Category: Rare Bird Alerts

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

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

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

– Transcript

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

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

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

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

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

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

Transcriber: Ben Cacace

BEGIN TAPE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

– End transcript

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

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

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

– Transcript

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

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

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

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

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

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

Transcriber: Ben Cacace

BEGIN TAPE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

– End transcript

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

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

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

Brown Booby (extralimital)
American White Pelican (extralimital)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Transcriber: Gail Benson

[~BEGIN RBA TAPE~]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A GRASSHOPPER SPARROW was found at Canarsie Beach Park Monday.

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

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

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

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

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

– End transcript

-RBA
* New York
* New York City, Long Island, Westchester County
* Aug. 28, 2020
* NYNY2008.28

– Birds Mentioned

SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER+
(+ Details requested by NYSARC)

UPLAND SANDPIPER
WHIMBREL
MARBLED GODWIT
BAIRD’S SANDPIPER
BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER
LITTLE GULL
Caspian Tern
Royal Tern
BROWN PELICAN
Eastern Kingbird
OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
LARK SPARROW
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT
Worm-eating Warbler
Northern Waterthrush
Black-and-white Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Mourning Warbler
Hooded Warbler
American Redstart
Cape May Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Canada Warbler
Wilson’s Warbler
SUMMER TANAGER
DICKCISSEL

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

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

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

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

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

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

Transcriber: Gail Benson

[~BEGIN RBA TAPE~]

Greetings! This is the New York Rare Bird Alert for Friday, August 28, 2020 at 10:00 pm.

The highlights of today’s tape are SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER, BROWN PELICAN, LITTLE GULL, BUFF-BREASTED, BAIRD’S and UPLAND SANDPIPERS, MARBLED GODWIT and WHIMBREL, OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, LARK SPARROW, SUMMER TANAGER, DICKCISSEL and more.

Birders getting out early in the morning along coastal sites to enjoy the dawn flight experienced a few very productive days this week, with the biggest surprise perhaps coming last Sunday at Conference House Park at the southern tip of Staten Island – there a steady flight of over 1,000 EASTERN KINGIRDS also provided an accompanying adult SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER, watched as it continued on towards New Jersey.

Single BROWN PELICANS this week were noted off Cedar Grove Beach on Staten Island last Sunday and then on Wednesday passing over the Robert Moses Causeway bridge by Fire Island.

Fire Island Inlet also provided some excitement Thursday when a juvenile LITTLE GULL was spotted in a congregation of gulls and terns off Oak Beach, viewable from the fishing pier. It could not be relocated today, but a MARBLED GODWIT appeared on the offshore sand bar.

Another MARBLED GODWIT was seen last Sunday by boat in Jamaica Bay, where up to five WHIMBRELS were noted last weekend.

A BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER found last Sunday at Heckscher State Park increased to two on Wednesday, when two more visited Sagg Pond in Bridgehampton, one continuing through today.

The BAIRD’S SANDPIPER lingering at Duck Pond Road in Cutchogue at least to Sunday was followed by one at Flushing Meadow Corona Park Thursday and another at Cupsogue County Park in Westhampton Dunes
today.

An UPLAND SANDPIPER was reported moving past Lemon Creek Pier on Staten Island Monday.

Over fifty ROYAL TERNS were in Lot 7 at Heckscher State Park last Sunday, and a CASPIAN TERN visited Forest Hills Thursday.

Among this week’s FLYCATCHERS were a few OLIVE-SIDED, their locations including Central and Prospect Parks, Greenwood Cemetery, Coney Island Creek, Floyd Bennett Field and Sunken Meadow State Park, among others.

Various Empidonax including YELLOW-BELLIED were also present this week.

YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT reports came from Brooklyn Bridge Park and Central Park’s north end, followed by one in Prospect Park today.

Two LARK SPARROWS were spotted Wednesday, one at Fort Tilden and another at Jones Beach West End.

During Tuesday’s dawn flight a young male SUMMER TANAGER touched down very briefly at Coney Island Creek Park.

These morning flights also produced at least eight DICKCISSELS, locations including Fort Tilden, Hillview Reservoir in Yonkers, Moses Park, Sunken Meadow Park, Crab Meadow Park, Croton Point Park and Sagg Pond.

