NYC Area Rare Bird Alert, 7/17/2026
-RBA
* New York
* New York City, Long Island, Westchester County
* July 17, 2026
* NYNY2607.17
– Birds Mentioned:
RUFF+
CURLEW SANDPIPER+
(+ Details requested by NYSARC)
BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK
Stilt Sandpiper
Baird’s Sandpiper
Western Sandpiper
Parasitic Jaeger
LITTLE GULL
Glaucous Gull
ARCTIC TERN
Wilson’s Storm-Petrel
Cory’s Shearwater
Scopoli’s Shearwater
Great Shearwater
Sooty Shearwater
Manx Shearwater
BROWN PELICAN
SUMMER TANAGER
BLUE GROSBEAK
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, July 17,
2026 at 11:00 pm.
The highlights of today’s vacation-shortened tape are BLACK-BELLIED
WHISTLING-DUCK, RUFF, CURLEW SANDPIPER, LITTLE GULL, ARCTIC TERN,
BROWN PELICAN, BLUE GROSBEAK, SUMMER TANAGER and more.
But first, a very saddening note that earlier this week Guy Tudor
passed away suddenly but peacefully. Guy was an exceptionally gifted
artist, portraying birds with amazing lifelike accuracy. A great
friend, but always uniquely himself, Mr. Guy will never be duplicated
but will be deeply missed.
Two BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCKS appeared Tuesday at the College
Point Wetlands in Queens and have continued there through today, this
the site of the former Flushing Airport just west of route 678.
The molting RUFF and nicely plumaged CURLEW SANDPIPER, both showing up
last Friday at Jones Beach West End, continued into this week, though
the CURLEW was not seen today. The RUFF moves between dune pools
located between West End Fields 1 and 2 and the flats off the Coast
Guard Station. Interestingly, the CURLEW was seen at West End each
day except last Saturday, when one was reported farther east out at
Tiana Beach.
An immature LITTLE GULL was present Monday and Tuesday out on eastern
Long Island at Georgica Inlet, and up to four ARCTIC TERNS were
present Monday at Mecox, with singles spotted there Saturday and
Thursday, while the GLAUCOUS GULL was seen again Tuesday off the Coney
Island Pier.
Several sightings of BROWN PELICANS on Monday featured 2 at Breezy
Point, 5 off Jones Beach, and 4 off Fire Island, with 1 at Mecox Inlet
the previous Saturday.
The half -day CRESLI whale-watching boat trips out of Montauk were
again this week also good for pelagic birds, including WILSON’S
STORM-PETREL, CORY’S, GREAT, SOOTY, and MANX SHEARWATERS, with
SCOPOLI’S also reported, plus small numbers of PARASITIC JAEGERS.
Some shorebirds showing up recently have included a few WESTERN and
STILT SANDPIPERS plus a BAIRD’S SANDPIPER identified out at Mecox
yesterday.
Some BLUE GROSBEAKS and a SUMMER TANAGER continue at the Prestons Pond
Complex, the GROSBEAKS also at other sites around Calverton.
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
