Date: 6/9/26 1:54 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC - Monday, June 8th - 14 warbler species, etc.
Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City -
Monday, June 8th -
A nice resurgence - with some birds lingering - of warblers and other migrants plus breeding or potentially-breeding species, and resident plus visitant species on the 8th day of June, which included 14 species of warblers, some of these rather late by now for this county. A mix of species, and interestingly the species which might nest the farthest from N.Y. City of those found here this day could be Bay-breasted, with some Blackpoll Warblers breeding within about 100 straight-line miles of Manhattan as do at least a few Mourning Warblers, and all the rest, potentially closer to here, in part. Two of these 15 warbler species have bred in Manhattan in this era, Yellow Warbler and Common Yellowthroat, and a third species, American Redstart, is an outside contender. Otherly, we can also have at least a few of these end up summering on Manhattan island without any breeding, including - multiple times over the decades - Ovenbird and Black-and-white Warbler, and possibly other warbler species occasionally also summering.
from Monday, June 8 at Central Park -
Ovenbird
Northern Waterthrush
Black-and-white Warbler
Mourning Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Northern Yellow Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Canada Warbler
The species noted above were in single to minimal numbers, excepting a few - those in slightly greater numbers were Mourning, Blackpoll, Magnolia, and Northern Yellow Warbler, with at least several or more Common Yellowthroats as well, in Central Park.
Also seen on the day were Scarlet Tanager, and Blue-gray Gnatctchers, the latter at least an occasional-or-better nester on Manhattan. Other sites in Manhattan had some of the above birds, as well. More widespread, but including pairs and multiples in or over Central Park as well as elsewhere in Manhattan were - Chimney Swift, Osprey, E. Wood-Pewees, Great Crested Flycatchers, E. Kingbirds, Empidonax-genus Flycatchers - including Yellow-bellied, Barn, N. Rough-winged, and Tree Swallows, N. House Wrens, Cedar Waxwings, Swainsons, Gray-cheeked, and Wood Thrushes, the latter breeding here, Baltimore Orioles, and some summering-but-not-breeding White-throated Sparrows, these last a species of which a small number can be found in all months of almost any years of the last several decades or more, as so many overwinter, and then much-smaller numbers also linger thru summer too, but never with any indications of nesting. Also ongoing as regular flyovers and visiting feeding regulars of summer are Snowy and Great Egrets, Black-crowned Night Herons, a few Great Blue Herons, and Double-crested Cormorants, plus our pairs of breeding Green Herons. On Manhattan as annual breeders are also Orchard Orioles, and of course there are multiple other regular summer species. Laughing Gull is among those, and some often visit Central Park as was seen on this June 8th.
Date: 6/7/26 6:22 pm From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Manhattan, NYC - to Sunday, 6/7 - C. Loon, R.-br. Merganser, Terns, Empidonax, etc.
Manhattan, N.Y. City - thru Sunday, June 7th -
A breeding-plumaged Common Loon was seen and photographed on the Hudson River just off mid-lower Manhattan on Sat., June 6th, an uncommonly-late date here for any loon… however, there are precedents for loons even summering in our region in some years, and most of those if doing so would be in part or full breeding color, rather than in the more drab winter plumages.
A Red-breasted Merganser has continued on the Spuyten Duyvil creek-waterway of the northern edge of Manhattan at points that divide that island from the mainland of Bronx County in NYC, and also separate Manhattan from the mainland of North America. It is a quite-late date, for New York County, for any merganser by now. Photos were made again of this lingering duck, on June 7th.
Various reports have been made for terns around the NY harbor, including some within New York County waters and at times, visible from Manhattan shore sites. Most of these are Common Terns, but some reports of, in particular, Least Tern, may be correct in identifications. Of other tern species being reported, a phone or camera photo or video would be useful to aid in confirming species, esp with a chance of good clear images.
Empidonax-genus flycatchers still pushing thru and fully expected this late include Yellow-bellied, while some of the others being seen now might, or do, represent individuals or pairs attempting to breed in Manhattan in appropriate habitat, and those include Acadian Flycatcher and Willow Flycatcher, each still present on Manhattan island thru Sunday. Additional species of Empidonax can still be moving along as well, in this area.
Good to see that Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are still around in Manhattan to Sunday, with sightings again of a bright male at the north end of Central Park, and at least several others of that species in various locations, including at Fort Tryon Park in northern Manhattan.
Early on Sunday, it was interesting to find among the migrant birds of very early morming, a small number of singing male Blackpoll Warblers, and at least one singing male Bay-breasted Warbler, in Street trees in the neighborhoods ranging from upper-north far west side to west and central Harlem to parts of the Heights in upper Manhattan, on a far ranging and occasionally rather speedy walk and census of some smaller parks and greenspaces. Some of these boreal-breeding migrants, still pushing thru might have been slightly held back by the evening storms and by overall weather of late-day or evening on Sat., June 6th, with these birds seen and heard on Sunday.
Many of the many other birds being found by now around Manhattan are either nesting here, some having done so and with fledged young, or nestlings, as well as the species that visit Manhattan to roost or to feed, such as some Ospreys, and a number of the herons or egrets which can be found regularly thru the summer, and so forth.
The Green Herons are around now as nesting birds in multiple locations including Central Park. For ALL nesting birds, please maintain some distance and stay quiet, not disturbing the adults or any young at this critical time of the year for many nesting birds. Thank you for caring.
And thanks to the many hardy birders involved in not-for-profit bird walks, and with non-profit Institution’s and organizations, as well as many independently-walking observers and photographers, for reports in Discord bird-apps, in eBird including the Macaulay Library for media, and via good old word-of-mouth, for sightings and so many June bird reports.
Date: 6/7/26 12:48 pm From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Sun. June 7, 2026: Great Blue Heron, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
Central Park NYC
Sunday, June 7, 2026
OBS: Robert DeCandido, PhD, Deborah Allen, m.ob.
Highlights: Wood Duck, Gadwall, Laughing Gull, Great Blue Heron, Osprey, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Common Yellowthroat.
Sunday's list unless otherwise noted:
Canada Goose - 5
Wood Duck - 1 male Reservoir
Gadwall - 1 male Reservoir (Saturday)
Mallard - around 20
Mourning Dove - 25-30
Chimney Swift - 4-6
Laughing Gull - 2 (adult, second-year) Reservoir
Ring-billed Gull - 4
American Herring Gull - around 35
Great Black-backed Gull - 1 Reservoir
Double-crested Cormorant - around 15
Black-crowned Night-Heron - 1 flyover
Great Blue Heron - 1 Gill Overlook (Saturday)
Osprey - 1 or 2 fishing at the Harlem Meer (Saturday)
Red-tailed Hawk - 2 adults 5th Ave. nest (Sunday), adult bathing at the Gill (Saturday)
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 4-6
Downy Woodpecker - 1 female Tupelo Field
Northern Flicker - 1 Belvedere Castle Vista Rock
Great Crested Flycatcher - 2
Eastern Kingbird - 3 North End (Saturday)
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 1 Captain's Bench (Saturday)
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher - 1 Evodia Field (Sandra Critelli)
Tree Swallow - 1 at the Pool (Saturday)
Northern Rough-winged Swallow - 2 at the Pool (Saturday)
Barn Swallow - 4 near nest at Reservoir
Cedar Waxwing - 3
Northern House Wren - nesting near Wildflower Meadow (Saturday)
Gray Catbird - 10-12
Wood Thrush - 2 or 3
American Robin - 30-40
House Finch - 8-10 incl. some juveniles
White-throated Sparrow - 3
Song Sparrow - 1 singing Reservoir
Baltimore Oriole - 4
Red-winged Blackbird - 1 male Turtle Pond (Sunday), 14 North End (Saturday)
Common Grackle - 15-20
Common Yellowthroat - 1 Harlem Meer (Saturday)
Northern Cardinal - 4-6
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, with an abbreviated report, for *Friday, June 5th 2026* at 11 pm. The highlights of today's tape are WHITE and WHITE-FACED IBIS, RED-NECKED and WILSON'S PHALAROPES, ARCTIC TERN, MISSISSIPPI KITE, GLAUCOUS GULL, WHIMBREL, YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, KENTUCKY WARBLER and EVENING GROSBEAK and more.
