Category: Rare Bird Alerts

-RBA
* New York
* New York City, Long Island, Westchester County
* July 10, 2020
* NYNY2007.10

BROWN BOOBY+
SOUTH POLAR SKUA+
(+ Details requested by NYSARC)

Wilson’s Storm-Petrel
Great Shearwater
BROWN PELICAN
LEAST BITTERN
Osprey
Solitary Sandpiper
WHIMBREL
Lesser Black-backed Gull
GULL-BILLED TERN
Royal Tern
RED-HEADED WOODPECKER
YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER
BLUE GROSBEAK

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, July 10, 2020 at 8:00 pm.

The highlights of today’s tape are SOUTH POLAR SKUA, BROWN BOOBY, BROWN PELICAN, WHIMBREL, LEAST BITTERN, GULL-BILLED TERN, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER and BLUE GROSBEAK.

Coastal sea watching this week certainly has paid dividends so far, with other possible surprises perhaps accompanying this currenttropical storm.

Out at Robert Moses State Park this morning a bird moving east off Field 2 was identified as a dark form SOUTH POLAR SKUA, the bird actually attacking a fish-carrying OSPREY as it flew by not too far offshore. The several land-based observations of this species in New York have all occurred during this general summer time period. Twenty-one GREAT SHEARWATERS and a WILSON’S STORM-PETREL were also noted off Moses today, and forty-two LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were counted there today as well.

At Moses Park off Field 2 last Saturday morning sea watchers were rewarded with an immature BROWN BOOBY flying leisurely to the east. Then on Sunday a group of six BROWN PELICANS cruised by Breezy Point, with likely four of these making up the birds appearing at Jones Beach State Park Field 6 over an hour later.

We want to also mention that a possible BRONZED COWBIRD spotted at Nickerson Beach last Friday was looked for over the weekend but unfortunately could not be relocated.

Though the first wave of adult shorebirds has been moving through the northeast recently, with some excellent rarities showing up in Rhode Island, our highlights have only included a WHIMBREL moving east over Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Tuesday morning and an early SOLITARY SANDPIPER on Staten Island Monday, these joining only moderate numbers of expected species. Sadly, the East Pond at Jamaica Bay Refuge is nowhere near the appropriate water level to accommodate shorebirds and
birders, so please call the Bay to prompt them to get the outflow fixed and address the pond’s continuing problems. A LEAST BITTERN was still at Big John’s Pond in the Jamaica Bay Refuge last Saturday.

A GULL-BILLED TERN was spotted at Great Kills Park on Staten Island on Wednesday, and among some ROYAL TERNS were six at Jacob Riis Park Monday.

Continuing have been two RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS near Jones Pond along the Paumanok Trail off Schultz Road in Manorville and another at Rockefeller State Park Preserve in central Westchester.

A YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER remains at the Bayard Cutting Arboretum in Great River, and a BLUE GROSBEAK was a surprise find last Sunday at the St. Charles Cemetery in Farmingdale.

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
* July 3, 2020
* NYNY2007.03

– Birds Mentioned

PURPLE GALLINULE+
SANDWICH TERN+
WHITE-FACED IBIS+
MISSISSIPPI KITE+
(+ Details requested by NYSARC)

CASPIAN TERN
Roseate Tern
Royal Tern
BROWN PELICAN
LEAST BITTERN
Acadian Flycatcher
Blackpoll Warbler

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, July 3, 2020 at 9:00 pm.

The highlights of today’s tape are PURPLE GALLINULE, SANDWICH TERN, MISSISSIPPI KITE, WHITE-FACED IBIS, BROWN PELICAN, LEAST BITTERN, CASPIAN TERN and more.

The PURPLE GALLINULE found last week and, when deemed to be healthy, then released at Twin Lakes Preserve in East Wantagh, continued to frequent the southwestern section of the lower lake through Monday but has not been reported there since. If it had sought refuge in the very dense sections of the lake, however, it could easily escape detection there but still be around.

Two sightings of SANDWICH TERN this week involved an adult flying by the Breezy Point tip Sunday, followed by perhaps even the same bird visiting the Cupsogue County Park mud flats briefly on Monday morning.

Two reports of MISSISSIPPI KITE this week involved an adult over Charles Memorial Park in Queens from last Sunday, this in the Hamilton Beach section, and then on Thursday one near Oakland Lake in Alley Pond Park in Queens.

