Category: Rare Bird Alerts

-RBA
* New York
* New York City, Long Island, Westchester County
* Apr. 16, 2021
* NYNY2104.16

WESTERN TANAGER+
(+ Details requested by NYSARC)

KING EIDER
HARLEQUIN DUCK
SANDHILL CRANE
Solitary Sandpiper
Iceland Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Green Heron
Broad-winged Hawk
RED-HEADED WOODPECKER
Pileated Woodpecker
White-eyed Vireo
Yellow-throated Vireo
Blue-headed Vireo
Bank Swallow
House Wren
Purple Finch
Pine Siskin
Vesper Sparrow
Lincoln’s Sparrow
Boat-tailed Grackle
Louisiana Waterthrush
Black-and-white Warbler
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER
Common Yellowthroat
Northern Parula
Palm Warbler
Pine Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER
Wilson’s Warbler
Indigo Bunting

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, April16, 2021 at 11:00 pm.

The highlights of today’s tape are WESTERN TANAGER, SANDHILL CRANE, KING EIDER and HARLEQUIN DUCK, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, YELLOW-THROATED and ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS, spring migrants and more.

Despite generally poor weather conditions for local migration, spring arrivals are making their way into and through our area.  However, our highlight continues to be the female WESTERN TANAGER wintering in
Manhattan’s Carl Schurz Park, seen mostly when visiting the feeder area in the park located just east of East End Avenue and just south of East 86th Street.  The lingering ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER there was
also still present today, usually encountered along the northern edge of the park where it borders with Gracie Mansion, the latter strictly off limits.

Adding to a few reports recently, another SANDHILL CRANE was spotted Tuesday moving north along the Hudson River over Garrison up in Putnam County.

Ducks continuing around the jetties at Point Lookout on the west side of Jones Inlet included three KING EIDERS, two immature males and a female, plus a few HARLEQUIN DUCKS earlier this week, but they will presumably be leaving soon.  This scenario also likely holds for the adult ICELAND GULL spotted yesterday in Brooklyn at the Austin Nichols House and then today at Brooklyn Bridge Park.

Two LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS, including an adult, were photographed at Pelham Bay Park yesterday.

Last Saturday two RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS were seen again along the Paumanok Trail in Manorville, and another was still frequenting Cedar Point County Park out in Northwest Harbor, north of East Hampton, but
more unexpected were single PILEATED WOODPECKERS showing up Wednesday in Inwood Hill Park in northern Manhattan and at Pelham Bay Park.

A YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER continues on territory at the Bayard Cutting Arboretum in Great River, but unexpected was an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER visiting a feeder Sunday in Hastings-on-Hudson.  Among the other WARBLERS seen this week were an early WILSON’S found in Central Park on Wednesday, BLACK-AND-WHITE starting with one at Blydenburgh Park in Central Islip last Sunday, arriving COMMON YELLOWTHROATS as of Thursday, some more NORTHERN PARULAS and LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSHES, and increasing numbers of PALM, PINE and YELLOW-RUMPED.

Some migrants occurring this week featured SOLITARY SANDPIPER, GREEN HERON and BROAD-WINGED HAWK, while various  passerines noted locally included YELLOW-THROATED VIREO as of Monday and WHITE-EYED VIREO beginning Wednesday, plus more BLUE-HEADED VIREOS and HOUSE WRENS, BANK SWALLOW in Great River Monday, and INDIGO BUNTING as of Tuesday at Owl’s Head Park in Brooklyn.

A VESPER SPARROW visited Central Park’s north end Tuesday and Wednesday, with a wintering LINCOLN’S SPARROW also still in that area.

A male BOAT-TAILED GRACKLE at Marshlands Conservancy  in Rye on Tuesday has continued this species’ now annual visits to Westchester
County.

With most now departed from our area, currently winter finches are represented here by only a few lingering PINE SISKINS and some PURPLE
FINCHES moving through.

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
* Apr. 09, 2021
* NYNY2104.09

PROGNE MARTIN+
WESTERN TANAGER+
(+ Details requested by NYSARC)

KING EIDER
HARLEQUIN DUCK
Clapper Rail
SANDHILL CRANE
Willet
Lesser Yellowlegs
Iceland Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
GLAUCOUS GULL
Forster’s Tern
Northern Gannet
Little Blue Heron
Red-headed Woodpecker
Blue-headed Vireo
Cliff Swallow
House Wren
Marsh Wren
Purple Finch
RED CROSSBILL
Pine Siskin
White-crowned Sparrow
Lincoln’s Sparrow
Eastern Meadowlark
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER
YELLOW-THROATED 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, April 9, 2021 at 11:00 pm.

