Date: 2/11/26 7:11 am From: Thomas Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] N.Y. County, NYC - to 2/10 - winter birds and notes -
New York County -in N.Y. City- including Manhattan, Governors, Randalls, and Roosevelt Islands, and the adjacent waters and skies above -
thru Tuesday, Feb. 10 -
Snow Bunting was a nice find for this county at Governors Island, where double-digit numbers of Horned Larks also continued as of Monday, Feb. 9th. Among the waterfowl variety off of Governors were some Long-tailed Ducks, Common Goldeneyes, and fair numbers of Scaup, mainly ongoing Greater Scaup. At least one Canvasback was seen from off Governors south side on Tuesday, a species that is scarce in many modern years in this county, unlike long-ago days when it was very regular and numerous in mid-winter. Scaup have been appearing in various waters, with a nice find of a single in a less-birded place, along the Harlem River off upper Manhattan near or opposite Highbridge Park. Long-tailed Ducks have been showing in fewer places, but one with some good views possible at times is along the East River off lower Manhattan, and also at times elsewhere. The most-numerous salt-water duck for the county is still Red-breasted Merganser, which might show almost anywhere in the salt waters, rarer in fresh but also possible such as on the Central Park reservoir once more opened up from the deep freeze.
From near Randalls Island, just east of the eastern parts, some Lesser Scaup were also found at least to Monday and likely remain, along with good numbers of Greater Scaup as well. Still showing at or off Randalls were at least 18 species of waterfowl, many likely having lingered in that area, showing some days and some hours to better advantage than at other times, with tidal and other effects there. A fairly impressive number, for Randalls, had been N. Shoveler of which more than 300 were noted for early Tues., with some also in-flight, and many sitting tight at the NE shore and Bronx Kill flats and edges. Numbers of those ducks were dropping as the day went on, at that area.
Purple Sandpiper was again seen on the rocks at Governors Island shore, thru Tuesday, and it is possible more may be lingering, or coming in there at times. Horned Grebe, seen and photographed off Randalls Island on Sunday. This latter species was occasional in that area a few times earlier this winter season. Some reports of a Surf Scoter came in this week, off Randalls Island. A variety of other waterfowl are ongoing in the county, with at least 22 species confirmed in the past week, likely one or two more might be added. Wood Ducks and Green-winged Teals are among the ducks ongoing at Central Park, and N. Pintails elsewhere - including at Randalls Island, which also was still hosting American Wigeon thru Tuesday.
Central Park saw at least 2 less-regular gull species showing at the reservoir there by last Friday, an Iceland Gull and a Lesser Black-backed Gull. Iceland Gulls were also reported again from some other locations in the past week. There have been some gull-gatherings at Central Parks reservoir at times of over 500 total gulls, occasionally even more, with timing varying for maximum or minimum numbers on any day. Other areas in the county have had some gull-feeding places and some lesser roosts of gulls, on both the Hudson and East River shores, but many of these can be quite transitory. As the coming week moves along, it is likely that recently-frozen waters will open up a bit more and some sites might attract gulls or waterbirds as they do re-open. Also very-grudgingly opening may be some areas of turf, where a variety of birds can start to feed again. Geese, all seeing to be Canada Geese but with enough to bring a chance of other species as well, were seen at Central Park by Tues., some hours having more than 1,000 in the park overall and various flocks in-flight. This may all shift somewhat as iced waters open up in coming days.
Raptors that were ongoing for the past week included Bald Eagles and Coopers Hawks, with some sightings here and there of Red-shouldered Hawk, which is certainly overwintering in low numbers. Red-tailed Hawk is of course a far more-numerous raptor seen often all around the county, and in all sorts of locations. Other birds of prey are also continuing, some very unobtrusive, some obvious enough to those looking. American Kestrel and Peregrine Falcon are both regulars in this county. Merlins have been detected in some locations including at Central Park this week. From Randalls Island in morning hours on Tues., it was possible to scan around and find up to six or more Bald Eagles on ice, in trees, and more also in-flight. Most of those were however not on Randalls itself but seen from various shore-side locations. Some Turkey Vultures were showing on many recent days, all in single or low number, while Black Vulture has been scarcely reported for some days.
Possibly a bit anomalous in the county lately, some flocks of American Robins have been moving about, and at least some were coming to old fruits such as certain crabapples that were not taken by any birds earlier in the season. Some or even all of these may be just local-movement. Very small numbers of Cedar Waxwings were noted, in general as had been in recent weeks around the county. The same is fairly likely of such species as Red-winged Blackbirds and Common Grackles that are still in very-low to low numbers. A small number of Rusty Blackbirds continued as well, including at Central Park and at Fort Tryon Park. There seems to have been extremely scant numbers of winter finches lately with even American Goldfinch in lowered numbers. It is still possible that finch occurrences may increase here, over the remainder of winter and on into early spring.
One warbler was the only definite recent report for the county, a Myrtle-form Yellow-rumped staying fed by visiting a suet feeder around the part of Carl Schurz Park that is nearest the mayors residence, known as Gracie mansion. This is close to East 90th St. off East End Ave., Manhattan. On Randalls Island on Tues. morning, a potential Pine Warbler was barely seen, and heard giving chip calls, from just inside the NYFD training facility, which is NOT open to the public. That area has multiple pine trees, some slightly-visible from outside and many not. That area had a Pine Warbler this and previous winters, at least partially-overwintering. We have records for Pine Warbler in a few places over past decades of observation, in midwinter, including at Central Park - some coming to suet feeders, and some not. It is quite possible a few other warblers have survived and lingered in the county, and even that a very-few could be indoors, on parts of recent days and nights. A few other species have taken that route in Manhattan such as Gray Catbird and Brown Thrasher, as well as a few other passerines. Its not a new thing, but is not as often-noticed as one might expect for an always-alert city. In some of those indoor venues, the move to indoor-wintering has been seen with passerines on multiple occasions over multiple decades. This also is a possibility in such spaces as large warehouses, airport hangars and even terminals, etc. - many or most of which may not be accessible to the general public. Large parking garages are also sometimes such possible hiding-places, even if partially exposed to weather.
The overall number of wild, free-flying birds in the county is up to around 100 species by now, for this month thus far. With better weather possibly ahead, the next couple of weeks may show more birds to a greater number of observers - with various efforts increasing for longer days and some less-frigid weather ahead. The long-staying Wild Turkey at the Battery at Manhattans south end was back - or, never left there - as of this week.
Good birding, thanks to many hardy observers and photographers, for a wide variety of alerts and reports, many including eBird reports and Macaulay Library entries for media in both audio and more in visual formats.
