Category: Rare Bird Alerts

– RBA
* New York
* New York City, Long Island, Westchester County
* Nov. 6, 2020
* NYNY2011.06

– Birds mentioned
BROWN BOOBY+
AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN+
RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD+
PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER+
(+ Details requested by NYSARC)

EARED GREBE
EURASIAN WIGEON
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE
TUNDRA SWAN
Common Gallinule
AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER
GOLDEN EAGLE
Red-headed Woodpecker
Evening Grosbeak
LAPLAND LONGSPUR
Vesper Sparrow
CLAY-COLORED SPARROW
BLUE GROSBEAK
DICKCISSEL
PHILADELPHIA VIREO
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT

– Transcript

If followed by (+) please submit documentation of your report electronically and use the NYSARC online submission form found at http://www.nybirds.org/NYSARC/…

You can also send reports and digital image files via email to nysarc44 (at)nybirds{dot}org.

If electronic submission is not possible, hardcopy reports and photos or sketches are welcome. Hardcopy documentation should be mailed to:

       Gary Chapin – Secretary
       NYS Avian Records Committee (NYSARC)
       125 Pine Springs Drive
       Ticonderoga, NY 12883

Hotline: New York City Area Rare Bird Alert
Number: (212) 979-3070

Compiler: Tom Burke
Coverage: New York City, Long Island, Westchester County

Transcriber: Ben Cacace

BEGIN TAPE

Greetings. This is the New York Rare Bird Alert for Friday, November 6th 2020 at 10pm. The highlights of today’s tape are PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER, RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD, EARED GREBE, BROWN BOOBY, AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, TUNDRA SWAN, GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, EURASIAN WIGEON, GOLDEN EAGLE, AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER, PHILADELPHIA VIREO, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, CLAY-COLORED SPARROW, YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, BLUE GROSBEAK, DICKCISSEL and more.

Last Saturday a western type empidonax flycatcher was found at Kissena Park in Queens where the bird has continued through today. Attempts to determine whether this bird was a PACIFIC-SLOPE or a closely related Cordilleran Flycatcher fortunately resulted in some recordings of its call notes and these point to the bird’s identity as PACIFIC-SLOPE of which there is a previous New York record. To look for this bird park along 164th Street near Underhill Avenue. Enter the western side of the park on the bridal path and continue a short distance to where both sides of the trail are covered by heavy growth. Search here and also continue a little further to a narrow path on the left and take this path over 3 fallen logs to an enclosed clearing also favored by the flycatcher or ask any birders you see.

The selasphorus hummingbird found last Friday at Bayard Cutting Arboretum in Great River was today still visiting the hummingbird feeder put up for it. Some good photos of its spread tail pattern seem to indicate this bird is a RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD rather than Allen’s. However, as in the case of the western flycatchers, sometimes in hand measurements or DNA samples are the only sure means of a positive ID.

At Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge an EARED GREBE spotted on the East Pond last Saturday was still present today often best viewed from the Big John’s Pond overlook. Also at Jamaica Bay, where waterfowl numbers continue to increase, a TUNDRA SWAN and a drake EURASIAN WIGEON were both seen on the West Pond last Saturday the swan also spotted Sunday. Another EURASIAN WIGEON was still on West Lake in Patchogue at least to Tuesday and a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE has been around Wolfe’s Pond Park on Staten Island since last Saturday. The immature BROWN BOOBY was still present last weekend off Bay Avenue in East Quogue and the AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN was seen last Saturday and Sunday at Jamaica Bay though only briefly.

With a few GOLDEN EAGLES currently moving by local hawkwatches, interesting on Tuesday morning was possibly the same immature first seen moving south by Inwood Hill Park then a little later by Battery Park City, both on Manhattan, and then finally over the Cemetery of the Resurrection on Staten Island.

An AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER in Brooklyn was seen at Plumb Beach today.

Other notable non-passerines included a COMMON GALLINULE in Prospect Park to Wednesday and a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER flying over Southard’s Pond in Babylon Saturday. A late PHILADELPHIA VIREO was interesting at Canarsie Beach Park Wednesday and a LAPLAND LONGSPUR was at Theodore Roosevelt County Park in Montauk Saturday. CLAY-COLORED SPARROW visited Roosevelt Beach on Staten Island Tuesday with a VESPER SPARROW on Central Park’s north end the same day. Today a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT was found in Manhattan’s Union Square Park. A BLUE GROSBEAK was present on Randall’s Island Sunday to Tuesday and Saturday DICKCISSELS were noted at Floyd Bennett Field and Lemon Creek Pier. Small numbers of EVENING GROSBEAKS are now appearing.

To phone in reports call Tom Burke at (914) 967-4922.

This service is sponsored by the Linnaean Society of New York and the National Audubon Society. Thank you for calling.

– End transcript

-RBA
* New York
* New York City, Long Island, Westchester County
* Oct. 30, 2020
* NYNY2010.30

– Birds Mentioned

BROWN BOOBY+
TROPICAL KINGBIRD+
(+ Details requested by NYSARC)

EURASIAN WIGEON
HARLEQUIN DUCK
Black Scoter
AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN
Cattle Egret
SANDHILL CRANE
AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER
Caspian Tern
Eastern Whip-poor-will
SELASPHORUS HUMMINGBIRD
Peregrine Falcon
EVENING GROSBEAK
Pine Siskin
LAPLAND LONGSPUR
CLAY-COLORED SPARROW
Vesper Sparrow
LECONTE’S SPARROW
HENSLOW’S SPARROW
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT
Orange-crowned Warbler
BLUE GROSBEAK
DICKCISSEL

If followed by (+) please submit documentation of your report electronically and use the NYSARC online submission form found athttps://www.nybirds.org/NYSARC/goodreport.htm

You can also send reports and digital image files via email to nysarc44<at>nybirds<dot>org

If electronic submission is not possible, hardcopy reports and photos or sketches are welcome. Hardcopy documentation should be mailed to:

Gary Chapin – Secretary
NYS Avian Records Committee (NYSARC)
125 Pine Springs Drive
Ticonderoga, NY 12883

Hotline: New York City Area Rare Bird Alert
Number: (212) 979-3070

Compiler: Tom Burke
Coverage: New York City, Long Island, Westchester County

Transcriber: Gail Benson

[~BEGIN RBA TAPE~]

Greetings! This is the New York Rare Bird Alert for Friday, October 30, 2020 at 10 pm.

