Two reports, thus far, of Sooty Shearwater have come in via eBird, for the
Richmond County - Staten Island - side of New York harbor, in N.Y. City, and
thus far, for May 6, only. That species has been seen and photographed, in
minimal numbers by onshore observers, in southern New Jersey ocean waters as
well just this month. More of that species could well be in the larger regions
sea-waters on passage, and certainly will be as this month goes along. Finding
any shearwater not driven in by a tropical storm, IN the upper New York harbor,
from the Verrazano Narrows and bridge of same name, or to the near-north, is
exceedingly rare in this modern era.
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New York County -in N.Y. City- including Manhattan, Randalls, and Governors
Islands and other islands and adjacent waters of the county -
Tuesday and Wednesday, May 7th and 8th -
Some good fallout of migrants has been found in at-least select locations, with
the storms that have been rolling through the region and into-thru this county,
and it may be for at least several more days that some migrants will be
revealed, which were already-arrived as of Wed, May 8th. A number of species
were increased and, at same time by Wed., there were a lot of birds that had
moved out, some just on Tuesday night and the wee hours of Wed, 5-7 and 5-8. As
one example, many of the sparrows that were numerous just this past week, had
moved on, such as White-throated Sparrows for a prime example. Some numbers of
the latter are still about, here, but up to 95 percent of these moved out from
this county. Those showing now also include fresh passage-migrants. The overall
northbound migrations on Tuesday night were fairly intense in the entire
region. If one has the chance, some Wed. birding may be very productive.
A multiplicity of observers were out on Governors Island on Tuesday, 5-7 and
some saw and photographed American Oystercatcher ON the island, at the pier
area, which is where Common Terns also are regularly found in-season. There
were also sightings of the species flying off and near the same island on
Tuesday. Some other recent sightings have taken place by birders in and around
N.Y. Harbor in the first week in May this year. No tubenoses, no pelicans, and
it seems also no Purple Sandpipers were noted from Governors Island as of
Tuesday, by the multiple watchers on the island and also some on ferries or
watching parts of N.Y. Harbor from other shores.
Many migrants are continuing to arrive, some in numbers and some still in
minimal showings, although most of such are also showing lately in places to
the north of this city already, in general, with some on territories as well.
Most recently, as late as Wed. early-morning, May 8, are at least some of the
Empidonax additional to the many Least Flycatchers that have been moving thru
for a while by now, these have included at-least Acadian, and Willow
Flycatchers, and possibly others in the genus Empidonax, A few Olive-sided
Flycatchers also are showing recently with more E. Wood-Pewees in the area, and
certainly still many Great Crested Flycatchers and E. Kingbirds, each of the 2
latter species also breeding annually in this county. A much-scarcer breeder in
N.Y. County, E. Phoebe, have moved thru in numbers, with still some passage
right now.
Both species of Cuckoo to be expected are showing, or rather at-least being
glimpsed and sometimes heard here, the more numerous so far, as expected are
Yellow-billed, with Black-billed Cuckoo, just possibly building in numbers
as-of Wed., 5-8. Also having arrived were some Common Nighthawks, which are
regular in both spring and fall, and have been seen at both dusk and dawn hours
locally. More are sure to be passing in coming weeks. All of these species
noted are or have been found within Central Park, and however also are and can
be found in other of the parks and greenspaces within the county. Yellow-billed
Cuckoos have been seen in diverse locations in the county already, with of
course multiples found at Central Park, where Black-billed were so-far more
scarce, seen in that last and in a few other parks and greenspaces in recent
days, including for 5-8 at Central.
The sixth, somewhat expected but typically more-scarce Vireo of the migration
seasons has arrived, Philadelphia Vireo, with at least two from Central Park,
and should be watched for anywhere for now. The songs, if singing, can be
tricky for many even when an observer is familiar with this species, so visuals
are ideal in confirming this vireos presence on passage here. The other 5
expected vireos each continued to show, with at least 2 nesting annually and a
3rd a definite possibility, that last being White-eyed Vireo, some of which
nest each year in proper habits in N.Y. City. There is also a chance for
Yellow-throated Vireo as a breeder in N.Y. County, albeit quite scarce as-such
over the decades. That species has however bred in even Central Park, more t
