Date: 9/21/26 4:44 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] N.Y. County, NYC - Sunday, 9/20 - migrants, incl. Sum. Tanager, Dickcissel, etc.
N.Y. County -in N.Y. City- including Manhattan, Randalls, Governors, and Roosevelt Islands and the adjacent waters and sky -
thru Sunday, September 20th -
At Randalls Island among many other species, a Summer Tanager showed, one among the higher-than-expected fall sightings of this species already documented in this county. A Dickcissel showed at Inwood Hill Park in n. Manhattan, that also a species turning up in higher than the usual lower number anticipated this early in the season of southbound migrations in this county.
Over the county, at least 20 species of warblers were found on Sunday with at least 19 of those twenty species seen at Central Park by observers unruffled by forecasts of real rain - of which there was some, while much of Sunday was mild, humid, rather overcast, and still featured over 100 species of birds in the county. Birds such as Veery, Great
Crested Flycatcher, and others typically of slightly earlier peak-departure timing were still being found in the county. Other areas of the county also featured many migrants again after very active migrations on prior days.
Thanks to rainy-day observers and photographers for Sunday sightings, alerts, and reports of many migrants.
Date: 9/20/26 10:20 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] N.Y. County, NYC - Sat., 9/19 - great migration diversity
New York County -in N.Y. City- including Governors, Randalls, Roosevelt and Manhattan islands and the adjacent waters and sky -
Saturday, September 19 -
Nearly 120 species of birds showed at Central Park in Manhattan on Saturday, with numbers of new arrivals and reinforcements of some species which were already present there. However, the county overall featured a much broader variety of migrants and plenty to be seen on all 4 of the major islands of the county. There was a quite good morning-flight in all sectors of the county, and also a strong flight during the night from Friday into Saturday, with of course far more birds that carried on, moving farther south, and passing over the local area in the night.
An E. Whip-poor-will at Central Park was seen well by many - including by multiple observers walking independently, and with photos taken by some. In the category of caprimulgids, more Common Nighthawks were also seen, a few during full daylight.
Connecticut Warblers have been noted from multiple locations, with one on Governors Island well-photographed on Saturday. Various other sightings are so far this year not as well-documented, some even when noted by experienced observers.
Red-headed Woodpeckers were found in at least 2 locations on Saturday, both being adult birds, one at Randalls Island, and another at Central Park, the latter just-possibly a lingering bird, although the species has been moving in fair numbers around the wider region.
Dickcissel has been doing nicely in terms of appearances in this county - and around the wider region - recently, and another sighting of a vocal bird of this species came from Governors Island on Saturday, where many migrants were seen by large numbers of observers in yet another of the multiple not-for-profit guided bird walks occurring almost daily now in this county, with supporting institutions and organizations which lead on such areas as outreach in conservation and education, sound science, and strong support for natural diversity, and happily with more and more young people from many backgrounds coming to enjoy our birds and all of nature.
The Saturday Dickcissel at Central Park in Manhattan was seen and heard by fewer observers but also is fully confirmed and, it might still be lingering in that park, as with the other individual seen at Governors. Bobolinks have continued passing thru with some going thru Manhattan including Central Park, on Saturday and in many other county locations, in modest numbers.
A Rusty Blackbird in basic -ie winter- plumage was seen and well-photographed at Central Park on Saturday, the first of the season. A Pine Siskin is a confirmed sighting from Governors Island on Saturday, and a small flight of Purple Finch occurred thru at least far west Manhattan. Red-breasted Nuthatches were again detected from some locations, including in Central and many other parks in Manhattan. Some of the latter seemed to be new arrivals.
The movement of Scarlet Tanagers on Saturday morning was exceptional, and that movement was also noted from tens of miles out of Manhattan if not much farther, with more than 50 Scarlets in and over Central Park alone on Saturday, and vastly more - well into triple-digits for all of the county - on the day. It might be a good time to be checking for any potential vagrant Tanagers that could be around, beyond the uncommon Summer Tanagers of which we have had low multiples recently.
Vireos have continued to include all six of the annually occurring species with this seasons good showing by Philadelphia Vireo continuing with multiples of that species. All of the other five vireo species were still present at Central Park to Saturday. For flycatchers, a fairly good diversity was still being seen around the county, but some species are now showing diminished numbers, as more E. Phoebes come in.
We are in that phase of the year where there are still Great Crested Flycatchers pushing through but, any Myiarchus-genus flycatcher seen in coming weeks or months ought to be scrutinized and if possible, closely photographed or video-audio recorded so as to check details in the case of potential rarer vagrant species. This also would be best for sightings of Empidonax-genus flycatchers noted in the coming weeks or months, and even for any flycatcher that looks not-quite like an expected local, such as Eastern Phoebe of which we can sometimes see lingerers to early winter, or later in some years.
We also are in that time of year for paying some attention to Hummingbird details as the weather and season changes. For now, all sightings here have been of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, and that species can be ongoing for some weeks or longer, but that species is less and likely as the year goes along. By November, a vagrant species of hummingbird, with some variety of species as possibilities, becomes as-likely, if any hummingbird is found in the northeast, and the vagrant rather than the Ruby-throated is actually the more-likely by the final six weeks of the year in late Nov. or December. Photos, videos, very close observations will all be very helpful.
Waterfowl and waterbirds turning up on Saturday also included some Common Loons, including a couple overflying Manhattan and Central and Riverside Parks, and a
also over Randalls Island on Saturday. A Ruddy Duck was a new arrival at Central Park, where American Wigeon also continued, and another Am. Wigeon was found at Randalls Island. The Yellow-crowned Night Heron still is best sought in this county at Randalls, and we shall see how late into this year that species persists.
A nice movement of N. Pintails was observed going past Central Park in morning flight, while Green-winged Teal were noted, and many N. Shovelers, as well as some Wood Ducks continuing at Central Park and elsewhere, along with all the usual summering-over-all waterfowl of the county. Laughing Gulls are still moderately common, as expected for now, and a rather few Common Terns were still around mainly from the N.Y. Harbor area or the south end of the Hudson river. Double-created Cormorants have been moving by the many-hundreds and some groups flying over were into the 80-plus range per group. Vast numbers of N. Flickers were moving thru, not especially unusual for this time of year, in any case numbers just for Manhattan only were likely up to quadruple digits in morning hours on Saturday. Within that cohort, other woodpecker species were likely to be much less obvious even if on the move such as the less widely understood and lesser movements in some seasons, of Red-bellied Woodpecker and other species of woodpecker.
Thanks to many hundreds of observers on Saturday from all around the county, for sightings, alerts, and reports, many with photos or video-audio included.
Date: 9/19/26 4:10 pm From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Sat. Sept. 19, 2026: E. Whip-poor-will, White-eyed Vireo, 14 Wood Warbler Species
Central Park NYC
Saturday, September 19, 2026
OBS: Robert DeCandido, PhD, Deborah Allen, m.ob.
Highlights: E. Whip-poor-will, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, White-eyed Vireo, 14 Wood Warbler Species including Hooded Warbler. In addition, Andrew Rubenfeld reported a Connecticut Warbler.
Canada Goose - 12
Mallard - 15
Mourning Dove - 15-20
Yellow-billed Cuckoo - 4
Eastern Whip-poor-will - 1 gray-morph near Gill Overlook
Chimney Swift - 5
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 4-6
American Herring Gull - 2 or 3 flyovers
Cooper's Hawk - 2 (1 adult, 1 immature) Ramble
Barred Owl - continuing since last Saturday
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 4 or 5
Downy Woodpecker - 1 Shakespeare Garden
Northern Flicker - 25-30
Great Crested Flycatcher - 1 Maintenance Field
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 8-10
Least Flycatcher - 1 south side Turtle Pond (Annie Plum)
White-eyed Vireo - 1 Strawberry Fields (Caren Jahre)
Red-eyed Vireo - 3 or 4
Blue Jay - 8-10
American Crow - 3 or 4
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 1 south side Turtle Pond
Northern House Wren - 2 or 3
Gray Catbird - 15-20
Brown Thrasher - 8-10
Veery - 3 or 4
Wood Thrush - 3
American Robin - 25-20
Common Grackle - 80-100
Ovenbird - 2 or 3
Black-and-white Warbler - 3 or 4
Common Yellowthroat - 5 or 6
Hooded Warbler - 1 female Maintenance Field (Scott Brevda)
American Redstart - 8-10
Cape May Warbler - 2 Shakespeare Garden
Northern Parula - 3 or 4
Magnolia Warbler - 6 or 7
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 1 south side Turtle Pond (Annie Plum)
Blackpoll Warbler - 1 Azalea Pond
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 5 or 6
Palm Warbler - 2 (Sparrow Rock (Edmund Berry), Pinetum (Deb))
Pine Warbler - 4 or 5
Black-throated Green Warbler - 3 (John Bitetti, Edmund Berry)
Scarlet Tanager - 3
Northern Cardinal - 5 or 6
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - 7
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
18, 2026 at 11:00 pm. The highlights of today’s tape are WHITE IBIS,
WESTERN KINGBIRD, SEDGE WREN, EARED GREBE, AMERICAN AVOCET, RED-NECKED
PHALAROPE, HUDSONIAN GODWIT, BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER, LARK and
CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS, YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER,
SUMMER TANAGER, BLUE GROSBEAK, DICKCISSEL and more.
A continuing immature WHITE IBIS out in Orient at Brown’s Point Marsh
at least to Saturday was joined locally Thursday by a large incursion
of virtually all immature birds, commencing with 23 seen flying out
from the East Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge early Thursday
morning; shortly thereafter an estimated 20 or more were viewed
feeding with egrets and herons in the tidal marshes at Oakwood Beach
on Staten Island just north of Great Hills Park, these ultimately
flying off to the southwest, and around noon a group of 4 immatures
was spotted at Gilgo, also soon moving on. And there could be more to
come.
A WESTERN KINGBIRD appeared on Governors Island Saturday, and a SEDGE
WREN was heard and occasionally seen near the pollinator garden at
Caumsett State Park Saturday to Monday, with another also noted again
Tuesday on private property in Manhasset.
The EARED GREBE lingering on the West Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife
Refuge was still present Tuesday, while on the East Pond, where the
water level remains much higher than appropriate for the fall
shorebird season, nonetheless, the north end especially has attracted
an AMERICAN AVOCET, present Sunday through today, a couple of
HUDSONIAN GODWITS, one continuing through Thursday at least, up to
five WILSON'S PHALAROPES, with 2 present today, other shorebirds such
as LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER and WESTERN SANDPIPER, and along the edges
multiple SORAS and VIRGINIA RAIL.
0ther shorebirds featured scattered AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS, which on
Sunday included 14 at Nickerson Beach, 25 on a sod field in Miller
Place that also had a BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER, 7 off Mill Lane in
Mattituck and 1 on Jerome Reservoir in the Bronx again, with 2 at
Jones Beach West End Monday, while other BUFF- BREASTEDS featured 3 at
Breezy Point Tuesday, 1 Friday, and 1 at Fort Tilden Sunday.
Two RED-NECKED PHALAROPES dropped down on the Hudson River off
Piermont Pier today, and another was on the ocean off Hither Hills
Wednesday.
The summering GLAUCOUS GULL was at Coney Island Beach last weekend,
and 3 BLACK TERNS were photographed cruising over Prospect Park Lake
in the rain last Sunday.
A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was in Green-Wood Cemetery last weekend and at
the Salt Marsh Nature Center at Marine Park today.
LARK SPARROWS included 2 on Governors Island Sunday, 1 in Green-Wood
Cemetery Monday, and 1 at the Fire Island hawk watch Monday and
Thursday, and CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS were noted in Prospect Park
Tuesday and Friday and at Floyd Bennett Field Thursday.
YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS were reported from Governors Island and Fire
Island Sunday, Planting Fields Arboretum in Brookville Wednesday and
Arshamomaque Preserve in Greenport today, and a good variety of
WARBLERS included a GOLDEN-WINGED in Prospect Park today, plus a few
CONNECTICUT, MOURNING and HOODED.
A SUMMER TANAGER was in Central Park’s north end Saturday and in
Tompkins Square Park today, and BLUE GROSBEAKS were found on Governors
Island Tuesday to Thursday, and Wednesday at Fort Totten Park in
Queens and at Planting Fields.
Single DICKCISSELS were noted in Central, Prospect and Kissena Parks
and at Breezy Point.
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.
Date: 9/19/26 12:11 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Manhattan, NYC - Fri., 9/18
Manhattan, N.Y. City - Friday, September 18th -
A female-plumaged Summer Tanager was well-photographed - Z. Nyugen - at Tompkins Square Park in lower-east Manhattan on Friday.
American Woodcock was a new addition - A. Evans - to birds of the southbound sseason for the county, and also new for Canal Park in lower west Manhattan, found on Friday.
Common Nighthawks continue to move across Manhattan as seen from multiple locations. Broad-winged Hawks overflew Manhattan, including over Central Park, in what was by-far the strongest overall flight of that species thru the local as well as wider region on Friday, for this season so far.
At least 18 species of migratory warblers were present in Central Park on Friday, Sept. 18th. Among the many species seen was Mourning Warbler. Over 80 species of wild, free-flying birds were seen just in that park on Friday, with far more for all of Manhattan and N.Y. County.
Date: 9/18/26 12:03 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC - Thurs., 9/17 - 21+ Warbler spp., etc.
Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City -
Thursday, September 17th -
A minimum of 21 species of migratory warblers were found in Central Park on Thursday, seen by many observers throughout all of that park and over all hours of the day, rather than from one limited area or in a very limited space of time. Not included in the tally of 21 species, there was at least one report of a Connecticut Warbler, a species that is fully expected at this period in southbound migration, and-but ideally should receive review and confirmation. Other migrants that were ongoing at Central on Thursday included Veery, Gray-cheeked, Wood, and multiple Swainsons Thrushes, and still-early Hermit Thrush. A Marsh Wren reported on Sept. 16 at Central Park is a confirmed sighting. Blue-headed Vireo had begun to be found in somewhat greater numbers. Green-winged Teal is ongoing at The Pool in the parks n-w quadrant. Many other migrant species were ongoing, including numbers of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, multiple Yellow-billed Cuckoos, and the Barred Owl by now observed by far more than ten thousand people, not all self-described as -birders-.
. . . . .
A Blue Grosbeak in female-like plumage was again noted at Governors Island in N.Y. County, just south of Manhattan island, on 9-17. There was a report of Blue Grosbeak from Central Park which will need reviewing.
. . . .
Monarch butterflies which are now migrating thru on their way to wintering areas mainly in south-central Mexico were found in great numbers around Central Park on Thursday. Many more might be moving along on Friday, Saturday and in any coming days with northerly winds.
Date: 9/17/26 2:26 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Manhattan, NYC - to 9/16 - various arrivals and other migrants
2 Blue Grosbeaks were reported, and confirmed, from Governors Island just south of Manhattan - and each a part of N.Y. County - on Wednesday, Sept. 16th.
. . . .
Manhattan, N.Y. City - to Wednesday, September 16th -
A Virginia Rail was confirmed from a sighting in the vicinity of Columbus Park in lower east Manhattan, late-day on Tues., 9-15. A Dark-eyed Junco at Central Park was likely the first sighting of the season there, or for the county, also on 9-15, and showing at Central Park by Wed., 9-16 was Field Sparrow. Additional Ruby-crowned Kinglets have been appearing around Manhattan, and were in the low-multiple at Central Park.
A minimum of 21 warbler species were found at Central Park on Wednesday, by many many observers and photographers thru all of that park and observing at all hours of the day. Thrushes still included Veery, and Gray-cheeked Thrush - and such types, as well as multiple Wood and particularly Swainsons Thrushes, with a very few well-documented Hermit Thrush, all these in other places in Manhattan and the county, besides those in Central Park to Wednesday, 9-16.
For Central Park alone, more than 140 species of wild, free-flying birds have shown so far this month, all as found by both independent observers and those leading or in support of not-for-profit guided bird walks in that park, and with many walks also being offered in migration and other seasons all around the NYC area, by multiple non-profit organizations and institutions. For all of New York County, more than 160 species of birds were so far recorded and confirmed in September. Many more species are likely to be found, as this month continues along.
Thanks to hundreds of observers and photographers for sightings, alerts, and reports for many locations in Manhattan and in the rest of N.Y. County.
Date: 9/16/26 2:37 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] N.Y. County, NYC - to 9/15 - Blue Grosbeak & many other migrants
New York County -in N.Y. City- including Manhattan, Governors, Randalls, and Roosevelt islands and the adjacent waters and sky -
thru Tuesday, September 15th -
A Blue Grosbeak in female-like plumage was lingering on at Governors Island thru Tuesday, and some Bobolinks were also still being found there, as were many other migrants. A report came on Monday, 9-14 from the general vicinity of Governors Island and-or the ferry dock area at the south tip of Manhattan for a Pied-billed Grebe, with no further details. Governors has been receiving many migrants this month, and while some of course have moved on, some are, or could still be, lingering on that island. At least 24 species of warblers have occurred there so far this month and some additions to the list of warblers are still very possible.
Going back to the night of Sept. 11 and into the early morning dark hours of Sept. 12, the team of keen observers at the 9-11 memorial Tribute in Light who monitor and record migrants coming into the powerful light beams on just that one night found many warblers, as is typical with strong migrations here seen in most years on or around those dates. Among the many warblers that could be identified, including from photos taken during that night this year, Golden-winged and Connecticut Warblers were each noted, along with a wide diversity of other species. It is certainly possible that other Connecticut Warblers have passed thru this county in their often-skulking way, as stopovers in potentially any place in this county. That species has in past years in fall migration turned up in gardens, churchyards open to the public, various other small greenspaces, and of course in parks large and small and various other kinds of locations in the county.
At Central Park, an American Wigeon as well as Green-winged Teal were continuing thru Tuesday. Double-digit numbers of N. Shovelers also remain in Central and may increase further fairly soon. Also seen again in that park on Tuesday, Philadelphia Vireo which is having a fairly good fall by numbers of well-documented observations in this county.
Some shorebirds persist including Spotted and Solitary Sandpipers in multiple locations including at Central Park, while elsewhere are lowered numbers of Least, and far fewer of Semipalmated Sandpipers. Killdeer also continue in locations where they are regular.
Common Tern, diminished in numbers by now, were still being found off lower Manhattan at the Hudson River Piers as well as around N.Y. Harbor including being noted from Governors Island but less-frequently than in the earlier part of this month. At Randalls Island Yellow-crowned Night Heron was still to be seen to Tuesday. Black-crowned Night Herons are far more widespread in this county. Green Herons are ongoing for now in multiple locations, and both Snowy and Great Egrets were also still being seen.
Very modest signals of the approach of a change in season, some additional Brown Creepers have been turning up this week, and some White-throated Sparrows, in very modest numbers may be turning up in areas where none were as little as one week prior, and to some extent the same is so for Lincolns Sparrows, while Red-breasted Nuthatches - not really indicative of the season, however - are becoming more widely-noticed in the county, and in some locations such as Central Park, are seen daily by some among the hundreds and hundreds of weekly observers in that park.
Thanks to many hundreds of observers and photographers out and about thru this county at varied times and many locations, for so many sightings, alerts, and reports.
Date: 9/15/26 5:40 pm From: marciaaabrahams at aol.com (via NYSBIRDS-L list) <NYSBIRDS-L...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Do not miss Ian Resnick's "Patagonia, the south Atlantic Islands, and Antarctica" presentation at tomorrow night's Queens County Bird Club meeting!
Queens County Bird Club Monthly Meeting
Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026Time: 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM Place: Alley Pond Environmental Center, 229-10 Northern Blvd, Douglaston, NY 11362
Ian Resnick presents "Patagonia, the south Atlantic Islands, and Antarctica"
Last October into November, Ian Resnick went on a Field Guides trip to Patagonia, the south Atlantic islands, and Antarctica. The trip, which usually leaves from and returns to Ushuaia, instead left from Puerto Madryn in Patagonia. This allowed for an extra day of birding in Patagonia, mostly in an area where Ian had been a couple of years earlier on an Earthwatch expedition. Ian will share his experience via his photos, videos, and also a slide show provided by Oceanwide Expeditions, which runs the ship used on the trip.
Doors will open at 7:00 PM and the presentation will begin at 7:30 PM. Please be prompt and ring the bell when at the front door when you arrive.
Marcia AbrahamsVP/Programs CoordinatorQueens County Bird Clubhttps://qcbirdclub.org/Email: <MarciaAAbrahams...>
Date: 9/15/26 12:34 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] N.Y. County, NYC - 9/14 - incl. new Central Park arrivals, and more
New York County -in N.Y. City- including Manhattan featuring Central Park, Governors, Randalls, and Roosevelt islands and adjacent waters and sky -
Monday, September 14 -
A brightly-plumaged Dickcissel was photographed - K. Lagunas Sanchez - in Central Parks north sector on Monday, while at The Pool in that area of that park, an American Wigeon was seen and photographed by many, along with lingering Green-winged Teal.
Yet another Philadelphia Vireo was seen and photographed at Central Park on Monday, all sightings of that species this fall by either independent observers and photographers or by those involved in or leading recent not-for-profit guided bird walks. A minimum of 22 migratory warbler species were seen in Central Park on Monday with a majority of the boreal-breeding species still represented - as with most any day of birds seen at Central, observers have been out from first-light thru dusk, and in all areas of that park, not just in one limited area or for a short portion of a day. A high majority of warblers found on Monday were in the multiple and some well into double-digits for Central Park alone, with of course far more sightings from locations all around the entire county.
Common Nighthawks continue to pass on their migrations, with sightings from Central Park and also several other locations again on Monday, as have been seen for some days especially from Manhattan. Many, but not all sightings of these are in late day to dusk hours at the varied locations, including the multiple areas seen within Central Park.
Veery and Wood Thrush and Gray-cheeked-type Thrushes were all still being found in the county, and all plus multiple Swainsons Thrushes again found at Central Park into Monday. At least 5 species of vireos were present at Central Park thru Monday. Many other parks and greenspaces have also held a wide variety of migrants, thru Monday.
On Sunday, 9-13 at Governors Island, a Dickcissel was seen and photographed, with rather more drab plumage than the individual found the next day many miles to the north in Central Park. Also found at Governors Island on Sunday was a Yellow-breasted Chat, that possibly a lingering individual there. And, as noted by 2 of the multiple observers of Lark Sparrow at Governors Island on 9-13, there seem to have actually been 2 Lark Sparrows in proximity there at one point, although more of the observers discerned one of that species. The Western Kingbird which was seen and well photographed at Governors on Sat., 9-12 seems to have been a one-day-wonder, not all that unusual of that species when they turn up in the region - although of course there also can be individuals that linger for days. Common Terns have dwindled in the county as this month continues, but are still being seen by some observers, mainly watching in the N.Y. Harbor now, and including from Governors Island.
Many more migrants are being found with a very small fraction of some reports needing confirmations for less common birds. Species noted above are all confirmed sightings, many including photos as well as good textual detail.
Thanks to hundreds of independent observers and photographers and those leading or affiliated with not-for-profit guided bird walks in this county, many of which are taking place each week in multiple locations as the migrations continue, for sightings, alerts, and reports.
Date: 9/14/26 5:14 pm From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Mon. Sept. 14, 2026: Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Bay-breasted, Blackpoll, and Other Warblers
Central Park NYC
Monday, September 14, 2026
OBS: Robert DeCandido, PhD, Deborah Allen, m.ob.
Highlights: Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Barred Owl, Yellow-belied Sapsucker, Cedar Waxwing, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Brown Thrasher, Bay-breasted, Blackpoll, and Other Warblers, Rose-breasted Grosbeak.
Canada Goose - 18
Mallard - 28
Mourning Dove - 10-15
Yellow-billed Cuckoo - 7 (not a typo)
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 4
Barred Owl - continuing
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 3 or 4
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - 3
Downy Woodpecker - 2 or 3
Northern Flicker - 12-15
Great Crested Flycatcher - 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 3
Warbling Vireo - 1 heard (Karen Evans)
Red-eyed Vireo - 3
Blue Jay - 8-10
Cedar Waxwing - 6-8 Captain's Bench (Deb)
White-breasted Nuthatch - 1 heard
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 1 Strawberry Fields (Dan Stevenson)
House Wren - 1 Strawberry Fields (Karen Evans)
Gray Catbird - 8-10
Brown Thrasher - 5 or 6
Swainson's Thrush - 8-10
American Robin - 20-15
White-throated Sparrow - 1 Ramble
Common Grackle - 4 or 5
Ovenbird - 1 Strawberry Fields
Northern Waterthrush - 1 Bow Bridge
Black-and-white Warbler - 5 or 6
Common Yellowthroat - 1 female Strawberry Fields
American Redstart - 15-18
Northern Parula - 6-8
Bay-breasted Warbler - 1 Azalea Pond (Caren Jahre)
Blackpoll Warbler - 1 Strawberry Fields
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 1 male Bow Bridge
Canada Warbler - 1 Azalea Pond (Dan Stevenson)
Northern Cardinal - 5 or 6
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - 8-10
Date: 9/14/26 12:59 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] N.Y. County, NYC - 9/13 - Lark Sparrow, other migrants, rarity-reports, etc.
New York County -in N.Y. City- including Governors, Randalls, Roosevelt, and Manhattan islands and the adjacent skies and waters -
Sunday, September 13th -
A Lark Sparrow was found, sometimes associating with house sparrows, on Governors Island, on Sunday, with multiple observers by days end. One report suggesting that the W. Kingbird was seen on Sunday was a data-entry error in that the date was meant to be for Sat., 9-12, and there were apparently no sightings of the rare kingbird from Sunday - the same date-entry error also occurred for a Blue Grosbeak not reported for Sunday, only Sat., 9-12. - - No one was observing any migrant birds on Governors Island at after-midnight of 9-13, that report was meant to be for Saturday during daylight. - -
A report of Clapper Rail from Governors Island late Sunday would constitute a rare species for this county, apparently heard in very late day near the Lima pier at the west-sw edge of the island. Also noted on Governors early on Sunday, was a larger than average Killdeer movement, over 50 individuals there, as well as a small assortment of other shorebirds, none new to the season here. Other locations in the county seemed not to produce much of a shorebird-drop, and overall it was not easy to discern that some birds did get put down from the rains that started small at sunrise, only later growing in intensity but not really a storm as such, and an extremely slow moving trailing front of drier cooler air that was still partly as far west as eastern Ohio and western PA late in the day Sunday…
An adult Dickcissel was reported on Sunday, with some details, from Rockefeller Park which -in Manhattan- is a short way southwest of the western terminus of Chambers Street in lower Manhattan. In scattered locations in the county, perhaps most of all in the southern parts of it, were pockets of migrants and somewhat notable in some of the pockets of birds were Blackpoll Warblers in the multiple, although far from any major fallout of that species. In many areas such as Central Park and some other parks, it seemed that some birds were simply lingering from the prior day or days. Up to 19 species of migratory warblers were found at Central Park, with a variety of other typical migrants also ongoing.