And of course there were the WARBLERS, with over twenty-five species noted this week – these included more unusual or later moving species such as WORM-EATING, TENNESSEE, MOURNING, HOODED, CAPE MAY, BAY-BREASTED, BLACKPOLL and WILSON’S as well as rather large numbers of AMERICAN REDSTART, BLACK-AND-WHITE, NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH and CANADA, with more to come.

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
* Aug. 21, 2020
* NYNY2008.21

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

Black Tern
American Bittern
White-rumped Sandpiper
Western Sandpiper
MARBLED GODWIT
WHIMBREL
Red-headed Woodpecker
Common Nighthawk
OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER
CLAY-COLORED SPARROW
BLUE GROSBEAK
Worm-eating Warbler
Blue-winged Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
CERULEAN WARBLER
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Ovenbird
Northern Waterthrush
Louisiana Waterthrush
MOURNING WARBLER
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT
Hooded Warbler
Wilson’s Warbler
Canada Warbler
American Redstart
Red-breasted Nuthatch

Extralimital:
BROWN BOOBY+ (Hamilton County)
AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN+ (Ulster County)

– 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, August 21st 2020 at 8pm. The highlights of today’s tape are BROWN PELICAN, MARBLED GODWIT, WHIMBREL, BAIRD’S SANDPIPER, BLUE GROSBEAK and fall landbirds including OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, various warblers featuring MOURNING and CERULEAN, YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, CLAY-COLORED SPARROW and more.

This week’s only BROWN PELICAN report comes from Breezy Point with one seen twice offshore last Saturday.

Highlights among the shorebirds this week include the MARBLED GODWIT still on the Mecox flats last Saturday and a BAIRD’S SANDPIPER frequenting irrigated fields along Duck Pond Road out on the north fork in Cutchogue yesterday and today. This area is north of the Oregon Road / Duck Pond Road intersection. An AMERICAN BITTERN has also been among the birds at Mecox lately and a BLACK TERN was noted there last Saturday. WHIMBRELS out in Jamaica Bay this week included up to 8 noted last weekend and one over the West Pond at the Wildlife Refuge today.

The water level on the East Pond is very slowly lowering now providing some edge at the south end but it has quite a ways to go to reach the desired level to attract large numbers of shorebirds. Among the small numbers now appearing are WHITE-RUMPED and WESTERN SANDPIPERS.

A COMMON GALLINULE was spotted at Sunken Meadow State Park Monday and was present at least to Tuesday west of the entrance bridge pond.

Four RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS were still along the Paumanok Trail near Jones Pond in Manorville today this reached from Schultz Road and COMMON NIGHTHAWKS are now moving overhead in the evening as they’ve begun their southbound journey.

Noted among the southbound passerines this week were single OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHERS at Robert Moses State Park Tuesday and in Prospect Park yesterday and a good number of RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES have been appearing. A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was photographed at Pelham Bay Park Wednesday evening. A YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT was spotted in Central Park Wednesday and a decent variety of warblers this week featured a MOURNING WARBLER in Central Park last Saturday and a CERULEAN WARBLER at Teatown Reservation in Westchester yesterday. Other warblers noted have included OVENBIRD, WORM-EATING, LOUISIANA and NORTHERN WATERTHRUSHES, BLUE-WINGED, NASHVILLE, HOODED, AMERICAN REDSTART, MAGNOLIA, BLACKBURNIAN, YELLOW, CHESTNUT-SIDED, BLACK-THROATED BLUE, YELLOW-RUMPED, PRAIRIE, CANADA and WILSON’S.

Last Saturday two BLUE GROSBEAKS were spotted at Shirley Chisholm State Park which is the landfill at the north end of Jamaica Bay just south of the Belt Parkway.

North of us today an AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN was present on Ashokan Reservoir in Ulster County and a BROWN BOOBY continues on Indian Lake up in Hamilton County.