A WHITE-FACED IBIS continues to visit the East Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge noted there over last weekend and also yesterday. The East Pond has also been hosting a WILSON'S PHALAROPE to Monday with 2 there Tuesday and Wednesday and a LEAST BITTERN seen both Monday and Thursday.
An adult WHITE IBIS was photographed Tuesday as it flew over Spring's Park in the town of East Hampton and birders a few miles off Montauk Point last Sunday enjoyed a nicely plumaged RED-NECKED PHALAROPE and 8 WILSON'S STORM-PETRELS with another RED-NECKED PHALAROPE also seen on the flats at Smith Point County Park Monday.
A GLAUCOUS GULL was photographed Monday at Breezy Point while among the terns reported this week were an ARCTIC Monday off Robert Moses State Park followed by 2 from Nickerson Beach Thursday, a BLACK at Nickerson's Sunday as well as a few ROSEATES, arriving ROYALS and late CASPIANS.
MISSISSIPPI KITES continue to be reported from Brooklyn with one over Green-wood Cemetery last Sunday and one over Prospect Park this evening.
On Tuesday a couple of WHIMBREL were seen out in Jamaica Bay with one also at Plumb Beach.
Notable passerines this week featured ACADIAN FLYCATCHER in Prospect Park, a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT at the New Creek Watershed on Staten Island Tuesday, a KENTUCKY WARBLER at Wolfe's Pond Park last Sunday and perhaps the best bird of the week a male EVENING GROSBEAK photographed by a picture taking bird feeder out in Suffolk County last Sunday.
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: 6/5/26 3:32 pm From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC - Fri., June 5 - 12+ warbler spp., and earlier sightings
Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City - Friday, June 5th -
At least 12 species of migratory American-hemisphere warblers were found in Central Park on Friday, all species seen by observers on independent walks and-or with not-for-profit guided bird walk groups. Among these warblers, Mourning Warbler and Bay-breasted Warbler were seen by multiple observers and photographers both very early and later in the day Friday. Just 3 days prior on Tues., June 2, there were still up to 20 species of warblers in this one park, with some slightly-late or considered straggling, in the typical migration phenologies of their species. Blackpoll Warbler, American Redstart, and to a lesser extent, Common Yellowthroat are among the most numerous of ongoing warblers, while species such as Mourning often escape detection, not at all rare, just less amenable to fast sighting and ID by comparison to many other warblers, when-if not heard singing.
Recent sightings in and over Central Park in this week after Monday have included Common Nighthawks, Ruby-throated Hummingbird - the latter to Friday including a male at the north end of the park, Osprey every day in the air over Central, especially so at the north half of the park, the Eastern Wood-Pewees that are daily and of which some will stay for breeding in the park, the continuing pair of Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, the great numbers of Cedar Waxwings each day, some setting up as breeders and some still moving thru, along with the 60 or more other species of wild and free-flying birds in and over the park since Tuesday, being seen by hundreds of keen, patient, quiet observers and photographers. ‘
. . .
One of the uncommon finds going into the month of June was an ongoing Red-breasted Merganser in the Spuyten Duyvil Creek, which separates northernmost Manhattan from the western Bronx in N.Y. City. Other birds of various sorts all added up to more than 100 species in Manhattan and slightly more than that for all ofd N.Y. County so far in June.
Date: 6/5/26 2:37 pm From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Fri. June 5, 2026: Yelow-billed Cuckoo, Mourning, Bay-breasted, and Other Wood Warblers
Central Park NYC - North End and Ramble
Friday, June 5, 2026
OBS: Deborah Allen, Robert DeCandido, PhD, m.ob.
Highlights: Yelow-billed Cuckoo, Mourning, Bay-breasted, and Other Wood Warblers.
Canada Goose - 24
Mallard - 35
Mourning Dove - 20-25
Yellow-billed Cuckoo - 1 mid-way along the Loch (Caren Jahre)
Chimney Swift - 8
American Herring Gull - 6 flyovers
Double-crested Cormorant - 6
Black-crowned Night-Heron - 3 adults
Great Egret - 5 flyovers
Red-tailed Hawk - 1 female "Octavia" at 5th Ave. nest
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 7
Downy Woodpecker - 3 (2 females, 1 male)
Northern Flicker - 1 west of Tupelo Field
Great Crested Flycatcher - 1 Gill Overlook
Eastern Kingbird - 3 including pair at Turtle Pond
Eastern Warbling Vireo - 6-9
Red-eyed Vireo - 7
Blue Jay - 6
American Crow - heard
Cedar Waxwing - 4
Northern House Wren - 1 singing male near nest near Wildflower Meadow
Gray Catbird - 8
Wood Thrush - 2, another heard
American Robin - 40-50
House Finch - 2 or 3 (Loch and Pool (Caren Jahre and Paul Curtis))
American Goldfinch - 2 males (Pool (Tom Cowieson), Harlem Meer (Paul Curtis))
White-throated Sparrow - 7
Baltimore Oriole - 3 (pair at nest, another heard)
Red-winged Blackbird - 14
Common Grackle - 20-25
Mourning Warbler - 1 singing male (Evodia Field (Bob)
American Redstart - 3
Northern Parula - 1 female Gill Overlook
Bay-breasted Warbler - 1 singing male at the Pool (Caren Jahre and Paul Curtis)
Northern Yellow Warbler - 1 singing male at the Pool
Blackpoll Warbler - 4 females
Canada Warbler - 1 (Ramble on Thursday 6/4)
Northern Cardinal - 10
Date: 6/3/26 7:45 pm From: marciaaabrahams at aol.com (via NYSBIRDS-L list) <NYSBIRDS-L...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] The next Queens County Bird Club meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 17th at 7:30 PM featuring Peter Mundale "Saltmarshes in New York"
QUEENS COUNTY BIRD CLUB MONTHLY MEETING
Peter Mundale presents "Saltmarshes in New York"
Time: Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at 7:30 PM
Place: Alley Pond Environmental Center, 229-10 Northern Blvd, Douglaston, NY 11362
Peter Mundale is from Duluth, Minnesota and has been fascinated by the outdoors his whole life. His obsession for birds began at 8 years old reading Peterson Field Guides and only grew after traveling to Hawk Ridge for the first time in 2010! Over sixteen years later and still obsessed with birds, Peter is now a field technician in avian research and conservation! Field work Peter has done includes being a Counter, Naturalist, and Bander at Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory, a Point Counter in the Superior National Forest, tracking Boreal Chickadees with telemetry in the peatlands, working in the saltmarshes with Seaside & Saltmarsh Sparrows, Lead Spring Owl Bander, MAPS Bander, working on a Common Redpoll study, and leading his own research project with Horned Larks, Peter loves hawk watching! No matter where he is, the magic of migration is a spectacle that he loves to watch and share with others! When he's not birding (which is rare), Peter enjoys hiking, camping, snowshoeing, photography, mothing, and looking for dragonflies!
Marcia AbrahamsVP/Programs CoordinatorQueens County Bird Clubhttps://qcbirdclub.org/Email: <MarciaAAbrahams...>
Date: 6/1/26 5:49 pm From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC - June 1st - Mourningthroat hybrid warbler, etc.
Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City - Monday, June 1st -
Likely the most unusual sighting of all birds seen in Manhattan on the day was a hybrid warbler, known to occur but not found and identified as such all that often, which results from a cross of Mourning Warbler with Common Yellowthroat. This individual was seen in the same area of Central Park on Sunday, May 31 as well, but was not yet fully understood to be this uncommon hybrid. Thanks to D.J. Ringer for alerting more birders to this individual warbler, by Monday, 6-1. We have records of this hybrid cross showing up in N.Y. City from at least the past several decades, but in years-past, it was often a more mysterious pairing and could take consultation over a long period with new world warbler experts to research the occurrence and possible status of such hybrids. With so many more observers and so many tools today in the kit, for recording and spreading the word in recent-modern times, such hybrids may be more widely noticed, and perhaps better understood.
