Date: 4/19/24 2:34 pm From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Fri. April 19, 2024: Spring Migrants
Central Park NYC - North end
Friday April 19, 2024
OBS: Deborah Allen, m.ob.
Highlights: Osprey, Six Species of Wood Warblers including Black-and-white Warbler and both Waterthrushes, Sparrows including Chipping, Field, Savannah and Eastern Towhee, Blue-headed Vireo, Rusty Blackbird.
Canada Goose - 21
Mallard - 6
Green-winged Teal - pair continued at the Pool
Ruddy Duck - 1 male Harlem Meer
Mourning Dove - a dozen
Chimney Swift - flock of around 20 over the Meer
Herring Gull - flyover
Double-crested Cormorant - 10-12
Great Blue Heron - 1 flyover Meer (after lunch)
Great Egret - 6-8 flyovers, and 1 perched at the Meer
Osprey - 2 Meer (after lunch) 1 catching a Brown Bullhead, the other carrying a tail
Red-tailed Hawk - 1 flyover
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 1 Loch
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - 1 male Grassy Knoll
Northern Flicker - half-a-dozen
Blue-headed Vireo - 4 (Dan Stevenson)
Blue Jay - pair building a nest and a few others
Tree Swallow - reported at the Meer by PhillippeSoriano
Northern Rough-winged Swallow - 6-8
Barn Swallow - reported at the Meer by Ruben Giron
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 15-20
Brown Creeper - 1 Loch (Scott Brevda)
Carolina Wren - heard Conservatory Garden
Winter Wren - 3
Brown Thrasher - 1 Loch (Caren Jahre)
Northern Mockingbird - 1 or 2 (Conservatory Garden and Plant Nursery)
Hermit Thrush - 5 or 6
American Robin - 30-40
Chipping Sparrow - 10-12
Field Sparrow - 1 Grassy Knoll (Scott Brevda)
Dark-eyed Junco - 1 or 2 Grassy Knoll
White-throated Sparrow - 30-40
Savannah Sparrow - 2 Grassy Knoll
Song Sparrow - 4 or 5
Swamp Sparrow - 2 (Loch and Pool)
Eastern Towhee - 3 or 4
Red-winged Blackbird - 10-12 including a couple of females
Rusty Blackbird - 1 male in breeding plumage at the Pool (Caren Jahre)
Common Grackle - 10-12
Louisiana Waterthrush - 1 at the Pool
Northern Waterthrush - 1 at the Pool
Black-and-white Warbler - 1 male at the Loch (Caren Jahre)
Palm Warbler - 1 "Yellow" at the Meer (Dan Stevenson)
Pine Warbler - 1 female Green Bench (Caren Jahre and Anindya Seng)
Yellow-rumped Warbler - male at the Pool (Russell Boehner)
Northern Cardinal - female on nest (Scott Brevda)
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The Crabapple Allees at the Conservatory Garden are open.
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Deb Allen
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Date: 4/19/24 7:57 am From: jer thorp <jer.thorp...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Re: [nysbirds-l] Swainson’s Warbler Brooklyn Bridge Park
And thanks to Jeff Gramm for this amazing find!
On April 19, 2024, Andrew Baksh <birdingdude...> wrote:
> Thanks to Dawn Hannay, Ian Bell and Ryan Mandelbaum who cross posted
> from the various birding reporting outlets.
>
> Coordinates from Ian.
>
> (40.6957004, -73.9993768)
>
>
> Some details from Ryan.
>
> “the bird is ranging across a large area around the brooklyn bridge
> park pier 5 lawn. it is singing every few minutes. it will be seen for
> a bit, then fly to another shrubby patch and go missing for a bit.”
>
> Good luck if you try for it and please keep on cross posting to help
> those who are not using the various bird report outlets, such as
> Discord, WhatsApp etc.
>
> Cheers,
>
> --------
> “A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle. Be that candle.” ~
> AB
>
> “Emancipate yourself from mental slavery, none but ourselves could
> free our mind.” ~ Bob Marley
>
> “Tenderness and Kindness are not signs of weakness and despair but
> manifestations of strength and resolution” ~ Khalil Gibran
>
> "I prefer to be true to myself, even at the hazard of incurring the
> ridicule of others, rather than to be false, and to incur my own
> abhorrence." ~ Frederick Douglass
>
> 風 Swift as the wind
> 林 Quiet as the forest
> 火 Conquer like the fire
> 山 Steady as the mountain
>
> Sun Tzu <http://refspace.com/quotes/Sun_Tzu> The Art of War
> <http://refspace.com/quotes/The_Art_of_War> >
> > (\__/)
> > (= '.'=) (") _ (") Sent from somewhere in the field using my mobile
> > device!
>
>
> Andrew Bakshwww.birdingdude.blogspot.com--NYSbirds-L List Info:
> Welcome and Basics
> <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm> > Rules and Information
> <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm> > Subscribe, Configuration and Leave
> <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm> >
> Archives:
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> Surfbirds <http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L> > ABA <http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01> >
> Please submit your observations to eBird
> <http://ebird.org/content/ebird/>! > --
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Date: 4/19/24 3:55 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] N.Y. County, NYC - to 4/18 - lingerers and migrant arrivals
New York County -in N.Y. City- including Manhattan, Randalls Island and Governors Island
thru Thursday, April 18th -
The ongoing male Blue Grosbeak in lower-east Manhattan was seen into the late-day of Thursday, in the area of East 3rd St. and Ave. A, and may have moved on a bit from that area - further observations may tell. This bird was more active again, and hopefully had good feeding in the stay at small greenspaces of the areas it had been visiting.
Some early-side arrivals included E. Kingbird at both Randalls Island southern end, and Central Parks north end on Thursday, and also at Central Park, Yellow-throated Vireo in the north end, in addition to the slight increase of Blue-headed Vireos more-generally. 2 additional vireo spp. have been reported, and each may be correctly ID'd although these are not fully-confirmed as of yet, each will soon-enough be the most common of vireo species in Manhattan and both breed on the island. A number of the early-arrivals of neotropical-wintering songbirds that first showed seem to have moved-on quickly - just one example, rather early here was Worm-eating Warbler, of which some were already on-territories well north of N.Y. City this week, although far more of any and all of such early-arrivers will be expected in the coming weeks, such as our two breeding species of orioles, and tanagers, Indigo Buntings, and others.
A very nice count of at least 23 Purple Sandpipers was made at the rocky shoreline of Governors Island on Thursday, 18th and there had been a flyby Iceland Gull seen from that island on the 17th. Also showing in those 2 days were at least five warbler spp., including Ovenbird and Black-and-white Warbler, and a good variety of migrant sparrows, as well as Blue-headed Vireos, and many other migrants as well as some breeding species.
In N.Y. County, it appears that of the 16 or more migratory American warblers that showed in the past week or so, just half that number of species were still being found thru Thursday, 18th. A Hooded Warbler on Wed., April 17th at Madison Square Park in Manhattan drew far fewer observers than the first-of-spring in the county not long before, at Central Park. More of all those warblers, and of additional species are likely to come along fairly soon. Most parks, greenspaces, gardens, larger churchyards and the like have seen good passage of sparrows and their relatives, with a few species now getting scarcer here, such as Fox Sparrow.
Thanks to so many keen observers, and many photographers, out and about recently in the county finding and reporting many migrants and other birds.
Good birding to all,
Tom Fiore
manhattan
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Date: 4/18/24 3:52 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Manhattan, NYC, thru Wed., 4/17 - Blue Grosbeak, warblers redux
Manhattan, N.Y. City - Wednesday, April 17th -
An adult - breeding-plumaged male Blue Grosbeak was lingering for all of Wednesday at locations in the East Village area, with many observers noting that that bird has injuries, likely from a building and-or window strike in the general vicinity but, we can’t be certain - unless there was a witness to such a strike - that such occurred right by the sites, all near and in one small area, as some collision victims will be capable of moving off from where such a hit took place, to varying extent. For example and unfortunately in a location such as Manhattan island any of thousands of structures could potentially affect migratory birds, albeit some structures and situations far more than others. And birds may fly short or even some distances off, even after some types of injuries. The Blue Grosbeak noted here was active, not stationary and moved about in its general area of first reports from at least the day prior, April 16th.
Of warblers we continue to have multiple species around Manhattan, even as many migrants will have moved on in recent nights. An Orange-crowned Warbler in one area within Central Park on 4-17, which was also photographed, could be a freshly or recently arrived individual, however a number of that species did winter thru here. In addition, the recent and somewhat early-arriving Nashville Warbler was a singing male, and at Central Park was far from where the most recent sighing of Orange-crowned took place, more than one mile away.
More migrants will be coming in again quite soon all around the region, and we still may be finding some birds which actually first arrived in this city or this county some days previously, and are being discovered more currently by a lot of active observers.
Good birding to all,
Tom Fiore
manhattan
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Date: 4/17/24 1:19 pm From: Patrice Domeischel <fourharborsheron...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Wild Stories From the History of Bird Migration - Presentation Tomorrow
You are cordially invited to the Four Harbors Audubon Society's next lecture: Wild Stories From the History of Bird Migration with guest speaker, Rebecca Heisman. The program will take place tomorrow, Thursday, April 18th, at 7 p.m.
We've all heard amazing facts about bird migration—the long distances that birds travel, the ways that they navigate, etc. But did you ever wonder how we figured all of this out? While working for the American Ornithological Society, Rebecca Heisman became fascinated with the varied and creative techniques that scientists have used to study bird migration, and this eventually became the basis for her book Flight Paths: How a Passionate and Quirky Group of Pioneering Scientists Solved the Mystery of Bird Migration. In her talk, she'll share some surprising stories from the history of bird migration research and discuss why understanding migration is so crucial for bird conservation.
Rebecca Heisman is a freelance science writer who lives in Walla Walla, Washington, and has worked with organizations including the Audubon Society, the American Bird Conservancy, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and the American Ornithological Society. Flight Paths is her first book.
This program is free, open to the public, and hosted on Zoom. To receive the Zoom invitation, you must register using the following link:
Date: 4/17/24 5:02 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Manhattan, NYC - 4/16 Blue Grosbeak and additional neotropical-wintered migrant arrivals
Manhattan, N.Y. City - into Tuesday, April 16th -
A brightly-colored adult-male BLUE Grosbeak, among at least several of this species to arrive in the local region recently as part of what is now becoming-clearer as a recent quite-strong overshoot and early-arrivals migration of many species into the area, including into New York County and Manhattan island - the Grosbeak having shown in the East Village area of Manhattan, with photographs made available in the Macaulay Library archives via eBird reports, and this bird also quickly alerted to local birders via the groupme systems that so many check for the most-current updates on rarer or unexpected birds, as well as via eBird alerts - this was just one of a number of arrivals indicating the breadth of the weeks good diversity of species showing up in the area, and specifically also in Manhattan, N.Y. City. N.B., there are also some Indigo Buntings in bright-plumage in the area now, and this grosbeak had initially been taken to be an Indigo Bunting but that ID was quickly corrected for that individual, seen in the vicinity of East 4th Street.
Among other sightings - many already mentioned in my last report to this list, have been both VEERY and WOOD Thrush, in a number of locations but in particular as seen by multiple observers, including within Central Park in Manhattan, also having been reported in Manhattan, and some for Central Park were Scarlet Tanager, SUMMER Tanager, and among the less-commonly seen warblers, Worm-eating Warbler in Central Parks north end.
Further sightings or reports from within New York County -and Manhattan- include Cliff Swallow, and at-least for Governors Island, which is within New York County, Purple Martin there, and in various locations some interesting sparrows, possibly including the Ammospiza and Ammodramus genera, while these and some other reports recently are still awaiting ID-verifications. More is to be reported on in the near future, it would seem, as more interesting arrivals of various migrants are being uncovered-discovered and also being noted by more observers. Far more sightings of recent migrant arrivals are from -the 4 other counties- in N.Y. City, and the surrounding areas, with some regular-but-rarer species having shown such as Prothonotary and Yellow-throated Warblers and a lot of other species in the past week or less, many if not all of these sightings in eBird alerts.
Thanks to all of the many out in the field with optics recently and finding-reporting so much, this includes increasingly, leaders and participants on not-for-profit guided bird and nature walks in many locations, with such organizations as the -formerly known as- NY City Audubon, the American Museum of Natural History field-walks, and the Linnaean Society of New York regular spring walks, as well as for many additional non-profit organizations. Many of these walks are guided by women birders, not surprisingly, and many ages of participants are seen, with all welcomed to join on such walks - many, but not all, will require a pre-registration to join, and will sometimes, not always, include a fee which helps support these conservation and science-based organizations.
Good birding to all,
Tom Fiore
manhattan
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Date: 4/16/24 5:23 pm From: <marciaaabrahams...> <marciaaabrahams...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Reminder! Don't miss tomorrow night's Queens County Bird Club meeting featuring Paul Sweet, Collection Manager, Department of Ornithology at the American Museum of Natural History
The next Queens County Bird Club meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, at 7:30 PM at Alley Pond Environmental Center, 229-10 Northern Boulevard, Douglaston, NY 11362.
Paul Sweet, Collection Manager, Department of Ornithology at the American Museum of Natural History will present "The South Pacific Revisited – Digitizing specimens from the Whitney South Sea Expedition".
Paul Sweet was born in Bristol, England and has been interested in Natural History for as long as he can remember. After completing a degree in Zoology at the University of Liverpool, he traveled extensively in the Americas and Asia for several years before working in the Singapore Natural History Museum. In 1991 he moved to New York to work at the American Museum of Natural History where he is now the Collection Manager of the Ornithology Department, the largest bird collection in the world. During his tenure at the AMNH, he has participated in many museum expeditions to countries including Vietnam, Central African Republic, Cuba, Solomon Islands, and Papua New Guinea.The Whitney South Sea Expedition was the longest and most ambitious ornithological voyage ever undertaken. Spanning over 20 years from 1920 to 1941, this comprehensive survey visited hundreds of Pacific islands, many of which were ornithologically unknown. Ultimately over 40,000 bird specimens were sent back to New York for study, resulting in the description of 277 new taxa. Specimens amassed by the expedition also shed light on bigger questions in evolutionary biology, biogeography and speciation. Although this collection is immensely valuable, it was collected 100 years ago when modern data standards had not been developed. Particularly lacking from the specimens’ original labels was detailed geographic information. Fortunately, the expedition crew kept personal journals that often give information on precise collecting localities. Using this information and working with NYC high school students in the AMNH Science Research Mentorship Program, we have been able to unite this information with the specimens, allowing them to be used for modern studies that require specimen mapping.
Marcia Abrahams
VP/Programs CoordinatorQueens County Bird Clubwww.qcbirdclub.orgEmail: <MarciaAAbrahams...>
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Date: 4/16/24 10:38 am From: Andrew Block <ablock22168...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Croton birds
The now adult and mostly adult red-headed woodpeckers are still in the upper picnic area at croton point park in croton. Also there is atleast one purple Martin back at the Martin houses here.
Andrew Block Yonkers new York
Yahoo Mail: Search, Organize, Conquer
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Date: 4/16/24 4:43 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Manhattan, NYC - past week of arrivals to Mon, 4/15
Manhattan, N.Y. City, over the past one week thru Monday, April 15th -
A lot of species, and for some of the species, a lot of individual birds, have arrived and-or passed through in the past one week, many showing at Central Park, which in annotations in the overall list below is denoted by -CP- for species that were also seen at Central. Many other parks, greenspaces, gardens, churchyards, and varied other urban spaces allowed new sightings, and as-always a modest percentage of species were seen mostly, or for some solely, as fly-by or fly-over observations of migratory birds. The number of warbler species jumped a bit, while only a modest number of the migratory American warblers were in any great numbers over the course of the week. Of course and as-always, vastly more individual migrants of many species flew past on some nights of strong nocturnal migrations.
As just one indicator for some of the arrival and passage migration of the past week, there have been a minimum of 16 American Warbler species, of which fifteen species were seen within Central Park -and a number also seen in multiple other locations. Many had arrived, or were first-reported more widely, just in the past few days of this week, starting Sunday. All of these and many many other migrants -and some resident species- are noted in the list below. Also arrived among the many migrators and local-nesting migrant species were both Orchard and Baltimore Oriole, which are a bit on the early side as well as some of the warblers that came in. With the arrival of Chimney Swifts here, even if in minimal numbers so far, we see that truly neotropical-wintering-migrant birds have pushed north to at-least this latitude.
Some of the species recorded in the past week in, adjacent to, or over Manhattan island of N.Y. City -
Red-throated Loon -CP- and modest numbers overall.
Common Loon -CP- and several very large migration-flights in the mornings, primarily.
Great Cormorant - few lingering.
Double-crested Cormorant -CP- and some very large migration-days also, overall.
Great Blue Heron -CP- and also at-least-modest numbers migrating overall.
Great Egret -CP- and fairly modest numbers overall.
Snowy Egret -CP- and modest numbers; those seen at Central all being flyovers so far.
Green Heron -CP- where arrived by at-least April 14, and very modest numbers overall.
Black-crowned Night-Heron -CP- and still rather modest numbers overall.
Black Vulture -CP- and very modest numbers overall, all seen as flyovers.
Turkey Vulture -CP- and modest to higher numbers overall, almost all in county as flyovers.
Canada Goose -CP- and modest numbers overall.
Atlantic Brant - mostly other locations, but also some seen in rather-local flights from -CP-.
Mute Swan - 2 lingered at the East River where semi-regular.
Wood Duck -CP- and very modest numbers overall, esp. as flybys.Gadwall -CP- and modest numbers overall.
American Black Duck -CP- and modest numbers overall.
Mallard -CP- and many more locations.
Northern Shoveler -CP- and very small numbers overall.
Northern Pintail - flyby only.
Green-winged Teal - a few in addition to the very-long-staying pair at The Pool of -CP-.
Greater Scaup - few.
Long-tailed Duck - a few flyovers - on migrations.
Bufflehead -CP- and very modest numbers overall, which were diminishing this week.
Hooded Merganser - several, including the at-least 2 lingering on at -CP-.
Red-breasted Merganser - multiple including those that had been lingering thru at -CP-.
Ruddy Duck - -CP- and very small numbers overall.
Osprey -CP- and good numbers overall, some days a significant movement observed.
Bald Eagle -CP- and modest numbers overall, with good movements on some days.
Northern Harrier -CP- and very modest numbers overall.
Sharp-shinned Hawk -CP- and very modest numbers overall.
Coopers Hawk -CP- and modest numbers overall.
Broad-winged Hawk -CP- very few so far, all flyovers. These might be sought in the next 2-3 weeks, and very-occasionally will stop off in this county, on spring migrations.
