Date: 1/5/26 5:29 pm From: Thomas Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] N.Y. County, NYC - to Jan. 5th -
New York County -in N.Y. City- including Manhattan, Randalls, Governors, and Roosevelt Islands and the adjacent waters and skies above -
thru Monday, January 5th -
The recent cold and small-snowy spells of weather have perhaps pushed some very-late lingering birds out recently, if they did survive the recent sub-freezing days and nights, and at the same time may have encouraged some water birds, especially waterfowl, to move in.
A couple of Horned Grebes have shown in county waters, neither a typically-common species here in modern times, nor very rare. At least one of the grebes may be lingering off Randalls Island, while another had been on the Hudson River off northern Manhattan but not seen again on a subsequent look, or later days. A somewhat-rare duck species in this county, Black Scoter has been noted off Randalls Island - as have a modest assortment of other dockage including some Lesser Scaup, 4 of the latter present again off Randalls Island thru Monday. Also in late-day on Mon., more than fifty Red-breasted Mergansers were in waters which surround Randalls, a noticeable increase for the area.
Many duck sightings otherwise from that island may be distant, and a scope is likely to be required for a chance of spotting, much less attempting definitive ID. A flock of Common Goldeneyes are typically far out off Randalls northeastern point, and can be mixed up with some other ducks at times - these birds are not actually in N.Y. County waters much of time in their midwinter stays, but may be viewed - barely - from land at the farthest edge of the county. As is fairly typical in winters where it wont completely freeze, the single most-productive site for waterfowl-diversity in the county is the Central Park reservoir, and with the additional waterbodies in that park providing some chances for more species. Gull numbers were again fairly high in mid-morning at that reservoir, but an ice shelf the gulls have used will likely melt, leaving the narrow berm dividing the reservoir basin in two for a roost when the water itself is not used.
In recent days the numbers of Canada Geese have increased to where multi-thousands are present in the county, and with that kind of numbers, one presumes the chances grow for other goose species. Many Brant are still massing in the county, including modest numbers here and there just off parts of Manhattan, while most Brant are seen around or on the other islands of the county. Just off Inwood Hill Park on northern Manhattan, Northern Pintail was again seen,
Very diminished numbers or species of warblers were being found since the multiple small snowfalls, with just a couple of sightings, some seen for the first day of 2026, including Nashville Warbler. Others that were still present in the new month included Orange-crowned, Ovenbird, and Myrtle-form Yellow-rumped, although it is possible some others are lurking and surviving in some places. A Pine Warbler at Randalls Island is one example of such a possible lingerer, if it has perhaps stayed around a location with potential heat-sources for night roosting. Ongoing small numbers of Golden-crowned Kinglets and Ruby-crowned Kinglets in slightly greater number were still being seen, however those 2 small insectivores are regular thru many winters, often continuing even thru weather that warblers may not make it thru in winter. As is fairly typical, Gray Catbirds may congregate in some Manhattan sites, particularly where a variety of tossed-out and dropped human foodstuffs make for a bit of supplementary -or more- additions to dietary need. The -probably- best-known of these various places in Manhattan is the mid-town Bryant Park. At that park, there had been a lingering -first-fall-plumaged- White-crowned and other native sparrows, and any of those could well be lingering. At Randalls Island thru Monday, Field Sparrows were persisting, and there also were some American Tree Sparrows, the latter showing in a few locations.
A number of Red-shouldered Hawks have continued into the month of January, in Manhattan and possibly on the other islands, possibly a bit of a trend for that species, increasingly seen in winter in this county. Coopers Hawks in numbers, and small numbers of Sharp-shinned Hawks also are being found, while Merlin has been but not in a lot of locations lately. A variety of other raptors are also around into this month, and among those, the occasional Bald Eagle which moves across areas with a lot of gulls feeding or roosting may cause quite a flurry.
Gulls of uncommon or rarer species have not been in evidence for the first days of the year in this county, but by the coming weekend, it looks plausible there may be some opportunities to peruse gull flocks, perhaps in the wake of rains or other wintry weather. We have had some days where, at least briefly some very high numbers of gulls were showing but these often were short-lived larger flocking or feeding events. It also appears that not that much of close watching has been done, just lately for gulls out in the N.Y. Harbor, where a fair chance continues for a variety of gulls, and waterbirds. One of multiple sites to possibly seek less-common gulls, and other unexpected birds, might be on and from Roosevelt Island.
Of very modest note in terms of numbers, some Pine Siskins, Purple Finches, and in a few locations, American Pipits were being noted. Some of these might be lingering, rather than recent-passage migrators. At least a few Rusty Blackbirds have been around, including at Central Park and less-commonly, also at Fort Tryon Park in n. Manhattan. A long-long-lingering Wild Turkey is by now a near-resident at Battery Park, continuing there for months on end.
Manhattan continued to have some fair-sized flocks of American Robins and generally-few Cedar Waxwings, and in any flocks of frugivorous birds it may be worth a close look, on the slim chance of any very-unexpected species being in or near such winter flocks. It also could be productive to, if in the vicinity of any wintering Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, notice and check around for the chance of other species in the same areas. In some winters, there have been rarer birds lingering where sapsuckers - the latter being regulars in Manhattan, especially in most winters in scattered locations including on street trees - are, and sometimes, those rarer birds having a close feeding arrangement to some active sapsucker-workings.
Good January birding to all.
Tom Fiore
manhattan
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