members are welcomed. When: May 18, 2022 07:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Ron Magill, Zoo Miami presents "The Harpy Eagle Project/Panama" Ron Magill is an American wildlife expert and photographer.He is the Communications Director of the Miami-Dade Zoological Park and Gardens and makes regular television appearances across local South Florida networks. He has won five Emmy Awards for his work on the nature documentary programs; Dreams of Alaska, The Amazon & Beyond, Alligator Love, and Dreams of the Rain Forest.Harpy Eagle Project – Panama In 1993, I initiated a collaborative effort with the government of Panama to raise awareness about the harpy eagle and the important role it plays in the tropical forests of that country. What started as a grass roots effort led to a national campaign that eventually resulted in the Panamanian government officially declaring the harpy eagle the National Bird of the Republic. A public/private partnership developed with key corporate entities in Panama and the U.S. resulted in the building of one of the largest Harpy Eagle centers in the world, and the Harpy Eagle is now a cultural icon throughout Panama. My presentation will show how this project developed and provide interesting insight into this magnificent raptor! Register in advance for this meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEpcOmsrzstHdV_aLi9f2zSojSpi8xuFSJh After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Marcia AbrahamsPrograms CoordinatorQueens County Bird Clubwww.qcbirdclub.org Email: marciaaabrah...@aol.com -- 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/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/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/ --
[nysbirds-l] Save the date and register! Queens County Bird Club/New York 5/18/22 Zoom Presentation featuring Ron Magill, Zoo Miami "The Harpy Eagle Project/Panama"
Save the date and register for this upcoming Queens County Bird Club/New York Zoom Presentation! Members and Non-Members are welcomed. When: May 18, 2022 07:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Ron Magill, Zoo Miami presents "The Harpy Eagle Project/Panama" Ron Magill is an American wildlife expert and photographer.He is the Communications Director of the Miami-Dade Zoological Park and Gardens and makes regular television appearances across local South Florida networks. He has won five Emmy Awards for his work on the nature documentary programs; Dreams of Alaska, The Amazon & Beyond, Alligator Love, and Dreams of the Rain Forest.Harpy Eagle Project – Panama In 1993, I initiated a collaborative effort with the government of Panama to raise awareness about the harpy eagle and the important role it plays in the tropical forests of that country. What started as a grass roots effort led to a national campaign that eventually resulted in the Panamanian government officially declaring the harpy eagle the National Bird of the Republic. A public/private partnership developed with key corporate entities in Panama and the U.S. resulted in the building of one of the largest Harpy Eagle centers in the world, and the Harpy Eagle is now a cultural icon throughout Panama. My presentation will show how this project developed and provide interesting insight into this magnificent raptor! Register in advance for this meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEpcOmsrzstHdV_aLi9f2zSojSpi8xuFSJh After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Marcia AbrahamsPrograms CoordinatorQueens County Bird Clubwww.qcbirdclub.org Email: marciaaabrah...@aol.com -- 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/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/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/ --
[nysbirds-l] N.Y. County, NYC - April 1st - 5 warbler spp. incl. YELLOW-THROATED, Lou. Waterthrush; B.-g. Gnatcatchers, etc. + W. Tanager
New York County (in N.Y. City), including Manhattan, Randall’s Island, and Governors Island Friday, 1st of April - A nice arrival of a lot more spring-birds, even through (and some setting-down because-of) rains of the prior night, & early morning on Friday, with an accompanying (strong) wind-shift, becoming northwest as the morning dawned. The first-of-year YELLOW-THROATED Warbler in the county has been found just south of Belvedere Castle in Central Park, seen by a number of birders, in the Ramble’s northern edge, this being right near the W. 81st Street Transverse & not far from the Shakespeare Garden. *Thanks* to Paul Sweet (A.M.N.H. - American Museum, Natural History) for finding, and then amongst others, for an early report on this nice First-of-April sighting! Many more observers, and more-to-arrive, as this may of course be a popular bird to seek, in a popular park… (also, this species has a habit of sometimes moving about a lot in local areas here, when in our local parks, and esp. within the park it is being seen now; the Yellow-throated could show itself most anywhere in the Ramble area, or even move out to some outlying section not too far away, mid-park.) At least 5 warbler species were found in N.Y. County including season’s-first (& year-first, of course of the above & also next) for this county, of Louisiana Waterthrushes (including the one seen and heard in the light before 7 a.m., at Central Park’s n. end), and more of Palm (“Yellow” form) Warblers, many more Pine Warblers, and some [Myrtle] Yellow-rumped Warblers. Also arriving were Blue-gray Gnatcatchers and with those, more of Golden-crowned Kinglets, plus more Yellow-shafted Flickers, E. Phoebes, & a number of other expected early-April migrators. In addition to birds seen in various of the larger parks and green-spaces of the county, there are migrants showing in smaller areas such as some pocket-parks, community gardens, and other somewhat less-birded places. Thanks among many others to M. Rakowski for the early reporting that includes 3 warblers (Louisiana W.