Date: 3/9/26 3:05 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] N.Y. County, NYC - to March 8 - waterfowl movement, E. Phoebes, & other birds
New York County -in N.Y. City- including Manhattan, Randalls, Governors, and Roosevelt Islands and the adjacent waters and skies above -
to Sunday, March 8th -
2 Black Scoters were noted flying up the Hudson River off lower Manhattan on March 7, a quite scarce species anytime or anywhere in this county. Also seen were various other ducks on the move, with Wood Duck particularly numerous with over thirty seen from one viewing point. That was repeated somewhat as more than a dozen Wood Duck were at Central Park in total, by Saturday, and that number did not take in flyovers.
On Sunday, a great flight of Wood Duck occurred, and at least one observer came just 4 individual Wood Ducks shy of triple-digit numbers of the species flying north, from the vantage point of the western terminus of Dyckman St. and the adjacent fields, near the northern end of Manhattan, all looking out on the Hudson River. From that vantage, at least ten Snow Geese were moving along with over fifty times more Canada Geese, as well as some Brant, and other duckage which included dozens of Common Mergansers, N. Pintail, and non-white-winged scoter species, along with other ducks on the move. Greater numbers of Snow Geese and very-slightly more Wood Ducks were also noted as part of the significant regional movements for Sunday, from Randalls Island The many other birds seen in flight also included modestly high numbers of Red-winged Blackbirds and American Robins, each well into several hundred moving.
The first report of a photographed Eastern Phoebe came by Sunday, at Central Parks north end. An Iceland Gull was reported from the Central Park reservoir on both Saturday and Sunday. Other E. Phoebes were being noted later in the day Sunday, from various points in Manhattan.
3 Horned Larks were photographed at close range at Inwood Hill Park on March 5th, reasonably likely to have been migrants stopping in, although the habitat there is in part suitable to such a species taking up longer stays. The report and photos are in eBird and the Macaulay Library, thanks to W. Andermann.
At least nine Purple Sandpipers were noted at Governors Island on March 5. Duckage there still had recent American Wigeons as well as Long-tailed Ducks, Lesser and Greater Scaup, and Common Goldeneyes among other species. The widespread sightings of the last species in particular in the county over the late winter to now have been far more numerous, by locations where found, than in many many years - some sightings have included 1 individual on the Harlem River well north of Randalls Island and also well south of the Inwood area at Manhattans north edge. At least 24 species of waterfowl had been seen since March 1st in this county.
Black-crowned Night Heron and Pied-billed Grebe each reappeared in at least several county locations, including for Central Park. Horned Grebe was found again off Randalls Island by Sunday. A Monk Parakeet was reported from Governors Island, and Black Vulture was reported over Central Park, and also from farther south in Manhattan. Turkey Vulture was still, as usual, the much more often seen vulture species in the county.
Reports of such species as White-crowned Sparrow or Orange-crowned Warbler in the county now are interesting, and either, if confirmed, would likely mean those species did manage to overwinter rather locally, perhaps even in the county. At least one individual warbler looked to have successfully wintered on Manhattan, a Myrtle form Yellow-rumped Warbler at Carl Schurz Park, again noticed for Sunday.
Generally rather modest numbers of typical migrants of this season were noticed such as Red-winged Blackbirds and Common Grackles, although both of the latter showed in at least a few locations in triple-digit numbers, where very few had been thru winter, by the middle of last week. Still more will certainly be moving in coming days. Brown-headed Cowbirds also have turned up, a few of which might have been wintering. Rusty Blackbird was recently reported from the s. end of Central Park and could represent a bird wintering locally, while a very few have also been seen starting to move, perhaps somewhat locally.
Other birds also present at Central Park have included Red-breasted and White-breasted Nuthatches, Brown Creepers, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, N. Yellow-shafted Flicker, Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglets, Red Fox Sparrows and many more species, many of these also being found here and there at other locations.
American Woodcock were ongoing, with more-regular sightings at Bryant Park in mid-Manhattan, but some additional locations that include Central Park. Killdeer had already been showing some very modest increases, with seemingly new modest increases by Sunday, at typical sites for the species such as Governors Island, and a bit more so by Sunday at Randalls Island. At least a few Killdeer also touched down at Central Park in the pre-dawn on Sunday.
Most of the sightings of a Trumpeter Swan seen moving about the East River estuary recently in the company of a Mute Swan were more recently listed from the Brooklyn - Kings County - side, where the majority of closer views were had of the Trumpeter. A number of observers have also been taking the ferries that ply this waterway and have been able to obtain views of the desired swan along the East River.
The long-staying Wild Turkey was ongoing at The Battery at Manhattans south end thru the weekend. Among many reports for recent days in the county have been Pine Siskin and also Pine Warbler, each wanting confirmations.
Good birding, and thanks to many observers and photographers for alerts and reports in the Discord birding app as well as thru eBird, with the Macaulay Library for media, and some reports also via good old word of mouth.
