Date: 5/6/26 8:38 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Manhattan, NYC - more Blue Grosbeak, Y.-br. Chat, shorebirds moving, etc.
A further appearance of Glossy Ibis in flight across the sky at Governors Island, a part of New York County, this latest a group of ten, was reported moving off to the northwest, on May 5th. Although this species was not a new addition to the year for Governors Island or N.Y. County, it is another indicator for strong ongoing migration in the area. By now, this county is surpassing 150 species of birds seen in just the first 5 days of May. Other nearby counties are past that mark, many or even all with the addition of more shoreline and varied other habitat that is accessible to birders.
Manhattan, N.Y. City - to May 5th -
Another Blue Grosbeak, in female-like plumage, showed at the north end of Inwood Hill Park in n. Manhattan later Tuesday, May 5th - but might have moved on.
Another Yellow-breasted Chat sighting for Manhattan came from Central Park on Tuesday, May 5th, seen around the Loch, or Ravine as also sometimes called, in the parks northern sector. The Chat in the Loch area was photographed, and was seen by multiple observers there.
Into Wednesday May 6th and prior days, multiple shorebirds of a variety of species are and were passing by and some, stopping in select habitat. These include peep of, at least the more-common of spring-passage Calidris -genus- here, Least Sandpiper and Semipalmated Sandpiper, both in the multiple at times. Both Yellowlegs species have been occurring, and as noted on other days, Spotted and Solitary Sandpipers have been regular, the latter less-numerous here. Some of these shorebirds are showing on flats on the north and northeast shores of Manhattan island - other select locations have had some of these migrants as flybys, flyovers, or brief stop-ins as well. And any shorebirds could show up, then move on quickly, in the general rush of May-migrations. Rain and storms may sometimes ground certain birds on their passages, including shorebirds or wafers as much of the planets birders refer to what we call our shorebirds.
A confirmed sighting of Pine Siskin from Central Park, by P. Lust and R. Pasquier, took place on May 3rd. Other reports for this species from over the recent weeks may also have been reliable but not all of the reports received rapid confirmations, and there can be a broad variety of reasons why that may take place.
In general and when possible, photos, even quick-take phone photos, and-or video with audio, are helpful to reviewers of almost any rare, uncommon, or unexpected bird sightings.
Thanks to many observers and photographers out and about all around Manhattan and the other islands, and by boat, the waters of New York County, for sightings, re-sightings, alerts, and reports.