Red-tailed Hawk -CP- and good numbers overall.
American Kestrel -CP- and fine numbers overall.
Merlin -CP- and modest numbers overall.
Peregrine Falcon -CP- and in numbers -as local residents- overall.
American Coot -CP- and very few overall.
Killdeer -CP- and modest numbers overall.
Spotted Sandpiper -CP- and first noted off lower-west Manhattan.
American Woodcock -CP- and now very modest numbers overall.
Laughing Gull - increased nicely overall this week, some again in or over -CP-.
Ring-billed Gull -CP- and modest numbers overall.
American Herring Gull -CP- and very good numbers overall.
Great Black-backed Gull -CP- and good numbers overall.
feral Rock Pigeon - near-ubiquitous and of course at -CP-.
Mourning Dove -CP- and very good numbers overall.
Monk Parakeet - many sightings on Manhattan for this past week, multiple locations including several parks in northern Manhattan.
Owl - the few that stay have been in typical areas.
Chimney Swift - the first small numbers arrived this week, and those include over -CP-.
Belted Kingfisher -CP- and very modest numbers overall.
Red-bellied Woodpecker -CP- and in good numbers overall.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker -CP- and very good numbers overall, many many locations.
Downy Woodpecker -CP- and good numbers overall.
Hairy Woodpecker -CP- and very good numbers overall.
Yellow-shafted Flicker -CP- and very good numbers overall, some major arrivals - and quite a lot on morning-diurnal migration flights.
Eastern Phoebe -CP- and good numbers overall.
White-eyed Vireo -CP- an expected arrival in the month of April locally.
Blue-headed Vireo -CP- an expected arrival in the month of April locally, a few have shown since one as-of 4-9, etc.
Northern Raven - many are all around Manhattan, some are nesting, also seen from -CP-.
Blue Jay -CP- an expected arrival in the month of April locally and many also lingering.
American Crow -CP- and good numbers overall.
Fish Crow -CP- and good numbers overall.
Tree Swallow -CP- and fine numbers overall, the best site in the county to see being on Governors Island, where they nest regularly.
Northern Rough-winged Swallow -CP- and modest numbers overall, occuring in many sites, some are likely to nest.
Barn Swallow -CP- and good numbers overall.
- - - - Cliff Swallow - reported, and would be ideal to see photos, videos. More yet to arrive.
Black-capped Chickadee -CP- and small numbers overall.
Tufted Titmouse -CP- and modest numbers overall.
Red-breasted Nuthatch -CP- and also very small numbers overall.
White-breasted Nuthatch -CP- and modest numbers overall.
Brown Creeper -CP- and good numbers overall.
Carolina Wren -CP- and good numbers overall.
House Wren -CP- were on the early-side, one or 2, including singing individuals.
Winter Wren -CP- and nice numbers overall, now diminished.
Golden-crowned Kinglet -CP- and were in good numbers overall.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet -CP- and greatly increased numbers overall.
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher -CP- and modestly increased numbers overall.
Hermit Thrush -CP- and greatly increased numbers overall - hundreds in the county on some arrival-days.
American Robin -CP- and greatly increased numbers overall.
Gray Catbird -CP- and also a very-few new arrivals overall.
Northern Mockingbird -CP- and fine numbers overall.
Brown Thrasher -CP- and greatly increased numbers overall - found in many larger and smaller sites this week, occasionally just out in street-trees singing, etc. as migrators.
European Starling - nearly ubiquitous in all of the county, and of course at -CP-.
House Sparrow - near-ubiquitous in the city, and many in -CP -, a potential pest to nesting native birds here and throughout areas where not native.
American Pipit - a few moved past including at least one detection from -CP-.
Cedar Waxwing -CP- and in diminished numbers overall, as some moved on. MANY more will again arrive in a few weeks or more.
Eastern Towhee -CP- and also many new arrivals overall.
Chipping Sparrow -CP- and also many new arrivals overall.
Field Sparrow -CP- and also modest numbers overall.
Vesper Sparrow -CP- and not-yet reported elsewhere in the county - ?
Savannah Sparrow -CP- and also a modest new arrivals overall.
Red Fox Sparrow -CP- but diminishing rapidly by now. Any Fox Sparrow seen in remainder of spring should be photod or videod, wherever possible.
Song Sparrow -CP- and many overall.
Lincolns Sparrow - very few.
Swamp Sparrow -CP- and also increased new arrivals overall.
White-throated Sparrow -CP- and also further-increased new arrivals overall.
Slate-colored Junco -CP- and also more passiung arrivals migrating, overall.
Northern Cardinal -CP- and in many many more locations.
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - so far, 2 known sightings, and one for northern Manhattan.
Indigo Bunting - early, but in line with both other years and other regional sightings this past week, around the city and just-beyond.
Red-winged Blackbird -CP- and also increased new arrivals overall - the passages of the younger males and many females of this species are usually more-overlooked in reports, this is in part thanks to the typical arrivals of so many other arriving species of migrants.
Eastern Meadowlark - a few additional passage-migrators.
Rusty Blackbird -CP- and also modestly-increased new arrivals overall.
Common Grackle -CP- and also many locations overall.
Brown-headed Cowbird -CP- and multi-locations overall.
Orchard Oriole -CP- not ultra-early but ahead of typical expected dates.
Baltimore Oriole -CP- after a very few elsewhere, a couple of these came in to Central Park, as well as a few other locations - still rather early, but being noted as earlier arrivals in our recent-modern era.
Purple Finch -CP- and also very-few increased arrivals overall.
House Finch -CP- and also slightly increased new arrivals overall. many singing around the county.
American Goldfinch -CP- and also increased new arrivals overall.
--
Orange-crowned Warbler
Nashville Warbler -CP- still early, and could represent a bird that wintered not far-away, but there has been clear arrival of some migrants from the tropical regions of the hemisphere.
Northern Parula -CP- which was early, and more likelier later this month.
Yellow Warbler -CP- which was early, and more likelier later this month.
Myrtle -Yellow-rumped- Warbler -CP- and also modestly increased arrivals overall.
Black-throated Green Warbler -CP- only slightly-early and more may be here soon.
Pine Warbler -CP- and in many other sites, has had some good passage for prior week.
Prairie Warbler -CP- and also very-few increased arrivals overall. Very slightly-early, and might have already arrived last week, with more observers now.
Palm Warbler -CP- and also greatly increased arrivals overall - still more likely to arrive.
Black-and-white Warbler -CP- and also rather-few, so far, in increased arrivals overall.
American Redstart - one found in lower sector of Manhattan, a bit early.
Ovenbird - CP- and also very-few increased arrivals overall - the Central Park sightings were in the low-multiple, and are not merely of the one that wintered, these were fresh arrivals, and seen at same-hours in widely-separated areas in that park on same day.
Northern Waterthrush -CP- and also a very-few increased arrivals overall. Still on the early side for the main arrivals of THIS species of waterthrush.
Louisiana Waterthrush -CP- and also a very good increased arrival -and passages- overall.
Common Yellowthroat -CP- and also very-few increased arrivals overall. This in-addition to a very few that most likely wintered rather locally - or even successfully within Manhattan.
Hooded Warbler - the singing male which 1,000+ people saw - including some not-birder bird-watchers, ie, passersby who became interested in the hubbub of observers, and then the warbler itself. This was in the northern end of -CP- but meantime, the other one in -CP- was not seen or reported by many at all. More of these will be passing in coming weeks.
---
It is almost certain that some species were not listed above, which showed this past week.
Many many trees are leafing, giving more opportunities for arriving songbird and other migrants to feed well. There have been greatly increased blooms and buds on all sorts of shrubs, trees, and herbaceous plants all around Manhattan and beyond - the lush double-flowered ornamental cherries given to us from Japan are showing beautifully this week. All sorts of invertebrate life is emerging and showing in many locations, adding to the feel of spring here.
Thanks to great numbers of keen, quiet, courteous observers and photographers of birds, many of whom offered a lot of reporting this past week from all around Manhattan island.
Good birding to all,
Tom Fiore
manhattan
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Date: 4/15/24 2:56 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Manhattan, N.Y. City - Sunday. 4/14 - a few highlights
In Manhattan, part of New York County, which is within N.Y. City as one of 5 counties - or boroughs as often called in that city - on Sunday, April 14th -
A Purple Sandpiper was still lingering where they have wintered-thru, at Manhattans Pier 26, far west edges, this in lower-west Manhattan, along the Hudson river, with again multi-observers for 4-14.
Migrants that likely just came in included a bright male Rose-breasted Grosbeak on Sunday, at Inwood Hill Park which incidentally has the tallest and oldest forest, some considered local old-growth, on Manhattan, this park at the northern-upper end of Manhattan island.
Also seen Sunday, in Washington Square Park, in the Greenwich village part of lower Manhattan, was an American Redstart.
These 2 songbird species which migrate in from well south of the U.S. are representative of a nice recent arrival of a variety of species just beginning to show from well-south of the U.S. border, including also some that may have come from as far south as n. Argentina- as a few Broad-winged Hawks were noticed coming thru on Sunday, past Manhattan island. Thanks to a number of keen watchers and photographers for these sightings. More to report soon from around the county.
Good birding to all,
Tom Fiore
manhattan
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Date: 4/14/24 2:14 pm From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Sun, April 14, 2024: Warblers and Other Spring MIgrants, Lingering Waterfowl
Central Park NYC
Sunday April 14, 2024
OBS: Robert DeCandido, PhD, Deborah Allen, m.ob.
Highlights: Northern Shoveler, Bufflehead, Common Loon, Great Egret, Blue-headed Vireo, Cedar Waxwing, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Brown Creeper, Winter Wren, Field Sparrow, Eastern Towhee, Brown-headed Cowbird, Black-and-white Warbler, Palm Warbler, Pine Warbler. At the North End the male Hooded Warbler was seen at the Loch again today - as reported on @BirdCentralPark.
Canada Goose - 16
Northern Shoveler - 1 male Reservoir (Deb-early)
Mallard - 18-22
Bufflehead - 12 (Deb and Signe Hammer)
Hooded Merganser - 2 females Reservoir (Deb and Signe Hammer)
Ruddy Duck - 2 Reservoir
Mourning Dove - 45-50
American Coot - 6 (Signe Hammer)
Herring Gull - 15
Common Loon - 2 Reservoir (Deb-early)
Double-crested Cormorant - 9 or 10
Great Egret - 1 Turtle Pond (Mary Kate Horbac)
Black-crowned Night-Heron - 1 2nd-year just south of the Oven
Red-tailed Hawk - 2 adults
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 5
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - 3 or 4
Downy Woodpecker - 4 or 5
Northern Flicker - 6-8
Blue-headed Vireo - 1 north of Tupelo near steps to Castle
Blue Jay - 9-12
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 10-15
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 2 Ramble
Cedar Waxwing - 1 Maintenance Field
Brown Creeper - 1 Belvedere Castle
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - between Willow Rock and the Riviera (Abby)
Winter Wren - 1 mouth of the Gill (Mark Siegeltuch)
Northern Mockingbird - 1 flyover Maintenance Field
Hermit Thrush - 3 or 4
American Robin - 80-100
House Finch - 2 males Evodia Field feeders
American Goldfinch - 4 or 5
Field Sparrow - 4
Dark-eyed Junco - 10
White-throated Sparrow - 40-50
Song Sparrow - 6
Eastern Towhee - 4 or 5 including 1 female
Red-winged Blackbird - 6-8
Brown-headed Cowbird - 1 male Evodia Field feeders
Common Grackle - 25-30
Black-and-white Warbler - 1 Mugger's Woods (Edmund Berry)
Palm Warbler - 3 "Yellow"
Pine Warbler - 1 female Belvedere Castle and Shakespeare Garden
Northern Cardinal - 5-7
--
Deb Allen
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Date: 4/14/24 5:52 am From: Debbie Becker <birdingaroundnyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park Birds 4/13/24
In a four-hour tour of the Ramble we spotted:
Black and white warbler
Louisiana Waterthrush
Pine warbler
Palm warbler
Yellow-rumped warbler
Eastern Phoebe
Ruby Crowned Kinglets
Golden crowned kinglets
Hermit Thrush
Brown Thrasher
American Robin
Catbird - FOY
Eastern Towhee
Song sparrow
Field Sparrow
White throated sparrow
House Finch
American Goldfinch
Juncos
Winter Wren
Brown creeper
Grackles
Red-winged Blackbirds
Red bellied woodpecker
Downy woodpecker
Yellow bellied sapsucker
Northern Flicker
Northern Cardinal
Mourning doves
Blue jays
Turkey Vulture
American Kestrel
Red-tailed Hawk
Mallards
Northern Shoveler
Cormorant
Canada Goose
Date: 4/13/24 4:28 pm From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC - Saturday, 4/13 - 7 Warbler spp., W-e Vireo, etc.
Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City
Saturday, April 13th -
An adult-male-plumaged Hooded Warbler was seen by many dozens of observers at Central Parks north end, the warbler moving about a bit as is rather typical of these, in this park in particular, and an early-alert -from a non-X source- got so many more birders out to the sector of the park for this species, and then as well as the most-usual, dependable way of learning of birds seen in this park year-round, eBird, has a number of sets of photos with the Macaulay Library archives and one is linked-to here, thanks to one photographer of many on the scene in the morning, R. Li - https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/617311908
A lingering Northern Parula was seen by multiple observers and also photographed again, in the parks north end, with one photo linked-to here in the Macaulay Library, and thanks to G.and T. Plowman - https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/617320425
One of the Black-and-white Warblers of the day for Central Park was seen by multiple observers in the heart of the Ramble area. At least several Louisiana Waterthrushes were present in the park for Saturday as well. With the more-common now Pine, Palm and Myrtle Warblers, we had a minimum of 7 migratory American Warblers in Central Park on the day.
Also among the 75-plus species of birds collectively seen for Central on Saturday was a White-eyed Vireo, the 2nd of 2 vireo species now having shown so far this year there, the first having been a Blue-headed Vireo on April 9th. Rusty Blackbird was again seen in several sites within Central Park on Saturday.
Two lingering hen Hooded Mergansers were on the reservoir of Central Park thru the day Saturday, those being seen by multiple observers - as is so of almost every one of the 75-plus birds on the day, in this one park. Thanks to so many keen watchers, photographers, and reporters among whom many work and-or volunteer with not-for-profit organizations which support bird conservation N.Y. City and beyond.
...
Elsewhere but still in Manhattan, a part N.Y. County, a Purple Sandpiper was lingering to Saturday the 13th, at Pier 26 off the lower west of Manhattan, along the Hudson River. Thanks to amongst other observers, A. Evans of Manhattan for reports and photos.
Good birding to all,
Tom Fiore
manhattan
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Date: 4/13/24 11:26 am From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Sat. April 13, 2024: Common Loon, Lingering Waterfowl and Early Spring Migrants
Central Park NYC
Saturday April 13, 2024
OBS: Robert DeCandido, PhD, Deborah Allen, m.ob.
Highlights on a cool, blustery, drizzly morning: Common Loon, Ruby- and Golden-crowned Kinglets, Brown Creeper, Brown Thrasher, Hermit Thrush, Field Sparrow, Eastern Towhee, Pine, Palm, and Yellow-rumped Warblers. In addition, a male Hooded Warbler was reported at the Loch this morning (check @BirdCentralPark maintained by David Barrett for updates).
Canada Goose - 13
Northern Shoveler - 1 male Reservoir (Deb-early)
Mallard - 10
Bufflehead - 7
Ruddy Duck - 2 (Deb-early)
Mourning Dove - 35-45
American Coot - 3
Herring Gull - 5 flyovers
Common Loon - 1 Reservoir (Wolfgang Demisch saw 3 there on Friday)
Double-crested Cormorant - 6 or 7
Red-tailed Hawk - 3
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 3 or 4
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - 4
Downy Woodpecker - 2 Ramble
Northern Flicker - 10-15
Blue Jay - 10-15
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 6-8
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 4 or 5
Brown Creeper - 2 (Castle Overlook, Shakespeare Garden)
Brown Thrasher - 3
Hermit Thrush - 1 Turtle Pond
American Robin - 80-100
House Finch - 1 male Evodia Field
American Goldfinch - 4 or 5
Field Sparrow - 4
Dark-eyed Junco - 6-8
White-throated Sparrow - 50-75
Song Sparrow - 2 Locust Grove
Eastern Towhee - 6-8
Red-winged Blackbird - 4-6 males
Common Grackle - 20-25
Pine Warbler - Belvedere Castle (Scott Brevda)
Palm Warbler - 3 "Yellow"
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 1 Bow Bridge
Northern Cardinal - 8-10
--
Deb Allen
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You can also send reports and digital image files via email to
nysarc44<at>nybirds<dot>org
If electronic submission is not possible, hardcopy reports and photos
or sketches are welcome. Hardcopy documentation should be mailed to:
Gary Chapin - Secretary
NYS Avian Records Committee (NYSARC)
125 Pine Springs Drive
Ticonderoga, NY 12883
Hotline: New York City Area Rare Bird Alert
Number: (212) 979-3070
Compiler: Tom Burke
Coverage: New York City, Long Island, Westchester County
Transcriber: Gail Benson
[~BEGIN RBA TAPE~]
Greetings! This is the New York Rare Bird Alert for Friday, April 12,
2024 at 11:00 pm.
The highlights of today’s tape are RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD, BROWN PELICAN,
pelagic trip results, including COMMON MURRE and ICELAND GULL,
HARLEQUIN DUCK, BLACK-HEADED GULL, CASPIAN TERN, RED-HEADED
WOODPECKER, VESPER SPARROW, YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER, BLUE GROSBEAK,
spring migrants and more.
After not being seen for a week, and with the hummingbird feeder taken
down, the Brooklyn RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD made brief appearances in the
same area near Breeze Hill in Prospect Park last Saturday and Sunday,
this followed by an unconfirmed report of it sitting there in a Pine
tree today.
An immature BROWN PELICAN was photographed in Great South Bay last
Monday, with little detail provided, and it has not resurfaced
subsequently.
A 12-hour pelagic trip aboard the American Princess left Sheepshead
Bay in Brooklyn Saturday morning and was quickly treated to a nice
gathering of NORTHERN GANNETS, with a total of 934 recorded for the
day. Also encountered were 73 RAZORBILLS and four COMMON MURRES as
well as six ICELAND and seven LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS. Five
RED-NECKED GREBES were spotted on the way in, continuing around the
south end of Floyd Bennett Field, and mammals featured Common Dolphins
and Fin Whales.
