[nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC 8/29-31, & 9/1
" If you like Robins, quick!, run to Central Park. Today is your day. If you are looking for warblers and other smaller migrants, well, they are there too, but they're just a bit harder to find ... " - Stephanie Seymour (actual Central Park [& elsewhere] birder... "they're just a bit harder to find" - so very true...) A link to further photos of a (rare) Bar-tailed Godwit (& other less- rare birds) recently at Chatham, Massachusetts were posted on that state's list recently: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/MASS.html#1283392835 (or direct to the godwit photos): http://www.flickr.com/photos/fgrenon/sets/72157624735070323/ The Bar-tailed was apparently identified to subspecies level, of the form 'baueri' which is even more unusual, as far as documented records of Bar-tailed Godwit in eastern North America go. - - - A brief note was posted to the Hudson-Mohawk (NY) list that at least 2 Mississippi Kites were still being seen 31 August 2010 at the town of Root NY. The much-more-rare in the northeast White-tailed Kite has continued on at the Stratford & Milford Point, CT areas it's frequented for weeks now, thru 1st Sept. (Wed.) - - - - - The latest report out of Prospect Park in Brooklyn included notes on a dozen species of warblers from one estimable observer there on Wed., 1st of Sept. along with other expected migrants - no report of Forster's Tern which had been one of the highlights in that park over the previous month. - - - - - Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City - Sunday, 29 August, 2010: Along with a fairly good selection of standard migrants, a cooperative Solitary Sandpiper was on a small mudflat in the Loch in the morning. 2 Common Nighthawks were noted at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, seen flying over the Great Hill in Central Park, by a very regular observer there. Red-breasted Nuthatches continue their 'early' movement, which as noted by others is not at all unprecedented... & not always a great indicator for winter "irruptives" such as certain finch-family birds, at least in the Long Island NYC region of NY. Monday, 30 August: a nice assortment of migrants were possible to be found with a bit of effort; it's most often the way birding seems to go. Tuesday, 31 August: at least one dozen warbler species, along with Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, seen by 10+ observers in the morning hours. Wednesday, 1 Sept.: very light NW winds from the night before, and a few observers said there was a bit of change-over while others were not so sure of that having happened. In any event some of the same species continued in the park as have been seen over the previous 3 days & more. Up to 15 species of warblers were seen this last 4-day period of light migration - in comparison with what will be found by this coming labor day holiday weekend - widespread bird movements are almost certain by Monday if not before, and throughout the northeast... not to mention what may or may not be seen post-"Earl", in New York and many adjacent states and coastal waters. (or even inland waters...) Good birding, & stay safe if venturing east on Long Island this Friday or after in any storm-related situations! Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
RE:[nysbirds-l] Has anyone started checking for hurricane fall-out?
Unless you mean in some place far south of New York - perhaps VA or farther south, there probably won't be much to check in NY until at least very late Friday with the forecasted timing and track of hurricane "Earl". The morning most folks in NY will likely think to look (in NY) will be as early as possible this Saturday - with eastern Long Island possibly closest to the best (or worst, if one has real concerns for personal safety & property of everyone out that way) this storm may offer in terms of storm-blown and driven sea-or-'southern' birds... The whole thing may just be less than some anticipate... but there also may be some significant sights - and there's only one way to find out... just be out there (anywhere), looking. Stay safe - use common sense in any major storms. It's not worth loss of life or an injury to see any bird. Good luck, Tom Fiore, Manhattan On Sep 2, 2010, at 5:35 PM, Acupressur [AT] aol.com wrote: Has anyone started checking for hurricane fall-out? -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] F.B.Field, J.Bay + more, Kings & Queens Co's, NYC 9/2
hough I saw no water or shore birds in there, just a few smaller migrants in the vicinity. There were also many hundreds of gulls at the East Pond later in the day, including over 250 Laughing, 300+ Ring- billed, 500+ Herring, & 75+ Great Black-backed Gulls in big roosting flocks. Waterfowl included some N. Pintails, and both of our species of teals in fair numbers, plus N. Shovelers, a smaller number of American Wigeons, & less than a dozen Wood Ducks in the East Pond (plus the other typical waterfowl of the summer). Jamaica Bay shorebirds: Black-bellied Plover (20) American Golden-Plover (1) Semipalmated Plover (60+) Killdeer (few) American Oystercatcher (few) Greater Yellowlegs (75+) Lesser Yellowlegs (100+) Willet (2, Western, bay side) Spotted Sandpiper (several) Ruddy Turnstone (several) Semipalmated Sandpiper (300+) Western Sandpiper (2) Least Sandpiper (100+) White-rumped Sandpiper (8+) Baird's Sandpiper (2) Pectoral Sandpiper (1) Stilt Sandpiper (12+) Short-billed Dowitcher (120+) Long-billed Dowitcher (2 adults) Wilson's Phalarope (1, basic plumage) Good birding and stay SAFE in storms! Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Jamaica Bay W.R. White Pelican, as well, 9/2 (Queens County)
Somehow, the American White Pelican was left out of my lengthy report for Thursday, 2 September 2010 - one was continuing at the East Pond (not far from the raunt) of the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge thru the day (& is among the rarest birds of the refuge right now and this summer, even if it's become quite a regular there for a lot of observers, myself included ;-) Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] general migration (northeast)
Labor Day, 6 Sept., 2010 I would point out that in the NYC area there have been some bird reports suggesting relatively little migration in the past several days (while there are also simultaneous reports from NYC locations indicating fairly good migrant passage & stop-over). In fact, my understanding is that there has been tremendous southward migration lately and that a great deal of that has been nocturnal and of such duration that many birds have sailed past the NYC region to points south. This is supported at least somewhat by voluminous various reports from sites in southern New Jersey, Pennsylavania, Delaware, and elsewhere in the region just south of New York (and from personal bird-related messages from others in the field). Interesting, at least to me, are the numbers of Black-capped Chickadees migrating in some areas (including smallish numbers moving through at Central Park, NYC) & of course, the ongoing movements of Red-breasted Nuthatches, rather widely reported and observed recently. Plenty of nice migrants being seen in Prospect Park, Brooklyn over Sunday & likely again this Labor Day Monday including Yellow-breasted Chat, & much more, as reported by multiple observers out that way via Peter Dorosh's Brooklyn birding blog, & from a few personal messages as well. Also, as virtually anyone in the northeast who went out at all this past week saw, "Hurricane Earl" was a big disappointment in terms of storm-related fall-out or vagrant sightings, although at least one Sooty Tern was reported from Nova Scotia, as well as three Sandwich Terns at a single (other) location in that Canadian province, after "Earl"'s passage there. Also of note were a very recent photo of a "possible" 'Snowy' Plover from a still-different location on Nova Scotia. Many terns of more 'northern'-breeding flavors (than Sooty or Sandwich) were found off Nova Scotia, some quite special for that province or anywhere quite that far north (& east). One New Brunswick (Maritime province of eastern Canada) birder summed up Earl's passage there thusly: "not a bang but a whimper". On Newfoundland Canada, a couple of birders there summed up the search for "pearls from Earl": "no results oh well", although a Northern Shrike there on "Newfie" is a nice addition, at least to us deep-south New Yorkers. There are modest increases in jaeger sightings from such places as along the shores of the Great Lakes (both U.S. & Canada) and these are in normal migration mode now, so that a sighting in an area such as coastal Long Island, NY should not really be seen necessarily as having been storm- related, although a major storm could influence any migration, obviously. It is typical jaeger migation time, into the autumn. In central New Hampshire (near Concord), a Western Kingbird was sighted Sunday, 9/5 - but this is a regular/annual "vagrant" to the northeast from late Aug. thru the autumn and not really related to "Earl" the little hurricane that couldn't. (That W.K.B. was not reported as a storm-related sighting.) At least a few Connecticut Warblers have been reported with reasonable certainty (such as one that gave a bit of song & was seen in Pennsylvania) from varied locations east, west, north & south of NY state in the past few days. (I think hear one of them tip-toeing about Central Park this very morning... but from a tremendous distance -so I'll rely on others to verify any such possibility! The species does have large feet for a wood-warbler...) A nice sighting of four Caspian Terns on Staten Island here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SINaturaList/message/1807 (That is Staten Island / Richmond County, in New York City) The White-tailed Kite has lingered on in coastal Connecticut, via the CT Daily reports - at least into Sunday, 5 September. Good birding, Tom Fiore, Manhattan & points n. -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC 9/12
Sunday, 12 September, 2010 - Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City In what has this year become a somewhat familiar scenario, birds seen the day before were mainly missing this day, seemingly having moved on already, although the weather conditions may not have helped a lot in the search. It actually didn't start raining for real until mid- afternoon but I had given up the search well before that time... Rather than the 27 species of warblers found yesterday, I struggled to come up with a dozen albeit in a much shorter outing this morning. A decent showing of Swainson's Thrush possibly including some new arrivals added to some lingering, and a few more ducks turned up at the reservoir (but I didn't find Saturday's hen BW Teal anywhere). The south end of the park near The Pond was about as active as any other areas I looked at on Sunday - it has a fairly extensive patch of good habitat for songbirds however the Hallett Sanctuary is fenced off and thus not all possible to view; some views are possible with strong optics from west & south sides of The Pond. Other birders in other NYC city locations also report dramatic decreases in variety & numbers of migrants Sunday, compared with Saturday. It looks like we might see more new migrants arriving as early as this Tuesday & Wednesday in the entire region. Good birding; think and act peacefully. Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] possible wagtail in CT 9/13, CT Warbler, + more...
Several 13 September reports, well worth passing along... Intriguing report of a possible white wagtail in Connecticut - http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CTBD.html#1284434144 & the White-tailed Kite continued - at this same CT location. - - - Speaking of Connecticut - the warbler species, though: NYC, Brooklyn: http://peters-prospect-bird-sightings.blogspot.com/ - - - At Central Park, Manhattan, NYC there are still migrants to be found, yet new arrivals may boost numbers again Tues. which as of 8 a.m. seems only moderately busy w/ arrivals. 90 minutes in early a.m. may not tell the whole story there! - - - and from last Saturday - Very nice 9/11 birding (little) big day on Staten Island NYC: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SINaturaList/message/1816 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SINaturaList/message/1817 - - - There is almost certainly going to be a good raptor flight in much of the northeast this week and possibly 50% or more of 'our' Broad-winged Hawks could be moving south soon, from Tuesday thru the coming weekend. All weather and other indicators strongly suggest good flights in this week, the coming weekend potentially finding most 'action' of all. Good birding; think and act peacefully. Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC 9/14
Tuesday, 14 September, 2010 - Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City Certainly some fresh arrivals of migrants from Monday night into Tuesday; a modest morning flight included some thrush movement and a somewhat thin, but apparently widespread movement of warblers and other smallish passerines. The thrushes were made up of more Swainson's than all others but some Veery, Wood, and at least a few Gray-cheeked types of thrushes were also to be found. As is typical the more isolated areas of the n. woods were the best barometer of just how much thrush arrival there was. In many sections of the park the thrushes are feeding and staying much of the time in the canopy and can be under-counted, although their calls may give some away even if not seen well. (In the isolated areas (where fewer people & dogs roam) the thrushes get to the ground more regularly...) At least 22 species of wood-warblers were collectively seen in Central on Tuesday (likely not by any one observer) and among those a highlight for at least a few folks (hopefully more than a few) was a canopy-feeding Golden-winged Warbler, first spotted in the Ramble just south of the Azalea Pond, by Richard Leiberman leading a Linnaean Society of New York bird-walk. The Golden-winged apparently was not re- found later and may have been a bit difficult to see in the first instance. That species has declined in migration to the point where it is essentially as rare a sighting now as some of the more southern- affinity warblers we see in the region. To give a sense of overall diversity in the park on Tues., the warbler list is below - with (1) added for species where I am aware of only one observation on the day. As is rather typical the greatest activity was early in the morning with the sun just coming up. Blue-winged Warbler (1) Golden-winged Warbler (1, Ramble - as reported by others) Tennessee Warbler (few) Nashville Warbler Northern Parula Yellow Warbler (few) Chestnut-sided Warbler Magnolia Warbler Cape May Warbler (1, 1st-year, on north end's Great Hill) Black-throated Blue Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler (few) Black-throated Green Warbler Palm Warbler Blackpoll Warbler Black-and-white Warbler American Redstart Ovenbird Northern Waterthrush Common Yellowthroat Hooded Warbler (1, 1st-year, Loch near wildflower meadow) Wilson's Warbler (few) Canada Warbler (few) There are also very modest numbers (so far) of migrant sparrows trickling into the city with Chipping Sparrow perhaps leading the pack. A number of people in separate locations around Manhattan saw at least modest numbers and variety of passerines, particularly of wood- warblers, dropping into small pocket parks, gardens, and such small urban oases. - - - - - - - - At the "Fire Island" hawk-watch site at Robert Moses State Park on the outer barrier beach of Long Island, NY, an apparent record-setting number of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds were counted going past the watch: 60 'hummers' - and "only" 3 Dickcissels, plus a few Red- breasted Nuthatches (not unusual this fall, it seems) & Purple Finch as well, among the non-raptor observations from the watch. The 81 Merlins seen there for the day are no tiny number, either... that report is up at: http://hawkcount.org/month_summary.php?rsite=359=Go+to+site (hawk- watch reports often include a lot more than only raptors; even some insect sightings are often added) Hawk-watch sites regionally saw a modest flight of raptors with Bald Eagles in good numbers at some sites Tuesday, and some sites going into the mid-high hundreds of Broad-winged Hawks on their way south- west to S. America...the larger flights generally on the inland ridge & mountain watches. Today, Wednesday 9/15 is expected to be another good day all around, for raptors and likely many other migrant birds to be seen. - - - - - - - - Apparently no one was able to re-find a possible wagtail or any similar such bird as had been reported from Stratford, Connecticut (along Long Island Sound's north side opposite Long Island NY) - this is a bit typical of the extremely scant reports of any wagtail species seen and reported in the eastern parts of N. America. Good birding; think and act peacefully. Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC (a.m. only), 9/15
Wednesday, 15 September, 2010 Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City At the northern end of the Park (about one & 1/4 mile north of the Ramble area) this Wed. morning, there was evidence of good migrant arrivals, with a few highlights including 2 Yellow-billed Cuckoos simultaneously at the lower edge of the wildflower meadow (near the Loch) and an Olive-sided Flycatcher working the highest bare snags nearby & a Lincoln's Sparrow at the edge of the fence there. These birds and others seen by Tom Perlman & I. There were at least all of the dozen warbler species that were mentioned in Scott H's post here for the ramble area in Central this a.m. - also present, some in good numbers at the north end & at least one additional species was an adult Pine Warbler at the Great Hill, seen by Tom Perlman & I. A good many other species are certainly present and the potential is there for some interesting diurnal migration, perhaps in progress at this moment. Good birding; think and act peacefully. Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] further Central Park, NYC 9/15
Central Park, Manhattan , N.Y. City Wednesday, 15 September, 2010 - Two Opororornis [genus] warbler species were reported from the Ramble Wednesday, each seen by some of Starr Saphir's group, led by Starr, both sightings coming roughly between 10 & 11 a.m. in the area a bit north of the Azalea Pond. The Connecticut Warbler, reportedly a 1st- year, was at the head of the Gill (where it begins) & was skulking & not seen well by all present, & perhaps not again. A Mourning Warbler, also reported as a first-year, was near the Tupelo tree, in that part of the Ramble named after it, and was said to have been just a bit less shy than the rarer Connecticut in the same general vicinity. A good variety of other warblers were collectively reported from Central Park including at least these 20 additional species: Tennessee Warbler Nashville Warbler Northern Parula Yellow Warbler Chestnut-sided Warbler Blackburnian Warbler Magnolia Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Myrtle [Yellow-rumped] Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Pine Warbler Palm Warbler Blackpoll Warbler Black-and-white Warbler American Redstart Ovenbird Northern Waterthrush Common Yellowthroat Wilson's Warbler Canada Warbler Only a few of the above were possible 'singletons', as were the reports for the 2 members of Oporornis genus as noted. Many other migrants were seen in the multiple, some in multitudes. A good hawk flight was observed near-coastally and it's quite possible that many raptors including a lot of Broad-winged Hawks moved past Manhattan and/or parts of N.Y. City on Wed. (At some watches around the region, the day's tally for Broad-winged Hawks topped the 4-digits level [ie: thousands of them seen in one day's watch for the first time this fall in the northeast.]) A few devotees of the craft of hawk- watching kept productive vigil from Central Park and were nicely rewarded with some modest kettles of Broad-winged Hawks & more, mainly after noon. The largest push of Broad-winged Hawks for this year in the SE portion of the state and thru most of the larger region for the 'fall' is likely within the next 7 days or so given coming weather. - - - - A Wood Stork was seen heading south from the Cape May, New Jersey hawk- watch area - that bird was then spotted a bit later moving south past the Cape Henlopen, Delaware hawk-watch site, on Wednesday. It was said to have taken about 20 minutes to make the north-south crossing of Delaware Bay that a.m. (We might wonder how far north it was coming from!) Good birding! Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] 4 Buff-breasted SP's, 1 Marbled Godwit etc., NYC, 9/17
Friday, 17 September, 2010 - Brooklyn / Kings Co. & Queens Co . N.Y. City At Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn, N.Y. City, the four juvenile- plumaged Buff-breasted Sandpipers continued as of about 8:45 - 9:45 a.m. in the weedy (not recently mowed) and uneven field across from and immediately northeast of the parking area by the F.B. Field 'aviator' building and adjacent to where the western vehicle entry / traffic signal is from Flatbush Avenue-Marine Parkway - this is not the standard old entry point but the newer one with black cyclone fencing & gated at certain times. The 4 Buff-breasted Sandpipers were ranging almost all around the weedy field and also were rather skittish when cars drove close by & at any speed, yet with care, 3 of us watched and photographed these 4 juvenile-plumaged birds, from as little as 150-200 feet without interrupting any of their feeding and roaming in the field. Also present at times (& also moving away at times) were a flock of 10+ Killdeer. If the directions given are still unclear, the field we mention is directly down the runway-drive that passes the F.B. Field "community gardens" and just a 1/4 mile or so to the north along the same side as the community gardens are. It is the unmowed area that has 2 modest size trees standing apart and alone within the "back" part of that same field and is also edged on the east by a low berm of grassy-weedy covered earth about 6+ feet high, that runs almost the length of this weedy field on one side only (at the edge next to the runway). In addition to looking at the Buff- breasted Sandpipers with Rob Bate who came by serendipitously as we were watching, E. Katsnelson & I looked in the Floyd Bennett Field community gardens and found a young Dickcissel in the northern part along with the usual gang of House Sparrows. The dickcissel seemed to retreat with these sparrows into the SW section within these gardens, this after 10 a.m. Otherwise F.B. Field seemed a bit "quiet" for freshly arrived migrants; we also saw 3 N. Harriers and 4 American Kestrels, hunting in the grassland areas. At Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Queens Co., N.Y. City, at and after the day's high tide cycle (~ 4 p.m. until just after sunset) a juvenile -plumaged Marbled Godwit was found and photographed by us at the East Pond of the refuge, seen first at nearly sunset from the trail past "Big John's Pond" looking at the raunt area due east, and the godwit on the east shore of the pond (not amongst the birds scattered thru the raunt, but working deliberately south on and along the shore of the pond) and after about 20 minutes or more of good scope views, we watched as the godwit took low flight almost skimming the pond and heading directly to or at least towards the south end of the East Pond at at least 7:15 p.m. - with moonlight beginning to win out over daylight... incidentally, the Marbled Godwit was noted in the refuge log book for Thursday, 16 Sept. as well. At the Refuge, the East Pond also held at least 250 additional shorebirds, mostly yellowlegs with a fair number of Short-billed Dowitchers and far fewer numbers of Semipalmated Sandpipers. We did not check the north end of the East Pond at all - but did look at the West Pond and there added at least 80 additional shorebirds of the same species mix as at the East Pond. There were great numbers of Snowy Egrets at the refuge, with easily 150+ in both west & east pond area, & trees surrounding. Forster's Terns were noted in very modest numbers at the Refuge, and some Boat-tailed Grackles were also seen. Another birder, whose name I ought to know, was able to view the Marbled Godwit at the last possible moment before it flew to the south end of the E. Pond, with our nice scope views. A look at Fort Tilden & Riis Park, on the Rockaway peninsula of Queens Co. in mid-day hours provided a very modest number of most birds with the exception of what seemed to be a very nice flight that was just developing, of American Kestrels, Merlins, Ospreys, N. Harriers and accipiters including Sharp-shinned and a few Cooper's Hawks. The passerine flight, such as it was, was extremely light and yet there were at least a few such migrants around including a Prairie Warbler & a few others. The Atlantic was as quiet as could be both close and distantly, with barely a tern in sight (we did see a few Common Terns go by), and the beach was relatively free of birds other than a few surf-chasing Sanderlings and a duo of American Oystercatchers. A few hummingbirds buzzed thru at the hawk-watch platform at Fort Tilden , but it might be noted that by far, the most numerous long-distance migrants seen (in the many hundreds, indeed thousands - if calculated per 1 day rather per 1 hour) were the Monarch butterflies streaming SW down the beach, the surf line, the dune line, and well up over the whole