One correction for the 2 Red-headed Woodpeckers seen by multiple observers, one very well photographed, at Central Park on Saturday, 9-12 is that one of the two was in adult plumage, and may have flown towards the northern half of that park, whereas the other individual was a first-fall plumaged bird lacking the full red hood of the adult. Either, or both of these woodpeckers might be lingering in that park.
On Sat., 9-12 one species was noted having perhaps just arrived to the county and in Central Park, Brown Creeper. A Wild Turkey persists at the southern tip of Manhattan, and in multiple locations of the county this month and in recent days have been Monk Parakeets, which are an extant non-native but long established breeding species in the NYC region, and for some areas, a bit beyond also.
Date: 9/13/26 3:34 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] N.Y. County, NYC 9/12 - addendum + additional species
New York County -in N.Y. City- including Governors, Randalls, Roosevelt, and Manhattan islands and adjacent waters and skies -
thru Saturday, September 12th -
Firstly, thanks to L. Beausoleil for the find of a Western Kingbird, seen later by others and which remained on Governors Island in N.Y. County for the day Sat., 9-12, although it moved a bit out of the Hills sector later on, for some time. Photos of this bird were obtained. As already noted to this list, a Blue Grosbeak was lingering on as well at Governors, and some of the many other migrants seen there included Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Red-breasted Nuthatch, multiple Bobolinks, and a good diversity of migrant warblers and various additional migrants.
Although not available to birders to go seeking, a LEAST Bittern was one of the notable species identified in part thru photos, from the Sept. 11 Tribute in Light migration-watch during night-time, at the 9-11 memorial in lower Manhattan. Many thousands of migrant birds were noted for those who were observing in that night there - observers participating are highly experienced with active migration watches, even when the watch is an unusual one and is only carried out at that location when the brilliant Tribute lights are switched on for the occasion of remembrance and memorial to those who were lost in 2001.
For Manhattan, since a huge number of birders chose Central Park as their location for at least part of the day, and some observers started at first-light, others staying thru at least dusk, many species were found there - in all sectors of that park, by many hundreds of total observers out at all varied hours.
Two Red-headed Woodpeckers at Central Park were noted by several groups of observers - it is possible either of those birds might linger in the park, and it could be that if lingering, the southern half of the park will be the likelier sector in which they lmay be re-found. In first-fall plumage, lacking a brilliant full red hood, that species is not always as conspicuous as might be thought. Knowing or learning the vocalizations and listening intently may help in finding the species.
Of other birds seen on Saturday, 9-12 at Central Park, a minimum of 26 species of migratory warblers were found on the day, with some species being numerous. One example were American Redstarts, of which, in addition to many seen in or passing thru in morning flight, this species was also noted from a multitude of Manhattan street locations and some very small patches of greenery as well as in many more parks and typical greenspaces in the county, such as gardens, plazas, courtyards and others.
For more of a sense of the species seen just within Central Park in the past 2 days, a list is provided below of a majority of the species found, for Sept. 11-12, in that one park.
Canada Goose
Wood Duck - multiple.
Northern Shoveler - additional arrivals in past week.
Gadwall
Mallard
American Black Duck
Mallard x American Black Duck hybrid
Green-winged Teal - ongoing at The Pool in the parks n-w sector.
feral Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Yellow-billed Cuckoo - multiple.
Black-billed Cuckoo
Common Nighthawk
Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - many.
Spotted Sandpiper
Solitary Sandpiper
Laughing Gull
Ring-billed Gull
American Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Double-crested Cormorant
Black-crowned Night Heron
Snowy Egret
Green Heron - multiple, and from multiple sites thru Manhattan and N.Y. County.
Great Egret
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Coopers Hawk
Bald Eagle
Broad-winged Hawk - this species has been migrating in 4-digit numbers thru the greater northeast and into at least PA hawkwatch locations, and some are being seen in or over Central Park and elsewhere around the county, including at Roosevelt Island.
Red-tailed Hawk
Barred Owl - accompanied by recent swarms of humans with optical equipment….
Belted Kingfisher
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Red-headed Woodpecker - 2, as noted from Sept. 12, perhaps only moving thru in the morning, as is also typical of this species, however some certainly do choose to linger.
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern -Yellow-shafted- Flicker - increased over past week.
American Kestrel
Merlin
Peregrine Falcon
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Acadian Flycatcher, Alder-Willow Flycatcher or Traills Flycatcher, and Least Flycatcher May all have occurred, but for some of these at this time of year, it is safe to make an ID as Emoidonax-genus, esp if a bird is non-vocal.
Eastern Phoebe
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird - already scarcer than one week earlier.
White-eyed Vireo
Yellow-throated Vireo
Blue-headed Vireo
Philadelphia Vireo
Eastern Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo - still fairly common.
Blue Jay
American Crow
Fish Crow
Common Raven
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - recent arrivals, not many yet.
White-breasted Nuthatch
Red-breasted Nuthatch - this species has been moving thru for some weeks already.
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - multiple.
Northern House Wren
Winter Wren - first reliable report for late this past week.
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
Northern Mockingbird
Veery
Gray-cheeked Thrush - those being found appear to be these, with some heard calling and not rarer-overall Bicknells.
Swainsons Thrush - near common.
Hermit Thrush - scarce so far, and early, but at least several had already arrived.
Wood Thrush
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
House Sparrow
House Finch
American Goldfinch
Chipping Sparrow - this species breeds in low numbers in Central Park, and around N.Y. County more generally, the big autumn arrivals are not yet here.
White-throated Sparrow - not nearly the big autumn arrivals yet.
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Lincolns Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Bobolink - on morning passage, however elsewhere in the county, some have lingered.
Baltimore Oriole - multiple.
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Common Grackle
-
Ovenbird - multiple.
Worm-eating Warbler - this was seen to at least Sept. 11th.
Northern Waterthrush - multiple.
Blue-winged Warbler - multiple.
Black-and-white Warbler - multiple.
Tennessee Warbler - multiple.
- - - some Orange-crowned Warbler reports have come in, still needing confirmations.
Nashville Warbler - multiple.
Mourning Warbler - multiple, but not many.
Common Yellowthroat - many.
Hooded Warbler - multiple, but not many.
American Redstart - most numerous easily spotted warbler of past two days.
Cape May Warbler - multiple.
Northern Parula - multiple, with some increases.
Magnolia Warbler - multiple.
Bay-breasted Warbler - multiple.
Blackburnian Warbler - multiple, but not very many.
Northern Yellow Warbler - multiple.
Chestnut-sided Warbler - multiple.
Blackpoll Warbler - multiple.
Black-throated Blue Warbler - multiple
Palm Warbler - of both the Yellow and Western forms. In the multiple of each form.
Pine Warbler - multiple.
Yellow-rumped -Myrtle- Warbler - multiple, but not that many… yet.
Prairie Warbler - multiple.
Black-throated Green Warbler - multiple.
Canada Warbler - multiple.
Wilson's Warbler - multiple, but not very many.
-
Summer Tanager - ongoing female, with more observers and photos taken on Sept. 12.
Scarlet Tanager - multiple.
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - multiple.
Indigo Bunting
and almost certainly some additional migrants beyond the listing here.
Thanks to many many observers and photographers for finds, alerts, and reports of so many birds, all thru N.Y. County.
Date: 9/12/26 2:21 pm From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Sat. Sept. 12, 2026: Least Flycatcher, Lincoln's Sparrow, 10 Species of Wood Warblers
Central Park NYC
Saturday, September 12, 2026
OBS: Robert DeCandido, PhD, Deborah Allen, m.ob.
Highlights: Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Green Heron, Least Flycatcher, Common Raven, Lincoln's Sparrow, 10 Species of Wood Warblers including Prairie and Bay-breasted Warblers. A Barred Owl was again reported at the North End with many observers.
Canada Goose - around 20
Mallard - 7
Mourning Dove - 10-15
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 4
American Herring Gull - 4 flyovers
Black-crowned Night-Heron - 1 flyover
Green Heron - 1 hatch-year Turtle Pond
Great Blue Heron - 1 Upper Lobe
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 3 or 4
Downy Woodpecker - 1 Captain's Bench
Northern Flicker - 3
Great Crested Flycatcher - 2 in the Ramble
Least Flycatcher - 1 Maintenance Field (Edmund Berry)
Empidonax Flycatcher - 1 Shakespeare Garden
Red-eyed Vireo - 6
Blue Jay - 4 or 5
Common Raven - 6 or 7 circling (Delphine Berry)
Gray Catbird - 6
Veery - 1 Swampy Pin Oak (Claire Buyens)
Swainson's Thrush - 8-10
Wood Thrush - 1 Tupelo Field
American Robin - 15-20
Lincoln's Sparrow - 1 at the Oven
Baltimore Oriole - 6-8
Common Grackle - 2 or 3
Ovenbird - 3 or 4
Black-and-white Warbler -6
Common Yellowthroat - 3 or 4
American Redstart -22
Northern Parula -9
Magnolia Warbler - 5
Bay-breasted Warbler - 1 Warbler Rock
Northern Yellow Warbler - 1 Belvedere Castle
Prairie Warbler - 3
Canada Warbler - 1 Belvedere Castle
Scarlet Tanager - 1 Tupelo Field
Northern Cardinal - 4 or 5
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - 3
Date: 9/12/26 11:26 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] N.Y. County, NYC - 9/12 - W. Kingbird, Blue Grosbeak, other ongoing migrants, etc.
New York County -in N.Y. City- including Governors, Randalls, Roosevelt, and Manhattan islands, and their adjacent skies and waters -
into Saturday, September 12th -
A Western Kingbird is lingering at the Hills area of Governors Island, which itself is just south of Manhattan, and also again being seen at Governors is a Blue Grosbeak, along with many other migrants and some other birds.
A female Summer Tanager was again at the n. end of Central Park, after the find of that bird on early morning of Sept. 11 by C. Roberto. Multiple Scarlet Tanagers and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks are continuing to be seen at Central Park and many other sites in the county. Lincolns Sparrow was found again at Bryant Park in mid-Manhattan, with some observers reporting more than one of that species.
At Central Park, both species of expected cuckoos were seen on Saturday and at least 19 species of migratory warblers are present, with a possibility that additional species may be confirmed, or revealed. A Philadelphia Vireo confirmed with photos has been present in the Central Park Ramble, found and observed by not-for-profit bird observers and photographers. All five of the other annually expected vireos are also again present. A modestly-early Winter Wren was found on Friday at Central, and at least 5 migratory thrush species there continue to include Gray-cheeked, Swainsons, Wood, early for here Hermit Thrush as well as Veery. Also slightly-early, some Yellow-breasted Sapsuckers have been arriving in the county. Not especially early, Ruby-crowned Kinglets are appearing in some locations in the county, including for several days now at Central Park. Red-breasted Nuthatches are also continuing to be found, so far in modest numbers.
Migrants were ongoing at all areas within the county - small Canal Park in lower-west Manhattan had a good variety of warblers for the location, and many smaller - as well as larger - greenspaces and parks have had migrant birds into Saturday. Roosevelt Island as well as Randalls Island each have had good diversity for their respective areas of bird habitat.
More on additional birds in a future report, including some of the birds among the thousands noted from nocturnal observations including in particular, at the Tribute in Light which is by the 9-11 memorial in lower Manhattan - the Tribute in Light is monitored by bird observers each year as migrant birds are strongly attracted by the very bright light beams used when it is operating.
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
11, 2026 at 11:00 pm. The highlights of today’s tape are WHITE IBIS,
MISSISSIPPI KITE, SEDGE WREN, shorebirds including AMERICAN AVOCET,
UPLAND, BUFF-BREASTED and BAIRD’S SANDPIPERS, and MARBLED and
HUDSONIAN GODWITS, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, EVENING GROSBEAK, LARK
SPARROW, YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, GOLDEN-WINGED and CONNECTICUT WARBLERS,
SUMMER TANAGER and more.
An immature WHITE-IBIS appeared Thursday on the North Fork out at
Orient Beach State Park and was relocated Friday feeding with mostly
GREAT EGRETS at the Brown’s Point marsh off Narrow River Road.
An immature MISSISSIPPI KITE was spotted and photographed last
Saturday as it flew over Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, and a SEDGE
WREN found last Sunday at Caumsett State Park was still heard today at
the grassland restoration site.
Good shorebird variety this week featured an AMERICAN AVOCET
continuing to visit the Oceanside Marine Nature Study Area at least to
Wednesday and an AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER out in Jamaica Bay last
Saturday, with singles today at Jerome Reservoir in the Bronx and out
at Heckscher State Park Field 7. A MARBLED GODWIT was seen again
Sunday off Jones Beach Field 10, with 15 more today out at Old Inlet
in Bellport Bay, west of Smith Point County Park, where they were
joined by good numbers of shorebirds including 2 HUDSONIAN GODWITS, 6
HUDSONIAN WHIMBRELS, an AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER and a couple of WESTERN
SANDPIPERS, along with 3 CASPIAN TERNS. Single HUDSONIAN GODWITS were
on Jamaica Bay’s East Pond to Wednesday and at the end of Piermont
Pier Monday, and an UPLAND SANDPIPER was heard Sunday at Fresh Kills
Park on Staten Island. Lone BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS were noted on
eastern Long Island, with singles at Sagg Pond Saturday and Monday, at
Cupsogue Saturday and at Mecox Sunday, and single BAIRD’S SANDPIPERS
were noted at Sagg Pond Sunday and Mecox Wednesday. WILSON’S
PHALAROPES on Jamaica Bay’s East Pond since Tuesday peaked with 4 or 5
there today around the north end, that pond also featuring SORA and
VIRGINIA RAIL.