Of other warbler species in Central Park on June 1st, multiple Mourning Warblers were present, all of the reliable reports coming from north of the southern fourth of the park on this day. At least 16 species of warbler were still being seen over the park in entirety and as seen collectively by many observers and photographers on the day. At least 80 species of wild, free-flying birds were noted for June 1st at or over Central Park. Of all of those many birds, none required the euphemism of -early- when found by reliable observers and reporters.
Date: 6/1/26 12:22 pm From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Mon. June 1, 2026: Mourning Warbler and Other Spring Migrants
Central Park NYC
Monday, June 1, 2026
OBS: Robert DeCandido, PhD, m.ob.
Highlights: Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Gray-cheeked Thrush, Mourning Warbler and Other Spring Migrants.
Mallard - 8
Mourning Dove - 30-35
Chimney Swift - 4 or 5
American Herring Gull - 5 or 6 flyovers
Double-crested Cormorant - 1 Lake
Black-crowned Night-Heron - 2 (Upper Lobe, 59th Street Pond)
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 4 or 5
Downy Woodpecker - 1 female Oven
Northern Flicker - 1 west side of Tupelo field
Great Crested Flycatcher - pair Gill Overlook
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 1 Strawberry Fields
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher - 1 Captain's Bench
Warbling Vireo - pair Ladies' Pavilion
Red-eyed Vireo - 5
Blue Jay - 5 or 6
American Crow - 4 flyovers
Cedar Waxwing - 8-10
Gray Catbird - 6-8
Northern Mockingbird - 1 flyover Strawberry Fields
Gray-cheeked Thrush - 1 Captain's Bench
Swainson's Thrush - 2 Ramble
Wood Thrush - 2 Ramble
American Robin - 30-40
House Finch - 6 incl. some juveniles Ladies' Pavilion
White-throated Sparrow - 5 west of Captain's Bench
Baltimore Oriole - 3 (male Balcony Bridge, pair Maintenance Field)
Red-winged Blackbird - 3 or 4
Common Grackle - 10-15
Ovenbird - 1 Iphigene's Walk
Northern Waterthrush - 2 (Balcony Bridge, Gill Overlook)
Mourning Warbler - 1 singing male SE Hallett Sanctuary (Bob-early)
Common Yellowthroat - 1 female Ramble
American Redstart - 3 or 4 incl. adult male at Balcony Bridge
Blackpoll Warbler - 2 females Strawberry Fields
Northern Cardinal - 5 or 6
Date: 6/1/26 12:36 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC - Sunday, 5/31 - Bicknells Thrushes, 16+ Warbler spp., etc.
Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City - Sunday, May 31 -
Some of the species heard and then seen by observers -not- involved in any for-profit enterprises while seeking birds, at the Central Park Ramble on Sunday morning and as early as first-daylight before other bird seekers had arrived, including singing and calling Bicknells Thrush, with Gray-cheeked Thrush also in the area, singing a bit and calling as well. Also and similarly at first-daylight, male Mourning Warbler was heard, then seen in the Ramble area by those coming in ahead of other bird seekers.
Later in the day, multiple others walking independently were able to find, hear, and observe both of the above noted thrush species, and to also see Mourning Warbler. These species also occurred again elsewhere in the park, far from the Ramble, on Sunday, 5-31, with other observers noting those in places outside the Ramble area of the park. Additional migrant thrushes included Swainsons Thrushes, and a very few late Veery. The Wood Thrushes still present at Central Park might all, or mostly, by now be attempting to nest here, and with luck may fledge some young later. Please do nothing whatsoever to disturb any nesting birds -anywhere- or young fledglings.
At least 16 species of migratory American warblers were found in Central Park on Sunday, by many observers thru the day and in all sections of the park. None of the warblers seen were species running really late, and multiples of both Black-throated Green and Black-throated Blue Warblers were found. As noted in a recent report, we have many female warblers still passing thru and some of these get less noticed, in part due to more-subtle plumage than spring males, in part for not giving bursts of song, and also for many birds on migration or breeding locally now, the cover of very thick foliage and other vegetation all around this area by now. A few warbler species were still moderately numerous, park-wide, thru Sunday, including Blackpoll Warbler, American Redstart, and Common Yellowthroat, the last of these a species that often attempts nesting here in minimal numbers each year.
Flycatchers of Sunday in Central Park still included at least 3, and possibly up to five, of the regular annual Empidonax-genus Flycatchers, with multiples of Yellow-bellied and Acadian, and other flycatchers such as E. Wood-Pewee, Great Crested Flycatcher and E. Kingbirds, these 3 all nesting species of Central, in numbers, plus a couple of slightly-late moving Olive-sided Flycatchers. A report of Blue-gray Gnatcatcher in the last day of May was intriguing as this is a species that rather rarely had nested in this park, and might nest in Manhattan somewhat scantly.
The total number of all wild, free-flying birds in and over Central Park was nearly 90 species, on Sunday 5-31 alone, as found by hundreds of observers and photographers over the 15-plus hours of total daylight available, and with fine spring weather all day.
Date: 5/31/26 8:47 pm From: marciaaabrahams at aol.com (via NYSBIRDS-L list) <NYSBIRDS-L...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Do not miss Ashley Pichon's "Iceland" presentation at the next Queens County Bird Club meeting on Wednesday, June 17th at 7:30 PM!
QUEENS COUNTY BIRD CLUB MONTHLY MEETING
Ashley Pichon presents "Iceland"
Time: Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at 7:30 PM
Place: Alley Pond Environmental Center, 229-10 Northern Blvd, Douglaston, NY 11362
Ashley Pichon started birding with the North Shore Audubon Society in March of 2022. She bought her camera at the same time, and both quickly became an obsession. She has since traveled to Central and South America, and through key birding states in the US, capturing and counting myriad avian species in this pursuit. Last year, Ashley went on a family trip to Iceland determined to get whatever she could while there. What follows is an account of balancing family time and field time in the land of fire and ice. Ashley will share some of the dramatic landscapes and less frequently seen bird species she captured there.
Marcia AbrahamsVP/Programs CoordinatorQueens County Bird Clubhttps://qcbirdclub.org/Email: <MarciaAAbrahams...>
Date: 5/31/26 3:10 pm From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC, Sun. May 31, 2026: Bicknell's and Gray-cheeked Thrushes, Mourning Warbler
Central Park, NYC
Sunday May 31, 2026
OBS: Robert DeCandido, PhD, Deborah Allen, m.ob.
Date: 5/30/26 11:53 pm From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] N.Y. County, NYC - Sat., 5/30 - Dickcissel, etc.
… I been in the right place, but it must have been the wrong time …. Dr. John, the night-tripper orig from NOLA, etc, circa 1973 and on, sampled by Dre, turned inside out by Emerson Lake and Palmer and by many others. On Saturday, May 30, a brightly colored Dickcissel, perhaps a female, was photographed in the old driving range of Randalls Island, which is in New York County - within N.Y. City. Cliff Swallow was ongoing at Randalls, and there were sightings of a likely, or presumptive Alder Flycatcher by multiple observers there, all on Saturday. Other Empidonax-genus flycatchers found Saturday on Randalls also included Yellow-bellied, and still others. Randalls also continues as the most-reliable site in this county for Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, in proper season.
On Governors Island just south of Manhattan island, both in New York County, around 50-plus species of birds were seen including more than half-a-dozen migrant warbler species, including a late female Blackburnian. The Willow Flyctchers on Governors were continuing there, and among other birds, these seen strictly as migrants and not breeders, were Swainsons Thrush, and on Friday, White-crowned Sparrow. Common Terns are also regular at one site as well as offshore at and from Governors.
The past few days featured migrant birds on Roosevelt Island, another of the islands of New York County, with some warblers that do not breed there, as well as various birds that do, or might breed there.
There were still many species of migrants in multiple parks and greenspaces of Manhattan, with Inwood Hill and Riverside Parks among the many. At Central Park, still having large numbers of observers and photographers, at least 15 warbler species were found in that one park on Saturday, May 30, by the collective observers doing their varying walks from first-light to dusk, and in all sectors of that park. Many migrants besides warblers also were still being seen as well as plenty of the breeding species, which of course also may be breeding in multiple other parks.