Three HARLEQUIN DUCKS continued through last Sunday off Orient Point
County Park.
A BLACK-HEADED GULL was still around Jones Inlet and Point Lookout
last Sunday, with an immature also spotted off Calvert Vaux Park in
Brooklyn on Thursday, where an ICELAND GULL was also seen Wednesday
and Thursday.
Three LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS were still on the West Pond at Jamaica
Bay Wildlife Refuge Tuesday.
A CASPIAN TERN was found near LaGuardia Airport Wednesday, and another
was spotted on the Hudson River off Ossining in Westchester County
today.
Local RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS continue in Westchester, with two at
Croton Point Park and another at Marshlands Conservancy in Rye.
A VESPER SPARROW was a nice find in Kissena Park yesterday.
A singing YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER was back at the Bayard Cutting
Arboretum in Great River as of last Sunday, where hopefully they will
continue through breeding season, and singles were also noted at
Hempstead Lake State Park on Monday and out at Camp Hero in Montauk on
Tuesday.
A nice find this afternoon was an adult male BLUE GROSBEAK spotted on
the lawn near the tollbooth by the entrance to Valley Stream State
Park.
An expected but welcome influx of migrants this week featured SOLITARY
SANDPIPER today at Hempstead Lake, LESSER YELLOWLEGS, FORSTER’S TERN,
GREEN HERON, BROAD-WINGED HAWK and, among the passerines, WHITE-EYED
and BLUE-HEADED VIREOS, PURPLE MARTIN, CLIFF SWALLOW, more BLUE-GRAY
GNATCATCHERS, HOUSE WREN, BROWN THRASHER and a poor male INDIGO
BUNTING, unfortunately a window-strike casualty.
Among the WARBLERS, joining the continuing ORANGE-CROWNEDS and
increasing PINE, PALM, and LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSHES, have been
BLACK-AND-WHITE as of Tuesday, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, a HOODED in
Prospect Park Tuesday, and both NORTHERN PARULA and YELLOW as of
Wednesday.
To phone in reports call Tom Burke at (914) 967-4922.
This service is sponsored by the Linnaean Society of New York and the
National Audubon Society. Thank you for calling.
- End transcript
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Date: 4/11/24 2:34 pm From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC Thurs, 4/11 - 8 warbler spp among 80+ species on the day
At Central Park, in Manhattan N.Y. City for Thursday, April 11th -
At least 8 migratory American warbler species were present, a few species still in good numbers after Tuesday and Wednesday having had such strong arrivals. The 8 warbler species seen on April 11 at Central Park include Northern Parula - singing male, photos taken, Yellow Warbler, still quite early, roaming parts of the north end assuming just 1, Black-and-white Warblers - 2, Pine Warblers - minimum of ten, Palm Warblers - minimum of 35, in many areas of the park, Louisiana Waterthrushes -multiple locations again on Thursday, Myrtle Warblers - far fewer than Pine or, in particular Palm for all of the park on Thursday. The lingering Ovenbird was also still present where it has been, in the southeast sector of the park.
An excellent selection of sparrows and members of that group were again found, and Rusty Blackbirds also were again seen. Red-throated as well as Common Loon were each present on the Central Park reservoir into the afternoon of April 11th, as was Hooded Merganser, and other lingering waterfowl. Multiple N. Rough-winged Swallows were seen again and a few Tree Swallows as well for Thursday in the park. A lot more birds could be mentioned, as well. Many observers were out thru most of the day, with multiple not-for-profit guided bird walks also going at various times and locations within the park. Thanks to the many who contributed sightings and also photographs of a wide variety of these birds.
Good birding to all,
Tom Fiore
manhattan
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Date: 4/11/24 12:07 pm From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Thu. April 11, 2024: 4 Species of Wood Warblers and Other Spring Migrants
Central Park NYC
Thursday April 11, 2024
OBS: Robert DeCandido, PhD, m.ob.
Highlights: Ruby- and Golden-crowned Kinglets, Brown Creeper, Winter Wren, Brown Thrasher, Chipping Sparrow, Field Sparrow, Eastern Towhee, Brown-headed Cowbird, Louisiana Waterthrush, Palm, Pine, and Yellow-rumped Warblers. Uptick in numbers of Double-crested Cormorants and Ruby-crowned Kinglets.
Canada Goose - 8
Northern Shoveler - 2 Turtle Pond
Gadwall - pair Reservoir
Mallard - around 15
Bufflehead - 1 male Reservoir
Mourning Dove - 35-45
Herring Gull - 25-35
Double-crested Cormorant - 15-20
Black-crowned Night-Heron - 1 adult Lake
Red-tailed Hawk - 1 Ramble
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 4
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - 5 or 6 males
Downy Woodpecker - 4
Northern Flicker - 10-12
Eastern Phoebe - 2 Ramble
Blue Jay - 10-12
American Crow - 4 flyovers
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 20-25
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 5-7
Crown Creeper - 2 Ramble
Winter Wren - 1 Laupot Bridge
Brown Thrasher - 1 south side of Turtle Pond
Hermit Thrush - 2 Ramble
American Robin - 80-100
House Finch - 3 or 4
Chipping Sparrow - 3 or 4
Field Sparrow - 1 uphill from Boathouse Cafe
Dark-eyed Junco - 5-10
White-throated Sparrow - 60-80
Song Sparrow - 1 Turtle Pond
Eastern Towhee - 5 or 6 males
Red-winged Blackbird - 3 or 4 males
Brown-headed Cowbird - 1 male top of Oven
Common Grackle - 20-25
Louisiana Waterthrush - 1 south side Turtle Pond
Palm Warbler - 2 Belvedere Castle
Pine Warbler - 1 female Maintenance Field
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 7-9
Northern Cardinal - 6-8
--
Deb Allen
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Date: 4/11/24 4:24 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] New York County, NYC - many migrants - thru Wed., 4/10
New York County, in N.Y. City and includes Manhattan, Governors, and Randalls islands and the skies above as well as adjacent waters visible from, or part-of the county. Also in some sightings may include sightings from boats on the water, in a county that is fully surrounded by salt waters of the harbor, and by brackish waters of the very-tidal Hudson river and various estuary and feeder waters and former creeks, marshes, etc. back in the old old old days, that is in Manahatta times.
Thru all of Wednesday, April 10th - NotaBene, skip past all the prelim-para. for a simpler, lightly annotated list of some of the recent sightings.
At least one Purple Sandpiper was still present at Pier 26 in lower Manhattans west shoreline on the Hudson river to April 9th, thanks to -among other recent observers- of the species here, A. Evans of Manhattan.
Bonapartes Gulls are moving lately in the region, and one reported from the NY Harbor for Wed., 4/10 via a Statue-of-Liberty boat ride is not at all surprising - most of that species ought now to be in a nice spring plumage, but a variety of plumages could still be possible, even if many will be coming into alternate - breeding type plumage. This species also will occur along the local rivers, and is possible in various waterbodies including those located in Central Park, so be looking out, if at all interested in gorgeous smaller gulls. The Laughing Gulls are also around in recent weeks and more will be moving in and thru - some are in pretty nice plumage about now, that are showing in parts of this county while non-adults can also be seen as well as wintry-looking birds.
For the reliabilty-note-takers, a photograph of a Blue-headed Vireo, seen by multitudes by Wed., April 10th in the Central Park Ramble of Manhattan is added below, with thanks to B. Saunders - and the Macaulay Library archive, this bird, seen and positively ID'd first by smaller numbers of observers in the same area on Tuesday - April 8th, and then noticed by MANY observers which was when MANY of the fresh arrivals had first seen daylight in the county - that was April 9th! - after a super nocturnal-migration-night from Monday April 10, post eclipse and after sundown, to Tuesday morn' which dawned to a LOT of birds for a LOT of the region having arrived, including in particular parts of Manhattan in the county in which it is located. Observers of the first-of-spring vireo -in this county- by Wed. morning included multiple members of the Linnaean Society of New York, many of the members, volunteers and other folks from what had been called the NYCAS - NY City Audubon, as well as ornithologists and many, many more from our county, and from beyond its borders... https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/617190445
There were among the many additional arrivals by Tuesday April 9, these warblers - a few rather early, and in-line with very few other rather-early arrivers in the migratory American warbler family - known as the Parulidae - see this link associated with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology etc. for a nice overview of ALL the -New World- or American warbler genera and groupings for all of this hemisphere, many of course are resident in the tropical, subtropical and temperate non-North American parts of this great hemisphere - https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/paruli1/cur/introduction For arrivals which were extra-early in N.Y. County we know of, so far - Yellow Warbler and Northern Parula, and --at-least reports--- of a -few- others. Further, there was a Black-and-white Warbler at Central Parks north end, singing-away too, in addition to the four species being seen much more widely this week and previously - Palm in good numbers by Tuesday, all seeming to be of the expected yellow-form which is the breeding-form of the greater northeastern quadrant of North America, and Pine in good numbers as well, also a nice additional push of Louisiana Waterthrushes for Tuesday, the 9th, with even a few showing in Manhattan sites NOT in Central Park, although at least 8 of ---that one--- waterthrush-species, and possibly more of -that one waterthrush species-, occurred in that one park on that day - some of those having moved on as did various other Tuesday-observed migrants, on their way again by Wed., in the changing weather.
A situation that can arise in every year, with the earlier arrivals in either of 2 migratory seasons is the issue of distinguishing the 2 species of Waterthrush that will each, eventually, pass through our area, and both reliably occur in this county - with - - - eventually - - - Northern becoming the far-more common of the 2 species, while Louisiana, although a bit increased from numbers of long-ago on-passage -thanks to a steady range-extension a bit north to northeastward from long-ago known range limits- this concerns some of the earliest of annual-in-spring reports that will show, both oinline and word-of-mouth, and even with photos taken by observers - its a good idea to add-on a video clip whether a bird seen is singing or calling, or is silent... with the 2 species of waterthrush, even visual behaviors in a migration stopover may offer strong clues to identity - as to which of the two is being observed. The Louisiana Waterthrush is without-fail and virtually without exception the earlier-documented in spring arrivals of the 2 species, over decades and decades of observation and even thru regional banding efforts of older days and in modern era times, by photos and videos for documentation, as well as sound-files. The first Northerns to be reported are -rightly- subject to some scrutiny. A nice easy primer on distinguishing these two expected migrant warblers is here -
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Waterthrush/species-compare/ Note to the above, some Northerns can lack spotting in the throat, but almost all Louisiana Waterthrush will lack the throat-spotting. And, that spotting can be indistinct, or simply, hard to detect, on some Northern Waterthrushes throats - even in many photos. It cant be relied on as a sole character on which to base an ID-decision for these 2 rather-similar looking warbler species. Take note -and record if possible- any calls or song, and also the length of the bill, the color of the legs and whether that color is strongly stained with mud and etc., and other features of the plumage. However, in many lengthier observations, it may be possible - with experience - to get a strong idea on ID, by simply observing the behavior of a warbler of one of these species, in particular when one is feeding. Northern is almost exclusively more of a metronome with the tail-bobbing, while the Louisiana has a tendency to sashay with the tail moving side to side a bit as it also has an up-down movement - all being relative however and this is why more experience, more observation over time, helps to get these two species down in ones repertoire of birding skills. So we have this issue again, this month, and this week at least 1 Northern Waterthrush has been reported, and even with photos made. -I have my own opinions, while the sightings I refer to will be or have been reviewed by hardworking reviewers, and the choice of acceptance -or not yet- made. The likelihood by date alone tends to Louisiana and yet, by that factor ONLY, there are in modern times especially, some earlier-than-anticipated spring arrival records with adequate documentation for Northern. And, conversely there are a vast number of Louisiana Waterthrush that may be taken for the other. I would triple-check the -length of bill-, on photos that show that well, and see about the chance for one-or-other of the 2 species. Northern Waterthrush is shorter billed than Louisiana Waterthrush. If you have worked with these 2 species in the field by holding them -gently as any good bander will- you may have seen after checking 100s or 1000s of these 2 waterthrushes that it is pretty rare to get to a Northern with a longer bill than virtually all Louisianas have. And when there is such, that measurement is likely to be in TENTHS of a millimeter. This feature on the living and moving bird out while watching can be observed, for a lengthy enough observation - more experience with these does help, but a quick glimpse may or may not answer the question of the -which waterthrush ID issue- that comes along every spring.
For those wondering, at least locally, the nocturnal and diurnal migrations were both FAR stronger and more-diverse for Mon. night April 8th into Tuesday, than for the 24 hours later on Tues. night to Wed., the 10th. This was seen not only thru on-the-ground and in-the-air observations, but also in radar imagery, and thru NFC - nocturnal flight calls as recorded on both nights in this NYC region. Also around in New York County thru Wed. April 10th are a few Common Yellowthroats, and unless more evidence shows otherwise these now look to be birds that may have wintered either right in this county, or nearby and had been a bit overlooked thru weeks and weeks in sometimes small patchy habitats such as smaller parks, greenspaces including community-gardens, and the like. The same might be for a very few Ovenbirds, one or more of which definitely wintered successfully in Manhattan this past winter.
Of the Myrtle also-known-as to many as a form of Yellow-rumped Warblers around in smallish numbers just now, these are all likely to be individuals that wintered not-far from here, and not part of a mass arrival of that species which will be seen starting later this month locally. There are a number of Orange-crowned Warblers around this week and it is clear so far, all are in sites and areas of some of those sites where individuals of that species had been wintering. It is very possible that a few more species of warbler might be found - revealed - in the next few days in the county and if so, chances are high that such finds might have actually arrived in the local area by Tuesday, the 9th, only to be noticed as of a later date.
Here are some of the many additional birds showing in the county this week, esp. since Tuesday, April 9th - including some of those noted above - with those species denoted with -CP- having been found in Central Park, which may include many many birds also showing in other locations in the county by now.
Red-throated Loon - one that has been in -CP- reservoir for a very long time is being watched as a possible rescue and rehab. individual, which seems to some to be showing signs of ill-health.
Common Loon - multiples of these are on the move this month, and that was certainly so on Tuesday. Also in -CP-
Great Cormorant -still showing in a few select sites in the county...
Double-crested Cormorant - very large increases, arrivals this week - includes also -CP-.
Great Blue Heron -CP- and in and from many more locations.
Great Egret -CP- and from many other locations, some are flyovers.
Snowy Egret - increased a lot on Tuesday and Wed., April 9th - 10th, some flybys for -CP- too but still more for Randalls Island and as flyovers in many locations, on a typical flyway or paths by which many move by in season.
Black-crowned Night-Heron - increases, including for -CP-, some as ever are seen best in twilight and overnights.
Black Vulture - modest numbers again, compared with the next more-numerous vulture sp.
Turkey Vulture -CP- and from many other locations, almost-all are flyovers but - Inwood Hill Park etc. can have roosts of this and possibly may get the rarer Black Vulture roosting now and then as well. The species has even rarely roosted in Central Parks northern end, in past years.
Canada Goose
Atlantic Brant -CP- as flybys and in many more locations, unclear if all movement lately is rather local and staging-up. This is a regular wintering bird of the county and can be found into the multi-thousands on some high-count migration days of spring - not always sought by a lot of watchers, here.
Mute Swan - ongoing at typical site which can be viewed from locations that see parts of the East River in, or from,, this county.
Wood Duck -CP- and a goodly number also migrating by.
Gadwall -CP- and in many, many other county locations.
American Black Duck -CP- and some in scattered areas, including a good amount of movement.
Mallard -CP- and almost anywhere a duck might possibly be in this county.
Blue-winged Teal - flybys, but rare in general as sitting-ducks in this county, about-annual anyhow though, and some occurrences over many decades can be of one or two which may linger from a few hours to a few days, rarely much longer. This has been a key week for movements of the species in our region and beyond as is fully expected.
Northern Shoveler -CP-
Northern Pintail -CP- and a few additional flyover or flyby sightings, not a lot.
Green-winged Teal -CP- as have been for months and months, and also a few sightings elsewhere.
Greater Scaup - at least one observed off Manhattan to April 8th, on the Hudson river, where still very possible, along with other waters, such as in the N.Y. harbor area.
Lesser Scaup - the last very definite sightings by many and including photos was of a hen, to April 7th on the -CP- reservoir where that individual female scaup had been for a good while.
Bufflehead -CP- and many still around overall.
Hooded Merganser -CP- and a few sightings from elsewhere such as to April 10th at Randalls Island.
Red-breasted Merganser -CP- and multiples in some other locations this week. Some are on the move.
Ruddy Duck -CP- and a very few elsewhere this week in N.Y. County.
Osprey -CP- also all around the county now, and many - that is MANY - on migration northward this week.
Bald Eagle -CP- and seen from many more county locations on the move this week.
Northern Harrier -CP- and much-more-so from other locations - a great day of movement on Tuesday, 9th.
Sharp-shinned Hawk -CP- and in and from many more locations.
Cooper's Hawk -CP- and in and from many more locations.
Red-shouldered Hawk - a relative few still being seen and reported.
Broad-winged Hawk - first found on Tues. April 9th, and not at all early by the overall migrations of the species this spring.
Red-tailed Hawk - -CP- and all around the county, many are at nest-sites now.
American Kestrel -CP- and in and from many more locations, some are at nest-sites now.
Merlin -CP- and, in and from some more locations.
Peregrine Falcon -CP- and in and from many more locations, with many at nest-sites now.
Virginia Rail - NOT being seen any longer at a location where one had been lingering in Manhattan.
American Coot -CP- and, in very few other locations.
Purple Sandpiper - as noted at the top of this report, to at least April 9th for Manhattan.
Killdeer - from a few sites, mainly those known as regular for this species within the county.
- - - - .N.B, both Solitary Sandpiper, and Spotted Sandpiper have been seen, reliably NORTH of N.Y. City recently - as have a good variety of other shorebird species just for within NY state.
American Woodcock -CP- and, from some more locations in the county, this week.
Laughing Gull -CP- but still uncommonly there, and from more locations elsewhere in the county just now. Increases are getting a bit more obvious for those seeking these.
Bonaparte's Gull - a solid report for April 10th - more are very possible in the county as this month goes on.
Ring-billed Gull -CP- and, in and from many more locations.
American Herring Gull -CP- and in and from many more locations.
Great Black-backed Gull -CP- and in and from many more locations.
- - - - - - N.B. the following are moving into NY state this week - Common Tern, Forster's Tern and Caspian Tern - and any of those is at-least a possibility - all ought to be well photographed or video-d for this county.
feral Rock Pigeon - all over the county, pretty hard to miss in Manhattan!
Mourning Dove -CP- and in and from many more locations.