The highlights of today’s tape are the Prospect Park MARTIN, WESTERN TANAGER, SANDHILL CRANE, KING EIDER and HARLEQUIN DUCK, GLAUCOUS GULL, YELLOW-THROATED and ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS, RED CROSSBILL, spring migrants and more.

The PROGNE MARTIN first spotted around Prospect Park Lake on Thursday, April 1st, did linger there through mid-day on Sunday, enabling many photos to be taken, but positive specific identification remains uncertain.  Consensus currently seems to be favoring Gray-breasted Martin over the Cuban, Caribbean and Sinaloa Martin group, but much more research needs to be done.  Stay tuned.

The female WESTERN TANAGER, still lingering today in Manhattan’s Carl Schurz Park, is usually seen near the feeders located just inside the park on the east side of East End Avenue a little south of East 86^th Street.  The ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER along the south perimeter of Gracie Mansion was still present Wednesday, while another ORANGE-CROWNED was photographed Thursday near the Pool in Central Park.

A SANDHILL CRANE appeared last Sunday over Nannahagen Park in Pleasantville in Westchester County.

Sea ducks at the Point Lookout side of Jones Inlet have recently featured three KING EIDERS, two young males and a female, along with three HARLEQUIN DUCKS, including a drake.  Eighty NORTHERN GANNETS were also counted there today.

White-winged Gulls this week were represented by a GLAUCOUS GULL at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Thursday and single ICELAND GULLS at Prospect Park Lake and Randall’s Island last Sunday, while a few LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS included three at Jones Beach State Park Sunday.

A YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER has returned to the Bayard Cutting Arboretum in Great River, where it will hopefully stay to nest, and another was found today in Willowbrook Park on Staten Island.

A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER continues along the Paumanok Trail in Manorville, parking for which is off Schultz Road near Jones Pond; this site also continues to attract around ten RED CROSSILLS.

Some PINE SISKINS and returning PURPLE FINCHES were also noted this week.

A LINCOLN’S SPARROW continues in Central Park’s north end, while a growing number of spring migrants this week included CLAPPER RAIL, LESSER YELLOWLEGS, WILLET, FORSTER’S TERN, LITTLE BLUE HERON, BLUE-HEADED VIREO, CLIFF SWALLOW, HOUSE and MARSH WRENS, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW and EASTERN MEADOWLARK.

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
* Apr. 2, 2021
* NYNY2104.02

– Birds mentioned
Progne spp. (CUBAN/CARIBBEAN/SINALOA/GRAY-BREASTED MARTIN)+
WESTERN TANAGER+
(+ Details requested by NYSARC)

KING EIDER
HARLEQUIN DUCK
Chimney Swift
DOVEKIE
BLACK-HEADED GULL
Iceland Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Glaucous Gull
American Bittern
Snowy Egret
Rough-legged Hawk
Purple Martin
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Purple Finch
Common Redpoll
Red Crossbill
Pine Siskin
Chipping Sparrow
Louisiana Waterthrush
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER
Northern Parula
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, April 2nd 2021 at 11pm. The highlights of today’s tape are an as yet not specifically identified MARTIN at Prospect Park Lake, WESTERN TANAGER, DOVEKIE, KING EIDER and HARLEQUIN DUCK, BLACK-HEADED GULL, ORANGE-CROWNED and YELLOW-THROATED WARBLERS, spring migrants and more.

Not an April Fool’s joke but likely one of the year’s highlights. Yesterday a MARTIN was spotted flying around Prospect Park Lake with Tree and other swallows. In close scrutiny then and today as the bird remained around the lake to sunset points to this being not a Purple Martin but either a GRAY-BREASTED MARTIN or one of the formerly Snowy Bellied complex now split into 3 species including CUBAN and CARIBBEAN MARTINS. Further analysis of photos and vocalizations will presumably provide the answer. The MARTIN was found this morning on the west side of the lake roosting in a tree with Tree Swallows and once it started feeding over the lake, usually at a low level, it did cover most of the lake but spent much of its time cruising the southwest corner of the lake. This area is just inside the park from Prospect Park Southwest where a prudent birder would begin a Saturday morning search.

A female WESTERN TANAGER in Manhattan’s Carl Schurz Park was still present today as was the wintering ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER. The TANAGER is usually seen at the feeders just inside the park on the east side of East End Avenue just below East 86th Street while the warbler remains at the north end of the park along the border with Gracie Mansion.