…
Plenty of migration happening from Saturday night on into wee-hours of Sunday, but a lot of the birds passing thru the NYC region were also going on and on, as many birds of many species will be driven to reach breeding-grounds now, wherever those sites are - a lot of bird migration is going on into Canada, just as it had, with a bit of emphasis more recently…
Good birding, and thanks to all those many keen, quiet, patient, listening and watchful observers and photographers for so many sightings, alerts, reports and a good month of May in all the ups or downs of weather around here.
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, May 29,
2026 at 11:00 pm. The highlights of today’s tape are BROWN BOOBY,
SANDWICH TERN, WHITE IBIS, MISSISSIPPI KITE, BLACK-NECKED STILT,
WHITE-FACED IBIS, ARCTIC TERN, WILSON’S PHALAROPE, PHILADELHIA VIREO,
PROTHONOTARY WARBLER, SUMMER TANAGER, BLUE GROSBEAK and more.
Certainly unexpected was an adult BROWN BOOBY sitting on a rock just
off the Olympia Boulevard bridge over the New Creek Watershed on
Staten Island for a while on Tuesday, the striking bird ultimately
flying off to the northeast.
An historic incursion of WHITE IBIS into New York took place last
Tuesday when a large flock of adults was seen heading past Sandy Hook,
New Jersey, and towards Staten Island, The flock ultimately settled
down on Hoffman Island in New York Bay east of Staten Island, where
birders taking long-distance photos and estimated counts were coming
up with between 42 and 57 individuals. By Wednesday, however, totals
had dropped to just 3 on Hoffman Island and these also soon moved on,
ending this momentous event, but providing perhaps just a preview of
longer-lasting future visits.
A non-breeding SANDWICH TERN was photographed on the flats at Cupsogue
Beach County Park last Saturday.
MISSISSIPPI KITES, with certainly a few but unknown number of
individuals involved, continued appearances over Brooklyn especially
at least to Thursday. Sightings came from Staten Island Wednesday and
Thursday, and in Brooklyn from Calvert Vaux Park and near Prospect
Park on Monday and around Prospect and Green-Wood Cemetery yesterday,
the latter nicely photographed.
The BLACK-NECKED STILT visiting the East Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife
Refuge stayed through Monday, while a WILSON’S PHALAROPE hanging
around the south end of the pond was noted to Monday and then again
today.
Among the GLOSSY IBIS visiting the East Pond recently has been an
individual that raised some issues about being a hybrid, but photos
taken today certainly seem to portray a good WHITE-FACED IBIS.
Following reports of single ARCTIC TERNS off Montauk Point and
Shinnecock last Saturday were 2 seen today, an adult and an immature,
at Moriches Bay, joined there by a BLACK TERN.
Birds off Montauk Point last Saturday featured single MANX and SOOTY
SHEARWATERS, with an ICELAND GULL there Sunday, and a GLAUCOUS GULL
was spotted over Brooklyn Bridge Park Monday. Two CASPIAN TERNS at
Prospect Park Thursday followed 1 at Plumb Beach Monday.
Single PHILADELPHIA VIREOS were photographed in Prospect Park Monday
and on Governors Island Wednesday, and single PROTHONOTARY WARBLERS
visited Sands Point Preserve Tuesday and Hempstead Lake State Park
today.
Single SUMMER TANAGERS appeared in Alley Pond Park Monday and in
Prospect Park today, while BLUE GROSBEAKS continue in the Calverton
area, including at the Prestons Pond Complex, with 1 also at Caumsett
State Park Saturday.
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: 5/29/26 4:35 pm From: Thomas Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC - Friday, May 29 - 20 species of warblers, etc.
In Central Park -in Manhattan, N.Y. City- on Friday, May 29th, at least 20 species of migratory Americas-Caribbean, ie neotropical-wintering, warbler species were still being found by the hundreds of observers and photographers in that park, covering nearly every area and all sectors from south end to north, east to west, in all hours from first-light to nearly dusk, with some folks wanting to listen equally as well as to look. Of course, a fair number of the warblers by this date, or for some species, a great many, are female warblers which are not bursting with song, although all of these warblers will give calls in daytime and also give particular flight notes, in nocturnal flight as well as on some daytime local-flight.
Among the Black-billed Cuckoos seen in Central Park, at least one was well-photographed with the photos in the publicly-available, and easily-accessible Macaulay Library for media, as part of an eBird report, for May 29. There are also still Yellow-billed Cuckoos moving thru as well. Multiple Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are also still being found in Central, and other Manhattan parks. That is a species that has nested in this county, albeit rather sparingly, as far any known surveying has shown.
Below are the warblers positively identified from May 29, at Central Park - all of the park, not just one piece, or route of one or a few persons.
Ovenbird - multiple.
Northern Waterthrush - multiple.
Black-and-white Warbler - multiple.
Tennessee Warbler - multiple.
Mourning Warbler - multiple - some are quieter females, and the species has been passing in numbers for many days by now.
Common Yellowthroat - many.
American Redstart - still numerous over all of Central Park.
Cape May Warbler - not late, some of the females passing now do not receive the attention of males and earlier-to-pass individuals of this species, starting when leaves were far less thick and able to hide some of the more-arboreal of the warblers.
Northern Parula - multiple.
Magnolia Warbler - multiple.
Bay-breasted Warbler - multiple.
Northern Yellow Warbler - multiple.
Chestnut-sided Warbler - multiple.
Pine Warbler - this is a bit late, but not unprecedented, for here, and an experienced observer noted that the individual seen was in drab-plumage, this may have been a straggling first-year female. As many in the NYC region will know, the species breeds within 10 miles or less of Central Park in other places outside of N.Y. County, such as giving one example, in parts of northeast New Jersey in appropriate habitats. This species is also capable of breeding or attempting to within N.Y. City in select locations.
Blackpoll Warbler - a very conservative number for all of Central Park on Friday would be 150 or more.
Black-throated Blue Warbler - multiple.
Myrtle form of Yellow-rumped Warbler - multiple.
Black-throated Green Warbler - multiple.
Canada Warbler - multiple.
Wilson's Warbler - multiple.
- - -
A nice find out at Governors Island earlier this week was another Philadelphia Vireo for the county this spring, seen at least to May 27 on Governors, which is a part of N.Y. County, the very same county that Manhattan island is within. Many, many locations in all parts of this county continue to have lots of migrants and, in multiple sites, also many birds now breeding or setting up to do so. Please give all nesting birds some space, thank you.
And thanks to all the many observers and photographers, including the not-for-profit groups with their leaders on guided bird walks, as well as fully-indepedent watchers, for so many sightings, alerts, reports, including some bird tips via good old word-of-mouth.
Date: 5/29/26 3:37 pm From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Fri. May 29, 2026: 3 Species of Wood Warblers
Central Park NYC
Friday, May 29, 2026
OBS: Deborah Allen, m.ob.
Highlights: Spring migration is slowing but we managed to find 8 Species of Wood Warblers, and the Pool was very lively with Tree, Northern Rough-winged, and Barn Swallows, Cedar Waxwings, Eastern Kingbirds and Chimney Swifts, all chasing insects low over the water. In addition, Ron Lugo photographed a Ruby-throated Hummingbird at the Seep, and a Black-billed Cuckoo was reported at the middle cutout at the Loch.
Canada Goose - 20
Mallard - 10-12
Mourning Dove - 9 or 10
American Herring Gull - a few flyovers
Double-crested Cormorant - 7
Great Egret - 9
Black-crowned Night-Heron - 3 or 4 including a second-year bird
Red-tailed Hawk - 2 (Loch and Harlem Meer)
Red-bellied Woodpecker - heard
Downy Woodpecker - 1 Harlem Meer
Northern Flicker - 2 (Grassy Knoll, Wildflower Meadow)
Eastern Kingbird - 3
Eastern Wood-Pewee - heard-only
Eastern Warbling Vireo - 3
Red-eyed Vireo - heard
Blue Jay - 4 or 5
American Crow - flyover flock of around 30
Tree Swallow - 3 (Scott Brevda)
Northern Rough-winged Swallow - 4 or 5
Barn Swallow - 4
Cedar Waxwing - 12-15
Gray Catbird - 6-8
Swainson's Thrush - 3 or 4 (Paul Curtis)
Wood Thrush - heard at the Loch (Caren Jahre)
American Robin - 15-20
House Finch - 3
White-throated Sparrow - 1 at the Seep (Scott Brevda)
Song Sparrow - 1 singing male at Harlem Meer
Baltimore Oriole - 5 or 6
Red-winged Blackbird - 6-8
Common Grackle - 10-15
Northern Waterthrush - 1 at the Pool
Common Yellowthroat - 5
American Redstart - 5
Northern Parula - 1 at the Seep (thanks to Alan Drogin)
Magnolia Warbler - 2 at the Pool
Northern Yellow Warbler - 1 at the Pool (Scott Brevda andPaul Curtis)
Blackpoll Warbler - 10-12
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 1 Harlem Meer Island (Paul Curtis)
Northern Cardinal - 4
Date: 5/28/26 4:22 pm From: Thomas Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC - to Thursday, May 28 - 21+ warbler spp., 7+ flycatcher spp., 5+ migrant thrush spp., etc.
Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City - Thursday, May 28th -
Articles about the nest first placed on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan decades ago by the Red-tailed Hawk named Pale Male have been circulating for some days, since new resident hawks came to re-occupy the re-made nest at that famed location, in such periodicals as the New York Times and many many other newspapers, new outlets and of course in multiple online fora having to do with birds in NYC, birds of anywhere in the world, NYC-interest, nature-interest, etc. and etc. - not tooting any horns, I was among the first dozen people including any and all birders to note the imminent nest-location selection and the prior nesting-behavior of the then juvenile-plumaged Red-tailed Hawk we came to call Pale Male, in Manhattan. Soon after the nest was actually built on Fifth Ave., first few, then more, eventually scores, hundreds, thousands, and literally millions of human followers of the saga of Pale the Male and his multiple better-partners in fame, the females of which all the multi-mates were given names as well. And the saga of the family and the history on into the future of these hawks lives on to a new generation of watchers and followers.
Observers totaling far more than 300, including multiple -at least ten separate such walks as described here, in Central Park, on this day- guided bird-walk groups affiliated with not-for-profit organizations and institutions, such as the Queer Birders Club in their season-finale walk, on Wed., May 27, and multiple walks led by leaders and with supporters for the NYC Bird Alliance, the Linnaean Society of New York, the American Museum of Natural History, and other organizations that in these guided walks and otherwise are promoting and practicing sound science, conservation, education and outreach, and invitation into natural diversity among the ideals - had sightings of nearly 90 species on 2 days, and still at least 85 species of wild birds in this one park as-of late-day Thursday, May 28th. Slightly more species from Wednesday as there were some lingerers that may or may not have stayed on into Thursday. One of the most-watched individual birds in Central on Wednesday was a rather obliging male Mourning Warbler at The Pool, in the parks northwest sector, which was seen and well-photographed by many many dozens of observers in various hours of Wednesday. There have been plenty of other Mourning Warblers, seen near-daily in Central - and elsewhere in the county as well on many recent days - in the latter half of this month in particular.
Flycatchers still present in Central Park and both seen and heard into Thursday included Olive-sided, Yellow-bellied, Acadian, Least, and other Empidonax-genus as well which may or may not have vocalized as much, and Great Crested Flycatchers, E. Wood-Pewees, and E. Kingbirds the latter 3 of which breed or attempt to annually in Central Park, with Acadian Flycatcher also a strongly-expected breeder in Central Park and one which breeds each year in N.Y. City.
Thrush species still being seen in Central include a small number of Veery, a very few Hermit Thrush which are quite-late to move on from here by now, multiple Swainsons Thrushes and Gray-cheeked Thrushes, and at least a few Bicknells that were still being heard giving calls or soft songs to help clinch ID issues, and also Wood Thrushes which are annual breeders in Central Park - in scant numbers as nesters. Also still being seen have been cuckoos, with Yellow-billed by far the more-often found, and Black-billed Cuckoo a lot scarcer - each seen in Central on Wed. and Thursday.
Many of the species that are breeding in Central Park have started to, with some on nests, and others still involved in courtship and such, and all observers and photographers will be thanked to keep a reasonable distance from any nests or hatchling or young fledgling birds, particularly so for all species which are not common - and also for the common ones, even the ubiquitous American Robin deserves to live in peace, having selected Manhattan as the place to try and raise a family!
Thanks to so many observers and photographers for sightings, alerts, reports, and some word-of-mouth tips as well on the many migrants and summer-resident or resident species that have been found.
Date: 5/28/26 2:12 pm From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Thu. May 28, 2026: Gray-cheeked Thrush, Tennessee Warbler and Other Migrants
Central Park, NYC
Thursday, May 28, 2026
OBS: Robert DeCandido, PhD, Deborah Allen, m.ob.
Highlights: Gray-cheeked Thrush, Tennessee Warbler, and Other Migrants. Nesting Red-tailed Hawks.
Canada Goose - 5
Mallard - 5
Mourning Dove - 25-30
Chimney Swift - 4-6
American Herring Gull - around 30
Double-crested Cormorant - 5
Red-tailed Hawk - 1 flyover, adult at 5th Avenue nest*
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 2 or 3
Northern Flicker - 2 Ramble
Great Crested Flycatcher - 2 Upper Lobe (Paul Curtis) and Ramble
Eastern Wood-Pewee - heard
Eastern Warbling Vireo - pair Hernshead
Red-eyed Vireo - 5 or 6
Blue Jay - 4-6
Cedar Waxwing - 3
Gray Catbird - 8-10
Veery - heard Captain's Bench
Gray-cheeked Thrush - 1 Azalea Pond
Swainson's thrush - 4 or 5
Wood Thrush - 3 (2 singing males, 1 female)
American Robin - 30-40
House Finch - 3 King of Poland
Baltimore Oriole - pair at nest, plus 4-6
Red-winged Blackbird - 3 or 4
Common Grackle - 15-20
Black-and-white Warbler - 3
Tennessee Warbler - heard Captains Bench (Bob-early)
American Redstart - 8-12
Magnolia Warbler - 8-10
Yellow Warbler - 2 or 3 SE Turtle Pond
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 3 (Balancing Rock (Alexandra Wang), Azalea Pond, Turtle Pond)
Blackpoll Warbler - 6-8
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 2 females Gill Overlook and Summer House
Northern Cardinal - 3 or 4
*A Red-tailed Hawk nestling was photographed earlier in the week at the Fifth Avenue nest made famous by Pale Male. The chick is quite small and wasn't visible when we stopped by today after lunch, but it should be possible to see it with a bit of patience from the many benches on the west side of the Conservatory Water. At another nest on Central Park South, two large nestlings and the adult female continue.
Date: 5/27/26 4:06 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] N.Y. County, NYC - thru Tues., 5/26 - v. late R.-n. Duck, Bicknells Thrushes, shorebirds, other migrants, etc.
New York County -in N.Y. City- including Manhattan, Governors, Randalls, and Roosevelt Islands and adjacent waters and skies -
thru Tuesday, May 26th -
Perhaps the oddest fully-confirmed bird sighting of Tuesday in the county was a drake Ring-necked Duck seen by multiple observers in the Spuyten Duyvil creek, the waterway that separates n. Manhattan from the Bronx -and thusly, also separates Manhattan as an island from the mainland of N. America - on May 26, this duck species normally long-gone from county waters and very rarely lingering nearly so late in spring here.
At least several Bicknells Thrushes were still being found in Manhattan, as were more Gray-cheeked, and also a few quite-late lingering Hermit Thrushes including all these seen and heard vocalizing in Central Park to Tuesday, as well as ongoing slightly-late Veery, plus multiple Swainsons and Wood Thrushes continuing.
Shorebirds of recent days had included both Yellowlegs species, and there were unconfirmed reports of some species that, while typical for spring shorebird diversity in migration in this area, would be rare for this county. Some of the less common shorebirds may have moved on by Tuesday, or on prior days, with the peak days of sightings and reports coming on the recent weekend, some birds perhaps put down all-too-briefly by rains, while multiple shorebirds whether singly or in flocks were mainly or solely noticed as flyovers.
Flycatcher diversity continued, with at least 8 species still being found in the county thru Tuesday, and the possibility that up to ten species have been present including all five of the annual Empidonax-genus, with the toughest to nail-down identifications for being Alder, while its congener Willow Flycatcher sets up on territories in at least a few sites. Olive-sided Flycatcher was still being found as a migrant in some locations.