The GLAUCOUS GULL often seen at Coney Island Beach was still there
Wednesday, and a BLACK TERN was off City Island in the Bronx
Wednesday.
A boat trip off Montauk Monday featured a RED-NECKED PHALAROPE, a
PARASITIC JAEGER, and some CORY’S, SCOPOLI’S, GREAT, MANX and SOOTY
SHEARWATERS.
Single RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS visited Conference House Park on Staten
Island Saturday and Caumsett State Park Sunday.
Quite a surprise was a female EVENING GROSBEAK photographed in
Brooklyn’s Green-Wood Cemetery last Sunday. LARK SPARROWS this week
featured 2 at Fresh Kills Park Sunday, 1 at Heckscher State Park
Monday, and 1 seen in Green-Wood Cemetery Tuesday and Thursday.
Several PHILADELPHIA VIREOS were reported during the week, and single
YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS appeared in Pelham Bay Park last Saturday,
followed by 1 in Brookfield Park on Staten Island Sunday, and another
in Central Park’s Ramble Monday. A nice variety of WARBLERS included
GOLDEN-WINGED in Blydenburgh Park Saturday and Prospect Park Sunday
and CONNECTICUT today at Alley Pond Park and Green-Wood Cemetery. A
female-type SUMMER TANAGER was found today in the north end of Central
Park.
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.
Date: 9/11/26 2:41 pm From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC, Fri. Sept. 11, 2026: Solitary Sandpiper, Hooded Warbler, Summer Tanager
Central Park, NYC - North End
Friday, September 11, 2026
OBS: Deborah Allen, m.ob.
North End Highlights: Solitary Sandpiper, Hooded Warbler, Summer Tanager. Reported by others: Green-winged Teal at the Pool (John Wittenberg), Barred Owl at the Jug Handle (Ursula Mitra), and a Black-throated Green Warbler at the Wildflower Meadow (Ruben Giron).
In the Ramble Dr. DeCandido reported a Yellow-billed Cuckoo at Maintenance Field, a Cape May Warbler in Shakespeare Garden, a Prairie Warbler at Wagner Cove, a Canada Warbler at Evodia Field, and a Rose-breasted Grosbeak at the Gill. A Philadelphia Vireo was reported at the feeders/Evodia Field. See @mbalerter maintained by David Barrett For these and other Central Park bird reports.
--
Canada Goose - 23
Northern Shoveler - 4
Gadwall - at least a dozen
Mallard - 60-70
Mourning Dove - 3 or 4
Solitary Sandpiper - 1 at the Pool (David Barrett)
American Herring Gull - flyover
Great Blue Heron - 1 at the Pool
Cooper's Hawk - 2 (1 adult, 1 immature) Loch
Red-tailed Hawk - 1 immature Lily Ponds
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 2 at the Pool
Northern Flicker - 1 Harlem Meer (Tom Cowieson)
Eastern Kingbird - 1 Harlem Meer
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 1 Lily Ponds
Eastern Phoebe - 1 Grassy Knoll
Red-eyed Vireo - 3
Blue Jay - heard
American Crow - 3 flyovers calling
Gray Catbird - 4 or 5
Northern Mockingbird - 1 Harlem Meer
Swainson's Thrush - 2 (Wildflower Meadow, Pool)
American Robin - 10-15
American Goldfinch - 6-8 (2 adult males, 1 adult female)
Song Sparrow - 1 Harlem Meer
Common Grackle - 3
Northern Waterthrush - 2 at the Pool
Black-and-white Warbler - 1 Loch (Dan Stevenson and Sabine Schumacher)
Common Yellowthroat - 11
Hooded Warbler - 1 female west end of the Pool (Scott Brevda)
American Redstart - 5 or 6
Northern Parula - 1 Harlem Meer Island
Magnolia Warbler - 2 (1 Harlem Meer, 1 Grassy Knoll (Scott Brevda))
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 1 Loch
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 1 female at the Pool (Dan Stevenson)
Summer Tanager - 1 female west side of Harlem Meer thanks to Charlie Roberto*
Scarlet Tanager - 1 Harlem Meer (Caren Jahre), 1 Balancing Rock (Scott Brevda)
Northern Cardinal - 3 or 4
--
*Charlie Roberto is a retired FDNY Captain:
https://lufkindailynews.com/news_reuters/national/after-the-attacks-on-sept-11-2001-charlie-roberto-a-fdny-captain-was-put-in/image_8edd1150-592d-5227-97a6-c9cc6dd4f886.html
Date: 9/10/26 11:41 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Manhattan, NYC - thru 9/10 - migrant diversity
Manhattan, N.Y. City - thru Thursday, September 10th -
At Bryant Park in mid-Manhattan, a Lincolns Sparrow found as early as Sept. 6 was still present and had been seen and photographed by many to at least Sept. 9th. Other migrants also were continuing to be found there, as in locations all around Manhattan.
Central Park held more than 40 N. Shovelers by Sept. 10, and 2 Green-winged Teal were ongoing this week, as were some ongoing Spotted and Solitary Sandpipers. Multiple not-for-profit guided bird walks were held in Central Park on Thursday, and collectively along with independently walking observers and photographers, at least 19 species of migratory American-hemisphere warblers were found, by many many people in all sectors of the park, and many continuing to walk there for Thursday. There were far more than ninety species of wild, free-flying birds in or over Central Park on Thursday, and far more than that for all of Manhattan island.
Date: 9/10/26 11:20 am From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Thu., Sept. 10, 2026: Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Green Heron, Wood Warblers
Central Park NYC
Thursday, September 10, 2026
OBS: Robert DeCandido, PhD, m.ob.
Canada Goose - 12
Mallard - 8
Mourning Dove - 10-15
Yellow-billed Cuckoo - 2 south end of Maintenance Field (David Goodman)
Mourning Dove - 10-15
Chimney swift - 3 or 4
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 2 (Evodia Field, Gill Source)
Green Heron - 1 Turtle Pond
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 2 or 3
Downy Woodpecker - 1 Boathouse Hill
Northern Flicker - 3
Great Crested Flycatcher - 1 Captain's Bench
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 1 north end Maintenance Field
Red-eyed Vireo - 1 south side Turtle Pond
Blue Jay - 6-8
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 1 Tupelo Field
Gray Catbird - 3 or 4
Wood Thrush - 1 Evodia Field
American Robin - 15-20
Common Grackle - 3 or 4
Ovenbird - 1 Captain's Bench
Black-and-white Warbler - 4
Common Yellowthroat - 5 or 6
American Redstart - 14-15
Northern Parula - 1 Captain's Bench
Wilson's Warbler - 1 male south side Turtle Pond
Northern Cardinal - 3 or 4
--
Date: 9/8/26 1:19 pm From: kevin rogers (via NYSBIRDS-L list) <NYSBIRDS-L...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] American Golden Plover, Oceanside MNSA Nassau County
- Hi All, Just had a juvenile plumaged American golden Plover which after a few moments and a few reference photos flew south towards the back puddles to the right of the osprey nest. Trying to locate at the moment, while looking for it, the American Avocet just dropped back in that's been visiting here! Kind regards - Kev
Date: 9/7/26 1:13 pm From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC - Mon., 9/7 - 25 Warbler spp., 5 thrush spp., 6 vireo spp., etc.
Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City -
Monday, September 7th -
At least 25 species of migratory warblers were present in Central Park on Monday. Thrush species found included Gray-cheeked, Hermit, Swainsons and Wood Thrushes as well as Veery. Six species of vireo were present, none new to this season but some still quite uncommon, and still early for Blue-headed, the others including Philadelphia, Yellow-throated, White-eyed, Eastern Warbling, and numerous Red-eyed Vireos. Many many other migrants were also found on Monday, and birders were still out looking to late in the day, thru all of the park.
Date: 9/6/26 3:17 pm From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Manhattan, NYC - to Sun., 9/6 - many migrants again, 2nd Dickcissel on 9/5
Manhattan, N.Y. City - into Sunday, September 6th -
On Saturday, a different Dickcissel from the individual found on Governors Island the same day was seen at Inwood Hill Park. That latter park has occasionally hosted that species in the past, sometimes much later in past years, even to the C.B.C. season and later. Noting birds of this past week, on Sept. 1st at Governors Island, photos taken of a tanager showed it to be a Summer Tanager, a first of the southbound season for this county.
Among arrivals this weekend, seen both Saturday and Sunday, have included small numbers of Purple Finches, and slightly more of Red-breasted Nuthatches, both these species noted at several sites in Manhattan including in Central Park, and for 2 other islands of the county, at Governors and Randalls Islands.
Sunday, Sept. 6 saw more waterfowl at Central Park, with 2 Green-winged Teals again back at The Pool in that parks n-w sector, and with ongoing double-digit numbers of N. Shovelers, as well as other typical duckage there including Wood Ducks. Solitary and Spotted Sandpipers also continued at Central Park, as well as other locations in Manhattan and elsewhere in the county. Flycatcher diversity continues at a good rate with up to 8 species of flycatchers for this weekend, which includes all of those 8 species within Central Park, some Empidonax having given calls to help confirm ID, as has also been noted elsewhere in the county in recent days.
Central Park again had at least 24 species of migratory warbler species, as seen all around the park by large numbers of observers and photographers out at all hours.
Date: 9/6/26 12:35 pm From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Sun., Sept. 6, 2026: 7 Species of Wood Warblers
Central Park NYC
Sunday, September 6, 2026
OBS: Robert DeCandido, PhD, Deborah Allen, m.ob.
Highlights: Ruby-throated Hummingbird, American Kestrel, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Common Raven, Veery, Swainson's Thrush, 7 Species of Wood Warblers Including Magnolia, Blackburnian, and Chestnut-sided Warblers.
Canada Goose - 12
Mallard - 9
Mourning Dove - 10-15
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 2 Tupelo Field
Green Heron - 1 reported at Turtle Pond
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 2 or 3
Downy Woodpecker - 1 Shakespeare Garden
Northern Flicker - 2 (1 Evodia Field, 1 flyover)
American Kestrel - 1 male Boathouse Hill
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 3 or 4
Red-eyed Vireo - 5 or 6
Blue Jay - 4 or 5
Common Raven - heard
White-breasted Nuthatch - 1 Evodia Field
Gray Catbird - 7 or 8
Veery - 3
Swainson's Thrush - 1 Source of the Gill (Edmund Berry)
American Robin - 15-20
Baltimore Oriole - 2 Boathouse Hill
Common Grackle - 4
Ovenbird - 2 Ramble
Black-and-white Warbler - 4 or 5
Common Yellowthroat - 4 or 5
American Redstart - 10-12
Magnolia Warbler - 3
Blackburnian Warbler - 1 hatch-year female Maintenance Field (Edmund Berry)
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 1 west of Tupelo Field (Paul Curtis)
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 3 (2 males, 1 female)
Northern Cardinal - 5 including female feeding juvenile
--
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 4th 2026* at 11pm. The highlights of today's tape are pelagic trip results including WHITE-TAILED TROPICBIRD, SABINE'S GULL, LONG-TAILED JAEGER, BAND-RUMPED and LEACH'S STORM-PETRELS, and more plus BROWN BOOBY, SANDWICH TERN, EARED GREBE, BROWN PELICAN, WESTERN KINGBIRD, AMERICAN AVOCET, and other shorebirds and even more.
A 24-hour pelagic trip left Sheepshead Bay Sunday evening aboard the American Princess and by dawn, Monday morning, it reached the continental shelf. Among the first birds seen were a couple each of BAND-RUMPED and LEACH'S, along with many WILSON'S STORM-PETRELS plus numbers of CORY'S and GREAT SHEARWATERS and a SCOPOLI'S or two along with a few SARGASSO SHEARWATERS and quite exceptional was a superb show provided by an adult WHITE-TAILED TROPICBIRD followed later by an immature TROPICBIRD as well as several LONG-TAILED JAEGERS. Also excellent while heading back to Brooklyn was an exquisite immature SABINE'S GULL seen very nicely thanks to Captain Franks maneuvering and very high on the list of trip highlights were 2 WHALE SHARKS, the world's largest fish, and a huge LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLE, the world's largest turtle. All in all an exceptional trip.
Amazingly, there were 2 other sightings of SABINE'S GULL locally this week, one during the Long Island north shore mini-pelagic off Northport last Saturday, this also recording 5 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES, and CORY'S, GREAT and SOOTY SHEARWATERS, and a second SABINE'S seen today off Sunken Meadow State Park noted off field 2 and later a little farther east. Sunken Meadow also earlier today produced a SANDWICH TERN sitting on the jetty there.
An immature BROWN BOOBY appeared on the Hudson River Tuesday spending most of the day moving between Piermont Pier and the Cuomo Bridge occasionally moving over to the Westchester side as well.