A storm related occurrence of a DOVEKIE last Saturday at the north end of Georgica Cove and East Hampton ended with the bird swimming away down the cove. A young male KING EIDER was spotted off Robert Moses State Park field 2 last Saturday and today a female KING was reported with Common Eider by the jetties off Point Lookout Town Park with HARLEQUIN DUCKS also continuing there.

An adult BLACK-HEADED GULL was spotted at Coney Island Creek last Sunday and a GLAUCOUS GULL appeared again last Saturday at Flax Pond in Old Field north of Stony Brook. An ICELAND GULL was noted at Randall’s Island Monday and Wednesday and on Central Park Reservoir Thursday and a few LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS included 3 at Jones Beach Tuesday.

An AMERICAN BITTERN continues along Dune Road and another was spotted in marshes at Oakwood Beach on Staten Island last Saturday.

A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was still around Captree Monday.

Lingering winter finches included a couple of COMMON REDPOLLS in Brooklyn’s Green-wood Cemetery Wednesday. RED CROSSBILLS heard off Paumanok Trail by Jones Pond in Manorville last Saturday is a possible nesting area and some PINE SISKINS and PURPLE FINCHES currently moving through.

A YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER was found at Connetquot River State Park in Great River yesterday and among other returning species this week have been SNOWY EGRET last Saturday, CHIMNEY SWIFT Monday, PURPLE MARTIN and BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER as of Saturday, CHIPPING SPARROW, LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH Tuesday and a NORTHERN PARULA found in Central Park Wednesday and still present 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
* Mar. 26, 2021
* NYNY2103.26

– Birds mentioned
WESTERN SANDPIPER+
WESTERN TANAGER+
(+ Details requested by NYSARC)

KING EIDER
American Oystercatcher
Wilson’s Snipe
BLACK-HEADED GULL
Laughing Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
GLAUCOUS GULL
Northern Gannet
Double-crested Cormorant
American Bittern
Great Egret
Glossy Ibis
Black Vulture
RED-HEADED WOODPECKER
Northern Flicker
Eastern Phoebe
NORTHERN SHRIKE
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Barn Swallow
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Purple Finch
Common Redpoll
RED CROSSBILL
Pine Siskin
Chipping Sparrow
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER
Palm Warbler
Pine Warbler

– 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, March 26th 2021 at 11pm. The highlights of today’s tape are NORTHERN SHRIKE, WESTERN TANAGER, KING EIDER, BLACK-HEADED GULL, GLAUCOUS GULL, WESTERN SANDPIPER, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, RED CROSSBILL, spring migrants and more.

A newly appearing rarity for the region, a NORTHERN SHRIKE, was spotted last Saturday in the North Forty at Floyd Bennett Field. In typical shrike fashion it did disappear at times during the day and apparently moved on overnight.

In contrast, the female WESTERN TANAGER continues to visit Carl Schurz Park in Manhattan most often seen around the feeders located just inside the park on the east side of East End Avenue just below East 86th Street. An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER also remains in that area usually seen in the plantings on the north side of the park adjacent to Gracie Mansion into which property it often disappears. The Chelsea female WESTERN TANAGER was also seen again last Sunday around West 22nd Street east of 10th Avenue. This bird much more difficult to pin down.

With waterfowl numbers declining rather quickly now in our area among the lingering less common species this week were 3 KING EIDERS, a male continuing at Great Kills Park on Staten Island at least to Sunday, a young male in the Shinnecock area to Monday and a female still reported in the Floyd Bennett / Fort Tilden area to Tuesday.

An adult BLACK-HEADED GULL visited Randall’s Island again last Sunday while an immature was seen at Prospect Park Lake Saturday and then again at Bush Terminal Piers Park Tuesday. An immature GLAUCOUS GULL noted by the North Channel Bridge at Jamaica Bay Sunday was preceded by one seen again Saturday out at Oldfield Point north of Stony Brook. Single LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were seen Sunday at Austin Nichols House in Brooklyn and at Jones Beach. Watch for NORTHERN GANNETS now moving back north along the Atlantic coast.

A WESTERN SANDPIPER seen in a large Dunlin flock out at Jones Beach State Park last Saturday may have been the same individual noted at Lido Beach the week before.

AMERICAN BITTERNS continue to be seen along Dune Road west of Shinnecock Inlet but more unusual was one spotted today at Mountain Lakes Park in North Salem, Westchester County.

RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS remain along the Paumanok Trail in Manorville this area accessed from Schultz Road next to Jones Pond. The Paumanok Trail also has continued to attract up to 8 RED CROSSBILLS seen through today and perhaps even contemplating nesting there.

