New York County, including Manhattan, Governors, and Randall’s Island[s] :
Wed., 12/23 - 2 Baltimore Orioles were continuing at Fort Tryon Park in northern Manhattan; this has been a rather good site for very late-lingering (& possibly, overwintering) orioles (of that species!) in some prior years. Some Horned Larks were seen at Randall’s Island (along with the Gr. White-fronted Goose of the Greenland form; P. Shure). A Palm Warbler was found on Governors Island (B. Cacace). There have been a variety of sparrows still being seen in multiple sites in the county, with Savannah Sparrow at Randall’s Island, and Chipping as well as American Tree Sparrow[s] in more than one location. A Lincoln’s Sparrow was at least lingering on at Union Square Park & was also seen to at least 12/24. ... Thursday, 12/24 - The (Greenland-breeding form of) Greater White-fronted Goose was lingering (since its 12/20 discovery during the N.Y. County portion of the Christmas Bird Count, by a team covering that area) at Randall’s Island, partly on the Bronx Kill & often amongst many Atlantic Brant & Canada Geese, in the n.w. sector of the island-park. Some Common Goldeneyes could again be seen, mainly in scope-view, searching the waters to the east (which waters may well be in Queens County). Also seen on Randall’s Island again were Horned Lark[s] which may be annual at that site, but not that often detected (as is so of N.Y. County in general for that species). A nice variety of other waterfowl & both [expected] species of loons have also been seen from Randall’s Island at various times and by multiple observers. Two Western Tanagers remained in their respective winter-sites, at West 22nd Street, just east of Tenth Ave. in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan, and another, slightly less-rich in color at Carl Schurz Park (Manhattan), adjacent to East End Avenue, & often in the area of E. 85-86th Sts, within that park & further, often found in one or more of the large elms, still holding some leaves, on the NW corner of the “Catbird Playground” and also a short way to the north of that area, including immediately north of the E. 86th St. park entry. Some patience may be needed to spot either of these 2 tanagers. Keep in mind that the W. 22nd St. tanager has continued to range up & down the western half of that street, away from Tenth Ave. at times, and also may be either high in trees or on adjacent buildings, & at times, skulking & still in a low perch within a hedge, shrub or tree along that street. At least one Baltimore Oriole was again seen at Fort Tryon Park, & for Thursday a sighting was had just outside the main entrance to the park’s south end, off Fort Washington Ave’s. northern terminus. A single Monk Parakeet had persisted in a community garden in the Lower East Side of Manhattan; again this is a species to watch for potential nesting in the county. As many as 85 (or more) species of birds have occurred in (or as seen from) the 2 days of this report, within N.Y. County. Among these many have been (*besides* the above-noted species) - Mute Swan, Wood Duck, Gadwall, American Black Duck, Mallard, Northern Shoveler, Ring-necked Duck, Bufflehead, Hooded Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Ruddy Duck, Great Cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Cooper's Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, American Coot, American Woodcock, Ring-billed Gull, [American] Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, ['feral'] Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, American Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon, mutiple owls, Belted Kingfisher, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Yellow-shafted Flicker, Blue Jay, Common Raven, American Crow, Fish Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Red-breasted Nuthatch, White-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Carolina Wren, Winter Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, American Robin, Gray Catbird, Northern Mockingbird, Brown Thrasher, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Eastern Towhee, Dark-eyed [Slate-colored} Junco, [Red] Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, Rusty Blackbird, Common Grackle, Brown-headed Cowbird, House Finch, American Goldfinch, and very likely some additional species. Merry Christmas to those celebrating, and to all a very healthy and happy holiday season, and thanks to so many who have discovered birds and reported sightings, including results of various C.B.C.’s, many of which are still to be conducted. 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/ --