The highlights of today’s tape are TROPICAL KINGBIRD, BROWN BOOBY, LECONTE’S and HENSLOW’S SPARROWS, SANDHILL CRANE, AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, a SELASPHORUS HUMMINGBIRD, EURASIAN WIGEON, and HARLEQUIN DUCK, AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, EVENING GROSBEAK, CLAY-COLORED SPARROW, BLUE GROSBEAK, DICKCISSEL and more.

Another week, another exceptional bird, this time a New York first, pending approval by NYSARC, this a TROPICAL KINGBIRD spotted along the Hudson River in Dobbs Ferry, Westchester County on Tuesday. With the identification nicely worked out by Tuesday evening, on Wednesday numerous birders were able to enjoy views of and vocalizations from this bird as it moved up and down the riverside from its original site by Wickers Creek north to the Ardsley-on-Hudson train station. Unfortunately, the weather worsened by Thursday morning, and the KINGBIRD was only seen once briefly, quickly moving south into the rain and fog with other birds, not to be noted again.

On Thursday an immature BROWN BOOBY appeared in East Quogue Marine Park around the pier at the end of Bay Avenue, where nicely photographed, but it was not relocated today.

Two excellent SPARROWS locally were a LECONTE’S present at Conference House Park at the southern tip of Staten Island from Sunday to Tuesday and a HENSLOW’S found Sunday at Breezy Point, both birds documented with nice photos.

A SANDHILL CRANE was also photographed as it flew over Breezy Point Sunday, and the AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN visiting the East Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge stayed at least through Wednesday.

A SELASPHORUS HUMMINBIRD was videoed visiting flowers at the Bayard Cutting Arboretum in Great River today, but its identification could not be specifically determined, and it was not relocated after the first sighting.

A drake EURASIAN WIGEON found Monday on West Lake in Patchogue was still present today, and among the many ducks now moving into our area were 3 HARLEQUIN DUCKS spotted in a BLACK SCOTER flock moving by Breezy Point Saturday.

The CATTLE EGRET was still at the Suffolk County Farm and Education Center off Yaphank Avenue Monday, and interesting was an EASTERN WHIP-POOR-WILL being harassed by a PEREGRINE FALCON as it was moving over mid-Manhattan Sunday morning.

An AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER was still being seen at Floyd Bennett Field today, and 2 CASPIAN TERNS were noted Saturday around Jamaica Bay and Plumb Beach.

Single LAPLAND LONGSPURS visited Breezy Point Saturday, Orient Wednesday, and Floyd Bennett Field the last 2 days.

A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was at Jamaica Bay Refuge Sunday and Monday, while VESPER SPARROWS occurred at Inwood Hill Park and Governor’s Island last Sunday, with 2 at Floyd Bennett Field yesterday.

A YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT in Stony Brook Tuesday was followed by 1 Wednesday at Conference House Park, and among the later WARBLERS were ORANGE-CROWNEDS at Riis Park, Conference House Park and Robert Moses State Park last Sunday.

Joining the PINE SISKIN invasion recently have been increasing numbers of EVENING GROSBEAKS, appearing mostly inland but with a few now reaching the coast.

A BLUE GROSBEAK continued at Sunken Meadow State Park to last Saturday, and some DICKCISSELS this week included reports from Breezy Point Sunday, Robert Moses State Park Tuesday, Coney Island Creek Wednesday and Heckscher State Park today.

To phone in reports call Tom Burke at (914) 967-4922.

This service is sponsored by the Linnaean Society of New York and the National Audubon Society. Thank you for calling.

– End transcript

-RBA
* New York
* New York City, Long Island, Westchester County
* Oct. 23, 2020
* NYNY2010.23

– Birds Mentioned

LONG-TAILED JAEGER+
FORK-TAILED FLYCATCHER+
PAINTED REDSTART+
(+ Details requested by NYSARC)

Common Eider
AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER
Long-billed Dowitcher
Parasitic Jaeger
Caspian Tern
BLACK TERN
Royal Tern
Cory’s Shearwater
Great Shearwater
MANX SHEARWATER
Northern Gannet
AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN
American Bittern
WESTERN KINGBIRD
LAPLAND LONGSPUR
EVENING GROSBEAK
Purple Finch
Red Crossbill
Pine Siskin
GRASSHOPPER SPARROW
CLAY-COLORED SPARROW
Vesper Sparrow
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT
CONNECTICUT WARBLER
Hooded Warbler
Cape May Warbler
Wilson’s Warbler
BLUE GROSBEAK
DICKCISSEL

If followed by (+) please submit documentation of your report electronically and use the NYSARC online submission form found athttp://www.nybirds.org/NYSARC/goodreport.htm

You can also send reports and digital image files via email to nysarc44<at>nybirds<dot>org

If electronic submission is not possible, hardcopy reports and photos or sketches are welcome. Hardcopy documentation should be mailed to:

Gary Chapin – Secretary
NYS Avian Records Committee (NYSARC)
125 Pine Springs Drive
Ticonderoga, NY 12883

Hotline: New York City Area Rare Bird Alert
Number: (212) 979-3070

Compiler: Tom Burke
Coverage: New York City, Long Island, Westchester County

Transcriber: Gail Benson

[~BEGIN RBA TAPE~]

Greetings! This is the New York Rare Bird Alert for Friday, October
23, 2020 at 8 pm.

The highlights of today’s tape are PAINTED REDSTART, FORK-TAILED FLYCATCHER, AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, LONG-TAILED JAEGER, MANX SHEARWATER, AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER, BLACK TERN, WESTERN KINGBIRD, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, EVENING GROSBEAK, YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, CONNECTICUT WARBLER, CLAY-COLORED and GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS, BLUE GROSBEAK, DICKCISSEL and more.

Exceptional was New York’s second PAINTED REDSTART, found last Sunday at Floyd Bennett Field, word getting out slowly but soon enough for many to see this very attractive Warbler before darkness set in. Extensive searching Monday was unsuccessful.

Also extraordinary and slightly extralimital for our area was a very nicely plumaged adult FORK-TAILED FLYCATCHER found mid-day Saturday along the shore of Ashokan Reservoir in Ulster County; this bird stayed overnight but flew out west shortly after 9 am Sunday morning.

An AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN present last Saturday and Sunday at Terrell River State Park in East Moriches may have been the same one visiting the East Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge from Monday at least to Thursday.