An adult WHITE-FACED IBIS, now molting its white facial feathering, was spotted twice this week at the Captree Island marsh on Tuesday and today, and another was reported Wednesday from the Lido Beach Passive Nature Area.

Two BROWN PELICANS flew by Cupsogue County Park Tuesday morning, and another was reported from lower New York Bay this morning.

A LEAST BITTERN was still visiting Big John’s Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge today, and up to three have been noted this week at the Arshamomaque Preserve in Greenport West on the North Fork.

A CASPIAN TERN visited Calvert Vaux Park in Brooklyn Sunday, four ROSEATE TERNS were at Breezy Point Wednesday, and ROYAL TERNS continue to arrive along the Atlantic shore.

An ACADIAN FLYCATCHER was still singing in Prospect Park on Wednesday.

This is a good time to watch for floaters, generally birds not currently expected here but perhaps now on the move due to disrupted or failed breeding attempts; an example would be the BLACKPOLL WARBLER
singing at Hillview Reservoir in Yonkers on Wednesday.

And while looking for out-of-place birds, watch for the Terek Sandpiper last seen on the flats at Napatree Point in Rhode Island last Tuesday.

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
* Jun. 26, 2020
* NYNY2006.26

– Birds mentioned
BROWN PELICAN+
WHITE-FACED IBIS+
PURPLE GALLINULE+
(+ Details requested by NYSARC)

Gull-billed Tern
Royal Tern
Roseate Tern
BLACK TERN
Cory’s Shearwater
LEAST BITTERN
Tricolored Heron
AMERICAN AVOCET
WHIMBREL
Northern Bobwhite
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Black-billed Cuckoo
Red-headed Woodpecker
BLUE GROSBEAK
YELLOW-THROATED 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, June 26th 2020 at 9pm. The highlights of today’s tape are PURPLE GALLINULE, WHITE-FACED IBIS, BROWN PELICAN, AMERICAN AVOCET, WHIMBREL, LEAST BITTERN, BLACK TERN, YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER, BLUE GROSBEAK and more.

Some interesting birds this week certainly include the adult PURPLE GALLINULE found earlier in the week apparently on Long Beach Island deemed to be in good health and released Tuesday at Twin Lakes Preserve in East Wantagh. The GALLINULE has since then been frequenting the lower western side of a densely vegetated lower lake seen from a path that begins off Park Avenue and goes north parallel to Old Mill Road. The bird has been showing a tendency to remain close to the lake’s western shore and thus often visible from the path. But were it to venture out into the denser vegetation it could become more difficult to locate. Interestingly another adult had also appeared early this month out in a private community on eastern Long Island.

The adult WHITE-FACED IBIS was reported again last Saturday at the Captree Island marsh where herons this week have also featured irregular visits by a TRICOLORED HERON.

Three BROWN PELICANS, one photographed, appeared this morning off field 2 at Robert Moses State Park this following another report from yesterday of 14 off Cupsogue County Park in West Hampton Dunes. A seawatch off Moses field 2 Thursday afternoon was slow but did feature single CORY’S and GREAT SHEARWATERS.

A nice find was an adult AMERICAN AVOCET seen briefly last Saturday morning as it paid a quick visit to the Timber Point Golf Course Marina. Two WHIMBREL flew by Breezy Point last Sunday with one also seen at nearby Jacob Riis Park. Also noted that day at Breezy Point were one BLACK and 4 ROSEATE TERNS and one BLACK-BILLED plus 2 YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOOS. ROYAL TERN numbers increasing this week included 8 at mid Fire Island Tuesday and 6 at Sagg Pond in Bridgehampton Thursday. At least one LEAST BITTERN was still frequenting Big John’s Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge on Thursday, the bay also hosting a GULL-BILLED TERN last weekend.

A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER has been visiting the Rockefeller State Park Preserve in central Westchester recently.

A recent spike in NORTHERN BOBWHITE sightings indicates further reintroduction attempts on Long Island and hopefully a few will take hold.