Of migrant warblers, diversity was dropping in this last week of May, although at least twenty species were still being found thru Tuesday, including Mourning and some of the other more-boreal-forest nesting migrant warblers. Vireo diversity has also dropped off, as expected with, in particular, Blue-headed Vireo mainly cleared out for the breeding season now.
There is still plenty of migration occurring all around the country, continent, and in our local area, however more and more of the migrants are now passing by overnight or at least in a much greater hurry to reach breeding areas, whether not far from NYC or all the way north past the Arctic circle for some, such as some shorebirds. In the county, many local-breeding birds including those which migrate long distances from wintering grounds, have been nesting or preparing to nest. Please do nothing at all that could disturb the nesting birds wherever they are.
Date: 5/26/26 12:55 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] N.Y. County, NYC - thru Memorial Day Mon., 5/25 - shorebirds! (etc.)
New York County -in N.Y. City- including Governors, Randalls, Roosevelt, and Manhattan, the 4 larger islands of this county, plus adjacent waters and skies -
thru Memorial Day Monday, May 25th -
A number of shorebird species made it to or thru New York County by Monday, some species new to the year here, a county which is somewhat shorebird-depauperate as compared with all other surrounding counties, but can pull out some specials for this county every now and again, often via highly observant watchers - in good places at good times - which is often a useful ploy for much observation of nature, as is -consistency- or persistence, in all attempts at observing.
Among the less-regular but not unprecedented were Black-bellied Plovers, and other species included -regular, but not commonly reported each year here- Semipalmated Plovers, as well as more-frequently found and identified peeps, the usual and annual here two Calidris-genus species being Least Sandpiper and Semipalmated Sandpiper. There were some additional species as possible, or putative sightings, which are rare in this county by all past records. Other very-regular shorebirds that were ongoing in the county included Spotted and Solitary Sandpipers, as well as Killdeer some of which attempt breeding in the county, with mixed success. Randalls Island, and n. Manhattan were two of the particular locations for some of the shorebirds, while Governors Island also has been getting some - and multiple flyover shorebirds have also occurred in a number of sites of this county.
Recent sightings of Glossy Ibis flying past, or close-by Governors Island have again been noted, with ten of those ibis photographed as recently as Friday, May 22. Some terns have been seen around the county, including a few Forsters Tern, with the far-more usual and breeding-in-county Common Terns in several locations, these latter being most-reported by now. If possible, all terns seen should be photod or videod, in the county, more-so if any species other than Common Tern is suspected.
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, as well as Cliff Swallow, continued to be seen in the only location where each is regular in our current era in this county - on or over Randalls Island. There have been NO Yellow-crowned Night-Herons this year in Central Park unless one has definite, confirmed photo-identified details. Many of the non-adult Black-crowned Night-Herons that are regular and can be common there, including overnight visitations to Central, are misidentified by some observers as-if Yellow-crowned when only Black-crowned are present.
On Sunday tallies of up to 21 warbler species were made, for all of the county, and also including that number of warbler spp for Central Park. Monday May 25th also provided fairly decent warblering for the rainy-morning weather and then clearing, with at least 20 warbler spp both for the entire county as well as just within Central Park. These high-ish warbler tallies of Central Park do NOT reflect that that park is the best, or better site for warbler-finding, but rather that the number of observers who continue to watch there is higher by usually an order of magnitude, than almost all of the rest of the county with its four separate larger islands including Manhattan. Some parks such as Inwood Hill Park in northern Manhattan, just as one good example, receive nearly all of the warbler species and often as many or more individual birds, as are found in Central Park on migration peak days, and that northern Manhattan park, as with many other parks in Manhattan, have less than ten-percent and often just one-percent of the number of observers as does Central. No jibe to Central Park, it is what it is - and offers birds in the migration months, and all year long. But, so do 101 other sites in Manhattan alone, not to mention the other islands of New York County.
Lots of birds including neotropical-wintering migrant species are now nesting, in this county and all over the region. Please do nothing at all that could jeopardize their success with nesting and having young birds fledge. A little space and some quiet while observing any nesting birds go a long way to those ideals. If a bird seems agitated by a close approach - please back off, and then watch.
Thanks to all of the many observers and photographers who are finding and reporting with bird-alerts in Discord, as well as via eBird, and such latter reports also including the Macaulay Library for auditory and visual media.
Date: 5/24/26 3:23 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC - Sat., May 23 - 20+ warbler species, 7+ flycatcher spp., etc.
Central Park , in Manhattan, N.Y. City still had at least twenty species of migrant warblers as seen by many observers throughout that park on Saturday, May 23. Those warblers included still such species as Mourning, Hooded, Bay-breasted, Cape May, and at least 17 additional species of migrant warblers. Multiple Acadian and Yellow-bellied Flycatchers, along with at least 5 other species of flycatchers, some of which are annually-breeding species in Central Park, were seen, by multiple observers and careful listeners. Thrush species still being seen included Veery and even late-lingering Hermit Thrush, as well as fairly common now Swainsons and Gray-cheeked Thrushes. Wood Thrushes are also ongoing, with some potentially nesting in this park. Many other species of birds, totaling over 90 spp., seen by the multitude of observers, some birding into and thru the afternoon with rain, were found on Saturday alone at Central Park.
Date: 5/23/26 9:55 am From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Sat. May 23, 2026: Gray-cheeked Thrush, 11 Species of Wood Warblers
Central Park NYC
Saturday May 23, 2026
OBS: Robert DeCandido, PhD, Deborah Allen, m.ob.
Our walk ended a bit early this morning, due to rain. Highlights: Gray-cheeked Thrush, 11 Species of Wood Warblers including Black-throated Blue, Prairie, and Canada Warblers. In addition: Chris Cooper reported an Acadian Flycatcher at the Upper Lobe.
Canada Goose - 2 Turtle Pond
Mallard - 2 Turtle Pond
Mourning Dove - 25-30
American Herring Gull - 5 flyovers
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 3 or 4
Great Crested Flycatcher - hear in Ramble
Easters Wood-Pewee - 3 heard in Ramble (Bob-early)
Empidonax Flycatcher - 1 east of Azalea Pond
Eastern Warbling Vireo - 2 (Maintenance Field, Turtle Pond)
Red-eyed Vireo - 3
Blue Jay - 6-8
Gray Catbird - 10-15
Gray-cheeked Thrush - 1 Azalea Pond
Swainson's Thrush - 3 or 4
Wood Thrush - 2 males singing in Ramble
American Robin - 20-25
White-throated Sparrow - 2 or 3
Baltimore Oriole - 3 males, plus nest at Maintenance Field
Red-winged Blackbird - 3 or 4
Common Grackle - 8-12
Ovenbird - 1 Gill Overlook
Northern Waterthrush - 1 east of Maintenance Field (before walk)
Black-and-white Warbler - 5
Common Yellowthroat - 4 or 5
American Redstart - 6-8
Northern Parula - 5 or 6
Magnolia Warlber - 2 or 3
Blackpoll Warbler - 5 or 6
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 1 female Tupelo Field
Prairie Warbler - 1 Source of the Gill (spotted by David G.)
Canada Warbler - 1 Ramble
Scarlet Tanager - 1 adult male at Captain's Bench
Northern Cardinal - 5 or 6 including 2 males displaying to a female
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, May 22,
2026 at 11:00 pm. The highlights of today’s tape are SWALLOW-TAILED
and MISSISSIPPI KITES, WHITE IBIS, BLACK-NECKED STILT, LITTLE GULL,
YELLOW BREASTED CHAT, PROTHONOTARY WARBLER, SUMMER TANAGER, BLUE
GROSBEAK, DICKCISSEL and more.
As spring migration begins to wind down, it is only fitting that one
of the world's greatest birds shows up - last Saturday a
SWALLOW-TAILED KITE was spotted flying over Old Country Road out in
Calverton, this followed by two seen together as they moved
north-easterly past Croton Point Park in Westchester. Both sightings
were brief but raised hopes of more to come.
