Today was one of those magical birding day, where a rarity brings out the best NYC birders who then find everything around them that would normally be missed.

Two days ago, a Slaty-backed Gull was seen one the reservoir but misidentified as a Lesser Black-backed Gull. Once the error was realized, many birders came to Central Park to see a bird usually only found in Asia but occasionally in Alaska.

But as happens when a rare bird appears, having over a hundred birders including many experts looking for a rarity, less rare birds are also found.

Today, many of us had eight species of gull:

• Black-headed Gull
• Ring-billed Gull
• Herring Gull
• Iceland Gull
• Lesser Black-backed Gull
• Slaty-backed Gull
• Glaucous Gull
• Great Black-backed Gull

Thank you to all of the experts today who helped those of us who are “gull challenged” to have a great experience. 2-2-22 will have a special meaning for many of us.

Here are pictures of the Slaty-backed Gull:

And photographs of the Iceland Gulls

The female Long-tailed Duck continues to be seen on the Reservoir in the large raft of Ruddy Ducks. Depending on the light, she can be easy or hard to find. Late in the day, finding her sometimes feels like playing “Where’s Waldo”.

At least one flock of Cedar Waxwings have been in Central Park this week. They’re such wonderful birds. They have been seen in the fruit trees on either side of the West Drive, in the 70’s through the 90’s.

Small pocket parks in New York City can yield great birds as was the case this week with a Yellow-breasted Chat in Verizon Plaza just west of 3 Bryant Park, between 41st and 42nd and Sixth and Broadway. Chat’s can be hard to find, as they tend to hide in brush, and only come out into view ever so often. However, this bird, in this park during migration was easy to watch. It was a nice treat after the heavy rains we have been having.

A Clay-colored Sparrow was found and reported by Edmund Berry on Sunday afternoon in Central Park’s Pinetum. It was a great find, and was enjoyed by many birders, who ended up discussing the finer points of Spizella pallida identification, with Chipping Sparrows and Field Sparrows nearby.

I found some nice articles online, including this PDF.

I had brief looks at the Belted Kingfisher that was at Turtle Pond on Friday. I love seeing them during migration at Turtle Pond or year-round out on Randalls Island.