Category: Rare Bird Alerts

-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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Transcriber: Gail Benson

[~BEGIN RBA TAPE~]

Greetings! This is the New York Rare Bird Alert for Friday, July 10, 2020 at 8:00 pm.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

To phone in reports call Tom Burke at (914) 967-4922. This service is sponsored by the Linnaean Society of New York and the National Audubon Society. Thank you for calling.

– End transcript

-RBA
* New York
* New York City, Long Island, Westchester County
* July 3, 2020
* NYNY2007.03

– Birds Mentioned

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Transcriber: Gail Benson

[~BEGIN RBA TAPE~]

Greetings! This is the New York Rare Bird Alert for Friday, July 3, 2020 at 9:00 pm.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

To phone in reports call Tom Burke at (914) 967-4922. This service is sponsored by the Linnaean Society of New York and the National Audubon Society. Thank you for calling.

– End transcript

– RBA
* New York
* New York City, Long Island, Westchester County
* Jun. 26, 2020
* NYNY2006.26

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

Gull-billed Tern
Royal Tern
Roseate Tern
BLACK TERN
Cory’s Shearwater
LEAST BITTERN
Tricolored Heron
AMERICAN AVOCET
WHIMBREL
Northern Bobwhite
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Black-billed Cuckoo
Red-headed Woodpecker
BLUE GROSBEAK
YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER

– Transcript

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

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

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

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

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

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

Transcriber: Ben Cacace

BEGIN TAPE

Greetings. This is the New York Rare Bird Alert for Friday, June 26th 2020 at 9pm. The highlights of today’s tape are PURPLE GALLINULE, WHITE-FACED IBIS, BROWN PELICAN, AMERICAN AVOCET, WHIMBREL, LEAST BITTERN, BLACK TERN, YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER, BLUE GROSBEAK and more.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

– End transcript

– RBA
* New York
* New York City, Long Island, Westchester County
* Jun. 19, 2020
* NYNY2006.19

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

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

– Transcript

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

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

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

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

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

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

Transcriber: Ben Cacace

BEGIN TAPE

Greetings. This is the New York Rare Bird Alert for Friday, June 19th 2020 at 10pm. The highlights of today’s tape are WHITE-FACED IBIS, LEAST BITTERN, GULL-BILLED TERN, MANX SHEARWATER and other pelagics from shore, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER, BLUE GROSBEAK and more.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

– End transcript

-RBA
* New York
* New York City, Long Island, Westchester County
* June 12, 2020
* NYNY2006.12

– Birds Mentioned

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

Brant
Blue-winged Teal
Hooded Merganser
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Eastern Whip-poor-will
Willet
Red Knot
Stilt Sandpiper
White-rumped Sandpiper
Short-billed Dowitcher
Lesser Black-backed Gull
GULL-BILLED TERN
Roseate Tern
Cory’s Shearwater
Sooty Shearwater
Tricolored Heron
Red-headed Woodpecker
Acadian Flycatcher
Horned Lark
Cliff Swallow
Grasshopper Sparrow
Eastern Meadowlark
Ovenbird
Tennessee Warbler
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER
SUMMER TANAGER
BLUE GROSBEAK
DICKCISSEL
If followed by (+) please submit documentation of your report electronically and use the NYSARC online submission form found athttps://www.nybirds.org/NYSARC/goodreport.htm

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

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

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

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

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

Transcriber: Gail Benson

[~BEGIN RBA TAPE~]

Greetings! This is the New York Rare Bird Alert for Friday, June 12,
2020 at 9:00 pm.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

To phone in reports call Tom Burke at (914) 967-4922. This service is sponsored by the Linnaean Society of New York and the National Audubon Society. Thank you for calling.

– End transcript

-RBA
* New York
* New York City, Long Island, Westchester County
* June 5, 2020
* NYNY2006.05

– Birds Mentioned

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Transcriber: Gail Benson

[~BEGIN RBA TAPE~]

Greetings! This is the New York Rare Bird Alert for Friday, June 5, 2020 at 10:00 pm.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

– End transcript