Date: 10/15/26 3:36 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Manhattan, NYC - 10/13 & 10/14 - many migrants
Manhattan, N.Y. City -
Tues.-Wed., October 13 - 14th -
A Sora was ongoing, and again photographed, at Bryant Park in mid-Manhattan on Tuesday and Wed.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird was noted - perhaps more than one still lingering - at the heather garden of Fort Tryon Park in northern Manhattan on Tuesday and again Wed., after a dearth of reports of any hummingbirds from elsewhere in the county over prior recent days. Any hummingbird seen from now, mid-October thru end of the year ought to be scrutinized and, if possible photographed or video recorded, to help ascertain the species. Ruby-throateds can and do occur later, rarely even a lot later but as November approaches and arrives, that species becomes less and less likely, and vagrant species of hummingbirds actually become more likely in the last two months of the year in this region.
An Eastern Kingbird was photographed on the grounds of Rockefeller University on Manhattans east side on Tuesday. Any flycatchers seen from now thru the end of this year which are not clearly E. Phoebes might be photographed or video recorded, for help in confirming their identifications. Some E. Wood-Pewees were still being seen this week, but the nearly-default flycatcher of the season now is E. Phoebe, in our region.
Red-breasted Nuthatches have been ongoing, with further arrivals moving in this week. Sparrows have had large increases, among the most obvious of the species being White-throated Sparrows, while in some locations, Savannah Sparrow was increased, including sites in the county besides some on Manhattan island. Vesper Sparrow was reported from Central Park, while a report of Clay-colored Sparrow to Wednesday may need a confirmation. Dark-eyed Juncos also have increased as have other common fall migrants, some of these to potentially linger thru fall or even to winter.
Still being seen to Wednesday were Indigo Bunting, Scarlet Tanager, and Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Also still being noted to Wed. were Swainsons and Wood Thrushes, while Hermit Thrush numbers still continue swelling, and there are a few reports of Gray-cheeked type thrushes. The latter, as well as any suspected Veery, would best be photographed or video-recorded as the fall continues, Veery in particular getting quite late for this area.
At least 17 warbler species were still around Central Park on Tuesday and Wednesday, with some still in modest numbers. Yellow-billed Cuckoo and several species of thrush were also still being seen, the most uncommon by this date in this area, a reported Veery noted to Tuesday. There was a generally strong influx of migrants on both Tues and Wed, noted thru the county, and for all areas of Manhattan. Seen and photographed were still at least a few Blackburnian Warblers to Wed., along with many other species still in some numbers such as Cape May, Bay-breasted, Blackpoll, Tennessee, American Redstart, and more. A couple of N. Waterthrush were ongoing in Manhattan, one staying for quite a while at the north end of Central Park, and at least one other in that park also remaining. This part of Oct, and any of this month is not even close to a late-record for that, or for many other of the expected migrant warbler species which are still around - even November does not provide latest-dates for many of these in Manhattan.
Waterfowl seemed to remain fairly stable and similar in terms of the most-watched areas, including the still-lingering American Wigeon, at least 5 Green-winged Teal, and multiple Wood and Ruddy Ducks, N. Shovelers, and still-more Gadwalls, just for Central Park, while other areas of Manhattan waters also will be worth more scanning.
Raptors in the skies continue to pass thru, and it is also the season for vulture migration to be increased, especially so for Turkey Vultures, sometimes in large migrating groups.
Many more species of birds have appeared here and were not mentioned above. Thanks to many observers and photographers watching and walking all thru Manhattan, for sightings, alerts, reports, and tips from the field.