Two COMMON REDPOLLS were still being reported in Brooklyn’s Green-wood Cemetery today and some PINE SISKINS continue at regional feeders and elsewhere with some PURPLE FINCHES also returning north.

Breaking the grip of the March doldrums this latest warm weather event has brought in numbers of northbound migrants including AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHERS and WILSON’S SNIPE, LAUGHING GULL, DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, GREAT EGRET, GLOSSY IBIS, BLACK VULTURE, NORTHERN FLICKER, EASTERN PHOEBE, NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED and BARN SWALLOWS, GOLDEN-CROWNED and RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, CHIPPING SPARROW, PINE WARBLER and a PALM WARBLER appearing at Randall’s Island 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
* Mar. 19, 2021
* NYNY2103.19

– Birds Mentioned

TUNDRA BEAN-GOOSE+ (extralimital)
FERRUGINOUS HAWK+ (extralimital)
WESTERN TANAGER+
(+ Details requested by NYSARC)

KING EIDER
HARLEQUIN DUCK
Red-necked Grebe
SANDHILL CRANE
Dunlin
WESTERN SANDPIPER
BLACK-HEADED GULL
Lesser Black-backed Gull
GLAUCOUS GULL
American Bittern
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Common Redpoll
Pine Siskin
Orange-crowned 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, March 19, 2021 at 11:00 pm.

The highlights of today’s tape are SANDHILL CRANE, WESTERN TANAGER, KING EIDER and HARLEQUIN DUCK, BLACK-HEADED and GLAUCOUS GULLS, WESTERN SANDPIPER, extralimital highlights and more.

As the March doldrums continue, signs of imminent migration have been forthcoming, these including 2 SANDHILL CRANES photographed along the Hudson River at Piermont back on March 11th.

However, most of our highlights involve lingering birds, including the female WESTERN TANAGER still at Carl Schurz Park in Manhattan today – this bird is most frequently seen visiting feeders just inside the park east of East End Avenue and a little south of East 86th Street. An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER has also resurfaced there, usually noted near the park’s north end next to the Gracie Mansion property.

Among some lingering waterfowl, the young male KING EIDER was still around Shinnecock Inlet today, and two HARLEQUIN DUCKS were off Montauk Point last Saturday.

An immature BLACK-HEADED GULL visited Prospect Park Lake last Saturday and Brooklyn Army Terminal Pier 4 Sunday, while three adults noted last Sunday were spotted at Sheepshead Bay in Brooklyn, at Robert Moses State Park, and at Old Field Point north of Stony Brook.  A GLAUCOUS GULL was also present at Old Field Point and at nearby Flax Pond from Sunday through Wednesday, while fewer LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS recently did include birds this week at Old Field Point and Jones Beach State Park.

A WESTERN SANDPIPER was a nice find in a large flock of DUNLIN at Lido Beach last Saturday.

A RED-NECKED GREBE was seen again Tuesday off Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx, and AMERICAN BITTERNS remain at Tobay Sanctuary and along Dune Road west of Shinnecock Inlet.

Small numbers of COMMON REDPOLLS recently included up to 6 at Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn through today, 6 at Sands Point Preserve Wednesday, and 3 at Alley Pond Park Tuesday, and some PINE SISKINS also remain in the area.

Among recent arrivals, besides those previously noted, a BARN SWALLOW was spotted  at Heckscher State Park Monday, following one found deceased at Connetquot River State Park back on the 4th, and a NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW joined a large TREE SWALLOW flock off the Croton Point train station today.

And for 2 extralimital birds, both new for New York State if accepted by NYSARC, the FERRUGINOUS HAWK was last reported Saturday from the Orange County black dirt region, while a TUNDRA BEAN-GOOSE found last weekend up at Saratoga Lake in Saratoga County was last reported Wednesday, only through a photo taken on private property near Lock 2 south of Mechanicville; hopefully it will reappear.

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
* Mar. 12, 2021
* NYNY2103.12

MEW GULL+
FERRUGINOUS HAWK (extralimital)+
WESTERN TANAGER+
(+ Details requested by NYSARC)

GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE
KING EIDER
Common Eider
Red-necked Grebe
Common Gallinule
American Oystercatcher
Piping Plover
American Woodcock
Wilson’s Snipe
Willet
Razorbill
Black-legged Kittiwake
BLACK-HEADED GULL
Laughing Gull
Iceland Gull
American Bittern
Osprey
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK
RED-HEADED WOODPECKER
Eastern Phoebe
Common Redpoll
Red Crossbill
Pine Siskin
Vesper Sparrow
Lincoln’s Sparrow
Pine 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, March 12, 2021 at 11:00 pm.