Decent conditions for a sea watch last Sunday morning produced some nice results off Robert Moses State Park – counted were 1 MANX, 7 GREAT and 21 CORY’S SHEARWATERS, with another 44 unidentified large Shearwaters, along with 4 PARASITIC JAEGERS, 270 NORTHERN GANNETS, and various sea ducks including some COMMON EIDER. More surprising, though, off Moses Park this morning, besides another PARASITIC JAEGER, was a bird identified as a dark juvenile LONG-TAILED JAEGER, nicely seen as it motored by heading west.

Notable among this week’s decreasing number of shorebirds was an AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER both days last weekend at Floyd Bennett Field and likely the same individual at Plumb Beach today. Two LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS were unusual at Short’s Pond off Scuttlehole Road in Watermill last Sunday, with one there Tuesday; another also flew by Plumb Beach today.

A BLACK TERN was spotted at Terrell River State Park Tuesday and Wednesday, 2 CASPIAN TERNS were still at Jamaica Bay on Sunday, and a peak count of ROYAL TERNS roosting at Terrell River reached an estimated 180 on Tuesday.

Single AMERICAN BITTERNS were noted at Randall’s Island Saturday and, on Thursday, at Pelham Bay Park and Tobay.

A WESTERN KINGBIRD was a nice find at Fort Tilden last Saturday , when 3 LAPLAND LONGSPURS were again spotted at Smith Point County Park in Shirley.

Two EVENING GROSBEAKS seen Thursday in Yorktown Heights, Westchester County, indicate that this species is currently on the move south, like the many PINE SISKINS and PURPLE FINCHES for the last few weeks and a few RED CROSSBILLS, including one spotted last Sunday at Jones Beach West End. Could be good this winter!

A YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT out in Orient last Saturday was followed by one at Brooklyn’s Marine Park Salt Marsh Nature Center yesterday.

Much reduced Warbler numbers recently have featured a CONNECTICUT last Saturday at Tobay, a male HOODED still in Central Park Wednesday, and such species as CAPE MAY, WILSON’S and others.

Among the SPARROWS, still increasing locally, were single CLAY-COLOREDS at Fort Tilden Saturday, Croton Point Park Monday, and Floyd Bennett Field Tuesday, with a GRASSHOPPER SPARROW at Plumb Beach today. VESPER SPARROWS were noted at 3 Brooklyn sites this week and on Governor’s Island today.

A BLUE GROSBEAK at Fort Tilden Saturday was followed by one at Sunken Meadow State Park Tuesday through today, and a DICKCISSEL was at Plumb Beach today.

To phone in reports call Tom Burke at (914) 967-4922.

This service is sponsored by the Linnaean Society of New York and the National Audubon Society. Thank you for calling.

– End transcript

– RBA
* New York
* New York City, Long Island, Westchester County
* Oct. 16, 2020
* NYNY2010.16

– Birds mentioned
 BICKNELL’S THRUSH+
(+ Details requested by NYSARC)
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Caspian Tern
Royal Tern
EURASIAN WIGEON
Cackling Goose
AMERICAN BITTERN
Stilt Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper
White-rumped Sandpiper
Western Sandpiper
AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Pine Siskin
LAPLAND LONGSPUR
Vesper Sparrow
LARK SPARROW
White-crowned Sparrow
CLAY-COLORED SPARROW
Lincoln’s Sparrow
BLUE GROSBEAK
DICKCISSEL
Blue-winged Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Cape May Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Prairie Warbler
CONNECTICUT WARBLER
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT
Hooded Warbler
Wilson’s Warbler
Canada Warbler
American Pipit

– Transcript

If followed by (+) please submit documentation of your report electronically and use the NYSARC online submission form found at https://www.nybirds.org/NYSARC/goodreport.htm

You can also send reports and digital image files via email to nysarc44 (at)nybirds{dot}org.

If electronic submission is not possible, hardcopy reports and photos or sketches are welcome. Hardcopy documentation should be mailed to:

       Gary Chapin – Secretary
       NYS Avian Records Committee (NYSARC)
       125 Pine Springs Drive
       Ticonderoga, NY 12883

Hotline: New York City Area Rare Bird Alert
Number: (212) 979-3070

Compiler: Tom Burke
Coverage: New York City, Long Island, Westchester County

Transcriber: Ben Cacace

BEGIN TAPE

Greetings. This is the New York Rare Bird Alert for Friday, October 16th 2020 at 11pm. The highlights of today’s tape are EURASIAN WIGEON, AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER, AMERICAN BITTERN, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, CLAY-COLORED SPARROW, LARK SPARROW, YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, CONNECTICUT WARBLER, BLUE GROSBEAK, DICKCISSEL and more.

Among the decent variety of waterfowl at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge was a report last Saturday of the continuing EURASIAN WIGEON on the East Pond where lingering shorebirds mentioned there this week included STILT, PECTORAL, WHITE-RUMPED and WESTERN SANDPIPERS. With the absence once again of any flocks of AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS this fall at least single immatures have recently been lingering in the area with one at Randall’s Island since last Friday, still present today, and another found at Floyd Bennett Field on Wednesday seen again there today this possibly the one also noted at Plumb Beach on Wednesday. One also flew by Robert Moses State Park Monday morning.

The first CACKLING GOOSE of the season was reported from Marratooka Lake in Mattituck today. Single AMERICAN BITTERN were spotted at Pelham Bay Park Tuesday and at Mill Pond Park in Bellmore yesterday. Larger totals of LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS featured 26 at Moses Park Monday and about 30 at Smith Point County Park in Shirley Wednesday the latter site also hosting 85 ROYAL TERNS. Wednesday was a good day for CASPIAN TERNS with 2 each at Jamaica Bay, Plumb Beach and Breezy Point and another out east at Sagg Pond.

Five LAPLAND LONGSPURS were also enjoying Smith Point County Park Wednesday with one still there today. A LARK SPARROW was identified at Davis Park on central Fire Island last Sunday while single CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS featured one at Moses Park Saturday and another seen again Sunday at Read Sanctuary in Playland Park in Rye. VESPER SPARROWS were noted in Prospect Park Tuesday, Dyker Beach Park in Brooklyn Wednesday and at Floyd Bennett Field yesterday and today. NELSON’S SPARROWS are now appearing in decent numbers in regional coastal saltmarshes joining some lingering SALTMARSH SPARROWS there. As the NELSON’S are represented by both coastal and inland forms separation of species must usually be done with care.