Monk Parakeet - this species has been documented in as many as a dozen locations this spring, with reports into April 10th and more sightings sure to follow. Photos are most helpful esp to eBird reviewers.
Owls continued a few select sites in the county.
Belted Kingfisher -CP- and in and from some other locations.
Red-bellied Woodpecker -CP- and from many more locations.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker -CP- and from many more locations. -CP- and from many more locations - these showed a nice big increase on April 9th.
Downy Woodpecker -CP- and from many more locations.
Hairy Woodpecker -CP- and from some more locations.
Yellow-shafted Flicker -CP- and from many more locations - a major flight for Tuesday with many-hundreds going past all parts of the county on that morning, April 9th, and subsequent additional sightings all-around. -A major increase this week.-
Eastern Phoebe - the one-and-only definitively IDd flycatcher species in the county thru April 10th, with many all over including of-course Central Park, and vastly more locations by now.
Blue-headed Vireo - as noted, FIRST found on April 9th, and then seen by many more as-of April 10th at Central Parks Ramble area. Some photos are now in the Macaulay Library archives, too. -- And, n.b. for another species of Vireo which has now shown in N.Y. City, White-eyed, which also happens to be a species that both nests in some areas within that city and also has attempted to overwinter in same, some years with mixed success... one to be listening and watching out for.--
Northern Raven -CP- and in multiple other locations as flyovers - and also nesting now, in Manhattan.
Blue Jay -CP- and from many more locations. Increased, with a good many on diurnal passage as well as lingerers and locals.
American Crow -CP- and from many more locations.
Fish Crow -CP- -BUT- most are from other locations.
Tree Swallow -CP- and from many more locations.
Northern Rough-winged Swallow -CP- and from many more locations.
Barn Swallow -CP- and from many more locations.
Black-capped Chickadee -CP- and from various other locations.
Tufted Titmouse -CP- and from other locations.
Red-breasted Nuthatch -CP- and from at least a few other locations.
White-breasted Nuthatch -CP- and from many more locations.
Brown Creeper -CP- and from many more locations.
Carolina Wren -CP- and from many more locations.
- - - - - - House Wren - some have been reported already - while early yet, possible, and-however to help anyone reviewing such sightings, high res. photos, video and sound-files of singing will help a lot. Some sightings can be of Winter or less-commonly of Carolina Wrens, which 2 latter species were present in New York County in all weeks of this past winter, in various locations.
Winter Wren -CP- and from more locations.
Golden-crowned Kinglet -CP- and from many more locations.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet -CP- and from many more locations - a modest increase for April 9th, etc.
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher -CP- and some more locations. The arrivals of April 9th were good, but the main arrivals of this species are yet to show here.
Hermit Thrush - - -CP- and from many more locations - April 9th featured a very strong arrival in much of the region, including to well-north of this county. In Manhattan, on that date, there were 1000s yes thousands of this species of thrush in the air on passage in overnight, from Monday night and at-least many hundreds ON the ground, ie also in shrubs, trees etc etc thru Manhattan for April 9th - this is based in part on NFC Nocturnal Flight Calls as well as on-the-ground truthing by 100s of dedicated observers all around the county. PS, if you saw a brown-backed thrush in this county on April 9th, you were watching a Hermit Thrush. A few of these have sung a little in the small hours as well as in some places at true-dusk hour. Calls were much more frequent and, of course there is that characteristic tail-pump, although that alone can be seen now and then with other birds - including other thrush species, even if rare to be seen in the precise way as the Hermit Thrush handles that behavior.
American Robin -CP- and from many more locations, with plenty doing a first nesting already, as well as plenty of passage migrators and stop-overs just lately.
Gray Catbird -CP- and from some more locations - interesting that, as April came along more of these seem to have been revealed in the county - but not a great many as we will be seeing soon enough. And some of the seeming increases recently involve a LOT more birder activity locally just lately...
Northern Mockingbird -CP- and from many more locations.
Brown Thrasher -CP- and from many more locations - a nice fresh arrival for April 9th and onward, with many on territories, some of those known-traditional sites, as well as many that may be just passage stop-overs right now. Plenty of singing.
European Starling - near ubiquitous in this county, city.
American Pipit - at least one and likely a few or more, back on April 7th, an uncommonly noted but annual passage migrant. One definitively flew thru CP, that is Central Park in Manhattan on the 7th - calling nicely as it did so.
Cedar Waxwing -CP- and from various other locations. Some that essentially overwintered may have just moved-on recently. Far more will show in the month of May here.
House Sparrow - ubiquitous and can be a pest to some of our native breeding-birds at this time.
Eastern Towhee -CP- and from various other locations.
Chipping Sparrow -CP- and from various other locations - a nice further increase this week.
Field Sparrow -CP- and from various other locations.
Savannah Sparrow -CP- and from various other locations, still rather scant as most are yet to show up, and are expected later on in numbers.
Red Fox Sparrow -CP- and from various other locations - catch these while you can still see and hear the species in our area, and from N.Y. County. Typically, all-gone-north by May 1st and most depart here earlier than that.
Song Sparrow -CP- and from various other locations.
Lincoln's Sparrow - a few wintered-over and continue to be found or re-found in this county. Some have not been noted in particular locations for many weeks but are being uncovered again, often by very keen observers.
Swamp Sparrow -CP- and from various other locations - incereased again, this week.
White-throated Sparrow -CP- and from various other locations with more movements this week.
Slate-colored Junco -CP- and from various other locations - some were also moving-on north...
Northern Cardinal - -CP- and from various other locations.
Red-winged Blackbird -CP- and from various other locations - the younger males and females are also here now...
Rusty Blackbird -CP- and from various other locations - with those in a few locations, esp from Central Park having had many photos and some video and audio as well.
Common Grackle -CP- and from various other locations.
Brown-headed Cowbird -CP- and from various other locations.
- - - - Baltimore Oriole - sought by some of us, from 1 recently-reported location, but not seen just lately, it seems.
Purple Finch -CP- and some other locations, in small numbers.
House Finch -CP- and many other locations.
American Goldfinch -CP- and many other locations in still modest numbers overall. More are expected to show on passage.
- -
Orange-crowned Warbler - multiple locations including at least several in Manhattan, ALL of these sightings thru Wed., April 10th are in or very-near sites where the species had definitively overwintered. That does not exclude the chance of a few, or any newly-passing birds of this species but odds are strongly on individuals that successfully wintered thru here. And, again - VASTLY more observers are out-and-about in all of the county this month.
Northern Parula -CP- singing male seen by April 9, early-ish but not un precedented. And not reported for a few reasons until now. In the north sector of Central Park not far from a restroom location.
Yellow Warbler - - - -CP- very early and-but with the interesting coincidence that the sighting of a single individual comes from quite near where the extraordinary one of last December was found in the park, at the far north end.
Myrtle -alsoknownas- --Yellow-rumped-- Warbler - very modest numbers in -CP- and elsewhere.
Pine Warbler -CP- and from many more locations, this species was already in fair to good numbers in multiple sites before April 9th, and by then, was also on passage in the nights and in a variety of locations, including at least some in small urban spaces and places, pocket parks and community gardens, churchyards, and the like along with the multiple sightings in the big parks of the county, also seen on both Randalls and Governors Islands and perhaps out in smaller isles too - Statue of Liberty??
- - - - - - - - Prairie Warbler - at least 1 report, but with a song-only reported, one would like to have a recording available, some of our Field Sparrows have been singing at times, for one possibility...
Palm Warbler - of the yellow form, as-expected most now - -CP- and from many more locations. This species was very numerous by April 9th - and certainly will also be increasing in numbers on passage here soon.
Black-and-white Warbler - A photo, for April 9th at Central Park - and this species had multiple-reliable-observers - the link to Macaulay Library archives for a sighting of a species that can be fully expected to show in early to mid-April in this county is here - thanks to A. Tey with others -
https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/617195558 Ovenbird - -CP- and very few other locations of Manhattan. The Central Park bird as with all of the others has successfully overwintered, and has been in the southeast sector for that individual, while a few others are known from points-south in the county. NO known new-spring arrivals yet.
- - - - Northern Waterthrush - see extensive notes and link to ID-advice web page above. This is a trickier species for some, more-so than realized. - - - If singing... an audio recording would help any reviewers to know that an early-bird is of this species, or is not. - - -
Louisiana Waterthrush -CP- and from some other locations. Some have been singing and more have given calls. This is the expected species of the two waterthrushes right now, this first ten day period in April. We can expect some to continue to pass thru this county for some weeks still and, esp in our modern era, a few may be found well-past when the majority are in breeding areas, some of which are not far at all from N.Y. City - indeed there are some that will breed within less than ten miles from this city.
Common Yellowthroat - the few being found recently are somewhat likely to have managed to overwinter - and escape being detected for a while. Notes as to plumage-condition as well as crisp photos may or may not be useful in that respect.
- - -
and certainly some additional species that have been in, over, around N.Y. County in the past few days. Thanks greatly to so many keen observers and many photographers who have been finding and reporting on sightings of a lot of great migration happenings.
Good birdng to all,
Tom Fiore
manhattan
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Date: 4/10/24 12:57 pm From: Sean Sime <sean...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Results of April 6th Pelagic out of Sheepshead Bay Brooklyn
The pelagic aboard the American Princess out of Sheepshead Bay this past Saturday had a decidedly winter feel with steady northwest winds and water temps holding steady at 44 degrees.
The avian highlights included an incredible Northern Gannet showing with nearly 1000 individuals behind the boat in all plumages and lighting scenarios- often too close to focus on with anything longer than a 300mm lens.
Razorbill, Common Murre, Iceland Gull, Lesser-black Backed Gull, offshore Merlin, and good numbers of loons were encountered. The eBird trip list can be seen at the following link:
Date: 4/9/24 6:57 am From: Joan Collins <joancollins...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Eclipse Bird (& more) Behavior
I am still on a high from experiencing the total solar eclipse! Talking with lots of birders, the decision for everyone was where to be located during this event. I made a decision by Sunday morning that my husband and I would boat 10 miles to the north end of Long Lake (Turtle Beach - one of my favorite places in the Adirondacks). I wanted a place with certain habitats and one where we might actually be alone so I could hear wildlife. My husband had to plow a path through the snow to where the boat was stored and then shovel snow out of the boat. It was a lot of work and I think he thought I was crazy, but it really worked out perfect. The forecast was for 75% clouds, so I didn't expect to see the eclipse. But as we boated north, I saw the cloud line end and it was sunny at Turtle Beach (right to the very end of the event when clouds moved in!). We ended up with a perfect view of the eclipse. Although.we were not alone. A surgeon from Albany (& two guests) flew his private plane (one that can land on water or land) to the beach! Like me, he said it is his favorite beach in the ADKs. (I had lyrics from Carly Simon's song running through my head as we arrived!) After the eclipse, a lot of private planes flew overhead and I guess that was one way to avoid congested roads (for those who happen to have private planes that is). It was 60 degrees with calm winds and there was no snow on the beach. The sand was warm so I took off my boots and socks to be barefoot, and rolled up my fleece pants, which is all very odd for April 8. And the fact that we could boat 10 miles on the lake that early is a first. Two days before the eclipse we heard there was still ice blocking the way to the north end, so we didn't know if we could actually get to that spot.
I have 4 pages of notes I took over 2.5 hours, but I'll summarize some wildlife observations:
Before totality:
Many birds vocalized: Pine Siskins, Brown Creeper (singing), Golden-crowned Kinglets, Black-capped Chickadees. About 25 minutes before totality, a calling Red Crossbill flew across the lake from east to west. There was a brief, two-minute interval of quiet about 20 minutes before totality which was a sudden change. But things started back up again after that brief, silent lull. A flew beaver splashes were heard in the marsh behind the beach peninsula. Pine Siskins and Black-capped Chickadees started up again. Common Ravens gave very loud calls and flew back and forth over the marsh behind the peninsula. A Song Sparrow began to sing (a second one began to sing also) and continued to sing.
During this time, I heard a rhythmic tapping sound (4 taps over and over again). It was leading me into the woods on the peninsula toward the river (in snow in bare feet!). When I could tell it was across the river, I gave up trying to walk to it. It will remain a mystery since I have no idea what it was. (Maybe a nuthatch or woodpecker, but the rhythmic nature was perplexing.)
A few minutes before totality:
Song Sparrows switched to calling from singing. An Amer. Robin began calling. A fish leapt out of the lake (not sure if this is significant or not!). Pine Siskins and Black-capped Chickadees continued to vocalize. A Northern Saw-whet Owl began tooting to the east of the spot where Long Lake empties into the Raquette River. But it did not continue tooting during totality.
Totality:
The Amer. Robin began singing. The Pine Siskins and Black-capped Chickadees continued to call, which surprised me. A Barred Owl hooted just south of us and west of the lake.
After totality:
It was really active after totality - and even my non-birder husband noticed the level of vocal activity, which was like dawn. American Robins were singing and calling, Red-breasted Nuthatches were very vocal, Common Grackles appeared in the marsh and vocalized, Common Ravens were vocal, a lot of Herring Gulls suddenly vocalized and were flying around, a Bald Eagle flew across the lake to the island where its mate is on eggs (we saw the top of the eagle's head and yellow bill sticking out of the nest as we boated by the island), a calling Red Crossbill flew across the lake from east to west (likely the same one from before totality?), a Bufflehead pair (migrants) were in the cove vocalizing and diving, Black-capped Chickadees vocalized, two Tree Swallows (FOS) flew low over the lake calling, Pine Siskins began vocalizing (about 20 minutes after totality) - at this point in my notes, I wrote that all the birds were chatty like at dawn! Golden-crowned Kinglets joined in about 30 minutes past totality. Another Red Crossbill flew across the lake 40 minutes past totality. Three Common Mergansers flew into the outlet about 50 minutes after totality. A Red-winged Blackbird began to call in the marsh. A Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (FOS) began drumming, also about 50 minutes past totality. A few minutes later I heard a Spring Peeper for the first time during the event. Nearly 70 minutes past totality I noted it had finally become quiet and we boated back. At our dock, there was a Common Loon across the lake (FOS).
This is the first total solar eclipse I've ever experienced and it is nearly impossible to describe how the light changed (and hard to capture in photos). It was fascinating! I expected it would get dark gradually, but it was really abrupt! And after the 3+ minutes of total darkness, it abruptly became light, but again, hard to describe the light. The surgeon noted that it was like someone suddenly shining a bright flashlight on us!
Here are a couple observations from our younger son and his family at their Willsboro home (near Lake Champlain): (the photo they sent me of their 3 small (one a baby) children in eclipse glasses was adorable!). They have a lot of chickens! They roam around outside all day and head into the coup when it begins to get dark. My son said the chickens started to head for the coup, but it got dark so fast, that they didn't make it and they looked lost! (I read a similar account of chicken behavior from a prior eclipse - not having enough time to actually get to the coup!) He said they also noted crickets started up during totality! My nearly 4-year old grandson was very animated about the whole event with me over the phone! I think he will actually remember it.
I did take photos with my cell phone and camera. If I get any up on Facebook, I'll send a link.
I hope everyone got to experience this remarkable event. I can now understand why people become eclipse chasers around the world!
Joan Collins
Long Lake, NY
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Date: 4/8/24 5:49 pm From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC - Monday, 4/8 - increased warbler numbers, esp Palm Warbler
Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City -
Monday the day of solar eclipse, April 8th -
Of the American migratory warblers noted by many, many keen observers on the day there were these total numbers from all of the park -
Louisiana Waterthrush - minimum 4, probably more.
Palm Warbler - minimum 25, with more of fresh arrivals seeming to land in north sector of park.
Pine Warbler - minimum 12, with some additional females but mostly bright males.
Myrtle Warbler - that good-old is-new name, and just small numbers.
There were at least 70 species of wild birds seen on the day in and over Central Park, that being a collective tally from the many fine observers, including some guiding not-for-profit bird walks which at this time of year, are increasingly held, with many participants joining such walks.
Excellent bird sightings also continue from many additional locations around Manhattan and from New York County which encircles that isle plus two further sizable isles.
Good birding to all,
Tom Fiore
manhattan
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Date: 4/8/24 3:39 pm From: NSAudubon Publicity <northshoreaudubonsoc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Owl Prowl @ Garvies Point, LI - This Saturday, 4/13 at 7pm
North Shore Audubon Society will be hosting an *Owl Prowl* at the Preserve
at Garvies Point Museum at 7pm on Saturday, April 13. The Preserve
<https://www.garviespointmuseum.com/preserve.php> is located at 50 Barry
Dr, Glen Cove, NY 11542.
Join us as we look for any active owls such as the Great-Horned Owl and
Eastern Screech Owl that have been spotted on the preserve. Garvies Point’s
habitat includes connecting forests,thickets, and meadows that cover the 62
acres preserve atop glacial moraine. In addition to owls, racoons,
opossums, and deer have been spotted on the preserve grounds. There is no
guarantee about what we will see but it is guaranteed that you will get to
experience Garvies after dark!
The walk will be led by North Shore AudubonSociety board member and Garvies
Point Museum and Preserve Educator *Justin Frankl.* Justin is an avid
birder who got into birding after a Red-Tailed Hawk swooped over his head
while studying ornithology at Muhlenberg College. Since coming to Garvies,
Justin has led field trips of students throughout the preserve teaching
young students about the wonders of nature present at Garvies Point,
including the sixty species of trees and over 140 species of birds that
frequent the preserve throughout the year.
Jonathan Herman
Publicity Volunteer, North Shore Audubon Society
PO Box 763, Port Washington, NY 11050
www.northshoreaudubon.org
<northshoreaudubonsoc...>
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Date: 4/8/24 10:57 am From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Mon. April 8, 2024: Four Wood Warbler Species
Central Park NYC
Monday April 8, 2024
OBS: Robert DeCandido, PhD, m.ob.
Highlights: Louisiana Waterthrush, Palm Warbler, Pine Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler.