A MISSISSIPPI KITE has recently been somewhat more accommodating,
flying over several Brooklyn sites on a daily basis since last Monday,
often at reasonable height, with sightings today from both Prospect
Park and Green-Wood Cemetery.
Following the recent eastern Long Island sighting of an adult WHITE
IBIS spending a few days out in Southampton comes a flock of eight
adults spotted last Sunday as they dropped down in the State Boat
Channel north of Gilgo State Park - this group has yet to be refound.
A BLACK-NECKED STILT was spotted this morning among a few shorebirds
at the south end of the East Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge and,
given the weather predictions, might stick there for a little while.
Other recent sightings at the Bay feature a WILSON'S PHALATOPE plus a
WHITE RUMPED SANDPIPER, both on the East Pond last Sunday.
There is a report of a LITTLE GULL near the now closed cut at Mecox
Bay as of last Sunday, but there seems to be no additional
information.
An adult RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was spotted on the Jones Beach median
strip last Sunday.
A few recent YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS featured singles last Sunday in
Green-Wood Cemetery and at the Mount Loretto Unique Area, followed by
others Tuesday and Wednesday at the New Creek Watershed in Midland
Beach, Staten Island, and along the North County Rail Trail in
Yorktown Heights in Westchester.
A PROTHONOTARY WARBLER was heard singing at Rockefeller State Park
Preserve in Westchester last Saturday, with another in Prospect Park
Wednesday, several MOURNING WARBLERS were encountered during the week,
and a KENTUCKY WARBLER was found in Prospect Park Wednesday.
SUMMER TANAGERS this week included reports today of singles in Central
Park and Green-Wood Cemetery and two in Alley Pond Park, while BLUE
GROSBEAKS featured birds late this week in Green-Wood Cemetery, along
Hulse Landing Road in Calverton, and on the restricted Brookhaven
National Laboratory complex .
A DICKCISSEL was photographed last Sunday at Sunken Meadow Park, and
other expected migrants this week also featured YELLOW-BELLIED,
ACADIAN and OLIVE SIDED FLYCATCHERS and BICKNELL’S and GRAY CHEEKED
THRUSHES.
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: 5/22/26 4:19 pm From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Mourning W, again at Tompkins Sq. Park, NYC - Friday, 5/22
Friday, May 22 -
Tompkins Square Park is in the lower east neighborhood of Manhattan, N.Y. City. A male Mourning Warbler was again seen, and this day seen by multiple observers and photographers there - see a link to just one of the pix - thanks to F.M., photographer for this submission to eBird and to the Macaulay Library public archive -
https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/658121844 . . . .
At least one -male- Summer Tanager remained in Central Park at The Ramble area on Friday, May 22, perhaps one of the recent multiples of this more-southern-distribution in the breeding seasons tanager, relative to widespread Scarlet Tanager distribution. And, just an additional on Bicknells Thrushes singing sweet and soft, at Central Park in Manhattan - one of this species - with other migrant Catharus thrush species nearby, some also singing at times, for audio and visual comparison for some folks, was ongoing all day Friday 5-22, to this evening, in the area a bit above, north of, The Loch and vicinity in the n. end of Central, with a multitude of quiet, patient observers. Other Bicknells were also present in Manhattan - with varying degrees of auditory additional confirmation offered by the birds themselves. All five of our expected migrant -and 2 potentially breeding- species of Empidonax-genus flycatchers appear to have come in or thru by now, with more of some of these likely to pass in the rest of May. The 2 potential breeders in New York County are Willow, and Acadian Flycatcher, each species an established breeder in New York City overall and of course in most adjacent counties out of this city, in appropriate habitats.
Listening quietly, learning a little more,
Good birding,
Date: 5/22/26 2:26 pm From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Fri. May 22, 2026: Hooded Warbler plus 11 other Wood Warbler Species
Central Park NYC
Friday, May 22, 2026
OBS: Deborah Allen, m.ob.
Highlights: Hooded Warbler plus 11 other Wood Warbler Species, Eastern Kingbird, Eastern Wood-Pewee.
Canada Goose - 22
Gadwall - pair at the Pool
Mallard - 10-12
Mourning Dove - 5
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 1 Balancing Rock (Claire Buyens)
American Herring Gull - a few flyovers
Double-crested Cormorant - 5 flyovers
Black-crowned Night-Heron - 2 (Harlem Meer and the Pool)
Great Egret - 6 flyovers
Red-tailed Hawk - 3 flyovers
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 2 Loch
Downy Woodpecker - heard at Wildflower Meadow
Northern Flicker - 1 Green Bench (Marcy Katz)
Eastern Kingbird - 1 Nutter's Battery (welcome home)
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 3
Warbling Vireo - 4
Red-eyed Vireo - 3
Blue Jay - 4
American Crow - flyovers (Harlem Meer and Wildflower Meadow)
Northern Rough-winged Swallow - 4 at the Pool
Barn Swallow - 3 or 4 at the Pool
Gray Catbird - 6-8
Swainson's Thrush - 3
American Robin - 10-12
House Finch - male and female at the Pool
White-throated Sparrow - 1 Conservatory Garden
Baltimore Oriole - 5 males
Red-winged Blackbird - 7 (4 males, 3 females)
Common Grackle - 8-10
Northern Waterthrush - 3
Black-and-white Warbler - 3 or 4 females
Common Yellowthroat - 5
Hooded Warbler - 1 female Iphigene's Walk (R. DeCandido, found by Elizabeth Paredes)
American Redstart - 5
Northern Parula - 5
Magnolia Warbler - 4 or 5
Bay-breasted Warbler - 1 female at the Pool
Blackpoll Warbler - 4
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 3 females
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 2 at the Pool
Canada Warbler - 2 (the Seep (Paul Curtis), Balancing Rock)
Scarlet Tanager - 1 male Great Hill in Tuliptree
Northern Cardinal - 3
Date: 5/22/26 9:16 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC - Friday, 5/22 - Bicknells Thrushes, 20+ Warbler spp., 8+ flycatcher spp., 5+ vireo spp., etc.
Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City - into Friday, May 22 -
Bicknells Thrushes are still passing thru or lingering on their way to northeastern breeding grounds, including the s. portions of a few provinces of eastern Canada, as well as at least some of northern New England and the mainly-high elevations of NY state, as well as limited boreal areas that are less-elevated but closer to Canada.
Even by the noon hour of this Friday, the hundred-plus observers and photographers in Central Park had discovered at least 20 warbler species, including still such species as Hooded, Worm-eating, Prairie, and also many -most- of the boreal forest breeding migrants such as Wilsons, Tennessee, Bay-breasted, Cape May, and above all in numbers, Blackpoll Warblers along with all of the Common and expected middle-spring migrant warblers plus the few species that breed or attempt to in Manhattan regularly.
Such flycatchers as Olive-sided, Acadian, Yellow-bellied, and also other Empidonax-genus flycatchers all were again being seen and heard, along with the breeding species of this park which include Great Crested Flycatcher, E. Wood-Pewee, and E. Kingbirds. Also still being found, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, Spotted and Solitary Sandpiper, and many many more of the migrants of May - all of above in reference to Central Park, and as seen by many, many watchers.
. . . . .
- One warbler sighting, among many lately of this species, to make note of, Mourning Warbler occurred at the well-covered by birders Tompkins Square Park on Manhattans lower east sector, on Thursday May 21. Mournings have been found in at least 20 different parks and greenspaces of Manhattan in recent days and earlier this May. The females of the species are also passing thru by now, as are females of all the rest of the warbler species seen in the latter half of May, to today.
Any number of migrant songbirds and occasional other migrant species are showing in even some of the small greenspaces of Manhattan, including in some street trees and plantings in a variety of settings and neighborhoods, up thru this day of May.
Good birding, more updates for this entire county in due course.
Date: 5/21/26 2:51 pm From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC - Thurs, May 21 - 22 species of warblers, 9 spp. of flycatchers, etc.
Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City - Thursday, May 21 -
At least 22 species of warblers were still being seen in the entirety of Central Park from first-light thru late-day on Thursday, by the collective of far more than 100 observers and photographers in the park, covering all sectors and most sites within that one park.