Continuing this week are the YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER at the Bayard Cutting Arboretum in Great River and the BLUE GROSBEAKS around the Calverton Grasslands these among the many local species that should not be disturbed in any way during nesting season,

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
* Jun. 19, 2020
* NYNY2006.19

– Birds mentioned
WHITE-FACED IBIS+
(+ Details requested by NYSARC)

Horned Grebe
Parasitic Jaeger
GULL-BILLED TERN
Royal Tern
Roseate Tern
Cory’s Shearwater
MANX SHEARWATER
Sooty Shearwater
Wilson’s Storm-Petrel
Hooded Merganser
Common Goldeneye
Bufflehead
Long-tailed Duck
LEAST BITTERN
Dunlin
Ruddy Turnstone
Red-shouldered Hawk
Bald Eagle
Barred Owl
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Black-billed Cuckoo
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
RED-HEADED WOODPECKER
Acadian Flycatcher
Least Flycatcher
BLUE GROSBEAK
Bank Swallow
Blue-headed Vireo
White-eyed Vireo
Blackpoll Warbler
YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER
Red-breasted Nuthatch

– 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, June 19th 2020 at 10pm. The highlights of today’s tape are WHITE-FACED IBIS, LEAST BITTERN, GULL-BILLED TERN, MANX SHEARWATER and other pelagics from shore, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER, BLUE GROSBEAK and more.

Still traveling around locally with some Glossy Ibis an adult WHITE-FACED IBIS was spotted yesterday in the marshes on the north side of Captree Island and reported there again today. The birds, depending on the tide, also often move east to marshes north of Captree State Park.

A pair of LEAST BITTERNS have recently been visiting Big John’s Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge and can sometimes be seen from the blind there. Quiet observation usually produces the best results. A GULL-BILLED TERN was also seen over the West Pond at the bay on Tuesday. A couple of GULL-BILLEDS should also continue around Nickerson Beach but entry there for non-Nassau County residents is a major issue.

Seawatching from the south shore of Long Island has not been overly dynamic recently especially with a heavy fog occurring lately but two mornings off Robert Moses State Park this week did produce some positive results. Watching from field 2 on Wednesday observers spotted one MANX, one SOOTY and 4 CORY’S SHEARWATERS and 6 WILSON’S STORM-PETRELS while Thursday contributed single MANX, SOOTY and CORY’S SHEARWATERS, 9 WILSON’S STORM-PETRELS and a PARASITIC JAEGER visiting twice to chase terns which included a ROSEATE TERN among them. A good number of Bottlenose Dolphins and a Humpback Whale were also offshore.

The season’s first ROYAL TERN was reported from Fort Tilden last Saturday.

Two RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS remain along the Paumanok Trail near Jones Pond which is off Schultz Road in Manorville with two noted in Hampton Bays Sunday were at a new location.

ACADIAN FLYCATCHERS were noted in Brooklyn last Saturday both in Prospect Park and at Floyd Bennett Field the latter also producing a late BLACKPOLL WARBLER today. A small recent movement of RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES lately is interesting. The YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER was still singing at the Bayard Cutting Arboretum in Great River today. BLUE GROSBEAKS continue around the Calverton Grasslands area. Their breeding success in direct proportion to the lack of disturbance they encounter there.

The Greenwich-Stamford Summer Bird Count including much of eastern Westchester County last weekend recorded 131 species. Interesting species included HORNED GREBES, such waterfowl as LONG-TAILED DUCK, BUFFLEHEAD, COMMON GOLDENEYE and a family of HOODED MERGANSERS and decent numbers of nesting BALD EAGLES and RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS. Among the shorebirds were RUDDY TURNSTONE and DUNLIN. The cuckoos included some YELLOW-BILLED and only 1 BLACK-BILLED. Good numbers of BARRED OWLS and explosive numbers of YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS were recorded but just single ACADIAN and LEAST FLYCATCHERS were found. Other highlights were WHITE-EYED and BLUE-HEADED VIREOS, BANK SWALLOW and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH. Twelve species of warblers were recorded but missed were several species regular in the past continuing an unfortunate trend.

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
* June 12, 2020
* NYNY2006.12

– Birds Mentioned

MISSISSIPPI KITE+
SANDWICH TERN+
(+ Details requested by NYSARC)

Brant
Blue-winged Teal
Hooded Merganser
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Eastern Whip-poor-will
Willet
Red Knot
Stilt Sandpiper
White-rumped Sandpiper
Short-billed Dowitcher
Lesser Black-backed Gull
GULL-BILLED TERN
Roseate Tern
Cory’s Shearwater
Sooty Shearwater
Tricolored Heron
Red-headed Woodpecker
Acadian Flycatcher
Horned Lark
Cliff Swallow
Grasshopper Sparrow
Eastern Meadowlark
Ovenbird
Tennessee Warbler
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER
SUMMER TANAGER
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, June 12,
2020 at 9:00 pm.