The highlights of today’s tape are MEW GULL, WESTERN TANAGER, BLACK-HEADED GULL, GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, KING EIDER, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, winter finches and spring arrivals and more.

The immature MEW GULL visiting both Bush Terminal Piers Park and Prospect Park lake in Brooklyn the past couple of weeks was last reported at the lake on Tuesday, while the immature BLACK-HEADED GULL continued around Bush Terminal Piers Park at least through Wednesday.

Of the two Manhattan WESTERN TANAGERS, only the one at Carl Schurz Park was reported this week, this bird often spotted near the feeders located just inside the park off East End Avenue slightly south of East 86th Street.

A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was photographed on Tuesday in a field along Sagg Main Street in Bridgehampton.

The drake KING EIDER at Great Kills Park on Staten Island was seen on the beach there today, while of two KING EIDERS noted recently at Jones Beach West End, the young male was photographed in a COMMON EIDER flock off the West End jetty Monday, and the immature male KING wintering at Shinnecock Inlet was still present last Sunday.

Also last Sunday single ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS were spotted along the Meadowbrook Parkway at Jones Beach West End and in Amityville, while highlights that same day at Montauk Point included 4 BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES and 13 RAZORBILLS.

Also notable this week were a RED-NECKED GREBE seen again off Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx on Monday, the continuing COMMON GALLINULE at Mill Pond Park in Bellmore, an ICELAND GULL still around Randall’s Island Wednesday, and AMERICAN BITTERNS at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge and along Dune Road.  A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was still out at Cedarn Point County Park in Northwest Harbor last Saturday.

Besides some lingering PINE SISKINS locally, lower numbers of COMMON REDPOLLS did include 10 in Brooklyn’s Green-Wood Cemetery yesterday, and 4 RED CROSSBILLS were spotted out in Georgica today.

Also lingering as well have been a VESPER SPARROW out at the Calverton Grasslands and a couple of LINCOLN’S SPARROWS in Manhattan at Bryant Park and in Central Park.

Peak numbers of AMERICAN WOODCOCKS are now displaying in appropriate habitat, and some new recent arrivals, replacing our departing waterfowl, have included AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER, PIPING PLOVER, WILSON’S SNIPE and WILLET, LAUGHING GULL, OSPREY, and such early passerines as EASTERN PHOEBE and PINE WARBLER.

And, not to forget, the extralimital FERRUGINOUS HAWK was still up in the Orange County black dirt region 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
* Mar. 5, 2021
* NYNY2103.05

– Birds mentioned
PINK-FOOTED GOOSE+
MEW GULL+
FERRUGINOUS HAWK+ (Orange County)
WESTERN TANAGER+
(+ Details requested by NYSARC)

EURASIAN WIGEON
KING EIDER
Red-necked Grebe
Common Gallinule
SANDHILL CRANE
American Woodcock
Black-legged Kittiwake
BLACK-HEADED GULL
Iceland Gull
GLAUCOUS GULL
American Bittern
Great Egret
Black Vulture
Red-shouldered Hawk
Rough-legged Hawk
RED-HEADED WOODPECKER
Tree Swallow
Common Redpoll
Pine Siskin

– 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, March 5th 2021 at 11pm. The highlights of today’s tape are MEW GULL, PINK-FOOTED GOOSE, SANDHILL CRANE, WESTERN TANAGER, EURASIAN WIGEON, KING EIDER, BLACK-HEADED GULL, GLAUCOUS GULL, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER and more.

The immature MEW GULL visiting Brooklyn since late January did go missing for much of this past week being seen once back at Bush Terminal Piers Park last Sunday before reappearing again on Prospect Park Lake yesterday. More regular during this week was the immature BLACK-HEADED GULL spotted as recently as yesterday and today both on Prospect Park Lake and at Bush Terminal Piers Park the latter location also hosting a drake EURASIAN WIGEON all week. An adult BLACK-HEADED GULL also made a reappearance at Randall’s Island last Sunday.

A PINK-FOOTED GOOSE first spotted back in late January out in Northport but unobserved since then is apparently still in the area as it was spotted with Canada Geese last Monday along Norwood Road in Northport just east of the Fuch’s Pond Preserve. It has remained unknown as to where this flock roosts overnight.

A belated report from Thursday February 25th featured a SANDHILL CRANE flying west over Tobay Sanctuary.

Both Manhattan WESTERN TANAGERS were present this week. The one at Carl Schurz Park regularly visits feeders setup in the park just east of East End Avenue a little south of East 86th Street while the one downtown in the Chelsea area continues to be more elusive finding food where available between West 22nd and West 23rd Streets just east of 10th Avenue.