The EARED GREBE was still on the West Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge last Sunday and the East Pond, at the north end, hosted 2 HUDSONIAN GODWITS plus some LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, and WESTERN SANDPIPERS plus 2 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES to Wednesday.
Other shorebirds this week have featured an AMERICAN AVOCET continuing to visit the Oceanside Marine Nature Study Area to today, WILSON'S PHALAROPE at Heckscher State Park last weekend and BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER at Jerome Reservoir last weekend, Smith Point County Park Monday, and Sagg Pond Tuesday, and on the Yaphank Avenue sod fields from Tuesday. Thursday there were 2 AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS on County Route 51 sod farms and another at Heckscher field 7, and BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS were noted at Heckscher Monday, and Sunken Meadow today. Good numbers of shorebirds have been gathering at Old Inlet in Bellport Bay about 2 miles west of Smith Point County Park and more unusual including up to 11 MARBLED GODWITS, 1 HUDSONIAN GODWIT, an AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER, and a BAIRD'S SANDPIPER recently.
A BROWN PELICAN moving east off Jones Beach Saturday was followed by 4 off Montauk Monday. A WESTERN KINGBIRD stayed at Caumsett State Park at least to Saturday and other notable passerines featured 2 LARK SPARROWS at Jones Beach to Saturday, single YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS in Bryant Park Thursday and at Rockefeller State Park Preserve today, BLUE GROSBEAK singles in Central Park Sunday, and on Governors Island today, and a few scattered DICKCISSELS.
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.
Date: 9/5/26 2:30 pm From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] N.Y. County, NYC - Sat., 9/5 - migrants galore
N.Y. County -in N.Y. City- including Manhattan, Randalls, Governors, and Roosevelt islands, on Saturday, September 5th -
For starters, there were at least 25 species of migratory warblers in Central Park alone on Saturday - as found by many, many observers and photographers thru all of that park, not just one sector and not just in a very limited span of time. At Randalls Island at least 22 species of warblers were found on Saturday, with a high diversity of other migrant birds also noted there, as was so in general throughout the county. Governors Island had a minimum of 20 species of warblers on Saturday and a Dickcissel was also ongoing at Governors. Bobolinks were noted from all over the county, mainly by those keen to hear, and to see them, including some on diurnal morning flight, which included Manhattan, and included Central Park therein.
Far more of migrant birds of many kinds were seen thru the county besides the limited variety noted above.
Thanks to hundreds of independent observers and photographers for sightings, alerts, reports and hot tips.
Date: 9/5/26 2:59 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] N.Y. County, NYC - Fri., 9/4 - Blue G’beak, Dickcissel, many other migrants
N.Y. County -in N.Y. City- including Governors, Randalls, Roosevelt, and Manhattan islands and adjacent waters and skies -
Friday, September 4th -
On Governors Island, just south of Manhattan, a Blue Grosbeak in female-like plumage was seen and photographed, and a Dickcissel was again seen, and photographed. Also present there Friday were at least 35 Bobolinks passing thru, and a wide variety of other expected migrants.
Central Park on Friday held a minimum of 24 species of migratory warblers, with almost all of the boreal-forest-breeding species being found. N. Shoveler numbers there have come up to double-digits now. A wide variety of additional migrants were seen there Friday including multiple Yellow+billed Cuckoos in different parts of the park. Many flycatcher species were present including representatives of the genus Empidonax, and other expected flycatchers. Other parks around Manhattan also featured a wide variety of migrants. Common Nighthawks we’re again on the move in modest numbers, this including sightings at Central Park and elsewhere. Broad-winged Hawks were seen from several locations, including by many observers from Central Park, as were other expected raptor species from around Manhattan and all of the county.
Date: 9/4/26 4:55 pm From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Fri., Sept. 4, 2026: Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Flycatchers 11 Wood Warbler Species
Central Park NYC
Friday, September 4, 2026
OBS: Deborah Allen, m.ob.
Highlights: Great Crested and Least Flycatchers, E. Wood-Pewee, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, 11 Species of Wood Warblers including Magnolia, Blackburnian, Prairie, and Black-throated Green Warblers.
Canada Goose - 20
Northern Shoveler - 4 Harlem Meer
Gadwall - 4
Mallard - 60-70
Mourning Dove - 4
Yellow-billed Cuckoo - 2 Loch Overlook (Paul Curtis)
Solitary Sandpiper - 1 at the Pool (Scott Brevda)
American Herring Gull - flyover
Great Egret - 1 flyover
Great Blue Heron - 2 (Harlem Meer, Pool)
Red-tailed Hawk - 1 flyover (Tom Cowieson)
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 1 female Lily Ponds
Downy Woodpecker - 1 female Lily Ponds
Northern Flicker - 2 at the Seep
American Kestrel - 1 female Nutter's Battery
Great Crested Flycatcher - 4
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 4
Least Flycatcher - 1 Wildflower Meadow (David Barrett)
Empidonax Flycatcher - 1 Harlem Meer
Eastern Warbling Vireo - 1 Lily Ponds
Red-eyed Vireo - 8
Blue Jay - 1 Conservatory Garden
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 1 at the Seep (Dan Stevenson)
Gray Catbird - 6
Northern Mockingbird - 1 Harlem Meer
Veery - 1 Children's Glade
American Robin - 10-15
House Finch - 2 Harlem Meer
American Goldfinch - 7 including 2 hatch-year birds
Baltimore Oriole - 1 hatch-year male at the Seep (Caren Jahre)
Common Grackle - 2 Harlem Meer
Ovenbird - 1 Lily Ponds (Paul Curtis)
Northern Waterthrush - 1 at the Pool
Black-and-white Warbler - 7 or 8
Common Yellowthroat - 5
American Redstart - 9
Magnolia Warbler - 1 at the Pool (Caren Jahre and Mary Kate Horbac)
Blackburnian Warbler - 1 at the Seep (Paul Curtis)
Northern Yellow Warbler - 4
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 2 (Harlem Meer, Children's Glade)
Prairie Warbler - 1 Lily Ponds (Caren Jahre)
Black-throated Green Warbler - 1 Lily Ponds (Scott Brevda)
Northern Cardinal - 4
--
Deb Allen
Date: 9/4/26 1:54 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] N.Y. County, NYC - 9/3 - L. Bl.-b. Gull, Y.-br. Chat cont., etc.
New York County -in N.Y. City- including Randalls, Governors, Roosevelt, and Manhattan islands and adjacent waters and skies -
Thursday, September 3rd -
A near-adult Lesser Black-backed Gull was seen on Randalls Island, as were a variety of other species, still including Yellow-crowned Night Herons there. At Bryant Park in Manhattan, a Yellow-breasted Chat was ongoing, with a modest variety of other migrants seen there. At Central Park in Manhattan, at least 20 species of migratory warblers were seen on Thursday. Other locations around the county also again held a wide variety of migrant birds. Common Nighthawks continue to be found on their way south.
Thanks to many finders, alerters, and reporters of various birds on Thursday.
Date: 9/3/26 1:44 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Manhattan, NYC - 9/2 - Y.-br. Chat, other migrants
Manhattan, N.Y. City - Wednesday, September 2nd -
A Yellow-breasted Chat was seen by many, and well-photographed, at Bryant Park in mid-Manhattan. Continuing there was also a Marsh Wren, and a total of at least 16 species of migratory warblers, among species seen there on Wed were Mourning, Cape May, and many other warbler species, a notable increase in species diversity for that park this week. Palm Warbler was reported there, and that species was also found elsewhere, including at Central Park. Swainsons Thrush and Veery were also found at Bryant Park. With a lot of observers, that one park had more eyes per square meter seeking birds than many other locations in Manhattan on Wed. A modest component of the native birds in that park might well have been summering - with no breeding - such as multiple White-throated Sparrows, and some other birds. Many migrants also were noted from a number of other locations in the southern half of Manhattan, in particular.
Other sites around Manhattan certainly held multiple migrants, yet again. A minor increase was seen for N. Shovelers, and Wood Ducks were again found in the multiple. At Sherman Creek park in northern Manhattan at least 6 shorebird species continued.
Good birding, with thanks to many finders, alerters, and reporters of various birds.
Date: 9/2/26 1:12 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] N.Y. County, NYC - 9/1 - Y.-br. Chat, other migrants
New York County -in N.Y. City- including Governors, Randalls, Roosevelt, and Manhattan islands and the adjacent waters and sky -
Tuesday, September 1st -
No Ibis of any kind were noted from the county on Tuesday, with some observers checking the area where one was the day prior, as well as other potentially-good Ibis habitats. A Yellow-breasted Chat was the latest of that species sighted this season in the county, on Governors Island on Tuesday. Also seen there was Savannah Sparrow, along with a variety of expected migrants or summer resident birds.
Rather early for this county, a Blue-headed Vieeo was reported at Central Park. There were only about 15 species of warblers noted for the county on the 1st of September, perhaps in part with the weather limiting the observations somewhat. Some Warbler spp. were still found in fair to good numbers. Shorebirds of at least 6 species were again noted from the county.
Nocturnal migration was up to at least modest pace over the region on Tuesday night going into Wed. early morning, with a broad array of species noted in nocturnal flight call observations.
Date: 9/1/26 2:51 pm From: marciaaabrahams at aol.com (via NYSBIRDS-L list) <NYSBIRDS-L...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Do not miss the next Queens County Bird Club meeting on Wednesday, September 16th at 7:30 PM featuring Ian Resnick "Patagonia, the south Atlantic Islands, and Antarctica"!
Queens County Bird Club Monthly Meeting
Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026Time: 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM Place: Alley Pond Environmental Center, 229-10 Northern Blvd, Douglaston, NY 11362
Ian Resnick presents "Patagonia, the south Atlantic Islands, and Antarctica"
Last October into November, Ian Resnick went on a Field Guides trip to Patagonia, the south Atlantic islands, and Antarctica. The trip, which usually leaves from and returns to Ushuaia, instead left from Puerto Madryn in Patagonia. This allowed for an extra day of birding in Patagonia, mostly in an area where Ian had been a couple of years earlier on an Earthwatch expedition. Ian will share his experience via his photos, videos, and also a slide show provided by Oceanwide Expeditions, which runs the ship used on the trip.
Doors will open at 7:00 PM and the presentation will begin at 7:30 PM. Please be prompt and ring the bell when at the front door when you arrive.
Marcia AbrahamsVP/Programs CoordinatorQueens County Bird Clubhttps://qcbirdclub.org/Email: <MarciaAAbrahams...>
Date: 9/1/26 1:56 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Manhattan, NYC - 8/31 - prob. W-f. Ibis, shorebirds, other migrants
Manhattan, N.Y. City - Monday, August 31st -
What appears to be a White-faced Ibis - unless somehow shown to be a hybrid with Glossy - was discovered at Sherman Creek park mudflats, n. Manhattan, thanks to L. Beausoleil for first getting word out, as even Glossy Ibis on the deck in this county has been fairly rare over time. As additional observers arrived and photos were being made, talk turned to the rarer-in-region White-faced Ibis, which would be a likely first county record if confirmed as that species. In a sense, this actually would be in the list of somewhat-anticipated species for rhe county, as the understanding of local occurrences of these Ibis species grows. At Sherman Creek on Monday, in particular there were also many Calidris-genus sandpipers present, possibly more than 100 total at times, of which those identified were Least and Semipalmated Sandpipers each in high numbers. Also present were Semipalmated Plover, Spotted and Solitary Sandpipers, and often typical here, Killdeer. The Ibis was found and observed only in later hours of the day, by a number of additional observers, and that ibis - just the one individual - was observed to fly south, but low along the Harlem River estuary, to an unknown new point, if it stopped off again along that waterway.
Elsewhere in Manhattan, a Marsh Wren coming to Bryant Park in midtown was slightly unusual there, although hardly a first for that park. Other parks and greenspaces held a multitude of migrants on Monday, with nice diversity for example at Inwood Hill Park. At Central Park, with many observers out and about there thru all of the day and in all sectors of that park, at least 20 species of migratory warblers were found including Mourning Warbler and some Myrtle-form Yellow-rumped Warblers, as well as other boreal-forest breeding species. Tennessee Warblers have been noted for many, many days by now. Again numerous all thru Manhattan in appropriate habitat were flycatchers including those in the genus Empidonax. Common Nighthawks and Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have continued to move in numbers.
Thanks to very many independently-walking observers and photographers for sightings, alerts, reports, and in-the-field tips and discussions on birds being seen.
Date: 8/31/26 1:38 pm From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Mon. Aug. 31, 2026: Spotted Sandpiper, Peregrine Falcon, 9 Wood Warbler Species
Central Park NYC Monday, August 31, 2026 OBS: Robert De Candido, PhD, m.ob.
On Sun, Aug 30, 2026 at 8:33 PM A Birder (via NYSBIRDS-L list) <
<NYSBIRDS-L...> wrote:
> Let me guess, the M. stands for melodramatic?
>
> On Sunday, August 30th, 2026 at 8:11 PM, Terry Sullivan <
> <singing7sullivan...> wrote:
>
> TO: the list manager,
> Please unsubscribe me from all of your lists; I
> don’t need this fountain of useless information.
