Date: Saturday, 27 November 2010 (1:10p-3:45p) Location: Manhattan - Swindler Cove Park & Sherman Creek Reported by: Ben Cacace
This upper Manhattan park is situated along the Harlem River at the end of Dyckman St. & 10th Avenue across the island from Fort Tryon Park. The calling male *AMERICAN KESTREL*<http://ebird.org/ebird/GuideMe?cmd=decisionPage&speciesCodes=amekes&getLocations=counties&counties=US-NY-005,US-NY-047,US-NY-061,US-NY-081,US-NY-085&bYear=2010&eYear=2010&bMonth=11&eMonth=11&reportType=species&parentState=US-NY>is new park bird for me. It was spotted moving east heading to a perch over Sherman Creek. The kestrel was standing on prey that was already partially eaten. It was calling continually for a few minutes after landing as if it was calling in another kestrel. After quieting down for at least 5 minutes it then proceeded to tear at the small dark bird. It was in a tree over the compost heap area. The male *BELTED KINGFISHER*<http://ebird.org/ebird/GuideMe?cmd=decisionPage&speciesCodes=belkin1&getLocations=counties&counties=US-NY-005,US-NY-047,US-NY-061,US-NY-081,US-NY-085&bYear=2010&eYear=2010&bMonth=11&eMonth=11&reportType=species&parentState=US-NY>continues feeding along the Harlem River & along Sherman Creek. It was there the whole time I was birding the area and spotted it feeding on Sherman Creek shortly before I left. When I arrived it was perched along the Harlem River near the Harlem River viewing platform. The *KILLDEER*<http://ebird.org/ebird/GuideMe?cmd=decisionPage&speciesCodes=killde&getLocations=counties&counties=US-NY-005,US-NY-047,US-NY-061,US-NY-081,US-NY-085&bYear=2010&eYear=2010&bMonth=11&eMonth=11&reportType=species&parentState=US-NY>was quiet and perched on the roof of a dilapidated building on the east edge of Sherman Creek. There's a sizable *AMERICAN CROW*<http://ebird.org/ebird/GuideMe?cmd=decisionPage&speciesCodes=amecro&getLocations=counties&counties=US-NY-005,US-NY-047,US-NY-061,US-NY-081,US-NY-085&bYear=2010&eYear=2010&bMonth=11&eMonth=11&reportType=species&parentState=US-NY>population visible from the park. The crows are active mainly on The Bronx side seen moving between the University Heights Bridge to the Bronx Community College campus buildings. Other birds continuing in the park seen on previous visits (if they are the same birds): *BROWN CREEPER*<http://ebird.org/ebird/GuideMe?cmd=decisionPage&speciesCodes=brncre&getLocations=counties&counties=US-NY-005,US-NY-047,US-NY-061,US-NY-081,US-NY-085&bYear=2010&eYear=2010&bMonth=11&eMonth=11&reportType=species&parentState=US-NY>, pair (m/f) of *DOWNY WOODPECKERS*<http://ebird.org/ebird/GuideMe?cmd=decisionPage&speciesCodes=dowwoo&getLocations=counties&counties=US-NY-005,US-NY-047,US-NY-061,US-NY-081,US-NY-085&bYear=2010&eYear=2010&bMonth=11&eMonth=11&reportType=species&parentState=US-NY>, resident *NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD*<http://ebird.org/ebird/GuideMe?cmd=decisionPage&speciesCodes=normoc&getLocations=counties&counties=US-NY-005,US-NY-047,US-NY-061,US-NY-081,US-NY-085&bYear=2010&eYear=2010&bMonth=11&eMonth=11&reportType=species&parentState=US-NY>that usually greets me when I arrive at the Sherman Creek entrance to Swindler Cove Park. Sapsuckers and the nuthatch were not spotted during this trip. Links above are to the eBird.org database for November 2010 sightings in New York City. Weather for 27-Nov for New York, NY (12:51p-3:51p) < http://tinyurl.com/23vyy5o >: - Conditions: Mostly Cloudy to Scattered Clouds - Temperature: 43.0 to 44.1 F (19.9 to 21.9 C) - Wind direction: West - WNW - Wind speed: 18 - 29 mph (gusts to 35 mph) ** Total species - 30 ** Abundance categories from 'The New York City Audubon Society Guide to Finding Birds in the Metropolitan Area' published 2001. Abundance season is 'late Fall', mid September - November, and applies to all of New York City. 