A drake KING EIDER was still present today at Great Kills Park on Staten Island and the female KING was still off Archery Road at Floyd Bennett Field last Sunday.

A BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE was spotted near a feeding whale off Robert Moses State Park last Saturday that day also finding a GLAUCOUS GULL still present at Cedar Beach in Mount Sinai. An ICELAND GULL was noted at Randall’s Island as recently as yesterday with another still in the Brooklyn area last Sunday.

A RED-NECKED GREBE was spotted off Pelham Bay Park Monday, a COMMON GALLINULE remains at Mill Pond Park in Bellmore and AMERICAN BITTERNS continue along Dune Road west of Shinnecock Inlet.

This week ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was noted at several locations along the Jones Island strip from Zach’s Bay east to Oak Beach as well as out at the Calverton Grassland.

A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER continues along the Paumanok Trail near Jones Pond in Manorville this site on the west side of Schultz Road.

Some COMMON REDPOLLS remain in the area including about 20 seen last Saturday in Brooklyn at the Cemetery of the Evergreens west of Forest Park and PINE SISKINS are also now moving back through our area.

AMERICAN WOODCOCKS are now displaying locally and also noted recently have been arriving GREAT EGRET, some northbound BLACK VULTURES and RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS and more TREE SWALLOW and the extralimital FERRUGINOUS HAWK in the Orange County Black Dirt area was still present Thursday.

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
* Feb. 26, 2021
* NYNY2102.26

– Birds mentioned
MEW GULL+
FERRUGINOUS HAWK+ (Orange County)
SPOTTED TOWHEE+
WESTERN TANAGER+
(+ Details requested by NYSARC)

Wood Duck
EURASIAN WIGEON
KING EIDER
HARLEQUIN DUCK
Piping Plover
American Woodcock
Wilson’s Snipe
Razorbill
Black-legged Kittiwake
BLACK-HEADED GULL
Iceland Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
GLAUCOUS GULL
American Bittern
Rough-legged Hawk
Tree Swallow
Common Redpoll
RED CROSSBILL
Pine Siskin
Common Grackle

– 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, February 26th 2021 at 11pm. The highlights of today’s tape are SPOTTED TOWHEE, MEW GULL, WESTERN TANAGER, EURASIAN WIGEON, KING EIDER, HARLEQUIN DUCK, BLACK-HEADED GULL, GLAUCOUS GULL, RED CROSSBILL and other winter finches, early spring arrivals and more.

A SPOTTED TOWHEE in Baldwin Harbor Park was still being seen today along the paved bike and walking path that bisects the thicket east of Grand Avenue and the first of two large parking lots. An entrance to this path is at the northwest corner of the second lot. Watch for areas where seed has been spread along the path.

The immature MEW GULL was appearing daily on Prospect Park Lake through yesterday with some warning that a lingering Bald Eagle there might have caused it to alter its routine. An immature BLACK-HEADED GULL has also been joining the mob of gulls roosting on the lake as have single ICELAND and LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS at least through Wednesday.

The WESTERN TANAGER originally found in early December in Manhattan’s Chelsea section was recently relocated in the same area occurring Tuesday near 10th Avenue and West 22nd Street and the following day up near West 23rd Street now much more elusive as it maintains its search for food. Likewise the WESTERN TANAGER at Carl Schurz Park in Manhattan has remained in the area at the feeders off East End Avenue just below East 86th Street but squirrels raiding the feeders have impacted the TANAGERS reliability.

Single drake EURASIAN WIGEON were spotted around 61 Mott Lane in Brookhaven Wednesday and off Bush Terminal Piers Park in Brooklyn today.

KING EIDERS this week included the female off the end of Archery Road at Floyd Bennett Field on Sunday and Monday, a young male again at Bayshore Marina Tuesday and a drake at Great Kills Park on Staten Island as recently as Wednesday. Two HARLEQUIN DUCKS were at Shinnecock Inlet last Sunday.

An adult BLACK-HEADED GULL visited Central Park Reservoir last Tuesday and other younger BLACK-HEADEDS in Brooklyn, besides on Prospect Park Lake, were also noted at Brooklyn Bridge Park Wednesday and Bush Terminal Piers Park today. GLAUCOUS GULL was spotted again yesterday at Cedar Beach in Mount Sinai and single ICELAND GULLS visited Riverside Park last Saturday and Flushing Meadows-Corona Park yesterday. Eight BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES and 49 RAZORBILLS were counted off Montauk Point last Saturday.

