Manhattan, New York City... Mother's Day Sunday, 8 May, 2016
A very big (impressive even for some who've been at this spring migration watch for some years) migration took place overnight Sat. into Sunday and some flight was still ongoing through the mid-day (& could well keep going still for some sorts of migrants) in Manhattan and clearly all around the greater region, perhaps a bit less so on the most eastern sections of the region (?),
and in Manhattan's Central Park alone, more than 100 species of birds have already been found, by a whole lot of observers combining, & with efforts in all corners of the park... the borough has the potential of adding at least a dozen, perhaps 2 dozen more species to that "century" mark by day's end, given the volume & good diversity that is being found.
A putative Chuck-will's-widow is a candidate for "bird-of-the-day" in Central - and yes, an American Bittern also in the Ramble area is a very good find for this park... as are the at least 2 dozen species of Warblers, the at least 5 species of Vireos, the at least 5 species of Catharus [genus] Thrushes, the at least 4 species of Wrens, the at least 9 species of Sparrows (very late "red" Fox being possibly the least-likely to get at this date in May), the 2 spp. of Orioles, 2 spp. of Tanagers, & much, much more.
There are really great numbers of many, many species - one example being more than 30 Wood Thrush in Central, and that's just from one active observer going all thru the park this a.m. (myself); a Wood Thrush singing beautifully even out at the Columbus Circle monument is certainly not where that species is typical - but today is un-typical (!)
At the western end of W. 55 St. in "Clinton Cove" just west of Manhattan's West Side Highway, are still Seaside Sparrows, lingering in a patch-like park space & often very near the Hudson river green- way pedestrian & bike path lanes; look in the strip on the immediate west side of lanes (and to be safe, stay to the west of that strip, off the active biking area). There were other migrants there this late- morning, including Chestnut-sided Warbler & a modest variety of other passerine species.
At Manhattan's Riverside Drive near W. 102 St. (along the drive in trees on the east side, rather than the Riverside Park side) was a lingering Summer Tanager, but it was extremely difficult to see, & mostly heard giving the typical calls, from densely-leaved trees in that area. Some other migrants are also in Riverside Park, esp. from about W. 96th on thru the Sanctuary area, at W. 115-120 Streets (& beyond a bit, for those who are willing to get into poison ivy & see some people who are "not birding" at times, n. of the north-most steps there.)
Most any green-space in the region could potentially have some migrants & could even have a really unexpected bird or two. Plenty more will be forth-coming (perhaps after a day or more's rest & checking lots of field notes, photos, & etc. etc.)
good birding & if mom's out birding too, she ought to be happy with this day,
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/ --
