Extralimital - but just a bit north of the New York/Canada border has been a TAIGA BEAN-GOOSE, wandering slightly at their borders from Quebec, to Ontario thru Nov. 10th - this is the rarer of the two Bean-Geese species that have occured in N. America; this bird could potentially choose to move south at any point, and perhaps also moving if the flock[s] it’s been with move as a group. That would mean a fairly good chance the Bean Goose might pass through NY state, or stop in here. Other extra-limital and quite-rare finds in the region have included a Yellow-nosed Albatross photographed off of Virginia’s shores well out in the Atlantic on Nov. 8th, an Ancient Murrelet photographed at Cape Race, Massachusetts on Nov. 9th, & a lingering Sharp-tailed Sandpiper recently in Delaware, with a Ruff in New Jersey to Nov. 10th.
- - - - - - - New York County (in N.Y. City), including Manhattan & Randall’s Island, plus Governors Island (which is now closed for the winter to the public) & adjacent waters and sky-views. Back on Nov. 3rd, a Cackling Goose was seen (R. Zucker) in diurnal movement over the west side of Manhattan. One of the somewhat more-likely means of spotting this species from N.Y. County is to scrutinize fly-over flocks when possible, and try to note bill-size as well as the overall size in relation to the usual Canada Geese the species is likely to be found with; obviously if any Cacklers were also calling & the observer is familiar with the calls, so much the better in terms of adding to an ID. This species may be more regular, especially as a migrant (& in long-distance over-flights, or not) than is understood. We may start to see more geese come down from the north, in coming weeks as weather -presumably!- gets back to a more-expected feel and temperatures drop off. ….. Fri., Nov. 6 through Mon., Nov. 9 - Highlights included: COMMON REDPOLLS, EVENING GROSBEAKS, finch-flights (obviously!), WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, LESSER SCAUP, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, multiple Monk Parakeets, ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER (plus previous 'Myiarchus-genus’ flycatcher), Marsh Wrens, E. BLUEBIRDS, Yellow-breasted CHAT, E. Meadowlark, Rusty Blackbird, American Warblers of at least these 14 species: Tennessee Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Northern Parula, Magnolia Warbler, Cape May Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Yellow-rumped [Myrtle] Warbler, Pine Warbler, Palm Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, American Redstart, Ovenbird, Common Yellowthroat; (plus an as-yet unconfirmed report of Connecticut, which would be a very very late occurrence of the latter warbler sp.) ... Friday, Nov. 6 - Several later observers were able to see the Yellow-breasted CHAT photographed (& also found by A. Deutsch), in Union Square Park in mid-lower Manhattan in the morning. A Black Vulture was seen as a fly-over from Central Park (from not far west of the Great Lawn). E. Bluebirds have continued on, all through the report-period, in Central Park. ... Sat., Nov. 7 - Wind had shifted from the northwest overnight, although rather light, then later in the day turned from a SW & eventually more straight-southerly direction. The temperature gained quickly through the day to produce what felt much more like an end-of-summer day, rather than the end of the first week of November. Among the top highlights of the day were a White-winged Scoter from Inwood Hill Park, & Evening Grosbeak from elsewhere in Manhattan. While the White-winged Scoter was seen (& nicely photographed) in flight, there was another sighting - see Nov. 8th, AND these were 2 different scoters, that is: the Nov. 7th White-winged was a male scoter, while the following day's was a female or poss. young male. The Hudson River off Manhattan is potentially one of the better places in N.Y. County to attempt to see (read, find) Scoters of any kind, & also can have potential for all sorts of other waterfowl, & other waterbirds, & more. It’s a question of a little luck and often, a lot of patient, skilled looking. Evening Grosbeaks have been seen, and their numbers may potentially increase, & with luck also be found feeding/perching for some time, or possibly lingering for any amount of time, as had happened not that long ago with a singleton in Riverside Park, Manhattan, & with others that year for lesser lengths of time. A majority of all the finch species in migration and passing through this fall have been fly-bys, and this has been so in many locations, including out through the wider region, beyond N.Y. City. Singles of Lesser Scaup, as well as Greater Scaup, chanced into the Central Park reservoir, both now rare/uncommon there (more than 30 years ago, both species were annual & regular, & longer ago, sometimes in prodigious numbers there.). An American Pipit, as well as E. Meadowlark and a somewhat-late Rose-breasted Grosbeak were also among sightings at Inwood Hill Park. A lingering Marsh Wren was seen (V. Vijayarangan) at The Pond in Central Park again, after C. Weiner’s photographed find there on a prior day. House Wren also was lingering; not as uncommon overall as Marsh, for the county, but a ‘getting-late’ species (but which occasionally shows up at C.B.C. season in the region). ... Sun., Nov. 8 - Another unusually mild day with temp’s. again topping 70 (F.) and light wind from a southerly direction; there was some migration (including exodus) both overnight * during daylight hours. Modest numbers of Common REDPOLLS have irrupted into