One or two ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS were noted recently both along Ocean Parkway near Tobay and at the Calverton Grasslands and AMERICAN BITTERN are still being seen at Tobay and along Dune Road.

Flocks of RED CROSSBILLS along the south shore recently have featured 11 at Jones Beach West End and 16 at Oak Beach both on Wednesday and 24 at Robert Moses State Park yesterday. Small groups of COMMON REDPOLLS included 29 along Oregon Road in Cutchogue Wednesday and 21 at Goethal’s Bridge Pond on Staten Island yesterday and PINE SISKINS too are moving around in our area.

Among some early spring arrivals recently were 2 PIPING PLOVERS at Robert Moses State Park yesterday plus many WOOD DUCKS and some AMERICAN WOODCOCK, WILSON’S SNIPE, TREE SWALLOWS and COMMON GRACKLE and the FERRUGINOUS HAWK continues in the Orange County Black Dirt area.

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
* Feb. 19, 2021
* NYNY2102.19

– Birds Mentioned

MEW GULL+
FERRUGINOUS HAWK (extralimital)+
SPOTTED TOWHEE+
WESTERN TANAGER+
(+ Details requested by NYSARC)

KING EIDER
HARLEQUIN DUCK
Red-necked Grebe
Common Gallinule
Semipalmated Plover
COMMON MURRE
BLACK-HEADED GULL
Iceland Gull
GLAUCOUS GULL
American Bittern
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron
Rough-legged Hawk
Peregrine Falcon
Common Redpoll
Red Crossbill
LAPLAND LONGSPUR
Vesper Sparrow
LECONTE’S SPARROW
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT

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, February
19, 2021 at 10:00 PM.

The highlights of today’s tape are SPOTTED TOWHEE, MEW GULL, LECONTE’S SPARROW, WESTERN TANAGER, COMMON MURRE, KING EIDER and HARLEQUIN DUCK, BLACK-HEADED and GLAUCOUS GULLS, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, winter finches, extralimital FERRUGINOUS HAWK and more.

The SPOTTED TOWHEE at Baldwin Harbor Park has been seen several times this past week at least through Wednesday, presumably coming more into the open due to the snow covered grounds. Look especially along the paved bike and walking path that bisects the wooded area east of Grand Avenue and the first of two large parking lots. There is an entrance to this path from the northwest corner of the second large parking lot, which is farther down Grand Avenue.

The immature MEW GULL in Brooklyn has been visiting Prospect Park Lake on likely a daily basis, including around 2:00 PM this afternoon, where it roosts on frozen portions of the lake and bathes in open water when available. This European form, referred to as Common Gull, is usually best viewed from the south side of the lake. The immature BLACK-HEADED GULL has also been spotted visiting the lake several days this week, including today.

A nice and unexpected find this week was a LECONTE’S SPARROW spotted briefly a few times Tuesday morning as it elusively skulked its way around the outer dunes at Breezy Point, finally providing enough to confirm the identification.

The female WESTERN TANAGER wintering in Carl Schurz Park in Manhattan was still visiting feeders there yesterday, these feeders located just inside the park off East End Avenue just below East 86th Street.

A COMMON MURRE spotted just offshore at Robert Moses State Park last Sunday was found deceased on shore Monday, being devoured by a PEREGRINE FALCON.

Last Monday, the female KING EIDER was seen again off Floyd Bennett Field’s Archery Road and a drake KING was spotted in flight off Montauk Point. Besides the HARLEQUIN DUCKS present around Jones Inlet, two drake HARLEQUINS were also off Orient Point on Monday.

An immature GLAUCOUS GULL visited Cedar Beach on Long Island’s north shore at Mt. Sinai Tuesday, and an ICELAND GULL was noted out at Breezy Point Tuesday, perhaps the one also occurring along the Brooklyn waterfront.

Among various lingering non-passerines of interest this week were a RED-NECKED GREBE off Brooklyn, the COMMON GALLINULE at Mill Pond Park in Bellmore, 5 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS at Jones Beach West End Sunday, AMERICAN BITTERNS at Tobay and along Dune Road, an adult YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON at Randall’s Island, and a few ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS, including, on Wednesday, 1 at Tobay, 2 along Dune Road at Shinnecock, and 3 around the Calverton grasslands north of Riverhead.
Here it should also be mentioned that the FERRUGINOUS HAWK continues in the Orange County black dirt region.

Single LAPLAND LONGPURS were noted at Robert Moses State Park Saturday, at Jones Beach West End Sunday, and at Nickerson Beach on Tuesday.

A VESPER SPARROW continues at the Calverton grasslands, and a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT appeared at Floyd Bennett Field last Saturday.

