New York County -in N.Y. City- including Manhattan, Governors, Randalls, and Roosevelt Islands -the 4 main islands of this county- as well as adjacent surrounding waters and skies above - to Thursday, November 21st -
An almost desperately-needed rainfall in the region, from a widespread weather-system, arrived very early Thursday in this county. Some rather late or lingering birds were noted thru the middle of this week or from earlier as well, along with some recent arrivals of seasonally-expected species. A Golden Eagle which was photographed passing Inwood Hill Park and that northern part of Manhattan on Nov. 16th was confirmed for an eBird report, the 2nd of that species now confirmed flying past Manhattan for this fall. It is possible others of that species could still pass thru in this countys air-space this year. Sightings of Bald Eagles in a variety of age-related plumages have also continued far more generally. An Osprey noted from the Pier 42 area at the East River, lower-east Manhattan on Nov. 15th was late for this county. A few sightings of rather late, photographed Baltimore Orioles came as recently as this week - that species is known to occasionally attempt wintering, sometimes seemingly with success, in the county, and has been found in December bird-counts on multiple occasions in this county. For warblers, we have had some lingering individuals and certain species, and also some either uncovered that may have been lingering or, just as possibly were newly arrived stragglers in the county - a N. Parula was among those running pretty late, at Inwood Hill Park in Manhattan, to Nov. 20th. Also being noted have been a number of Orange-crowned Warblers in the past week, some surely continuing, as well as a late Black-throated Blue Warbler on Roosevelt Island to at least Nov. 17, and also one of the latter species at Central Park on Nov. 16th - Black-throated Blue is yet another of the many warbler species that have been documented in past seasons of the December bird-counts, i.e. there are prior records even to mid or later December, and for a slightly-surprising number of warbler species. For some of these there are also records into the month of January, although those tend to be much more sparse sightings, although many were well-documented. Nashville Warbler has also been seen in at least several locations in the county, including thru last week at Highbridge Park in northern Manhattan - and, that is also yet another species sometimes found here in December in past bird-counts or otherwise. Some of the other recent warbler sightings include Pine, Palm, Myrtle form of Yellow-rumped, and in multiple locations still, Ovenbird and Common Yellowthroat. We also had reports of a late-lingering Magnolia Warbler at Central Park, a species less-common as a late-lingerer, but known from some December records in past years in this city - as well as from Central Park, in Manhattan. At least one Eastern Phoebe was perhaps the most-recent sighting of any flycatcher species, in northern Manhattan, and that species could still turn up, as could -potentially- rare western or other vagrant type flycatcher species - we are still within the time-period of such potential vagrants, and weather is not yet at all frigid to keep such possibilities out-of-mind. Keep those cameras, or phones with camera, and note-books handy. A straggling-lingering young male Indigo Bunting was still at Central Park this week - by photos this appears to be a male, getting some blue feathers where a female should not be expected to show those colors. This bird can be tricky to spot at times and is lingering in the general area of that park on the west side near about W. 82 - 83rd Streets, on either side of the parks West Drive roadway, and with thickets and brushy areas for hiding-feeding spots. That species has successfully overwintered - very rarely - in Central Park in the past, near feeders not located in the Ramble area, and in one documented instance of such overwintering, had been called a female for months - until it molted into brilliant indigo-blue as it continued to the month of April. A Rose-breasted Grosbeak was reported recently in Manhattan, and that sighting ought to, if possible, be documented with some notes and-or photos to be sure of the species - there are some later reports of Rose-breasted in the region, and quite-rarely, this species has occurred even in winter in this county. Some Pine Siskins as well as Purple Finches have been showing recently, in multiple locations including in Central Park, and elsewhere in Manhattan and also elsewhere in the county, neither in any big numbers so far this fall, and American Goldfinch numbers have yet to peak for the season here. Black-capped Chickadees are continuing to irrupt into the area, with far more being found in recent weeks than were around thru summer or early fall, the same of Tufted Titmouse as well. Some Red-breasted Nuthatches have continued, but no major irruption has occurred for that species thus far this fall in this county. Some Eastern Bluebirds were ongoing or were new passage migrators this week, including sightings from Central Park, and elsewhere. This species can potentially occur in winter in this county, and at least rarely has done so - including within Central Park in the past. Most of the other thrush sightings, apart from very numerous American Robins, are now Hermit Thrush, which regularly winters in this county and in this region, in modest but not-insignificant numbers, in some winters. Many will be found in various odd smaller greenspaces as well as the larger parks of this county. Some sparrow species have been ongoing or arriving in the county lately, including American Tree Sparrow and some more Field Sparrows, while some Savannah Sparrows and at least a few White-crowned Sparrows were still being found thru last week. Red Fox Sparrows were ongoing, and multiple of that species typically will try to overwinter in the county. A few reports of late Chipping Sparrow came thru to this week. The vast majority of all native sparrows now being seen are either Song or White-throated, the latter a regular and sometimes near-abundant wintering bird of this county, particularly in Manhattan sites, including some small parks and other small or large green-spaces of the island. With flocks of White-throated Sparrow will sometimes be other species, and just-occasionally, a rarer passerine bird of some sort. Slate-colored Juncos also continued in numbers, and more-sparsely, at least some Eastern Towhees have been noted in various locations. Waterbirds and waterfowl in the county just recently have included arrivals of both Common and Red-throated Loons, and a very few Great Cormorant along with ongoing Double-crested Cormorants. Atlantic Brant have been showing in some of the sites where they may winter. Canada Geese of the migratory type have still been arriving or passing over into this week. Pied-billed Grebes were ongoing, with one well-watched on the Central Park reservoir. Also at that location, but occurring elsewhere as well are American Coots. Various ducks in the county that were found lingering include Ring-necked Duck -at least 1 at Central Park- and multiple Wood Ducks, Hooded Mergansers, Green-winged Teals, many N. Shovelers, Ruddy Ducks, Buffleheads, and Gadwalls, American Black Ducks and of course Mallards - as well as a few Mute Swans in one particular area of the East River estuary, visible from both Manhattan and Randalls Island at times. Some other ducks included Red-breasted Mergansers -with at least one continuing at the Central Park reservoir- and there may well be some arrivals of other -bay- duck species or so-called sea-duck species in the county. Some movement of Belted Kingfisher has been noted recently, after a dearth of sightings in the county. Many other species besides those noted above have also been seen, including other types of day -and night- active raptor species. Among falcons, Merlin has been reported in the past week, especially from some of the most-birded locations in the county, such as Central Park. Sightings of city-resident American Kestrel and Peregrine Falcon also are ongoing in this county. Thanks to many, many keen and courteous observers and photographers for so many sightings and reports, many with photos also offered, often via the Macaulay Library archive accompanying many reports in eBird, as well as sightings via non-x bird alert systems. Good 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/ --
