Much slower day on the ridge than we hoped for. Decent NW winds but the pipeline had slowed to a trickle after yesterday's flight. Most birds were high/distant specks zipping past today. Thanks to Brian and Phil and Ted for their help in picking up a lot of these high fliers. The Bird of the Day selection goes to the first bird of the day which was an immature harrier that passed the watch site close on the river side just slowly pumping along as it cruised down ridge.
Non-raptor Observations: TV's Ravens Bluejays Robins N.Flicker RB Nuthatch Buckmoths ======================================================================== Report submitted by Jim Thomson (<hawkinflight...>)
A solid flight day on the ridge today ! Great to have almost our entire crew up top as the clear blue skies made spotting birds quite difficult. It was an all hands on deck kind of day !! Great job by all ! Sharpies streaming by us high and low.. left and right..kept us on our toes throughout the day ! Plenty of action from Coopers Hawks as well. Redtails and Red-shoulders letting us know that bigger flight days are just around the corner. Merlins blasting by are just amazing !! Somehow it's always the Golden Eagles that capture our attention and today's Bird of the Day selection goes to the 5:10pm immature Golden that came down ridge in gorgeous light. This crisply marked immie came in slowly and circled a few times for us before gliding down ridge. Just blew us away !
Non-raptor Observations: TV's- Many on the move Ravens-( a few carrying chunks of meat) throughout the day ======================================================================== Report submitted by Jim Thomson (<hawkinflight...>)
A fun day on the ridge featuring a lot of accipiter action from start to finish! Sharpies did not disappoint with multiples in the sky many times during the day. Great looks at many Coops directly over our heads. Falcons zipping past keeping things "spicy" ! An adult Golden Eagle passed by at just above eye level on the river side and paused briefly to let an adult Bald Eagle catch up with it seemingly so it could make numerous passes at the Bald. Great comparative looks at these 2 beauties ! We had an additional 10+ Bald Eagles that were not counted as migrating today. Also an adult Peregrine that was hunting the ridge did not get counted. Our Bird(s) of the Day selection goes to the Sharpie and a Raven that were locked in combat as they moved down ridge. The Sharpie made many passes at the Raven and than the Raven turned the tables on the Sharpie. Great fun to watch this action unfold below eye level ! Many thanks to Phil, Ted, and Craig, for their help today and exceptional spotting efforts !
Non-raptor Observations: TV's - Many on the move today Canada geese- Skeins all day long Ravens- 20+ Junco ( first of season ) No. Flicker- 2 ======================================================================== Report submitted by Jim Thomson (<hawkinflight...>)
Raptor Observations: Many thanks to Phil Rodriguez for conducting the count today. A slow but steady flight today which featured a nice push of 11 Northern Harriers, Bald Eagles, a Golden Eagle, and Peregrine Falcons. 5- Bald Eagles counted today but many more that were seen but not counted as migrating. The Bird(s) of the Day selection goes to the Coopers Hawk and Peregrine Falcon that were locked in battle as they headed down ridge with the Peregrine making several passes at the Coop along the way ! Awesome !
Non-raptor Observations:
======================================================================== Report submitted by Jim Thomson (<hawkinflight...>)
Observation start time: 10:00:00 Observation end time: 17:00:00 Total observation time: 7 hours
Official Counter: Jim Thomson
Observers: Al Ambler, Brian Butler, Harry Quinn, Phil Rodriguez
Visitors: Lori Smith Jeff Climpson Carl Krag Thanks for the help today !!