In that regard a variety of thrushes continue moving through the region including the possibility of BICKNELL’S such as the bird closely studied at Moses Park last Saturday.

A YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT was photographed in Manhattan’s Battery Park last Saturday. Expectedly diminishing reports of CONNECTICUT WARBLERS included 2 on Sunday, 1 at the Hudson River Greenway in Manhattan and the other at Fire Island’s Davis Park. A decent continuing variety of other warblers did include TENNESSEE, NASHVILLE, ORANGE-CROWNED, BLUE-WINGED, CAPE MAY, BAY-BREASTED, HOODED, PRAIRIE, CANADA, WILSON’S and others.

A BLUE GROSBEAK was still in Central Park Wednesday with another spotted today at East Farm Preserve in Stony Brook. DICKCISSELS featured one at Read Sanctuary in Rye to Sunday, another flying by Crab Meadow Beach in Fort Salonga Wednesday and one at Brooklyn’s Bush Terminal Piers Park yesterday..

Tons of PINE SISKINS continue to pass through and hopefully some will stay and other migrants have featured YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOOS, some AMERICAN PIPITS and various sparrows including LINCOLN’S and WHITE-CROWNED.

To phone in reports call Tom Burke at (914) 967-4922.

This service is sponsored by the Linnaean Society of New York and the National Audubon Society. Thank you for calling.

– End transcript

– RBA
* New York
* New York City, Long Island, Westchester County
* Oct. 9, 2020
* NYNY2010.09

– Birds mentioned
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Caspian Tern
WILSON’S PHALAROPE
AMERICAN AVOCET
Long-billed Dowitcher
Stilt Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper
BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER
Whimbrel
AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER
WESTERN KINGBIRD
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD
Rusty Blackbird
PINE SISKIN
LAPLAND LONGSPUR
VESPER SPARROW
GRASSHOPPER SPARROW
HENSLOW’S SPARROW
LARK SPARROW
White-crowned Sparrow
CLAY-COLORED SPARROW
Lincoln’s Sparrow
BLUE GROSBEAK
DICKCISSEL
Philadelphia Vireo
Orange-crowned Warbler
Cape May Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
CONNECTICUT WARBLER
Mourning Warbler
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT
Hooded Warbler
Wilson’s Warbler
SEDGE WREN

– Transcript

If followed by (+) please submit documentation of your report electronically and use the NYSARC online submission form found at https://www.nybirds.org/NYSARC/goodreport.htm

You can also send reports and digital image files via email to nysarc44 (at)nybirds{dot}org.

If electronic submission is not possible, hardcopy reports and photos or sketches are welcome. Hardcopy documentation should be mailed to:

       Gary Chapin – Secretary
       NYS Avian Records Committee (NYSARC)
       125 Pine Springs Drive
       Ticonderoga, NY 12883

Hotline: New York City Area Rare Bird Alert
Number: (212) 979-3070

Compiler: Tom Burke
Coverage: New York City, Long Island, Westchester County

Transcriber: Ben Cacace

BEGIN TAPE

(+ Details requested by NYSARC)

Greetings. This is the New York Rare Bird Alert for Friday, October 9th 2020 at 10pm. The highlights of today’s tape are HENSLOW’S SPARROW, WESTERN KINGBIRD, SEDGE WREN, YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD, AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER, AMERICAN AVOCET, BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER, WILSON’S PHALAROPE, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, LARK SPARROW, CLAY-COLORED SPARROW, GRASSHOPPER SPARROW, VESPER SPARROW, YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, CONNECTICUT WARBLER, BLUE GROSBEAK, DICKCISSEL, a PINE SISKIN invasion and more.

Last weekend’s highlights began with a discovery Saturday of a HENSLOW’S SPARROW at Sparrow Rock in Central Park seen one day only and then on Sunday the finding of a WESTERN KINGBIRD on Governors Island, perhaps the bird from the week prior, this also present on Monday. The SEDGE WREN was seen again Sunday at Freshkills Park on Staten Island and the male YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD was also noted over the weekend still foraging along the east shore of Meadow Lake in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park just south of the boathouse.

Excitement among the shorebirds included a report of the AMERICAN AVOCET in flight Tuesday over the East Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge while one or two WILSON’S PHALAROPES were seen both Wednesday and Thursday at the south end of the pond. Other shorebirds still using the pond, despite constant harassment by Peregrines, include some PECTORAL and STILT SANDPIPERS and a LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER. An immature AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER appeared today on Randall’s Island. A WHIMBREL was out in Springs on the south fork last Sunday. A BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER visited Smith Point County Park Monday and a LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER was at Gilgo Monday with one or more also still at Santapogue Creek in West Babylon this week. Forty LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were estimated at Smith Point County Park Monday and CASPIAN TERNS included one at Mecox Saturday and two at Captree Sunday with 2 at Sagg Pond yesterday.

A nice selection of sparrows this week featured the LARK SPARROW staying in Central Park’s north end to Tuesday and single CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS in Green-wood Cemetery in Brooklyn Saturday and Governors Island Wednesday and at Read Sanctuary at Playland Park in Rye today. Also notable were single GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS at Brooklyn’s Calvert Vaux Park Saturday, Planting Fields Arboretum Sunday and Kissena Park Monday and some VESPER SPARROWS included singles in Central Park and Floyd Bennett Field today. Good numbers of LINCOLN’S SPARROWS continue and more WHITE-CROWNEDS are arriving. Single LAPLAND LONGSPURS were noted today at Robert Moses State Park and at Sagg Pond while other continuing migrants have included some flycatchers including YELLOW-BELLIED, a few PHILADELPHIA VIREOS and some RUSTY BLACKBIRDS. A YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT visited Central Park Saturday.

Among the warblers a few CONNECTICUTS continue to be seen in what has been a productive fall for them and early ORANGE-CROWNEDS included one at Owl’s Head Park Sunday and one in Green-wood Cemetery yesterday. Many other species of warblers continue to pass through most now in low numbers these including MOURNING, HOODED, CAPE MAY, BAY-BREASTED and WILSON’S.

A BLUE GROSBEAK stayed in Central Park’s north end to Tuesday with one also at the Lido Beach Preserve Monday and another in Queens Tuesday.