The highlights of today’s tape are MISSISSIPPI KITE, SANDWICH TERN, GULL-BILLED TERN, YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER, SUMMER TANAGER, BLUE GROSBEAK, DICKCISSEL and more.

Following last week’s 2 sightings, 3 more MISSISSIPPI KITE observations occurred this week – one moving over the Bay Ridgesection of Brooklyn last Saturday afternoon, heading west towards Staten Island, was perhaps even the same bird reported Sunday morning over Mount Loretto, and then on Tuesday evening an immature was photographed as it headed in a northerly direction over the Bylane Farm in Katonah, northern Westchester. As a note, next year should hopefully include a regional 17-year Cicada outbreak and maybe many more Kites locally.

Out at Cupsogue County Park in Westhampton Dunes, visits on Wednesday and Thursday mornings provided a decent variety of shorebirds, including a “WESTERN” WILLET in breeding plumage, a WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER and some RED KNOTS and SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS, plus on Thursday a short visit by a SANDWICH TERN. As a note, Cupsogue, like many south shore beaches, is currently on a county residents only admission policy.

Other notable shorebirds for the week featured a STILT SANDPIPER at Heckscher State Park Wednesday and Thursday and 3 WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS at Brooklyn’s Plumb Beach on Monday.

The Captree Summer Bird Count last Saturday recorded 122 species including first records of BRANT and BLUE-WINGED TEAL, plus HOODED MERGANSER, 5 YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOOS, EASTERN WHIP-POOR-WILL, 66 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS, GULL-BILLED and ROSEATE TERNS, SOOTY SHEARWATER, TRICOLORED HERON , and, among the passerines, ACADIAN FLYCATCHER at Heckscher, HORNED LARK, GRASSHOPPER SPARROW, EASTERN MEADOWLARK, and a YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER continuing at the Bayard Cutting Arboretum in Great River.

Three CORY’S SHEARWATERS were spotted off Riis Park Wednesday.

RED-HEADED WOODPECKER continues near Jones Pond along the Paumanok Trail off Schultz Road in Manorville.

Later moving ACADIAN FLYCATCHERS were noted in Central and Forest Parks this week, and CLIFF SWALLOWS are nesting in Alley Pond Park along Alley Creek.

Among the later WARBLERS noted this week were OVENBIRD, TENNESSEE, NORTHERN PARULA, MAGNOLIA, BLACKBURNIAN, CHESTNUT-SIDED and BLACKPOLL.

A SUMMER TANAGER was found Tuesday at the Uplands Farm Preserve in Cold Spring Harbor.

BLUE GROSBEAKS in the Calverton grasslands area should not at all be
disturbed as they continue their nesting activities.

A DICKCISSEL made a surprise appearance last Saturday in Somers, Westchester County, but could not be subsequently relocated.

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
* June 5, 2020
* NYNY2006.05

– Birds Mentioned

MISSISSIPPI KITE+
ATLANTIC PUFFIN+
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD+
(+ Details requested by NYSARC)

CHUCK-WILL’S-WIDOW
RED PHALAROPE
POMARINE JAEGER
DOVEKIE
ICELAND GULL
Wilson’s Storm-Petrel
Leach’s Storm-Petrel
Cory’s Shearwater
Sooty Shearwater
Great Shearwater
BROWN PELICAN
Red-headed Woodpecker
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
Acadian Flycatcher
Alder Flycatcher
Nelson’s Sparrow
Lincoln’s Sparrow
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT
Mourning Warbler
Cape May Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Canada Warbler
Wilson’s Warbler
SUMMER TANAGER
BLUE GROSBEAK

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, June 5, 2020 at 10:00 pm.

The highlights of today’s tape are MISSISSIPPI KITE, BROWN PELICAN, YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD, POMARINE JAEGER, CHUCK-WILL’S-WIDOW, ICELAND GULL, YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, SUMMER TANAGER, BLUE GROSEAK, a belated pelagic trip report including RED PHALAROPE, DOVEKIE and ATLANTIC PUFFIN, and more.

An immature MISSISSIPPI KITE was a fortunate sighting Sunday morning in Central Park, nicely photographed as it briefly flew over the Ramble, headed east. Another was subsequently spotted Monday morning over the Sterling Forest visitor’s center in Orange County.

This morning a sea watch off Robert Moses State Park Field 2 produced 3 BROWN PELICANS slowly making their way east, and a little later 2 were seen off Field 5, where they shortly continued further east. Otherwise, sea watching lately has only produced a few SOOTY SHEARWATERS and WILSON’S STORM-PETRELS.

