Date: 6/7/26 6:22 pm From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Manhattan, NYC - to Sunday, 6/7 - C. Loon, R.-br. Merganser, Terns, Empidonax, etc.
Manhattan, N.Y. City - thru Sunday, June 7th -
A breeding-plumaged Common Loon was seen and photographed on the Hudson River just off mid-lower Manhattan on Sat., June 6th, an uncommonly-late date here for any loon… however, there are precedents for loons even summering in our region in some years, and most of those if doing so would be in part or full breeding color, rather than in the more drab winter plumages.
A Red-breasted Merganser has continued on the Spuyten Duyvil creek-waterway of the northern edge of Manhattan at points that divide that island from the mainland of Bronx County in NYC, and also separate Manhattan from the mainland of North America. It is a quite-late date, for New York County, for any merganser by now. Photos were made again of this lingering duck, on June 7th.
Various reports have been made for terns around the NY harbor, including some within New York County waters and at times, visible from Manhattan shore sites. Most of these are Common Terns, but some reports of, in particular, Least Tern, may be correct in identifications. Of other tern species being reported, a phone or camera photo or video would be useful to aid in confirming species, esp with a chance of good clear images.
Empidonax-genus flycatchers still pushing thru and fully expected this late include Yellow-bellied, while some of the others being seen now might, or do, represent individuals or pairs attempting to breed in Manhattan in appropriate habitat, and those include Acadian Flycatcher and Willow Flycatcher, each still present on Manhattan island thru Sunday. Additional species of Empidonax can still be moving along as well, in this area.
Good to see that Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are still around in Manhattan to Sunday, with sightings again of a bright male at the north end of Central Park, and at least several others of that species in various locations, including at Fort Tryon Park in northern Manhattan.
Early on Sunday, it was interesting to find among the migrant birds of very early morming, a small number of singing male Blackpoll Warblers, and at least one singing male Bay-breasted Warbler, in Street trees in the neighborhoods ranging from upper-north far west side to west and central Harlem to parts of the Heights in upper Manhattan, on a far ranging and occasionally rather speedy walk and census of some smaller parks and greenspaces. Some of these boreal-breeding migrants, still pushing thru might have been slightly held back by the evening storms and by overall weather of late-day or evening on Sat., June 6th, with these birds seen and heard on Sunday.
Many of the many other birds being found by now around Manhattan are either nesting here, some having done so and with fledged young, or nestlings, as well as the species that visit Manhattan to roost or to feed, such as some Ospreys, and a number of the herons or egrets which can be found regularly thru the summer, and so forth.
The Green Herons are around now as nesting birds in multiple locations including Central Park. For ALL nesting birds, please maintain some distance and stay quiet, not disturbing the adults or any young at this critical time of the year for many nesting birds. Thank you for caring.
And thanks to the many hardy birders involved in not-for-profit bird walks, and with non-profit Institution’s and organizations, as well as many independently-walking observers and photographers, for reports in Discord bird-apps, in eBird including the Macaulay Library for media, and via good old word-of-mouth, for sightings and so many June bird reports.