DICKCISSELS this week started last Saturday with 2 at Fort Tilden and one at Calvert Vaux Park with a couple during the week ending with 2 at Moses Park and one at Read Sanctuary in Rye today and after teasing us a bit with some scattered flocks PINE SISKINS made a huge push today with over four thousand estimated moving by Moses Park this morning.

[Editor’s note: A DICKCISSEL was photographed on Governors Island last Saturday at the Urban Farm. The image was found on iNaturalist, https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/61617615]

To phone in reports call Tom Burke at (914) 967-4922.

This service is sponsored by the Linnaean Society of New York and the National Audubon Society. Thank you for calling.

– End transcript

-RBA
* New York
* New York City, Long Island, Westchester County
* Oct. 2, 2020
* NYNY2010.02

– Birds Mentioned
SWAINSON’S HAWK+
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD+
(+ Details requested by NYSARC)
EURASIAN WIGEON
AMERICAN AVOCET
AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER
Whimbrel
Stilt Sandpiper
BAIRD’S SANDPIPER
Pectoral Sandpiper
Long-billed Dowitcher
Parasitic Jaeger
Caspian Tern
Red-headed Woodpecker
WESTERN KINGBIRD
Philadelphia Vireo
LAPLAND LONGSPUR
CLAY-COLORED SPARROW
Vesper Sparrow
LARK SPARROW
Grasshopper Sparrow
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT
Worm-eating Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
CONNECTICUT WARBLER
Mourning Warbler
Hooded Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Wilson’s Warbler
BLUE GROSBEAK
DICKCISSEL

If followed by (+) please submit documentation of your report electronically and use the NYSARC online submission form found at http://www.nybirds.org/NYSARC/goodreport.htm

You can also send reports and digital image files via email to nysarc44<at>nybirds<dot>org

If electronic submission is not possible, hardcopy reports and photos or sketches are welcome. Hardcopy documentation should be mailed to:

Gary Chapin – Secretary
NYS Avian Records Committee (NYSARC)
125 Pine Springs Drive
Ticonderoga, NY 12883

Hotline: New York City Area Rare Bird Alert
Number: (212) 979-3070

Compiler: Tom Burke
Coverage: New York City, Long Island, Westchester County

Transcriber: Gail Benson

[~BEGIN RBA TAPE~]

Greetings! This is the New York Rare Bird Alert for Friday, October 2,
2020 at 11 pm.

The highlights of today’s tape are SWAINSON’S HAWK, AMERICAN AVOCET, WESTERN KINGBIRD, YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD, EURASIAN WIGEON, AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER and BAIRD’S SANDPIPER, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, LARK and CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS, YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, CONNECTICUT and other WARBLERS, BLUE GROSBEAK, DICKCISSEL and more.

In a quite good week for birds, easily the best was the immature SWAINSON’S HAWK spotted last Saturday on Governor’s Island. A couple of good photos were taken of this fairly dark juvenile before it moved off, not to be seen again despite some searching. However, combing the grounds on Governor’s Island that day did also produce a WESTERN KINGBIRD, which also did not linger.

An AMERICAN AVOCET was discovered at the north end of the East Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge last Monday and was still being seen there Thursday, though not today. Conditions at the north end, especially, remain treacherous due to the high water, and the limited number of shorebirds there Tuesday did feature STILT and PECTORAL SANDPIPERS and a LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER. Waterfowl numbers on the East Pond are impressive and did include the EURASIAN WIGEON at the south end at least to Monday.

The male YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD at Flushing Meadow Corona Park, staying along Meadow Lake just south of the Boathouse, was last reported last Sunday.

Scattered reports of AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER from last Saturday included two at Mecox and singles at Jones Beach West End, Floyd Bennett Field and Crab Meadow Beach, with another today at Robert Moses State Park. A BAIRD’S SANDPIPER visited Mecox Saturday, and a WHIMBREL was at Shinnecock Monday.
|
A PARASITIC JAEGER off Shinnecock last Saturday was followed by one in Long Island Sound off Rye Playland for a while on Sunday before moving east into Connecticut.

Recent CASPIAN TERNS were noted at Plumb Beach Thursday and at the Salt Marsh Nature Center and out at Mecox today, while single immature RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS were spotted at Croton Point in Westchester yesterday and at Brooklyn’s Greenwood Cemetery today.

Still moving through were several PHILADELPHIA VIREOS this week, and a LAPLAND LONGSPUR was spotted at Cupsogue County Park last Saturday.

With SPARROWS now increasing both in numbers and variety, highlights this week featured a LARK SPARROW still at the compost area in Central Park’s north end today, single CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS in Greenwood Cemetery and at Pelham Bay Park today, two VESPER SPARROWS in Kissena Park in Queens Wednesday, with one seen there Thursday, and another at Inwood Hill Park in northern Manhattan today, and a GRASSHOPPER SPARROW at Robert Moses State Park today.

Single YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS were noted in Central Park’s Ramble Thursday and at the Hoyt Farm Town Park in Commack Tuesday.

A decent number of CONNECTICUT WARBLERS were reported this week from both city parks and several Long Island sites, though certainly not approaching the maximum mentioned in John Bull’s “Birds of New York” of 57 striking the Fire Island Lighthouse on September 23, 1883. Other WARBLERS this week included WORM-EATING, ORANGE-CROWNED, BAY-BREASTED, MOURNING, WILSON’S and HOODED.

A BLUE GROSBEAK was still in Central Park’s north end today, and a few DICKCISSELS included singles at Moses Park and Hillview Reservoir in Yonkers today.

To phone in reports call Tom Burke at (914) 967-4922.

This service is sponsored by the Linnaean Society of New York and the National Audubon Society. Thank you for calling.