Canada Goose - 5-10
Mallard - 4 or 5
Mourning Dove - 30-40
Herring Gull - 6 flyovers
Double-crested Cormorant - 3 or 4
Black-crowned Night-Heron - 1 adult Ladies' Pavilion
Red-tailed Hawk - 2 soaring over the West Side
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 2 or 3
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - 1 male Strawberry Fields
Downy Woodpecker - 3 or 4
Northern Flicker - 6 or 7
Eastern Phoebe - 5 or 6
Blue Jay - 10-15
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 5 or 6
Winter Wren - 1 along the Gill
Hermit Thrush - 1 Ramble
American Robin - 50-60
House Finch - 6-8
American Goldfinch - 3 including a breeding-plumaged male
Chipping Sparrow - 1 Strawberry Fields (Caren Jahre)
Fox Sparrow - 3 or 4
Dark-eyed Junco - 5-10
White-throated Sparrow - 40-50
Song Sparrow - 3 or 4
Swamp Sparrow - 1 west side of Balcony Bridge
Red-winged Blackbird - 3 or 4
Common Grackle - 8-10
Louisiana Waterthrush - 1 Ramble
Palm Warbler - 1 "Yellow" south Turtle Pond
Pine Warbler - 1 male south Turtle Pond
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 2 - east Turtle Pond
Northern Cardinal - 4 or 5
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Deb Allen
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Date: 4/8/24 2:39 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Manhattan, NYC including Central Park to Sunday, April 7th
Manhattan, N.Y. City - thru Sunday, April 7th -
In addition to the American Woodcocks showing in other parks and locations, the several at Bryant Park in midtown were seen by very many who were continuing to visit that location, thru Sunday.
A female Common Yellowthroat report from lower east Manhattan - L Beausoleil - is of interest as it just-as-likely represents a bird which overwintered locally, if not within the specific site where found on Sunday, 7th.
Of interest for the various locations recently were reports of Monk Parakeet from more than just the better known sites on Manhattan of recent years. NB, this is a breeding species in the greater NYC region, and very long-established in some locations within N.Y. City as well as in a couple of adjacent states.
At Central Park, the four warbler species that have been there for some days were all continuing thru Sunday, those again being Louisiana Waterthrush with a minimum of two of the latter by Sunday, Palm, Pine in the modest-multiple with the easiest and most-watched of the latter being one of the bright males at and near the feeding station in the parks Ramble area, and finally Myrtle Warbler which is still lingering from much of the winter, lately being seen quite regularly. All of these seen by many and regularly photod and videod by some. Also ongoing have been N. Rough-winged Swallows, and seen by some, Tree and less so, Barn Swallow, the latter still scarce.
For lingering waterfowl thru Sunday at Central Park, at least the following continued - hen Lesser Scaup, Red-breasted Mergansers, Hooded Mergansers, Ruddy Ducks of which some of the latter with bright blue bills lately, the ongoing pair of Green-winged Teals at The Pool in Central, along with N. Shovelers and Buffleheads, plus the more regular of duckage and semi-Canadian goosage. Also ongoing at Central Parks reservoir, Common Loons and Red-throated Loons, plus American Coots. All of these waterbirds seen by many and also regularly photographed thru Sunday, 7th.
More than 75 species of birds were seen in and above Central Park on Sunday, 7th by collectively hundreds of observers, with ALL of those 75-plus species going into eBird reports for the day - again, collective reports, and with all early-dates or rarer species requiring a review from hard-working reviewers before being added into that collective list, from which zero species noted here were not confirmed. Thanks to the many many observers giving reports including the many groupme type local bird-alerts.
Raptors and vultures were among the ongoing diurnal migrants being seen daily, with most of those vultures being Turkey, Black Vulture still far-less common. Bald Eagle, Osprey, and increasing sightings of the 2 smaller accipiter species are among the regularly seen species. Northern -or Common- Ravens are regular around Manhattan including daily sightings from parts of Central Park recently. American Crows are still the more common of larger corvids in New York County, however, with Fish Crow a less commonly identified species.
Please be safe for any eclipse viewing that may be possible.
Good observations to all,
Tom Fiore
manhattan
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Date: 4/7/24 5:21 pm From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Sun. April 7, 2024: Lingering Waterfowl and Spring Migrants
Central Park NYC
Sunday April 7, 2024
OBS: Robert DeCandido, PhD, Deborah Allen, m.ob.
Highlights: Northern Shoveler, Bufflehead, American Coot, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Merlin, Eastern Phoebe, Ruby- and Golden-crowned kinglets, Brown Creeper, Hermit Thrush, Chipping Sparrow, Field Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Eastern Towhee, Pine Warbler.
Canada Goose - 20-25
Northern Shoveler - 12
Malland - 15-20
Bufflehead - 2 Reservoir
Mourning Dove - 30-40
American Coot - 4
Herring Gull - 18
Great Black-backed Gull - 1 Reservoir
Double-crested Cormorant - 4
Black-crowned Night-Heron - 1 second-year Lake
Red-tailed Hawk - 3
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 3 or 4
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - 4 or 5 (all males)
Downy woodpecker - 3 or 4
Northern Flicker - 4
Merlin - 1 south of Maintenance Field
Eastern Phoebe - 2 or 3
Blue Jay - 10-15
American Crow - 6-8 flyovers
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 2 or 3
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 3
Brown Creeper - 2 Ramble
Hermit Thrush - 1 Ramble (Bob - early)
House Finch - 7-9
American Goldfinch - 3 or 4
Chipping Sparrow - 1 or 2 Sparrow Rock
Field Sparrow - 1 Sparrow Rock (Alexandra Wang)
Fox Sparrow - 5
Dark-eyed Junco - 20-25
White-throated Sparrow - 60-80
Song Sparrow - 3 or 4
Eastern Towhee - 1 male Shakespeare Garden
Red-winged Blackbird - 8-10 males
Common Grackle - 15-20
Pine Warbler - 1 male continuing at Evodia Field feeders
Northern Cardinal - 6-8
--
DebAllen
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Date: 4/7/24 5:02 pm From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Sat. April 6, 2024: Am. Woodcock, Osprey, Turkey Vulture, and Other Spring Migrants
Central Park NYC
Saturday April 6, 2024
OBS:Robert DeCandido, PhD, m.ob.
Highlights: Wood Duck, American Woodcock, Red-throated Loon, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Cooper's Hawk, Eastern Phoebe, Ruby-and Golden-crowned Kinglets, Brown Creeper, Winter Wren, Brown Thrasher, Hermit Thrush, House Finch, American Goldfinch, Fox Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Eastern Towhee, Pine Warbler.
Canada Goose - 22
Wood Duck - pair Turtle Pond
Northern Shoveler - 30
Mallard - 15
Mourning Dove - 30-40
American Woodcock - 1 Ramble
Herring Gull - 5-10 flyovers
Red-throated Loon - 1 Reservoir (Sandra Critelli)
Double-crested Cormorant - 3 or 4
Black-crowned Night-Heron - 4
Turkey Vulture - 31 (Sandra Critelli)
Osprey - 1
Cooper's Hawk - 1 Ramble
Red-tailed Hawk - 2 or 3
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 3 or 4
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - 6-8 (all males)
Downy Woodpecker - 3 or 4
Northern Flicker - 3 or 4
Eastern Phoebe - 5 or 6
Blue Jay - 10-15
American Crow - 4-6
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 2 or 3
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 3 or 4
Brown Creeper - 2 or 3
Winter Wren - 3
Brown Thrasher - 2 Maintenance Field (Karen Evans and Dan Stevenson)
Hermit Thrush - 4 or 5
American Robin - 50-60
House Finch - 5-7
American Goldfinch - 3 or 4
Fox Sparrow - 4-6
Dark-eyed Junco - 3 or 4
White-throated Sparrow - 60-80
Song Sparrow - 5-7
Swamp Sparrow - 1 Evodia Field (Annie Plum)
Eastern Towhee - 2 males Shakespeare Garden
Red-winged Blackbird - 8-10 males
Common Grackle - 20-30
Pine Warbler - 1 male continuing at Evodia Field feeders
Northern Cardinal - 6-8
--
Deb Allen
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Date: 4/5/24 11:35 pm From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Manhattan, N.Y. City - Friday, 4/5 - V. Rail, woodpecker report, Central Park sightings...
A report came thru for Friday, April 5th of a Pileated Woodpecker seen at Morningside Park, which is fairly small for such a bird, but has some habitat that could be utilized by the largest of our woodpeckers - rare, but actually more regular in particular season on Manhattan island than commonly realized, most of past reports are from the more-northern wooded areas and especially from areas adjacent to or not-far from the Hudson river shore and nearby. The Friday report gives a straightforward descriptor of this large species, and this is about prime-time locally for this species to be more mobile, as some are now starting to get interested in courtship and finding or marking off territory, and, as that occurs, some of the younger birds of the species may become -dislodged- from an area where they had been feeding. All adjacent areas, which would easily include Central Parks northern parts and also much of Riverside Park and, more-typical with this species, a number of larger parks in northern sections of Manhattan might all be checked - smaller parks as well - including any tell-tale fresh signs of fallen wood-chips and such on larger or other suitable trees.
In more definite, and repeat-news, the Virginia Rail at Bryant Park in mid-Manhattan was still there all day and into evening hour on Friday, April 5th, lingering on now for some days.
- - - - -
Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City - Friday, April 5th -
Up to 75+ species of birds were recorded in Central Park and skies-above just on April 5th, by -collectively - far more than 100 observers, many independently birding, not an unusually large number for a day, even an after-earthquake-jitters day -!!- locally, and even in blustery cooler early spring weather ahead of a weekend. The waterthrush as noted below was alerted via the groupme system which a vast many birders use now and in preference to some other, less-used-now older forms of bird alerts - and, again - and as-ever, increasingly thru alerts and regular reports to the eBird system, which takes in the Macaulay Library for archiving photos, videos, and audio-sound files.
For a reliable report of most-any bird and often, and its accompanying photographs or even the occasional videos and audio files - from a hugely-popular and constantly-birded location, as Central Park is - one often need look no further than reporting in eBird, and, as just one sample, an array of photos added to the Macaulay Library via that - here is one such, of a Louisiana Waterthrush, which report and photo came thru in mid-day of April 5th - about 2 hours after the tremor from the regions earthquake which was centered in north-central New Jeresy and widely noted all around the greater NYC region and a bit beyond. Thanks to A. Simmons for this photo and report. https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/616955855
That particular waterthrush was among at-least 4 warbler species seen on the day -by various many observers- for Central Park, and, as is typical, by multiple and reliable reporters. Additional photographs were taken - by many- of many of the birds seen there on the day. The other 3 warbler spp. additional to the waterthrush were Palm, Pine, and Myrtle Warblers, again found on Friday at Central Park.
Northern Rough-winged Swallows were again seen over Central Park water-bodies, some at the Meer and by multiple observers on Friday - also seen over Central Park, and from many, many other locations over Manhattan were numbers of Turkey Vultures on their migrations and also Ospreys in the multiple, moving across throughout Friday. Some other raptors seen from Manhattan also included multiple Northern Harriers, and some other raptor species on the move, not-least including multiple Bald Eagles.
A further report Central Park note of interest was that of a ---possible tern sighting--- flying thru on Friday, however it may be that it was -one that got away too quickly- ... Terns of any species are unusual for Central Park and it is also still a bit on the early-ish side for most species in our region - but, in the realm of at-least-possibilities are several tern species. -N.B., a couple of early but confirmed Common Tern sightings came on April 5th to the southwestern-most county in NY state, via eBird. Early, but not altogether unprecedentedly.-
Good birding - and thanks as always to all of the many keen and quiet observers who find, and report so many sightings, and do so reliably,
Tom Fiore
manhattan
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You can also send reports and digital image files via email to
nysarc44<at>nybirds<dot>org
If electronic submission is not possible, hardcopy reports and photos
or sketches are welcome. Hardcopy documentation should be mailed to:
Gary Chapin - Secretary
NYS Avian Records Committee (NYSARC)
125 Pine Springs Drive
Ticonderoga, NY 12883
Hotline: New York City Area Rare Bird Alert
Number: (212) 979-3070
Compiler: Tom Burke
Coverage: New York City, Long Island, Westchester County
Transcriber: Gail Benson
[~BEGIN RBA TAPE~]
Greetings! This is the New York Rare Bird Alert for Friday, April 5,
2024 at 11:00 pm.
The highlights of today’s tape are WESTERN GREBE, “BLACK” form of
BRANT, BLACK-HEADED GULL, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER,
“AUDUBON'S” race of YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, spring migrants and more.
With the March doldrums persisting, aided by poor non-migrating
weather conditions, the variety of notable rarities continues to
decrease (including no reports since March 29th of the lingering
Rufous Hummingbird and Painted Bunting in Prospect Park and Hempstead
Lake State Park, respectively).
In that vein, the WESTERN GREBE off southern Staten Island was noted
off Conference House Park last Sunday but not since, that we are aware
of.
The “BLACK” BRANT found back on March 23rd in the Field 5 traffic
circle at Robert Moses State Park was seen there again on Monday and
Tuesday with a small number of “ATLANTIC” BRANT, while three HARLEQUIN
DUCKS were still around Orient Point County Park on Monday.
An adult BLACK-HEADED GULL continued at Brooklyn's Plumb Beach through
last weekend, and a few LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS remain scattered
along the coast.
Two or three RED-NECKED GREBES have been seen through the week off the
southern end of Floyd Bennett Field and Dead Horse Point just to the
west, and two more were still around Pelham Bay Park Monday, with two
off Playland Park in Rye Thursday.
Three LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS were still present along the south end of
the West Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge at least to Sunday.
A few RAZORBILLS continuing along the Atlantic coast were augmented
during a good flight off Robert Moses State Park Monday morning by
around 100 moving east, joining decent numbers of waterfowl, various
GULLS including an ICELAND and over 1,200 NORTHERN GANNETS.
Scarce this winter, a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was an interesting find last
Sunday at Croton Point Park. Croton also features one or two
continuing RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS, with another still at the
Marshlands Conservancy in Rye as well as continuing in the Calverton
area, especially along the Paumanok Trail near Jones Pond, this off
Schultz Road in Manorville.
A PILEATED WOODPECKER was a surprise Sunday at Shu Swamp Nature
Preserve in Mill Neck.
The “AUDUBON'S” YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER was still present last Saturday
near the Coast Guard Station at Jones Beach West End, and some
wintering ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS continue in the area, joined by
other incoming WARBLERS, including a few LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSHES from
Saturday and more PINE and PALM WARBLERS.
Other slowly arriving migrants have featured a TRICOLORED HERON on
Staten Island since Monday, two GLOSSY IBIS at Heckscher State Park
Monday, a PURPLE MARTIN visiting Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn as of
Sunday, as well as more BARN and NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS, HOUSE
and MARSH WRENS, a VESPER SPARROW in Central Park last Saturday, and a
ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK visiting Conference House Park last Sunday.
To phone in reports call Tom Burke at (914) 967-4922.
This service is sponsored by the Linnaean Society of New York and the
National Audubon Society. Thank you for calling.
- End transcript
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Date: 4/5/24 3:51 pm From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Fri. April 5, 2024: Green-winged Teal, Lesser Scaup, Loons, Pine and Yellow-rumped Warblers
Central Park NYC
Friday April 5, 2024
OBS: Deborah Allen, m.ob.
The winds overnight were not in our favor. Nevertheless we saw some good birds here and there: Green-winged Teal, Lesser Scaup, Red-throated and Common Loons, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Eastern Phoebe, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, various Sparrows, Pine and Yellow-rumped Warblers. [Louisiana Waterthrush was reliably reported from the Pool and the Ramble (see the Manhattan Bird Alert @BirdCentralPark on "X" aka twitter for details)).
Canada Goose - around 20 plus pairs starting to nest at the Reservoir
Northern Shoveler - around 40
Gadwall - pair south end of Reservoir
Mallard - around 20
Green-winged Teal - pair at the Pool
Lesser Scaup - 1 female continuing at the Reservoir
Bufflehead - 18
Hooded Merganser - 4 females
Red-breasted Merganser - 2 males continue at the Reservoir
Ruddy Duck - 13
Mourning Dove - 20-25
American Coot - 4
Herring Gull - around 40
Great Black-backed Gull - 3
Red-throated Loon - 1 continuing at the Reservoir
Common Loon - 1 continuing at the Reservoir
Double-crested Cormorant - 8-10
Great Blue Heron - 1 flyover
Turkey Vulture - 2 over Conservatory Garden (Mary Kate Horbac and Paul Curtis)
Osprey - 1 male over the Grassy Knoll
Red-tailed Hawk - 4 or 5
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 3 or 4 heard
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - 2
Downy Woodpecker - 2 (more in the Ramble)
Northern Flicker - 4 or 5
Eastern Phoebe - 10-12
Blue Jay - 5-7
American Crow - 2 flyovers
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 1 male at the Pool
Brown Creeper - 1 North Woods
Carolina Wren - heard Conservatory Garden
Winter Wren - 1 east end of the Loch
Hermit Thrush - 2 North End
American Robin - 30-40
House Finch - 3
Fox Sparrow - 5 or 6 (Caren Jahre and Paul Curtis)
Dark-eyed Junco - 45-50
White-throated Sparrow - 50-60
Song Sparrow - 25-30
Swamp Sparrow - 2 (east end of Loch, Plant Nursery)
Eastern Towhee - 1 singing male Grassy Knoll
Red-winged Blackbird - 5 or 6
Common Grackle - very few
Pine Warbler - 1 male Evodia Field feeders
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 1 east end of the Pool (Paul Curtis)
Northern Cardinal - 10-12
--
Deb Allen
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Date: 4/5/24 2:34 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Manhattan including Central Park, NYC - Thursday, April 4th
Manhattan, N.Y. City - Thursday, April 4th -
At Bryant Park, one city block east of Times Square in midtown, a Virginia Rail was ongoing thru all of Thursday - also seen there were ongoing American Woodcock, and modest variety of other birds, some such as Gray Catbirds which had overwintered there.
Monk Parakeet was ongoing in northern Manhattan - that species has been seen in multiple locations, including in the past month at and near Inwood Hill Park, as well as locations east and south of there.
Some of the birds being seen by now-many observers at Central Park, as of Thursday, included the recently-arrived Louisiana Waterthrushes, Pine Warblers, and - by some - Palm Warbler and Myrtle a.k.a. Yellow-rumped Warbler, as well as ongoing Red-throated and Common Loon, and the hen Lesser Scaup and other ducks at the C.P. reservoir, some Northern Rough-winged and Tree Swallows also ongoing lately, Great Egrets, Eastern Phoebes, Yellow-shafted Flickers and Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, Winter Wrens and Carolina Wrens, Brown Creepers, Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglets, Hermit Thrushes, these including some freshly arriving migrants recently, Eastern Towhees, Red Fox Sparrows and the following additional Sparrow species - Chipping in increased numbers, Field, Swamp, White-throated in somewhat-increased numbers, Song Sparrows in good numbers, and Slate-colored Juncos also in good numbers, all the sparrows in many scattered locations. Some but not quite all of the above birds also have been seen elsewhere in Manhattan, and in the county, while the enormous observer-coverage at Central Park especially means that far more sightings are generated from there than all of the rest of Manhattan combined - although, that little rail at Bryant Park is giving old Central Park a strong run - with the edge going to the rail-watchers.
