Sunday, 8 March 2015 - Central Park (Manhattan, N.Y. City) A very few arrivals noted this warming day included American Woodcock (the Ramble), Wood Ducks (up to a dozen+ in the a.m., although either scattered, hiding or moved on further later in the day), and a very few Red-winged Blackbirds & what seemed some additional (recent arrivals, in addition to the numbers that wintered) Common Grackles. On the reservoir, there have been up to as many as 800+ gulls, although sifting thru them hasn't revealed any other than the usual 3 of the season, Ring-billed (mostly), Herring, and Great Black- backed. They vary in number thru each day and usually seem most numerous at times other than very early or late in a day. There were over 100 N. Shovelers present at the reservoir on 1 day this past week, but on other days, far fewer. There also were 2 male Common Mergansers going over on one recent day, but if they landed anywhere in Central, I could not find them. That species has been moving about - there have been a few in other areas around Manhattan this winter. It could be a bit longer for all that ice on the reservoir to break up, although some thawing is likely soon.
A single male Common Redpoll was still visiting the feeders in the Ramble, and in that area are a lot of other overwintering birds, including a Chipping Sparrow, some "red" Fox Sparrows, and various more typical or common wintering birds. Although there is still snow & some ice, it has been softening and over the next couple of days, just might mostly melt. Good birding, Tom Fiore Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