'Scarce' seen in habitat, but not daily [2 spp]: - Killdeer - 1 on the roof of the dilapidated structure at the E end of Sherman Creek - Brown Creeper - 1 continues in the park 'Uncommon' seen in small numbers; 1-3 per day in habitat [3 spp]: - Peregrine Falcon - 1 coursing over the Harlem River & Sherman Creek - Belted Kingfisher - 1 male continues - Red-bellied Woodpecker - 1 male flew in from The Bronx 'Fairly Common' usually seen; 3-12 per day in habitat [8 spp]: - Great Blue Heron - 1 adult standing in the pilings on the N side of Sherman Creek - Red-tailed Hawk - 2+ incl. 1 adult & 1 juvenile - American Kestrel - 1 male calling while holding prey along Sherman Creek - Downy Woodpecker - Pair (m/f) continues along Sherman Creek - Black-capped Chickadee - 6+ - Northern Mockingbird - 2 incl. 1 along Sherman Creek & 1 in the park - Northern Cardinal - 1 male seen & heard - American Goldfinch - 5+ 'Common' seen easily; more than 12 per day in habitat [17 spp]: - Canada Goose - 50+ mainly along Sherman Creek - American Black Duck - 4+ mainly along Sherman Creek - Mallard - 8+ mainly along Sherman Creek - Double-crested Cormorant - 1 feeding near the Boathouse on the Harlem River - Ring-billed Gull - 100+ - Herring Gull - 2+ - Rock Pigeon - 24+ - Blue Jay - 4+ - American Crow - 28+ - Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 1 - American Robin - 2+ - European Starling - 48+ - Song Sparrow - 2+ - Swamp Sparrow - 1 in the salt marsh - White-throated Sparrow - 12+ - Dark-eyed Junco - 12+ - House Sparrow - 36+ Taxonomic order: - Canada Goose - 50+ mainly along Sherman Creek - American Black Duck - 4+ mainly along Sherman Creek - Mallard - 8+ mainly along Sherman Creek - Double-crested Cormorant - 1 feeding near the Boathouse on the Harlem River - Great Blue Heron - 1 adult standing in the pilings on the N side of Sherman Creek - Red-tailed Hawk - 2+ incl. 1 adult & 1 juvenile - American Kestrel - 1 male calling while holding prey along Sherman Creek - Peregrine Falcon - 1 coursing over the Harlem River & Sherman Creek - Killdeer - 1 on the roof of the dilapidated structure at the E end of Sherman Creek - Ring-billed Gull - 100+ - Herring Gull - 2+ - Rock Pigeon - 24+ - Belted Kingfisher - 1 male continues - Red-bellied Woodpecker - 1 male flew in from The Bronx - Downy Woodpecker - Pair (m/f) continues along Sherman Creek - Blue Jay - 4+ - American Crow - 28+ - Black-capped Chickadee - 6+ - Brown Creeper - 1 continues in the park - Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 1 - American Robin - 2+ - Northern Mockingbird - 2 incl. 1 along Sherman Creek & 1 in the park - European Starling - 48+ - Song Sparrow - 2+ - Swamp Sparrow - 1 in the salt marsh - White-throated Sparrow - 12+ - Dark-eyed Junco - 12+ - Northern Cardinal - 1 male seen & heard - American Goldfinch - 5+ - House Sparrow - 36+ -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