A Baltimore Oriole in female plumage was again reported from a lower-east section of Manhattan. A small number of reports of other birds of potential wider interest appear to have lacked sufficient details. or for other reasons were not confirmed as the species which had been reported at-first and publicly. A good clear photo, whether by phone or camera, or a sharp-imaged video may be enough to help confirm some sightings. It is also great however to keep notes as to what was / is observed, in any nature sightings.
A Vesper Sparrow still seen at the n. end of Central Park earlier in the week may have moved on by now. A bit early, and more-uncommonly found there in spring migrations.
The following are only some of the species found on Thursday, 4/4/24 at Central Park, by a sum of multi-hundreds of observers glad to get out in some slightly brighter April weather -
Red-throated Loon - ongoing at C.P. reservoir.
Common Loon - same as per above species.
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Turkey Vulture - flyovers.
Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Gadwall
American Black Duck
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Green-winged Teal - a pair continued at The Pool, in the parks NW quadrant.
Lesser Scaup - a hen continued at the Central Park reservoir.
Bufflehead
Hooded Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser - they continued at the C.P. reservoir.
Ruddy Duck
Osprey - flyovers.
Bald Eagle - flyovers.
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel
Peregrine Falcon
American Coot
American Woodcock
Ring-billed Gull
American Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
feral Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Belted Kingfisher
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Yellow-shafted Flicker
Eastern Phoebe
Northern Raven - this includes occasional showings by one of the nesting-pair birds nearby.
Blue Jay
American Crow
Fish Crow
Tree Swallow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Barn Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Carolina Wren
Winter Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Hermit Thrush - some increase has been evident.
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
Brown Thrasher
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing - scarce right now.
House Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
American Tree Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Clay-colored Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Red Fox Sparrow - ongoing in nice numbers, and many have been singing.
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Slate-colored Junco
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
Rusty Blackbird - scarce, watch for birds starting to show in breeding, i.e. non-rusty plumage.
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Purple Finch - scarce... but might possibly increase as April moves along.
House Finch
American Goldfinch - only in small numbers so far.
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Myrtle -Yellow-rumped- Warbler - scant sightings still represent locally-wintered individuals.
Pine Warbler - multiples, including multiple singing-at-times males.
Palm Warbler - still rather few, all seen have been of the yellow form.
Louisiana Waterthrush - including at the north end, and in the Ramble section of the park.
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Date: 4/4/24 8:43 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Virginia Rail, etc. - Manhattan, NYC
By Wednesday eve. of April 3rd, hundreds of observers had come to see a Virginia Rail --stranded-- in Bryant Park for at least several days since first being publicly reported there, this is smack-dab in the middle of downtown Manhattan, N.Y. City one city block west of Times Square. The rail most recently in the sw quadrant of that park. It is a species that shows -or hides- both in that park and more-generally around Manhattan urban areas virtually each spring, and also is vastly more-common as a migrant than many realize. This is not a rare species, but is of course rather rarely-seen except by those who seek them out - or, to some extent, who have long worked in bird-rehab as well as on other urban-bird issues, just referring to the city that never sleeps, N.Y. City and specifically to Manhattan. At least one Purple Sandpiper was still present thru Mon., April 1st at a long-standing site this year, Pier 26 on the Hudson river off lower Manhattan. Good numbers of amongst many other species, sparrows which lately included more-of White-throated Sparrow have been all around New York County, indicating initial movements of these. Many have been increasingly singing at times, as have Red Fox Sparrows also in good, if more-limited numbers and locations. Better chances for a lot more local migration come by at-least this Monday, and subsequently, if forecasting by meteorologists can be believed!
Good birding to all,
Tom Fiore
manhattan
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After brief announcements, our esteemed guest speaker, Ben Winger, will share his fascinating research and insights on the wonder of bird migration and the theory of how it evolved.
The Evolution of Seasonal Migration in Birds
Bird migration is one of our world’s most celebrated natural wonders. But how and why did bird migration evolve? The answer to this question may seem obvious (birds fly south for the winter, of course!) but like any interesting scientific question, the answer becomes more complex the more we learn. When and where did the migratory patterns we see today originate? How can we possibly answer this question given that birds have a poor fossil record? Why do migratory birds fly so far during migration, only to come back to the very same breeding locations each year? Why don’t more birds hibernate instead of migrating? Ben Winger will discuss research that he has been conducting for the past 15 years on these and other questions related to the evolution of bird migration. He will share what he has learned about the evolution of migration and outline the questions that remain difficult to answer. He will also discuss how learning about the evolution of bird migration informs the conservation of migratory birds in our rapidly changing world.
Ben Winger is assistant professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Michigan, where he is also the curator of birds at the university’s Museum of Zoology. Ben is an ornithologist and evolutionary biologist with broad interests in the ecology, behavior, and evolution of birds. His research on the evolution of bird migration has won awards from the American Ornithological Society, the Ecological Society of America, and the Society of Systematic Biologists, and has been featured in popular media such as Radiolab, National Geographic Magazine, and Living Bird. Ben received his B.A. from Cornell University in 2007 and his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago in 2015. He and his students study a wide variety of questions related to bird speciation, migration, and conservation.
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Date: 4/2/24 4:05 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] New York County, NYC - March 31 and April 1st
New York County - in N.Y. City - including Manhattan, Randalls Island, Governors Island, and the skies above and adjacent - surrounding waters of the county - for March 31st, and Monday April 1st -
There was further migration arrival on both days, perhaps more-so by Monday 4/1. This included some birds moving thru as light sprinkles and drizzles occurred - not-quite April showers as such, but all of a piece with each day now bringing more plant life into leaf, bud, and bloom.
A minimum of five warbler species were found in the county by April 1st and all may also have been present the day before. One which seems to have eluded a few seekers was Louisiana Waterthrush, still present in Central Park, but in a small streamlet that is not watched by many or at all times and days... and where any single-observer should be watchful of who else is about... this is in the farthest-north sector of that park.
Additionally the overwintered Orange-crowned Warbler was amongst many sightings at Randalls Island on Sunday, 3/31 -by many observers on that day- and was still in-place on April 1st, by the freshwater wetlands area, where it occasionally was skulking in parts of the winter, and however also seemed to get into the adjacent off-limits areas just-east, at times in winter months, places where some warmth may have allowed comfort or even, added to chances of survival on coldest nights of the winter. - There are near-countless incidences of various passerines, warblers in particular, making it thru a northern winter in or mostly-adjacent-to a water-treatment facility or other such locations where a warmer mini-habitat may sometimes be found, and, also where small invertebrates - insects and such - may be had for hungry wintering insectivorous birds... examples of this include the area in Newburgh, N.Y. along the mid-Hudson river, which receives overwintering warblers among others - and there are many, many more examples in the northeast and mid-Atlantic states alone as well as elsewhere in northern N. America of this.
Back to warblers in N.Y. County of recent, a few more Palm Warblers - all of the expected-now eastern or yellow form - were showing in Central Park and perhaps elsewhere, for both days of this report; a Myrtle Warbler or two also around, which may still be of ovrwintered individuals, as it is early yet for arrivals of that species from far out of our region, and the Pine Warblers were showing a bit of further increase again, as of April 1st, with at least 8, likely more, in Central Park on Monday - from the southern end of the park including edges of Sheep Meadow, thru the far-northern end. It is also likely that a sixth warbler species, Ovenbird, was ongoing in at-least 1 Manhattan location where an individual survived all of the winter - a not-extremely-unusual occurrence for that species in mid-Manhattan.
At Randalls Island, up to three American Oystercatchers could still be found into April 1st - the species was noted by many observers watching - with scopes! - from there on Sunday, 3/31, and a Ruddy Turnstone, arguably the less-regular of these shorebird species for N.Y. County, was also seen in that manner, both on 3/31 by multiple observers, and still around for April 1st. These birds are not found on the mass of Randalls Island itself recently, they must be scoped-for if any reasonable views are desired. Giving much much closer looks at times, Purple Sandpiper was ongoing at the Pier 26 off lower Manhattan on the Hudson river, thru April 1st. Some Snowy Egrets are starting to pass thru and might be sought in many areas, as flyovers in particular, and-or with luck to be seen stopping in to feed. Great Egret was getting ever-so-slightly more regular, with for example, a drop-in feeding at Morningside Park in Manhattan, at the one small pond there - Great Egrets have also been regular as fly-overs in some sites, and seen feeding in some places such as northern Manhattan sites.
Some of the migrant species that were seen --around the county, in increased numbers-- by April 1st included - Belted Kingfisher, Eastern Phoebe, Fish Crow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Hermit Thrush, Chipping Sparrow, Slate-colored Junco, Pine Warbler, Palm Warbler, and likely some additional species on the move.
Below is just a partial listing of species seen on March 31st and/or April 1st, with a few annotations regarding species that have increased, denoted as-such and also many that are noted for Central Park in a lengthy foray of much of that park, from April 1, with -CP- as the marker for those sightings.
Red-throated Loon -CP- at least to Sunday, 3/31, some reports also from 4/1 and certainly, the species has continued around the county overall.
Common Loon -CP- and elsewhere, in modest numbers.
Great Cormorant - ongoing off Randalls Island to April 1.
Double-crested Cormorant -CP- - increasing numbers recently and seen from many locations.
Great Blue Heron -CP- - and some additional migrants recently.
Great Egret -CP- - and some additional migrants recently.
Snowy Egret -CP- as 4/1 flybys, and some additionals recently, such as over Randalls Island
Black-crowned Night-Heron -CP- and elsewhere.
Black Vulture - from 3/31 as is typical, from northern Manhattan, but also seen elsewhere.
Turkey Vulture -CP-
Canada Goose -CP- etc.
Atlantic Brant - good numbers esp. in the typical sites they are usually found in the county.
Mute Swan - ongoing, east of Manhattan island.
Wood Duck -CP- and some additionals esp. as flybys in all recent days.
Gadwall -CP- etc.
American Black Duck -CP- etc. - and some of those tricky hybrids of this and the following.
Mallard -CP- etc.
Northern Shoveler -CP- mostly in this park, for this county.
Green-winged Teal -CP- very long-lingering pair stlll at The Pool, 4/1.
Lesser Scaup -CP- - 1 hen, at least thru a part of 3/31.
Bufflehead -CP- etc.
Hooded Merganser -CP-
Red-breasted Merganser -CP- one pair were ongoing into 4/1 - more have shown in the county waters, perhaps a modest increase of these just lately.
Ruddy Duck -CP-
Osprey -CP- etc.
Bald Eagle -CP- etc.
Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk -CP- etc.
Cooper's Hawk -CP- etc.
Red-shouldered Hawk - reported for the county.
Red-tailed Hawk -CP- etc.
American Kestrel -CP- etc.
Peregrine Falcon -CP- etc.
American Coot -CP- etc., there are a few in other locations as well as the most-watched at Central Park, where they are typical winterers in the reservoir.
American Oystercatcher - off Randalls Island, up to three, T. Healy et al, to April 1st. Many observations / observers for same site on Sunday, 3/31, and with thanks to additional watchers from prior days.
Killdeer - continuing in typical few sites in the county.
Ruddy Turnstone - ongoing off Randalls Island, scope required for any real viewing-possibility, thru April 1st. Also seen by many observers from same site, on Sunday 3/31.
--- Wilson's Snipe - may not have been detected for 3/31, or 4/1; further occurrence is very possible on migration.
American Woodcock -CP- this includes sightings from The Dene area, multi-observers into 4/1. And in many more locations of the county, although many of these have also moved on.
Laughing Gull -CP- just 1 noted at CP reservoir from mid-morning on 4/1. This species as well as many of the regular gulls there, may come in briefly, while some may linger longer.
Ring-billed Gull -CP- etc. - these are increased as well in recent days...
American Herring Gull -CP- etc.
Lesser Black-backed Gull - seen off mid-lower Manhattan, the Hudson River at least to 3/31.
Great Black-backed Gull -CP- etc.
feral Rock Pigeon -CP- etc. etc.
Mourning Dove -CP-
Monk Parakeet - again at northern Manhattan, from a few areas there.
Owls - 2 species continued to 4/1 in the county.
Belted Kingfisher -CP- but more-evident elsewhere as increases show.
Red-bellied Woodpecker -CP- etc.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker -CP- etc.
Downy Woodpecker -CP- etc.
Hairy Woodpecker -CP- etc. - uncommon overall.
Yellow-shafted Flicker -CP- etc.
Eastern Phoebe -CP- etc. - a good increase by Monday, April 1st, esp. evident from Central Park, and however also showing well in -MANY- N.Y. County locations.
Blue Jay -CP- etc.
American Crow -CP- etc.
Fish Crow -CP- etc. - far less common than the preceding crow species.
Northern Raven -CP- etc. - a few known-nesters in sites around the county.
Tree Swallow -CP- etc. - most regular still, for now, at Governors Island, a well-known nest site.
Northern Rough-winged Swallow -CP- etc.
Barn Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee -CP- etc.
Tufted Titmouse -CP- etc.
Red-breasted Nuthatch -CP- etc. - scant lately.
White-breasted Nuthatch -CP- etc.
Brown Creeper -CP- etc.
Carolina Wren -CP- etc.
Winter Wren -CP- etc.
Golden-crowned Kinglet -CP- etc.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet -CP- etc.
--- Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - not detected on 4/1 at site in CP where an early individual had been for some days.
Hermit Thrush -CP- etc. - now with some of the first migrants starting to appear in numbers.
American Robin -CP- etc.
Gray Catbird -CP- etc. - ALL now are overwintered, for this time of year, not newly arrived.
Northern Mockingbird -CP- etc.
Brown Thrasher -CP- etc.
European Starling -CP- etc.
House Sparrow -CP- etc.-
Cedar Waxwing -CP- etc.
Eastern Towhee -CP- etc.
Chipping Sparrow -CP- etc. - increased for April 1st.
Field Sparrow -CP- etc.
Vesper Sparrow - still present from previous sighting at Central Park, north end field.
Savannah Sparrow - scant so far, perhaps a few that had lingered in some locations.
Red Fox Sparrow -CP- etc.
Song Sparrow -CP- etc.
--- Lincoln's Sparrow - not reported most recently from a known few wintering-sites...
Swamp Sparrow -CP- etc.
White-throated Sparrow -CP- etc.
Slate-colored Junco -CP- etc. - some increases.
Northern Cardinal -CP- etc.
Red-winged Blackbird -CP- etc.
Common Grackle -CP- etc.
--- Baltimore Oriole - one report recently, would be an overwintered individual as likely as not.
Purple Finch -CP- etc.
House Finch -CP- etc.
American Goldfinch -CP- etc.
Louisiana Waterthrush - -CP- just ONE.
Orange-crowned Warbler - in particular, the overwintered individual on Randalls Island to 4/1.
Myrtle -a.k.a. Yellow-rumped- Warbler -CP- etc. - very few.
Pine Warbler -CP- etc. - increased by April 1st.
Palm Warbler -CP- etc. - very modest numbers.
--- Ovenbird - ---likely--- ongoing at one or more sites in the county, overwintered successfully.
And probably some additional species for the 2 days of this report.
Good birding and thanks to many quiet, keen observers, and reporters of many birds in New York County.
Tom Fiore
manhattan
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Date: 3/31/24 3:08 pm From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Sun. March 31, 2024: Lesser Scaup, R-b Merganser, Loons and Herons
Central Park NYC
Sunday March 31, 2024
OBS: Robert DeCandido, PhD, Deborah Allen, m.ob.
Highlights on a warm spring day: Lesser Scaup, Red-breasted Merganser, Red-throated and Common Loons, Great Blue and Black-crowned Night Herons, Great Egret, Eastern Phoebe, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Fox and Swamp Sparrows.
Canada Goose - 22
Wood Duck - 1 or 2 males (Reservoir & Turtle Pond)
Northern Shoveler - 40
Gadwall - 1 male Reservoir (Deb - early)
Mallard - 15
Lesser Scaup - 1 female Reservoir (Deb - early)
Bufflehead - 30
Hooded Merganser - 4 or 5 females
Red-breasted Merganser - 2 (adult and young males) Reservoir
Ruddy Duck - 4
Mourning Dove - 20-25
American Coot - 5
Herring Gull - 20-25
Great Black-backed Gull - 5
Red-throated Loon - 1 north end Reservoir
Common Loon - 1 Reservoir
Double-crested Cormorant - 5
Great Blue Heron - 3 northbound flyovers (Bob - early)
Great Egret - 1 west side of Lake
Black-crowned Night-Heron - 3
Cooper's Hawk - 1 immature male near Boathouse
Red-tailed Hawk - 3
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 4
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - 5 or 6 males
Downy Woodpecker - 6-8
Northern Flicker - 4 or 5
American Kestrel - 1 northbound flyover Pinetum
Eastern Phoebe - 4 or 5
Blue Jay - 5 or 6
American Crow - 2 flyovers
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 5
Northern Mockingbird - heard-only
Hermit Thrush - 1 Evodia Field near feeders (Sandra Critelli)
American Robin - 80-100
House Finch - 3 or 4
American Goldfinch - 1 Evodia Feeders
Fox Sparrow - 4
White-throated Sparrow - 60-80
Song Sparrow - 11
Swamp Sparrow - 1 Balcony Bridge (Bob - early)
Red-winged Blackbird - 3-5
Common Grackle - 20-25
Northern Cardinal - 6-8
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On Saturday Dan Stevenson and Karen Evans saw an American Woodcock at Triplet's Bridge. Apologies for the late report.
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Happy Easter,
Deb Allen
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Date: 3/31/24 6:55 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] N.Y. County, NYC - into the last weekend of March
As a follow-up to a post to this list, by J. Gluth on the sighting -by Jim Wood- in Wayne Co., NY, of a Black-billed Magpie, the eBird checklist with embedded photos has been available at this link - and is confirmed by reviewers - from March 27th, and with no further reports in eBird.
https://ebird.org/checklist/S166143115
- - - -
New York County -in N.Y. City- including Manhattan, Randalls Island and Governors Island, as well as skies above and adjacent waters, and some small islets in the county. Sightings up thru March 30th are included in this report...
