Date: 7/28/26 2:00 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park/Manhattan, NYC - 7/27 - warblers + add’l. migrants
Manhattan, including Central and other parks, plus observations around other islands of New York County, all within N.Y. City -
to Monday, July 27 -
At Central Park in Manhattan, among the at-least 11 warbler species still continuing were the ongoing 2 Ceruleans at the Ramble area, while other migrants besides warblers have been appearing, such as the first of southbound Empidonax-genus flycatchers including the not-breeding-here Least Flycatcher. This county has had breeding in two species of Empidonax, most noticed in some locations being Willow Flycatchers, and managing to avoid a lot of early summer detection, Acadian Flycatcher as well. There has been a lot of focus on the uncommon Ceruleans among the migrant warblers of late, and in that one particular portion of Central Park, while simultaneously a fair number of migrants have been pushing thru in any number of additional locations, at Central Park and in multiple other parks and some other greenspaces.
Cerulean Warbler of the southbound season was first spotted by Sean Medina on July 25, later and in subsequent days many more observers came, and many birders were helpful to others in numerous re-finding, re-sighting and followings of the Cerulean whether one, or both of the individuals being noted over the recent days. Many observers had by now also viewed Blue-winged Warbler, and among the far-more common and increasing multiples, Northern Yellow and Black-and-white Warblers, as well as N. Waterthrush in the low multiples, the latter also showing - as is very typical in its migrations at times - in some less-expected sites and particularly, in the occasional totally-dry sites where no running or standing water is present. American Redstart is also showing in modest numbers, most being fresh southbound migrants by now. Also with an uptick by now, Ovenbirds have been reappearing in Manhattan locations where they did not summer-over, thus are fresh migrants. There are somewhat likely to be other warbler species beyond the dozen or so having been noted to this list recently for Manhattan, which have at least been trickling in or thru as migrants, and for some, esp such as N. Yellow Warbler, far beyond just a trickle by now.
At Central Park and at least some of the other larger Manhattan parks additional breeding flycatcher species -besides the 3 Empidonax-genus noted at the top- found annually include Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, and Eastern Wood-Pewee, with E. Kingbird also found around the county more widely, and, more limited in summer, at least a few pairs of E. Phoebes in the county. As a reminder, all of summer is a time when the possibility of vagrant flycatchers showing in this NE region is very possible, including both near-annual such vagrants to the region and the possibility of extremely rare such vagrants.
Also showing by Monday was Veery, a definite migrant here, and yet again have been some Yellow-billed Cuckoos, which might have been lingering for some time, but by now could possibly be wanderers or perhaps, early returnees from actually breeding in the northeast. The Wood Thrushes being seen thus far this summer are still likely to be ongoing breeding families, including some younger birds of the year. As mentioned in prior notes to this list, we are now in the part of summer with hummingbirds in general beginning to move more, thus some of the Ruby-throated Hummingbirds by now which are appearing in Manhattan are southbound migrants, additional to those which nested or were fledged here. Some hummingbirds on the move may well linger a while when they discover good nectar sources, of which there are fair numbers especially with all manner of gardens, spread through Manhattan, both in and out of city parks.
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For New York County, Randalls Island observers recently were re-finding some birds that have been seen this month, including scoping distantly to the shores of N. Brother Island, which is within Bronx County - such species as Little Blue Heron, and American Oystercatchers, have been seen again this past weekend, while on Randalls itself, the small number of breeding Cliff Swallows continued, and also regulars of this season are ongoing Yellow-crowned Night-Herons. Many more species of birds are also ongoing at and around Randalls Island, and much the same for Governors Island farther south.
Thanks to many observers and photographers for increasing numbers of sightings, alerts, and reports which have come thru word-of-mouth, in the field, and for alerts via the Discord app, and via eBird with the Macaulay Library for media.