[nysbirds-l] 4 Buff-breasted SP's, 1 Marbled Godwit etc., NYC, 9/17 (with signature)
ndreds, indeed thousands - if calculated per 1 day rather per 1 hour) were the Monarch butterflies streaming SW down the beach, the surf line, the dune line, and well up over the whole peninsula. A few times there would be 50+ in view at once and their steady SW-bound stream seemed to increase after noon... this is a natural event equal to many of the greatest such wonders in the world and there were precious few people there to see it all, in that location. The only other birds really noted in any multiplicity were Laughing Gulls, about 100+ seen in the various locations visited. Good birding! Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Central & Prospect Parks, NYC 9/16-18 (& hawks aloft)
Saturday, 18 September 2010 - A fair selection of migrants noted in the N.Y. City parks in Manhattan & Brooklyn, with modest numbers & variety in general. At some hawk-watch sites in New England upwards of 3,000 Broad-winged Hawks were observed on the day and this obviously signals a significant push underway each day as of now, as weather permits. Look up! - - - Friday, 17 Sept. - A reasonably good movement of raptors was noted with a few hawk-watch sites noting over 2,000 Broad-winged Hawks on the day, including at the Mount Peter site in Orange Co. where the observers reported "kettle after kettle" of Broad-winged Hawks after 5 p.m. - and these small buteo hawks moving to the sunset hour there, an exceptional sighting. - - - Thursday, 16 Sept. - Central Park, Manhatttan , N.Y. City - Philadelphia Vireo, and a fairly good variety of warblers and other songbird migrants were among sightings from others birding mainly in the Ramble. - & - Prospect Park, Brooklyn, N.Y. City - A few areas were rich in warblers while some places were exceedingly quiet thru the morning. At least 20 warbler species were collectively found, a high percentage seen in the walk led by Tom Stephenson for the Brooklyn Bird Club a.m. weekday series, ably assisted with Rob Bate's help and over 22 additional eager and attentive observers. Some highlights included a close Philadelphia Vireo & a very cooperative adult male Bay-breasted Warbler at Lookout Hill where a good migrant flurry took place in mid- a.m. - also of interest were the good numbers of warblers and some other migrants at the lake's southern shore trees in mid-p.m. as seen by 2 of us continuing on after that walk disbanded. A modest raptor movement was seen in the a.m. by many of the group as well. A tremendous storm around 5 p.m. was apparently a bit kinder to Prospect than to areas just slightly farther north & east in NYC and western Nassau County, even though Prospect and some Brooklyn neighborhoods suffered a number of tree losses - in Queens, some majestic ancient (for NYC) trees were lost and the damage was very substantial with sadly one death from a falling tree. Additional note on the water level at Jamaica Bay's East Pond as of Friday evening, 9 /17: it was fairly high, and high waterproof boots would be best for any thorough walk at that location. Northern Wheatears are staging and moving in far northern N. American localities and on strong N., N-E, & N-W winds these could be looked for, at typical coastal areas in coming weeks. Good luck, Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC 9/19-23
season, one in the north end, and multiples of many others including a few early-ish Hermit Thrush (told by tail-coking behavior and call as well as other physical attributes) and a fair number of Gray-cheeked types - those I had good looks at all appeared to be true Gray-cheeked and not Bicknell's. The funny thing with birds today was how much "slower" it became after about 10 a.m., with a lot of birds seeming to have moved on in daylight hours. But, in 'pockets' there were some nice flocks and also by a few well-watered areas, ongoing activity. A birder who frequents the north end of Central Park noted at least 3 Lincoln's Sparrows, which is again an indication that more than a bit of migration movement can be found, even today. - - - At Riverside Park in Manhattan, a nice selection of songbirds, plus a few raptors lingering or passing thru, both Wed. & today, including Osprey, Sharp-shinned & Cooper's Hawks, and 2 uncommonly-seen in the park Broad-winged Hawks (hunting) as well as Red-tailed Hawk & American Kestrel, Merlin, & nearby locally-resident Peregrine - and finally going down-river or more to the SW, a couple of less-than- adult Bald Eagles on the wing. For songbirds and the like, Riverside served up E. Wood-Pewee, Eastern Phoebes, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Brown Creeper, both Nuthatches, both Kinglets (just 2 of Golden- crowned, & multiple Ruby), Winter Wrens, Brown Thrasher, Gray Catbird (in the many multiple), Cedar Waxwing (several flocks), Warblers of at least a dozen species - Nashville, N. Parula, Black-throateds Blue & Green, Myrtle [Yellow-rumped], Palm (multiples), Chestnut-sided, Black- and-white, Pine, Blackpoll, American Redstart, and Common Yellowthroat, plus Scarlet Tanager, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, & these Sparrows: Field, Chipping, Song, Swamp, White-throated (30+), White- crowned (in with some White-throated), and a single well-seen Lincoln's, also Baltimore Oriole, Red-winged Blackbirds (flyovers) & Common Grackles, plus American Goldfinches in modest numbers. A fun sight were the six Ruby-throated Hummingbirds that buzzed through the drip area within less than 1 hour, all following the widening path south just above a buried railroad corridor! A very good day for this park in this year which previously seemed a little lackluster at Riverside Park on many of my 2010 visits, albeit I'm a little more loyal to Central Park on most days. - - - - I got word of a Virginia Rail seen a week earlier in Manhattan, along an Upper East Side street in a building's area way - with apparently no injuries, but just modestly out of usual habitat! Incidental to that rail-report there also have been a surfeit of injured or stunned birds found in Manhattan this past week & prior with recent parulid recoveries running to N. Parulas and Black-and-white Warblers, plus varied other usual migrant passerines. Happy Autumnal Equinox & first full day of fall - which is now: Thursday. Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Central & Riverside Parks, NYC 10/17-20
ndigo Bunting (3), and as noted at top of this paragraph set, at least 150, likely many more, Purple Finch moving through in the first 90+ minutes of light, along with a great many American Goldfinch & a few (heard ONLY) likely Pine Siskins, in with all those other finches. (speaking of finches some of you are aware that a number of more boreal-associated finch species are being found in areas not all that far north of N.Y. City although we might watch the reports on how extensive, if it is, this potential irruption becomes for us "southerners"). The above is a partial listing. Tuesday, 19 October - The birds lingering in Central Park were as numerous and likely more so, with in some areas, actually many areas, a concentration of such species as Kinglets (each of our 2 species) in numbers ranging upwards of two per square meter of ground & over a total viewed (at one time) area of 100 square meters or more. This was seen over & over again and for a variety of passerine species including also Hermit Thrush, White-throated Sparrow & several more - in plainer language, there were many, many thousands of migrants present in the park on this day and the very high level of activity was ongoing thru the day, although most feverish in early morning and until mid-day. The flight was also interesting with a lot of birds moving both south & north in the earlier hours and then seemingly more consistently south-southwest in afternoon hours. I did not see or hear the same high densities of finches as had been 24 hours earlier but there certainly were still some Purple and American Goldfinch moving through. At the feeders in the Ramble it did not seem that all that many birds had yet noticed the "freebies" and in part, that could simply be that a lot of natural food is still easily available. On this day it was as much fun just looking at behaviors and seeing sheer numbers rather than seeking out individual species in all the many parts of the parks. In some neighborhoods there were a lot of passerine migrants out in street trees and plantings again, as the day began... Wednesday, 20 October - The overall activity seemed reduced, even greatly reduced and yet there were still many thousands of migrants present throughout, adding emphasis to the extremely high numbers seen earlier in the week. I noted one Rusty Blackbird at the Loch although perhaps others were about, & I did not get into the Ramble area or south this day. I spent some time in the north end's Conservatory Garden where as of Wednesday a good many flowers that could be utilized by any hummingbirds (none seen on this day) were still in good shape... bears watching. Good birding, Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Prothonotary Warbler, midtown Manhattan NYC 10/21
Thursday, 21 October, 2010 A brightly-plumaged PROTHONOTARY Warbler has been discovered as of mid- day today next to the front facade and plantings of the main branch of the New York Public Library, at 41 Street and Fifth Avenue in mid-town Manhattan, New York City. The warbler, seemingly rather unfazed (to some extent) by all the city bustle everywhere around it, has been seen especially just to the left (if facing the library with one's back to Fifth Avenue) of the large & well-known statues of the library lions - in the shrubberies & flowers, as well as coming out on bare earth & even several times or more onto the stone with various birders and many other city-goers all around, above and amongst other birds including more than a few White-thraoted Sparrows as well as more typical city dwellers as feral introduced Rock Pigeons & House Sparrows. The Prothonotary was seen by well over a dozen birders as of 3 p.m. and more folks were continuing to arrive to look for it in that area. It does not appear to be an adult male as I had first thought on an initial look, and it would be interesting to be able to look at any photos rtaken to try & judge whether it might have any apparent visible injuries. By behavior it is feeding well but it's open to question whether bagels & scones & scraps of sandwiches are a good diet for a wood-warbler normally attracted to wooded swampy habitats... This bird was at least briefly said to have gone to or towards the 42 Street side of Fifth Ave. by the library building's plantings, but has been mainly south of the front main entrance as of 3 p.m. and before, since it was first found in mid-day. It initially was also seen very close to 40 Street & Fifth Avenue. This is all easy enough to walk & it would be best to coordinate effort with any other birders present. The bird has been habitually appearing just left of the main steps in what seems to be a slightly quieter "corner" of the shrub & flower plantings, where there is a bit more visibility for observation. A great find - the young man who discovered this is an employee of the New York Public Library there, and has seen many other species in the surrounding Bryant Park although this species is definitely a first for that list! If the bird continues to be seen through the day & especially if seen early on Friday, reports should be posted so that others might have an opportunity to view the unusual mid-town (as well as late-season) urban visitor. Good luck, Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] updates on the Prothonotary Warbler in NYC
Thursday, 21 October, 2010 Again all, I'll add that the ebirdsnyc list-serve is getting good use from reporters giving updates on the mid-town Manhattan (NYC) Prothonotary Warbler. Check it out at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ebirdsnyc/messages Good birding, Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Prothonotary Warbler, mid-town Manhattan NYC 10/23, + elsewhere reports
inds of birds a strong possibility exists for any of them found in November through at least the winter months in the northeast, or even almost anywhere in N. America north of Mexico, that they may not be of the particular "expected" breeding species we will see in spring and summer. All such birds found in cooler months ought be brought immediately to other's attention and documented with field notes, field sketches and any photos as thoroughly and as soon as is possible. It is fascinating to read the post to this list from Karlo Mirth of Queens, NY as it brings up a situation which is often much more common than is commonly realized: that 'rare' birds are very often in place in what location they are first reported from for some time ahead of the initial reports (usually by rather experienced birders) may suggest, indeed it is sometimes the case that a particular bird has been understood to be present for many weeks or months as more information is gathered. In some cases the 'new' information may include documentary photo, video, or audio, at other times definitive descriptive data, whether from birder or non-birder. ... Green-tailed Towhee in Ontario, Canada: http://mailman.hwcn.org/pipermail/ontbirds/Week-of-Mon-20101018/025521.html ... Golden-crowned Sparrow, Derry New Hampshire - photos: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NHBD.html#1287359590 ... Purple Gallinule found dead in New Hampshire (early Oct.): http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NHBD.html#1287443768 ... Note on the White-tailed Kite's departure from Connecticut after 71 days there (moved to N.J.?)- http://lists.ctbirding.org/pipermail/ctbirds_lists.ctbirding.org/Week-of-Mon-20101018/022057.html ... Hummingbirds, including some noted as Selasphorus [genus], Rufous, or lingering Ruby-thoated have been mentioned in various parts of the greater northeast. After about November 1, the species of hummingbird is much less likely to be a Ruby-throated, as we go on towards a first day of winter. Even by mid-October the majority of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are in areas well to our south. The next most "likely" species appears to be Rufous yet any number of other hummingbird species are possible; even truly tropical species can't all be ruled out. Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Prothonotary Warbler, 10/24 mid-town Manhattan
The Prothonotary Warbler continued to be seen by many observers & photographers in Manhattan, N.Y. City, along the front of the N.Y. Public Library's plantings facing Fifth Avenue & between 40 Street and up towards 42 Street, by mainly closer to the south rather than north (or more to the 40 Street side of the main entrance steps than the 42 Street side). The bird was observed (by others), throughout much of Sunday. Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Prothonotary Warbler Tues., 10/26 mid-town Manhattan NYC
t;offerings" appear to be mostly mundane. A nice bagel & cream cheese perhaps but all that plain bread? All right, I can see that this bird is already a bit of a New Yorker - it has some attitude. I've seen it 'elbow' away some larger and far more (usually) aggressive House Sparrows in going after a choice tid-bit. The bird is endeared to us in part due to this behavior. If it were the more typical skulking behavior of a Prothonotary it might not be seen as often and as well as this one has been. The "choice" of location is obviously out of "character" as most of its' kind are swamp-loving and that habitat preference is usually strong even on migratory stop-overs. When was the last Prothonotary you observed in this sort of ultra-urban place? If you did, for how long did it linger? Good birding, Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
Re:[nysbirds-l] Bryant Park sightings / mid-town Manhattan, NYC
Gabriel and all, On some days at least, at times the Prothonotary Warbler referred to below has been observed in the locust trees adjacent to the main entrance of the New York Public Library at 41 Street on Fifth Avenue and that warbler has been seen a number of times in the vicinity of where (multiple) sapsuckers have been: on at least some occasions just moments or even seconds "behind" a sapsucker and investigating the sap wells. However as you allude to, it had not been seen actually seeming to attempt feeding from them, as many other insectivores with a taste for something sweet (nectar etc.) such as often seen with Cape May and some other warblers, for example. If this (or any) Prothonotary were to actually stay on & survive into the Xmas bird count period here it would of course provide an unheard-of record on that event, locally. There are a fair number of records of the species on CBC's in the USA but I assume most are from our southernmost states. There is an apparent record from NY listed in the National Audubon Society database for CBC season 72, which is the count year 1971-72, yet in the edition of Birds of New York, under the species account by Paul R. Sweet, it is stated that "there are no substantiated CBC or winter records" and the latest "extreme" date given is for 15 Oct. (coastal) so the Nat'l. Audubon Soc. record is perhaps in question. (Anyone have direct knowledge of that NY state CBC record?) The normal winter range of Prothonotary Warbler is from Mexico into northern S. America, not the USA. Tom Fiore, Manhattan - - - - - - - - - - - Begin forwarded message: From: gabriel willow Date: October 27, 2010 2:54:18 PM EDT To: nysbirds-l@cornell.edu Subject: [nysbirds-l] Bryant Park sightings Reply-To: gabriel willow On my final NYC Audubon Bryant Park walk of the season, we saw some nice birds. It's getting harder and harder as the available birding areas shrink in the already small park due to the rink construction. There were many (20+) White-throated Sparrows mixing with the House Sparrows. There was also a particularly colorful Swamp Sparrow hopping under tables and in puddles at the East end behind the Library. The Ovenbird that has taken up residence in the patch of pink begonias in front of the restrooms is still skulking around there (I assume it's the same individual that's been there for a month or so). And of course the local celebrity Prothonotary Warbler was still flitting around in front of the library, at the north end this time. There were also 7 (!) Y-B Sapsuckers on the locust trees, including a couple of males still in bright breeding plumage. I'm surprised the Prothonotary seems uninterested in the sap wells, unlike other warblers I've seen. Cheers, Gabriel Willow -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
Re:[nysbirds-l] Does anyone have a (semi-)official NYC checklist ?
Re: Does anyone have a (semi-)official NYC checklist ? - - Seeing Berna's post to this list and part of what the NYSOA website includes in the "Checklists" pages therein, I see: http://www.nycaudubon.org/kids/birds/ In looking at this one checklist made available on-line claiming to be for N.Y. City as a whole it is unfortunate that while it may include the vast majority of species that occur regularly or annually in NYC, a great many well-documented vagrants and other rarities are oddly left out and the entire list is a bit in question when an entry for "Connecticut Yellowthroat (a typo most likely!) is allowed, as there is no such species nor even subspecies, is a part of the listing. It may be the closest thing to a complete list of the birds of N.Y. City that is currently available on-line. What of infamous ebird.org? well, good "twitch-fre"e list-making... Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
Re:[nysbirds-l] (semi-)official NYC checklist ? - SUMMARY
as I passed the well-known bridge to and from The Ramble, at the height of spring bird migration. A man of some years was using binoculars and seemed to be looking nearly at his own feet, just inside the Ramble proper. I stopped to look down as well, but was mystified as to what he was actually watching - so I asked. The answer: "I study bryophytes". And that was all... and so he did, and does. I got a small insight into diversity that day. Human, botanical, urban, & more. Tom Fiore, Manhattan - - - - - - - - - On Oct 29, 2010, at 12:12 PM, Phil Jeffrey wrote: For those of you with an aversion to reading my wordy posts, see: http://philjeffrey.net/NYC_unofficial_list.html For the rest of you: Thanks to the many people that replied, mostly off-list. There is no official checklist. The best approximation is the one appearing in NYC Audubon's NYC birding book, and you can find that online at: http://www.nycaudubon.org/kids/birds/ and was mentioned in the very first reply to my question by Patrick Santinello. The online NYState checklist, of lesser use since there's no distinction between NYC and anywhere else, is at: http://nybirds.org/Publications/ChecklistNYS.htm but obviously it's a superset and I'm pretty sure Spruce Grouse doesn't occur in NYC (for example). The major problem with the Audubon list is the omission of rarities such as Broad-billed and Sharp-tailed Sandpipers or Rufous and Calliope Hummingbirds and the fact that it's difficult to me to know which rarities they've omitted without wading through NYSARC proceedings dating back through the Middle Ages. The Audubon list has this strange compulsion of alphabetizing within family groups, which may drive you a little crazy. Another list that has been cited is the static one at Mike Freeman's site http://www.nycbirdreport.com but sightings are not tagged so it's impossible to assess the error level. One or two mentioned eBirds (not my eBirdsNYC), but Cornell's eBirds database has more holes than swiss cheese and is not that useful for coverage. Lastly there's the Central Park Conservancy bird list, but of course CPK is not a great place to observe shorebirds, so there are large gaps in that too. Ergo, here's a slightly more ordered list, enabled via Ben Cacace, Marie Winn and the NYC Audubon list. http://philjeffrey.net/NYC_unofficial_list.html If your favorite rarity is not on it, email me. I'll see if I can find a way to data mine old NYSARC records. Thanks Phil Jeffrey On Thu, Oct 28, 2010 at 5:14 PM, Phil Jeffrey wrote: > A UK birder asked me, and I realize I have no idea if there is one, or > even where to start looking for it. > Any pointers welcome. > > Thanks > Phil Jeffrey > -- -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Manhattan, NYC 10/30 - plenty of migrants
Saturday, 30 October, 2010 - Manhattan, New York City The good flights carried into parts of Manhattan that are not always looked at, as well as some that are. In Riverside Park at nearly sunset, after a good amount of typical migrant activity in the areas above 100th Street, the slightly more surprising species was a young female Cape May Warbler with virtually no color except at the rump. At Inwood Hill Park earlier there were a number of nice birds including 2 Common Ravens and a lot of finches, mainly American Goldfinches and Purple Finches, as well as at least a few Pine Siskins. At Bryant Park (mid-town) the lingering Ovenbird was still in shrubberies on the north side of the rink area. The very recent Prothonotary Warbler was not seen, despite a 45-minute search in front of the NY Public Library, while a tail-less Swamp Sparrow and over 30 White-throated Sparrows were still to be seen along with a few Yellow- bellied Sapsuckers in the trees near the library. A tremendous flight overnight and well on into the morning, rivaled by the flight the night before (but this morning's flight seemed deeper to me) and featured a number of blackbird species, with Rusty Blackbirds moving very nicely, more than 3 dozen going through early in the a.m. & many Red-winged Blackbirds, plus an oriole which was presumably a Baltimore (and not a Bullock's). Eastern Bluebirds have been moving nicely, as many as fifty having passed by Manhattan in these past 3 days, with a few of these stopping off (just briefly?) in Central / Riverside Parks. The Hudson River, while not having a lot of birds of great note, did feature a couple of Cave Swallows moving down at about noon and following a seeming increase in wind speed. These on top of who knows how many being seen/reported from the greater northeast in the last 3 or 4 days. At the northern end of Manhattan there were far more birds (numbers) than at the south end today. I'm assuming the birds nearing the south end simply continued on. Among other species having been reported around the region, this at Cape May, NJ: https://lists.princeton.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind1010=NJBIRDS=0===1453 High count of Cave Swallows (that I've found reported) were 120+ in Ontario Canada. A possible N. Wheatear was mentioned at coastal CT today but the bird not re-found. LeConte's Sparrows in at least 5 states / provinces, in the greater northeastern area. Cattle Egrets, many places in the norrtheast up to & perhaps beyond Newfoundland. Good birding, Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] N. Shrike reported Jones Beach SP, 10/30
Not sure the original Northern Shrike report for Jones Beach State Park (Nassau County) reached this list - it was first noted for Saturday 30 October on the ebirdsnyc list: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ebirdsnyc/message/8261 - - - (pretty nice for Matthew R.- Protho. to a shrike in 3 days) Good birding, Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Maine: Gray Kingbird 10/31; poss. Martin sighting, Rockland Co.