Hikers- 2
Weather: Temps- 55-60 Deg.F, Wind- NW@10-15mph Early rain clearing to partly cloudy skies by 10:00am
Raptor Observations: BE- 11:12I, 11:51A, 11;59A, 12:28A, 12:47A, 1:35I, 4:15A GE- 12:01 PG- 12:20, 12:30 Many thanks to Brian Butler for conducting today's count as well as to the Coon gang, Jeff Climpson, and Carl Krag ! Way to go guys ! Per Brian Butler- After the rain stopped by about 10:00am it was a very pleasant autumn day on the ridge.The Sharpie parade started with nearly 40 birds in the first hour. Things slowed a bit after that but a steady flight continued throughout the day.Highlights include close looks at a Grey Ghost, and a pair of Peregrines.However.. our Bird of the Day selection goes to our FIRST GOLDEN EAGLE of the season ! This bird was out over the river side just above Shawnee Ridge and simply cruising along.. giving great looks to the gang ! Also 10 Bald Eagles and 2 Peregrines hanging around the watch moving N/NE that were not counted
Non-raptor Observations: Ravens Buckmoths TV's & BV's Common Loon- 4 ======================================================================== Report submitted by Jim Thomson (<hawkinflight...>)
Date: 10/6/25 1:59 pm From: Evan Cutler <evancutler...> Subject: [JERSEYBI] Montclair Bird Club Program this Wednesday: Cuba with the Montclair Bird Club
Back in February, members of the Montclair Bird Club, led by MBC executive board member Rick Wright, spent ten wonderful days exploring the incredible birds of Cuba. This Wednesday at 7:30 pm, join MBC treasurer Ric Cohn as he'll share photos and stories from this once-in-a-lifetime trip. If you'd like to receive an invitation to this Zoom program, or to find out more about our monthly programs, as well as our walks, trips and other events, please visit our website at www.montclairbirdclub.org. You can also receive a Zoom invite to Wednesday's "Cuba with the Montclair Bird Club" program by simply sending an email to <montclairbirdclub100...> Hope to see you there!
Observation start time: 10:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 6 hours
Official Counter: Jim Thomson
Observers: Brian Butler, Harry Quinn, Ted Lurker
Visitors: Ted Lurker- Thanks for the help today Ted. Jeff Climpson with wife Kathleen and son Justin. ( Sorry I missed you guys ! ) Thanks as always for the spotting help ! John Berry- Good having you back. Kevin Weinmar
Lori Smith with Nikki, Bert, Bublik & River
Weather: Temps- 58-72 Deg.F, Wind AM-N/NE@5-10mph switching to N/NW@ 0-5mph in PM. clear Blue skies all day
Raptor Observations: Another tough day on the ridge even with a lot of helpful eyes scanning the clear blue skies. Thanks to Phil for conducting the count today. Thanks to the Coon regulars and helpful visitors that tried to pull as many birds as possible out of the challenging blue skies. Nice job ! Phil's choice for Bird(s)of the Day goes to the THREE peregrines that put on a show for hours on the reservoir side. Attacking every poor vulture that passed within sight. These are likely local peregrines that nest on nearby cliffs and were deemed as not migrating today.
Non-raptor Observations: Common Loon- 1 Monarch- 4 ======================================================================== Report submitted by Jim Thomson (<hawkinflight...>)
Observation start time: 10:00:00 Observation end time: 17:00:00 Total observation time: 7 hours
Official Counter: Jim Thomson
Observers: Phil Rodriguez, Tom Campbell
Visitors: Lori Smith
Weather: Temps- 65-75 Deg. F Wind- N/NE@ 0-5 MPH High clouds
Raptor Observations: Many thanks to Phil and Tom for getting up top today ! Thanks to Phil for conducting the count. Slow day on the ridge as expected w/ light N/NE winds Bird of the Day selection goes to the very close Harrier that came down ridge moving out over the river giving the guys a " Coon eye view"!
Non-raptor Observations:
======================================================================== Report submitted by Jim Thomson (<hawkinflight...>)
Date: 9/30/25 5:01 am From: Laurie Larson <0000057b603ab9b2-dmarc-request...> Subject: [JERSEYBI] Update: Phylloscopus Warbler at Randalls Island, NYC (discovered 9/27)
Begin forwarded message:
> Just a heads up for people who might want to look for it, it wasn't seen after 730am or so today. I was there from about 1130 am to 345pm with many others, some of whom were there since 8am, and no sign of it the whole time I was there. Lots of warblers including an immature Connecticut Warbler and several other species of passerines, but no Arctic Warbler. It may show up again, but I'd be surprised. Good luck if anyone goes.
>
> Andrew
>
> Andrew Block
> Consulting Naturalist
> Yonkers, New York
> www.flickr.com/photos/conuropsis/albums
Date: 9/29/25 7:06 pm From: Laurie Larson <0000057b603ab9b2-dmarc-request...> Subject: [JERSEYBI] Fwd: Phylloscopus Warbler at Randalls Island, NYC (discovered 9/27)
This rarity in Manhattan will be of interest to Jersey birders:
> Begin forwarded message:
>
> From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...>
> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Phylloscopus Warbler at Randalls Island, NYC (discovered 9/27)
> Date: September 29, 2025 at 7:55:55 AM EDT
> To: <NYSbirds-L...>
> Reply-To: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...>
>
> A beyond-mega Phylloscopus-genus Warbler discovered very early on Saturday, Sept. 27 on Randalls Island, in New York County which is within N.Y. City, was continuing on Sunday, Sept. 28th in the same area. This discovery, and now thought to be likely an Arctic Warbler based on photos, videos and observations that include analyzing the vocalizations - the last a regular feature of identification in many Phylloscopus-genus warblers, is a beyond-rare bird for the lower-48 contiguous United States and also a probable first for anywhere in the eastern to midwestern USA, or eastern Canada.
