At Central Park, at least one new species for the park this year was noted early in the week, Snowy Egret - as often is with that egret species at Central, seen as a flyover by at least several observers. The Great Egrets continued to show in the park as well as rather greater numbers of flyovers at Central. 3 Swallow species were seen at Central, with Barn the least common for now, but likely to become the most common by the end of this month, and N. Rough-wingeds ongoing since March 23, as well as Tree Swallows also ongoing. The Rough-wingeds have been over several waterbodies, right thru Thursday, at times. These 3 swallow species have all been turning up elsewhere in the county by this week.
Purple Finches were seen and occasionally photographed in multiple locations this week, including multiples found at Central Park. The number of American Goldfinch were up from the week before, but still fairly low for the time of year when more might be on the move.
The quartet of warbler species most regular over this month so far were ongoing, especially at Central Park with Louisiana Waterthrush, Pine, Palm, and Myrtle-form Yellow-rumped Warblers all ongoing. All of these species have also turned up in other locations in Manhattan.
Various other species that were ongoing mainly in modest numbers this week include Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Golden-crowned Kinglets, Brown Creepers, N. Yellow-shafted Flickers, E. Phoebes, Chipping, Red Fox, Field, and other native Sparrow species, and in select locations, multiple Rusty Blackbirds. All of these were occurring daily at Central Park, and also in at least several other Manhattan parks each day this week. Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers have been showing up more and more - some are birds which likely had overwintered in Manhattan and are still around, but some are likely recent arrivals.
There was a fair amount of regional overnight migration on Wednesday night into Thursday morning, however much of that was flying inland, and thus Manhattan seemed not to be the beneficiary of much of that new flight of migrators.
At least 2 American Woodcocks were ongoing at Bryant Park in midtown Manhattan. Lingering waterfowl has included the Green-winged Teals, Wood and Ruddy Ducks, N. Shovelers, Hooded and Common Mergansers, and others all at Central Park, while Brant, and Red-breasted Mergansers, Buffeleheads, and other waterfowl remained in various waters on or surrounding Manhattan. Some American Coots also continued, including at Central Park. Gulls being seen most regularly include Laughing Gull, along with the most regular three species, Ring-billed, American Herring , and Great Black-backed Gulls. A Wild Turkey was ongoing at Battery Park, at Manhattans south end.
The flock of over 40 Bonapartes Gulls seen in NY Harbor just south of Manhattan last Sunday was confirmed from photos added to eBird lists and archived in the Macaulay Library for media.
Good birding, and thanks to independent and not-for-profit birders, and photographers for many sightings, alerts, reports all around Manhattan, as well as for N.Y. County birds.