Among various appearances of COMMON REDPOLLS in our area this week were 12 at Brooklyn’s Green-Wood Cemetery Sunday and over 25 at Plumb Beach Wednesday, while some RED CROSSBILLS Wednesday included sightings of 9 at Jones Beach West End, 4 at Tobay and around 40 at Robert Moses State Park Field 2.

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
* Feb. 12, 2021
* NYNY2102.12

– Birds Mentioned

THICK-BILLED MURRE+
MEW GULL+
FERRUGINOUS HAWK+
SPOTTED TOWHEE+
WESTERN TANAGER+
(+ Details requested by NYSARC)

GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE
KING EIDER
HARLEQUIN DUCK
BARROW’S GOLDENEYE
Red-necked Grebe
Common Gallinule
Semipalmated Plover
Razorbill
Black-legged Kittiwake
BLACK-HEADED GULL
Iceland Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
GLAUCOUS GULL
Rough-legged Hawk
Horned Lark
Common Redpoll
RED CROSSBILL
LAPLAND LONGSPUR
LARK SPARROW
Vesper Sparrow

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, February 12, 2021 at 10:00 pm.

The highlights of today’s tape are SPOTTED TOWHEE, MEW GULL, WESTERN TANAGER, THICK-BILLED MURRE, GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, BARROW’S GOLDENEYE, KING EIDER and HARLEQUIN DUCK, BLACK-HEADED and GLAUCOUS GULLS, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, LARK SPARROW, RED CROSSBILL and more, including extralimital FERRUGINOUS HAWK.

Not reported for over two weeks, the female SPOTTED TOWHEE, initially found January 2nd at Baldwin Harbor Park, was seen again last Sunday and also today in essentially the same area, perhaps brought more into the open by recent snow accumulation.  Both days the TOWHEE appeared along the paved path that bisects the thicket that is east of the entrance road Grand Avenue and the first of two large parking lots.  The second parking lot provides a direct access to this path on its north side.

An immature Mew Gull of the European race canus, referred to as Common Gull, continues in Brooklyn.  Seen again last Sunday at Brooklyn Army Terminal Pier 4, this Gull has since Tuesday been visiting the open water in Prospect Park Lake in the afternoon, so far somewhere between 2:00 and 4:30 PM, today arriving about 3:30 PM and leaving an hour later.  Another Mew Gull was photographed last Saturday at Orient Beach State Park, this an adult bird.

The female WESTERN TANAGER continues at Manhattan’s Carl Schurz Park, sometimes coming to feeders along East End Avenue just south of East 86^th Street; three COMMON REDPOLLS also visited that park yesterday.

And we should note, among the rarities, that the FERRUGINOUS HAWK up north in Orange County was still present today.

A THICK-BILLED MURRE appeared off Coney Island Beach last Saturday, and today another THICK-BILLED, not in the best of health, was spotted off Long Beach in Noyack but eventually washed ashore and was taken to a rehabilitator.

The Central Park GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was last reported on the Reservoir last Monday.  A drake BARROW’S GOLDENEYE remains off Crab Meadow Beach in Northport, and a female KING EIDER was off the end of Archery Road at Floyd Bennett Field this week, with the young male KING EIDER still around Shinnecock Inlet Tuesday. Three HARLEQUIN DUCKS continue, usually around the Point Lookout jetties.

The immature BLACK-HEADED GULL was still being seen near Brooklyn Army Terminal Pier 4 at least to Tuesday, with a GLAUCOUS GULL also continuing in nearby Red Hook through today.  Seven BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES were counted off Montauk Point last Saturday, the storm there also producing an estimated 350 RAZORBILLS.  An ICELAND GULL was noted again at Randall’s Island yesterday as well as on Central Park Reservoir last Monday, and two young LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were reported on Prospect Park Lake Tuesday.

At least one RED-NECKED GREBE remains along the Brooklyn coast, with another off Pelham Bay Park yesterday.

The COMMON GALLINULE is still residing at Mill Pond Park in Bellmore, and odd were six SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS reported at Jones Beach West End Wednesday.

A LAPLAND LONGSPUR has been present with HORNED LARKS since Wednesday in a field off Sagg Main Street just before the entrance to Sagg Pond in Bridgehampton, and today three were found with LARKS at the entrance to Malibu Beach off Lido Boulevard in Point Lookout.

The Fort Tilden LARK SPARROW was last reported last Saturday, while a VESPER SPARROW does continue out in the Calverton Grasslands, where a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK is also being seen.

Twenty-five or more RED CROSSBILLS were present at Robert Moses 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