Very interesting, though, was a belated report from a private fishing boat back on May 27, well south of Shinnecock inlet, that encountered 2 RED PHALAROPES, 1 DOVEKIE, 1 ATLANTIC PUFFIN, with possibly more present but disappearing quickly, 1 CORY’S, 2 GREAT and 19 SOOTY SHEARWATERS, and 2 LEACH’S and 6 WILSON’S STORM-PETRELS.

A female YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD was a nice find on Wednesday at the Sayville Maritime Museum in West Sayville.

An adult POMARINE JAEGER was loafing on the beach near the eastern Tern colony at Nickerson Beach last Saturday but did not remain overnight.

Another surprise was a CHUCK-WILL’S-WIDOW recorded as it sang near the Rye shore last Saturday night only.

An ICELAND GULL was noted again last Sunday at Brooklyn’s Plumb Beach, and a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was still around the Paumanok Trail off Schultz Road in Manorville yesterday.

Landbird migration, coming quickly to an end, is still providing a few highlights. A YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT was still singing Tuesday at the Muttontown Preserve, where other migrants that day also included ALDER FLYCATCHER and MOURNING WARBLER.

Other FLYCATCHERS during this week also featured YELLOW-BELLIED, ACADIAN and OLIVE-SIDED, while the WARBLERS, mostly gone now, did include some MOURNINGS, with birds at Central Park and such Brooklyn locations as Prospect Park, Greenwood Cemetery and Brooklyn Bridge Park. Other WARBLERS lingering here featured a few CAPE MAY, BAY-BREASTED and BLACKBURNIAN as well as other later species like MAGNOLIA, WILSON’S, CANADA and BLACKPOLL, plus some other latemigrants.

A LINCOLN’S SPARROW was still in Bryant Park in Manhattan last Sunday, and a NELSON’S SPARROW was photographed Monday at the Marine Park Salt Marsh Nature Center in Brooklyn.

SUMMER TANAGERS in the NYC area included reports from Central Park to Sunday, at Greenwood Cemetery Tuesday and Wednesday, and at Brooklyn’s Owl’s Head Park yesterday.

With BLUE GROSBEAKS nesting in the Calverton grasslands area and breeding season in general now in full swing, we can only again point out how crucial this period is to our nesting birds, so please do nothing to disturb their current activities.

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
* May. 29, 2020
* NYNY2005.29

– Birds mentioned
ARCTIC TERN+
BROWN BOOBY+
SWAINSON’S WARBLER+
(+ Details requested by NYSARC)

PARASITIC JAEGER
ICELAND GULL
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Caspian Tern
CORY’S SHEARWATER
Sooty Shearwater
Wilson’s Storm-Petrel
Northern Gannet
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE
MARBLED GODWIT
Acadian Flycatcher
Alder Flycatcher
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD
BLUE GROSBEAK
SUMMER TANAGER
PHILADELPHIA VIREO
PROTHONOTARY WARBLER
YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER
Mourning Warbler
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT

– 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, May 29th 2020 at 10pm. The highlights of today’s tape are SWAINSON’S WARBLER, BROWN BOOBY, YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD, MARBLED GODWIT, RED-NECKED PHALAROPE, ICELAND GULL, ARCTIC TERN, CORY’S SHEARWATER, PARASITIC JAEGER, YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, PROTHONOTARY WARBLER, YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER, PHILADELPHIA VIREO, SUMMER TANAGER, BLUE GROSBEAK and much more.

Some exciting birds at the end of a mixed period of migration included a SWAINSON’S WARBLER seen briefly but well at Muttontown Preserve in Nassau’s East Norwich on Tuesday. The bird was seen from the trail north of the equestrian area parking lot off Route 106 but could not be relocated subsequently.

On Thursday a BROWN BOOBY was identified moving east off Robert Moses State Park during a seawatch. It should be noted that good numbers of NORTHERN GANNETS are now also moving by including about 300 estimated off Triton Lane along Dune Road last Monday with virtually all the GANNETS now immatures. The Triton Lane watch Monday also provided the season’s first shearwaters with 23 SOOTY and even 2 early CORY’S as well as 28 WILSON’S STORM-PETRELS and 4 PARASITIC JAEGERS. On Thursday SOOTY SHEARWATERS included 56 off Moses Park and fewer numbers off Dune Road sites while 4 PARASITIC JAEGERS cruised by Pike’s Beach east of Cupsogue County Park and 2 were noted from Moses. Interesting along Dune Road as well were the 24 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS gathered at Tiana Beach and 9 more at Pike’s Beach.