Coming soon after a sighting from Savannah N.Y., this Maine Gray Kingbird is of interest: http://groups.google.com/group/maine-birds/browse_thread/thread/4524cb204d7da84a# - - - Today, Sunday Oct. 31, while counting raptors at Hook Mt. in Rockland County (with views of the Hudson River and south to Nyack, the nearest town), I noticed a bird in flight that only very briefly appeared just east of the summit where the Hook Mt. hawk-watch is conducted - the bird appeared to be a Martin species. I have very recently (only a few weeks ago) had the opportunity to study several S. American species as well as wintering Purple Martins and this bird did not look quite like any of those, which included Gray-breasted and Brown-chested. I would only speculate that this bird could have been of a 'Caribbean' form or species, but unfortunately the bird did not reappear up around the summit of the mountain. The observation came in mid-afternnoon. There were no other martin or swallows seen. For those curious the area where I studied 3 martin spp. not long ago was Amazonian Brazil. The raptors were flying nicely today and it was also a fairly good day for waterbird migration, over the river. 1 Short-eared Owl was observed earlier, near the Piermont marsh also along the Hudson in Rockland Co. - that seen around sunrise. - - - "at the Public Library: Little Yellow Bird" (NY Times - Prothonotary piece) http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/31/library-warbler-barron/?hp Good birding, Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
Re:[nysbirds-l] (semi-)official NYC checklist ?
All very nice and my comments (as excerpted below) stand. Note that I also did not use the qualifier of: "citizen science". Tom On Nov 1, 2010, at 8:12 PM, Andrew Farnsworth wrote: Hi all, I want to comment on some points in the checklist thread about eBird. > > -- Forwarded message ---------- > From: Tom Fiore > Date: Fri, Oct 29, 2010 at 11:50 PM > Subject: Re:[nysbirds-l] (semi-)official NYC checklist ? - SUMMARY > To: nysbirds-L@cornell.edu > ... > It ain't science. Sorry, but that is just the way it is set up. If you > or I can report a bird (or birds) that may or may not have been in a > particular place at a particular time (and I don't even refer to > "rare" or uncommon species for any given locality) then it is just > that, a series of reports... as we can find all around the web. That > is not science, however. And to make it completely clear I am > referring to the Cornell-originated website with the suffix org, and > not to Phil's current version of the ebirdsnyc list, a yahoo-groups > list which is unrelated to the much "wider" Cornell / eBird efforts. > The moniker ebirdsnyc also predates the ebird,org by quite some many > years. > > Tom Fiore, > Manhattan _ _ _ _ _ _ _ > - - - - - - - - - > On Oct 29, 2010, at 12:12 PM, Phil Jeffrey wrote: > For those of you with an aversion to reading my wordy posts, see: > http://philjeffrey.net/NYC_unofficial_list.html > > For the rest of you: > Thanks to the many people that replied, mostly off-list. > There is no official checklist. The best approximation is the one > appearing in NYC Audubon's NYC birding book, and you can find that > online at: http://www.nycaudubon.org/kids/birds/ > and was mentioned in the very first reply to my question by Patrick > Santinello. > > The online NYState checklist, of lesser use since there's no > distinction between NYC and anywhere else, is at: > http://nybirds.org/Publications/ChecklistNYS.htm > but obviously it's a superset and I'm pretty sure Spruce Grouse > doesn't occur in NYC (for example). > > The major problem with the Audubon list is the omission of rarities > such as Broad-billed and Sharp-tailed Sandpipers or Rufous and > Calliope Hummingbirds and the fact that it's difficult to me to know > which rarities they've omitted without wading through NYSARC > proceedings dating back through the Middle Ages. The Audubon list has > this strange compulsion of alphabetizing within family groups, which > may drive you a little crazy. > > Another list that has been cited is the static one at Mike Freeman's > site http://www.nycbirdreport.com but sightings are not tagged so it's > impossible to assess the error level. > > One or two mentioned eBirds (not my eBirdsNYC), but Cornell's eBirds > database has more holes than swiss cheese and is not that useful for > coverage. > > Lastly there's the Central Park Conservancy bird list, but of course > CPK is not a great place to observe shorebirds, so there are large > gaps in that too. > > Ergo, here's a slightly more ordered list, enabled via Ben Cacace, > Marie Winn and the NYC Audubon list. > http://philjeffrey.net/NYC_unofficial_list.html > > If your favorite rarity is not on it, email me. I'll see if I can > find a way to data mine old NYSARC records. > > Thanks > Phil Jeffrey > > On Thu, Oct 28, 2010 at 5:14 PM, Phil Jeffrey > wrote: > > A UK birder asked me, and I realize I have no idea if there is one, or > > even where to start looking for it. > > Any pointers welcome. > > Thanks > > Phil Jeffrey > > -- > -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] massive migration, Queens Co. ocean-front, 11/1
Monday, 1st of November, 2010 - Rockaway peninsula & vicinity, Queens County I do not use the words 'massive' or 'huge' lightly, when referring to bird migration. Today that was the only way to describe the movement at the ocean, in Queens. Primarily passerine movement with sparrows and Myrtle Warblers most evident - but in addition to the tens of thousands of birds - and that is VERY conservative, I tallied close observations of a minimum of 15 CAVE Swallows along with 300+ other swallows, primarily Tree (as might be expected in November) but also the most Rough-winged (and note I am not pre-fixing the name Northern) Swallows (as well as Bank & Barn Swallows) I recall ever seeing this late. Those 15 Cave were all in a group that flew at low level along the beach at the Rockaways next to Beach 88 Street. All were together (within about 15 seconds) and going S-W. Much more to mention later... Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] a kingbird report from J.Bay Queens Co. 11/1???
Maybe some of you know who "Bird-Watching Richard" is. In any case a Western Kingbird has been reported at Jamaica Bay Refuge's west pond trail, yesterday - Monday Nov. 1st - it was NOT listed in the Jamaica Bay visitor center log and it was not seen by anyone (nor mentioned) at the time I was at the refuge late in the same day... Obviously, birds do fly. See the ebirdsnyc list for details, such as are given. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ebirdsnyc/message/8271 - - - - - - - Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
Re:[nysbirds-l] Com. Gr.-Dove Continues! (In Suffolk Co,)
and that is in western Suffolk County NY is it not? the "Robert Moses Causeway" is one approach if not coming in from Jones Beach Parkway "strip", and continuing east. Easy to find then, go east... easy to find the park, & hopefully a ground-dove! Good Luck, Tom Fiore, Manhattan - - - - - - - > On Nov 3, 2010, at 10:10 AM, Shaibal Mitra wrote: Joe Giunta and party have re-found the Common Ground-Dove at Captree SP, very near where Claude Bloch reported it yesterday. The bird is along the driveway that leads to the boat-launch area. My advice would be to park in the main parking lot (in front of the Captree Cove restaurant), and then to view the boat-launch driveway from either its east end (near the entrance to the main parking lot) or its west end (near the southwest corner of the main parking lot). The Western Kingbird and Dickcissel were also present again this morning. Shai Mitra Bay Shore -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] report of poss. Ash-thr. Flycatcher, Central Park, NYC (from 11/3)
(Reported for Wednesday 3 Nov. 2010) - intriguing note: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ebirdsnyc/message/8286 Good birding, Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] PS, Snow Buntings Central Park, NYC 11/9
I neglected to add into the good list of species seen flying through at Central Park, Manhattan (N.Y. City) on Tuesday, 9 November 2010: Snow Bunting (30+ fly-bys - quite rarely seen nowadays in or even from the park, although perhaps more regular as fly-overs than realized, and formerly much more regular. I have not seen these landed in the park in many years - last flock noted by multiple observers was during the original hawk-watch at the park in the mid-1990's, a sizable flock came in on the Great Lawn, nicely eroded and in "good shape" for such species at that time, nowadays much too manicured and also more heavily used, such that avian visitors like snow buntings, horned larks and meadowlarks, etc. usually don't stop or if they do, rarely linger at all. The snow bunting flock on Tuesday was not landing and likely continued onward, time was about 1 hour after sunrise and were viewed from next to Belvedere Castle looking up.) Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC 11/9
Tuesday, 9 November 2010 - Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City A total of more than 9 hours of observations from various points, primarily several in the park's north end with visits to all parts of the park from Fifth Ave. to Central Park West, and C.P. South (60th Street) to 110th Street. The early a.m. observations first from the pavillion by the Castle overlooking the Turtle Pond/Great Lawn vista (north views) and then from the Great Hill (less views but open to much sky and movement to the west) and also a few prominences around the edges of the park's largest fields - ie, the North Meadow, Sheep Meadow and more briefly, elsewhere. I also scanned all water-bodies & had lengthy walks in the north & central portions of wooded areas as well as to & from the north & south-most sections today. There was a very good flight (for early November) this morning & at least a few lingerers into the mid-day, plus a modest number of diurnal migrants ongoing; among the many highlights: Black Vulture (6, possibly an all-time high count for one sighting at one time in Central Park, to date) Turkey Vulture (120+ - not a record-high flight observed here but an impressive one, esp, late in day) Snow Goose (800+, including at least 8 "blue" form) Atlantic Brant (500+) Canada Goose (2,500+) Bald Eagle (3 thru 3:30 p.m.) Northern Harrier (4) Red-shouldered Hawk (12) Red-tailed Hawk (35+ migrants) Wilson's Snipe (1, lake shore by the "cave") Black-capped Chickadee (300+ ifly-bys in first hour) Horned Lark (30+ fly-bys) American Robin (1,800 fly-overs) Eastern Bluebird (8 fly-bys) Hermit Thrush (200+) Cedar Waxwing (300+) American Pipit (100+ fly-bys) Myrtle Warbler (250+) Palm Warbler (6) Pine Warbler (1) Ovenbird (2) Common Yellowthroat (1) American Tree Sparrow (2) Chipping Sparrow (8) Field Sparrow Vesper Sparrow (2, N. Meadow knoll, early a.m.) Savannah Sparrow Fox Sparrow (few) Song Sparrow Lincoln's Sparrow (1) Swamp Sparrow (12+) White-throated Sparrow (3,000+) White-crowned Sparrow (few) Slate-colored Junco (5,000+) Indigo Bunting (3) Red-winged Blackbird (4,000+) Eastern Meadowlark (2, Sheep Meadow before open to public) Rusty Blackbird (3 fly-bys) Common Grackle (5,000+) Brown-headed Cowbird Baltimore Oriole (1 fem., feeder area in Ramble, into mid-day) Purple Finch (30+) COMMON REDPOLL (1, Wildflower Meadow, a.m. but not relocated later in the morning or in 2 attempts after noon and after 3 p.m. - also none of this species noted by me around the active feeding station in the Ramble of Central Park - although that station bears watching, as it was by multiple folks today...) PINE SISKIN (60+ flybys, & at least 2 at feeders with goldfinches) American Goldfinch (800+ fly-bys; 200+ feeding in many areas) Also noted on the water-bodies of central park including the Meer, Pool, Lake, Pond, sailboat pond and reservoir: Pied-billed Grebe (4) Double-crested Cormorant (4) Great Blue Heron (1) Black-crowned Night-Heron (1) Canada Goose Mute Swan (2) Wood Duck (multiple, at edges) Gadwall American Wigeon American Black Duck (total, 28) Mallard (400+) Northern Shoveler (total, 120) Northern Pintail (drake, Pond) Green-winged Teal (several) Ring-necked Duck (Lake, a.m.) Lesser Scaup (2 drakes, Meer) Bufflehead (multiples) Hooded Merganser (total, 16) Ruddy Duck (total, 224) As well as these additional fly-bys: Common Loon (30+) Double-crested Cormorant (150+) Great Blue Heron (3) Great Egret (1, late!) Wood Duck (early a.m.) Greater Scaup (200+) Red-breasted Merganser (several) And these additional species: Sharp-shinned Hawk Cooper's Hawk American Kestrel Merlin Peregrine Falcon Ring-billed Gull (500+) Herring Gull Great Black-backed Gull Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Belted Kingfisher Red-bellied Woodpecker Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Northern [Yellow-shafted] Flicker Eastern Phoebe (several) Blue-headed Vireo (1, a bit late!) Blue Jay (many) American Crow Tufted Titmouse Red-breasted Nuthatch White-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Carolina Wren Winter Wren Golden-crowned Kinglet Ruby-crowned Kinglet Gray Catbird (1) Northern Mockingbird Brown Thrasher (2) European Starling Eastern Towhee Northern Cardinal Brown-headed Cowbird House Finch House Sparrow and one chilled Monarch butterfly in below-50 F. with north wind. Good birding, Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC 11/10
Wednesday, 10 November, 2010 - Central Park (Manhattan, N.Y,. City) again featured a number of species but the flights seemed fewer in number & variety than the previous day's. Vultures were on the move again, only Turkey Vulture being noted this time, while Bald Eagle again were seen (at least 2 moving past at mid-day), along with a number of migrating Red-tailed Hawks. E. Bluebird was again seen and a few of these have been seen lingering a short time, while the feeders in the Ramble again provided occasional Pine Siskin along with the many American Goldfinches and other typical feeder species. The sparrow numbers and diversity had slacked off, and at the wildflower meadow, a short search did not reveal a redpoll as had been seen there Tuesday. Overall it seemed much of the previous day's excellent flight had simply moved on which was the impression anyhow while it was going. Some of the same waterfowl were seen on the various water- bodies. Good birding, Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Varied Thrush, Central Park NYC, 12/16 ("new" area)
Thursday, 16 December 2010 - Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City The (non-adult male or female) VARIED THRUSH which has lingered in the same area of Central Park for some weeks is still present today, thus making it into the CBC (Christmas Bird Count) period for the count which includes Manhattan, the Lower Hudson (actually part of the New Jersey counts, oddly). I fiound the Varied Thrush at 2:10 p.m. this Thursday afternoon in the area of "Cleopatra's Needle" which is not more than a few hundred feet or so north, and by foot path slightly downhill, from the areas where the thrush had mostly been seen and/or sought 'til now. The presence of part or much of an associated flock of other wintering birds was a clue but the thrush itself may or may not be "loyal" to that or any flock, which included 2 male Eastern Towhees, a pair of N. Cardinals and most immediately obvious a good number (25+) of White-throated Sparrows. The Varied Thrush was more specifically around the west side of the large-ish yews that are astride the steps on the west edge of the enclosed area surrounding Cleopatra's Needle. All this is easily accessible from the paths entering the park at Fifth Ave. & E. 79 Street. If coming from that location, take the path in from the northwest corner of that interesection, that is on the Metropolitan Museum's "side" of the 79 Street transverse road in & out of the park, walk in straight past the playground and continue west thru an underpass-like arch on the park's footpath, then upon emerging turn right to reach the Cleopatra's Needle. There were essentially no birds whatsoever to be found in or on the borders of the "maintenance field" part of the ramble when I looked there, and indeed much of the ramble proper was very quiet other than for a modest assortment of "regulars" around the feeders. Of course (and has I had assumed already) the Varied Thrush is likely to be roaming about a bit & may or may not be associating with the aforementioned loose flock. I had already been in the areas where the thrush had most often been seen, and had noticed that the little flock of other birds was "trending" north from the areas the thrush has enjoyed to now. Hopefully it will not wander all too far, or in any case be recorded again for Sunday's CBC. A number of other birds of interest may persist as well even if they haven't been reported on just lately, although the recent deep-freeze could have affected a few species or caused some to move. I'm going to seek out a few that I was tipped off on, although some are indefinite or not so recent "tips". Good birding, Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Varied Thrush & more, Central Park, NYC 12/23
entral Park on that day which include among others, some parts of downtown Manhattan and the Hudson River and East River as well as the parks & some areas in northern / uptown Manhattan such as Fort Tryon & Inwood Hill Parks, and the often-productive "new" Swindler Cove Park (which was a site of a few interesting finds on the 2009 CBC) & associated section of the Harlem "river". I went out for a short time on count day, searching some parks that are never covered for the count in central & northern Harlem - I did not find any species unique for the count, but did see a good number of species that are always seen besides the usual & expected "city 3" of Rock Pigeon, Euro. Starling, and House Sparrow. In these various parks, the most numerous other species were Mourning Dove and White-throated Sparrow, with fair numbers of Song Sparrow, N. Cardinal, N. Mockingbird & in some places, Slate-colored Juncos. Raptors were represented by a minimum of 6 Red-tailed Hawks and 2 Cooper's Hawks plus 3 American Kestrels. In one rather weedy area were a foraging & moving flock of 40+ American Goldfinch, too hard to count precisely, due to the nature of the trashed area. Also, in lower Manhattan and in other areas as well, are multiple community gardens which have a history, if not actually observed as much as could be, of producing late-season species that are unusual in late fall or winter, such as warblers & occasionally other unexpected species. A very close look through each & every such smaller green-space in Manhattan (which would actually require exhaustive effforts) could well turn up any number of surprises, including potentially a vagrant or two on the order of varied thrush or the like. The total numbers of White- throated Sparrows alone would about triple in a count, were all small bits of habitat included on a Manhattan portion of any year's CBC. The limiting factor though would be snow on the ground as is usual in some late Decembers but hardly regular any longer as once might have been.This year there was zero snow cover, merely below-freezing temp's for one week. Among the areas I visited were multiple parks between the East River and St. Nicholas Park, up to Highbridge Park, and many, many points between - with birds! There had actually been up to 70+ species of native, non-introduced birds in Central Park & Riverside Park (combined) as recently as the weekend before the CBC period began, but the major chill may have sent a few of the less-hardy species into hiding, or if they wised-up, to points far south. Some who watch other state's birding lists will have noticed that a rather late-season Northern Wheatear was photographed at Delaware's Fox Point Park as of Wed., 12/22/2010. (Location is just off of I-495 near Wilmington: Exit 4B, Edgemoor Rd. Delaware - DE ), that wheatear still present thru Thursday 12/23. It shows that rarities of the late-migration period can still be seen even as official, calendar winter is now with us. Indeed a great many vagrant birds may be around in winter and more would be likely found than are were there CBC-style efforts made in later parts of winter right through to the first hints of spring. "Off-course" birds may turn up anytime & anywhere. The survival of some may be in question, of course - such as insect-eating species that can't exist on a diet of old fruits and minimal invertebrates. It is surprising how much invertebrate life a bird may be able to glean even in winter, however: witness Golden-crowned Kinglets in very northern places, in mid-winter. Good birding, Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Varied Thrush, etc., Central Park, NYC 12/25
Saturday, December 25th, 2010 At Central Park, in Manhattan, New York City, the lingering VARIED THRUSH was again seen in the areas near and surrounding the "maintenance field" and building at the corner of the Ramble area, just south of the E. 79 Street Transverse Road & immediately west of the East Drive roadway of the park. The Varied Thrush was seen by a number of observers in the afternoon hours, including myself. It ranged from near & just east of the men's room and a bit to the south, east, &/or west at times, and was within the company of the flock that is continuing to hold 2 male E. Towhees, along with many White- throated Sparrows and assorted other regularly-seen wintering birds. A bit of patience may be needed in spotting the thrush, as it can be skulking, although when in movement it's rather noticeable - no other bird looks quite like that, in the area... The juvenile (non-red-headed) RED-HEADED WOODPECKER remains in the area of trees along and near the southeast corner of Sheep Meadow, a bit north of the 66 Street Transverse Road thru Central Park... it may also take a bit of patience as it can sit still for a while at times but it usually, like the thrush in the maintenance field area, is mobile eventually and is then fairly evident. Good birding and stay safe in winter storms, where & when they move through! Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Varied Thrush, Central Park, NYC 12/28
Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City - Tuesday, 28 December, 2010 That VARIED THRUSH continues in the area surrounding the eastern "Ramble" maintenance shed, however it is ranging from as far as Cleopatra's Needle (about 100+ yards north) to at least east and south to near the cat statue (the eastern-most point of the Ramble, along the park's East Drive, at about E. 77 St.) and west from the maintenance shed as far as 50+ feet. All that said, some sightings are continuing from the area just east of the shed (near the men's restroom) as well as by the edges of the field (south of the building) as has been so since the thrush's initial discovery and reports... also in the area are 2 male E. Towhees. At the Ramble's feeders, as many as 3 "red" Fox Sparrows are appearing as well as various other winter "regulars". The reservoir is still very open and has a variety of typical winter water-birds, including Northern Shovelers. At the south side of Sheep Meadow, a first-winter (non-red-headed) RED-HEADED WOODPECKER is lingering, just north of the 66 Street Transverse and mostly near the SE corner part of the path on the s. side of that meadow. A variety of other wintering birds may be seen in Central Park, with a lot of the ground-feeders easily seen in the snowy surroundings, just now. (That thrush, however can be skulking & is quite mobile - patience is helpful with it.) The Varied Thrush was seen at about noon & also later. - - - - Among lots of interesting reports from all over the place, I found a recent Georgia (the state, not the country near Russia) RBA of interest, with this combination of species highlighted - Pacific Loon, Iceland Gull, Eve. Grosbeak, Buff-bellied Hummingbird, Broad-tailed Hummingbird... along with more "usual" Painted Bunting[s], and more... fun to see 'east, west, north and south' all get reported. Good birding, Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC 12/31/'10
Friday, 31 December 2010 - Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City It wasn't for lack of looking that I did NOT come up with the long- lingering Varied Thrush in the park today - I believe it may still be around, and perhaps was even seen by some of the many others who came seeking it, through its recent haunts? In the area where it had mainly been seen, there were a good variety of more common species, including at least 3 "red" Fox Sparrows, 2 male Eastern Towhees, and 4 species of woodpeckers (N. Flicker, Y.-b. Sapsucker, Downy, & Red- bellied) - while the Red-headed (no red really showing yet) Woodpecker is still around the south path at Sheep Meadow, near the SE corner there, just north of the 66 Street transverse. At least two American Woodcock were found in 2 separate areas, one at the lake shore, another at the parks' north end by the Pool. On the reservoir continue a variety of mainly expected waterfowl & Pied-billed Grebes, American Coots, and gulls of the 3 most typical winter species. A good number of American Robins have arrived in the park in the past week, with continuing roving flocks of Common Grackles all about and sometimes swarming at the Ramble's feeders. The park is starting to thaw a bit yet icy slush & snow hold their grip quite a while in many places. All the tourists are an unending source of human activity, in the many tens of thousands daily. It is likely that a thorough search of the entire park could turn up nearly 60 species even with the recent snow, if one were included fly-by/over raptors & etc. - - - - - ___ Although almost as far from our area as can be, I thought to mention a very nice non-profit organization that is of benefit to birds and other wildlife, and can be supported by - and is very supportive of - visiting birders, who are in the 'relatively' un-birded part of the world sometimes known as Indochina, specifically in the nation of Cambodia, and more specifically at the city which has grown greatly thanks to increasing interest in the ancient ruins and renovation of those ruins at Siem Reap - the organization named for a pioneering native Cambodian wildlife researcher and birder extraordinaire - the Sam Veasna Center for Wildlife Conservation - if anyone is planning a trip to that area, they'll arrange in advance with email, for excellent guides and visits to any number of wonderful sites, from day- trips to multi-day trips and accommodations for single travelers or groups, all benefitting the local communities and good conservation efforts in that country. A nice website for the center is: http://www.samveasna.org/home.php The nation of Cambodia hosts a good number of species, including some charismatic larger birds that have nearly disappeared in much of the region, with the conservation efforts seemingly succeeding in a number of that country's protected areas. (Among the better-known of these rare large birds is their national bird, the Giant Ibis.) I don't normally go on too much about travels so far from home but the organization noted, 'SVC' for shorthand, is really special & deserves much support and definitely a visit if going. A happy & healthy 2011 to all - and lots of great birds! Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC 1/1/11