– End transcript

-RBA
* New York
* New York City, Long Island, Westchester County
* Sept. 25, 2020
* NYNY2009.25

– Birds Mentioned

LECONTE’S SPARROW+
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD+
(+ Details requested by NYSARC)
EURASIAN WIGEON
Least Bittern
Sora
Greater Yellowlegs
Whimbrel
BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER
Long-billed Dowitcher
Caspian Tern
Royal Tern
Red-headed Woodpecker
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
Philadelphia Vireo
American Pipit
Purple Finch
PINE SISKIN
LAPLAND LONGSPUR
CLAY-COLORED SPARROW
Vesper Sparrow
LARK SPARROW
Nelson’s Sparrow
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT
GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER
Orange-crowned Warbler
CONNECTICUT WARBLER
Mourning Warbler
Palm Warbler
BLUE GROSBEAK
DICKCISSEL

If followed by (+) please submit documentation of your report electronically and use the NYSARC online submission form found at https://www.nybirds.org/NYSARC/goodreport.htm

You can also send reports and digital image files via email to nysarc44<at>nybirds<dot>org

If electronic submission is not possible, hardcopy reports and photos or sketches are welcome. Hardcopy documentation should be mailed to:

Gary Chapin – Secretary
NYS Avian Records Committee (NYSARC)
125 Pine Springs Drive
Ticonderoga, NY 12883

Hotline: New York City Area Rare Bird Alert
Number: (212) 979-3070

Compiler: Tom Burke
Coverage: New York City, Long Island, Westchester County

Transcriber: Gail Benson

[~BEGIN RBA TAPE~]

Greetings! This is the New York Rare Bird Alert for Friday, September 25, 2020 at 11:00 pm.

The highlights of today’s tape are YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD, LECONTE’S SPARROW, EURASIAN WIGEON, BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, LARK, CLAY-COLORED and other SPARROWS, YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, CONNNECTICUT, GOLDEN-WINGED and other WARBLERS, BLUE GROSBEAK, DICKCISSEL, PINE SISKIN and more.

The somewhat compromised adult male YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD at Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens since September 16th was still foraging south of the Boathouse today. Given the so far unexplained damage to various wing and tail feathers, this bird might be continuing along the shore of Meadow Lake for a while. This area can be easily reached from the southbound Van Wyck Expressway.

It was a totally different situation for the LECONTE’S SPARROW reported Thursday near Bench 10 along the West Pond Trail at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, as this bird was never relocated, though a search there did yield a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT and a CONNECTICUT WARBLER amongother highlights. Also at Jamaica Bay the eclipse EURASIAN WIGEON does remain at the south end of the East Pond, where numbers and variety of waterfowl do continue to rise. The East Pond high water level, however, still precludes any large gatherings of shorebirds there.

Out East a BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER was found last Saturday in Calverton, this followed by another Thursday east of Youngs Avenue in Southold. Other notable shorebirds included single WHIMBREL at Fort Tilden Tuesday and Captree State Park Wednesday and a few LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS continuing with GREATER YELLOWLEGS along Santapogue Creek off Venetian Boulevard in West Babylon.

Single CASPIAN TERNS this week appeared in Northport Bay Saturday, Fire Island Sunday, Sagg Pond Tuesday and at Robert Moses State Park today, when 21 ROYAL TERNS were counted at Brooklyn’s Plumb Beach.

A LEAST BITTERN and a SORA were both noted at Arshamomaque Preserve in
Greenport West Thursday, and a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER flew by Robert Moses State Park Wednesday.

A LAPLAND LONGSPUR has been lingering around the top of the Croton Point landfill in company with many AMERICAN PIPITS and PALM WARBLERS since Wednesday.

In Central Park a LARK SPARROW stayed in the north end last weekend, and a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was seen again there Tuesday, when another LARK SPARROW was found at West Brook Pond out in Great River. A VESPER SPARROW was noted at Montauk’s Camp Hero today, and NELSON’S SPARROWS have begun to appear.

Among the several CONNECTICUT WARBLERS fortuitously found this week were singles in many of the city parks and other regularly birded venues, this now the peak period for them, whereas it’s early for ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, with one present at Theodore Roosevelt County Park in Montauk Wednesday and Thursday. A GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER visited Central Park Tuesday, and other WARBLERS this week included a few MOURNINGS, about thirty species reported overall.

DICKCISSELS included two at Captree Wednesday and two more at Montauk’s Roosevelt Park Thursday among others, and single BLUE GROSBEAKS visited Central Park’s north end Saturday and Camp Hero today.

PINE SISKINS have been scattered throughout our area in small numbers recently, and other migrants have included several PHILADELPHIA VIREOS and PURPLE FINCHES as well as various FLYCATCHERS, including OLIVE-SIDED and YELLOW-BELLIED.

To phone in reports call Tom Burke at (914) 967-4922.

This service is sponsored by the Linnaean Society of New York and the National Audubon Society. Thank you for calling.

– End transcript

– RBA
* New York
* New York City, Long Island, Westchester County
* Sep. 18, 2020
* NYNY2009.18

– Birds mentioned
BAIRD’S SANDPIPER+
(+ Details requested by NYSARC)

Caspian Tern
EURASIAN WIGEON
Blue-winged Teal
Northern Shoveler
Sora
RED PHALAROPE
WILSON’S PHALAROPE
Long-billed Dowitcher
MARBLED GODWIT
Whimbrel
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Black-billed Cuckoo
Red-headed Woodpecker
Whip-poor-will
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD
Purple Finch
LARK SPARROW
White-throated Sparrow
CLAY-COLORED SPARROW
Lincoln’s Sparrow
BLUE GROSBEAK
Philadelphia Vireo
Worm-eating Warbler
GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER
CONNECTICUT WARBLER
Mourning Warbler
Hooded Warbler

– Transcript

If followed by (+) please submit documentation of your report electronically and use the NYSARC online submission form found at https://www.nybirds.org/NYSARC/…

You can also send reports and digital image files via email to nysarc44 (at)nybirds{dot}org.

If electronic submission is not possible, hardcopy reports and photos or sketches are welcome. Hardcopy documentation should be mailed to:

Gary Chapin – Secretary
NYS Avian Records Committee (NYSARC)
125 Pine Springs Drive
Ticonderoga, NY 12883

Hotline: New York City Area Rare Bird Alert
Number: (212) 979-3070

Compiler: Tom Burke
Coverage: New York City, Long Island, Westchester County

Transcriber: Ben Cacace

BEGIN TAPE

Greetings. This is the New York Rare Bird Alert for Friday, September 18th 2020 at 10pm. The highlights of today’s tape are RED PHALAROPE, YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD, EURASIAN WIGEON, MARBLED GODWIT, WILSON’S PHALAROPE, LARK SPARROW, CLAY-COLORED SPARROW, GOLDEN-WINGED, CONNECTICUT and other warblers, BLUE GROSBEAK and more.

Last Saturday a RED PHALAROPE was found feeding in the East River at Stuyvesant Cove Park around 20th Street in lower Manhattan where enjoyed by many before it moved on overnight.