-thrush, Palm & Pine Warblers) plus Brown Thrasher, & 2 Rusty Blackbirds as well as the lingering drake Ring-necked Duck on the Meer, all at Central Park’s n. end in the early-birding walk held with the friendly group she leads. There are additional Br. Thrashers and Rusty Blackbirds besides those in the n. end of Central Park. as a small additional note, the Carl Schurz Park (east side of Manhattan) Western Tanager continues on there for Friday, 4/1. Much much more is around, migrant-bird-wise, and also still on the move in some diurnal migration… all around the region... good April birds, 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/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/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/ --
[nysbirds-l] N.Y. County, NYC - April 1st - 5 warbler spp. incl. YELLOW-THROATED, Lou. Waterthrush; B.-g. Gnatcatchers, etc. + W. Tanager
New York County (in N.Y. City), including Manhattan, Randall’s Island, and Governors Island Friday, 1st of April - A nice arrival of a lot more spring-birds, even through (and some setting-down because-of) rains of the prior night, & early morning on Friday, with an accompanying (strong) wind-shift, becoming northwest as the morning dawned. The first-of-year YELLOW-THROATED Warbler in the county has been found just south of Belvedere Castle in Central Park, seen by a number of birders, in the Ramble’s northern edge, this being right near the W. 81st Street Transverse & not far from the Shakespeare Garden. *Thanks* to Paul Sweet (A.M.N.H. - American Museum, Natural History) for finding, and then amongst others, for an early report on this nice First-of-April sighting! Many more observers, and more-to-arrive, as this may of course be a popular bird to seek, in a popular park… (also, this species has a habit of sometimes moving about a lot in local areas here, when in our local parks, and esp. within the park it is being seen now; the Yellow-throated could show itself most anywhere in the Ramble area, or even move out to some outlying section not too far away, mid-park.) At least 5 warbler species were found in N.Y. County including season’s-first (& year-first, of course of the above & also next) for this county, of Louisiana Waterthrushes (including the one seen and heard in the light before 7 a.m., at Central Park’s n. end), and more of Palm (“Yellow” form) Warblers, many more Pine Warblers, and some [Myrtle] Yellow-rumped Warblers. Also arriving were Blue-gray Gnatcatchers and with those, more of Golden-crowned Kinglets, plus more Yellow-shafted Flickers, E. Phoebes, & a number of other expected early-April migrators. In addition to birds seen in various of the larger parks and green-spaces of the county, there are migrants showing in smaller areas such as some pocket-parks, community gardens, and other somewhat less-birded places. Thanks among many others to M. Rakowski for the early reporting that includes 3 warblers (Louisiana W.-thrush, Palm & Pine Warblers) plus Brown Thrasher, & 2 Rusty Blackbirds as well as the lingering drake Ring-necked Duck on the Meer, all at Central Park’s n. end in the early-birding walk held with the friendly group she leads. There are additional Br. Thrashers and Rusty Blackbirds besides those in the n. end of Central Park. as a small additional note, the Carl Schurz Park (east side of Manhattan) Western Tanager continues on there for Friday, 4/1. Much much more is around, migrant-bird-wise, and also still on the move in some diurnal migration… all around the region... good April birds, 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/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/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/ --
[nysbirds-l] The next Queens County Bird Club (NY) Zoom Presentation on Wed. 4/20/22 will feature Robert Horvath "The Raptors of WINORR"
The next Queens County Bird Club (NY) Zoom meeting will feature Robert Horvath "The Raptors of WINORR" When: Apr 20, 2022, 7:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Robert Horvath manages WINORR. WINORR is a non-profit volunteer organization serving New York City, Nassau and Western Suffolk Counties. It provides professional care for sick, injured, and orphaned wildlife, including raptors. WINORR rescues and cares for wild animals and raptors received through the Department of Environmental Conservation, local police, animal hospitals, humane societies, animal control, as well as the general public. The state and federal governments license them to provide this service. In addition to rehabilitation, WINORR also provides information and education for the community. Register in advance for this meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIscOGtrDguGNSc4_wBgJp4fujj-J9gd0JY After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Marcia AbrahamsPrograms CoordinatorQueens County Bird Clubwww.qcbirdclub.org Email: marciaaabrah...@aol.com -- 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/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/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/ --
[nysbirds-l] The next Queens County Bird Club (NY) Zoom Presentation on Wed. 4/20/22 will feature Robert Horvath "The Raptors of WINORR"