all of the northeast, and at least small numbers were pushing through N.Y. City including through Manhattan. It’s not a ‘given’ that these will be showing at bird-feeders in the county, so checking through any feeding (or flying) flocks of Pine Siskin &/or American Goldfinch, as well as Purple Finch, may reveal Redpoll[s], which often associate with these other small finches (however they may also occur independently & as singletons, feeding trees or amongst grasses & weedy areas, etc.) - there were at least a few Common Redpoll sightings, at least as fly-bys, prior to this day as well. Also coming thru N.Y. County, and Manhattan are Evening Grosbeaks, in the multiple; some flocks have consisted of at least several ‘pairs’ and there also have been singles & doubles, & likely some other flock-size parties. This was the strongest flight-day yet of this species for this county, but these birds have been irrupting through not just the region, but also much of North America this fall. We may still get to see some that really hang around, & in fact that could be happening already with perhaps small no’s. or single birds in less-birded locales (which outside of 1 or 2 larger parks in Manhattan, is many many locales) of the county. It was also a good Pipit flight-day, and as is expected, all that were noted were American Pipit, any other species in NY being ultra-rare. We're not all-done with Vesper Sparrows - one was found at Inwood Hill Park; that species is capable of wintering in the region, if the winter is not exceedingly harsh. An Osprey was seen fishing at the Inwood area of northern Manhattan as well. Multiple observers connected visually with 3 swans which were being watched, out on the Hudson river, on the chance of a species other than Mute. However it was determined that Mute Swan is the species, with photos also taken to help support that ID. A flock of 9 MONK Parakeets was seen & photographed (R. Haimes) in Central Park; this number had not been seen in that park, or perhaps at all in the county in such numbers, for many years. (There was a relatively brief period some years ago when the species appeared to be ‘moving in’ to the area, but those birds eventually dispersed and became less & less regularly-seen in the county. Many of those sightings had come in Central Park but also scattered around the county.) The 2 singletons of Scaup of (one of) both species continued on the Central Park reservoir - er, that’s the 2 species of Scaup known in N. America (& not any New Zealand Scaup which are also in the genus Aythya but do not (ever) occur over this way…) A MYIARCHUS (genus) flycatcher seen too-briefly by one keen observer from near Dyckman Street’s western end, is fairly likely (although it is also possible that more than one Myiarchus - 2 individuals - occured in 2 days time, in the same general area) to have been the bird which was discovered the next day, Nov. 9th, photographed then and identified as Ash-throated Flycatcher - the next day’s find being only a few minutes flight away, south from Dyckman St. along the same stretch of river-frontage. The one “impediment” to flight, if it can be called that, would be the massive tower-footing of the G.W. Bridge at roughly W. 179-181 Streets & being smack in the midst of the north sector where the flyctacher was found & identified on Mon., 11/9. A ‘condolence but congratulations' is in for any birder who finds a bird of this sort, and with care, offers it in a report as of a particular genus, rather than assuming it to be the ‘usual’ migrant/breeder of the area, given such a late date for the latter. There’s just something about the month of November! ... Monday, Nov. 9 - Light southerly wind & slight haze/fog, with temperatures again climbing into near-record levels (70’s F.) with a lot of migration occuring (for this part of the season) throughout the region overnight, & also a good amount of ongoing / diurnal migration. An Ash-throated Flycatcher was found, & also photographed, apparently involving just 2 observers, at the area along the Hudson river a short way south of the Manhattan-side footing to the George Washington Bridge, and known as Ft. Washington Park - while also a section of the linear (virtually the length of Manhattan island) Hudson River Greenway path. Congratulations to the finder[s] and photographer[s], and also thanks to any & all who contributed to putting this find into the record-book - & getting word out. The 2 singletons of Scaup of (one of) both species continued on the Central Park reservoir. At least 2 Mute Swans were found & photographed off Randall’s Island, & at least one Yellow-crowned Night-Heron was still out there as well. E. Bluebird[s] came to Governors Island (L. Goggin), which is now closed to the public thru winter. A Blue-headed Vireo also lingered there. Large further arrivals of Slate-colored Junco were noted by many in various areas of the county, and some sparrows also were still arriving. ... Tuesday, Nov. 10 - Similar to yesterday’s weather pattern, with slightly lower temp. & some clouds moving in for the afternoon. Haze & a bit of smog occurred as a result of such light air movement, & humidity went a bit higher. There was migration the night prior, a fairly high amount of it likely exodus. An attempt was made to re-find the Ash-throated Flycatcher, which while not the first-ever for N.Y. County, is the first to get into eBird (for there), and that also having photos for review. The area where the flycatcher had been the day before includes much steep and inaccessible hillside and also much viney-brambly-almost