>
> Thanks to the original group involved in the find on Saturday 9-27, R. Zucker, T. Healy, D. Aronov, and A. Cunningham who all frequent Randalls Island in all seasons for birding. Happily this small passerine has continued on a Sunday - 9-28 - affording even more observers to come in and find it. Excellent additional re-finds and cooperation from so many, with kudos to the original finders-observers for staying around so long on Saturday to help at times. There were on Saturday also many very good locally-rare to less common migrants seen on Randalls Island, including Blue Grosbeak and Dickcissel, and then later also Connecticut Warbler along with twenty-plus other migratory American-hemisphere Warbler species found by the Randalls-regulars and with many also being seen later thru both Saturday and on to Sunday.
>
> There will be more notes and sharing of information on this Phylloscopus-find in coming days, weeks, and months. Congratulations to the devoted Randalls Island birders and to all who came in to seek this beyond-rare small bird, of a large group of species known more widely to Asian and European, and more generally to non-nearctic or neotropical bird seekers.
>
> There could be a lengthy list of far more than 100 additional migrant species seen this weekend in N.Y. County, but even a number of rarer but North American breeding birds found in the county by vast numbers of observers and photographers is a bit overshadowed by one small, not easily identified to species level, passerine of - primarily - the other sides of 2 ponds, across the Pacific and across the Atlantic. A lingering question with this New York County Phylloscopus will be what path it took in arriving to Randalls Island - and thru North America - and should any observers happen to have thought of or been able to see if any fecal matter - ie, poop - from this Phylloscopus could be picked up, there might be a chance at an analysis. A vast amount of scientific literature exists on the Phylloscopus and while some in that large assemblage of species may be more-recently evolved or evolving, there have been some papers describing the groups of these warblers of which Arctic Warbler is most allied with, as perhaps an older evolutionary spilt compared with some others of this genus. One could do worse than to look into articles partly authored by Per Alstrom in the area of research in the Phylloscopus, also many readers might know of the articles in the Birds of the World sets and online versions, which are strongly influenced by Alstrom, some parts principally authored by him. Many authors from a great diversity of nations have also contributed much to knowledge in the complexity of the Phylloscopus.
>
> Good birding and thanks to all for observations and reports, particularly for so many highly-detailed notes and reports on the bird of this year and perhaps of this decade, for the site and by some estimation, for all of the county.
>
> Tom Fiore
> manhattan
>
>
>
> --
>
> (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".")
>
> NYSbirds-L List Info:
> NortheastBirding_DOT_com/NYSbirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm
> NortheastBirding_DOT_com/NYSbirdsRULES_DOT_htm
> NortheastBirding_DOT_com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave_DOT_htm
>
> ARCHIVES:
> 1) mail-archive_DOT_com/nysbirds-l@cornell_DOT_edu/maillist_DOT_html
> 2) surfbirds_DOT_com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
> 3) birding_DOT_aba_DOT_org/maillist/NY01
>
> Please submit your observations to eBird:
> ebird_DOT_org/content/ebird/
>
> --
>
Raptor Observations: The fella's had a fine day on the ridge today ! Many thanks to Phil Rodriguez for conducting the count ! Great action and nice raptor diversity! The guys picked up a nice number of Broadwings and a solid Sharpie flight ! The Bird of the Day selection goes to the immie Red-shoulder that came zipping in from the reservoir side and made a bee line to the owl decoy before heading down ridge! Awesome !!
Non-raptor Observations: Monarch- 23 RT Hummingbird- 2 ======================================================================== Report submitted by Jim Thomson (<hawkinflight...>)
We had nice viewing skies today.. just not much to view ! My thanks to Brian Hardiman for his company and spotting help today !
We did have some nice looks at a few Bald Eagles and Sharpies. Also a gorgeous male Kestrel passed by the watch site on the reservoir side and perched in a snag just behind us. great looks at a gorgeous raptor. We recorded our first 2 Peregrines of the season with the 1:02pm Peregrine getting our Bird of the Day selection. A fine look at this bird on the reservoir side of the ridge just pumping all the way down ridge until out of sight.