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
* Aug. 14, 2020
* NYNY2008.14

– Birds mentioned
WHITE-FACED STORM-PETREL+
BROWN PELICAN+
(+ Details requested by NYSARC)

GLAUCOUS GULL
Gull-billed Tern
Caspian Tern
Royal Tern
Cory’s Shearwater
Wilson’s Storm-Petrel
White-rumped Sandpiper
Western Sandpiper
MARBLED GODWIT
UPLAND SANDPIPER
WHIMBREL
EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE
Bobolink
BLUE GROSBEAK
DICKCISSEL
Purple Martin
Cliff Swallow
Bank Swallow
Black-and-White Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Ovenbird
Northern Waterthrush
Louisiana Waterthrush
American Redstart
SEDGE WREN
Red-breasted Nuthatch

– 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, August 14^th 2020 at 8pm. The highlights of today’s tape are WHITE-FACED STORM-PETREL, BROWN PELICAN, SEDGE WREN, MARBLED GODWIT, WHIMBREL, UPLAND SANDPIPER, GLAUCOUS GULL, EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE, DICKCISSEL, BLUE GROSBEAK and more.

A boat trip last Sunday into Hudson Canyon waters luckily encountered a WHITE-FACED STORM-PETREL along with about 60 WILSON’S STORM-PETRELS. A Montauk whale trip last Saturday noted 12 GREAT and 11 CORY’S SHEARWATERS. BROWN PELICAN sightings this week apparently were restricted to westerly coastal sites with 2 off Breezy Point last Saturday followed by one on Sunday later spotted off Atlantic Beach then one yesterday off Miller Field on Staten Island. Also on Staten Island a pair of SEDGE WRENS found Thursday the 6th on the now restricted Freshkills Park was still present Wednesday. Good news is that some of this park apparently will open to public entry next spring.

With shorebird season continuing without the wonderful opportunities once provided by the East Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge at least some shorebirds are being seen mostly by boat out in Jamaica Bay itself these including a MARBLED GODWIT last Saturday joined by another on Sunday. Another MARBLED has been out on the flats at Mecox at least Wednesday and yesterday. Last weekend one or two WHIMBREL were also noted in Jamaica Bay as well as out at Breezy Point. An UPLAND SANDPIPER was heard giving its distinctive call as it flew over Timber Point Golf Course in Great River last Friday and another did the same as it circled over Marshlands Conservancy in Rye this morning. Other recent shorebirds have included WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER and WESTERN SANDPIPERS among various gatherings.

Certainly out of season was an immature GLAUCOUS GULL out at the Montauk Harbor Inlet last Saturday.

Terns this week included reports of 2 GULL-BILLED at Jamaica Bay Sunday and a CASPIAN at the West Hampton Dunes overlook yesterday as well as some ROYALS coastally.

EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE continues to ignore the northeast as it populates the rest of North America but one was spotted at Floyd Bennett Field back on Friday the 7th and seen there a few times through Sunday. Up to 3 BLUE GROSBEAKS were noted around the Calverton Grasslands this week while surprising were a couple of early DICKCISSELS this week with one last Saturday moving over Breezy Point followed by another out east in Greenport yesterday.

Besides some swallows including CLIFF, BANK and PURPLE MARTIN small numbers of southbound migrants recently have included such warblers as OVENBIRD and NORTHERN and LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSHES, WORM-EATING, YELLOW, BLACK-AND-WHITE and AMERICAN REDSTART as well as BOBOLINK and even RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH.

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
* Aug. 07, 2020
* NYNY2008.07

– Birds Mentioned

SOUTH POLAR SKUA+
SOOTY TERN+
BAND-RUMPED STORM-PETREL+
(+ Details requested by NYSARC)

UPLAND SANDPIPER
WHIMBREL
White-rumped Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper
Western Sandpiper
POMARINE JAEGER+
Lesser Black-backed Gull
GULL-BILLED TERN
CASPIAN TERN
Black Tern
MANX SHEARWATER
Wilson’s Storm-Petrel
BROWN PELICAN
ACADIAN FLYCATCHER
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, August 7, 2020 at 5:00 pm.

The highlights of today’s tape are Tropical Storm Isaias birds, including SOOTY TERN, SOUTH POLAR SKUA, BAND-RUMPED STORM-PETREL, POMARINE JAEGER and MANX SHEARWATER, plus BROWN PELICAN, UPLAND SANDPIPER, WHIMBREL, CASPIAN and GULL-BILLED TERNS, ACADIAN FLYCATCHER, BLUE GROSBEAK and more.