Last Sunday an ARCTIC TERN was found at Democrat Point at the western tip of Fire Island with a CASPIAN TERN at Mecox the same day. Single ICELAND GULLS were spotted Sunday at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge and Wednesday at Brooklyn’s Plumb Beach.

Shorebirds are now gathering in good numbers along south shore estuaries including at Cupsogue County Park and east along Dune Road. Highlights so far included a RED-NECKED PHALAROPE photographed Tuesday at Plumb Beach and a MARBLED GODWIT spotted today at Cupsogue.

Most unusual among the passerines was a young male YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD photographed today during its brief stay at Point O’Woods in central Fire Island.

Among the various but decreasing numbers of warblers this week were a PROTHONOTARY seen again Monday at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge in the North Garden and a YELLOW-THROATED still singing at the Bayard Cutting Arboretum in Great River last Saturday. Among the latest to move through several MOURNING WARBLERS were noted this week. The YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT continued in Central Park’s Ramble through last weekend and a few SUMMER TANAGERS remained in Central Park and elsewhere.

Some BLUE GROSBEAKS remain around the Calverton Grasslands but unfortunately they apparently have been aggressively pursued by various people some using tapes to extreme excess and this practice, especially with very sensitive nesting species, cannot be condoned. Enjoy these birds peacefully but do not harass them.

Among the later migrants are some ALDER and ACADIAN FLYCATCHERS and at least 3 PHILADELPHIA VIREOS this week and NELSON’S SPARROWS were noted as of Wednesday at Plumb Beach.

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
* May. 22, 2020
* NYNY2005.22

– Birds mentioned
ARCTIC TERN+
BICKNELL’S THRUSH+
(+ Details requested by NYSARC)

ICELAND GULL
GULL-BILLED TERN
CASPIAN TERN
Roseate Tern
KING EIDER
LEAST BITTERN
CATTLE EGRET
Virginia Rail
Red Knot
Red-headed Woodpecker
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
Acadian Flycatcher
Alder Flycatcher
Grasshopper Sparrow
BLUE GROSBEAK
DICKCISSEL
SUMMER TANAGER
PROTHONOTARY WARBLER
GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER
Cape May Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
KENTUCKY WARBLER
Mourning Warbler
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT
Gray-cheeked Thrush

– 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, May 22nd 2020 at 11pm. The highlights of today’s tape are ARCTIC TERN, GULL-BILLED TERN, CASPIAN TERN, LEAST BITTERN, CATTLE EGRET, KING EIDER, ICELAND GULL, YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, PROTHONOTARY WARBLER, KENTUCKY WARBLER, GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER and other warblers, SUMMER TANAGER, BLUE GROSBEAK and DICKCISSEL plus much more.

Odd weather continues and so does migration though not necessarily as hoped for.

The season’s first ARCTIC TERN sightings occurred this week both on eastern Long Island with one Tuesday on the Mecox flats and one Wednesday at Cupsogue County Park the latter now open only to Suffolk County residents. A GULL-BILLED TERN was reported off Robert Moses State Park last Saturday and a couple have been seen this week around the Common Tern and Black Skimmer colonies at Nickerson Beach which also provided a couple of ROSEATE TERNS today. A CASPIAN TERN visited the River Road marsh on Staten Island Saturday.

A LEAST BITTERN was a surprise visitor to the Upper Pool in Prospect Park Wednesday and Thursday and another was seen Thursday at the West Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge where the bay itself is now hosting a nice gathering of shorebirds including many RED KNOTS.

A flyby CATTLE EGRET off Robert Moses State Park Saturday was followed by one at Miller Field on Staten Island Tuesday.

For a little winter flavor a female KING EIDER was seen last Saturday at Orient Point with single ICELAND GULLS reported at Riis Park Wednesday, Plumb Beach Thursday and at Shinnecock Inlet today.

A VIRGINIA RAIL appeared at the Upper Pool in Prospect Park today and a pair of RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS has been present along the Paumanok Trail off Schultz Road in Manorville..

A reasonable week for passerines included a few SUMMER TANAGERS with 3 in Central Park last weekend and one lingering today as well as singles in Riverside and Forest Parks and one in Battery Park today. Several BLUE GROSBEAKS continue around the very productive grasslands surrounding the former Grumman airport in Calverton this area worthy of protection just for its colony of GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS alone.

