Date: 1/16/25 5:49 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] N.Y. County, NYC - to Wed.. 1/15 - Dickcissel, 18+ waterfowl spp., warblers & other birds
New York County - in N.Y. City - including Manhattan, Randalls, Governors, and Roosevelt Islands and the adjacent waters and skies above -
Thru Wed., January 15th -
The many-weeks-lingering Dickcissel is continuing at Riverside Park, with by far the recent sightings coming from the vicinity of a suet-feeder, lately being found along the path in the Forever Wild sanctuary area, about one city-block north and also west of W. 116 St., from Riverside Drive - a park entrance is right there. If not seen along that unpaved path, try the alternative area just down slope a bit via a paved path to just-south of the south end of the tennis courts. As previously, the presence of a flock is a positive indicator that the Dickcissel may be nearby and observers should be watchful and, at times, patient in the search. The suet-feeder itself may or may not produce this bird, but an active mixed flock in the area very-often will, eventually. Fifteen or more other species of birds may be in that nearby area on any given day.
Duck-diversity was modestly-improved at Central Park in particular by Tuesday-Wednesday, with at least 15 species of wild, native waterfowl seen in several waterbodies there, much of the observable activity in the C.P. reservoir. None of the ducks were new for the season, just a bit of concentration with a lot of ice ongoing on some of the shallower waterbodies of Central Park. Species for the reservoir alone included Ring-necked Duck, N. Pintail, all 3 Merganser spp., Wood Ducks, American Black Duck, Bufflehead, many N. Shovelers, Ruddy Ducks, and also an ongoing Snow Goose there, along with Canada Geese and Mallards. Green-winged Teal also were ongoing at Central Park.
Killdeer were showing up in Manhattan at as many as 3 sites north of 125th Street, as well as on the other-islands where fairly regular for annual sightings. Common Goldeneyes in low numbers are now showing regularly in a couple of the known-county observation areas, including off Randalls in particular, and also off Governors Island as well. Both of those areas offer the chance as well of sightings of possible Long-tailed Ducks and of Scaup, and certainly of other waterfowl and waterbirds such as the 2 Loon species, and at times, Great Cormorant or perhaps Double-crested Cormorant, in these winter months. Red-shouldered Hawks are clearly attempting to overwinter in the county, a possibly-increasing trend by that species in the N.Y. City region, and a number of documented sightings of this raptor came in the past week for N.Y. County. Some of the recent sightings are from Central Park but as many are from other locations. Roving Bald Eagles also have continued in the area, as have many Coopers Hawks, and some Sharp-shinned Hawks as well as Turkey Vultures.
Multiple warbler species have continued in the county with in-particular, a number of Orange-crowneds ongoing, several on Randalls Island alone, where there are also at least 2, possibly 3 lingering Pine Warblers, those in addition to ongoing Pine Warbler at Central Park. More Orange-crowned Warbler sightings also in Central, and at Madison Square Park this week, plus another Orange-crowned Warbler sighting, from lower Manhattan, at a location roughly 500 feet northwest of Corlears Hook Park, on Tues., Jan. 14. It is fairly likely there may be yet a few more of this species in the county still.
Ovenbird, and Common Yellowthroat also were ongoing in Manhattan. The other species is less-surprising for a winter sighting, yet is usually uncommon overall in this county in winter, Myrtle-form of Yellow-rumped Warbler, ongoing at both Randalls and Governors Islands thru this week. There was one report for a warbler that had not been reported in nearly 4 weeks, of a possible N. Parula at Inwood Hill Park, which if definitely re-re-found ought be photo-or-video documented as that would be a fairly exceptional midwinter occurrence for that species.
Rusty Blackbird has continued on at Central Park, and in Manhattan overall, there are still some Gray Catbirds, Brown Thrashers, and plenty of Hermit Thrushes as well as Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers continuing into mid-January. Other ongoing species are Red-breasted and White-breasted Nuthatches, Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglets in small numbers, Brown Creepers, and among Sparrows, Red Fox, Swamp, at least 1 Lincolns, a few Chipping and Field overwintering, American Tree in few-select locations, and the usual hordes of White-throated and many Song Sparrows through all of the county, in appropriate habitats. E. Towhees also persist in some locations including at Central Park, and many American Robins were ongoing and lately, some new-arrivals of Cedar Waxwings showing well.
There are also a few Pine Siskin and Purple Finch around and the fairly modest numbers of American Goldfinches were still in those lower numbers, relative to boom-winters. The time for unusual-in-this-area finches can be from now on into the spring, so have eyes and ears out for such possibilities. Common Grackles were ongoing in at-least Central Park by the many-hundreds, even tourists now stopping some birders to ask, what ARE ALL THOSE many black-birds??? The answer being, the Grackles that have been around for over 2 weeks into this month. There also are very small numbers of Red-winged Blackbirds and Brown-headed Cowbirds in the county.
Thanks to many keen observers and photographers for sightings and reports, via non-x alerts and as-always via eBird with the Macaulay Library for visual and audio multi-media.
Good birding to all,
Tom Fiore
manhattan
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