A fair number of migratory birds have been moving, in both fresh spring weather and some of what seemed foul-weather - many of the weather systems overall are coming in from the south and southwest of our region, as is typical anyhow. In many parks and greenspaces, trees, shrubs and other plants are far-along in getting greener, with for example willow trees now showing a lot of green. Natives in bloom recently include Shadbush, in the genus Amelanchier, in some parks such as Central Park mostly planted, and in some others, growing naturally. Many more trees are also blooming including a majority of the early-blooming Magnolia varieties and some cherries, though not-yet the famed Yoshino variety of cherry, which come a bit later. On to the BIRDS -
Some, but hardly all of recent highlights include arrivals of Louisiana Waterthrush - at Central Park on Sat., March 30th and in-line with others coming in to the region; the so-far singleton in Central was in a site where the species is rather regular in spring; also present and ongoing have been some Pine Warblers - daily in Central Park in a few locations, including one drab female that seemed to have overwintered, a rare-but-not-unprecedented occurrence for that species; also around in the county have been Myrtle Warbler and, in a nice re-re-re-find, Orange-crowned Warbler again at the freshwater wetlands area of Randalls Island, a very-much-overwintered individual - there were at least a few others of that species which successfully overwintered in the county, as did at least a few of the Myrtle Warblers. There also was at-least one Ovenbird that made it all thru winter, in mid-Manhattan. The very scant Palm Warblers that came in March have not been seen again lately but a lot more are sure to begin showing soon.
And, further arrivals / highhlights elsewhere, American Oystercatcher, as well as more of Wilsons Snipe, and American Woodcock, with far-more uncommon or rare Ruddy Turnstone - rare in New York County, that is. More details below in the listings of all species. Purple Sandpiper was also still showing in one location, as they have for months in the county to at-least Friday, March 29th, and Killdeer were ongoing as well. Of some other arrivals, more Great Egrets were starting to be seen, including some landing at busy parks such as Central Park, including at highly-watched Turtle Pond, etc. this week, and also a fair number as fly-bys on some days - and nights. Other such species have included just Great Blue Heron and Black-crowned Night-Heron in this county, although Yellow-crowneds have started to increase in the region, and Snowy Egrets also in the area recently. At Central Park, the rather-early Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher had persisted last week straight thru some of the big rains and was mostly seen very close by the boathouse cafe within that part of the Ramble area; it was not re-found by Friday, however. Many more will be expected in coming weeks.
Three species of swallows have now been recorded in the county - and all 3 have shown in Central Park, at the Meer, by Thursday, 29th, with N. Rough-winged and single Barn Swallows being new for the year, then also detected at Randalls Island, including on Friday, 30th. The Tree Swallows have been moving for some weeks, but certainly more will be expected. It is on the early-side for Barn Swallow, yet this seems a pattern for the current millennium of a few or more showing even before April. N. Rough-winged Swallow are about on-time for first arrivers, and many more of them will also be expected for April. We also shall hope to see Cliff Swallow coming-back to the scarce nest-areas they have come to in recent years, in this county.
Below are some of the species noted in N.Y. County in the past week, including some very recent arrivals. Birds seen from or on Randalls Island are denoted with -Rand- and some seen from and in Central Park are denoted -CP- with various others also annotated with some location-info.
Atlantic Brant - at least 550 were present ON Randalls Island in the rains on Thursday, 3/28, these also are showing in many other county-locations, mostly in much smaller numbers.
Canada Goose
Mute Swan - ongoing in the East River only.
Wood Duck - multiple fly-throughs on some days, and seen in a few locations but most-often as usual, from Central Park.
Northern Shoveler - numbers bumped-up in the past week, and there were some in locations other than Central Park, but the highest numbers as is typical, from that park.
Gadwall
American Wigeon - the most-recent single-sighting appears to remain as March 21st, from Governors Island. An uncommon-to-rare species in the county.
Mallard
American Black Duck
Mallard x American Black Duck - hybrids - which are seen regularly in the county, whether realized as-such by all who observe these; regular in many places and at many times of the year.
Green-winged Teal - a few passing through, and the regular LONG-lingering pair at the Pool of Central Park, a natural waterbody in that parks NW quadrant.
Lesser Scaup - a female has persisted in Central Park for many days at the reservoir, with by now, scores ands scores of observers and photos taken. This is a species that, like Canvasback, and some other Aythya -genus- ducks were common and annual, in the colder months at that reservoir, going-back mostly to the 1980s and earlier - some flocks of the Aythya could number into the thousands back in those days, unheard-of here now.
- Long-tailed Duck - not reported again since sightings from off Governors Island last week.
Bufflehead
Hooded Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser - at least a couple of this species have persisted at the Central Park reservoir, while also being seen in the rivers and N.Y. harbor off Manhattan, etc. this past week, mainly in low numbers.
Pied-billed Grebe - not seen very recently, a long-lingering one at Central Park had likely flown, and a few others as well from other sites in the county have moved, as with other grebes such as Horned Grebe that had been off Governors Island this month of March.
Mourning Dove
-feral- Rock Pigeon
--- a report of a ruby-throated hummingbird very recently from Manhattan was interesting, and would have ideally been accompanied by a very thorough description and, if possible by photos or videos; the odds of a ruby-throated this early are somewhat low, while other hummingbird species are at least very possible in late winter, to this early in spring season in our region, c.f. the ongoing Rufous Hummingbird at Prospect Park in Kings County / Brooklyn, N.Y. City which has both flowers and a feeder for nourishment and to help it get thru the cold and wet, as it has done there. ... I actually made an end-of-day foray to the vicinity of the reported ruby-throated in Manhattan, on same day as the report came thru -in eBird- but was unable to spot any hummingbirds; there are some flowers and indeed, enough flowers all around the county and the region, by now, to support a possible hummingbird being / lingering in the area. We shall see when the first better-documened Ruby-throateds begin to show in our area.
American Coot - small numbers were ongoing at Central Park, plus a few elsewhere including the Hudson river edges, and at Randalls Island, etc.
American Oystercatcher - one, which happily remained for at least one day, beyond March 28th and at-least to the early morning of Friday, March 29th, seen off the northeast shore of Randalls Island, out by Lawrence Point ledges. This species may be slightly more regular in occurrence in our modern era for the county, at least on migrations, and might be watched for as well off Governors Island and in the general area of N.Y. Harbor too. The sighting for 3/28 was in the rain, about which more below with the gulls of Randalls Island...
Killdeer - ongoing with fair numbers in just a few locations where there are somewhat regular.
Ruddy Turnstone - rare in N.Y. County despite being a common species at some locations in the same city and the broader region, coastally, this species also might be sought from Governors Island, and along that islands rocky shores, in any of the colder months and at migration seasons too. The two seen on the morning of March 29th, by a couple of our keen regulars to Randalls Island, were off the northeast side, and perhaps not easy to spot even then.
Purple Sandpiper - up to 3 were around recently, on Pier 26 at the Hudson river and off lower Manhattan, and with some sightings to at-least Friday, March 29th - there could still be some lingering and we are very much still in the period when this species can be expected in the wider region.
American Woodcock - many have come thru this month, with occurrences in dozens of locations, including at all of the larger parks in the county, and from both Randalls and Governors Islands; some were still moving thru in the past week and more could be in the coming weeks. The most-viewed of those seen recently have been, by far, those in Bryant Park in mid-Manhattan.
Wilson's Snipe - good passages of these, esp. at Randalls Island, as recently as Thursday, 3/28 in the rains, when up to 5 or more were seen. Still very possible for more to show in coming weeks...
Laughing Gull - relatively few so far, this species had shown at Central Park, and the East river a few times earlier, and most recently at least two in high plumage showed in the rains, as did more than 1,000 gulls, mostly of the following species, at Randalls Island on 3/28.
Ring-billed Gull - many have been moving and/or massing, with a good concentration seen on Randalls Island in the rain on Thursday, 3/28, spread across multiple fields, with over 800 of them just in the northeastern quadrant plus some more on NW and other field areas. I had walked thru with the thought of rarer -possible- species in mind, in that rain, but was rewarded only with a single Lesser Black-backed Gull in the midst of the northeastern Randalls gull flocks - and that latter seen - perhaps same individual - on March 29th there as well, albeit in the usual gull-landing of the Post building off the Bronx kills east end. Laughing Gull will be increasing a lot this coming month, and in N.Y. County could be found almost anywhere, with the two larger out-islands, and the rivers as well as sometimes, Central Park reservoir among good places to try.
American Herring Gull - this form of Herring Gull is the -default- for our county, unless otherwise well-documented. These are regular, and on March 28th at Randalls Island they may have made up to 25 percent of large gull flocks out in soggy, rain-soaked fields there.
--- Iceland Gull - no apparent very recent or new sightings, but this species is very possible in April as well.---
Lesser Black-backed Gull - at least one very-recently, at Randalls Island northeastern sector, on both March 28 and 29th. A few prior reports from elsewhere, with some barely seen from the county itself...
Red-throated Loon - multiple but not that many - locations around the countys salt-waters - and the one long-lingering at Central Parks reservoir, seen by hundreds and hundreds of observers there over many weeks by now.
Common Loon - multiple locations, including most recently, several showing at Central Park. Incidentally, the appearance of breeding-plumaged Common Loon at Centrals reservoir is not that unusual and there have been many in that plumage over many decades; there was a year when, more-unusually, many of that species came, some persisting at that reservoir well into May, of that one year, and with multiples in high plumage as well as much cacophony then of actual calls from this iconic northern-breeder; actual as in the actual birds making the calls heard then, and not by other-loony other-means.
Double-crested Cormorant - many are arriving, up to several dozens in a day on some arrival days, and many more starting to show in multiple locations this past week.
Great Cormorant - scarcer but a few still lingering, in some typical locations, esp. off the tow out-islands of Randalls and Governors Islands.
Great Blue Heron - modest numbers, some seen migrating on some days.
Great Egret - multiple fly-bys on some days, and slow increases for some locations. More will be seen in the coming weeks and months.
Black-crowned Night-Heron - only modest numbers so far, more are likely in coming weeks and months.
Black Vulture - multiple sightings, esp. from northern Manhattan watches, but also occasional for other locations in recent weeks, including this past week.
Turkey Vulture - increased and in modest numbers some days, passage migrants.
Osprey - increasing and regular in the past week, including passing over Central and other parks and over the two other large islands of the county.
Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Accipiter sp. - some sightings of the above last-2 species are best left marked as simply accipiter species, when the specific identity is not certain.
Bald Eagle - good numbers on some days, and seen daily this past week, multiple sightings from over Central Park and many, many more county locations.
Red-shouldered Hawk - getting scarcer, but still a few sightings in the past week.
Red-tailed Hawk - many sightings and many nest-making pairs all around the county.
Eastern Screech-Owl and Great Horned Owl, each again being found in the county, one a definite breeding native resident, and the other at least an often-suspected breeder. Other owls of this past winter may have moved on to their more northerly breeding areas.
Belted Kingfisher - small to modest numbers so far.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - interestingly, some had already moved on, but more will be passing thru as well in coming weeks.
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker - uncommon, a rather-few pairs regularly nest in the county.
Yellow-shafted Flicker - obvious increases of the past week plus, and many still lingering in some parks into this weekend. More will be moving in coming weeks.
American Kestrel - multiple nesting pairs around the county, seen from many, many locations.
Merlin - few sightings of the past week, but still likely to be on the move now.
Peregrine Falcon - multiple nesting and hunting locations around the county.
Monk Parakeet - ongoing at few select sites in the county.
Eastern Phoebe - ongoing, with more arrivals for each day starting now and in coming weeks.
Blue Jay - in good numbers.
Northern Raven - the nesting pairs are doing well. And there are multiple additional sightings from around the county, as well as those known to be nesting.
American Crow - the commoner crow of the county.
Fish Crow - told from above species with care, these are somewhat scarce relative to the American Crow.
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Northern Rough-winged Swallow - these have come in the modest-multiple by at least Thursday, 3/28 and have by now been seen in multiple locations in the county. Present at the Meer of Central Park by 3/28, and also seen at Randalls Island by same day. Many more are sure to arrive and pass thru in short order.
Tree Swallow - some increase in passage over the past week, and sightings have come from multiple locations, with the most-obvious site to find nesting Tree Swallow in the county on Governors Island, with their many nest-boxes.
Barn Swallow - a very few already showing, at least one at Central Park as well as at Randalls Island on 3/28, a few more starting to show by 3/29. These are still on the early side but late March sightings are now fairly standard, and the species has been detected well to the north of the county as well in recent days.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - numbers lately seem to reflect a modest movement, but also likely include many that wintered very locally.
Golden-crowned Kinglet - excellent passages in recent weeks and days, and still coming thru - some of these also wintered in the county, this past winter in fair numbers.
Red-breasted Nuthatch - scant so far, and a very few seemed to have wintered in the county.
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper - modest increases over recent days, with some sightings in places that more-strongly indicate their passages, such as from city-street trees, and small greenspaces.
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - one that had lingered a while, and was a bit early, has not been seen in the past few days at Central Parks Ramble. Many more will be coming in the month of April.
Winter Wren - seen every day at Central Park, with many many observers, and also found in multiple other locations in the county recently.
Carolina Wren - regulars in multiple locations.
European Starling
Gray Catbird - those seen this entire month of March are overwintered individuals, no arrivals this early. In some sites, multiples made it thru the winter, as has been over many other past winters as well.
Brown Thrasher - modest numbers overwintered; this includes at least several at Central Park.
Northern Mockingbird
Hermit Thrush - while a fair number of these overwintered successfully in many locations, including at Central Park, there also was a very small increase this past week, perhaps of some additionals that had wintered mostly or all fairly locally. Many more will be expected to begin arriving in April.
American Robin - many continued to arrive, passing thru, as well as the many already on their territories and even with some early nests made, and plenty of singing at all hours, some at night.
Cedar Waxwing - scarcer this past week, as modest numbers seemed to dwindle a bit.
House Sparrow - overly ubiquitous.
House Finch
Purple Finch - very few sightings, more may be coming along in April.
Pine Siskin - much scarcer than the preceding species lately.
American Goldfinch - still just modest numbers.
Chipping Sparrow - a few that were showing in some locations including Inwood Hill and Central and Riverside Parks, etc. were still around this week. Far more will be expected soon.
Field Sparrow - the relative-few that showed were still around this past week, in a few locations of the county.
Red Fox Sparrow - ongoing in a number of locations, after a very strong passage this month, with a chance of some more passage at any time soon. Many have been singing.
Slate-colored Junco - fair numbers with many more possible at any time shortly, on passage.
White-throated Sparrow - good numbers all around the county, some modest movements may have also occurred, but the mass-passage arrivals of spring are still to come through.
Vesper Sparrow - one at Central Parks north end on March 30th, not seen by many - so far, in a location where the species is seen at times, on migration. A slighly-early date for this park, but hardly out of the norm.
Song Sparrow - many on passage plus some that are set up in nesting areas.
Lincolns Sparrow - one that wintered all the way thru March may still be around in Manhattan. Some additionals also could be around which were documented far into the winter here.
Swamp Sparrow - in multiple locations.
Eastern Towhee - modest numbers had wintered and some of those were continuing, this includes at least several around Central Park, and others in other county locations.
Baltimore Oriole --- this is reported by an experienced observer, from lower Manhattan, it would be a quite-early arrival and could suggest a bird that wintered somewhere in the area.
Red-winged Blackbird - many set up in possible nest sites, also still passing thru.
Brown-headed Cowbird
Rusty Blackbird - scant this past week, more are very likely into April, on passage.
Common Grackle - many all around the county.
----- reports of Boat-tailed Grackle should be accompanied by documentation including photos in this county. Still a rather scarce species, perhaps most likely to be found at the south edges of the county - such as on Governors Island...
-
Ovenbird - at least 1 individual passed the winter in Manhattan.
Louisiana Waterthrush - one noted from Central Park by Saturday, March 30th. More are certain to show in the coming weeks.
Orange-crowned Warbler - a small number of these overwintered; one was found again at Randalls Island to Saturday, 3/30. Others may still be lingering in some areas as well.
Palm Warbler - the few that came in March could have moved on. Far more will be here soon.
Pine Warbler - ongoing at Central Park, to March 30th and at least one of those had overwintered there. Others in brighter plumage, including some singing males, were ongoing in a few locations, esp. as found by multiple observers in Central Park over many recent days. A further regular male Pine was near the Delacorte Theatre area of Central Park on all recent days in March.
Myrtle -a.k.a. Yellow-rumped- Warbler - multiples but not many, all probably rather locally ovrwintered. The main true passage arrivals of these are yet to come in April and on into May.
-
Northern Cardinal.
- - - - -
Again, many many trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants are in bloom, with more and more showing color and greening-up each day now. This also supports more insects and other arthropods emergences, and in part, offer a lot of good food for arriving hungry migrant birds.
A happy Easter Sunday to all who celebrate, and a glorious day to all - with fair weather for a change in two days of a local weekend as well. Good birding to all,
with thanks to the hundreds and hundreds of keen, quiet observers and reporters of so many birds all through the county,
Tom Fiore
manhattan
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Date: 3/30/24 12:45 pm From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Sat. March 30, 2024: Loon and Waterfowl, Ruby- and Golden-crowned Kinglets, Hermit Thrush
Central Park NYC
Saturday, March 30, 2024
OBS:Robert DeCandido, PhD, Deborah Allen, m.ob.
Highlights on a breezy morning: Wood Duck, Green-winged Teal, Lesser Scaup, Red-breasted Merganser, Red-throated Loon, Common Loon, Ruby- and Golden-crowned Kinglets, Hermit Thrush, Fox Sparrow.
Canada Goose - 25
Wood Duck - 1 male at the Pool (Deb - early)
Northern Shoveler - 250-260
Mallard - around 30
Green-winged Teal - pair continues at the Pool (Deb - early)
Lesser Scaup - 1 continues at the Reservoir
Bufflehead - 20-25
Hooded Merganser - 3 (all female)
Red-breasted Merganser - 2 (adult and immature males) Reservoir
Ruddy Duck - 4
Mourning Dove - 25-35
American Coot - 6
Herring Gull - around 30
Great Black-backed Gull - 2 Reservoir
Red-throated Loon - 1 continues north end Reservoir
Common Loon - 3 (2 immature, 1 adult in breeding plumage (David Barrett))
Double-crested Cormorant - 3
Cooper's Hawk - 1 in Ramble (David Barrett)
Red-tailed Hawk - 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 4 or 5
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - 5 males (Caren Jahre)
Downy Woodpecker - 4 or 5
Northern Flicker - 3
Eastern Phoebe - 1 near Boathouse
Blue Jay - 5 or 6
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 1 Shakespeare Garden (Mark Siegeltuch)
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 3
Hermit Thrush - 1 Evodia Field near feeders
American Robin - 80-100
House Finch - 3
American Goldfinch - 1 Evodia Field
Fox Sparrow - 4 or 5
White-throated Sparrow - 50-60
Song Sparrow - 7-9
Red-winged Blackbird - 6-8
Common Grackle - 10-15
Northern Cardinal - 8-10 including a pair duetting at Maintenance Field
--
Deb Allen
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You can also send reports and digital image files via email to nysarc44 (at)nybirds{dot}org.
