Date: 3/12/26 3:46 pm From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] N.Y. County, NYC - to 3/12 - Pine Warblers, other arrivals and lingerers, etc.
New York County -in N.Y. City- including Manhattan, Randalls, Governors, and Roosevelt Islands and the surrounding waters and skies above -
to March 12th -
A Cackling Goose flew over on March 9, with multiple observers watching from the western terminus of Dyckman Street in n. Manhattan that morning. Flight photos were submitted in an eBird report and are archived in the Macaulay Library. A Wilsons Snipe showed at Governors Island by March 11th.
Pine Warbler sightings came in for Central Park on March 11, and possibly lingering near an array of feeders there at times, but sightings were spread thru multiple areas there. A majority of observers saw just one individual that was in the Ramble area and came to the main bird-feeding station of the park and vicinity. A few of the Pine Warblers had already arrived by at least March 9th. There have been a few recent Myrtle-form Yellow-rumped Warbler sightings as well, including from Central Park, and these are almost certainly individuals which did not winter very far out of the county or city.
More Eastern Phoebes were appearing in multiple locations thru this week. American Woodcocks also showed further increase, some appearing at sites where probably or definitely annual on spring migration. A number of these sites are in mid and lower Manhattan. At least a few Tree Swallows were arriving at such locations as Governors Island, and as passage migrants seen elsewhere. A very few Osprey were beginning to arrive this week as well.
Black Vultures were noticed in at least several more locations as flyovers by this week, and Turkey Vulture movements were even more apparent and becoming much more numerous. There were ongoing sightings of Red-shouldered Hawks, some perhaps lingering overwintered birds, but some certainly freshly-moving migrants headed north, along with some other early-moving raptors, including Bald Eagles, Coopers and smaller numbers of Sharp-shinned Hawks, and some Red-tailed Hawks which were not among the large contingents of local-breeding Red-tails.
At Central Park, Rusty Blackbirds were being found, one or two of which may possibly have wintered, but also quite likely a number had just recently arrived. Central Park still had some lingering definitely-overwintered species, although many amongst these, such as various ducks, had been long-lingering there, such as Green-winged Teals. Ring-necked Duck was one of the newer passage migrant ducks to drop in at Central Park. There have been some of the latter elsewhere in the county, also. The maxima of 25 species of waterfowl at one time for the county, earlier this month, probably will not be repeated this spring here, but time will tell.
Field Sparrows showed in at least several locations just for Central Park, while others were turning up elsewhere in the county, many more than the few known to have wintered mainly on Randalls Island. Red Fox Sparrows were still being found, mostly in Manhattan. Chipping Sparrow sightings could still be of individuals that had wintered not far away, or possibly in the county, in a few weeks these should become common. A small number of Swamp Sparrows have also been noticed, some of which possibly wintered here, or relatively locally. Song Sparrow numbers also were showing upticks, as expected now. Vastly more American Robins have begun to move in and thru.
The Iceland Gull at the Central Park reservoir both days of last weekend is confirmed. That species and other less-common or rare gulls could potentially turn up into
April, in any parts of the county. Less than favorable weather for influxes of other species-groups may still favor gull movement, in coming days or weeks. Gulls of the usual 3 species continued to be seen in high numbers at times - Ring-billed, American Herring, and Great Black Gulls. In the wider region, Laughing Gull have been starting to show up including elsewhere in N.Y. City.
More than a week later, reporting of N. Saw-whet Owl for Manhattan has been unmasked. Various other owls have also been seen this month in this county.
The total number of wild bird species seen in the county at least pushed just modestly into triple-digits for the month, so far. Additional species are likely, somewhat pending the variable weather of March. Thanks to many observers and photographers for alerts and further reports.
