Very far west (thus extra-limital by a lot) but quite notable, a potential state-first* and as a mid-March find too, is a Cave Swallow photographed in *Oregon* on 3/13, with a set of photos now archived on the Macaulay Library - https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/424880871 <https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/424880871> by the finder, and from which one may link back to the observers extensive notes, as well as the rest of his photo-series. There were also many more observers of this swallow on the day from the same location, after word was put out. (It is one of many species to have in mind, even for spring…) *this sighting has been confirmed by eBird reviewers, but will be voted on by the OR birds state-records committee, to decide whether it goes on the state checklist.
. . . A Tundra Bean-Goose was again reported from the Savannah NY ‘mucklands’ (Seneca County, NY) from a several-hours watch that included an estmated 50,000 Snow Geese and many other waterfowl species as well as other birds - the 'Tundra Bean’ was however also seen flying west and out of view, all in the afternoon on Sunday, 3/13. A bit challenging to say the least. - - - - New York County (in N.Y. City), including Manhattan, Randall’s Island, Governors Island and adajacent skies above & waters alongside: Saturday, March 12 / Sunday, March 13 - The long-staying Western Tanager at Carl Schurz Park was seen in the early morning on Sunday, with the time re-set meaning well after 7 a.m. and in the area of the ‘usual’ feeder array, east of East End Ave., and a bit south of the E. 86th St. park entrance - or, just west of the n.-w. gate of the Catbird Playground within that park. A Glaucous Gull was reported from Governors Island on Sunday, on the Lima pier there. That strong push of Killdeer which occurred through Saturday’s (3/12) stormy-blustery weather (many hundreds moving over the local region) gave N.Y. County at least a few drop-ins and stop-overs, as well as some fly-bys, in addition to modest no’s. that had also been in some locations previously; at least a small no. of these also did hang in (or were freshly appearing) in some locations on Sunday, and (as slightly-expected & anticipated) the best no’s. on the ground by Sunday were on Governors Island (with well over twenty present then) and at Randall’s Island (with over twenty also first seen there by several observers on Sunday early-a.m.), and some other Killdeer in various other sites, esp. in & around Inwood Hill Park, in northern Manhattan. Two American Wigeon showed around & at Randall’s Island on Sunday, a species that’s uncommon at best (rather irregularly seen) in the county. Also found - by several observers in the morning hours there - were at least 2 American Pipits (the likeliest site in the county to find that species when on the move) and at least 2 Am. Woodcock, with a brightly-plumaged Chipping Sparrow possibly being one that was present and transitioned to spring-plumage, but equally possible for an early-ish arrival from farther south. Also seen at Randall’s Island on Sunday in addition to the 2 Am. Wigeon were Common Goldeneye, and at least one being close enough for photography. And between 4 & 6 p.m. or so, on Sunday afternoon so at Randall’s Island, one of that location’s most regular reliable observers found 30 carefully-counted Killdeer, in total for 8 separate locations on Randall’s surveyed in that time. And a couple of photos were made of the Am. Pipit when seen later on that day, which is now in the Macaulay Library archives (one of 2 photos) - https://ebird.org/checklist/S104774640 American Woodcock were found in more than 2-dozen locations in the county on Sunday, and this included sightings of a number of them in as many as 6 different sections of Central Park, even accounting for some that were *inadvertently* flushed, with the many thousands upon thousands of park-users on the day (& a significant portion with dogs off-leash at times & places when the city allows that, as well as the many-more dogs that are kept in control on leashes there.) Two American Pipits were reported, with some details, from Central Park’s N. Meadow ballfields, at least briefly on Sunday afternoon - not very commonly found in (or even over) that park, but may well be more regular than is thought, & could be missed as fly-overs; the flight calls of course are distinctive; this sighting is the more unusual in that these birds came in for at least a quick stop - a designated dog-free zone, as well; and on one of the likelier locations in that park, when no sports & such are in play on said fields. Those pipits were seen to fly off to the north. A drake Ring-necked Duck appeared (again: seen & photo’d. from first-light on Saturday as well) on the Central Park reservoir on Sunday morning, along with quite-minimal other duckage again found there, but still some Hooded Mergansers, Buffleheads, Wood Duck, & multiple American Coots, as well as some other species. Hooded Merganser as well as Ruddy Duck have also turned up in a few other locations in the county. The friendly/formidable ‘FOMO' as ever getting more eyes to the accessible Ring-necked Duck, than out to seek a wigeon or two. On Sunday, aerial species that don’t mind stronger winds were most apparent such as Common Raven (flying in a no. of locations), Bald Eagles, Vultures (mostly Turkey, but at least several Black Vultures also were noted from a couple of locations), and Red-tailed Hawks, along with Peregrine Falcons. A Pine Warbler or two were again found (with multiple observers) in Central Park on Sunday, along with a couple of [Myrtle] Yellow-rumped Warblers, and the latter were also seen in at least six other locations around the county on the day, with again the most of those in the southern-most part of the county, on Governors Island. (Most of the yellow-rumpeds so far have been duller, non-breeding plumaged birds which is pretty much in keeping with what’s expected for that species in the area for so early in the year; it’s very plausible that all of these are birds that wintered very, or somewhat, locally and have been wandering in just recent days or weeks, but not all that far, and some not-at-all, where good habitat and food is still available. And it is a bit unusual if there are any truly breeding-plumaged birds of this species already showing in our area. To go on with more of that discussion would be an entire long segment; there are studies happening in many parts of the northern hemisphere, and esp. so in Europe and the British isles, indicating a lot that is changing in phenologies for birds and for many many other life-forms.) Rusty Blackbirds are on the move in the area, and a few of them have been seen in Manhattan parks, with several in Central and also in smaller parks to the north, as well as at Inwood Hill Park. Taking a few days to be confirmed, a Purple Finch was reported from the Inwood area on March 10th, and that species ought be listened-for and watched for as the species has been filtering through the region recently. Time will tell if we see much of a movement in this area, as spring rolls on in. Some of the [Red] Fox Sparrows of the prior week which at least were suggestive of a push of that species, may well have moved on, and some of that species (as well as some other sparrow species) have been showing in locations to the north of N.Y. City by now, in higher no’s. than any reported up to this past weekend. There are also some sightings of [Red] Fox Sparrow from more locations, such as smaller parks & green-spaces this past weekend, and the same may be said for Slate-colored Junco. We have had more & more of Song Sparrows - first and foremost at the 2 islands with a good deal of habitat for passage-migrants - Randall’s and Governors Island[s], along with many in Manhattan in a wide variety of places (and of course, some which stay to nest in the county); this sparrow is one species that can pass *relatively* unnoticed, even when in great numbers in this county; we do always have more-modest no’s. that winter as well, but migration of these can be impressive, if obsevers were to focus solely on their movements, and be undistracted by other early-moving-in-spring species - woodcocks, ‘rarer' ducks, etc. etc. etc. - we will be seeing yet more of Song Sparrows in the next few weeks. E. Phoebes were seen again in some locations, including a few where not reported just prior for the specific location in the county, but numbers are still very modest as it is a bit early (however, some have been turning up well north of N.Y. City, especially so in recent days). Thanks to the hundreds of ethically-minded observers out & about on these days, including some of the many members of the N.Y. City Audubon (NYCAS) and the Linnaean Society of New York, each of which continue to have many local walks and field trips. Both are not-for-profit organizations and are well known for their efforts on conservation and other related issues. 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/ --
