Date: 2/25/26 8:28 pm From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] N.Y. County, NYC - mid-Feb. to the 25th - Blk-h., Iceland & L. Bl-b. Gulls, waterfowl, Purple SPs, etc.
New York County - in N.Y. City - including Manhattan, Randalls, Governors and Roosevelt Islands and the adjacent waters and skies above -
thru Wed., Feb. 25th.
The blizzard did not appear to have any major shifts in waterfowl or water birds, in general here, and it could be a while to assess what the land-lubbing birds may have done or not during and after the big windy snowstorm around here - however, by the time more birders should be likely afield in numbers here, this weekend that ends Feb. and begins March, we may be seeing new migrations of some species already moving north. A fair number of the reports offered below are from before the snow came in, and some of the confirmed reports are over a week-old by now.
A Black-headed Gull was found at Sherman Creek Park, northeast of the eastern terminus of Dyckman Street in northern Manhattan, with K. Becker credited with the find on Feb. 17, only seen and photographed by some who visited that day, and apparently not refound in the county yet, to this week. A drake Canvasback was also at Sherman Creek Park in upper Manhattan - found by M. Waldron on Feb. 13 and continuing there for some days.
On the morning of Feb. 17, ten Snow Geese were seen and photographed flying near Governors Island. Purple Sandpipers were still being seen on the rocky shore of Governors Island at least to Feb. 16, at least 2 found on that latter date, but up to ten individuals more recently seen, to at least last Friday. American Woodcocks were represented by one at Bryant Park again recently, and others may well be found in coming days in this county.
Two Iceland Gulls as well as a Lesser Black-backed Gull were seen at the Central Park reservoir in Manhattan on Feb. 14, and also more recently, with some sightings to Feb. 21 for 2 Iceland Gulls and to Feb. 22 for a Lesser Black-backed Gull. Going back in the month a bit, a Glaucous Gull was confirmed from Governors Island with photos to eBird and the Macaulay Library from Feb. 12, also as reported at that location from Feb. 10th. This was the first Glaucous Gull of this winter in the county, no more-recent reports yet arriving. Also notable for the county, a Surf Scoter was again noted in a confirmed sighting for Feb. 12 from just north of the northeast corner of Randalls Island, presumed an ongoing single individual of that species which had been seen of Randalls in days prior to the 12th. No more-recent reports have surfaced.
A Horned Grebe was seen again off Randalls Island on Feb. 15, and still there to at least Feb. 21, where a good assortment of waterfowl were again noted including Common Goldeneyes, Long-tailed Ducks, Lesser and Greater Scaup, a single of Ring-necked Duck, Hooded Mergansers, and other species. There was also a Horned Grebe sighting off Governors Island from Feb. 19th with multiple observers. Ring-necked Duck has been found elsewhere, but in very scant sightings so far this winter. Scaup have been seen in multiple places, with Greater generally outnumbering Lesser. Long-tailed Ducks have appeared in a number of areas, including some sites along the Hudson River, off Manhattan.
American Wigeon, among the less-regular in this county of ducks noted from Governors Island thru Feb. 20, when up to 4 of the latter species were found, with multiple Lesser and Greater Scaup also seen there, as well as Long-tailed Duck and Common Goldeneye, plus more-regular waterfowl. Canvasback had also appeared there, more briefly than the individual off northeast Manhattan on the Harlem River estuary. American Wigeon also was off Randalls Island on Feb. 21, as were good selection of other waterfowl on that date.
A Myrtle-form Yellow-rumped Warbler showed at Highbridge Park in upper Manhattan on Feb. 13, and one of that warbler species was found at Sherman Creek Park, perhaps the same individual as the Highbridge Park sighting, more recently, a survivor thru the big freezes and snows of recent weeks, and in same area seen before most of the multiple arctic blasts. A Rusty Blackbird was ongoing at Fort Tryon Park, a long-staying individual there.
Two Snow Buntings were reported as flyovers from Randalls Island on Feb. 15. Red-shouldered Hawks have been noted from at least a few locations in the county. Bald Eagles continued to be seen from multiple locations. A variety of other birds of prey are also ongoing.
Many more species of birds have of course been seen in the past ten to 14 days in this county, and some highlights may be missing from the above-noted species, or sites. Thus far, somewhat more than 100 species have been confirmed for this county this month. Thanks to many observers and photographers for sightings, alerts, and reports to the Discord and to eBird, with the Macaulay Library for media.
Good birding to the end of this wintry month, some melt-off looks to be ongoing over the next several days, with a good chance of a bit of migratory movement also.