Even more accommodating has been an adult male YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD in fresh fall plumage but with ragged wings and tail that has stayed put for the most part since being spotted Wednesday along the east shore of Meadow Lake at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens. Still present this afternoon the blackbird is usually seen feeding along an open stretch of shoreline about one to two hundred yards south of the boathouse just before a long dense stretch of phragmites. The parking lot by the boathouse is easily accessed from the park exit off the southbound Van Wyck Expressway.

A EURASIAN WIGEON in eclipse plumage has been frequenting the south end of the East Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge at least since Monday usually with a few American Wigeon. Currently now better suited for waterfowl than shorebirds the number of ducks there is impressive with good numbers especially of BLUE-WINGED and GREEN-WINGED TEAL and NORTHERN SHOVELERS. The shorebirds have been mostly peeps and both yellowlegs highlights including a WILSON’S PHALAROPE at the south end last Saturday, a MARBLED GODWIT on Wednesday and a BAIRD’S SANDPIPER photographed at the south end today. A WHIMBREL was noted from the West Pond last Saturday while other East Pond highlights have featured SORA and CASPIAN TERN. Another BAIRD’S SANDPIPER was spotted at Montauk Point last Saturday and 4 – 5 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS have been noted at Santapogue Creek off Venetian Boulevard in West Babylon during the week. Other CASPIAN TERNS this week included one at Shirley Chisholm State Park, two at Mecox, one at Sagg Pond and one at Orient Point.

An EASTERN WHIP-POOR-WILL visited Central Park’s Ramble Saturday. A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER appeared at Marshlands Conservancy in Rye last Sunday and 4 continue along the Paumanok Trail by Jones Pond in Manorville. One or two CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS and a LARK SPARROW were present in Central Park’s north end at the composting area late in the week with one of each there today. Another LARK SPARROW was at Jones Beach West End last Monday.

At least 6 CONNECTICUT WARBLERS were reported this week including one at night at the 9/11 Tribute in Light in lower Manhattan with other locations including Central, Bryant and Prospect Parks and Green-wood Cemetery in Brooklyn. A GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER found at Muttontown Preserve last Sunday was followed by another in Green-wood Cemetery yesterday.

A BLUE GROSBEAK was still at the Suffolk County Farm and Education Center Wednesday.

Other migrants this week included both YELLOW-BILLED and BLACK-BILLED CUCKOOS, several PHILADELPHIA VIREOS, PURPLE FINCH, LINCOLN’S and WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS and roughly 30 species of warblers including WORM-EATING, MOURNING and HOODED WARBLER.

To phone in reports call Tom Burke at (914) 967-4922.

This service is sponsored by the Linnaean Society of New York and the National Audubon Society. Thank you for calling.

– End transcript

– RBA
* New York
* New York City, Long Island, Westchester County
* Sep. 11, 2020
* NYNY2009.11

– Birds mentioned
BAIRD’S SANDPIPER+
(+ Details requested by NYSARC)

CASPIAN TERN
Royal Tern
LEAST BITTERN
SORA
WILSON’S PHALAROPE
Long-billed Dowitcher
Stilt Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper
White-rumped Sandpiper
Western Sandpiper
MARBLED GODWIT
BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER
WHIMBREL
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Black-billed Cuckoo
Red-headed Woodpecker
WESTERN KINGBIRD
Olive-sided Flycatcher
PINE SISKIN
LARK SPARROW
BLUE GROSBEAK
DICKCISSEL
Philadelphia Vireo
Golden-winged Warbler
Cape May Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Palm Warbler
KENTUCKY WARBLER
Mourning Warbler
Hooded Warbler

– Transcript

If followed by (+) please submit documentation of your report electronically and use the NYSARC online submission form found at https://www.nybirds.org/NYSARC/goodreport.htm

You can also send reports and digital image files via email to nysarc44 (at)nybirds{dot}org.

If electronic submission is not possible, hardcopy reports and photos or sketches are welcome. Hardcopy documentation should be mailed to:

       Gary Chapin – Secretary
       NYS Avian Records Committee (NYSARC)
       125 Pine Springs Drive
       Ticonderoga, NY 12883

Hotline: New York City Area Rare Bird Alert
Number: (212) 979-3070

Compiler: Tom Burke
Coverage: New York City, Long Island, Westchester County

Transcriber: Ben Cacace

BEGIN TAPE

Greetings. This is the New York Rare Bird Alert for Friday, September 11th 2020 at 10pm. The highlights of today’s tape are WESTERN KINGBIRD, WILSON’S PHALAROPE, MARBLED GODWIT, BUFF-BREASTED and BAIRD’S SANDPIPER, WHIMBREL and other shorebirds, LEAST BITTERN, SORA, CASPIAN TERN, LARK SPARROW, PINE SISKIN, KENTUCKY and other warblers, BLUE GROSBEAK, DICKCISSEL and more.

A moderate week for migration did feature a WESTERN KINGBIRD appearing briefly Tuesday morning at Dix Hills Park in Dix Hills before flying off.

A good variety of shorebirds included a WILSON’S PHALAROPE out at Sagg Pond in Bridgehampton Saturday followed by another spotted at the very wet north end of the East Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge on Monday. A MARBLED GODWIT was featured on the video cam at Oceanside Marine Nature Study Area as it visited the channels there from Wednesday through today. Single BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS were found at Croton Point Park in Westchester Wednesday and at Timber Point Golf Course in Great River Thursday while single BAIRD’S SANDPIPERS this week were noted at Jamaica Bay Monday, at Mecox Monday through Thursday and at Heckscher State Park Wednesday. A WHIMBREL visited Timber Point yesterday and a couple of calling LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS flew around the traditional site at Santapogue Creek in West Babylon last Monday. Other shorebirds seen at multiple locations this week included STILT, WHITE-RUMPED, WESTERN and PECTORAL SANDPIPERS with 17 of the latter counted at Timber Point Thursday.

At Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Monday both the LEAST BITTERN and the SORA appeared around the East Pond while on Tuesday another LEAST BITTERN was spotted at Arshamomaque Preserve in Greenport on the north fork and much more unexpectedly a SORA appeared in Bryant Park in central Manhattan.

During the week single CASPIAN TERNS occurred at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge and at Timber Point as well as farther east at Mecox Bay and Sagg Pond while a high count of ROYAL TERNS reached 64 at Timber Point Thursday.

