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 mo
