Monday, 13th February, 2017 Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City On the reservoir this very windy day, added to the species of this year & month (not seen on Sunday, in the snow-sleet-rain) was a Common LOON - moving about and feeding-diving - as was an ongoing (rehabbed & released nearly 2 weeks ago) Red-necked Grebe, both of these birds in basic (winter) plumage; other birds as found regularly through the winter season continue: 2 Pied-billed Grebes (reservoir), N. Shovelers (more so at the lake), a Northern Pintail at The Pond, Wood Ducks (Pond, Lake, Pool, Meer), Hooded Mergansers (Reservoir & Meer), Buffleheads, Gadwalls, Ruddy Ducks, American Black Ducks, & American Coots; & the various non-water-birds, including Rusty Blackbird at The Pond & vicinity, and no fewer than 4 Brown Thrashers: Pond area, near Bow Bridge, at Maintence Meadow area (Ramble), & the north end of the park; each of these distinct & photo'd.
In addition as flyovers were a minimum of 6 Turkey Vultures in early a.m., seeming to struggle with moving roughly northward over the park. American Robins continue in areas where tree-fruits are still available, even if diminishing. The young Red-headed Woodpecker remains around the area within the park just west of East 68th Street - gaining in red feathering on the 'hood' & sometimes quite active up in the branches: listen for its subtle (or not) calls & movements around its favored several trees which may be centered near a small- ish Shagbark Hickory which is labeled to common name in a small metal Parks tag. Searches/scans of the gulls in the park, especially at the reservoir today (& past 2 days) have not revealed any uncommon species amongst the usual Ring-billed, [American] Herring or Great Black-backed, that come & go each day, but it may be worthwhile to check the gulls on any day in the coming 8+ weeks, for a chance at less-expected species. -- -- Extra-limital (& not again reported by any others) was this most remarkable sighting, from coastal Virginia over a week ago (by 2 very keen observers): http://digest.sialia.com/?rm=message;id=1274041 (and there was a further report from that state's coast of a Frigatebird on the 8th, with photos added): http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S34250194 ---- "A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise." - Aldo Leopold (1887–1948), U.S. wildlife biologist, conservationist, professor, author, best known for his book "A Sand County Almanac" (1949), which has sold more than two million copies. good birding, Tom Fiore manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm 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://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