The next Queens County Bird Club (NY) Zoom meeting will feature Robert Horvath "The Raptors of WINORR" When: Apr 20, 2022, 7:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Robert Horvath manages WINORR. WINORR is a non-profit volunteer organization serving New York City, Nassau and Western Suffolk Counties. It provides professional care for sick, injured, and orphaned wildlife, including raptors. WINORR rescues and cares for wild animals and raptors received through the Department of Environmental Conservation, local police, animal hospitals, humane societies, animal control, as well as the general public. The state and federal governments license them to provide this service. In addition to rehabilitation, WINORR also provides information and education for the community. Register in advance for this meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIscOGtrDguGNSc4_wBgJp4fujj-J9gd0JY After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Marcia AbrahamsPrograms CoordinatorQueens County Bird Clubwww.qcbirdclub.org Email: marciaaabrah...@aol.com -- 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/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/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/ --
[nysbirds-l] N.Y. County, NYC - 3/29 thru 3/31 - W. Tanager, Palm Warblers, and various other recent birds
The Braddock Bay (Monroe County, NY) migration-watch counted 10,083 Turkey Vultures on Thursday 3/31; a new daily-record for there - and there were over 60 other species tallied as well. . . . . New York County (in N.Y. City), including Manhattan, Randall’s Island, and Governors Island Tuesday, March 29, thru Thursday, March 31 - A Western Tanager is continuing at Carl Schurz Park on Manhattan’s far-east-side, east of East End Ave. & when seen most often by a feeder array or its vicinity which is south of a main entrance at East 86th St., up a flight of steps to the south, closer to (across from) E. 85th. Or, put another way, just west of the n.-w. gate of the Catbird Playground whhich is inside the same park. The tanager may take patience to see, and may be best sought when brighter and also in morning to midday hours (although it’s sometimes seen later in the day, but less so). Finding it elsewhere in that same park or in the area is definitely a big challenge. (the other W. Tanager that wintered at W. 48th St. east of Tenth Ave. on Manhattan’s west side may not have been seen just- lately, although could possibly still be in that general area. That bird had many hiding-places and also no really-regular site where it would be found, in most of the winter months, and it also usually required a lot of patience, after its first appearances and more seekers going to look for it.) N.B. - the Carl Schurz Park tanager was ‘elusive’ on Thursday for some who sought it but was seen, and on some days this bird has shown itself only rather briefly; it does not spend a lot of time sitting in-view by feeders or, as far as known, anywhere easily in-view. An American Bittern in Central Park, found Thursday, gave views to hundreds of observers (some of them 'non-birders’) literally all day to near-dusk. 3 Eastern Meadowlarks were newly-arrived on Governors Island on Thursday, where a few other birds may also have just-arrived: although Pine Warbler had been found on that island already this year, but this was a good arrival-day. … “there be no bird better’n bittern”. N.B., everyone was being very respectful of the bittern; there was a fly-off when unleashed dog[s] were about - a typical situatuon in NYC, in many many parks & rules & reg’s. allow for dogs off-leash at certain early-hours; the bittern itself chose to hang out in a spot where many could be within a very short distance and even came out from a thin cover of reed (phragmites) at times to the delight of those watching at those times. All whom I observed (at varying times) were quiet, and kept their movements ‘easy' as well. The fly-off after dogs were running as any unleashed dog may, had the bittern remain by the “Pool” where it stayed all day long, so the distance flown in daylight was a matter of some yards. As noted briefly yesterday, Palm Warblers arrived in the county, in at least small no’s. &/but in widely-scattered locations, and more Pine Warblers were scattered about as well. There also were [Myrtle] Yellow-rumped Warblers here-&-there but certainly not in any great no’s. & that latter species had been present for weeks, and some for all of the winter (in a few locations). Fog, which came & went in much of the county, may have contributed to some early-day (on 3/31) efforts to see what was moving, migrating being hindered a bit. A Red-throated Loon continued on Central Park reservoir, thru Thursday. Multiple other Red-throated (& a few Common) Loons have been around the salt-waters of N.Y. County. Belted Kingfishers were re-appearing in a number of sites, just in recent days and most notably by Thursday. A lingering drake Ring-necked Duck was ongoing (but getting rather less-notice thanks to one bittern in the same north-section of park) at Central Park’s Meer, the northeastern-most body of water in that park. Also lingering, in Central Park have been N. Shovelers, Hooded Mergansers, & American Coots. Wood Duck also, which as noted previously were also on the move early on Thursday in good no’s., with many of those not seeming to put-down for the day, although some of our 'north-end regulars’ spotted a ‘Woodie' in a tree as that duck species of course will regularly do. Other waterfowl includes Buffleheads, Ruddy Ducks, Red-breasted Mergansers (latter in salt-waters), Gadwall, & etc. - and [Atlantic] Brant continued as expected in some locations. 3 Common Goldeneyes were noted by a couple of keen observers out off Randall’s Island early on 3/31, in a ‘usual wintering-place’ for the species’ we shall see how much longer that species could be found here. A Lincoln’s Sparrow was ongoing (**overwintered**) at Greeley Square, mid-Manhattan, thru at least Thursday, 3/31. This bird was seen well-prior to just the past week at that location, but not much noted for a long while, until just recently. (There’ve been rather few instances of Lincoln’s Sparrows wintering, but