impenetrable plant growth with all manner of small trees, shrubs & understory as well as some sections of grassy & more open places to the immediate east of the publicly-available land - it is also alongside the corridor of the Amtrak RR, & still some freight trains (at night), all of that corridor being strictly off-limits with severe penalties, not to mention the danger of trains at 60+m.p.h. for trespass into the rail-corridor; that area is also well-fenced. To put it mildly, at the above area, there are many many acres, much in sloping areas, which are not accessible at all and which further are almost impossible to gain full views into… an ideal location for a sometimes slightly-skulking species of flycatcher, for which behavior, particularly at non-breeding times, can be quite unlike typical behaviors of our one familiar summering-breeding & regular migrant Myiarchus of the northeast, the Great Crested Flycatcher. The area noted is also analogous to some of the steep and even cliff-side habitat directly to the east, on the opposite and east-facing slope of Manhattan island in the same ‘latitudes’, at Highbridge Park in particular as well as Jackie Robinson Park, both in upper Manhattan - and both very under-birded, although some brave souls have been doing well in Highbridge, esp. & very rarely also in J. Robinson. Ash-throated are sometimes able to stay in one general area for a long time, this time of the year, and remain mostly undetected, which has sometimes happened in the past in this region. As well as those more-appreciated individuals of the species that gave cooperative viewing sessions for many more New Yorkers. [n.b., I was among the various observers seeking the above-noted bird, covering areas from near Grant’s Tomb at 122nd St. and Riverside Drive, up along the H. River Greenway all the way to near Dyckman St. and along Riverside Drive (& Park) with a stop in & all-around Riverbank State Park, on south thru to near W. 83rd Street, a roundabout of around 7 hours, with some stops to observe flora, & fauna other than birds (!) - but of course, with no luck on any flycatchers (other than an E. Phoebe at Riverside Park.) At least a few other E. Phoebes have been noted lately and that species can also, like Ash-throated Flycatcher, potentially be around into December and even beyond. In the mild weather of late, a flycatcher will have been seeking insects or other arthropods, but Ash-throated, like many other birds that are insectivorous, can also subsist for a time adding fruits -often small in size- to their diet, including into colder seasons when the need arises.] Inwood Hill Park again had their Marsh Wren. Some Rusty Blackbirds have been around & also at least a few seen on migration, along with the more-regular blackbird species. Of the 14 warbler species noted at top in ‘highlights’, all but two, that’s a dozen species, were still around N.Y. County into Nov. 10th. A few of those warbler species are getting ‘late’, yet there are still none having not been found much later in the area over the years. There are still some very ‘late' warblers and other neotropical-wintering passerines and some non-passerines up to the north & northwest of N.Y. City in NY state, as well as some out-east on Long Island. There is a report, unconfirmed in eBird thru early Wed., 11/11, of a Connecticut Warbler from Central Park’s n. end ‘compost area’ on Sunday, 11/8 - if this record passes review, it would be an exceedingly-late date for the species, most of which by now have reached South America, where they winter. A Virginia Rail continued thru the period of this report in Central Park (first found & reported by P. Sweet of Brooklyn, a regular visitor & walk-leader in Central Park) and has been viewed by hundreds of observers over its’ stay. Also having arrived, several owl species in addition to the resident breeding species, all of which should be given the chance to rest in daylight hours, & not be disturbed in any way at any time, day or night if discovered by human observers. Obviously there will be times when jays, chickadees, titmice, & all manner of other ‘mobbers’ may discover owls all on their own. Please also be aware: any playing of amplified sound in Central Park without a written permit from the City of New York is prohibited by law; fines & further penalties may apply to any violators. Signs are posted in that park in multiple locations indicating the prohibition on amplified sounds. Insect sightings have continued, with a lot of diversity for the date, & including at least ten species of butterflies in the report period. However that number was beat by 2 observers who found & identified at least 14 species (in various genera) of Syrphidae, often commonly called “flower-flies”, in just one section of one Manhattan park, on Saturday, 11/7. Where there are still flowers in bloom, there may be many insects active as well. - - - - - "This country will not be a good place for any of us to live in unless we make it a good place for all of us to live in.” - Teddy Roosevelt (26th president of the U.S.A.) "If there is no struggle, there is no progress." - Frederick Douglass (1818-1895; U.S. statesman, orator, writer) Good birding to all - and thanks to the many who also keep the birds’ best interests at heart when out in the field - and limit any possible disturbances to the birds’ requirements for food, shelter, & safety, including for the many migrants a safe passage on their often long journeys as well as birds on roost sites. 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/ --