In an early morning flight of migrants moving over Brooklyn’s Coney Island Creek Park last Saturday were 2 DICKCISSELS identified by their unique call usually associated with the Bronx.

In Central Park a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT continuing in the Ramble to Thursday was joined by one in the north end Thursday and today with another on Randall’s Island Wednesday. A PROTHONOTARY WARBLER visited Jamaica Bay Tuesday and Wednesday. A nice influx of KENTUCKY WARBLERS featured up to 3 in Central Park last weekend, one at Riverside Park Monday and one at Hunter’s Garden southwest of Riverhead late in the week. Other warbler highlights included a GOLDEN-WINGED in Central Park last Sunday, a few MOURNINGS and good numbers of CAPE MAY and BAY-BREASTED.

Other arrivals this week featured OLIVE-SIDED, ALDER, ACADIAN and YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHERS, more GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSHES and a BICKNELL’S THRUSH singing in Prospect Park last Saturday.

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
* May 15, 2020
* NYNY2005.15

– Birds Mentioned

WHITE-FACED IBIS+
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD+
(+ Details requested by NYSARC)

KING EIDER
HARLEQUIN DUCK
BROWN PELICAN
American Bittern
LEAST BITTERN
Glossy Ibis
Iceland Gull
Red-headed Woodpecker
Willow Flycatcher
SEDGE WREN
Gray-cheeked Thrush
PROTHONOTARY WARBLER
Orange-crowned Warbler
Mourning Warbler
KENTUCKY WARBLER
Hooded Warbler
Cape May Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER
Wilson’s Warbler
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT
LARK SPARROW
Grasshopper Sparrow
SUMMER TANAGER
BLUE GROSBEAK

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, May 15, 2020 at 11:00 pm.

The highlights of today’s tape are BROWN PELICAN, WHITE-FACED IBIS, SEDGE WREN, YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD, LARK SPARROW, KING EIDER, HARLEQUIN DUCK, LEAST BITTERN, PROTHONOTARY, YELLOW-THROATED and KENTUCKY WARBLERS, YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, BLUE GROSBEAK, SUMMER TANAGER and much more.

Despite a week dominated by strong northwest winds, rain and cold, with even some snow flurries thrown in, decent birding excitement fortunately did take place, with reasonable but not overwhelming numbers of migrants occurring in our region.

Quite unexpected was an immature BROWN PELICAN seen sitting on a rock off Orient Point last Thursday evening, flying off shortly thereafter.

Last Saturday an adult WHITE-FACED IBIS was found among a large gathering of GLOSSY IBIS in the Captree Island marshes, this followed by an adult WHITE-FACED seen again Thursday at Timber Point Golf Course.

The surprise passerine of the week was a SEDGE WREN found mid-day on Monday at Kissena Park in Queens and enjoyed for a few hours thereafter until the wren disappeared. Close behind this was an adult YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD photographed this morning at Breezy Point.

Also notable was an adult LARK SPARROW photographed today at
Brooklyn’s Red Hook Park, spotted at the southeast corner of the park
along Lower Court Street.

A LEAST BITTERN was a nice find today at the Marine Park Salt Marsh Nature Center in Brooklyn.

The female KING EIDER at Orient Point was last noted Sunday, and a drake HARLEQUIN DUCK was still at Smith Point County Park today.

Single ICELAND GULLS were still present last Saturday at Sheepshead Bay in Brooklyn and Robert Moses State Park and on Sunday at Mecox and Orient Point.

An AMERICAN BITTERN visited Central Park last Saturday, with another still along Dune Road Tuesday.

Multiple RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS were present in Central Park this week, including the long-staying individual in the north end, with another still at Connetquot River State Park today.

Among the well over 30 species of WARBLERS seen locally this week were a PROTHONOTARY in Central Park today and another today at Southard’s Pond Park and a YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER noted in Central Park Monday
and Wednesday. Thursday brought a KENTUCKY WARBLER to Central Park as well as to Greenwood Cemetery in Brooklyn, where nicely photographed.

Other WARBLER highlights featured an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER at Southard’s Pond Park Thursday, when a CERULEAN WARBLER was found at Hempstead Lake State Park, and a MOURNING WARBLER in Prospect Park today, as well as decent numbers this week of such WARBLERS as HOODED, CAPE MAY, BAY-BREASTED, BLACKBURNIAN, WILSON’S and the like. A
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT was present in Central Park at least to Wednesday.

