– RBA
* New York
* New York City, Long Island, Westchester County
* Jan. 16, 2026
* NYNY2601.16
– Birds mentioned
TUNDRA BEAN-GOOSE+
TUFTED DUCK+
CASSIN’S SPARROW+
BULLOCK’S ORIOLE+
(+ Details requested by NYSARC)
ROSS’S GOOSE
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE
KING EIDER
HARLEQUIN DUCK
BARROW’S GOLDENEYE
BLACK GUILLEMOT
Razorbill
DOVEKIE
THICK-BILLED MURRE
Black-legged Kittiwake
BLACK-HEADED GULL
Iceland Gull
AMERICAN GOSHAWK
CLAY-COLORED SPARROW
LARK SPARROW
– 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/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, January 16th
2026* at 11pm. The highlights of today’s tape are TUNDRA BEAN-GOOSE,
CASSIN’S SPARROW, BULLOCK’S ORIOLE, ROSS’S and GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE,
TUFTED DUCK, BARROW’S GOLDENEYE, KING EIDER and HARLEQUIN DUCK, BLACK
GUILLEMOT, THICK-BILLED MURRE and DOVEKIE, BLACK-HEADED GULL, AMERICAN
GOSHAWK, LARK and CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS and more.
The TUNDRA BEAN-GOOSE, while not reported for several days this week does
continue in the Oyster Bay area spotted Wednesday and again today back on
Beaver Lake. At that site look for the goose roosting with Canadas on the
south end of the lake as viewed from the causeway on Cleft Road which
splits the lake. Parking is available at nearby Shu Swamp but be careful on
the roadway. Other sites to check are Dosoris Pond as viewed from Pryibil
Beach at the end of East Beach Drive or Nassau Country Club as viewed from
Nassau Road.
The CASSIN’S SPARROW was still along the roadway near the lighthouse at
Montauk Point as of yesterday. Park in the upper lot and search the short
grass sections along the roadway towards the lighthouse and up towards the
parking lot.
The immature BULLOCK’S ORIOLE continues in East Islip but with St. Mary’s
School open now on weekdays parking there is not available at that time.
The ORIOLE moves occasionally from adjoining private property to trees
around the school parking lot but be sure to act responsibly if visiting
there.
Joining a large number of Canada Geese on a series of fields in Sagaponack
along the south side of Route 27 recently have been a ROSS’S GOOSE and up
to 14 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE. Another ROSS’S visited Jamaica Bay
Wildlife Refuge last Monday and other GREATER WHITE-FRONTEDS have included
2 at Van Cortlandt Park Wednesday, 3 recently on Larchmont Reservoir off
Waver Street and one continuing in the Rye area. The immature TUFTED DUCK
continues to be reported on New Croton Reservoir in Westchester as does a
female BARROW’S GOLDENEYE while Long Island BARROW’S include continuing off
Sunken Meadow State Park through today and one at Goldsmith Inlet in
Southold last Saturday. A young male KING EIDER was spotted near Shinnecock
Inlet last Saturday and a HARLEQUIN DUCK was off Southold Town Beach Monday
and Tuesday with others in the Jones Inlet area.
A decent run of alcids this week featured a BLACK GUILLEMOT photographed
nicely during its brief visit to the Jones Beach West End jetty last Sunday
followed by a THICK-BILLED MURRE feeding in the inlet off the West End
Coast Guard Station Wednesday through today with another THICK-BILLED found
Wednesday off Conference House Park on Staten Island. Montauk Point for the
week peaked with a couple of DOVEKIES Thursday along with over 1,100
RAZORBILLS and 13 BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES and 6 DOVEKIES were feeding at
Shinnecock Inlet with some RAZORBILLS last Saturday with 3 DOVEKIES still
there on Sunday. A few RAZORBILLS were also noted along the Brooklyn shore.
Single BLACK-HEADED GULLS included one returning to the Setauket Harbor
area during the week, another at Plumb Beach early in the week and one in
Jones Inlet today and a few ICELAND GULLS were also encountered.
An immature AMERICAN GOSHAWK was a nice surprise as it cruised in a
westerly direction over the JFK-Tobay Sanctuary last Sunday afternoon.
A LARK SPARROW was seen again at Plumb Beach last weekend and a
CLAY-COLORED SPARROW has been present Wednesday to today at Heckscher State
Park field 5.
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