> Terence M. Sullivan
>
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On Sunday, August 30th, 2026 at 8:11 PM, Terry Sullivan <singing7sullivan...> wrote:
> TO: the list manager, > Please unsubscribe me from all of your lists; I > don’t need this fountain of useless information. > Terence M. Sullivan > > -- > NYSbirds-L List Info: > Visit: http://LISTS.cornell.edu for more information > Posting Address: <NYSbirds-L...> > Archives: > The Mail Archive: [//www.mail-archive.com/<nysbirds-l...>](https://https:<a href=)/maillist.html" class="hft-urls">https://www.mail-archive.com/<nysbirds-l...>/maillist.html > Sightings: Please submit your observations to eBird at http://www.ebird.org > --
Date: 8/30/26 4:17 pm From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] N.Y. County, NYC - 8/30 - Dickcissel, Blue G’beak, flycatchers, 24 + Warbler spp., etc.
New York County -in N.Y. City- including Governors, Randalls, Roosevelt and Manhattan islands and the adjacent waters and skies above -
thru Sunday, August 30th -
A Dickcissel showed and, especially, was heard calling a lot on Governors Island near Fort Jay on Sunday. Many other migrants were also showing there, including Bobolinks, with that species also out at Randalls Island for Sunday, along with many other migrants. Randalls continues as the site within this county to find Yellow-crowned Night Herons, sometimes present in the multiple at this season.
An adult male Blue Grosbeak was seen in the early part of Sunday at Central Park, but may have moved out. That bird could still be present on Manhattan, and also could show in Central again. A Kentucky Warbler, fairly rare in southbound migration here, was reported by R. Davis and is sure to be sought after by others in the area of Central Park where seen. Without that species, Central enjoyed at least 23 species of migratory warblers on the day, some species continuing to be fairly common, even after multiple nights of good migrations that held many night-flying warblers moving well south now.
Besides Blue Grosbeak, some Indigo Buntings were starting to appear including at Central Park, and flycatcher diversity continued at a good pace in most of the county. Olive-sided Flycatcher, along with many Empidonax-genus flycatchers, were present at Central Park and elsewhere in the county again on Sunday. Also ongoing have been Great Crested Flyctchers, E. Wood-Pewees, E. Phoebes, and E. Kingbirds. Thrushes found continue to include Veery in numbers, and Wood and Swainsons Thrushes, as in prior recent days.
Thanks to hundreds of observers and photographers all around the county and out at all hours, for sightings, alerts, reports and hot tips, with very many affiliated with not-for-profit organizations and institutions that offer regular guided bird walks in the interest of education, conservation, sound science and natural diversity.
Date: 8/30/26 12:02 pm From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Sun. Aug. 30, 2026: Belted Kingfisher, Merlin, Cape May Warbler
Central Park NYC
Sunday, August 30, 2026
OBS: Robert DeCandido, PhD, Deborah Allen, m.ob.
Highlights: Wood Duck, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Cooper's Hawk, Belted Kingfisher (Saturday), Merlin, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Cedar Waxwing, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Veery, Cape May Warbler. A Kentucky Warbler was reported at Triplet's Bridge.
Wood Duck - 1 male south end Reservoir (Deb)
Mallard - 22
Gadwall - 2 south end Reservoir (Deb)
Mourning Dove - 15-20
Chimney Swift - 2 or 3
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 3
Laughing Gull - 3
Ring-billed and American Herring Gulls - around 150
Great Black-backed Gull - 4
Double-crested Cormorant - 4
Cooper's Hawk - 2 Ramble
Belted Kingfisher - 1 Hallett Sanctuary on Saturday (Barbara Green)
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 2 or 3
Downy Woodpecker - 3 or 4
Northern Flicker - 4
Merlin - 1 Boathouse Hill
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 3
Red-eyed Vireo - 6
Blue Jay - 3 or 4
Cedar Waxwing - flock of 10
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 1 Ramble
Gray Catbird - 6-8
Veery - 1 Evodia Field
American Robin - 15-20
House Finch - 3
Baltimore Oriole - 6
Common Grackle - 4 or 5
Northern Waterthrush - 1 Triplet's Bridge
American Redstart - 6
Cape May Warbler - 2 Shakespeare Garden
Northern Yellow Warbler - 1 Tupelo Field
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 1 Maintenance Field (Caren Jahre)
Northern Cardinal - 3 or 4
---
Date: 8/30/26 1:24 am From: Thomas Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Manhattan, NYC - 26+ Warbler spp., other migrants, etc.
Manhattan, N.Y. City -
thru Saturday, August 29th -
At least 26 species of warblers were noted from Manhattan, with some good numbers in both overall tallies of birds and for species-diversity in warblers also seen at other sites of New York County by Saturday. All 26 or more warbler species were in Central Park by Saturday, with at least 22 warbler species seen there on Friday. A very strong arrival of Magnolia Warblers was featured on Saturday, and Cape May Warblers continued in the many-multiple, at Central and county-wide. Many species of warbler have increased in recent days. Various parks and greenspaces have seen a number of the migrant warblers over recent days.
These are among the warbler species being found -
Ovenbird, Worm-eating Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush, Northern Waterthrush, Blue-winged Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, Tennessee Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Mourning Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Hooded Warbler, American Redstart, Cape May Warbler, Northern Parula, Magnolia Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Northern Yellow Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Pine Warbler, Myrtle form of Yellow-rumped Warbler - the latter noted more from this county outside of Manhattan thus far, Prairie Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Canada Warbler, and Wilson's Warbler. As per the past weeks, Northern Yellow Warblers and American Redstarts remain fairly common on migration, while many more warbler species have been increasing in the past week.
Obviously many other migrants are moving - Common Nighthawks continue, as do Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, each in the multiple across this county on migrations. Flycatchers are still well represented in diversity, and thrushes continue with Wood and Swainsons Thrush ongoing lately, and Veery moving for weeks this month. Scarlet Tanagers are showing each day recently. Broad-winged Hawks, moving in low numbers region-wide, have been seen and photographed by multiple watchers at Manhattan, including at Central Park, this week, as have a variety of other expected and resident raptors.
Manhattan continues to see at least some shorebird migrants including Semipalmated Plovers, Least and Semipalmated and Spotted and Solitary Sandpipers, the latter two species regular at Central Park, and the whole plus Killdeer more so from northern Manhattan, and with all of these species also showing elsewhere in the county lately.
Thanks to hundreds of independent observers and photographers and including many affiliated with not-for-profit organizations and institutions which offer guided bird walks, and support education, conservation, sound science and natural diversity in their activities, for sightings, alerts, reports.
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 28th, 2026*, at 11 pm. The highlights of today's tape are SANDWICH TERN, EARED GREBE, WESTERN KINGBIRD, LONG-TAILED JAEGER and other pelagics, AMERICAN AVOCET, AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER, BUFF-BREASTED, UPLAND, and other sandpipers, SEDGE WREN, LARK SPARROW, GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER, and other warblers DICKCISSEL and more.
A non-breeding SANDWICH TERN was photographed during its brief visit to Plumb Beach Tuesday morning. Unfortunately not lingering as long as the EARED GREBE that was still on the West Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge at least to Tuesday.
A WESTERN KINGBIRD showed up at Caumsett State Park Thursday and continued there through today. The first of hopefully several this Fall.
Seabird diversity offshore in the Atlantic continues while numbers are thinning out. The CRESLI whale watch trip out of Montauk last Monday produced an eye-popping, dark juvenile LONG-TAILED JAEGER along with a PARASITIC JAEGER, over 3,000 WILSON'S STORM-PETRELS, and modest shearwater totals including 19 CORY'S, 4 SCOPOLI'S, 44 GREAT, 8 SOOTY, and 10 MANX.
An exciting week for shorebirds was enhanced nicely thanks to the lowered water levels at Jerome Reservoir in the Bronx. Rarities following last week's 2 BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS in the reservoir basin, with reports of 1 or 2 more this week, were an AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER visiting there Monday and Tuesday and then 5 BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS appearing Thursday increasing to 6 today. Other shorebirds among the over a dozen species visiting there featured WHITE-RUMPED, WESTERN, and PECTORAL SANDPIPERS and WILSON'S SNIPE. The reservoir is viewed best from the fence line along Reservoir Avenue near the intersection with Claflin Avenue. Other shorebirds this week featured an AMERICAN AVOCET visiting the Oceanside Marine Nature Study Area Saturday through Monday, an UPLAND SANDPIPER at Caumsett State Park Saturday, two MARBLED GODWITS lingering around field 10 at Jones Beach at least to Thursday, a WILSON'S PHALAROPE at Heckscher State Park Sunday followed by a BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER and an AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER at field 7 today, another BUFF-BREASTED at Jones Beach field 1 yesterday and 2 HUDSONIAN WHIMBRELS out on Jamaica Bay last Saturday
Two CASPIAN TERNS visited Central Park Wednesday followed by a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL Thursday, and among the variety of warblers now moving through Central and other parks have been MOURNING, HOODED, CAPE MAY, BAY-BREASTED, and WILSON'S but perhaps the most unexpected was the GOLDEN-WINGED photographed in Central Tuesday.
Among the flycatchers this week were a few OLIVE-SIDED, and YELLOW-BELLIED, and a SEDGE WREN was noted again today at the private parcel in Manhasset. A LARK SPARROW was spotted at Sherman Creek Park last Saturday and another continued at Cliffdale Farm in Westchester Sunday but the bonanza was up to 4 LARK SPARROWS at Jones Beach fields 1 and 2 starting on Wednesday with at least 2 still there today. YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT stayed in Prospect Park to Saturday with singles also in Bryant Park Tuesday and Central Park Ramble Wednesday, and a DICKCISSEL visited Floyd Bennett Field Monday.
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.
Date: 8/29/26 4:57 pm From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Sat. Aug. 29, 2026: Veery, Wood Thrush, E. Wood-Pewee, 11 Species of Wood Warblers
Central Park NYC
Saturday, August 29, 2026
OBS: Robert DeCandido, PhD, Deborah Allen, m.ob.
Highlights: Wood Duck, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Veery, Wood Thrush, Eastern Kingbird, Eastern Wood-Pewee, 11 Species of Wood Warblers including Magnolia, Blackburnian, Chestnut-sided, Black-throated Blue, and Canada Warblers.
Canada Goose - 12 Turtle Pond
Wood Duck - 1 male Reservoir (Deb)
Mallard - 23
Mourning Dove - 15-20
Chimney Swift - 2 or 3
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 1 Warbler Rock
Laughing Gull - 5
Ring-billed Gull - 40-50
American Herring Gull - around 50
Great Black-backed Gull - 6
Double-crested Cormorant - 5
Cooper's Hawk - 1 Azalea Pond (Sandra Critelli)
Broad-winged Hawk - 1 flyover (report from Andrew Rubenfeld)
Red-tailed Hawk - 2 over Turtle Pond
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 2 or 3
Downy Woodpecker - 4
Northern Flicker - 2 or 3
American Kestrel - 1 Boathouse Hill
Great Crested Flycatcher - 5
Eastern Kingbird - 1 Ramble
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 3
Empidonax Flycatcher - 1 Evodia Field
Eastern Warbling Vireo - 1 south side Turtle Pond
Red-eyed Vireo - 6-8
Blue Jay - 4 or 5
White-breasted Nuthatch - 1 Tupelo field (Sandra Critelli)
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 1 Warbler Rock
Gray Catbird - 8-10
Veery - 9 or 10
Wood Thrush - 1 Ramble
American Robin - 15-20
American Goldfinch - 2 Evodia Field
Baltimore Oriole - 6-8
Red-winged Blackbird - 1 female Turtle Pond
Common Grackle - 4-6
Ovenbird - 1 Ramble
Northern Waterthrush - 4
Black-and-white Warbler - 9-11
Common Yellowthroat - 4
American Redstart - 12-14
Magnolia Warbler - 1 west side of Tupelo Field
Blackburnian Warbler - 1 east of Evodia Field near Persimmon Slope (Paul Curtis)
Northern Yellow Warbler - 1 east of Evodia Field near Persimmon Slope
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 1 King of Poland
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 1 adult male Evodia Field
Canada Warbler - 3
Northern Cardinal - 4 or 5
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - 1 Sparrow Rock (Karen Evans)
Date: 8/29/26 10:51 am From: <russ...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Some Long Island and NYC Conservation Actions and Coalitions Update
Here are some of the irreplaceable habitats and projects om Long Island and in NYC where birds and our grandchildren need perpetual preservation instead of more development. --- #1 JAMAICA BAY WILDLIFE REFUGE (NYC) – Improving in some ways, not in others * Jamaica Bay Guardian Don Riepe: Agreed-on items in cooperation with Gateway National Recreation Area (GNRA) Superintendent and maintenance chief. - Visitor center: Now open 4 days/week (Friday-Monday). - Portable toilet in parking lot for when Visitor Center is closed. - Trail Management: Wooden fence barriers now block destructive unofficial social trails. - Trailside thicket height trimmed at areas on the West Pond trail to improve bay viewing. * Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Coalition: 16 local birding, environmental and civic organizations. * Conservation Action Agenda: The coalition has identified 34 transformative wildlife refuge improvement projects for further consideration. * OSPREY CRASH? MENHADEN CRASH? Both. Good news: Osprey breeding pairs on LI have hit an all-time historic high. Bad news: The 2026 Jamaica Bay osprey nesting survey was the worst fledgling ratio in 36 years; 20 of the 25 nests were empty! The other 5 only had one struggling chick each. People fear that industrial “reduction fishing” is to blame for depopulating Atlantic menhaden (the osprey’s primary forage) and disrupting the coastal food chain. Malnourished osprey are no longer fit enough to reproduce in some areas, and unable to catch enough to feed starving chicks. A call to action has gone out to CT and the LI East End, and a coalition led by the American Littoral Society is forming with NJ and Chesapeake groups to review what conservation actions can be proposed for a realistic sustainable approach to managing coastal and local menhaden stocks. * BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON are rapidly vanishing from breeding islands in Jamaica Bay and NY Harbor. A NYC Bird Alliance scientific study warns of their disappearance within 10 years without focused conservation action. Sign the petition to save the Black-crowned Night Heron in NYC: * www.nycbirdalliance.org/our-work/advocacy/current-advocacy-priorities/black-crowned-night-heron-protection --- #2 WOODMERE CLUB (Five Towns) – Potential for positive action * NYSOA, South Shore Audubon, Seatuck Environmental and the Long Island South Shore Waterkeeper are offering to cooperate with the municipalities, communities and developers on this landmark project that balances the development of a 155-unit age-restricted condominium with 70+ acres pledged to nature preservation and coastal open space on a former golf course.
