Thanksgiving-Thursday, 24 November, 2016 - City Hall Park, lower Manhattan, New York City
A Western Tanager was re-found by several of us on-scene by or before 8 a.m. in the main cross path (runs east-west) between the 2 major buildings within the park proper - favoring a number of taller trees in the more eastern half of that path's area, but certainly mobile, feeding-foraging, and calling quite regularly from sometimes-quite- high branches. A bit before 8, and the first sighting by anyone of the day, I very briefly saw the tanager come down to a modest, non- ornamental fountain (drab colored) which is inside a fence & nearer the east side of the park, just south of above-noted path - whether this bird might visit that fountain again, or with any regularity is still an open question, but of course if it did, viewing would be superb, as the fountain is not far inside the fence. Thanks to all of the 12+ observers present to see the tanager in the first 3 hours of day, and I would add that the first (keen) birder on-scene was not coming up with the tanager at first-light, so it remains to be seen if a very early try for this bird is recommended, but it's worth seeking at any hour of a day. Strongly suggested to familiarize yourself with the calls so as to pick up on this vocal individual. With the other birders, both of the Yellow-breasted Chats in the vicinity are still there today, one just at the small traffic-island plantings immediately south of City Hall Park proper, and the other in Trinity Church's cemetery, which is a few short blocks down (south) off the west side of Broadway. City Hall Park is located south of Chambers Street, to the east of Broadway - it is also at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge, & a few yards from the main pedestrian path to that bridge. Some other species seen again this Thursday in City Hall Park include male & female-plumaged Black-throated Blue Warbler[s], Common Yellowthroat (male), Ovenbird, "Red" Fox Sparrow, Hermit Thrush, multiple Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers (minimum of 4, perhaps more), & many other species including numerous White-throated Sparrows and some Dark-eyed Juncos, American Robins, and more migrant or winter- visitant species (and perhaps other birds of note, yet to be turned up?) Many NYC Subway lines come to Chambers Street or nearby-station points, including many express as well as local lines; and in the vicinity, within 15-20 minutes walk, is vastly more habitat, at Battery Park City Park, & Battery Park itself, as well as numerous smaller pocket parks and plantings, & of course the NYC Harbor, the lower Hudson & the mouth of the East river[s], & yet other areas if one were to work a bit north, from Chamber Street. As Ben Cacace noted here, an amazing find by the one who heard, then saw this bird in this modest but productive park, Cédric Duhalde - thank you from many of us! Happy Thanksgiving & good birding to all, 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/ --