Certainly the predominant bird of interest during the passage of Isaias through our area Tuesday was SOOTY TERN, and, as it turns out, the best area to look for them locally was along the Hudson River in the afternoon as the birds were moving back south. At least five were counted passing by lower Riverside Park around 70th Street in Manhattan, with eight spotted off Inwood Hill Park further north. Some SOOTY TERNS were even seen well north of us on lakes in both New York and in the Berkshires. Other local sightings included three off Kings Point and two off Rye Playland on Long Island Sound, and a few also appeared more coastally, including singles at Coney Island Creek Park and Gravesend Bay and farther east off Oak Beach. Only one was seen Wednesday on the Hudson well north of the city.

Another Isaias highlight was a SOUTH POLAR SKUA moving north past 70^th Street in Manhattan, photographed with the George Washington Bridge in the background.

Two intrepid birders out at Robert Moses State Park encountered the only flock of STORM-PETRELS to be seen, sheltered somewhat inside Fire Island Inlet, these including about a dozen or so WILSON’S and a larger longer-winged bird they were able to see well enough to identify as a BAND-RUMPED.|

Otherwise the only other tubenose reported to our knowledge was a MANX SHEARWATER off Great Kills Park on Staten Island, that park still noting two BROWN PELICANS offshore last Saturday.

Two POMARINE JAEGERS were enjoyed for a short while Tuesday afternoon off Lloyd Harbor and the Eaton’s Neck Coast Guard Station, and BLACK TERNS also appeared at various places during the storm.

Three LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS at Floyd Bennett Field Tuesday were among the small numbers still around our area.

A GULL-BILLED TERN at Coney Island Beach Tuesday followed one still at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge last Saturday. Single CASPIAN TERNS were at Battery Park and Riverside Park Wednesday, with two earlier in the week at the Croton Point Railroad Station lagoon.

An UPLAND SANDPIPER was nicely photographed as it flew by Breezy Point last Saturday. WHIMBREL included two at Floyd Bennett Field Tuesday and one in Jamaica Bay Saturday, and other notable shorebirds this week included WHITE-RUMPED, PECTORAL and WESTERN SANDPIPERS.

The ACADIAN FLYCATCHER family of four is still being seen in Prospect Park, and BLUE GROSBEAKS continue around the Calverton grasslands.

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 31, 2020
* NYNY2007.31

BROWN PELICAN
Semipalmated Plover
Lesser Yellowlegs
Greater Yellowlegs
WHIMBREL
Ruddy Turnstone
Least Sandpiper
White-rumped Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Short-billed Dowitcher
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL
CASPIAN TERN
Royal Tern
ACADIAN FLYCATCHER
Bank Swallow
Purple Martin
Cliff Swallow
Worm-eating Warbler
Louisiana Waterthrush
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, July 31, 2020 at 9:00 pm.

The highlights of today’s tape are BROWN PELICAN, WHIMBREL and other shorebirds, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL and CASPIAN TERN, ACADIAN FLYCATCHER, BLUE GROSBEAK and more.

Going through a seemingly relatively slow period recently, last Saturday at least did provide BROWN PELICAN reports, with two off the Avalon Avenue beach on Staten Island and another seen again on the ocean off mid-Fire Island. Seabirding, though, has generally been unproductive this week.

Shorebirds do continue to move through, and today in Brooklyn four WHIMBREL were spotted as they flew over Floyd Bennett Field, this followed a short time later by five moving by Plumb Beach.

Among other more unusual shorebirds were a WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER at Plumb Beach Monday, that day also providing a PECTORAL SANDPIPER at Mecox, with three PECTORALS at Heckscher State Park today. Other shorebirds also moving through now include SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, RUDDY TURNSTONE, SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS, and LEAST and SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS.

Unfortunately, the region’s premier shorebirding site, the East Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, continues to be unsuitable for both shorebirds and birders, despite efforts to get the outflow working properly and the water level down. Stay tuned for word on hopeful improvements here.

Four LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were at Mecox Monday, with others scattered along the coast, and some ROYAL TERNS at various coastal sites were supplemented by reports of single CASPIAN TERNS at Robert Moses State Park Sunday and on Staten Island today.

A family group of ACADIAN FLYCATCHERS, including two recently fledged young, has been a highlight in Prospect Park recently, and BLUE GROSBEAKS with young remain around the very productive grasslands in Calverton.

Among a very modest movement of early landbird migrants recently have been a few LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSHES plus a WORM-EATING WARBLER spotted Tuesday in Brooklyn. Various SWALLOWS, including CLIFF, BANK and PURPLE MARTIN, have also been gathering in certain areas.