Tufted Titmouse Red-breasted Nuthatch White-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Carolina Wren Winter Wren Golden-crowned Kinglet Hermit Thrush American Robin Varied Thrush Northern Mockingbird Brown Thrasher European Starling Eastern Towhee Chipping Sparrow Fox Sparrow Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Northern Cardinal Red-winged Blackbird Common Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird House Finch American Goldfinch House Sparrow Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC 2 January
Sunday, 2 January 2011 - Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City In the early morning, the Varied Thrush was not found in the "usual" areas, nor were there any birds there, almost all of the flock activity being a bit south, by up to several hundred yards. All seeking the thrush may wish to try the strategy of simply looking in the area the bird has more often been reported from; I am also interested in just how far out of that area it has been ranging - I think it may go to areas as far as 1/4-mile or so away at times. It will be interesting to see how long this bird lingers in Central, potentially an April departure if it sticks until then. In the sweet gum trees & on the ground in the western half of the Ramble were approximately 150 American Goldfinches and several Pine Siskins, along with a small flock of Red-winged Blackbirds, for a while in mid-afternoon. On looking at the feeders a bit farther east in the area, the young Cooper's Hawk was again up to it's daily (or near daily) hunting rounds, keeping things a bit quiet. The birds usually come back fairly quickly once that raptor leaves, unless the hour is already late. It will be interesting to see if any redpolls show up in Central in coming weeks, with many having invaded northern NY thru New England, and fair numbers being seen within a short way from the NYC region. A brightly-plumaged adult Chipping Sparrow was again found in and next to the Conservatory garden's NW sections - this species is actually as unusual, or more so, for the winter date, as is the lingering/ wintering first-year (non-red-headed) Red-headed Woodpecker that continues just north of the 66 Street transverse road and south of Sheep Meadow. (More Red-headed Woodpeckers have overwintered in Central Park than have Chipping Sparrows.) In the Loch, an American Woodcock is perhaps lingering as I not only saw one again there but ran across other observers who had seen one, "over the past week +".There were as many as 1,500 gulls again around the reservoir, and scanning thru all could be worthwhile, something I barely started on today. On a sky-watch, from the North Meadow area, 2 Turkey Vultures went southeast across the park, perhaps moving east enough to be heading over Queens County... Many areas are re-opened with the big thaw and melting away of the "blizzard" snows. It was, at least for some Manhattan folks, no major storm as seen in years past. Some of those were still in strong evidence many weeks, even months, later... Good birding, Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Varied Thrush etc., Central Park, NYC 1/3
Monday, 3 January 2011 - Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City The Varied Thrush continues on in the same areas, including the northeastern corner of the ramble at the maintenance shed field & around the slope just east of the men's restroom there, as well as wandering a wider circle. At the Ramble's feeders, at least 2 Pine Siskins turned up and fed at the nyjer seed along with many more goldfinches and the other usuals at the feeders. Farther south in the same area where previously seen, the Red-headed Woodpecker (1st- winter) continues n. of the 66 Street transverse road & along the path south of sheep Meadow. A short search for a Chipping Sparrow at the Conservatory Garden area was unproductive, while in general there seemed to me to be fewer sparrows, mainly the numerous White-throated in evidence than had been just after the deep snow. There is still a good amount of snow cover and even some ice lingering in parts of the park, yet the majority is gone. Good birding, Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Tufted Duck report, L.I./n. shore 1/6
Tufted Duck reported Thursday January 6, 2010, same as previous location: from these birders: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ebirdsnyc/message/8502 _ nysbirds Subject: Tufted Duck? From: eyeflight16 [AT] Date: Thu, 06 Jan 2011 22:45:25 + (GMT) I was very surprised to see no reports, positive or negative, of the Tufted Duck today. Anybody see it? James Purcell -- NYSbirds-L List Info: - - - - - - - - - Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] REPORT! of: [W. Mass.] "European Redwing"
Western Massachusetts Rare Bird Alert for Jan. 3, 2011 is archived at: http://www.virtualbirder.com/vbirder/realbirds/rbas/MAWE110103.html To my knowledge the only publicly-accesible information of this report is from the Western Massachusetts RBA. If a Redwing was actually in the area it could easily still be around or be with a widely-moving flock. - - - -- More from Manhattan, N.Y. City, a little later: Varied Thrush continues, Red-headed Woodpecker continues - both still in Central Park there... Tom Fiore, Manhattan - - - - - - -- On Jan 7, 2011, at 9:04 AM, John Askildsen wrote: According to the Massachusetts e-list, there is a second-hand report from a western Mass RBA of a European Redwing from December 30 at "Sebring Horse Stables" in Richmond, MA. This location is just minutes from the Chatham, Columbia County, NY line near the Rte. 22 corridor. The bird was apparently searched for by birders on December 31 with no success. Published details were scant and in reading the e-buzz, Mass birders seemed a bit puzzled over the report. JPA John Askildsen Millbrook, New York -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] V. Thrush, Central Park, NYC 1/7
Friday, 7 January 2011 - Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City The VARIED THRUSH continues, seen at 7:30 - 7:45 a.m. this morning and also very briefly in mid-afternoon as the snow seemed to be ending. The location in both cases was the "usual" area, that is just east of the men's bathroom & maintenance building, located immediately on the south side of the E. 79 Street crosstown Transverse Road that bisects the park (this road is below the grade level of the park itself, and at Central Park West it emerges at West 81 Street, however the E. 79 Street "designation" is slightly more appropriate as that is the junction that is closer to just where the area noted for the thrush is...), and in the morning the thrush was very near the transverse road's upper lip or edge, that is to say it was visible from the park path without having to close in and "push" the thrush as occasionally has happened with eager 'seekers'. I have a few times come upon the thrush with little effort but just as often require an hour or two before it is noticed, and I have missed it especially on days when less than 1/2-hour of effort was given to the bird. It was feeding each time I saw it today. Two male Eastern Towhees also were nearby & there were a lot of White-throated, & at least one "red" Fox Sparrow [s] nearby also. Various other typical winter birds were found in multiple areas. The Red-headed Woodpecker (first-winter, with little or no red on it's head yet) is continuing in the area of the south side path along Sheep Meadow which also is immediately north of and parallel with the 66 Street Transverse Road of the park. I have seen it range up to several hundred yards (up to 1/4-mile, give or take a few yards) from its favored area, but it does seem loyal to the trees & suuroundings of that path. The area is not quite as far east as the southeast "corner" of Sheep Meadow, & can be in trees near a low area of the path or also farther east, or occasionally farther off. A reasonably patient look will reward, probably more regularly than the more sometimes-elusive varied thrush. The woodpecker is occasionally harassed by European Starlings which is a common situation for various birds, particularly in Central Park. It often 'gives as good as it gets', and that is against more than a few starlings. The feeders in the Ramble (about 100+ yards or more south of where the thrush may be) have been active & are worth a look anytime when birding the area in winter. This day i did not put in a long vigil there and did not see much that would not be expected other than a single swamp sparrow among the many white-throated sparrows. At the reservoir (north of the 86 Street Transverse and all the way up to nearly E. 96 St.) were many gulls and Canada Geese as well as a modest variety of typical wintering ducks, some American Coots and lingering Pied-billed Grebe. The gulls here could be worth checking carefully, as 9 or more species of gulls have been seen at the reservoir over the past 15 years, although only the "usual" three species are at all common & regular in any season. There was a time when such goodies as Tufted Duck showed up amongst huge rafts of scaup as well as canvasbacks, but those birds have not graced Central in such huge numbers in about 2 decades. A fair number of Iceland Gull sightings also once came from that reservoir but they've been much more scarce there since about the same time. Good birding, Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC 1/11/'11 [V. Thrush & more]
Tuesday, 11 January 2011 - Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City The lingering VARIED THRUSH was still to be found in its usual areas this Tuesday, however my observations from 7:50 thru 8:20 a.m. found the thrush perched at between 30 and 40 feet above ground, in one of the taller bare oak trees just east of the maintenance shed (the men's restroom on that building's east side) and more or less over the park path. The thrush had only just come into the oak shortly after I arrived, and it spent most of the half-hour simply sitting in the early sun, just coming up from behind buildings and some conifer trees in the east. It preened and occasionally looked about but seemed content to stay in its high perch. At one point there was a disturbance that Blue Jays recognized as the young male Cooper's Hawk that has been in the general vicinity for quite a long time as well. Also in the immediate vicinity were 1 Swamp, 2 "red" Fox, Song, & many White-throated Sparrows as well as 2 male Eastern Towhees. There were some other birds coming in & around there, including a Red-bellied Woodpecker which may have moved in closely enough to ease the Varied Thrush down to the ground from its high branch, as well as Yellow- bellied Sapsucker & N. [Yellow-shafted] Flicker nearby. A couple of young male Red-winged Blackbirds also appeared rather briefly, along with the Common Grackles that have been somewhat regular in the vicinity in the last month. At the feeders in the Ramble, a short way south of the 79 Street transverse road & maintenance shed - restrooms, mainly expected species there included Brown Creeper, both Red & White- breasted Nuthatches, Carolina Wren, & the other winter "regulars". The finch numbers, all American Goldfinch at the time (rather brief) I was watching were not that high in numbers. The first-winter RED-HEADED WOODPECKER remains near the 66 Street Transverse Road in Central, however it has taken to visiting the trees on the south side of that below-grade-level crosstown road as well as the area immediately north of it. It is generally within not more than about 100 yards or so west (and either north or a bit south) of the carousel that is near the park road, in a lower area on the south side of the Transverse. It also may sometimes be hard to find as in colder or inclement weather it can literally be "holed-up" in the surrounding trees. 2 drake Wood Ducks persist at the Pond, just below the skating rink in the southeast part of the park. They are in a small area of open water along with multiple Mallards & perhaps a black, or black-mallard hybrid duck or two. The nearby area of Hallet Sanctaury also has a few birds of interest in the interior, sometimes quite difficult to see. Some of these birds will also cross over to the zoo grounds such as a Brown Thrasher & Hermit Thrush, etc. - there is usually some additional food available in the outdoor areas, as well access to as constantly open water. Good birding, Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Varied Thrush+, Central Park, NYC 1/12
Wednesday, 12 January 2011 - Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City The lingering VARIED THRUSH was in view early this morning, but not exactly in the area where most seekers look, rather it joined a sizable flock of more common wintering birds on the north side of the East 79 / West 81 Streets Transverse Road & a bit farther west than they more often have been congregating, as viewed from the path along the south side of (frozen) Turtle Pond and a bit towards Belvedere Castle (farther west away from the park's E. Drive roadway) - this area may have been in use by this flock due to heavier snow cover elsewhere, or possibly again to the presence of a lingering male Cooper's Hawk, which was also making its regular rounds thru the feeders in the Ramble again. Just before the Cooper's came through, 2 PINE SISKINS joined about 50+ American Goldfinches swarming the feeders, along with over 130 additional birds near or at the feeders, the majority White-throated Sparrows, but also including at least 2 "red" Fox Sparrows and a Swamp Sparrow. Later, at the very frozen (80%) reservoir, I found at least one additional Swamp Sparrow among many White-throateds, on the sunny west edge in amongst the phragmites. The lingering RED-HEADED WOODPECKER (1st-winter) was on the south side of the 66 Street Transverse Road, a bit west of the carousel early this a.m. & I didn't stay long to observe any movements. 2 drake Wood Ducks continued at the Pond at about E. 64 Street (today in the minimal open water at Gapstow Arch), and yet another Swamp Sparrow was in the area, with a Brown Thrasher in the zoo. I was allowed in the outer zoo grounds briefly, in the early a.m. There were at least 250 Common Grackles in a roost coming out of the area near the park's SE corner & flying in to the park. A few birds of interest at Cedar Hill (in the conifers) included at least 2 Red-breasted Nuthatches. Hermit Thrush and some more commonly seen wintering species. The park's total numbers of American Robins seem to have increased just lately, with more than 200 found this a.m., particularly along the upper west side, perimeter areas, and various trees with good leftover fruits. I found (only) 4 Cedar Waxwings at one such tree. There were also roving flocks of American Goldfinch about. On the reservoir's icy expanses, an adult Greater Black-backed Gull made an attack on a Ring-billed Gull: I watched the large predatory gull quickly attack, kill, & gut the Ring-billed, which got almost all the many other gulls up and into a bit of a frenzy, many leaving the reservoir on that incident. With almost no waterfowl or coots or grebe lingering at the reservoir, the park is in true "winter mode" as far as overall bird diversity is concerned. A lot of the park's ducks may have simply moved over to areas of the East River including a few somewhat sheltered coves. At the Conservatory Garden and nearby (behind the west fence) a Chipping Sparrow has continued on - not expected now, but a few have occasionally turned up before in Central even in mid-winter, though perhaps more often by a feeder. Good birding, Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Varied Thrush+ report, Central Pk., NYC 1/13
Thursday, 13 January, 2011 The VARIED THRUSH & RED-HEADED WOODPECKER lingering in Central Park (Manhattan, N.Y. City) continue - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ebirdsnyc/message/8518 Thanks to Ardith & Alice for their observations, & update. [Tom Fiore, Manhattan] -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Varied Thrush, Central Park, NYC 2/4
Friday, 4 February, 2011 - Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City The Varied Thrush lives on in it's 'usual' area within the park, having now been regular there for well over 2 months. It was not initially seen in the area where most often reported (just east of the men's restroom at the Ramble's maintenance shed, which is on the south side of the East 79 Street Transverse Road & just a short distance west of the East Drive roadway of the park). The thrush, as it often, indeed regularly has been in the past 2+ months, was seen in the area across the East Drive (Cedar Hill) amongst the conifer trees there, as well as in and around the maintenance field's shrubby edges, both east & west of the snow-covered field (which is immediately south of the men's restrooms). I also noted that the Varied Thrush went to an area I'd not quite seen it in previously, east of the East Drive & along the edges (both south & north, and in adjacent shrubberies and trees) of the East 79 Street Transverse Road, which again is not at all far from where the thrush has been seen more often. One male Eastern Towhee was also present, as were at least 2 "red" Fox Sparrows, along with numbers of White-throated Sparrows, & some other expected over- wintering (&/or resident) species. The thrush did however make its way over to the "favored area" as well, if only for a short time early this a.m.,yet with some patience that may still be a good place to hold a varied-vigil. I sought out the red-headed woodpecker south of Sheep Meadow but did not happen to find it, and see that there were no very recent reports... with the wintry weather it may have moved on or could easily still be about, spending much time "indoors" with a cache of food if it had stored a good supply away in the late fall. At The Pond near the southeast corner of the park, 2 drake Wood Ducks continue on (amongst Mallards) where open water persists at the south edge of the skating rink. A Swamp Sparrow was also in that vicinity, and a Hermit Thrush as well as a few other half-hardy species were in the C.P. zoo grounds (outdoor) a short distance to the east. The feeders in the Ramble had a variety of birds, mainly of the expected species but the passes thru that (and other) area(s) by at least 3 raptors - a Red-tailed Hawk, a Cooper's Hawk, and an American Kestrel, all had the smaller birds on the alert, and quieted the feeders at times. The Lake on it's western edge held a few lingering Northern Shovelers along with the usual Mallards, plus a few American Black Ducks. The reservoir is still fully iced-over and I saw no gulls or any waterbirds there on a rather brief scan. At least 50 American Robins were joined by 2 Cedar Waxwings, 2 male Red-winged Blackbirds & a fair number of Common Grackles at the area near the West Drive and W. 81-85 Street. A number of species were giving occasional song, despite the sub- freezing early morning. Good birding, Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] V. Thrush, etc. Central Park, NYC 2/14
Monday, 14 February, 2011 - Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City While most paths in the parks are becoming clear of snow or ice, there are going to be at least a few lingering icy patches or areas as ice build-up was so dense, more so than had been in many a winter in NYC. I have had more slips and slides in the parks than in any winter in recent memory. Next up, perhaps, the traditional "mud" season... good for woodcocks. We'll see... The Varied Thrush lingering in the park has recently been varying its exact whereabouts - this was happening previously as well, but in the past week or more seemed to have increased - it will be interesting to see whether the thrush gets into new 'habits' or goes back to frequenting the same areas, especially as snow melts away in the park over the next week. The Varied Thrush has been seen in areas from as far east as the mid-slope of Cedar Hill, and by various others in the area of the Turtle Pond dock, as well as near the adjacent Delacorte Theatre, and has also visited the areas around the Shakespeare Garden & also the West 79 Street yard, where there is some tree and shrub cover. It also has continued to show up at times in it's originally- favored spots near the men's restroom of the maintenance field in the eastern edge of the Ramble, just south of the E. 79 Street transverse roadway & west of the East Drive of the park. However, on both Thursday, Friday (10-11 Feb.) and this Monday, the thrush was seen on the borders of the Great Lawn, Turtle Pond, and even to the west near the w. side of the Delacorte Theatre men's restroom and downslope to the west - which is not far from the West Drive of the park. I saw it on Thursday while also having a chance meeting with Rafael G. Campos of Brooklyn, adding the thrush to his local list. We watched it come into a tree just north of Turtle Pond and also to the "dock" itself, while we stood a few yards away & observed. On other days various other birders have seen the thrush more than a few times at this area, along with some sightings from the maintenance field and building north of that. On Friday morning it visited a number of areas, both at the "traditional" spot early on as well as this spot, near Turtle Pond. It may well wander a bit more, as snow melts away... or keep coming to the most-favored sites. It has brightened slightly in plumage and that has been rather gradual, so far... The (first-winter plumaged) Red-headed Woodpecker has continued on in the same general area, and has been seen as before both on the south side of the 66 Street transverse road, sometimes just west of the Carousel (or merry-go-round), and recently often nearer Sheep Meadow, in trees on that large lawn's SE edges. It has sported some more evidence of spring plumage, with a bit of red showing on it's otherwise not-very-colorful head. 2 drake Wood Ducks continue on at the Pond in the southeast part of the park. The reservoir is still frozen on its surface yet is likely to open up again with the coming milder weather. The ice is usually quite stubborn but will finally give way to liquid water in bright sun and well-above-freezing temp's. The feeders in the Ramble have continued to host sporadic visits from a few Pine Siskins, and a variety of more typical overwintering visitors, including the usual 2 nuthatch species and Brown Creeper, with Fox Sparrow possible near or under feeders, as well as a few scattered elsewhere in the park accompanying White-throated Sparrow flocks. Many birds have begun to give song, this perhaps most evident on less-windy early mornings, but increasingly could be heard at about any daylight hours. Some flocks of American Robins and small numbers of Red-winged Blackbirds, as well as a few Cedar Waxwings have been roaming around for at least the last 10 days, perhaps longer. Common Grackles were around all winter long, using a known roost area near the s.e. corner of the park. This is a relatively recent development as it used to be that grackles did not linger in any large number all thru winter here. We are getting close to a time of year that might bring a few early icterid flocks along. I was recently made aware of a photo-documented sighting of a Black Vulture seen low over Central Park back on 27 January. The observer- photographer for that was Jeanette Holmes. A once unheard-of sight over NYC, the presence of some seemingly resident on Staten Island may be a harbinger of more to be found in other NYC locations over coming years and in almost any seasons. Good birding, Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3)
[nysbirds-l] Varied Thrush etc. Central Park, NYC 2/18
an adult male Cooper's and one possibly a female Sharp- shinned with less bold coloration, were about south of the reservoir (& in the Ramble) plus at least 4 additional raptor species that have been regular; of course, Red-tailed Hawk the most regular of all. I visited the Ramble's feeders and saw a variety of the regular avian visitors there, while passing thru but mostly not stopping in all at once were about 50+ American Goldfinches, with up to 30 or so hanging around at the feeders. There and in other locations around the park, were Carolina Wrens, a single Winter Wren, a successfully overwintering (at least so far) Brown Thrasher, and at the north end, in the Loch, a single Rusty Blackbird in fading winter plumage, which is to say losing its rusty feather tips. Also seen were a modest number of Common Grackles and even fewer Red-winged Blackbirds but these (I suspect) are not arrivals, but some of those which have been around for many weeks. Some nice signs of the ongoing thaw were a good number of very vocal Song Sparrows in multiple locations, and a number of observations of copulation by Mourning Dove pairs, plus a variety of other typical species in song or the beginnings of spring song - as with the "tuning up" process of White-throated Sparrows. A few American Robins also have given the occasional somewhat scratchy songs just lately. Good birding, Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Varied Thrush +, Central Park, NYC 2/24
as typically, are Red-tailed Hawks. Good birding, Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC 2/27 (Varied Thrush, Red-headed Woodpecker, Common Raven, Common Redpolls, Pine Siskins, Bald Eagle, etc.)
