Date: 7/14/26 2:58 pm From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] N.Y. County, NYC - to 7/14 - and passing of G. Tudor, artist, writer, polymath
Guy Tudor was an inspiration to many in a broad variety of fields related to art, natural history and field work and research, and publishing of many books, besides his own work in monumental and ground-breaking books, the field guides to several countries of South America, and later, the 2-volume set of books published on the Birds of South America, co-authored with Dr. Robert Ridgely, which are classic books in the realm of illustration and art, of textual precision and massive research undertaken. In some ways a forerunner of many many other publications that came after, and in some the same vein and-or styles. There are uncountable numbers of ornithologists and researchers, and other researchers in further biological fields, who have learned from - in many instances, directly, from Guy Tudor. His interests in the natural world and helping to explain some of it seemed to broaden with age, as he also was awarded honors and became the recipient of a MacArthur Genius grant, when in his midlife career. Of many, many meetings in the field, and at occasional or even regular meetings in his domicile with many other esteemed naturalists, I happen to recall one such meet-up outdoors, at Central Park in Manhattan, decades ago, in which Guy was both animated and often filled with humor and many stories, yet also was keenly aware of the many many avian migrants on that long-ago day in May. He was also a joy to walk with - often with others who may have known him much more, in his local patch in this days of Forest Park, Queens County, NY where he knew not only what birds might be around, but also what insects, especially butterflies, and often what native and wild plant-life, including surprises in that category, were to be found and, what the status was both locally and at-least regionally, of many of the species was. These same understandings also carried into his later-life local area on Long Island, NYs north fork and vicinity, much of the Long Island East End being familiar ground to him. And then there was the knowledge that he had gained in the Americas over his life, above all of the birds of Central and South America, and his eagerness to share in that knowledge. Although a bit gruff in demeanor, he easily saw if some one were serious in their pursuits of understanding or depicting nature, and would offer to add his insights, which were often great - and there was also that quality that some gifted people have, where only later, or even much later, would one begin to realize the depth of knowledge in many areas of this man. There will be others who could speak of his work-ethic which was certainly prodigious, and of his openness to trying to help the younger and fresher faces in some of his own profession. R.I.P., there will be no other quite like Guy Tudor, condolences to a legion of his colleagues and admirers and to any family, and many friends.
. . . .
New York County -in N.Y. City- including Manhattan, Randalls, Governors, and Roosevelt Islands and adjacent waters and skies above -
to Tuesday, July 14th -
Sightings of Little Blue Heron in adult plumage were continuing at times, by scoping from the northeast edge of Randalls Island in N.Y. County and observing, mostly from a great distance, to islands located in Bronx County, which also may provide views of other herons, egrets, possible shorebirds, and etc. - no Little Blue alerts in the last several days, however. Yellow-crowned Night-Herons are often seen within Randalls Island - a known and reliable site, in the warmer months.
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds persist in multiple locations in Manhattan, with at least several regular in Central Park, and others elsewhere including at Fort Tryon Park. These, including adult males, adult females and some fledged young as well as some indeterminate to age, have been found up to the present date.
A breeding-plumaged Rose-breasted Grosbeak seen and photographed -A. Evans-, the grosbeak singing from the n. end of Central Park on July 7 is a rather unusual date for that species in this county, unless a breeding-attempt was being made by one or more of the species - which attempts are not unthinkable in at least some more-wooded parks of Manhattan.
Blue-gray Gnatcatchers are persisting in some areas where they nestled and some could conceivably be starting to wander in addition to birds-in-place at or around breeding sites. Overall, certainly not a common nester in the county.
The number of Least Sandpipers found on Randalls Island doubled to two individuals by the damp day of Mon., July 6, and also seen from there with scoping most often needed -or some long-range optics- were a minimum of 5 American Oystercatchers, although often a lower number of these are seen, if noted at all, by scoping. Spotted Sandpiper has continued to be seen from several county locations recently.
A Hooded Merganser at the Central Park reservoir on Thursday, July 9 is an unusual date for this species in this county, however the species has been showing at times in recent summers in the local area, and is not as unexpected as may have seemed just a decade or more ago, at this time of year. Small numbers of Atlantic-form, or now called Pale-bellied Brant were also still being seen in a few sites scattered around the county including at Randalls Island recently. A Wild Turkey continues on and on at Battery Park in lower Manhattan.
A definite migrant for this date, not much noted so far, a Louisiana Waterthrush appeared at Central Park on Saturday, July 11th. This was not likely to be a lingering bird but a definitive southbound one. Some other warblers may also be starting to move south, and some could have already done so in and through the northeastern part of N. America. Of course many migratory species are still very busy tending to nests, hatchlings, fledgelings, and so forth in much of N. America.
Good summer birding, thanks to observers and photographers for a variety of sightings, alerts, reports. Many of the latter via eBird, with the Macaulay Library for media, however, still one of the ways some reports filter in is via good old word-of-mouth. The county is pushing to just around 90 species of wild, free-flying birds so far this month, while many more new arrivals are possible as the second half of July comes in.