A couple of BLUE GROSBEAKS visited Central Park this week, with another in Prospect Park yesterday and breeding individuals continuing out in Calverton.

Today a SUMMER TANAGER visited Hempstead Lake State Park and another briefly appeared at Sutton Place Park in mid-Manhattan.

A GRASSHOPPER SPARROW was photographed at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge on Wednesday, and among other arrivals here recently have been WILLOW FLYCATCHER and GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH.

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
* May 08, 2020
* NYNY2005.08

– Birds Mentioned

King Eider
Cattle Egret
Common Gallinule
AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER
CASPIAN TERN
Roseate Tern
Black-billed Cuckoo
Common Nighthawk
CHUCK-WILL’S WIDOW
Eastern Whip-poor-will
RED-HEADED WOODPECKER
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Least Flycatcher
Yellow-throated Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
CLAY-COLORED SPARROW
Vesper Sparrow
Grasshopper Sparrow
Lincoln’s Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT
Bobolink
GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER
PROTHONOTARY WARBLER
Tennessee Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
KENTUCKY WARBLER
Cape May Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER
Canada Warbler
Wilson’s Warbler
SUMMER TANAGER
BLUE GROSBEAK

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, May 8, 2020 at 10:00 pm.

The highlights of today’s tape are CHUCK-WILL’S WIDOW, AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER, CASPIAN TERN, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, PROTHONOTARY, YELLOW-THROATED, KENTUCKY and GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLERS, YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, BLUE GROSBEAK, SUMMER TANAGER, CLAY-COLORED SPARROW and spring migrants.

Despite the ongoing bizarre weather patterns, expected species do continue to arrive locally more or less on schedule.

Among the more unusual, a CHUCK-WILL’S-WIDOW was photographed last Saturday at Owl’s Head Park in Brooklyn. The week also produced a few EASTERN WHIP-POOR-WILLS, including one found in a mid-Manhattan post office Thursday, and a couple of COMMON NIGHTHAWKS flying over mid-Manhattan last Sunday evening.

An AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER was spotted Monday at Cupsogue County Park, where a ROSEATE TERN was seen today.

A CASPIAN TERN at Heckscher State Park last Saturday was followed by one off Lemon Creek Park on Staten Island Sunday.

Among other notable non-passerines, the female KING EIDER was still off Orient Point today, the North Fork CATTLE EGRET around Down’s Creek in Cutchogue was last reported Saturday, and a COMMON GALLINULE was first noted on Oakland Lake in Alley Pond Park last Monday.

The Central Park RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was still present today in the north end, the Queen’s Cunningham Park bird was noted on Wednesday, and a pair of RED-HEADEDS was seen today along the Paumanok Trail near Jones Pond in Manorville.

A decent showing of PROTHONOTARY WARBLERS included one Saturday in the North Garden at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, two in Central Park Sunday, one at Riverside Park, and another visiting Alley Pond Park commencing Tuesday.

A YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER at Central Park’s north end last Friday and Saturday was followed by one at Turtle Pond Wednesday, with another visiting Prospect Park Tuesday.

Last Monday single KENTUCKY WARBLERS were found in Prospect Park and at the Ruth Oliva Preserve at Dam Pond in East Marion, with another uncovered in Central Park’s north end today.

A GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER found Wednesday in Riverside Park was still present today, and a female CERULEAN WARBLER was spotted at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Thursday.

An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER appeared in Central Park last Friday and Saturday, with another at Southard’s Pond Park in Babylon Wednesday..

Among the other WARBLERS noted this week were TENNESSEE, CAPE MAY, BAY-BREASTED, BLACKBURNIAN, CHESTNUT-SIDED, BLACKPOLL, CANADA and WILSON’S.

A YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT was found in Brooklyn’s Greenwood Cemetery yesterday.

A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW in Central Park last Sunday was followed by one sometimes singing near four adult WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS at the Rye Middle School Monday through Wednesday. A VESPER SPARROW was in Central Park Sunday, with a GRASSHOPPER SPARROW at Battery Park Wednesday.

At least five BLUE GROSBEAK reports this week ranged from Central Park to breeding areas out near Calverton, and seven SUMMER TANAGERS spanned from Battery Park and Central Park out to Brookhaven and East Hampton.

Other arrivals also featured BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO, EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE, LEAST FLYCATCHER, YELLOW-THROATED and RED-EYED VIREOS, LINCOLN’S SPARROW and BOBOLINK.

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