Sunday, 27 February, 2011 - Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City The VARIED THRUSH was seen by myself & many other birders, mostly in the location it's been regular in, east of the Ramble's maintenance building, on the south side of the E. 79 Street transverse road, with views ranging from good to less-than-good, mainly depending on the amount of time, or luck in timing observers had. As of today this bird has been in Central Park for at least 3 months now. The continuing RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was at the area between southeast corner of Sheep Meadow & the Carousel, mainly in trees near the 66 Street transverse road. It can be rather still for long periods, and does not seem to have become vocal at all, although it may start to as spring arrives. It is occasionally aggressive towards other birds in the area, including (at times) European Starlings. At 10:15-10:20 a.m., a COMMON RAVEN, very vocal, soaring in above the northeast part of the park (near the Meer) was seen & clearly heard, which was a first in Central Park for me (a very few other birders have reported the species there, so far). The raven was possibly upset with a fly-over 2nd-year BALD EAGLE which was moving fairly low and directly north, continuing on well north of the park. Also seen were 2 Red-tailed Hawks at the same time, neither of which looked willing to get in the mix with the raven or the eagle. The raven made a very low pass by the Meer, but then continued, still squawking, east-northeast possibly out towards the E. River near 110 St. or so. At the Ramble's feeders, at least 2 COMMON REDPOLLS turned up with a large (150+) flock of mixed finches, mainly American Goldfinch with also a number of PINE SISKINS (8+) at first light, but by a bit later in the morning was much diminished in numbers, and by around 11 a.m. it seemed just a single Pine Siskin (along with much lower numbers of Am. Goldfinch) remained feeding on the nyjer seed, or nearby... however I don't know what was or was not seen there after 11. There is not very much really 'weedy' habitat in the park and if redpolls were to be feeding in trees, they could be found almost anywhere within the park. The Ramble otherwise had the usual variety of species, while less-common wintering birds included Winter Wren, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper and "red" Fox Sparrow, as well as a single Myrtle Warbler - likely one others have also been seeing over the past week, perhaps longer. A female Wood Duck which had been around the edge of the lake had been observed (by several other observers) consumed by a local Red-tailed Hawk. Two drake Wood Ducks still persist at the Pond in the park's southeast section, often near the skating rink's south end. The reservoir once again was opening up, with still over half it's surface in ice (in the morning) and had at least several Hooded Mergansers, many Buffleheads, N. Shovelers, and Gadwalls in addition to Mallards and Canada Geese, plus gulls - fewer gulls, perhaps, after the passage of that eagle, but also due in part to the presence of a Peregrine, feeding on the carcass of a gull (apparently Ring-billed) a bit off to the side on ice away from the waterbirds. At the Lake, an increase in ducks at the west edges included over 30 N. Shovelers. In the late afternoon 2 Turkey Vultures were moving past the northwest part of the park, headed roughly n.-e. at a modest elevation. Other raptors in the park (that is, not as fly-overs) included Sharp-shinned & Cooper's Hawk, American Kestrel, Merlin and a few others, some seen by multiple observers as have been in the past few weeks. The early morning featured a modest amount of fly-over activity, especially icterids with Red-winged Blackbirds & Common Grackles the most evident, as well as some finch flocks (only really evident species: American Goldfinch), and also some American Robins, with a slight apparent increase also in their numbers scattered around the park, now well into 3 figures all told. At the north end of Central Park, a few American Tree Sparrows were present in an area near the compost piles - this is generally not a common species at any season, in Central Park. Good birding, Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Varied Thrush, etc., Central Park, NYC 3/2
Wednesday, 2 March, 2011 - Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City The VARIED THRUSH continues but has also been wandering a bit, found (after a good while searching) on the east side of the East Drive and north of the E. 79 Street transverse road. While this is actually a rather short distance from the location the thrush had been most regularly found, it is not an area that many birders take note of, at any season. The thrush was being somewhat skulking when found around 2-3 p.m. this afternoon, with numerous shrubs and some conifers in the area where it was found. (In the early morning I had no luck finding.) I had first noticed that a moderate and active feeding flock had formed on and just north of Cedar Hill (a slope just east of the E. Drive, & south of the 79 St. transverse, which has scattered conifers) and then at first just glimpsed the thrush, in the area across the transverse, and tracked it as it moved close to & on the ground in the area north of the transverse. This area can be viewed from the East Drive of the park (at times when traffic is not active there, i.e. before 3 p.m. weekdays) and to some extent from a path near the southwestern-most corner of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's section that is well within the park. The thrush was active mainly on its own, but very nearby, at times, were: E. Towhee (male), White-throated Sparrows (multiple), "red" Fox Sparrow (2), N. Cardinal, and in sporadic appearance near these ground-feeding birds, Black-capped Chickadees, Tufted Titmice, & Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (2) plus roving White-breasted (several) & Red-breasted Nuthatches, Brown Creeper (1), and Red-bellied & Downy Woodpeckers, as well as Blue Jays. There were 35+ American Robins which ended up passing through the area, and at one point on Cedar Hill, a flock of 12+ Cedar Waxwings, & a few (3+) Golden-crowned Kinglets moved past mainly in the conifers. The waxwings seemed not to show much interest in the fruits that some of the robins (& perhaps the thrush) had been devouring near the 79 St. transverse. A male Cooper's Hawk, male Sharp-shinned Hawk, male American Kestrel, and 2 Red-tailed Hawks all put in appearances in this area in just one hour and on their passes, many but not all of the other birds scattered. In addition there was a Turkey Vulture that very oddly seemed to come after a young Red-tailed Hawk, the vulture almost buzzing a roof on Fifth Ave. as the hawk made a maneuver to get above it, at which point the vulture lifted out and continued east-ish. Late in the day, 6 Turkey Vultures moved by along with a Northern Harrier, my first Manhattan sighting of the latter this year. The RED-HEADED WOODPECKER continues also, also somewhat mobile in its same general area as previously, this mid-day seen a bit farther west than I have most often found it, on the north side of the 66 Street transverse about 1/2-way between the E. & W. Drives. It wasn't really moving much when seen, and I have almost never heard this individual call, so far in my observations. It still shows a mostly grayish-brown head, but a few red feathers may be seen there, in ideal lighting. Movement early Wed. morning consisted of significant numbers of Red- winged Blackbirds and Common Grackles, along with at least some waterfowl movement, especially mergansers and some "puddle" & wood ducks. There also seemed to be a bit of finch movement, but I wasn't in a good place to detect species. Also noted in slightly higher numbers were American Crows and Blue Jays, although these both may have been rather local foraging movements. 2 male Wood Ducks continue at the Pond, and the reservoir now is increasingly open, with ongoing gull flocks arriving & departing daily. Hooded Mergansers have been on the Lake as well as the reservoir, and N. Shovelers in both places as well. At least one female Bufflehead was in Turtle Pond, with many Buffleheads at the reservoir. The other water-bodies are all very slowly opening, the Pond (typically) may be last to thaw, due to the tremendous shadow effect from all the skyscapers, immediately south. I did not watch the feeders in the Ramble extensively enough to gauge much of what may or may not have been feeding there most of the day. Good birding, Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Varied Thrush, Central Park, NYC 3/9,10,11
Wed.-Thurs.-Friday, 9-10-11 March, 2011 - Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City The VARIED THRUSH continued to wander in the general areas where it has been. On Wed. it spent part of the afternoon around the maintenance field's south side, accompanied as it seems it often is by a flock containing a male E. Towhee & a variety of more commonly- wintering and resident songbirds, especially White-throated Sparrows. (The thrush had been seen Mon. & Tues. in an area south of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's south wall, near the north side of the East 79 Street transverse. It may well visit that area on a regular basis & recently.) On Thursday morning before any rains, the thrush was in it's most "typically" seen area, just east of the maintenance shed's men's restroom - it sat in a tree for 10+ minutes at 7 a.m., and later was feeding on the ground in a small patch of bare shrubbery about 35 feet east of there, again in company of the towhee and the rest of the roving flock, and it remained in that spot at least thru 8 a.m. Friday, before 10 a.m., the thrush was first found at Cedar Hill (east side of the park drive), but then it made its way across to the same area, and was feeding with that same flock again. All seeking this bird may need patience as it definitely wanders in the vicinity, and sometimes stays put in one place for some time. Reports by those finding it ought continue, as there continue to be birders seeking the thrush for the first time, including those for whom it would be a first-ever sighting. The first-year Red-headed Woodpecker has continued near the 66 Street transverse & south of Sheep Meadow, also wandering a bit, often within sight of the Carousel (merry-go-round) and always in trees to the west of the nearest park roadway. In the cool and/or inclement weather, it's been relatively quiet and not all that active, which could change with milder weather. including this species, six woodpecker spp. have been seen in the past week, with Hairy actually a less-common one many recent years than the red-headed. A smallish number of Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers & even smaller no's. of N. [Yellow-shafted] Flickers overwintered, and the most common two, Downy & Red-bellied Woodpeckers, are resident. In the past week, when weather allowed, some migration movement was noted, mostly of waterfowl and blackbirds - Red-winged Blackbirds and Common Grackles in modest flocks, with the majority of these passing thru on early mornings and smaller numbers of American Robins also moving in. The waterfowl included mainly expected species, with Ruddy Duck making a return to the reservoir & meer, but in low numbers so far. Also passing through were at least a few Wood Ducks in the past week. "Red" Fox Sparrows have been seen, although they may still be limited to scant numbers that overwintered. Of other sparrows, there seems to have been very little movement so far. Such species as Black- capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, and a few others have had modest build-ups in their numbers as late winter fades into early spring. Also noted this week, by calls in addition to sighting were Fish Crows, the most recent on Wed. by the Meer, in the park's north end. Good birding, Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC 3/12-18 (V. Thrush, Red-headed WP, Pine Warbler, E. Meadowlark, etc.)
ly number of icterids also went thru, with at least 2 Rusty Blackbirds also lingering around the ramble & the loch. A few E. Phoebes continued in several locations in the park. - - - - - Sunday - 7:45 a.m. Daylight Savings Time, VARIED THRUSH seen rather briefly, a bit east of maintenance field building, then flew farther east but I did not try to follow. A single Pine Siskin visited the ramble's nyjer seed feeders early on, with the usual crowd of lingering American Goldfinches. Among arrivals, a couple of Eastern Phoebes turned up, in both the Ramble & n. end, as well as at the edge of Sheep Meadow, and at least one Ruby-crowned Kinglet was seen, in addition to the several Golden-crowned Kinglets that may have overwintered around Cedar Hill. A fairly strong blackbird movement which included a few Rusty Blackbirds, one or two staying in the Ramble and two or more at the north end. Most of the icterid movement however were of the expected Red-winged Blackbird and Common Grackle flocks, with some of each also moving thru other Manhattan parks and generally through the island. With a bit of an eye to the sky, some additional fly-by birds were detected in the early a.m. from first light thru one hour past sunrise - a few Killdeer, at least 6 Eastern Bluebirds, a modest number of sparrows - some landed, especially Song Sparrows, which quintupled in numbers at several parks, and of raptors, an Osprey, and several Cooper's & Sharp-shinned Hawks, as well as some dozen Turkey Vultures (in the like-a-raptor category), plus waterfowl, including what appeared to be Green-winged Teal (very high up and in small no's.) as well as Canada (many) and Snow Geese (few), along with American Black Ducks in modest numbers. In the park, and elsewhere in northern Manhattan there was an increase in American Robins. Saturday 3/12 - noonish, Red-shoulderd Hawk (adult) circling fairly low over n. end, headed n. - and later in the day, 4 Turkey Vultures moved north. Good birding, Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Varied Thrush+, Central Park, NYC 3/20
Sunday, 20 March, 2011 - Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City The long-lingering female VARIED THRUSH continues, with sightings late Saturday and much of Sunday in the area on the north side of the East 79 Street transverse road and a short way south of the south wall of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, within Central Park, about 300 feet inside from Fifth Ave. The thrush was seen in the morning & afternoon in this area on Sunday. Should this bird continue for one more full week, it will have been present in the same "general" section of Central Park for at least four full months. The first-year RED-HEADED WOODPECKER remains near the 66 Street transverse road, usually within sight of the Carousel (south of Sheep Meadow) and recently mostly north of the 66 Street transverse, although it also still may wander a bit on the south side (closer to the carousel). This bird is gaining some adult plumage but it will be a while before it is fully complete. Interesting on a 'local' basis were the great numbers of Song Sparrows & Slate-colored Juncos that had moved thru Riverside Park on Manhattan's upper west side on Saturday, while in Central Park it seemed Sunday was when these species came in greater numbers (than had been there). Also in both parks were very modest numbers of newly- arrived Brown Creepers, Golden-crowned Kinglets, and Eastern Phoebes, and there seem to be a few more N. [Yellow-shafted] Flickers. Also increased a bit in the last week have been "red" Fox Sparrows, many of which are singing along with various other birds that have been quite vocal. Good birding, Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] a third Yellow-throated Warbler in NYC, 4/13
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ebirdsnyc/message/8814 Thus far, at least 3 Yellow-throated Warblers were found in N.Y. City in 5 days: 1. Prospect Park, Brooklyn / Kings County - April 10-11 (Sunday- Monday- ...) 2. Wolfe's Pond Park, Staten Island / Richmond County - April 12 (Tuesday) 3. Alley Pond Park, Queens (County) - April 13 (Wed.) - - - - - - - Good birding, Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Manhattan, NYC 4/14-15 incl. Varied Thrush
lower in overall numbers than the previous few days. So it's not too surprising to hear about some of these earlier migrants already on territories 100+ miles and more north of the NYC area, for a few, even much farther north, these last several days or so. A fly-over breeding-plumaged Common Loon was seen by 2 of us, pointed out by Tom Perlman. We found modest numbers of expected migrants such as Pine & Palm Warblers, Blue-headed Vireo & some others, but not the multiple waterthrushes nor as many of other early migrants as had been. Incidentally, any number of other birders have reported seeing Northern Waterthrush, while thru today I'd only noted Louisiana in Central Park. I did 'scare up' an early-ish Ovenbird in the north woods, on Thursday - that, and a Yellow Warbler earlier this week were the 2 really early species I've seen, not expected in "typical" timing for 10-15 days, or more... There have been Northern Waterthrush reported from Prospect Park, & they also have reported singles of Black-throated Green Warbler, as well as most of the expected species that Central has also had, plus their Yellow-throated Warbler which was still being reported at least to Thursday. (Also, a White-eyed Vireo was among new arrivals at Prospect Park today.) - - - Some who follow reports from various other states, provinces and / or regions of N. America will have seen that there's been a modest push of early migrants through a lot of eastern N. America and at least some species made it quite far north already, although with a lot of nasty weather around, there's also a "pile" of migrants well to the south of NY (including some of the species already seen here in singles or minimally so far). A Massachusetts report has now come in of Yellow-throated Warbler, not a huge surprise, given those seen in SE NY this week. A Purple Martin that reached Newfoundland Canada was certainly on a mission to get far in a hurry; it's probably not too happy with what can be had in the way of bugs there yet. The next really good flight conditions could bring us a first significant push of neotropical-wintering migrants - a good number of these are already pushing into mid-Atalantic states now. It doesn't look too promising for that this weekend, but by today's date, most "bets" are off, and birds are on their way! Good birding, Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] elsewhere in Manhattan, NYC 4/15
In my previous post I used the subject header of Manhattan - I had also visited some smaller parks - as well as Riverside, which did have a fair number of migrants on Friday mid-day. I'm about to head back there - and would post if anything of special note is found - many of the more-common species, including 3 warbler species were present today, along with good numbers of Chipping & other sparrows, & juncos. In some smaller parks in mid-town, a smattering of common migrants on several different days. Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Prothonotary Warbler, Bronx 4/14
(Thursday, 14 April) Prothonotary Warbler, Bronx - in the N.Y. Botanical Garden I received a message late last night and only saw it just now, from an out-of-state birder who had visited the New York Botanical Garden (previously) and met a photographer who took the photo showing a Prothonotary Warbler, apparently a female, on Thursday, 14 April 2011 - the label indicates the bird was seen, and photographed at Twin Lakes in the NYBG, which is in the northwest part of the property, easily reached by heading north past the main buildings to that end of the gardens. It is possible to walk around, I believe and also can be scanned from the path next to the road or from the bridge. If you go and are unfamiliar with the garden, ask any one that works there for the location. (Mike Mastropasqua is the birder who alerted me to this find and the photographer was Pat (a woman) Gonzales. In her photo, the bird is initially labeled, "warbler at twin lakes, 4/14". I'm sorry, but what we don't know is whether the Prothonotary was seen again by anyone on Friday, 15th. It is the sort of place where that species could linger. There also is a lot of appropriate habitat along the Bronx river, both inside the garden as well as to the north (near that area). This find should also be a signal that others of this species could be around the state - indeed it's not all that surprising that this came along when it did as Prothonotarys have arrived &/or have been noticed on some breeding territories just south of NY, such as in southern NJ,in this past week. http://www.nybg.org/map/ (Note that on their map's configuration, Twin Lakes will be to the far left on the map.) The website of the N.Y. Botanical garden lists hours, but it may be possible to park or arrive earlier to bird the grounds. I've not been there recently and can't confirm their policies on that. http://www.nybg.org/visit/hours.php (this will also give other info on the garden). Note that the garden is closed on Monday. http://www.nybg.org/visit/admission_grounds.php (Note that, Saturday until noon, admission to the garden's grounds is free, as well as all day on Wednesdays. The standard grounds-entry fee for adults (non-Bronx residents) is $8. and there are also parking fees if parking at their lot. Another easy way to get to the N.Y.B.G. is by Metro-North commuter train (on weekends, a ticket anywhere within N.Y. City only is $3.75 per person one-way. You must request a city ticket specifically.) The Metro-North stop is called the "Botanical Garden" and is immediately across the boulevard from a pedestrian entrance - (if arriving that way, turn left after entering the garden to Twin Lakes area.) An even less-costly way to arrive is by subway but you'll be doing a bit more walking as the nearest subway is some distance... Good luck if you should go - and please post if the Prothonotary is re- found with location in the garden if it is found again, along with other species noted. (Thanks.) Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] more Yellow-throated Warbler[s] + more migrants, NYC, 4/18
Monday, 18 April, 2011 - No longer tracking just how many of these have been found & reported in the state so far, the "latest" of the flurry of YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER[s] has been reported this morning from Clove Lakes Park in the northern part of Staten Island (Richmond County) in N.Y. City, topping the list of six wood-warbler species mentioned altogether there. Clove Lakes Park is on the NW side of Victory Boulevard. The report is from Ed Johnson of Staten Island, as found here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SINaturaList/message/2183 Also, at Prospect Park in Brooklyn (N.Y. City), a Yellow-throated Warbler has again been seen by Prospect birders at the Lullwater this Monday a.m. - this could well be one that Prospect Park has held for some days now, or perhaps a "new" arrival - as there certainly was a fairly good migration movement last night. This morn's initial Prospect Yellow-throated report from Tom Stephenson, via Peter Dorosh's Brooklyn bird-sightings/news blog. (There will certainly be additional migrant sightings of note at Prospect Park & vicinity today.) At Central Park (Manhattan, N.Y. City) at least 11 warbler species have turned up so far this Mon. morn' - and it's certainly possible that a few more will still be found today - I was in very early, and in a large active flock of (primarily) Myrtle [Yellow-rumped] Warblers, found a singing Orange-crowned Warbler, around 7 a.m., which seemed, along with a good many of the other warblers in that flock, including Palm & Pine, to move on away from where first seen around the western edges of the "Tupelo meadow" - this is the fairly large open lawn area that is a bit south of Belevedere Castle & north of the Gill (stream) and does indeed have a large, fenced, Tupelo (Sour Gum) tree in it's midst or more on it's south edge. In addition to these warblers, there are also Northern Parula, Black-and-white (at least several), Black-throated Green (several), Yellow, Northern Waterthrush, Louisiana Waterthrush, & Common Yellowthroat - all but the last (and maybe that as well) found in & around the Ramble area, with seemingly not quite as much diversity or numbers of new migrants in the north end of the park (as of the morning, that is). A breeding- plumaged Common Loon remained on the reservoir this a.m. & was favoring the NE quarter at that time, as it had yesterday. Purple Finches were moving with a fair number seen & heard both in the Ramble, the north woods later on, and in a few other spots in Central - and associating with American Goldfinch in some places. Additional sightings so far this a.m. were Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, and what seemed like modest numbers of migrant sparrows, with a fresh batch of Eastern Towhees, etc. having come in. The swallows which had gathered at the Meer in the park's far NE corner were much reduced in variety or numbers when I checked in late a.m. today but there may be more moving thru at any point. There are sure to be additional sightings from hot-spots around the city, with a number of observers perhaps having a bit of extra time on these holy days for some folks and / or vacation days for some. A quick check of Manhattan's Riverside Park "drip" and vicinity, around 1/2-hour ago, revealed little migrant activity. There were birds around; all that I noticed are fairly common species. Good birding, Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Varied Thrush+ migrants, N.Y. City 4/18-19
p and perhaps many, or even most as being hybrids in some definable way. I wonder where the hybrid forms tend to overwinter, as I've seen each of the species on their separate wintering grounds, but not seen obvious hybrids there, in relatively 'casual' observations, however.] Both of the species are reportedly fairly common in winter in Nicaragua (a Central American country I've not visited) and perhaps the hybrid forms would be most readily found there as well. A "google-docs" archived article from the ABA's "Birding" magazine on these 2 species and their 2 named hybrid forms, written by Leo Shapiro, with photos by Jim Zipp, is found in PDF file format at: http://www.aba.org/birding/v37n3p278.pdf (however this article does not detail the wintering grounds of these.) Mentioning Central America, if anyone is seeking a highly energetic and enthusiastic birding guide capable of getting birders to about anywhere and to any birds found in Costa Rica, I can recommend one who lives there. He is the son of the author of the most recent field guide to that country's birds and his dad also can arrange tours. Also, we have a highly experienced native Costa Rican birder who leads tours living much of the time in Brooklyn, NYC! Interesting to read reports of Whip-poor-wills heard, in at least two states east of NY. Good birding, Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Bronx-NYBG Prothonotary & C.P. arrivals, etc., 4/20
Wednesday, 20 April, 2011 - At the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx, the male Prothonotary Warbler continued today at the larger of the "twin lakes", actually a small, lightly vegetated (as of now) pond, at the NW corner of the garden. Proceed to your farthest left along the perimeter from any entry point into the garden. The Prothonotary was singing quite a bit thru early afternoon and doing some sallies after small insects at the pond's edges and from adjacent trees; it also occasionally sang or fed higher in trees surrounding the "lake" but always came back to more typically low branches. In the same area were also fair numbers of some of the most typical early spring songbird migrants, along with a couple of drake Wood Ducks. The native forest seemed relatively quiet but had "patchy pockets" of avian activity including more of the same typical early migrants and some residents. The entire garden is of course filled with magnificent blooms in most areas, as the leaves just begin to unfurl. Admission is free to all on Wednesdays & on Saturday mornings just up 'til noon, although those wanting to park in the NYBG lot will pay $12. in the regular lot if not a garden member. On other days, standard admission to the grounds (only) is $8. per adult. The garden opens to the public at 10 a.m., and will be open this coming Monday - normally it is closed on Mondays. - - - - At Central Park earlier this morning, I spent a full 2 hours from first light thru about 8 a.m. at Summit Rock and enjoyed a good showing of migrants including a few newly arrived species, such as a Wood Thrush (giving its typical "drops-of-water" calls), & a first- year male Orchard Oriole, as well as various warblers including Ovenbird, Northern Parula, Black-throated Green, Black-and-white, Pine (several, all but one were females), Palm (fair numbers) and Myrtle [Yellow-rumped] by the 100's, many of which seemed to be moving in the trees, tending north as some of the other birds also were doing. Also present in good numbers were Chipping and White-throated Sparrows, with lower numbers of Eastern Towhee, Swamp Sparrow and some Purple Finches (5+) along with a fair movement of American Goldfinch. Hermit Thrushes continued to move along into the 6:30 period and in general, some of the activity seemed to have moved on and quieted by about 7:45 a.m., but certainly there were still multiples of some species there. Just now, I looked in this area, including at Tanner's Spring (immediately south) and was not that impressed with numbers of migrants - it seems that a lot had moved on. This has been seemingly so any number of times this spring, particularly on days with overcast and/or foggy-drizzly conditions in the mornings. I am going to have a late look at a few more spots! (A more complete report by Thursday eve.) The female Varied Thrush and Red-headed Woodpecker also continue in Central Park, in the same areas each was seen in yesterday and recently, as noted in multiple recent reports. Incidentally, a hint of all this migration activity is strongly suggested by the multiple migrants found in Bryant Park in mid-town Manhattan (immediately west of the main branch of the NY Public Library at Fifth to Sixth Avenues, 40-42 Streets, with (among others) Wood Thrush and adult male Orchard Oriole present there in the morning. This is noted in an ebirdsnyc report from Matthew Rymkiewicz: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ebirdsnyc/message/8869 and a good look at other small city parks or green spaces at this time of year could yield more of such nice surprises! Good birding, Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Yellow-throated Warbler, Staten Island NYC 4/22