Two RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS were still along the Paumanok Trail near Jones Pond on Wednesday this off Schultz Road in Manorville.

Both YELLOW-BILLED and BLACK-BILLED CUCKOOS were seen during the week as were a few OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHERS and various species of empidonax flycatchers.

Still sparse, single PHILADELPHIA VIREOS were noted Saturday in Prospect Park and at the Quogue Wildlife Refuge. Three LARK SPARROWS this week featured singles at Floyd Bennett Field Tuesday, Jones Beach West End by the Coast Guard Station Wednesday and Thursday and Stony Brook Thursday. A PINE SISKIN was spotted at Teatown Reservation in central Westchester Monday.

A KENTUCKY WARBLER was a surprise at Fort Tilden last Saturday and among other warblers noted this week were GOLDEN-WINGED, MOURNING, HOODED, CAPE MAY, BAY-BREASTED and PALM.

A BLUE GROSBEAK was found at Robert Moses State Park Monday and a DICKCISSEL has been visiting the north end of Central Park since Wednesday.

To phone in reports call Tom Burke at (914) 967-4922.

This service is sponsored by the Linnaean Society of New York and the National Audubon Society. Thank you for calling.

– End transcript

-RBA
* New York
* New York City, Long Island, Westchester County
* Sept. 04, 2020
* NYNY2009.04

– Birds Mentioned
WILSON’S PLOVER+
BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER+
(+ Details requested by NYSARC)

HUDSONIAN GODWIT
Stilt Sandpiper
BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER
BAIRD’S SANDPIPER
Pectoral Sandpiper
Western Sandpiper
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE
Caspian Tern
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Black-billed Cuckoo
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Purple Martin
Cliff Swallow
SEDGE WREN
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Purple Finch
LARK SPARROW
GRASSHOPPER SPARROW
Yellow-breasted Chat
Worm-eating Warbler
GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER
PROTHONOTARY WARBLER
Tennessee Warbler
Mourning Warbler
Hooded Warbler
Cape May Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
BLUE GROSBEAK
DICKCISSEL

Brown Booby (extralimital)
American White Pelican (extralimital)

If followed by (+) please submit documentation of your report electronically and use the NYSARC online submission form found at https://www.nybirds.org/NYSARC/goodreport.htm

You can also send reports and digital image files via email to nysarc44<at>nybirds<dot>org

If electronic submission is not possible, hardcopy reports and photos or sketches are welcome. Hardcopy documentation should be mailed to:

Gary Chapin – Secretary
NYS Avian Records Committee (NYSARC)
125 Pine Springs Drive
Ticonderoga, NY 12883

Hotline: New York City Area Rare Bird Alert
Number: (212) 979-3070

Compiler: Tom Burke
Coverage: New York City, Long Island, Westchester County

Transcriber: Gail Benson

[~BEGIN RBA TAPE~]

Greetings! This is the New York Rare Bird Alert for Friday, September 4, 2020 at 8:00 pm.

The highlights of today’s tape are BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER, WILSON’S PLOVER, RED-NECKED PHALAROPE, HUDSONIAN GODWIT, BUFF-BREASTED and BAIRD’S SANDPIPERS, SEDGE WREN, PROTHONOTARY and GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLERS, LARK and GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS, BLUE GROSBEAK, DICKCISSEL and more.

Just in, an adult BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER was found this afternoon at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. The bird was seen around the junipers along the West Pond trail near the bat house.

A nice variety of shorebirds this week featured two special finds on the flats at Sagg Pond in Bridgehampton – first a RED-NECKED PHALAROPE early last Saturday, followed by a WILSON’S PLOVER spotted early Sunday morning. A BAIRD’S SANDPIPER was also there Sunday. Then today six HUDSONIAN GODWITS dropped in on the flats at Mecox Bay.

Also out on eastern Long Island four BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS plus a BAIRD’s SANDPIPER were noted Monday along Oregon Road between Depot Lane and Alvah’s Lane in Cutchogue, while two BUFF-BREASTEDS and a BAIRD’S appeared Tuesday off Doctor’s Path north of Riverhead. Another BAIRD’S SANDPIPER visited Robert Moses State Park yesterday. Regional mud flats have also lately been producing PECTORAL, WESTERN and STILT SANDPIPERS among a decent assortment of shorebirds.

Single CASPIAN TERNS appeared at Coney Island Creek last Sunday and Mecox today.

A follow-up visit Monday to the currently restricted landfill at Freshkills Park on Staten Island located two nesting pairs of SEDGE WRENS.

Interesting among a good variety of WARBLERS this week were a PROTHONOTARY on Fisher’s Island today and four reports of GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER, including from Central Park Monday, Greenwood Cemetery in Brooklyn Wednesday, at Floyd Bennett Field yesterday and by Flax Pond in Old Field today – photo analysis of a couple of these might indicate signs of hybridization. Other WARBLERS this week included WORM-EATING, TENNESSEE, CAPE MAY, BAY-BREASTED, HOODED and three or more MOURNING, while a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT was reported from Central Park Saturday.

Four LARK SPARROWS this week featured one at Jones Beach West End last weekend, one in the southwestern section of Flushing Meadow Park from Sunday on, and singles Thursday at Fort Tilden and Robert Moses State Park.

A GRASSHOPPER SPARROW was found at Canarsie Beach Park Monday.

Two BLUE GROSBEAKS were spotted last Sunday at Shirley Chisholm State Park, joined there by two DICKCISSELS. Other BLUE GROSBEAKS included one at Robert Moses State Park Thursday and two at the Suffolk County Farm and Education Center in Yaphank Thursday and today. DICKCISSELS had a good week, with up to four noted at Robert Moses State Park, often during early morning flights, and one at Sunken Meadow State Park yesterday.

Also notable among the migrants this week have been both YELLOW-BILLED and BLACK-BILLED CUCKOOS, OLIVE-SIDED and various other FLYCATCHERS, CLIFF SWALLOW, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, a few PURPLE FINCHES, and a nice gathering last Saturday of around 275 PURPLE MARTINS at Floyd Bennett Field.

And north of us, both the BROWN BOOBY and the AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN were still up on Ashokan Reservoir in Ulster County today.

To phone in reports call Tom Burke at (914) 967-4922.

This service is sponsored by the Linnaean Society of New York and the National Audubon Society. Thank you for calling.

– End transcript