Date: 5/17/25 4:35 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] N.Y. County, NYC - Fri., 5/16 - Prothonotary and Cerulean Warbler, possible-Bicknells Central Park, many more migrants of all of the county
New York County -in N.Y. City- including Manhattan, Randalls, Governors, and Roosevelt Islands and the adjacent waters and skies above
thru Friday, May 16th -
The Anhinga of May 12th moving past Manhattan is a confirmed sighting now in eBird archives. This species has a history for Manhattan and that goes back some decades, but it could possibly be a somewhat overlooked if still very rare bird here, in particular if and when that species is soaring at altitude as they often will, including when in longer-distance movements.
A Summer Tanager was seen at Tompkins Square Park in lower-east Manhattan on Friday. Also found there were at least 1-dozen warbler species and that number of warblers or more have been found in many many other parks and greenspaces just on Friday, as well as in some smaller sites over other recent days. Good vireo diversity also has been noted all-around.
A White-eyed Vireo was ongoing at the n. end of Central Park, and others may also be around. By May 12, Philadelphia Vireo was being reported by some observers at Central Park in the area of Turtle Pond, etc. - those reports submitted in eBird had not-yet been confirmed for the ID and it will be interesting to see if any such of that latter species, especially if photographed, are submitted for review in eBird at all. The species is annual but usually scant in spring migration thru this county, much more regular in fall migrations each year here, even if less-numerous than some of the most-common vireo species. Otherwise, the 5 most-typical spring-migrating vireo species were all present in the county - and in Central Park as well - on Friday. In N.Y. County we regularly have at least Red-eyed, and even more commonly Warbling Vireos nesting, while White-eyed would be rare here in this county as a breeding species, and Yellow-throated Vireo has been documented as nesting only rather scantily, including in Central Park over the decaces.
Also at Central Park in Manhattan on Friday, May 16th, Common Nighthawks were seen, including the perched individual seen by many - and sightings coming first by observers who support and work with not-for-profit orgs and who place bird-alerts on the Discord app, in the north end of the park - this bird referred to seen by many later on, after these first-finders noted it there. Further sightings of Common Nighthawks are occurring daily, and from a multitude of locations in the county.
All five of the regularly-seen annually hirundine species have been coming in, with some additional reinforcements of Bank Swallow, as well as the ongoing Cliff Swallows mainly seen out on Randalls Island locally, while the other three most-common of our swallows, Tree, Barn, and N. Rough-winged all continue to arrive and some of course also getting into nesting here as well. Some of the swallows have been massing a bit over some waterbodies in Central Park and at times, over such as the Meer and the Central Park reservoir there were up to 100-plus hirundines to observe - these numbers can vary by one hour to another, and any rarer species, such as a Martin or the less-common of our swallows, may appear and then move on, or with luck may stay in the areas it was first-seen for a part of a day, occasionally for longer. Inclement weather when not too cold may bring out even more of the swallows, or with luck and perseverance, possibly a Martin.
Also seen by fewer observers and photographed on Friday at the n. end of Central Park was a Prothonotary Warbler, while a well-described Cerulean Warbler was noted at the southeast sector of Central Park by one keen observer. These 2 rarer warblers were just some of the at least 22 -or more- species of migratory American warblers seen in Central Park alone on Friday, and with a multitude of not-for-profit guided bird walks taking place, on the day - and nearly every day of this month.
Multiple Semipalmated Plovers were a feature of the county-shorebirding day, with at least 6 of that species seen at Sherman Creek northeast of Dyckman Streets eastern terminus, along the Harlem River and a part of a small park which adjoins the Swindler Park area immediately south, access is by either a north or south entry in these adjoining parks. A scope can sometimes be useful, or high-powered optics of any kind, for the birds out in the water or more-distant mudflats on some tides. Also found were Semipalmated Sandpiper, and at times, also Least Sandiper as well as Spotted Sandpiper more-generally in the county. Solitary Sandpiper was also continuing.
Additional Semipalmated Plover sightings were at Randalls Island on Friday, where at least 4 Forsters Terns came thru in flight. The Semipalmated Plover sightings also had been at Inwood Hill Park as-of Thursday, where viewed by many. An American Bittern was noticed flying around the area of the marsh and nearby woods of Inwood Hill Parks northern area, seen by multiple observers early Friday morning, the bittern was not re-found later.
Multiple Empidonax-genus flycatchers were seen in the county, with some Acadian, Willow, and Least Flycatchers seen giving characteristic and diagnostic calls or singing in some locations. An uptick again for E. Wood-Pewee, as well as other migrant species. We also have a smaller number of reports of Yellow-bellied Flycatchers and some of Willow-Alder-type Empidonax, the latter for birds not heard calling or singing. All of the migrant Empidonax will sing or at least call at times here in spring, and of course any species that might potentially nest will continue to sing for some time on-territory - these species can include Acadian and Willow, both of which nest in this city annually.
The Chimney Swift movements picked up as well thru this week - often a good indicator of some high migration activity for other groups of neotropical-wintering birds on the move. Good migration activity was noted from all corners of the county on Friday, with some species notably or at-least modestly increased again, one example of may being Rose-breasted Grosbeaks which occurred in both many larger parks in refreshed numbers, as well as being found in small parks, gardens, and other greenspaces and even some in street trees in the early morning hours.
The interesting occurrences of thrushes of the gray-cheeked type have started to reveal some which are very-likely Bicknells, and the photos are suggestive, while potential audio of these birds may be forthcoming for analysis. There are also certainly Gray-cheeked Thrushes in the area and passing thru, with all of the rest of our expected Catahrus-genus and related thrushes having been on the move for weeks, some of them starting to arrive on the early side such as some early Swainsons Thrushes. Many of these Catharus thrushes have been singing at times, and may be likely to sing on some gray, darker, foggy, rainy, or simply-overcast days, and of course also at dawn and dusk as is expected. Some will possibly give only partial-songs on their way to breeding areas, while here in this busy and active city. We have some Wood Thrushes which nest annually in Manhattan, and some of those are already set up to nest - please do not disturb any nesting birds in any way, for any reasons.
Such species as Cedar Waxwings have been coming in larger numbers, a signal of part of the latter part of spring migration now in swing here - Cedars also will nest in various locations in appropriate habitat in N.Y. County.
Thanks to many keen observers and photographers who put sightings and some alerts on the Discord app, as well as into eBird with the Macaulay Library for media, for so many discoveries, re-finds, and reports all thru non-x alerts, and as-always via eBird.
Good birding to all,
Tom Fiore
manhattan
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