The Wood Stork photographed in Orleans County, NY on Monday Oct. 11th is a good additional reminder of the multiple 'Gulf Coast’ types of birds, wading-birds especially but also some others, that seem to have been present (vastly farther-north than their typical ranges) in greater-than-average numbers thru so much of the recent year, and for which no fully-satisfactory theories have been posited, at least not much at all in this or similar forums. Here is a link to a photo of that most-recent stork sighting by one of the observers present (which did not include me, for the record!) - https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/377336481
While I can see that perhaps excellent breeding was had in the U.S. Gulf Coast areas from which many of the species could have originated (such as that stork species, or Roseate Spoonbill, or other species, & as noted by Angus Wilson in his comments to this list, possibly still some other spp. in some areas, as well), it seems to be something-more that may have helped ‘push' that *many* of these southern-breeding birds into so many mid- and northern U.S. states, in 2021. I’m not (yet) convinced it would *all* be loss of habitat in the same southern breeding / feeding areas, either, although won’t be surprised if that were seen as a contributing factor. Agreed that this would be a great topic to consider in this forum, also given the multiple occasions on which these species were found *within the boundaries of NY STATE* and in many, many different locations this year. ... New York County (in N.Y. City) including Manhattan, Randall’s, and Governors Island[s] Sunday - Monday - Tues., Oct. 10th-11th-12th Each day recently has increasingly brought some indicators of autumn’s presence, even including the shade of foliage-colors. The freshly-arrived further influx of such birds (in numbers) as Brown Creeper, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, and many of the expected sparrow species among others all point the way, as well. There’s a slight chance that a Dickcissel may still be lingering in Manhattan, and perhaps even still in Central Park as some of that species in autumn will linger a good while in a variety of sites, including (occasionally) sites that see plenty of ongoing human activities… and, for the last sightings (in Central Park) of both that species and a few other uncommon migrants, a location they’ve been seen has been known to give cover to lurking-lingering birds, some of which re-appear after days, or even (occasionally) some weeks, of not being reported. That location generally has regular work done by parks workers and is thus highly-active at times, with all sorts of equipment; on occasion that work may include even very early mornings. Also, note at bottom of this report regarding Dickcissel sightings in Central, and 1 photo-link. An Eastern Meadowlark was (again) among the birds found on Governor’s Island on Monday, Oct. 11, and again in the area of Fort Jay (B. Saunders), esp. where there are un-mowed areas. Common Loons were seen (as flyovers) on Oct. 11th, including multiples seen flying over Central Park on that morning (as well as others seen by multiple observers, from other vantage points around the county); more were again seen as flyovers on Tuesday (but perhapsonly early a.m.) Great Egret, and at least 2 Snowy Egrets were still present as seen from Randall’s Island to Tuesday, Oct. 12th, and both Saltmarsh and Nelson’s Sparrow[s] were still present there as well, each (likely) requiring some patience. Yellow-billed Cuckoo was noted (J. Keane) at that location on Mon., Oct. 11th, and Baltimore Oriole was (L. LaBella) also on same date there. Several Yellow-crowned Night-Herons (as well as Black-crowned Night-Herons, and Great Blue Herons) have continued on at Randall’s, which appears to be “the" location for the Yellow-crowned to linger a long time (perhaps even to attempt overwintering, but we shall see how that goes as this fall goes along). There were still up to 18 species of American warblers in N.Y. County as of Monday, Oct. 11th, and all of those species were still to be seen in Central Park, as well as (many of those) being found in other parks, large & smaller, as well as in the many smaller greenspaces all across Manhattan, and on the 2 larger outlying islands of the county. It appeared that some may have moved on in the night and were tough or not found, by Tuesday. Nonetheless, N. Waterthrush was still present at Central Park to Tues., Oct. 12th and so were a variety of other warblers. The lingering Orange-crowned Warbler in Central Park’s north end compost area was well-photographed (T. Zahner, also by others) there on Oct. 11th. That species has occasionally succesfully overwintered in the recent-past in N.Y. County (& also many times within the region). It might be added that a fair number of Tennessee Warblers were still pushing through the state and region to this week, and thus the distinction for Orange-crowned (as compared with Tennessee) Warbler[s] ought be made carefully, and such advice can even hold into early winter (as of the month of December in 'migration-watch-speak'). A Least Flycatcher has again been seen (& video-recorded) near Turtle Pond in Central Park to Oct. 12th; the date is getting late for any of our northeastern-breeding Empidonax [genus] flycatchers, but there are some far-later records of the aforementioned species in both N.Y. County and elsewhere in the city and region. In any event, it’s helpful to photo or video any flycatchers seen from about now into April, other than E. Phoebe, assuming the last ID’d. with certainty. (Still goodly numbers of E. Phoebes passing thru as of this week, unsurprisingly.) A very few Swainson’s Thrushes lingered in N.Y. County to Oct. 12th. Along with expected-now Hermit Thrushes (some of which may overwinter), a very few Wood Thrush were lingering (and that latter species has, very-rarely, attempted to and even successfully overwintered in Manhattan) in Central Park, to at least Tuesday, Oct. 12. Some of (all 3) these latter species have been photographed (just as some of the Veery still lingering in the prior week were). We seem not to have any further sightings of Gray-cheeked (or of 'that type' of) Thrush this week, although later occurences have happened in the county, and (late) Veery were not being reported again here this week, so far (but the latter was still documented in N.Y. City, a bit south of N.Y. County, to Oct. 11th). Two Green-winged Teal were present in Central Park, and were still at The Pool into early Tues., Oct. 12th. Pied-billed Grebe has been on the reservoir in Central Park. Laughing Gulls have continued in a number of areas of the county, including seen from Randall’s Island, & at N.Y. Harbor areas, and a few (at least) visiting Central Park’s reservoir, all to Tues., Oct. 12th. Sparrow sightings in the county have been ongoing with nice diversity, and some species including Lincoln’s and also Savananah Sparrow showing in odd-spots at times, including some smaller parks &/or greenspaces. A few Rose-breasted Grosbeaks have continued to be found, not yet all that late for the county (albeit in low numbers); similarly, some Scarlet Tanagers and Indigo Buntings have still been passing through as well, & into Oct. 12th. There also was a (photographed) Marsh Wren in Central Park on Saturday, 10/9. … Good to hear of a recent Dickcissel found in a mid-Manhattan pocket-park - yet more proof that quiet and patient observing is the key to locating and seeing many birds, and also key to learning more about them, while remaining quiet and considerate to those observed. Apropos of that, a photo taken by just one of the many hundreds of (quiet and considerate) birder-photographers of the county; this one’s in the Macaulay Library archives (and submitted via eBird, by L. LaBella, of the recent Dickcissel at Central Park, just about 1 week ago) and also chosen as a 'highlight’ photo of the site’s page, from among many of/from the recent great migration-days - https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/375575151 Yet another Dickcissel was found, photo-documented at the nice greenspace of Lenoir preserve in Yonkers, Westchester Co., NY on Monday, 10/11, by 3 of our regularly-reporting Manhattan-resident birders. The old saying (paraphrased) was, “A Dickcissel a day keeps the doctor away”... and it was interesting to note that the Connecticut Warbler found (& confirmed in eBird) in lower Manhattan on Oct. 9th was matched for that date in eastern NY state by a photo-documented sighting at a Dutchess County location, and also preceded by just 1 day by another CT Warbler (also confirmed in eBird) for Broome County. An even more-recent CT Warbler was found by Dr. R. Veit, in the vicinity of the southern-most point of all of NY state (in Richmond County, NY), on Monday 10/11. good birding to all, 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/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/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/ --