* Recommend multi-jurisdictional approach to securing state and federal grants for coastal resiliency, natural buffering against storms and floods, and restoring coastal plains habitat.
* Watch video: https://youtu.be/8E23GTssFhk --- #3 HEMPSTEAD PLAINS Nature Study Area (Uniondale) – Recent positive action * Proposed nature study area to preserve the last 100-acre remnant of the historic 40,000-acre tallgrass prairie that once covered Nassau County. * Hempstead Plains Preserve: Prescribed burns needed on different sections in 2025 and 2026 proved effective to reactivate and help restore the prairie ecosystem. * Renewed Focus: Nassau County Soil & Water Conservation District grant awarded for invasive plants to be removed and replaced by Hempstead Plains endemic species. * AVIAN RESTORATION: The Soldiers2 Scientists organization launched an American Kestrel Restoration nestbox project with Long Island’s first documented breeding pair in 5 years, and two kestrel chicks. * Watch video: https://youtu.be/fpr22PrsOyA * Read more: https://www.ssaudubon.org/pdfs/hempstead-plains-nature-study-area-2025.pdf --- #4 EAST MEADOW BROOK (Central & South Nassau) - Little to no change * Over 10,000 years old, Nassau County’s longest freshwater waterway - 7.5 miles – flows to the saltwater South Shore Estuary Reserve.
* The East Meadow Brook has been severely degraded in the last 100 years by channelization (straightening), pollutants, contaminants, landscaping herbicides, pesticides, nitrogen fertilizer, road salt and plastic debris in stormwater runoff that also adversely affects the bay water quality.
* The survival of the brook depends entirely on community vigilance, restoration efforts, and strict stormwater management.
* Watch video: https://youtu.be/2Kfm0IS0N74 --- #5 STILLWELL WOODS PRESERVE (Syosset) – Uncertain status * Petition to save 270-acre Stillwell Woods Preserve signed by over 4,000 concerned people. * A required land survey map was produced in 2026 but did not clearly delineate the boundary line between the passive nature preserve and the active sports fields. A supplemental survey is recommended to fix this critical deficiency by showing an unambiguous boundary to prevent future legal challenges over land-use expansion. * Strongly recommend using a land conservancy or NYS Parks to provide a conservation easement to the Town of Oyster Bay and to follow a 10-year comprehensive habitat management plan to ensure the protection of the preserve's oak barrens, meadows, native wildlife, groundwater, and aquifer resources. * Recommend following the spirit of Suffolk County Nature Preserve Handbook when drafting robust unbreakable legal protection restricted to perpetual preservation, passive nature recreation use and wildlife habitat management for Stillwell Woods. * Learn more: https://www.change.org/p/save-our-stillwell-woods-preserve --- #6 NISSEQUOGUE RIVER Restoration (Smithtown) – Developing * 120-acre confluence and wetland meadow on 2-mile river stretch in Blydenburgh County Park. * Free The Nissequogue River Coalition: 18 organizations led by Seatuck. * Lawsuit filed against Suffolk County by Seatuck Environmental Association, Save the Sound, American Rivers, Four Harbors Audubon Society, Long Island Trout Unlimited, and Open Space Council for Suffolk County’s failure to follow NY State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) requirement to complete an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to fully evaluate the potential ecological and community resilience impacts of building a new dam and impoundment on the now free-flowing stretch of the Nissequogue River. * Learn more: https://freethenissequogue.org * Here too: https://seatuck.org/nissequogue/ --- #7 EPCAL Environmental Park at Calverton (Riverhead) - Little positive progress * Consider resolving the environmental and economic stagnation at EPCAL by cleanly separating the 1,000+ non-developable ecologically sensitive acres from the 600 developable commercial acres. It’s the most effective way to protect rare kettle hole and grassland flora, fauna and habitat while streamlining economic development for the Town of Riverhead (TOR). This will address the complication that environmental issues exclusive to the sensitive habitats have gridlocked the underlying commercial land transactions into long-standing legal battles and community pushback. * Strongly recommend using a trusted land conservancy to provide a conservation easement to TOR and to manage the rare ecosystems, grassland and kettle hole habitat and wildlife. * Recommend permanently preserving the 1000+ acres as an environmental park per guidelines of the Suffolk County Nature Preserve Handbook.* Recommend permanently preserving the 1000+ acres as an environmental park per guidelines of the Suffolk County Nature Preserve Handbook. --- #8 PLUM ISLAND (Orient Point) – Recent positive action * Suffolk County has recently announced its intention to acquire the 840-acre Plum Island from the federal government and permanently preserving it. * This follows years of advocacy by the Preserve Plum Island Coalition, a powerhouse alliance of over 110 regional and national environmental organizations led by Save The Sound. * Champions: Several federal lawmakers have championed Plum Island preservation legislation in the past decade. Most recently, Senator Chuck Schumer and Representative Nick LaLota of New York, Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, and others. Thank you. * Complements Great Gull Island (17 acres), a short distance from Plum Island. Since 1949, Great Gull Island has been owned by the American Museum of Natural History which has restored its ecosystem. It now hosts the largest Common Tern nesting colony in the world and the largest Roseate Tern colony in the Western Hemisphere. Source: Linnaean Society of NY. * Learn more: https://www.savethesound.org/2026/07/16/press-release-preserve-plum-island-coalition-applauds-suffolk-countys-plan-for-plum-island/ --- #9 NEW YORK CITY - Developing * BIRD/BUILDING COLLISIONS: Millions of birds from across the western hemisphere pass through New York City each spring and fall on the way to and from their breeding and nursery grounds. They rely on natural night light cues for celestial navigation, but building light pollution disturbs these cues, disorients birds, and an estimated quarter of a million die from building window collisions in NYC each year. * Do you live or work in NYC? Please call your NYC Councilmember’s office to ask him/her to co-sponsor and support the new "Lights Out" legislation (Intro 0998) introduced in August 2026, which requires commercial buildings and large retailers to turn off nonessential lights at night. This bill can stop preventable bird collisions and saves energy. * Learn more: https://ujoin.co/campaigns/4317/actions/public?action_id=7220 --- QUICK & EASY ACTION STEPS (Takes 10 Seconds each) Many have asked how you can help preserve these remaining irreplaceable local habitats from relentless development and how to protect birds, wildlife, and biodiversity for the future and for our grandchildren. Below are a few way you can take immediate action and make your voice heard. Anyone living on Long Island or in New York City can review and sign all three of these active campaigns right now: * Sign the NIGHT HERON PETITION for NY Harbor and Jamaica Bay: www.nycbirdalliance.org/our-work/advocacy/current-advocacy-priorities/black-crowned-night-heron-protection * Sign the SAVE STILLWELL WOODS Petition: www.change.org/p/save-our-stillwell-woods-preserve * Sign the NYC LIGHT OUT Action Portal: LI residents, you CAN sign this! Migratory birds passing through NYC at night can be the same birds that were migrating through LI backyards and preserves earlier that day. www.ujoin.co/campaigns/4317/actions/public?action_id=7220 * STAY INFORMED. Subscribe to the free e-newsletter on LI wildlife conservation from: www.seatuck.org Cordially, Russell Comeau <Russ...>(928) 614-9186 Dir., Audubon NY/CT Council Dir., NYS Ornithological Assn -- NYSbirds-L List Info: Visit: http://LISTS.cornell.edu for more information Posting Address: <NYSbirds-L...> Archives: The Mail Archive: //www.mail-archive.com/<nysbirds-l...>/maillist.html" class="hft-urls">https://www.mail-archive.com/<nysbirds-l...>/maillist.html Sightings: Please submit your observations to eBird at http://www.ebird.org --
Date: 8/28/26 1:36 pm From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Fri. Aug. 28, 2026: Wood Duck, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Veery, Wood Warblers
Central Park NYC
Friday, August 28, 2026
OBS: Deborah Allen, m.ob.
Highlights: Wood Duck, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Great Blue Heron, Great Crested Flycatcher, Veery, Wood Warblers.
Canada Goose - 4 (flyover flock of 13 before walk)
Wood Duck - 1 male Harlem Meer (another on the Reservoir after lunch)
Gadwall - 1 hiding in Mallard flock in duckweed at the Meer
Mallard - 20 (35-40 earlier)
Mourning Dove - 5
Chimney Swift - 5
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 1 at the Loch (Dan Stevenson and Claire)
Great Blue Heron - 1 continuing at the Pool
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 1 Lily Ponds
Northern Flicker - 4
Great Crested Flycatcher - 5
Red-eyed Vireo - 1 Lily Ponds
Blue Jay - 9
American Crow - 3
Gray Catbird - 7
Northern Mockingbird - 6 including a couple of hatch-year birds
Veery - 1 Loch (Dan Stevenson)
American Robin - 21
House Finch - 5
American Goldfinch - 3 adult males (Sabine Schumacher)
Song Sparrow - 1 Harlem Meer (Vivian Gray)
Brown-headed Cowbird - flock of 14
Common Grackle - 1
Northern Waterthrush - 2 (Loch (E.), Pool (Caren Jahre))
Black-and-white Warbler - 6
Common Yellowthroat - 1 female Harlem Meer (Paul Curtis)
American Redstart - 1 Green Bench
Northern Yellow Warbler - 1 Wildflower Meadow (Scott Brevda)
Northern Cardinal - 4
Date: 8/28/26 7:46 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Manhattan, NYC - recent migrants
Manhattan, N.Y. City - very recent migrants -
2 Caspian Terns flew out of Central Park early on Wed., 8-26, a species that has shown more often in recent years in this county, and had been recorded in Central Park not at all long-ago, thus not a major surprise but still quite a rare species in this park. A Lesser Black-backed Gull was seen and photographed on the Central Park reservoir berm, between-rains, on Thursday, 8-27.
A Mourning Warbler for Highbridge Park south-sector was a nice addition to that park, for Wed., 8-26. Warblers present around Manhattan besides that species, in the last several days included Ovenbird, Worm-eating Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush, Northern Waterthrush, Blue-winged Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler - this species was very numerous and widespread this week, Tennessee Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Hooded Warbler, American Redstart, Cape May Warbler - occurring in the multiple and in a number of sites, found in a number of areas within Central Park and also in other parks and greenspaces, Northern Parula, Magnolia Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler,` Northern Yellow Warbler - still a common migrant, as it has been for many weeks, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Pine Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Canada Warbler, and Wilson's Warbler - all of the warbler species noted were seen in the multiple this week, and many showed increases by no-later than Wednesday, in Manhattan. Even on partly-rainy Thursday at Central Park, at least 21 species of warblers were seen.
The county, and Manhattan, are just closing in towards 150 species of wild, free-flying birds for this month, with a modest chance of going well over that tally here before the first day of September.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Among butterflies found at Central Park -some by folks also observing birds there - in the past week or less, there have been Giant Swallowtail and 3 additional Swallowtail species, Cloudless Sulphur as well as Orange Sulphur, at least 3 species of hairstreaks including White-M Hairstreak, Gray Hairstreak and many Red-banded Hairstreaks, American Snouts, Variegated Fritillary, Common Buckeye, two species of Lady, Red-spotted Purple, Monarchs, and skippers of multiple species including Fiery Skipper, and many Sachems. There are a number of dragonfly species migrating, as is typical this month, and some damselflies and dragonflies now -and lately- are fairly numerous. Many common and uncommon species of syrphid flies, a variety of wasp and bee and various other insect species have also been found. Many of these insects including a majority of the butterflies have shown in other parks around Manhattan as well. The invasively-overabundant non-native Spotted Lanternflies also continue, here and region-wide.
Date: 8/26/26 8:51 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC - Wed., 8/26 - many migrants, incl. Y.-br. Chat, 24+ warbler spp., etc.
Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City -
Wednesday, August 26 -
Many more migrants have arrived, as well as some diurnal passage, and being seen in the park are a lingering Yellow-breasted Chat in the Ramble area, multitudes of warblers with a minimum of 24 species being represented, also a bit more diversity in migrant thrushes with Swainsons Thrush and Veery in the multiple, as well as Wood Thrush. Both species of expected Cuckoos are present, as have been Common Nighthawks. Most of the annually occurring migrant flycatcher species are also present, although some Empidonax-genus species are left to that genus or in a species-pair such as Willow-Alder. Olive-sided Flycatchers are again present. A majority of boreal-forest breeding warbler species are present, with few exceptions. Vireos of at least 4 species are present, including both Yellow-throated and Philadelphia Vireo.
Birds are showing throughout the park, and there is also diversity in migrants being found around Manhattan in general. In some locations, migrants are not that scarce, and in at least a few areas, migrants have been found in good numbers.