Friday, 22 April, 2011 - Via the Staten Island NaturaList, as reported by George Bouquio - a YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER has again been seen at Clove l;akes Park in northern Staten Island, N.Y. City - with the location inside the park as noted in G.B.'s report: "Yellow-throated courtesy of Ed Johnson. Along main walkway, where the bridle path crosses the stream south of Martlings Pond." Clove Lakes Park is along and northwest of Victory Boulebard and can be reached by city bus from the Staten Island ferry terminal, with buses taking as little as 20 minutes to reach the park, depending on traffic. The park is usually a very good area to find spring migrants and is relatively easy to bird, although very ambitious birders can find paths that involve more up & down hill slopes. Many birders simply visit the areas along the paths that parallel the stream, which widens to a series of ponds as it flows north away from Victory Boulevard. Restrooms are usually available next to the restaurant which is a short way from Victory Boulevard. It's also possible to walk back (northeast) along Victory to Silver Lake park & reservoir, which may have some migrants besides whatever water birds are there on the reservoir. Continue past the golf course entrance to find the pedestrian entry to Silver Lake. City buses back to the ferry are available all along Victory, if walking back to Silver Lake areas, too. - - - I've heard third-hand that the Prothonotary Warbler was continuing in the N.Y. Botanical Garden this Friday morning, in the same larger of the "Twin Lakes" where it's been for nine days; (in the Bronx, N.Y. City) - perhaps someone will confirm with first-hand sighting. Good birding, Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Staten Is.,NYC Yellow-thr. Warbler, etc. 4/24
Easter Sunday, 24 April, 2011 - The lingering YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER was again seen in Clove Lakes Park, northern Staten Island (N.Y. City) this morning, as reported to the SI NaturaList. - - - Prospect Park (Brooklyn, N.Y. City) has a Prothonotary Warbler report & will certainly have many other migrants to add in any later reports... the Prothonotary had been reported from next to the Terrace Bridge on the beginning of the Peninsula of Prospect Lake's north shore area - it's possible to have moved a bit, since that initial report earlier. - - - Central Park (Manhattan, N.Y. City) has had a very good arrival of a wide variety of migrant species with, thus far, no real rarities except for the still-lingering VARIED THRUSH (seen a short time ago by the E. 79 Street transverse, north side & south of the SW part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art), as well as the lingering RED-HEADED WOODPECKER just south of the SE corner area of Sheep Meadow - just a bit west or SW of that corner area. At least 2 male-plumaged Hooded Warblers are present today in Central - one in the Ramble and the lingering one at the north woods, which began to sing a bit today. (So far, Manhattan has had at least 19 warbler species, and a 20th would not be a shock on this day. Other boroughs of N.Y.C. may easily push these numbers further still.) There are migrants in Riverside Park's northern sections from at least 79 Street up through the area of the sanctuary. I am just a little hesitant to report that that 'fire-throated' warbler appeared in Riverside, at about 114 Street at approx. 1:45 p.m. - a bird otherwise known as Dendroica fusca. (If one isn't reported from Central Park today, it's reasonable that it may be in the next several days or so...) Today, Riverside seemed to have the best variety and numbers that it has so far this spring as well - and I did not even get into the woods north of the path's end, nor did I do the "drip" area (below) any justice. Those areas are adjacent to W. 118 - 120 Streets and a bit farther on in the "hidden meadow" etc. More on Riverside later, as my intent is to shortly return to Riverside Park's northern areas again, as it deserves some additional scrutiny today! A more thorough report for Central Park (& elsewhere) may be forthcoming late tonight or tomorrow. It is clearly by far the largest migration movement of neotropical-wintering species so far this year here in NYC - and apparently into much of the region - today... Good birding! Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC 4/25 (incl. YTWA report & much, much more, Varied Thrush also still there...)
thanks, David S. for asking about that... it is possible for female Hooded Warblers to have plumage that appears almost identical to an adult breeding-plumaged male... but a female Hooded will not be heard singing!) in the same area of the north end as had been, as well as N. Parula, Nashville, Prairie, Blue-winged, Yellow, Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, Myrtle [Yellow- rumped] (a very substantial a.m. movement of these, many continuing on north from C.P. as the morning continued into the 3rd hour of daylight, with hundreds seen streaming past 110 Street still going north above trees), Palm (highest numbers I've seen of these so far this spring in NYC), Black-and-white (also in impressive numbers and now including a fair number of adult females as well as males), American Redstart, Ovenbird (an obvious up-tick in their numbers overnight), Northern (multiple, and some well away from water) & Louisiana (at least one lingering and singing a bit, at the Loch in early a.m.) Waterthrushes, and Common Yellowthroat (also increased in numbers overnight) - and to keep a running "tally", a Cape May Warbler is reported from the Strawberry Fields area of Central Park, which is near the West 72 Street park entrance, plus more sightings of rather early Chestnut-sided Warbler, & ... there are a LOT of other migrants all over Central, and almost certainly in many other locations this Monday. If you are able, take an hour or more after work, school, etc. and see what's around in your local park or "patch"! For those with interest, a Common Loon in breeding plumage continues on the C.P reservoir. And: the female VARIED THRUSH, and the RED- HEADED WOODPECKER also continue... (as reported previously, in same respective locations as previously in Central Park!) Good birding, Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] and another warbler: Pine (Central {Park, NYC 4/25)
Mon. 25 April, 2011 - Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City In my last post, I believe I neglected to add that several Pine Warblers were also seen by some of us in the park's north end... nice to add that "early-season" migrant to the growing list of species seen here on this impressive migration Monday. Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] REPORT of White Ibis, Staten Island, NYC 4/25
A report of a White Ibis, southern Staten Island, N.Y. City, Monday, 25 April, 2011- Mount Loretto N.Y.D.E.C Preserve is located in southern Staten Island, N.Y. City, off the SE side of Hylan Boulevard, with a small parking area just below Sharott Ave. - the trail referred to "presumable" means going out towards the SE, away from Hylan Blvd. - that is somewhere towards the shoreline area. If that's not what the message means, then I've misunderstood the minimal directions. I know nothing further about this report beyond what's in the initial short posting to the SI NaturaList: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SINaturaList/message/2223 (I am not on the scene, merely passing this along for those with interest.) On the thread of my Sunday report of Yellow-bellied Flycatcher from Riverside Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City, thanks for the input so far. I'm interested in further information and data, even as I concur that the banding data from Long Island's south shore is especially strong evidence for date ranges. The photos taken in Central Park also are of interest but are of course a small, rather limited sample from that site. Thanks to Scott Haber for broaching the subject which is certainly worth the mention. (good luck, if trying for an Ibis!) Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] B'klyn Summer Tanager, etc.; & Central Park, NYC 4/27
Wednesday, 27 April, 2011 - Prospect Park, Brooklyn, N.Y. City - A female SUMMER TANAGER found Wednesday was photographed by Juan Salas in Prospect Park, Brooklyn was the reported via the ebirdsnyc list; photo at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/23604521@N00/5661381343/in/photostream - this bird was apparently seen first in early afternoon at the "Vale of Cashmere" by Alex Wilson of Brooklyn, and was still there at the time J.S.'s photo was taken. Also present in Prospect was at least one Prothonotary Warbler, in the same area as two had been seen the day before, near their zoo. The Prothonotary & other miscellaneous migrants are noted as usual in Peter Dorosh's birding blog that has sightings from a multitude of observers in north Brooklyn's main birding areas. - - - - Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City - Central Park was (and from reports, about all other areas birders visited in N.Y. City) much less active for migrants on Wednesday. Even so, with some effort, up to twenty warbler species were found in the park, collectively - with some species perhaps represented by a single individual seen by multiple observers. There were also a fair selection of some, but not all, of the other migrants having been found in the previous week, almost all species in much lower numbers. As an example it was very obvious how many fewer of thrushes, sparrows, and Myrtle [Yellow-rumped] Warblers, along with other birds, there were to see on Wed. All areas of the park were equally much less active than had been in the preceding several days. The massive exodus of migrants from the N.Y.C. area was visible on radar imagery on Tues. night, with seemingly fewer birds arriving from points to the southwest of the city that night. Good birding, Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] 2nd-hand reports, White Ibis, S.I., NYC (4/27 & 4/29
There are 2 second-hand reports of White Ibis sightings from Staten Island, N.Y. City this past week, both posted on the SI NaturaList, the second of these (top report below) from a different location than the original (and photo-documented) sighting at Mount Loretto: Great Kills National Recreation Area, which is also on the outer harbor & not that far north from Mt. Loretto (which is more on Raritan Bay below the outer NYC harbor area), and is also off the SE side of Hylan Boulevard. This more recent report is from Friday, 29 April (and I had just noticed it this Saturday 7:30 a.m., that is the report - not the bird ;-) http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SINaturaList/message/2254 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SINaturaList/message/2253 Since White Ibis is a "review" species in New York state, it would be great if any photos and field notes, any documentation of sightings by the observer[s], can be submitted to NYSARC (NY State Avian Records Committee), which can be done on-line. Of course, a lot of folks would be interested to know of additional & current sightings! Incidentally, in a quick search of other out-of-expected-range recent records of this species, I did not find any, but there could be some additional reports "out there". Good birding, Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] White Ibis report S.I. NYC, Saturday, 4/30
A WHITE IBIS is reported this Saturday morning, 30 April, 2011 from southern Staten Island, N.Y. City - Mount Loretto N.Y.D.E.C. "Unique Area" is located off soutrhern Hylan Blvd., to the southeast just below the foot of Sharrott Ave. - Please be careful approaching any Ibis, so as not to scare them away. This report appears on the SI NaturaList: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SINaturaList/message/2257 - note that the report does not say that the Ibis definitely is now in the Mount Loretto preserve, rather that the flock including a White Ibis had flown in that direction. Good birding, Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Manhattan, NYC, 4/30
Saturday, 30 April, 2011 - Riverside and Central Parks, Manhattan, N.Y. City At Riverside Park's north end, a female Summer Tanager was found in the morning by Jacob Drucker & Lila Fried, with additional observers later on, and a number of the later observers got to see the tanager go to the "drip", also captured in a photo by Barrie Raik, later. I also had an observation of that bird, much higher in pin oaks near W. 114 Street inside the park, at least 3 or 4 short blocks south of the drip in late afternoon (after it had been seen at the drip), & I also made a count of the Scarlet Tanagers present in trees from 120 Street thru 100 St. inside Riverside Park (in the trees visible from the Drive's park-side promenade & the inside perimeter wall) - there were a minimum of a dozen, and very likely more, with at least 4 male Scarlet Tanagers in the northern-most areas, and at least 8 female- looking Scarlet Tanagers, which were almost all farther south of where the males were concentrated... this was among the highest concentration of these in a smallish area I've seen in recent years and certainly the most I've encountered all in one area within Riverside Park. Among other Riverside Park sightings were at least 17 Warbler species, from multiple observers at different times of day and including areas of the northern woods as well as some farther south in Riverside, but mainly around & at the sanctuary and the "drip" areas. A Worm-eating Warbler was on a steep slope well north of the tennis courts near 120 St., and among some of the later-to-migrate warbler species were: Chestnut-sided, Magnolia, Black-throated Blue, Blackburnian, and Canada Warbler. There also were a few Veery, Swainson's Thrush, and Wood Thrush, along with Red-eyed Vireo, Indigo Bunting, and some additional migrants. A total of at least 20 observers contributed to these sightings, and at least some were out there thanks to the timely post about the earlier sighting of the Summer Tanager from Lila and Jacob. More birders sometimes do equal more birds seen :-) - - - - - Another great day in Central Park, with many folks out in the morning and some on into or getting a later start in the afternoon. Among the many highlights were a lingering (assuming the same individual as on Friday, as most do assume) singing male Cerulean Warbler in the Ramble, and a small number of Cape May and Bay-breasted Warblers, with at least 2, possibly 3 or more Cape May in as many locations, and at least 4 or 5, likely 6 or even more Bay-breasted, in almost that many various locations. There was also at least one Yellow-billed Cuckoo, and a whole bunch of additional newly or recently arrived migrants. That said, and as with Riverside, Central did not have migrants "dripping" from every tree - far from it, one did need to work and go find the flocks and sometimes find individual birds, with some areas of the park being relatively quiet. It was excellent for migrant variety on a date still (barely) in April, yet it's to be seen if we have a truly tremendous day with total numbers of migrants that inundate the park. (Such a phenomenon does not necessarily happen even once in each spring season.) *The "Five-Boro Bike Ride" takes place Sunday, May 1st- this will impact Central Park, particularly the entire C.P. East Drive and adjacent areas of the park for, at a minimum, all morning. - - - - - A later-in-the-day search for a (reported early on Saturday) White Ibis in southern Staten Island seems not to have been successful in re- finding that rarity. - - - - - A Purple Gallinule was reported Saturday from Preque Isle State Park, Lake Erie, Pennsylvania (about 15 miles west of the NY-PA border near Ripley, NY). - - - - - One veteran of 50+ years of birding has stated what a number of us, even if less-experienced, may also think: "never have i seen such an early spring with so many early arrivals!" Good birding, Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC, 5/3 (+ 5/1 Varied Thrush)
aving moved en masse into and thru the city parks around here, but also of so many species having already reached or nearing their ultimate summer destinations, their respective breeding areas. A huge number of species and individual birds have done just that, which is quite a bit earlier than the norm, in terms of more than a few "early" arrivers in some more northerly destinations. This will play out for weeks longer yet is already a notable event. A lot of the species seen in NYC are also already turning up at, north of, or near the Canadian border (of those that nest that far north) or into some of the more northeasterly ranges that they respectively occupy. It looks as though a lot more could be on the move in the coastal plain from the southeast thru New England, ahead of a wet weather system pressing northeast overnight this Tuesday eve. Good birding, Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES 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://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Manhattan, NYC, 5/4
Wednesday, 4 May, 2011 - Central, Riverside, & Morningside Parks, Manhattan, N.Y. City On a rather damp, overcast and increasingly chilly day, after a big "fall-out" as happened the day before, I spent a few hours early in Central's north end, then later on a few more hours starting there and moving into Morningside & Riverside Parks, and ending up again in Central... it was a lot less hectic for migrants than the frenzy of Tuesday, yet in Central Park's north end early on, there were a good number of birds about. I was able to come up with 16 species of warblers in 2 hours of the early morning (5:45 - 7:45) which on a weather day as this was isn't so bad - the more rare and/or uncommon species went missing, although I did find a young (1st spring) male Summer Tanager which was calling quite a bit, in the woods just east of the Great Hill's e. edge (not far south of the Blockhouse) - in contrast to the several male Scarlet Tanagers that were singing (rather than just calling). The farthest north sections of the woods were quite active with the most common migrants, while a bit farther south seemed to contain a better mix of species. In Morningside Park, pickings were thinner, or seemed so, but the weather was already starting to look less productive with the temperature falling even by about 7. I quickly "ran" thru and heard or saw a very modest variety of the most common migrant species, then a rather abbreviated visit to Riverside Park's farthest north fringes - including the area of woods above & past the tennis courts, to about 122 St., which held modest numbers of birds, but most noticeably at least several singing Scarlet Tanagers. Farther south in Riverside it seemed quieter. Then it began raining rather steadily with an increasing NW wind and temp's. back into the 50's. I didn't fare too much differently later on in the day, with the focus again on Central Park, going from north to south, but at least there were birds in a lot of places, and a bit of activity throughout, to the end of the day. It's pretty hard to compare this day with the one before, with perhaps only one-tenth the number of birders out & about, and the weather as it was. Even so, it seemed likely that a great many birds moved on Tuesday night & yet, the day was still quite good under any circumstances, for fair numbers of migrants. It seems that the few who searched came up empty on re- finding the most rare new migrants of Tuesday - such as Kentucky Warbler or Yellow-throated Warbler as seen on Tuesday... & in a really brief look about for the varied thrush, I had no luck on that mega, which could have moved on with the huge wave, although it surprised once or twice already in staying on thru earlier & modestly strong migration nights here. A Red-headed Woodpecker was still present in the same area it's been in, south of the southeast part of Sheep Meadow, just a bit west. I know that a few folks were on the Great Hill specifically seeking Kentucky with no luck; I had tried those same sections a short while before and also later on in the day, also to no avail. (That particular bird could re-surface, as the species has sometimes stayed on in Central for many days, and occasionally began to become more vocal after a number of days of silence.) - - - - - - Some interesting "elsewhere" bird reports of note include a current report of Black-bellied Whistling Duck[s] in Massachusetts, and ongoing reports of a male Garganey in southwest Ohio (with no one yet chiming in on the bird being other than wild). There was a Purple Gallinule in the Washington DC area, in addition to one found a few days earlier on the southeastern shore of Lake Erie, in Pennsylvania - still being seen there Wed. A female Ruff (also called a "reeve") was found in a restricted section of a national wildlife refuge in Stratford, Connecticut. A number of Brown Pelican sightings have surfaced far north of their typical range - a few in the Canadian Maritimes amongst these. A lot of terns (of several expected species) were moving today, as evidenced by many reports, from a lot of eastern North America. Good birding, Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES 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://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Kentucky W., Central Park, NYC 5/5
Thursday, 5 May, 2011 - Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City A non-singing Kentucky Warbler is still present on the south / lower slope of the Great Hill, just above the north path along The Pool, nearest the West 103 St. park entrance. I was alerted to the bird by a single sharp "tsek" note (a call, not a song) & then had several close views as it skulked in shrubs within the fenced area a short way east of a large "balancing" boulder - this area is accessible by a small wood-chipped foot path or simply by peering in from the path along the Pool's north side. There is a lot of dense shrubbery around - good for that bird, and a bit difficult to follow - I left it after 3 rather brief but close viewings, at exactly 9:18-9:20 a.m. This is certainly the same non-singing individual present in the same area on Tuesday. It may roam a fairly wide area, perhaps up to or more than 100 yards on that slope (typical of visiting Kentuckys, at least in many instances in Central over the years). It would be a lot easier to locate again if it were to sing - and anyone who does hear, indeed any sought-after songbird or even any bird that vocalizes at all, ought report the vocalization, if heard - this is greatly helpful to those of us who bird by ear as much as by eyesight. The area described above is approximately 100 yards or less east of Central Park West at 103 Street. Good luck if you go. Also about the north end are a wide variety, if less-than-stunning numbers, of migrants with warblers strongly featured again. Later in the day or tonight, I'll report on any further sightings. Good birding, Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES 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://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC 5/5 & 5/6 (+ 'elsewhere' rarities)
Although in Ohio, a singing male Kirtland's Warbler at Columbus (Ohio) is quite the find - the bird has been seen and heard by crowds of birders there over the past several days - quite the cooperative visitor! There'd also been a drake Garganey for some time in Ohio, and still no word that it's anything other than "presumed wild". The hordes of birders at the nation's newest spring hot-spot north of the Gulf Coast, Magee marsh area, have been enjoying hordes of migrants - there's a reason the place got so popular! As in most of the east, the very early trend has been noted in a lot of migrants first arrival dates... (Magee marsh is near Ohio's Lake Erie shores - these reports are detailed on that 'buckeye' state's birding list-serve.) While a small flock of Black-bellied Whistling Ducks were not reported again in Massachusetts, a White-winged Dove did just appear in that state. A Kentucky Warbler made it to Maine, on Monhegan Island off that state's 'mid-coast'. There are additional reports of Kentuckys that went a bit farther than the expected summer ranges. Keep looking up also, kites of at least two species (Mississippi and Swallow- tailed) have been reported recently from a bunch of places farther north than they (once were) "expected", including north of the southern parts of N.Y. A bit farther north than is "expected", a Gray Kingbird was photographed in North Carolina and was present from May 4-6th. The reports and photo-link are on the 2 state's birding list- serve. - - - - Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City - The Varied Thrush that stayed on so long may finally have gone, although the last time I wrote that, there it still was - a last definite report that I'm aware of was for Sunday, 1st of May. This bird surprised a few times already this spring, by staying on through strong migrations that took place earlier in April and just a week ago. - - - Friday 6 May, 2011 - A Red-headed Woodpecker remained in its favored area, south and west of Sheep Meadow's SE "corner" or slightly farther south & west, with the 66 Street transverse road a landmark, as well as the Carousel a bit farther south. The woodpecker is not "expected" to stay on a lot longer, and it's unusual that it has stayed even to this date. (Many have overwintered in Central Park and of those that have in the last several decades, the majority had moved on by this time of the spring.) Diversity continued to be quite good, with combined reports tallying at least 25 warbler species again, although it wasn't clear whether a Kentucky Warbler was in fact among these for a third day, nor if any Yellow-throated Warbler was found... however, a warbler species "du jour"could have been Cape May, with multiple sightings, and interestingly, there were multiples of that species reported from a number of locations around N.Y. City as well as outside the city; a seemingly simultaneous influx in the local area (although these had been found previously, it seemed even more reports came in). Thursday, 5 May - Despite a lot of individual birds having moved on since Tuesday's fall- out there were still a good diversity of species again - and it seems at least 25 (perhaps even more) warbler species were collectively seen in Central today - the Kentucky continuing at the slope north of "the Pool" east of West 103 Street, and at least one Yellow-throated Warbler also continuing near Bow Bridge, with various others including Tennessee, Cape May, Bay-breasted, Hooded, and Worm-eating Warblers among those still also being found, from the north end and/or Ramble areas. In overall numbers, far fewer than last Tuesday but in diversity, still plenty to see! - - - - - - A nice report from Karen Fung of a dozen warbler species (& other migrants) in a short early afternoon visit to Riverside Park's "drip" near W. 118-119 Street on Manhattan's far west side, for Friday, 6 May - this list suggest that a longer stay could have produced a longer list of species, although as KF noted, timing (and lots of patience) is almost everything at this location - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ebirdsnyc/message/9051 - with no sun, the drip itself is usually a very slow spot to see migrants; and with increasing foliage daily, a warm & sunny afternoon is perhaps the best time to try - sometimes the birds may also be active here in mid-morning, or at other times when truly hot weather occurs during migration periods - and most especially in periods with no appreciable rain for a few days or more. (It can then act as a sort of small oasis, with the water that reliably "drips".) Good birding, Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.
