New York County -in N.Y. City- including Manhattan, Randalls, Governors, and Roosevelt Islands and the adjacent waters and skies above - thru Tuesday, August 27th -
A fresh, large-scale migration took place on Monday night into Tuesday morning, Aug. 26-27th. This was likely the largest passage of birds, or at least land-birds -rather than offshore seabirds or pelagic species much less-regularly surveyed hereabouts, overall- of this fall southbound-season so far, or more simply, the largest passage of land-birds for the month of August thus far. A great many of these latest migrants may have passed over and with no chance of drop-ins or even, for many, of identifying other than a possible recording in NFC - nocturnal flight calls. A few not-Common Terns were seen on Tuesday, 27th - Fosters Tern, as well as Caspian Terns - the latter from 2 locations in the county, and likely involving more than just 2 individual birds, with the terns in general having their passages peaking in this period of early fall as the bird-calendar goes. Black Vultures have continued to be seen with the likeliest locations to spot these usually being from northern Manhattan, scanning the skies especially in the western directions. A Broad-winged Hawk lingering at Central Park has been viewed and photographed by many for a week or even longer, while a few of that species also have passed over as well, slightly earlier for this county than is typical, although the big flights are still surely a few weeks away locally. Modest movements of other raptors were ongoing, Ospreys in particular, and Bald Eagles in some places. In addition to many more of some species. there were at least a few relatively-recent arrivals that were increased as well, in the county, and also around the immediate region. Not surprisingly, given the summer-long pattern for the species, this included more Red-breasted Nuthatches than before. Also starting to show in some numbers were Bobolinks on active diurnal migration. Over the past week, some Common Nighthawks were passing in modest numbers, with somewhat more by Tuesday - these have been observed from multiple locations, including going over Central Park, but a majority thus far are being seen from locations farther-north in Manhattan. A first strong movement of Blackpoll Warblers took place as well. Likely the first of the fall Palm Warblers appeared in Central Park, and elsewhere in the county, and more definitely the first of the fall Philadelphia Vireo arrivals just now. For migratory American warblers, it was a good night Monday night on into Tuesday for south-making flight out of the north lands - and by the millions over the eastern states and from Canadas vastness, came many many of the Parulinae - here is a likely-only-partial list of some species of the warblers that showed over and in N.Y. County for the 27th of August - Ovenbird - multiple Worm-eating Warbler - modest multiple Northern Waterthrush - multiple - a -third wave- of these for just this month. Blue-winged Warbler - multiple Brewsters-type Warbler (hybrid type cross of Blue-winged x Golden-winged) Black-and-white Warbler - many Tennessee Warbler - many Nashville Warbler -multiple - a modest increase. Mourning Warbler - modest multiple Common Yellowthroat - many Hooded Warbler - multiple American Redstart - very many - some parks had up to 50-100+ of this species by Tuesday, with vastly more as nocturnal and early-morning flyovers. Cape May Warbler - many - another rather good breeding season was had for this species. Northern Parula - many Magnolia Warbler - many Yellow Warbler - many - a species that can regularly be detected for 5 plus months in southbound movements, including very late stragglers or lingerers. Last year, recorded in a mid-December annual bird count here. Chestnut-sided Warbler - many - a strong increase in this species this week. Bay-breasted Warbler - many - a definitive increase. Blackpoll Warbler - at least modest multiple, and possibly a larger nocturnal passage Black-throated Blue Warbler - many Palm Warbler - still scarce here, a bit ahead of typical earlier arrivals, with more in 3-6 plus weeks from now. Pine Warbler - multiple Myrtle -a.k.a Yellow-rumped- Warbler -minimal but multiple by this week. Prairie Warbler - multiple Black-throated Green Warbler - multiple Canada Warbler - modest multiple, many already also having passed this month. Wilsons Warbler - multiple - a higher volume than in all prior weeks. Also moving now are a variety of thrush species, including at-least Veery, Wood, Swainsons and some Gray-cheeked types of which the latter -may- include some Bicknells, and also a very few Hermit Thrushes, on the early side for freshly arriving migrants of that last species, in this county. The first of Gray-cheeked Thrushes, or the possible and fairly similar Bicknells Thrush were starting to be seen in the county this week, and were around in some parks including Inwood Hill, Central, Riverside, and Battery Park, as well as one detection at Governors Island so far this week. A -very few- reports of early-ish Hermit Thrush -might- pertain to Gray-cheeked or gray-cheeked-type thrush species, however there is the added conundrum of the western types of Hermit Thrushes which may potentially show at times in the east, either as rarer vagrant forms here, or even as fairly regular but somewhat overlooked off-course birds. The many larger fires in western Canadian provinces and U.S. states could cause some unusual migratory bird movements at times, in addition to the regular chance of off-course fliers. Many flycatchers are and have been passing thru, and both species of Cuckoo, with most being reported as Yellow-billed, and some as Black-billed Cuckoos. More Common Nighthawks were showing at appropriate times and areas in the last several days, and Chimney Swifts are increasing in some areas on passage now. Yellow-crowned Night-Herons have been continuing at Randalls Island, where fairly-standard and expected migrations of other species of many kinds has been picking up on some days, again with a large flyover contingent of migrants for Tuesday 27th. Over the county, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Scarlet Tanagers, and some orioles including Orchard Oriole are increased in the last 2 or 3 days, and more will be showing very soon as they keep passing through. Already last-weeks news was a Dickcissel found passing by on Aug. 21st, not known to have stopped off - a search of Governors Island on Tuesday 27th was a bit late anyhow, to seek out a bird photographed north of there a week prior. It is a species to listen and look for all through fall and into at-least early winter as well. Yes, and the Red-breasted Nuthatches were ongoing, just as some had been passing in July and earlier in August. Time will tell if there is a big movement - as with any of many other migrants, also a chance that some may be displaced out of wildfire zones in northern regions, both in Canada and U.S.A. - - - We are seeing a fair number of Monarch butterflies on some days this month, some or many of these likely on migrations to Mexico. Also showing for butterfly species of note have been Variegated Fritillary, Cloudless Sulphur, Common Buckeye, and more-rare in our area, Ocola Skipper, the latter photographed not too long ago in Central Park, at the Conservatory Garden. Many more insects of interest have also been appearing. Some butterflies of southern-affinities are at times easier to see in parts of Governors Island, however there are also areas off-limits to general visitors there as well. Thanks to the many quiet, courteous, keen observers and photographers out and about for recent days and paying attention to some of the fresh changes in numbers, diversity, and many locations for migrants as both drop-ins and as fly-by occurrences in the county. Sharper birding to all, Tom Fiore manhattan -- (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") NYSbirds-L List Info: NortheastBirding_DOT_com/NYSbirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/NYSbirdsRULES_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave_DOT_htm ARCHIVES: 1) mail-archive_DOT_com/nysbirds-l@cornell_DOT_edu/maillist_DOT_html 2) surfbirds_DOT_com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) birding_DOT_aba_DOT_org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: ebird_DOT_org/content/ebird/ --
