Date: 10/19/26 2:29 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] N.Y. County, NYC - Sat.-Sun., 10/17-18 - Y.-br. Chats, R-h. WP’s, E. Meadowlarks, Or.-cr. & other warbler spp., waterfowl migrations etc. -
New York County -in N.Y. City- including Manhattan, Randalls, Roosevelt, and Governors Islands and the adjacent waters and skies -
Saturday - Sunday, October 17 and 18th -
Many dozens of Pine Siskins were moving thru the county over the weekend, with possibly the highest reported single-location tallies at Central Park where their numbers were well into double-digits. Some had been seen at least 2 days prior, while still more came along by Sunday, and sightings of siskins also occurred for multiple locations in Manhattan as well as for both Randalls and Governors Islands by Sunday, if not before.
A very good migration of waterfowl of the season was observed over the weekend, with various arrivals new to the county or to various particular locations. Snow Goose was among such arrivals moving past northern Manhattan Saturday morning. At Central Park, Hooded Mergansers arrived in the multiple, and off Randalls Island, Long-tailed Ducks were in the fresh arrival category. Many species were seen in high numbers by Saturday, including lots of Brant, as well as Canada Geese, and assorted other waterfowl
which included some reinforcement for species already present in the county, but more so of transients passing over and thru the county over the weekend. Fresh arrivals of American Coot were among some of the birds moving in this weekend.
A Yellow-breasted Chat was ongoing at Bryant Park in Manhattan to at least Saturday. The Vesper Sparrows occurring all around the county recently included at least one seen by many at Central Park thru Sunday. Ten species of native sparrows were found in Central Park thru Sunday, and many of those also found in other locations around the county. American Pipits were found at Inwood Hill Park in n. Manhattan on both days of the weekend.
Red-headed Woodpeckers were continuing at Central Park - in the plural thru the weekend, with at least one in bright adult plumage. Eastern Meadowlarks, besides continuing in the multiple at Central Park for at least 4 days in a row, were also found elsewhere in Manhattan and on both Governors and Randalls Islands to Sunday. Some Chimney Swifts were still being noticed on the weekend, but it remains to be seen how much longer any will be showing in this county.
At Fort Tryon Park in n. Manhattan on Sunday, Yellow-breasted Chat, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Orange-crowned Warbler were among many other migrants found. Ruby-throated Hummingbird was reported there at least to Saturday - if seen anywhere at all, and when possible the late-season hummingbirds should be photographed or video recorded, to better confirm which species may be occurring this late in the fall. The same plea to anyone with a phone or a regular camera, for any flycatchers seen now thru the end of the year that are not seen as obviously Eastern Phoebes…
Multiple warbler species were still being found in the multiple around the county, with their species-diversity dropping off just a bit, as the numbers of Orange-crowned Warbler sightings from multiple county locations keeps growing. A minimum of 15 warbler species were still present at Central Park on Sunday, 10-18.
Ongoing thrush species seen, including all seen within Central Park to Sunday, included Gray-cheeked types, Swainsons, Wood, and most-commonly Hermit Thrushes. Purple Finches were seen again in some locations, including low multiples at Central Park to Sunday.
Large numbers of vultures, mostly Turkey Vultures with sprinklings of Black Vultures, were moving by the many hundreds over the weekend, and raptors of many species were on the move on both days in fair to high numbers. With one other eagle species showing in multiple locations just north of N.Y. City, it is the season to look carefully at Bald Eagles, when in nonadult plumages.
Thanks to many observers and photographers including many on guided not-for-profit bird walks led not for profit-motive, but for support of conservation and education, and outreach in natural diversity, multiple such walks having occurred just this past weekend in various locations, including multiple such walks within Central Park, for a number of organizations and institutions. Also thanks to independently-walking observers and photographers, all the above contributing sightings, alerts, and many reliable reports from all around the county, and from all hours of all recent days.