[nysbirds-l] Manhattan, NYC 5/9
Monday, 9 May 2011 - Manhattan, N.Y. City Central Park continued to enjoy some of the same species it has been lately, including multiple Cape May Warblers, particularly at the old bridle path around the reservoir, which has had some nice flocks (of warblers in particular) in oaks and some other trees in the last few days. I made a full circuit around the reservoir and found a good mix of warblers in many trees all around, on each "side" in the morning. At least 2 sightings of Kentucky Warbler[s] have been reported, one this morning at the Great Hill's eastern upper edge, by Jim Demes, who also noted that it sang a bit; and another (presumably different) had been photographed a few days ago in the Ramble and may have been seen again, although if so, apparently by just a few observers (out of many seekers) there... all fairly typical of many Kentucky sightings. A number of people commented on this day being a bit less active than the day before. We are likely due for another push of migrants sometime soon, perhaps with more females of a lot of species as well as many more of some typically late-arrivers in the spring "schedule". Probably the biggest news from Central Park was the discovery of a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher nest, in a fairly well-birded location, by some of the more active migration-period observers in the park. This might be a first nesting attempt by the species there, unless there are any very old records. This species has nested in perhaps all the other boroughs of New York City in recent years. - - - - - - - - - At Riverside Park's "drip" and vicinity, migrant activity was about half or less what it had been on Sunday. There were some birds, but not the same movement in the woods nearby, and as a result not all that much at the "drip" itself. That said, a male Summer Tanager, & at least 3 Scarlet Tanagers (2 females and a male) that showed, plus at least the following ten warbler species, and a feisty (bill- snapping aggressively at tough House Sparrows) female Rose-breasted Grosbeak, several male Indigo Buntings, an Eastern Kingbird hanging around all day, and a few more migrants species was at least some small reminder of what could be, with sun and perhaps a bit less wind, a good showing at this small site under the larger wooded bird sanctuary above. A lot of birders stopped by as well. The coverage went from around 12:30 p.m.- sunset, by a lot of folks at various times, including Geoff Nulle, who is responsible for a lot of the care the sanctuary receives, and monitors the birds and conditions in that area of the park. (We did not see any cuckoos today, nor did a Chat put in even a brief showing.) Riverside "drip", 12:30 - 7:30p.m. Northern Parula Yellow Warbler Magnolia Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler American Redstart Ovenbird Northern Waterthrush Common Yellowthroat Wilson's Warbler There was a report from an experienced observer in Connecticut of a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, which caught my attention, as I had found a (as it turns out, quite early) small flycatcher in Riverside Park at least 2 weeks ago now, which sang in exact match, as well as in plumage, for that Empidonax species. There are still a lot of that genus to arrive here and also more of a number of other flycatchers as well as thrushes, vireos, later warblers, and many other migrant song and "land" birds. A lot more of this month still to come. Good birding, Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES 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://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Manhattan, NYC 5/11
forementioned Hooded, as well as other typical mid-season species... and a mix of mainly 'expected' other May migrants - in modest or low numbers, given the date and the expectations of "more yet to come thru". It's sort of amusing that these N.Y. City parks can have 18 (or more) species of wood-warblers, and folks still call that a "quiet" day. So - yeah... we expect a lot around here, in mid-May! (I'm anticipating a bunch of migration, perhaps as soon as right now - that is, more arrivals overnight. One way to find out if that holds If not tonight, then quite soon - one caveat for NYC and points east are the "dreaded" easterly winds... which, if potent enough, will make a somewhat strange spring migration hereabouts just a little bit stranger yet... but then nice to seek some Sooty Shearwaters, terns, and such: more in-shore.) Incidentally, if anyone has photos or notes from this month of May in Central Park that include the female Varied Thrush that was at the area along the E. 79 Street transverse road, please share that information. It seems the last definite sightings of that rare-in-the- east species was on May the first in Central Park. If you saw or photographed it after that date, please say so... thanks! (if you wish to contact me privately, that's fine, or share the sighting with this list.) Good birding, Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES 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://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] addendum re: Manhattan, NYC 5/13
In my previous post I neglected to add that virtually all of the birds seen in Riverside Park (May 13) Friday afternoon were seen by Jeff Nulle, and I visited as well for less time than Jeff. A number of other observers also stopped by for varying lengths of time. The last warbler seen bathing was Canada Warbler, at sunset - 7:40 p.m. but overall the activity was much reduced after 6 p.m. on this day. As some know, occasionally there have been excellent sightings here as late as sunset, usually on really "big" migration days and with more warmth & sun that this day offered. Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES 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://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC 5/14
Saturday, 14 May, 2011 Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City The weather didn't help, but mainly there was seemingly more exodus than influx overnight Friday into Saturday. This was evident in the reductions in numbers of such very common migrants as Red-eyed Vireo & Gray Catbird, just to name two examples - and yes, both species breed in Central Park (Red-eyed much less commonly) but the numbers of birds passing through was far less on Saturday than in preceding days. One species for which there seemed to be a perceptible uptick in numbers was Swainson's Thrush, this most evident in parts of the park with relatively less foot (human & canine) traffic. Very dedicated searching, in multiple areas was capable of turning up as many as 20 (or more) warbler species, but not easily... - - - - Singing Mourning Warblers were reported from at least 2 separate locations on Staten Island on Friday, 5/13; that in addition to the one reported singing in Brookyn's Prospect Park that same day. Also noted for Prospect Park, but on Saturday, 5/14: Yellow-breasted Chat. It's quite impressive seeing reports from the north, how many species and numbers of some of those migrants have found their ways to points north, some even well into Canada. At least some of those migrants are ones that have barely been reported in the southeast parts of NY, so far. Locations well west of the Atlantic have been experiencing some impressive migration just recently. Good birding, Tom Fiore Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES 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://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC 5/15 (& elsewhere goodies)
There's at least potential for almost any bird to turn up at this time, particularly in the weather scenario that's playing out along the eastern seaboard and well inland. Among batches and bunches of interesting sightings was a photographed Cassin's Sparrow in Massachusetts, one report with photo link: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/MASS.html#1305503261 - note that that bird may not have been re-found. Also note that there had been a small push of that western sparrow species into the southeast recently, from reports in several southern states. On the dove 'front', there are at least several additional W.-w. Dove reports up & down the mid-Atlantic to New England coast & also way "down-east", on Newfoundland, Canada. There are also reports of Eurasian Collared-Doves, continuing their infiltration to points north of where they've been a bit more established in recent years. But speaking of Newfoundland again, they have had the "usual" some number of Greater (a.k.a. European) Golden-Plovers, although don't hold the breath awaiting one to stray quite as far west as Long Island... still... maybe. Various "southern" strays have made their way far north, too - such as a number of summer tanagers to the Maritimes of eastern Canada, and a at least a few Kentucky warblers in that direction, and various others... Also, already appearing in some points well north (of the latitude of NYC, at least) have been Mourning Warbler and Empidonax of at least several species, as well as Olive-sided Flycatcher. Black- bellied Whistling Duck has been reported from some states well north of the Gulf Coast area - & could potentially show up almost anywhere now. There were a whole bunch of "big days" and various bird-a-thons, etc. over this weekend, among them one held throughout the southernmost county in NYC & state, Richmond County, also known as Staten Island - the combined tally for all those who participated in their "big day" was well over 150 species - and among the highlights was the still- lingering adult WHITE IBIS in Great Kills park / NRA (= National Recreation Area), along with plenty of other great sightings, by many observers. See: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SINaturaList/message/ 2325 - the big day there was held on Saturday, 5/14 and went from midnight to about dusk, 8pm. Speaking of dusk, Common Nighthawks are moving well up lately and more should be coming. --- Sunday, 15 May, 2011 - Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City While an annual event brought thousands of young people thru parts of the park, and early rains dampened all a bit, birds were certainly still to be seen and heard, with a mix of migrants that was somewhat similar to recent days, and again included a few of the warbler & thrush species that usually get more numerous by about mid-May. At least 20 warbler species were found, & a good many, or even all, were still represented by males (as well as some, or many, females) and a lot of the latter were singing away right into the afternoon (I spent more time out after 9, than before.) A very modest number of Gray- cheeked (and all I saw well looked to be that, and not Bicknell's) Thrushes were in locations from the far north to far south sections of the park. There were far more swallows feeding than on any previous day this spring, the majority Barn Swallows, and the highest numbers over the reservoir. At least one fast cuckoo fly-thru was seen in the ramble - too fast to determine which of 2 species, Black-, or Yellow-, billed... There were also at least a modest number of some especially common migrants, mainly warblers, in some street trees, although not far away from either Central or Riverside Parks, Sun. - into the afternoon, some still singing then. A couple of Common Nighthawks made their way easily up-river along and over the shore & trees in Riverside, just shortly after the sky broke loose again with thunder and more rains, then a lull in any rains. Good birding, Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES 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://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] reported White Ibis continues, S.I., NYC 5/16 (& C.P. birds)
Monday, 16 May, 2010 - report from Great Kills park, Staten Island, N.Y. City - Please do nothing to scare up this or other shy birds if visiting, and take care to heed all park rules and restrictions. The lingering adult White Ibis continues per the latest post to the SINaturaList: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SINaturaList/message/2329 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Some migrants are still in Central Park, including a singing Mourning Warbler, as of about 1 p.m. at the west side of Hallett Sanctuary, just west of The Pond. (There's also an indefinite, belated 2nd-hand report from Saturday in Central. Or perhaps it's very definite, and merely a bit belated.) In any case, that's one species which continues to be findable into the end of May & sometimes June in Central Park. Song is key - assuming a male is sought... like most migrants now that foliage is as thick as it's ever been by this date. Other sightings today included a male Summer Tanager, in Strawberry Fields, as reported by J. Ritter and at least a fair assortment of other warbler species spread through the park, some still singing in some locations, past noon-time. There seemed more activity in the north & around the reservoir's bridle path - but that could be all about a start in the north end, after the morning showers. No signs of any "drop-ins" related to this weather... but that could happen just about anywhere. Good birding, Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES 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://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Manhattan, NYC 5/17
Tuesday, 17 May, 2011 - Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City On returning to seek the male Boat-tailed Grackle I photographed in Central Park earlier in the afternoon, i did not see it again, nor at the Meer, another logical place to look given that the first couple of sightings were at that place. Early in the morning and again around mid-day, I sought the overwintered Red-Headed Woodpecker south of Sheep Meadow, but I did not see it, even on a second try and i'd guess it's moved on. Wet, windy and relatively quiet, as was more or less expected. I worked from Summit Rock (near W. 82-85 Sts.) to the Pond & Hallett Sanctuary, before early rain came on fully again, and later visited the reservoir & points north in lulls between heavier showers. The north end seemed a bit less active, although there were some migrants and I did not do that thorough a tour of all the wooded areas. The reservoir had fewer swallows (yet still many dozens, primarily Barn) while the Meer showed an increase in swallows, with also an impressive mass of Chimney Swifts feeding much higher. Migrants were around in very minimal numbers, and that's likely to be so here until this weather system pulls out. In passing the Hallett Sanctuary, I heard a few warblers sing, but no Mourning, this morning. In all, I came up with these dozen warbler species either seen, or heard: N. Parula, Yellow, Chestnut-sisded (2), Magnolia, Black-throated Blue (2), Blackpoll (3), American Redstart, Ovenbird, N. Waterthrush, Common Yellowthroat (several), Canada, and Wilson's Warbler[s].- roughly corresponding with the species I'd been seeing or hearing most regularly here in the past few days. Also seen & heard were a few Swainson's Thrush, Wood Thrush, and Veery, Warbling, Red- eyed, and Yellow-throated (1) Vireo[s], Scarlet Tanager (females, and a singing male near The Dene - E. 67 St.), & Baltimore Oriole (which breed in the park). Many of these were single birds, other than the species noted above as more than (1). I'd also guess that many were in the park the day before as well, and only the most localised movement took place overnight, but there could have been a bit of exodus. This list could appear to be a "lot" but it's almost as minimal as could be for the date. A few days prior, let's say on Saturday there were probably ten or more times the number of birds (migrants, that is) in this park. Earlier still, there were far more. ----- Riverside Park (Manhattan) - was generally quiet in late morning (as expected) but there were some migrants, and almost all that i encountered were females (thus some of the quietude), with at least 7 warbler species seen (including Black-and-white, not noted by me in Central, although likely present there, along with any number of other lingering or straggling migrants), or heard (a B.-t. Blue and C. Yellowthroat), plus Great Crested Flycatcher and Scarlet Tanager (female). These past several days here have featured far fewer birds (in overall numbers) than would typically be expected here for these dates, smack in the midst of May. A lot had already moved on and into breeding areas, yet there will be a further push of the later-arriving species &/or stragglers. There has been tremendous movement in areas of central & western NY, & farther west. A lot of the species that are primarily insectivorous are struggling with feeding in some northern areas as the chilly weather makes for a lot less food for them; that should change by the coming weekend with sun reappearing and milder weather. Good birding, Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES 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://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] [Mass.] Eur. Hobby, etc. & C.P., NYC 5/18
vigorously at the Reservoir, quite late in the day. It's not the absolute latest I've seen them in spring at Central (and there also are the odd lingerers of summer 2006 when sightings continued straight through to at least late July at the C.P. reservoir) but is certainly later than typical for the location. There was also a good evening movement of night-herons, typical at dusk here, through summer. Good birding, Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES 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://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Manhattan, NYC 5/19
Thursday, 19 May, 2011 Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City - A male Boat-tailed Grackle again turned up in the park's north end, back by the Meer, where it had first been found in early-mid April. It was rather vocal and did some "displaying" - but to what end? (No female or second male has been reported yet.) There are of course Common Grackles around, as always. Anyhow, this Boat-tailed was apparently seen quite early, and I came upon it around 8-8:15 a.m., but later attempts to see it were unsuccessful, including my tries for it again late in the day. Other birds that went "missing" today (not seen at all, to my knowledge) were the American Bittern (of Wednesday, at the Lake). A Summer Tanager was reported again, same location as the last sightings, at Strawberry Fields. The early, thick fog put a literal damper on some of the activity and song that would otherwise be so typical of a mid-May morning... still, some migrants and certainly nesting species were 'belting out' songs. In my wanderings in early morning and afternoon, it definitely seems that some of the same birds (& here I do mean the same individuals) have stuck around through the damp week and in some cases are in almost the same areas they'd been in all week. The overall number of migrants seems, to me, to have diminished a bit, however. I also saw slightly more females of some species today, but that might be just chance. ----- Riverside Park's northern parts (north of W. 106 St., to about W. 120 St.) had some migrants, and the "drip" was receiving warblers thru 5 p.m., to my surprise - I counted 8 species going in and bathing there in less than 1/2 an hour... they certainly had any number of other puddly places they might have got their wings wet. I'm guessing that all these were birds that simply went in to an area where they knew it was "safe" and had recently been going. I also saw a modest number of warblers & a few other migrant species in the trees of the "sanctuary" above the "drip" and just to the north & south; no very uncommon species, but a few more Blackpolls than I'd counted previously in Riverside, up to a dozen. ----- While the coastal parts may have been in a bit of a "holding pattern" for land-bird migrants, some of those have made their way inland & north towards their breeding destinations, with even Blackpoll and Mourning Warblers being seen in the multiple up in parts of Canada & elsewhere in the north country. It seems the European Hobby was not seen in Mass. (or any other eastern U.S. location) today - from what was reported. Good birding, Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES 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://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Kites in neighboring states, Curlew SP in R.I.
