Date: 5/20/26 12:55 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Manhattan, NYC - Clay-col. Sparrow, 5/18, multi Sum. Tanagers to May 19 also Philly Vireo, 24 Warbler spp. at Central Park, etc.
Manhattan, N.Y. City - to Tuesday, May 19th -
On May 19, Philadelphia Vireo was seen yet again in the Central Park Ramble, with many observers and photographers. 24 warbler species for Central Park on May 19 alone, including Mourning Warblers. Most of the other boreal-breeding migrant warblers were continuing, with a bit of an uptick in Blackpoll Warbler numbers by May 19 here. There were still such warblers as Hooded and Prairie Warbler both in the multiple passing thru into May 19th.
Other birds, as previously, were still being seen around Manhattan, including at Central Park thru Tuesday 5-19, which included Common Nighthawks, Yellow-billed and Blsck-billed Cuckoos, 5 other vireo species in addition to Philadelphia, all of these the normal, expected breeding vireos and migrants for our area, flycatchers of at least 8 species including Acadian Flycatcher and Olive-sided Flycatcher - each vocalizing - thrushes including Gray-cheeked Thrushes and thrushes that also have grayish cheeks, some possibly Bicknells, and all of the other expected spring-migrant thrush species, with Wood Thrush as a breeder in Manhattan. Reports of Bicknells Thrush are coming in from some parks other than Central Park, within Manhattan and some of these with song or calls having been recorded may be confirmed as being Bicknells.
Summer Tanagers, some perhaps lingering on for some days, were again seen in the multiple including near-full breeding-colored male, and also female Summers in Central Park, with many, many observers at different locations for the multiples of these there, on May 19, and certainly also still multiple Scarlet Tanagers far more widely being seen.
Late in the day on Monday, May 18, a Clay-colored Sparrow was found and photographed in the vicinity of the tennis courts and so-called Pollinator Meadow at Riverside Park northern end of the Forever Wild sanctuary, near approx. W. 121 St., and west and downslope from Riverside Drive in Manhattan. N.b., solo birders might wish to use care and caution in this area north of or at the edges of the tennis courts here - while some other park users, and other birders will visit the area, there can be times when this meadow site is nearly deserted, and where a solo person can be isolated from all other portions of the park, despite that the tennis court is often in use in good weather and there is a small bathroom and storage building at the s. side of that tennis court, 50 yards distant from the n. side meadow and, on the south side being where far more people regularly pass on the standard park paths and nearby stairway to Riverside Drive. Be aware and alert in this area at all times, a fairly good piece of advice almost anywhere in any city with millions of humans working, recreating, roaming. Eight additional native sparrow species were still being seen into this week in Manhattan but a few of these migrant sparrows may be diminished in numbers by now.
Many many more migrant and breeding birds are ongoing or passing thru each day and still more migration is certainly occurring. Foliage is excessively thick by now in many parks and other densely vegetated greenspaces, after so much warm to hot weather. Birding by finding, and hopefully observing, the birds by sounds is increasingly helpful. In places where vast numbers of people gather each day such as Central Park, a heard-only bird should be tracked to its high twiggy perch or dense wet thicket, etc. or, if possible, viewed, to be sure that there was not any person nearby using a device to play bird sounds. It does not happen often, thankfully, given the hundreds and hundreds of daily observers in busy birding places, around here, with many thousands of birders in the entire month of May making visits to our local parks and greenspaces.