Non-raptor Observations: Beautiful Blackbear sow with yearling cub. ( Seen by JT on the hike in ) RT Hummingbird- 3 Monarch- 2 Raven- 2 Bluejays Tree Swallows- all over the skies First Buckmoths of the season TV's & BV's E.Phoebe ======================================================================== Report submitted by Jim Thomson (<hawkinflight...>)
Observation start time: 09:00:00 Observation end time: 17:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours
Official Counter: Jim Thomson
Observers: Brian Hardiman
Visitors: Kamal Ouanaim Dave Roszel Thanks for stopping by and thank you for your help spotting. Your timing was excellent to see some nice Broadwing action.
Hikers- 12
Weather: Temps- 60-70 Deg.F, Wind- S/SE@ 3-10mph Cloud Cover- 80%-90% in am. Hazy skies with clearing later in the day.
Raptor Observations: A HUGE THANK YOU to Brian Hardiman for covering the ridge today. The count was in good hands today as Brian was the previous lead counter for almost 2 decades !! A lot of sky to handle but Brian did a great job of pulling some Broadwings out of the sky for us today. 80% of the flight passed the watch between 9:00am and Noon. His Broadwing count also puts us over the 7000 mark for BW's for the season. A very solid count for us for that species. Brian's Bird of the Day selection goes to " The adult Broadwing that locked onto the owl decoy and did it's best Merlin imitation ripping by it in a blur ! Don't often see a BW at the owl, and even less an adult" I had the same experience about a week and a half ago.. when an adult BW rips in at the owl decoy... it will ALWAYS earn our Bird of the Day honors !
Non-raptor Observations: Monarch- 9 Black Swallowtail- 1 Ravens- up to 5 entertaining me for much of the day. RB Nuthatch- 1 RT Hummingbird- 1 Tree swallows- moving for much of the day Spotted Lanternflies continue to be a nuisance. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Jim Thomson (<hawkinflight...>)
Observation start time: 09:00:00 Observation end time: 17:30:00 Total observation time: 8.5 hours
Official Counter: Jim Thomson
Observers: Brian Butler, Brian Hardiman, Craig Stockert, Phil Rodriguez
Visitors: Rick Klinger ( without the Klinger karma ! ) Barry Swasny Mike Leone & Nora O'rourke- great seeing you two ! Suzanne Fiala - Great to meet you ! Come on back and help with the count !
Hikers- 34
Weather: Temps- 56-74 Deg.F, Wind- ENE@ 3-8mph becoming more variable in pm Clear Blue Skies all day long
Raptor Observations: A BIG WELCOME BACK to my buddy Brian Hardiman !! Great having you back up top !! Another day featuring deep blue skies.. no bueno !!! We did pick up a lot of mostly high flying raptors today and we worked for every bird that we got !! Thanks to all for your efforts ! Our runner up for Bird of the Day goes to the late day Merlin that came streaking in at the owl decoy, passed it, came back and started vocalizing at it, perched in a tree out in front of us momentarily, and than came back for a final pass at the owl before heading off down ridge. Our Bird of the Day selection goes to the young Bald Eagle that we picked up below eye level on the reservoir side. This eagle was slowly circling trying to gain altitude and each time it circled it got closer and closer to us until our bins were just full of eagle !!! A beautiful young Baldie that finally gained enough height and drifted off to the north but not before putting on an award winning performance for us !
Non-raptor Observations: Monarch- 8 Great Spangled Fritillary Tree Swallows- Many Canada geese TV's RB Nuthatch- 1 Bluejays ======================================================================== Report submitted by Jim Thomson (<hawkinflight...>)
A bit to the quiet side on the ridge today. We had some nice action between the hours of 10:00am - Noon and than things just shut down. Only 2 raptors recorded between Noon - 3:30pm. Our Bird(s) of the Day selection goes to the 2 Sharpies that were locked in a serious dogfight.Chasing, diving, and vocalizing at each other as they moved down ridge.Great looks at these two as they were close to the ridge on the river side.
Non-raptor Observations: Red-headed Woodpecker- Adult ( flew by at close range on the river side) Monarch- 4 Bluejays Ravens- 4 TV's & BV's Tree Swallows RB Nuthatch- 1 ======================================================================== Report submitted by Jim Thomson (<hawkinflight...>)