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
* Jul. 24, 2020
* NYNY2007.24

– Birds mentioned
BROWN PELICAN+
(+ Details requested by NYSARC)

GULL-BILLED TERN
Royal Tern
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER
STILT SANDPIPER
WESTERN SANDPIPER
MARBLED GODWIT
WHIMBREL
RED-HEADED WOODPECKER
ACADIAN FLYCATCHER
BLUE GROSBEAK

– 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, July 24th 2020 at 11pm. The highlights of today’s tape are BROWN PELICAN, fall shorebirds including MARBLED GODWIT, WHIMBREL, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, STILT SANDPIPER, WESTERN SANDPIPER, GULL-BILLED TERN, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, ACADIAN FLYCATCHER and BLUE GROSBEAK in this vacation shortened edition.

Sightings of BROWN PELICAN this week included singles off Coney Island Beach last Saturday and off Wolfe’s Pond Park on Staten Island Sunday and hopefully others will continue to appear off Long Island’s south shore.

Shorebird season is ramping up with numbers and varieties still building. This morning a MARBLED GODWIT was seen in flight moving easterly past Brooklyn’s Plumb Beach where other featured species included one STILT SANDPIPER and 4 WESTERN SANDPIPERS as well as 2 GULL-BILLED TERNS. A WHIMBREL was present at Breezy Point last Sunday with 2 there Wednesday and Thursday and out at Cupsogue County Park in West Hampton Dunes yesterday, besides a WHIMBREL, other highlights included LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER and WESTERN SANDPIPER. Two STILT SANDPIPERS were also at Miller Field on Staten Island yesterday.

A GULL-BILLED TERN was noted at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge last Saturday and ROYAL TERN numbers continue to increase..

RED-HEADED WOODPECKER is still present along the Paumanok Trail next to Jones Pond in Manorville the entrance on the west side of Schultz Road.

One or more ACADIAN FLYCATCHERS remain in Prospect Park and BLUE GROSBEAK apparently nested successfully out in the Calverton Grassland again emphasizing why this very valuable resource deserves protection.

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
* Jul. 17, 2020
* NYNY2007.17

– Birds mentioned
BROWN BOOBY+
BROWN PELICAN+
WHITE-FACED IBIS+
WESTERN SANDPIPER+
(+ Details requested by NYSARC)

Caspian Tern
Cory’s Shearwater
Cattle Egret
Short-billed Dowitcher
Pectoral Sandpiper
Lesser Yellowlegs
WHIMBREL
Red-headed Woodpecker
WESTERN KINGBIRD
Louisiana Waterthrush

– 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, July 17th 2020 at 9pm. The highlights of today’s tape are BROWN BOOBY, BROWN PELICAN, WHITE-FACED IBIS, WHIMBREL, WESTERN SANDPIPER and WESTERN KINGBIRD. This tape shortened due to vacation constraints.

Tropical Storm Fay last Friday brought some exciting birds to the south shore of Long Island. Received too late for last week’s tape for Friday’s sightings of an immature BROWN BOOBY and 52 GREAT SHEARWATERS off Jacob Riis Park. A few reports of GREAT and CORY’S SHEARWATERS offshore Saturday included an interesting GREAT on the Hudson River off Riverside Park in northern Manhattan. Some BROWN PELICANS were also noted early in the week off Staten Island and Breezy Point.

The adult WHITE-FACED IBIS was seen again last Saturday at the Captree Island marsh.

Great news about the valve at the north end of the East Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge finally getting unclogged. So hopefully many of the shorebirds now coming through can stop off there soon.

Highlights at Cupsogue on Monday featured 2 WHIMBREL, hundreds of SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS, 46 LESSER YELLOWLEGS and 8 WESTERN SANDPIPERS with up to 14 WESTERNS counted there Tuesday. Staten Island produced a WHIMBREL Saturday and a PECTORAL SANDPIPER on Monday as well as a CATTLE EGRET on Tuesday.

Two CASPIAN TERNS were observed Sunday at Croton Point in Westchester County with one again on Tuesday.

RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS remain near the Paumanok Trail by Jones Pond off Schultz Road in Manorville.

Certainly the surprise landbird of the week was a WESTERN KINGBIRD reported flying east on Saturday by Robert Moses State Park field 2 and notable also was an early LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH spotted Wednesday at Camp Hero in Montauk.

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

– End transcript