If electronic submission is not possible, hardcopy reports and photos or sketches are welcome. Hardcopy documentation should be mailed to:
Gary Chapin - Secretary NYS Avian Records Committee (NYSARC) 125 Pine Springs Drive Ticonderoga, NY 12883
Hotline: New York City Area Rare Bird Alert Number: (212) 979-3070
Compiler: Tom Burke Coverage: New York City, Long Island, Westchester County
Transcriber: Ben Cacace
BEGIN TAPE
Greetings. This is the New York Rare Bird Alert for *Friday, March 29th, 2024* at 11pm. The highlights of today's tape are RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD, PAINTED BUNTING, WESTERN GREBE, black form of BRANT, HARLEQUIN DUCK, BLACK-HEADED and ICELAND GULLS, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, Audubon's form of YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, Spring migrants and more.
Prospect Park continues to host the RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD first seen there back on February 10th. It is still visiting the honeysuckle plants and nearby hummingbird feeder located along the path on the Prospect Park lake side of Breeze Hill. It has been roosting in the plantings there when not actively feeding.
The fairly elusive female type PAINTED BUNTING first noted at Hempstead Lake State Park on February 22nd was only reported once this week that being today. To search for the BUNTING park in field 3 across from the southwest corner of Hempstead Lake and take the path towards McDonald's Pond which goes along the bottom of a grassy slope dropping down from Lake Drive across from the south end of the lake. The bird lurks within these grasses as far as McDonald's Pond and who knows where else.
The WESTERN GREBE recently along the southwestern shore of Staten Island was reported last Sunday south of the pavilion at Conference House Park and may still be around.
A dark form of BRANT referred to as "Black Brant" was found with a small group of our Atlantic Brant feeding last Saturday in a traffic circle at field 5 at Robert Moses State Park but we have no further reports.
There were still 15 HARLEQUIN DUCKS off Point Lookout last Sunday.
A BLACK-HEADED GULL in crisp breeding plumage was noted along Plumb Beach especially towards the western end of the beach for most of the week through today and one was also spotted off Point Lookout last Sunday. An immature ICELAND GULL was in the Red Hook section of Brooklyn last Sunday and one also visited Plumb Beach Tuesday. Coastal counts of LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS last Saturday featured 18 at Robert Moses State Park and 7 at Floyd Bennett Field.
Three LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS were still around the south end of the West Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge today and a PECTORAL SANDPIPER visited the ponding at field 6 at Heckscher State Park on Wednesday while 4 RAZORBILLS were seen off Jacob Riis Park last Saturday.
Two RED-NECKED GREBES were off Dead Horse Point west of Floyd Bennett Field on Tuesday and 3 were reported off Pelham Bay Park today.
Two RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS continue at Croton Point Park, another at Marshlands Conservancy in Rye all getting closer to full adult plumage.
A Jones Beach West End Audubon's form of YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER present all Winter was seen last Sunday along the main roadway just east of the entrance road to the Coast Guard Station but does move around the area. Several ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS also continue locally.
There was not much notable movement of migrants this week at least into our area but a few more NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED and BARN SWALLOWS were seen and some northbound PURPLE FINCHES and PINE SISKINS also occurred.
To phone in reports, call Tom Burke at (914) 967-4922.
This service is sponsored by the Linnaean Society of New York and the National Audubon Society. Thank you for calling.
- End transcript
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Date: 3/28/24 2:43 pm From: <marciaaabrahams...> <marciaaabrahams...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] The next Queens County Bird Club meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, at 7:30 PM, featuring Paul Sweet, Collection Manager, Department of Ornithology at the American Museum of Natural History
The next Queens County Bird Club meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, at 7:30 PM at Alley Pond Environmental Center, 229-10 Northern Boulevard, Douglaston, NY 11362.
Paul Sweet, Collection Manager, Department of Ornithology at the American Museum of Natural History will present "The South Pacific Revisited – Digitizing specimens from the Whitney South Sea Expedition".
Paul Sweet was born in Bristol, England and has been interested in Natural History for as long as he can remember. After completing a degree in Zoology at the University of Liverpool, he traveled extensively in the Americas and Asia for several years before working in the Singapore Natural History Museum. In 1991 he moved to New York to work at the American Museum of Natural History where he is now the Collection Manager of the Ornithology Department, the largest bird collection in the world. During his tenure at the AMNH, he has participated in many museum expeditions to countries including Vietnam, Central African Republic, Cuba, Solomon Islands, and Papua New Guinea.The Whitney South Sea Expedition was the longest and most ambitious ornithological voyage ever undertaken. Spanning over 20 years from 1920 to 1941, this comprehensive survey visited hundreds of Pacific islands, many of which were ornithologically unknown. Ultimately over 40,000 bird specimens were sent back to New York for study, resulting in the description of 277 new taxa. Specimens amassed by the expedition also shed light on bigger questions in evolutionary biology, biogeography and speciation. Although this collection is immensely valuable, it was collected 100 years ago when modern data standards had not been developed. Particularly lacking from the specimens’ original labels was detailed geographic information. Fortunately, the expedition crew kept personal journals that often give information on precise collecting localities. Using this information and working with NYC high school students in the AMNH Science Research Mentorship Program, we have been able to unite this information with the specimens, allowing them to be used for modern studies that require specimen mapping.
Marcia Abrahams
VP/Programs CoordinatorQueens County Bird Clubwww.qcbirdclub.orgEmail: <MarciaAAbrahams...>
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Date: 3/26/24 5:56 am From: NSAudubon Publicity <northshoreaudubonsoc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] REMINDER: Birds of Australia - TONIGHT March 26 @ 7PM
North Shore Audubon Society is pleased to present *Birds of Australia,* Tuesday March 26 @7PM at the Manhasset Public Library, 30 Onderdonk Ave, Manhasset, NY 11030
Australia is a continent of vast avian diversity. From beautiful beaches to incredible desert expanses to dense jungle habitat to sprawling urban landscape, Australia is a birder's paradise. In his six weeks of exploring Australia, *Eric Titcomb* was awed by its physical and natural beauty. This presentation will include photos of some of Australia's most amazing birds.
*Eric Titcomb *recently retired from a 44 year career working the stage elevators and main curtain at Radio City Music Hall. He got into birding and photography about 16 years ago. It started from a family trip out west where he noticed that the birds were different from the ones we saw in New York. Traveling to different parts of the world with his wife Judy is his passion, and bird photography is the cherry on top.
Jonathan Herman Publicity volunteer, North Shore Audubon Society PO Box 763, Port Washington, NY 11050 www.northshoreaudubon.org <northshoreaudubonsoc...>
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Date: 3/24/24 1:45 pm From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Sun. March 24, 2024: Lesser Scaup, Red-throated & Common Loon, E. Phoebe, Winter Wren
Central Park NYC
Sunday March 24, 2024
OBS: Robert DeCandido, PhD, Deborah Allen, m.ob.
Highlights on a sunny and blustery morning: Lesser Scaup, Red-throated & Common Loon, Cooper's Hawk, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Eastern Phoebe, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Winter Wren, Fox Sparrow, Eastern Towhee.
Canada Goose - 35
Northern Shoveler - around 60
Mallard - 7
Lesser Scaup - 1 Reservoir
Bufflehead - 24
Hooded Merganser - 1 immature male Turtle Pond
Ruddy Duck - 4
Mourning Dove - 50-60
American Coot - 6
Herring Gull - 5
Great Black-backed Gull - 1 Reservoir
Red-throated Loon - 1 Reservoir
Common Loon 1 Reservoir
Double-crested Cormorant - 3
Cooper's Hawk - immature male Ramble
Red-tailed Hawk - pair from San Remo circling over the Ramble*
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 3
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - 6-8 males
Downy Woodpecker - 4
Northern Flicker - 3 males
Eastern Phoebe - 3 or 4
Blue Jay - 8-10
American Crow - 1 flyover calling
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 3 (Signe Hammer)
Winter Wren - 1 at the Gill
American Robin - 30-35
House Finch - 3 or 4
Fox Sparrow - 2 west side of the Ramble
Dark-eyed Junco - 4 or 5
White-throated Sparrow - 60-80
Song Sparrow - 3
Eastern Towhee - 1 male Locust Grove (Dan Stevenson)
Red-winged Blackbird - 2 males Locust Grove (Sandra Critelli)
Common Grackle - 20-30
Northern Cardinal - 6-8
--
*A Red-tailed Hawk pair (the female "Octavia" paired with a new male) is nesting again on 5th Avenue and 74th Street as reported by Melody Andres earlier in the week, the pair already documented by several photographers.
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Deb Allen
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Date: 3/23/24 6:08 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] N.Y. County (in N.Y. City) thru March 22
New York County -in N.Y. City- including Manhattan, Randalls Island and Governors Island
thru Friday, March 22nd -
Idiosyncratic notes here, on 2 lately-arriving migrant species.
Laughing Gull by March 17, and at Central Park by March 19. Chipping Sparrows were in the modest-multiple, Central Park all this past week.
Some, probably not all, of the species seen within the past 1 week in the county are listed below.
[Atlantic] Brant
Cackling Goose - fly-over only, headed north and photo'd in-flight by just one keen observer.
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Wood Duck - multiples as flybys and flyovers, several or more lingering a bit, including several in Central Park at times; one of those very long-lingering.
Northern Shoveler
Gadwall
American Wigeon - a single seen at scope-distance off Governors Island; uncommon to near-rare in many seasons in this county.
Mallard
American Black Duck
Mallard x American Black Duck -hybrids- rather regular in the county, not always noticed as-such.
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal - multiple, esp. the long-lingerers at Central Park.
Ring-necked Duck - seen but by fewer than had been assumed.
Greater Scaup - mainly in New York harbor area.
Lesser Scaup - hen type in Central Park was present for some days, at reservoir.
Bufflehead
Hooded Merganser - ongoing esp. in Central Park, where annual and long-lingering.
Common Merganser - some flybys, and etc.
Red-breasted Merganser - diminished in overall numbers.
Ruddy Duck
Pied-billed Grebe - several, the most-watched at Central Park, where wintering and expected.
Horned Grebe - off Governors Island / New York harbor, photo'd on some days.
Rock Pigeon - the usual feral multitudes all around the county.
Mourning Dove - in good numbers this past week.
Virginia Rail - night passage migrators, uncommon but annual as-such.
American Coot - small numbers, including a few not-found in Central Park, where very regular.
Killdeer - varying modest numbers, most from just a few of the sites the species is regular in.
Purple Sandpiper - few were still at Pier 26 thru the past week, Hudson river off lower Manhattan.
American Woodcock - some lingering, and some not - including in multiple parks as well as parts of Manhattan where they fare less-well - several or more in Central Park again in past week.
Wilson's Snipe - scant reports, not a rare passage migrant.
Laughing Gull - at least a few thus far, including landed in Central Park, if just briefly. And in other locations, as with the general first-arrivals to the wider region.
Ring-billed Gull
American Herring Gull
Iceland Gull - several sightings in past week, esp. from the East River.
Great Black-backed Gull
Red-throated Loon - at multiple locations including the lingerer at Central Park.
Common Loon - multiples, including more than one at Central Park over the past week.\
Great Cormorant - some still around, as expected in off-Manhattan sites.
Double-crested Cormorant - multiples, some light movements this week.
Great Blue Heron - modest multiples, some light movements this week
Great Egret - few that were lingering much yet, one or two for northern Manhattan did so.
Black-crowned Night-Heron - regulars, but still quite scant.
Black Vulture - usual areas to see in northern Manhattan, and some seen elsewhere.
Osprey - seen on passage and locally by now, including multiple sightings for Central Park and many other locations also.
Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Accipiter sp. - that is, those sightings pertaining to one or other of the 2 precediung accipiter species, when a specific ID was not established.
Bald Eagle - plenty of sightings from all around the county.
Red-shouldered Hawk - ongoing as migrators, this past week.
Red-tailed Hawk
Owls - multiple in some known and mostly undisclosed areas.
Belted Kingfisher
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Yellow-shafted Flicker - nice arrivals in the past week, still not-that-common yet.
American Kestrel
Merlin
Peregrine Falcon
Monk Parakeet - nests and ongoing in at least a few select areas.
Eastern Phoebe - increased over the past week as more passed thru.
Northern Raven - nest making and attending nests, also multiples in any number of locations.
American Crow
Fish Crow - modest numbers, some just arriving.
American or Fish Crow - some not well described could be either, American is far more common.
Blue Jay
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Tree Swallow - regular by now at Governors Island, few passing thru elsewhere in the county.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet - great influx and passage in the past week.
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper - increased a bit in past week.
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - likely the first-of-season and rather early, at the Central Park Ramble by March 21st.
Winter Wren - multiples with some passage being seen here.
Carolina Wren
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
Northern Mockingbird
Hermit Thrush - only those that overwintered locally.
American Robin - many.
Cedar Waxwing - healthy numbers around for this time of year here.
House Sparrow
House Finch
Purple Finch
American Goldfinch
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Red Fox Sparrow - many in past week, of which a lot moved on already.
Slate-colored Junco
White-crowned Sparrow - one had appeared at Governors Island, quite possibly still lurking there now.
White-throated Sparrow - many, as is expected of this common-wintering species here.
Song Sparrow - many.
Lincoln's Sparrow - at least one well-watched individual in the lower Manhatttan area, plus a few more which were wintering.
Swamp Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Eastern Meadowlark - these seem to have all moved-on, more will be possible in coming weeks.
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Rusty Blackbird
Common Grackle
Boat-tailed Grackle -- reported --, needing some good close crisp photos or video - audio, as well...
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Ovenbird
Orange-crowned Warbler - several, ongoing wintered individuals.
Palm Warbler - few thus far, and none seeming to linger much yet.
Pine Warbler - fair numbers mostly moved on, with many-more due in coming weeks.
Myrtle -Yellow-rumped- Warbler - few that had wintered locally or in the nearby region.
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Northern Cardinal
...
Many trees and other plants, including some native / planted flowers such as Bloodroot, Hepatica, Twinleaf, and a fair number of other herbaceous plants and shrubs, have been seen in bloom in various places in the county, following the very warm weather at times this month. Some trees are also in leaf-out stage, the most evident amongst them perhaps the willows in some locations.
Good birding to all - and please stay-safe in all rough weather.
Tom Fiore
manhattan
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You can also send reports and digital image files via email to nysarc44 (at)nybirds{dot}org.
If electronic submission is not possible, hardcopy reports and photos or sketches are welcome. Hardcopy documentation should be mailed to:
Gary Chapin - Secretary NYS Avian Records Committee (NYSARC) 125 Pine Springs Drive Ticonderoga, NY 12883
Hotline: New York City Area Rare Bird Alert Number: (212) 979-3070
Compiler: Tom Burke Coverage: New York City, Long Island, Westchester County
Transcriber: Ben Cacace
BEGIN TAPE
Greetings. This is the New York Rare Bird Alert for *Friday, March 22nd, 2024* at 11pm. The highlights of today's tape are RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD, PAINTED BUNTING, WESTERN GREBE, BLACK-HEADED GULL, Eurasian form of GREEN-WINGED TEAL, HARLEQUIN DUCK, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER and more.
As we proceed slowly through the March doldrums awaiting a fresh burst of Spring migrants many of our current highlights are lingering rarities.
The RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD staying in Brooklyn's Prospect Park continues in its same location along the path on the Prospect Park lakeside of Breeze Hill where it visits the hummingbird feeder and nearby flowering honeysuckle plants often roosting within the bushes themselves.
A female-type PAINTED BUNTING was still present at least to Wednesday at Hempstead Lake State Park where it continues to visit the grassy downslope below Lake Drive at the south end of Hempstead Lake. Park at field 3 across from the southwest corner of Hempstead Lake and take the path below the downslope checking the heavy grasses along the slope as far as McDonald's Pond. Patience is often required.
The WESTERN GREBE was still visiting the waters off Conference House Park at the south end of Staten Island at least to Monday often viewed from the park's pavilion. It had also previously been drifting north up to the Tottenville train station off the end of Bentley Street.
An immature BLACK-HEADED GULL seen last Sunday at Gilgo Beach was followed by an adult spotted today at Brooklyn's Plumb Beach. A few ICELAND GULLS noted during the week included one at Point Lookout Saturday, one moving down the East River Sunday, 2 at Great Kills Park Monday, and one visiting Prospect Park Lake today.
A Eurasian form of GREEN-WINGED TEAL was seen again Sunday on Short's Pond off Scuttlehole Road in Manorville and 3 HARLEQUIN DUCKS were still out at Orient Point State Park on Monday. A RED-NECKED GREBE was off Dead Horse Point west of Floyd Bennett Field on Sunday and a few lingering RAZORBILLS featured 3 off Breezy Point Sunday and one off Plumb Beach Tuesday.
A major incursion of NORTHERN GANNETS into western Long Island Sound took place Wednesday when over 520 were counted streaming west past Playland Park in Rye in the late morning to early afternoon. As the strong winds died many of the birds reversed course and headed back east.
COMMON GALLINULE continues at the Mill Pond Preserve on the north side of Merrick Road in Wantagh and 3 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS were still around the south end of the West Pond of the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge today.
RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS continue in Westchester at Croton Point Park and at Marshlands Conservancy in Rye as well as out in Manorville along the Paumanok Trail off Schultz Road near Jones Pond.
Among the few new Spring arrivals recently have been reports of SNOWY EGRET and YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON as well as BARN SWALLOW, BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER and MARSH WREN.
To phone in reports, call Tom Burke at (914) 967-4922.
This service is sponsored by the Linnaean Society of New York and the National Audubon Society. Thank you for calling.
- End transcript
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Date: 3/20/24 6:16 pm From: Sean Sime <sean...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] 12hr Offshore Pelagic trip on April 6th: Kings County
Posted with permission of the list owners.
Theres an upcoming 12hr pelagic opportunity aboard The American Princess out of Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn on Saturday, April 6th. This trip will head offshore during a very under-birded time of year. Photo opportunities of Northern Gannets in high breeding plumage and lingering alcids coming into their alternate plumages are all possibilities. Our only April trip (2015) yielded 8 species of gull, 2 species of alcid, double digit migrating Red-necked Grebes among good waterfowl diversity and some passerines to boot. This trip is longer and aims to get further offshore.
More information can be found at the following link:
