Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City Tuesday, 15 May, 2018 - The first report of MOURNING Warbler came through (in Central) by May 6th if not before, and a few others also on subsequent days, but this Tuesday 5/15, multiple individuals of Mourning Warbler have arrived, including a singing male in the western part of Hallett Sanctuary, and at least 1 male & 1 female-looking one in the Ramble (Dr. Roger Pasquier, PhD, et al), and there was a solid report of a 4th in the area of the Loch (north end) from a reliable observer in the early morning. This is always a moderately tough species to spot when not a singing male, or not moving actively in feeding. It is NOT a truly-“rare” species, & comes in numbers later than almost any other regular passage-migrant eastern warbler, so late that a number may be “missed” by those who move on to other pursuits or look less at songbirds by the end of May (they can continue to be on migration in the N.Y. City region into mid-June, some years).
A Yellow-throated Warbler has been found at a part of the north woods east of the Blockhouse; this area should be entered, for birding, with a modest dose of care & caution, especially by anyone birding singly, & keep one’s wits to avoid any issues with various non-birding “characters” that can be in the vicinity - there is well-known drug usage, & potential accompanying odd behavior by some abusers in this area, known to police, yet the situation does persist. In general though, it is a safe-enough area to enter & see birds in, just with an extra dose of sharp-eyes out, as anyone is advised to do when in a city the size of New York City. Call 911 immediately if threatened or harassed by anyone, and be prepared to give a statement to the N.Y.P.D. if/as requested for such situations. Other warblers found Tuesday morning have included a female Cerulean (at the n. end, near the Great Hill’s w. edge), multiple Bay-breasted (of both sexes) & still multiple Cape May (with females & first-spring individuals perhaps now ascendant in numbers) as well as Tennessee (in the multiple), Wilson’s, Canada, & also still Hooded, Worm-eating, & other earlier-moving species in addition to the many other expected species for mid-May in this region. There is unfortunately no sign of the Kirtland’s, with some birders continuing to keep a sharp eye for the chance that that ultra-rarity was still to be [re]found in Central - but NO reports or even suspicions of that species are being noted. Flycatchers are “in” with all the eastern-breeding species of the genus Empidonax having been noted, including calling Alder, Willow (very few so far), Acadian, Yellow-bellied, & ongoing Least Flycatchers, plus Olive-sided Flycatcher in a few locations. Continuing are typical Great Crested, and Eastern Kingbird, as well as greatly increased numbers of E. Wood-Pewees. SUMMER Tanagers are ongoing, & one female-looking individual is as reliable as the species can be, near the bridge which crosses the bridle path at the SW corner of the reservoir - this Summer often joined by a couple of Scarlet Tanagers, of either sex. Additional Summer Tan’s. in the Ramble & also at the n. end uphill from the Loch. Blue Grosbeak is also ongoing in the Ramble, an apparent first-spring male, and a few reports of what seem to have been females. Recently uncommon for Central Park, a Monk Parakeet was reported & could pertain to that, but occasionally a number of other parrot species have been seen in Central & around Manhattan, so that a more-specific description &/or photo documentation is hoped-for, in addition to further locational sightings. Many, many more migrant & resident birds are being seen; a fuller report with a list of all species found will be fortchcoming in the rest of this week’s birding. The entire borough of Manhattan is now bustling with migrant & also some nesting-resident activity. Many of the less-reported-on parks are, & have recently been, having days with 20+ warbler species & all the many other migrants passing & lingering; even small “pocket” parks are seeing some migrants, with a possibility that a small, or less-visited site could well have a rare or unexpected avian visitor show up! Good ethical birding / quiet finding, 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/ --