[nysbirds-l] N.Y. County, NYC - 3/29 thru 3/31 - W. Tanager, Palm Warblers, and various other recent birds
The Braddock Bay (Monroe County, NY) migration-watch counted 10,083 Turkey Vultures on Thursday 3/31; a new daily-record for there - and there were over 60 other species tallied as well. . . . . New York County (in N.Y. City), including Manhattan, Randall’s Island, and Governors Island Tuesday, March 29, thru Thursday, March 31 - A Western Tanager is continuing at Carl Schurz Park on Manhattan’s far-east-side, east of East End Ave. & when seen most often by a feeder array or its vicinity which is south of a main entrance at East 86th St., up a flight of steps to the south, closer to (across from) E. 85th. Or, put another way, just west of the n.-w. gate of the Catbird Playground whhich is inside the same park. The tanager may take patience to see, and may be best sought when brighter and also in morning to midday hours (although it’s sometimes seen later in the day, but less so). Finding it elsewhere in that same park or in the area is definitely a big challenge. (the other W. Tanager that wintered at W. 48th St. east of Tenth Ave. on Manhattan’s west side may not have been seen just- lately, although could possibly still be in that general area. That bird had many hiding-places and also no really-regular site where it would be found, in most of the winter months, and it also usually required a lot of patience, after its first appearances and more seekers going to look for it.) N.B. - the Carl Schurz Park tanager was ‘elusive’ on Thursday for some who sought it but was seen, and on some days this bird has shown itself only rather briefly; it does not spend a lot of time sitting in-view by feeders or, as far as known, anywhere easily in-view. An American Bittern in Central Park, found Thursday, gave views to hundreds of observers (some of them 'non-birders’) literally all day to near-dusk. 3 Eastern Meadowlarks were newly-arrived on Governors Island on Thursday, where a few other birds may also have just-arrived: although Pine Warbler had been found on that island already this year, but this was a good arrival-day. … “there be no bird better’n bittern”. N.B., everyone was being very respectful of the bittern; there was a fly-off when unleashed dog[s] were about - a typical situatuon in NYC, in many many parks & rules & reg’s. allow for dogs off-leash at certain early-hours; the bittern itself chose to hang out in a spot where many could be within a very short distance and even came out from a thin cover of reed (phragmites) at times to the delight of those watching at those times. All whom I observed (at varying times) were quiet, and kept their movements ‘easy' as well. The fly-off after dogs were running as any unleashed dog may, had the bittern remain by the “Pool” where it stayed all day long, so the distance flown in daylight was a matter of some yards. As noted briefly yesterday, Palm Warblers arrived in the county, in at least small no’s. &/but in widely-scattered locations, and more Pine Warblers were scattered about as well. There also were [Myrtle] Yellow-rumped Warblers here-&-there but certainly not in any great no’s. & that latter species had been present for weeks, and some for all of the winter (in a few locations). Fog, which came & went in much of the county, may have contributed to some early-day (on 3/31) efforts to see what was moving, migrating being hindered a bit. A Red-throated Loon continued on Central Park reservoir, thru Thursday. Multiple other Red-throated (& a few Common) Loons have been around the salt-waters of N.Y. County. Belted Kingfishers were re-appearing in a number of sites, just in recent days and most notably by Thursday. A lingering drake Ring-necked Duck was ongoing (but getting rather less-notice thanks to one bittern in the same north-section of park) at Central Park’s Meer, the northeastern-most body of water in that park. Also lingering, in Central Park have been N. Shovelers, Hooded Mergansers, & American Coots. Wood Duck also, which as noted previously were also on the move early on Thursday in good no’s., with many of those not seeming to put-down for the day, although some of our 'north-end regulars’ spotted a ‘Woodie' in a tree as that duck species of course will regularly do. Other waterfowl includes Buffleheads, Ruddy Ducks, Red-breasted Mergansers (latter in salt-waters), Gadwall, & etc. - and [Atlantic] Brant continued as expected in some locations. 3 Common Goldeneyes were noted by a couple of keen observers out off Randall’s Island early on 3/31, in a ‘usual wintering-place’ for the species’ we shall see how much longer that species could be found here. A Lincoln’s Sparrow was ongoing (**overwintered**) at Greeley Square, mid-Manhattan, thru at least Thursday, 3/31. This bird was seen well-prior to just the past week at that location, but not much noted for a long while, until just recently. (There’ve been rather few instances of Lincoln’s Sparrows wintering, but