Today, Saturday, 21 May 2011 there were reports of a Swallow-tailed Kite seen moving east from the Great Swamp Wildlife Management Area in north-central New Jersey, and - a report from Connecticut of 2 Mississippi Kites in a known breeding location, as well as Mississippi Kite reported from Pennsylvania... so... "keep an eye to the sky"! (Additional sightings of these two Kite species have also been reported from Maryland, Virginia, & points south...) Also, a Curlew Sandpiper was found & photographed in Rhode Island today; photo at: http://ribird.org/birds_2011/ (photo by observer Paul L'Etoile). Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES 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://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] BB Whistling Ducks, NY to NJ, 5/23
Monday, 23 May, 2011 - (These are the 5 Black-bellied Whistling Ducks reported earlier from Orange County, NY, by John Haas et al, to NYS BIrds. (The Walkill N.W.R. straddles the New York & New Jersey border.) Tom Fiore, Manhattan _ _ _ _ https://lists.princeton.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind1105=JerseyBi=0===23549 >>>>>>> Subject:Oil City Road - Black Bellied Ducks in NJ From: Jim Schlickenrieder Date: Mon, 23 May 2011 4:33 p.m.[EDT] Hi All, I just received a call from Andy Egan that the Ducks have gone south of the viewing platform and are now in New Jersey. From the platform looking south, take the East Trail of Liberty Loop. It's a good long walk about halfway down to the southern end of the loop. All 5 birds are presently sleeping. Good Luck if you go, Jim Schlickenrieder Butler, NJ http://jerseybirder.blogspot.com/ -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES 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://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC 5/22-23
There will be some more land-bird migration - it's happening this evening. Sunday-Monday, 22-23 May, 2011 - Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City After a period during which weather had contributed to some excellent birding in Central Park, quite the opposite came about with departure and very little, if any, real influx there. Most of what birds were still around may well have been among those that lingered from previous days, and the very cool & very overcast conditions did not inspire birds, or many observers, to that much activity. For the dates, it's been extremely "slow" in terms of ongoing migration. Of course it's just a local phenomenon! Also this really applies to particular land bird movements, as overall many birds are continuing to move each day and night. On Sunday, there were still 2 species of tanager, with 1 Summer Tanager lingering at Strawberry Fields, and another seen elsewhere, plus Scarlets in at least a few locations (mainly females noted by me). The warbler variety was limited, and I struggled to find a dozen species, with only Blackpoll really getting just into double-digit numbers. At least one person noted a Mourning Warbler in the Ramble, which all too typically was not seen later by others. There was a single Bank Swallow feeding over the reservoir along with the regular Barn & N. Rough-winged Swallows there, & elsewhere. Monday, the 2 tanager species continued (Summer still around Strawberry Fields in very early a.m.), and it was again possible to struggle with warblers & other migrants to find perhaps (at best) about five per cent of what might more typically be expected for the date at this location (in terms of overall numbers of migrant birds, not in terms of diversity which remains fairly good)... oh.. that lone little Ruddy Duck was still on the C.P. reservoir. - - - Interstellar celebrity "Pale Male" and mate (Red-tailed Hawks) seem to have succeeded in hatching at least one chick in the long-standing Fifth Avenue building's nest, opposite the Conservatory Water. The excitement amongst many followers grows, anew. Sad news from a smaller and likely new-to-Central park nesting attempt: a pair of Blue-gray Gnatcatchers had built and were attending a nest in the Ramble, but recent storms (presumably) damaged the nest beyond preservation. The hope is the birds will try again with success on the next go. (Although this particular nesting failure may have had little or nothing to do with the location, Central Park is actually a very tough environment for many native songbirds to attempt breeding: an overabundance of human, canine & other animal activity, including abnormally large populations of squirrels, rats, raccoons and at least some feral cats in some areas, plus significant depredation from European Starlings and House Sparrows, all contribute to a very high rate of failure in breeding of a variety of native birds in all parts of Central Park... in some ways it is impressive what smaller native birds do manage.) In city parks with a lot more habitat and a lot less disturbance, even within just a few miles of Central, breeding species are half or more again as diverse as the total ever found in Central. It is a sort of irony that a site so well-known for observing migration and visiting birds is so relatively slim in relative diversity of breeding birds - it would be fascinating to see what species might breed were the entire park to be rid of most of it's introduced birds and to be kept off-limits to humans, dogs, and cats... - - - Speaking of hawks... the Braddock Bay (NY) watch-site passed the 100,000 birds mark as of Monday (even without vultures the season count is somewhere in the 80,000 raptors range thus far) counted for the spring season, with an impressive late showing of Broad-winged Hawks at over 10,000 on the day. (exact tallies should be up on the BirdHawk and hawkcount,org sites by Tuesday, 5/24.) - - - A Long-billed Curlew was reported by several observers in Maryland, late Monday - that bird then observed "flying off to the northwest". Good birding, Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES 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://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC 5/25-26
Wed.-Thursday, 25-26 May, 2011 - Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City Thursday, 5/26 - While not much more than the day before dropped in to the park, there was clearly some movement and among the influx were still more flycatchers, including a fair number vocalizing - highlighted by singing &/or calling Olive-sided Flycatchers (north end, & reported in Ramble), Empidonax of at least 4 (that is, no Least of which i was aware) eastern-breeding species: Alder (calling), Willow (singing a bit & calling), Yellow-bellied (calling) and Acadian (in at least 2 locations in the north end, & at least one active bird reported in the Ramble) Flycatchers, E. Wood-Pewees (in multiple locations, many calling &/or singing at times), Great Crested Flycatcher (ongoing) and E. Kingbird (ongoing, with a seeming influx as well as those already on territories). In addition with a bit of work, it was possible to find more than a dozen warbler species, with Blackpoll, Magnolia, Chestnut-sided, Canada, and Yellow Warblers, plus N. Parula, American Redstart and Common Yellowthroat among those more readily found, at least in the north end. A couple of Mourning Warblers were noted, including at least one female (and a male) in the n. end, and at least one reported in the Ramble. Gray-cheeked and Swainson's Thrushes, plus Veery, and a few summer-resident Wood Thrush were found. Wed., 5/25 - A bit less filled with migrants than the previous day, although still fairly good diversity noted. A number of "Ramblers" got looks at a male Mourning Warbler. The park's north end seemed somewhat less active. The exodus of Atlantic Brant from the local area and points south was noted again, as it was up north (as fly- overs, many in early a.m., while the highest numbers - in five digits! - were noted well north of the city, over the Hudson R. in the evening, still streaming north.) At least one Summer Tanager was found in the Ramble; it's been quite a month for them, in general, area-wide. On the nesting front - "Pale Male" the red-tailed hawk, a dad yet again... with a new-this-year mate, and still at the same ritzy Fifth Ave. nest site... Riverside Park (in Manhattan) has also had an influx of flycatchers. The "drip" was apparently shut off, at least in 2 brief visits I made and so there were no birds at all coming into that specific location. Elsewhere, including the nearby sanctuary section of woods, had some migrants. Interesting to me is a male Scarlet Tanager that seems to be lingering a long while. - - - Along with a good number of migrants of other species, a singing male Prothonotary Warbler was reported from Willowbrook Park, Staten Island (NYC) by Richard Veit, with at least 4 additional observers; also reported were Gray-cheeked Thrush and Hooded Warbler and other migrants - from Wednesday, 5/25. The Prothonotary was not seen again by at least one other observer trying the area on Thursday, but an update from R. Veit for Wed. said that 2 Protho's. may have been present. --- "Down-east" as they say there, in Maine, or rather well off the coast, a male Red-billed Tropicbird has returned, with a report from Wed., here in the Maine Birds list - http://groups.google.com/group/maine-birds/browse_thread/thread/2c3003e91b3192f7# Good birding, Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES 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://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC 5/27 (+ White Ibis rep't., S.I.)
A report came in for today (5/27) on the SI NaturaList of the WHITE IBIS still / again at Great Kills park on Staten Island, N.Y. City: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SINaturaList/message/2367 - - - - - - Friday, 27 May, 2011 - Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City For my several hours of slow & quiet walking in the north end in the early morning, I found zero warblers (there), and precious few other migrants. However, at the reservoir's north side / bridle path was a singing Tennessee Warbler, and I heard reports that at least some other migrants of note were seen in the Ramble & near there, including Summer Tanager and Mourning Warbler. I did find some flycatchers again including a modest number of Empidonax, of which a few continue to vocalize, such as Yellow-bellied, Acadian, and Willow Flycatcher [s]. Riverside Park's "drip" is still not drippy lately, thus I saw no birds at all visiting that specific location in mid-afternoon. There were at least a few flycatchers present in Riverside though, in addition to very modest numbers of other more-common late-May migrants. A few Gray-cheeked Thrushes (or that type, at least) have showing in both parks. The only ones I've heard vocalize are Gray- cheeked, not Bicknell's. Good birding - and a safe sunny Memorial Day weekend to all, Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES 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://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] [N.J.] S.-t. Kite, 5/27; & photos of a fallout down-east
At Sandy Hook, New Jersey a Swallow-tailed Kite was reported moving north past the north tip on Friday, 5/27. That trajectory could have brought it to NY... - - - - - - - - - - Not from New York, but well off Maine & Canada's coast, "Machias Seal Island" experienced a modest fall-out earlier this week, and a photographer was there - for those who haven't seen such an event, here's how it can look. Some who have been on the island know how small it is, perhaps 15 acres, at most. All of the photos are by Ralph Eldridge (not an acquaintance) and are from his photo-site (best viewed in the original size): http://www.pbase.com/lightrae/image/135054460/original http://www.pbase.com/lightrae/image/135054461 http://www.pbase.com/lightrae/image/135054462 http://www.pbase.com/lightrae/image/135054463 http://www.pbase.com/lightrae/image/135054464 http://www.pbase.com/lightrae/image/135054465 http://www.pbase.com/lightrae/image/135054466 http://www.pbase.com/lightrae/image/135054467 http://www.pbase.com/lightrae/image/135054468 http://www.pbase.com/lightrae/image/135054469 http://www.pbase.com/lightrae/image/135054470 That reminds me, in the morning of Wed., 5/25, I found several small migrant birds along Riverside Drive's sidewalks (in NYC), seemingly dazed and in some danger of wandering out into traffic - I actively herded any that I found in potential danger back across into the relative safety of the actual park's vegetation. At least one individual (an Ovenbird) was nearly determined to try and risk its' neck in traffic but I was happy to "convince" it to get in and under cover in the park, which it did after a comical (folks walking along, not sure what to make of me and the small bird they may or may not have seen being 'herded' on) 15+ minutes... Common Yellowthroats and a Magnolia Warbler were perhaps less dazed. & more easily went for the habitat. It's a very small reminder of all that these migrants deal with. Good birding, Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES 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://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC 5/29-30
Memorial Day Mon., 30 May, 2011 - Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City "Ain't over 'til it's over" - but getting there... for local land-bird migration that is. In going out extra-early before rains arrived, a few migrants were vocal, including at least 4 Warbler species and then much later, with warm sun & a look around the well-watered Loch, a few additional warblers and not many other non-summer visitors, except for a smattering of Empidonax, with only one making much noise, a calling Acadian. The warblers were of a similar mix as Sunday except that some (all those singing, of course) were males, including a Wilson's. At least 8 Blackpoll Warblers, half of them females were seen, usually a fairly good indicator of the migration's near-end, yet there will be as much as a week or more of stragglers and perhaps odd birds moving through in one direction or another, if not lingering a while in a city park. Sunday - A female Mourning Warbler was among the very few migrants to be found in the park's north end Sunday a.m., almost all of what was seen was well after a fog lifted, and sun emerged. Also seen - found by Tom Perlman - was a Red-breasted Nuthatch, which continues a string of sightings in the park, notably in late spring at the north end, of this species. Some other warblers also found, in our separate findings in the n. end, included Wilson's, N. Parula, Black-throated Blue, Chestnut-sided, Ovenbird (with a 'gimpy' wing), American Redstart, & Blackpoll - most of these, other than a few of the latter, were females. There was a brief altercation between an E. Wood-Pewee (one of a fair number in the park) and what sounded to be an Acadian Flycatcher, which gave some odd, slightly fast calls in response to a "pewee chase". Also seen were a few other (non-vocal) Empidonax-genus flycatchers, as well as resident E. Kingbirds, and not-very-active Great Crested Flycatchers. Modest numbers of Chimney Swifts persist. The most numerous migrant (of which relatively few will stay and attempt to nest) was Red-eyed Vireo, which were singing well once fog lifted. Warbling Vireos include some pairs that have been on nests. - - - - - There is a report from Cape May New Jersey of a Magnificent Frigatebird, apparently watched moving south towards Delaware on Memorial Day Monday. There are certainly many more reports of kites, mostly Mississippi Kite with the odd Swallow-tailed also in places much more northerly than "usual", with numbers of up to seven Mississippis seen in single locations as far east as at least Cape Cod Massachusetts and any number of other reports from states to the south and west, including 8 reported from Cape May NJ on Monday. Good birding, Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES 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://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] 52nd Supplement to A.O.U. Checklist of N. American Birds is now available as a PDF-file download
July 28, 2011 - with some changes that affect a number of species we can see in New York state: From "The Auk" - (c.) The American Ornithologists’ Union, 2011 FIFTY-SECOND SUPPLEMENT TO THE AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGISTS’ UNION CHECK-LIST OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS is available as a PDF file download - http://www.aou.org/auk/content/128/3/0600-0613.pdf ... Those seeking the revised FULL checklist may find a PDF-file download here - http://www.aou.org/checklist/north/full.php Setophaga - learn to love it... Apologies if this duplicates any posting already made to this list, in recent weeks. Tom Fiore, New York -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES 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://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Fwd: [Origins of Gray-hooded Gull (long post)]
There's a post from an Illinois birder / gull fancier on the Coney Island bird: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ebirdsnyc/message/9301 There seem to be no updates on this Brooklyn gull for Thursday 8/4 so far, on this or any other list-serve that I am aware of. If seen, it naturally ought be reported - and on all subsequent days of it's occurrence[s] - in the U.S.! - - - - - Tom Fiore, New York -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES 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://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
Re:[nysbirds-l] Post Storm Species List
Subject: Re: [nysbirds-l] Post Storm Species List I have been quite amazed and impressed at the historic occurrence of pelagic and perhaps other storm-related birds in NY (and in neighboring states and provinces as well) that have been reported to this and many other birding list-serves and other reports. Rob is on an interesting track here and there are perhaps any number of possible additions... including reports of Frigatebird and there could be more to come as things get sorted out and hopefully settle down in the hardest-hit places. From a N.Y. City, and Manhattan perspective (that's not where I was in or after "Irene"'s passage, rather many hours drive downeast in Maine) I can only applaud all the efforts in the part of town I call home as well as from birders all around the east - this surely will need to be written up, and eventually will be, in a journal of record - "The Kingbird" for New York state as well as in various other states' & provinces' journals of bird records. As a Manhattan "west-sider" I'm especially delighted with the reports from the Hudson just off that island, while all the reports away from the Atlantic are equally impressive - and then some. Just fascinating how this storm played out in a birding perspective... and a big thank- you to all who reported! I hope all affected by the storm otherwise will be getting back to normal - a hope particularly sanguine to those who lost property and loved ones in those most hard-hit areas in the path of "Irene". Tom Fiore, New York (& Maine) - - - - - On Aug 30, 2011, at 1:48 PM, Rob Jett wrote: Just for laughs (and to enjoy some of these birds vicariously as I only managed a small portion of the total), I scanned the postings and created a "Storm Bird" list for NY. I omitted songbirds from the list (let me know if there was anything really unusual that I should have included). For the shorebirds I only included the uncommon and rare species that were reported around the area. I did, however, included ALL the tern species that were reported, primarily, because the combined list looks so ridiculous. Enjoy and good birding, Rob ** Albatrosses, Petrels, and Shearwaters Cory's Shearwater Great Shearwater Storm-Petrels Wilson's Storm-Petrel Leach's Storm-Petrel Band-rumped Storm-petrel Black-Capped Petrel Tropicbirds White-tailed Tropicbird Cormorants, Anhingas, and Pelicans Brown Pelican Shorebirds American Golden-Plover Black-necked Stilt American Avocet Whimbrel Hudsonian Godwit Marbled Godwit Baird's Sandpiper Buff-breasted Sandpiper Wilson's Phalarope Red-necked Phalarope Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers Lesser Black-backed Gull Sooty Tern Bridled Tern Least Tern Gull-billed Tern Caspian Tern Black Tern Roseate Tern Common Tern Arctic Tern Forster's Tern Royal Tern Sandwich Tern Black Skimmer Skuas and Jaegers South Polar Skua Long-tailed Jaeger Pomarine Jaeger Parasitic Jaeger - - - - - -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES 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://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] recent "tropical" land birds in the NE
It may be worth a mention that at least a couple of interesting reports are in New England birding lists recently: Fork-tailed Flycatcher, Maine (on an offshore island banding station): http://groups.google.com/group/maine-birds/browse_thread/thread/6c4b03b4efd99a68# Yellow-green Vireo, Massachusets (Plum Island, also banding station) http://groups.google.com/group/nhbirds/browse_thread/thread/b85079a8101e84cd?hl=en . - - - - - - - - Interesting season! Good birding, Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES 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://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Red-headed Woodpecker, Kiskadee range and (no) report, Manhattan NYC 9/7
Wednesfay, 7 September 2011 Thanks in great part to a timely post by Joe DiCostanzo to ebirdsnyc, I spent a bit of extra time in Central Park's (Manhattan, N.Y. City) Ramble and was able to see the adult Red-headed Woodpecker that Joe reported (with Chuck McAlexander & perhaps some additional observers) - the woodpecker was not very easy to view well, in the part of the Ramble that some of us took to calling the "Tupelo Meadow" which refers to a large, fenced, tupelo tree in a lawn area in the Ramble, a little ways north of the Azalea Pond. Comes late word from Bob Krinsky, a long-time park birder as well, that the adult Red-headed was actually present as early as Monday - Labor Day, 9/5 - seen by B.K. on that day in "roughly the same area" as it was today. A very modest assortment of more typical early Sept. migrants otherwise graced the park in general in my somewhat limited wanderings in the morning, a damp and notably cool one at that. A lot of us anticipate a good push in the next few nights with the current weather clearing! We will see... ,- - - - - - - - Per the very recent upsurge of interest in a very common species to lands south of Texas, here's a bit more on the Great Kiskadee's overall range. Incidentally in my travels through every state in Mexico, as well as in a few other places in more recent years, I have seen these birds be quite unafraid of humans and also (in a few towns in Mexico, 18 years ago and since) have seen the species in cages, as both "pets" and for sale as such - not often, but a few times there, and as noted, some years back. I wonder if there are any populations that are thought to be at all migratory, such as in Argentina well south of the equator - thus "austral" migrants which would be moving north around this time just as our N. American-breeding migrant tyrannidae head to more southerly latitudes. http://neotropical.birds.cornell.edu/portal/species/distribution?p_p_spp=477836 Also, I might mention I stopped by the "Intrepid" this afternoon, and spoke with one young man employed there, who mentioned - without my asking - that a large cruise ship had been docked less than 10 city blocks up the Hudson river, in "the past week" that had, as one of its ports of call, Bermuda. I would think the schedules of ships that dock in Manhattan might be discoverable if anyone really felt it to be of great enough interest - but in any case, as noted by at least 2 other NYC birders today, no kiskadees were found (by us) in the vicinity. There is a 4 p.m. closing time at the "Intrepid" (including the free-admission public areas) and as might be understood, government-issued photo ID is required, with a bag-check also very likely, if entering. (It's quite the feat to manage a Northern Wheatear and a Red Phalarope in NY state in the same day, both photographed!... hats off to John Haas of Sullivan County, who posted earlier.) -- - - -- In response to Fred B's questions re: N. Wheatear attempts (for Thursday) my responses to his queries would be: 1. Yes. 2. Yes. 3 Yes. 4 Yes. 5 Yes. - however I am familiar with the site of the Croton-Harmon Metro-North Railroad Station. Which also prompts a note to all in range of that train system, the wheatear is eminently "chaseable" via the train, with plenty of stations served, including of course that in mid-town Manhattan, and direct service at most hours. The fares are not too steep either, even better for those in the "senior" fare age class. Good birding, Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES 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://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
Re:[nysbirds-l] Wheatear Question
Re: the Northern Wheatear in Westchester Co. It might sort of follow that anyone arriving early and finding the Northern Wheatear still present at Croton-Harmon Metro-North RR station's vicinity could attempt to post a report as early as they're able to for the others who would be most interested... and as well, should NO one spot that bird in the first couple of hours of daylight Thursday... There is some migration taking place at this very hour. After a while searching, a "negative" report is also a courtesy to many others that might consider a longer trip & so on. Best of luck - hope it sticks another night & day. Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES 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://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC reports, 9/9
Friday, 9 September 2011 - At Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City, a number of observers were able to see the adult Red-headed Woodpecker in the Ramble, although viewing may be a bit difficult at times, partly due to still-dense foliage. There was also a fair flight of fresh migrants reported and from speaking with a few of the observers out on Friday. A minimum of 16 warbler species were seen (by collective tally), and the first real push of thrushes, along with some other expected seasonal species. Today, this weekend, ought to reveal more! Good birding, Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES 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://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