The lingering Lesser Yellowlegs had still been present at the Central Park reservoir at least to Tuesday, 8-25. Other shorebirds are certainly again present or passing thru.
Date: 8/25/26 4:08 pm From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] more Manhattan, NYC - 8/25 - G.-w. Warbler, Y.-br. Chat
brief update from Manhattan, N.Y. City - Tuesday, Aug. 25th -
A Golden-winged Warbler was yet another of the migrant arrivals found in the Ramble area of Central Park with multiple observers and photographers by late day. Over at Bryant Park in mid-Manhattan, a Yellow-breasted Chat was showing for multiple observers. More, in a further report at some point.
Date: 8/25/26 11:21 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Manhattan, NYC - 8/25 - Pectoral SPs reported, & other arrivals
Manhattan, N.Y. City - Tuesday, Aug. 25th -
Two Pectoral Sandpipers were reported, with textual details, from Sherman Creek park mudflats in northern Manhattan this early afternoon, with additional shorebirds also noted there again.
While many migrants had good conditions for ongoing flight overnight, there were at least some new arrivals, such as already found for Central Park, including Wilsons and Black-throated Blue and at least twenty more warbler species, including some from boreal-breeding forest areas. Some diurnal flights of certain migrants is and has also been occurring.
Date: 8/24/26 10:48 pm From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park & Manhattan, NYC - Mon., 8/24 - ongoing migrants, Forsters Tern
At Central Park in Manhattan, NY. City on Monday, Aug. 24th, a minimum of 17 migrant warbler species were ongoing. Away from Central, a half-dozen or more Lesser Yellowlegs have been showing including at the flats of Sherman Creek Park as well as sightings from off Inwood Hill Parks n. side. Up to 6 additional shorebird species were also seen from northern Manhattan, while Central Park still held Solitary Sandpipers, in addition to regularly-noticed Spotted Sandpipers. Off the area of west Greenwich Village at pier 57 on the Hudson River, a Forsters Tern was noticed - J. Suzuki. Other terns, besides the most-regular Common Terns of summer in this county, may be passing thru on migration, worth close watches.
Later afternoon observers of the ongoing single Lesser-legs at the Central Park reservoir on Monday saw a Bald Eagle come along and swing down to sit on the same berm not so far from that yellowlegs, and yet this did not flush the Yellowlegs. Gulls, however, certainly reacted with fear to the Eagle arrival. Incidentally, Green-winged Teal continued at the C.P. Reservoir Monday, and N. Shoveler was still showing at Central Park.
A strong departure of migrants has occurred thru Monday night into early Tuesday, with many migrants appearing to over-fly the NYC area, some making distances of multiple hundreds of miles south, on their nocturnal journeys. In any event there may well be new arrivals for Tuesday.
Date: 8/23/26 11:59 pm From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC - 8/22, 8/23 - Lesser Yellowlegs, Y.-br. Chat, 22+ Warbler spp., etc.
Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City -
mainly sightings from Sat. and Sun., August 22-23 -
A Yellow-breasted Chat is a confirmed sighting at the Central Park Ramble on Saturday, Aug. 22.
Also found later on that same day was an in-park find at the reservoir, of a rare in this park Lesser Yellowlegs, with photos from D.J. Ringer, and this bird happily was present again on Sunday, 8-23 still at the C.P. Reservoir. High-power optics of some type can be helpful, esp so with birds far into the middle sectors of the reservoir.
As to warblers in migration, some fairly good arrival, while there also was much fly-by nocturnal migration on Sat. night. Cape May Warblers were among species turning up and with that species, up to 21 additional species of warblers were found on Sunday alone - this for all of the park, and for all day, rather than any small subset of area or time during all of Sunday, and with far more than 100 independent observers and photographers out and about from dawn to dusk hours.
Common Nighthawks are again passing thru, as are further Yellow-billed Cuckoos. And as expected, dozens more of a variety of migrant birds moving south. A fair to good number of migrants are also being seen in multiple other parks and greenspaces around Manhattan, all this month and increasingly thru the recent weekend.
Arrivals of Green-winged Teal and recent additions of N. Shoveler add to the ongoing Wood Ducks and other typical waterfowl present. Some shorebird spp beyond the rare here Lesser-legs have included Least, Spotted in the multiple, and Solitary Sandpipers.
A Virginia Rail was seen at Central Park back on Aug. 16.
. . .
For many, there was no new sighting on Sunday of the Lark Sparrow seen Saturday at Sherman Creek Park, in upper Manhattan… it seems likely that that bird, confirmed for Sat., may have placed more area birders at Sherman Creek by Sunday than had been noted in that modestly sized park before. Northern Manhattan does receive very good coverage by multiple experienced birders, still it is a part of Manhattan deserving of even greater scrutiny at essentially all times of year.
Date: 8/23/26 3:24 pm From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Sun. Aug. 23, 2026: Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Green Heron, Scarlet Tanager
Central Park NYC
Sunday, August 23, 2026
OBS: Robert DeCandido, PhD, m.ob.
Highlights: Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Green Heron, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, 6 Species of Wood Warblers, Scarlet Tanager.
Mallard - 14
Mourning Dove - 15-20
Chimney Swift - 3 or 4
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 1 Azalea Pond
American Herring Gull - 3 or 4 flyovers
Green Heron - 2 Turtle Pond
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 2 or 3
Downy Woodpecker - 1 Ramble
Northern Flicker - 3 or 4
Great Crested Flycatcher - 5
Eastern Warbling Vireo - 3 or 4
Red-eyed Vireo - 5
Blue Jay - 3 or 4
Barn Swallow - 4
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 1 Turtle Pond Dock
Gray Catbird - 6-8
American Robin - 20-25
Baltimore Oriole - 18-22
Brown-headed Cowbird - 1 immature south side Turtle Pond
Common Grackle - 8-10
Ovenbird - 3 or 4
Northern Waterthrush - 1 Upper Lobe
Black-and-white Warbler - 5
American Redstart - 6-8
Northern Yellow Warbler - 1 Upper Lobe
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 1 Ramble
Scarlet Tanager - 1 east side of Azalea Pond
Northern Cardinal - 4 or 5
--
Date: 8/22/26 9:45 pm From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Manhattan, NYC - Sat., 8/22 - Lark Sparrow, and other migrants
Manhattan, N.Y. City - Saturday, August 22nd -
The likely highlight among all birds noted for Saturday in Manhattan was the Lark Sparrow at Sherman Creek park, which is just north of the eastern end of Dyckman Street and adjoins the Harlem River. Thanks to B. Sadock for initial alert, and with multiple other observers for this bird. Also somewhat notable was a N. Harrier on the deck at one point in this park. There also were ongoing shorebirds being found, in modest diversity as compared with the wider region, but for N.Y. County, which Manhattan is one island in, the numbers of shorebirds have been quite good lately.
Over all of Manhattan, a wide variety of migrants were seen, warblers in particular, with for example a minimum of 18 species of warblers for Central Park alone. A Yellow-breasted Chat was reported at Central Park, awaiting confirmation by eBird review team.
Date: 8/22/26 2:16 pm From: Martin Sandler (via NYSBIRDS-L list) <NYSBIRDS-L...> Subject: Re: [nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Sat. Aug. 22, 2026: Am. Kestrel, Veery, 8 Species of Wood Warblers
Looks great!
Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS
On Saturday, August 22, 2026, 4:37 PM, Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> wrote:
Central Park NYC
Saturday, August 22, 2026
OBS: Robert DeCandido, PhD, Deborah Allen, m.ob.
Highlights on a cloudy morning: Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Spotted Sandpiper, Green Heron, Osprey, American Kestrel, Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Veery, 8 Species of Wood Warblers.
Mallard - 9
Mourning Dove - 30-35
Chimney Swift - 3-5
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 1 Azalea Pond
Spotted Sandpiper - 1 Turtle Pond (Ryan Serio)
American Herring Gull - 4-6 flyovers
Green Heron - 1 Turtle Pond
Great Egret - 1 Turtle Pond
Great Blue Heron - 1 immature Upper Lobe, seen earlier at Turtle Pond
Date: 8/22/26 1:37 pm From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Sat. Aug. 22, 2026: Am. Kestrel, Veery, 8 Species of Wood Warblers
Central Park NYC
Saturday, August 22, 2026
OBS: Robert DeCandido, PhD, Deborah Allen, m.ob.
Highlights on a cloudy morning: Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Spotted Sandpiper, Green Heron, Osprey, American Kestrel, Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Veery, 8 Species of Wood Warblers.
Mallard - 9
Mourning Dove - 30-35
Chimney Swift - 3-5
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 1 Azalea Pond
Spotted Sandpiper - 1 Turtle Pond (Ryan Serio)
American Herring Gull - 4-6 flyovers
Green Heron - 1 Turtle Pond
Great Egret - 1 Turtle Pond
Great Blue Heron - 1 immature Upper Lobe, seen earlier at Turtle Pond
Osprey - 1 flyover Belvedere Castle (Paul Curtis)
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 2 or 3
Downy Woodpecker - 2 or 3
Northern Flicker - 4
American Kestrel - 1 male Boathouse Hill
Great Crested Flycatcher - 3
Eastern Kingbird - 1 west side of Azalea Pond
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 1 heard (Ryan Serio)
Red-eyed Vireo - 4
Blue Jay - 2 or 3
American Crow - 2-4 heard-only
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 1 Bow Bridge (Paul Curtis)
Gray Catbird - 6-8
Northern Mockingbird - 1 Turtle Pond (Ryan Serio)
Veery - 1 Evodia Field
Wood Thrush - 1 Evodia Field (Sandra Critelli)
American Robin - 12-15
American Goldfinch - 1 male Bow Bridge
White-throated Sparrow - 1 Azalea Pond
Baltimore Oriole - 18-20
Common Grackle - 5-7
Ovenbird - 3
Northern Waterthrush - 1 Upper Lobe
Blue-winged Warbler - 3 or 4
Black-and-white Warbler - 6-8
Common Yellowthroat - 3 females
American Redstart - 12-26
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 5-7
Canada Warbler - 1 Belvedere Castle Overlook
Northern Cardinal - 4-6
--
Deb Allen
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 21,
2026 at 11:00 pm. The highlights of today’s tape are EARED GREBE,
LONG-TAILED JAEGER, RED-NECKED PHALAROPE and other pelagics, UPLAND,
BUFF-BREASTED and BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS, MARBLED GODWIT, WILSON'S
PHALAROPE, SEDGE WREN, LARK SPARROW, YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, SUMMER
TANAGER, DICKCISSEL and more.
The EARED GREBE continues on the West Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife
Refuge, but recent rains have hampered any progress that had been made
to get the water level on the East Pond down to an appropriate level
for shorebirds and birders alike. The shorebird festival last Saturday
did find WILSON’S PHALAROPE and STILT, PECTORAL, WESTERN and WHITE
RUMPED SANDPIPERS among the many more regular species there, but even
then the pond was not traversable.
Shorebird highlights in the region have included a RED-NECKED
PHALAROPE on Westchester’s Kensico Reservoir last Saturday and another
joining 2 WILSON’S PHALAROPES Monday in ponds at Jones Beach West End
located in the dunes between Fields 1 and 2. Another WILSON'S was at
Sagg Pond Monday.
A private parcel in Manhasset, with no access allowed, did host an
UPLAND SANDPIPER as well as a SEDGE WREN last Tuesday, and a
BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER dropped by Field 5 at Robert Moses State Park
last Monday. At least 2 BAIRD’S SANDPIPERS have been visiting lowered
Jerome Reservoir in the Bronx since Monday, with another reported from
Plumb Beach on Wednesday.
Up to 3 MARBLED GODWITS have been noted this week off Field 10 at
Jones Beach State Park, with singles at Piermont Pier Thursday and
Plumb Beach today, but the peak was the 8 at Old Inlet in Bellport Bay
last Sunday. Three HUDSONIAN WHIMBRELS were out in Jamaica Bay last
Saturday, while also out at Old Inlet Sunday, besides loads of
shorebirds, were 1 CASPIAN, 4 ROSEATE, 15 ROYAL and 2 BLACK TERNS and
17 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS.
Boat trips around Montauk, especially CRESLI whale excursions, are
still also finding pelagic birds - last Friday and Sunday single
LONG-TAILED JAEGERS were reported, and Saturday and Sunday produced 1
or 2 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES, while also continuing were numbers of
WILSON’S STORM-PETRELS and GREAT and CORY'S SHEARWATERS plus a few
SCOPOLI’S, SOOTY and MANX as well, and a PARASITIC JAEGER or two.
COMMON NIGHTHAWKS are now coming through during suitable evenings, and
FLYCATCHERS migrating have included OLIVE-SIDED and various Empidonax
species.
An immature LARK SPARROW has been around the entrance parking lot to
Cliffdale Farm off Teatown Road in Westchester since Wednesday, and
single YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS were noted at Hither Hills State Park
Wednesday and in Prospect Park Thursday and today.
An increase in migrating WARBLERS this week included reports of
WORM-EATING, TENNESSEE, MOURNING, HOODED, CAPE MAY, BLACKBURNIAN,
BLACKPOLL, BLACK-THROATED BLUE and YELLOW RUMPED.
A female SUMMER TANAGER was reported today in McGolrick Park in
Greenpoint, Brooklyn, and a few calling DICKCISSELS moving overhead in
the morning were noted this week in central Westchester and at Jerome
Reservoir and Coney Island Creek.
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.