- At least 9 species of flycatchers were present, including at least 4 species of Empidonax-genus flycatchers, with Willow and Yellow-bellied among the newer arrivals being seen and heard, relative to previously seen and heard Acadian or Least Flycatchers. Olive-sided Flycatchers have been present, or passing thru here for weeks. - Also present for Thursday were all of the possible migrant and breeding-migrant thrush species, heard as well as seen, including Bicknells and more of Gray-cheeked Thrushes, and small numbers of late-lingering Hermit Thrushes. Wood Thrush breeds, or attempts to, as well as being a passage-migrant for this park.
- The total number of species found in Central Park still exceeded 100, only taking into account wild birds, for the day on Thursday. Common Nighthawks were among those, as were Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. Also still occurring in Central are both Spotted and Solitary Sandpiper.
Good May birding, thanks to the observers and photographers getting the above sightings and giving reports, some alerts, and placing them in Discord and in eBird along with the Macaulay Library for archiving media.
Date: 5/21/26 11:36 am From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Thu, May 21, 2026: Great Crested and Acadian Flycatchers, 12 Wood Warbler Species
Central Park NYC
Thursday, May 21, 2026
OBS: Robert DeCandido, PhD, m.ob.
Highlights on a cloudy morning with some rain: American Kestrel, Great Crested and Acadian Flycatchers, Wood Thrush, 12 Wood Warbler Species including Blackburnian, Chestnut-sided, Black-throated Blue and Canada Warblers.
Canada Goose - 6
Mallard - 9 adults various loc'ns, brood of 5 ducklings Turtle Pond
Mourning Dove - 12-16
Chimney Swift - 4 or 5
American Herring Gull - 5 flyovers
Double-crested Cormorant - 1 Lake
Black-crowned Night-Heron - 1 adult Upper Lobe
Red-tailed Hawk - 1 adult Oak Bridge
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 3
Downy Woodpecker - 2 Shakespeare Garden Overlook
Northern Flicker - 2 Captain's Bench
American Kestrel - 1 male Boathouse Hill
Great Crested Flycatcher - 1 Persimmon Slope
Acadian Flycatcher - 1 south end of Maintenance Field
Red-eyed Vireo - 3
Blue Jay - 6
Gray Catbird - 15-20
Wood Thrush - 1 singing in the Ramble
American Robin - 25-35
Baltimore Oriole - 4 or 5
Red-winged Blackbird - 2 or 3
Common Grackle - 15-20
Ovenbird - 2 or 3
Northern Waterthrush - 1 Upper Lobe
Black-and-white Warbler - 4 or 5
Common Yellowthroat - 4 or 5
American Redstart - 10-12
Northern Parula - 4 or 5
Magnolia Warbler - 8-10
Blackburnian Warbler - 1 south side of Turtle Pond (Paul Curtis)
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 2 (Maintenance Field, King of Poland)
Blackpoll Warbler - 12-14
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 2 females Gill Overlook
Canada Warbler - 1 on the Point
Northern Cardinal - 4-6
Greetings, thanks for the day-to-day tracking of the spring migration, Tom! I find the warblers on Nassau County track have been tracking closely to your Manhattan reports. Warblers reported May 17-20, 2026 on eBird in Nassau County:
1. Ovenbird
2. Worm-eating Warbler
3. Northern Waterthrush
4. Blue-winged Warbler
5. Black-and-white Warbler
6. Tennessee Warbler
7. Nashville Warbler
8. Common Yellowthroat
9. Hooded Warbler
10. American Redstart
11. Cape May Warbler
12. Northern Parula
13. Magnolia Warbler
14. Bay-breasted Warbler
15. Blackburnian Warbler
16. Northern Yellow Warbler
17. Chestnut-sided Warbler
18. Blackpoll Warbler
19. Black-throated Blue Warbler
20. Pine Warbler
21. Yellow-rumped Warbler
22. Prairie Warbler
23. Black-throated Green Warbler
24. Canada Warbler
25. Wilson’s Warbler
Warblers not reported since earlier in May 2026
26. Louisiana Waterthrush
27. Yellow-throated Warbler
28. Palm Warbler
29. Prothonotary Warbler (late April)
Warblers not reported since pre-2026 or earlier
30. Orange-crowned Warbler (Jan 2026
31. Mourning Warbler (fall 2025)
32. Connecticut Warbler (fall 2025)
33. Kentucky Warbler (late May 2025)
34. Golden-winged Warbler (2023)
35. Black-throated Gray Warbler (2022)
36. Cerulean Warbler (2022
37. Townsend's Warbler (2020)
38. Grace's Warbler (2012)
39. Swainson's Warbler (2005)
Vireos reported May 19-20, 2026 on eBird in Nassau County:
1. White-eyed Vireo
2. Yellow-throated Vireo (May 14)
3. Blue-headed Vireo
4. Eastern Warbling Vireo
5. Red-eyed Vireo
6. Philadelphia Vireo (not reported since fall 2025)
Cordially, Russell ComeauPresident, South Shore Audubon SocietyDirector, NYS Ornithological Society(928) 614-9186 -- 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: 5/21/26 2:27 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Manhattan, NYC - thru Wed., 5/20 - Summer Tanagers, Philly Vireos, 25 Warbler spp., etc.
Manhattan, N.Y. City -
Virtually every migrant species and breeding species of bird that were seen on the prior day in Manhattan were found again on Wed., May 20, by the collective of many hundreds of observers and photographers. This again included multiple Summer Tanagers, occurring in 3 of the larger parks and including at least 2 individual Summers ongoing at Central Park in widely separated areas, as well as Philadelphia Vireos in several locations, some or one seen by many dozens of observers thru Wednesday.
Manhattan, including Central Park alone, had 25 or more warbler species including Mourning as well as a majority of the boreal-forest breeding warblers. The most numerous warbler species in Manhattan appeared to be Blackpoll Warbler, American Redstart, and Common Yellowthroat, although a few other migrant warblers were also still numerous.
Yellow Warblers are still found in numbers in some patches of habitat, such as areas where some may attempt breeding here in Manhattan - one of very few warblers that regularly do, another being Common Yellowthroat, these 2 species also having that status all thru New York County, which takes in Manhattan, Randall’s, Roosevelt, and Governors Islands. All four of those islands were still seeing nice migration thru Wednesday. Out on Governors Island, counts of Common Tern were up to or surpassing 50 birds on some visits by those who watch for that species, which breed at the outer edge of Governors.
Some shorebirds have continued to be noted in the county, including on Manhattan, with Solitary and Spotted Sandpipers the most often seen in general and recently. Cooler weather could still see shore and water birds of special note appear in this county as a big holiday weekend approaches. Many locations around the county or around Manhattan are likely to be FAR more productive for certain arrivals or passage migrants than the heavily-birded Central Park, in coming days or weeks. In Central Park, the reservoir -might- potentially produce some new species for the spring, more so with highly-dedicated watching there.
Date: 5/20/26 12:55 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Manhattan, NYC - Clay-col. Sparrow, 5/18, multi Sum. Tanagers to May 19 also Philly Vireo, 24 Warbler spp. at Central Park, etc.
Manhattan, N.Y. City - to Tuesday, May 19th -
On May 19, Philadelphia Vireo was seen yet again in the Central Park Ramble, with many observers and photographers. 24 warbler species for Central Park on May 19 alone, including Mourning Warblers. Most of the other boreal-breeding migrant warblers were continuing, with a bit of an uptick in Blackpoll Warbler numbers by May 19 here. There were still such warblers as Hooded and Prairie Warbler both in the multiple passing thru into May 19th.
Other birds, as previously, were still being seen around Manhattan, including at Central Park thru Tuesday 5-19, which included Common Nighthawks, Yellow-billed and Blsck-billed Cuckoos, 5 other vireo species in addition to Philadelphia, all of these the normal, expected breeding vireos and migrants for our area, flycatchers of at least 8 species including Acadian Flycatcher and Olive-sided Flycatcher - each vocalizing - thrushes including Gray-cheeked Thrushes and thrushes that also have grayish cheeks, some possibly Bicknells, and all of the other expected spring-migrant thrush species, with Wood Thrush as a breeder in Manhattan. Reports of Bicknells Thrush are coming in from some parks other than Central Park, within Manhattan and some of these with song or calls having been recorded may be confirmed as being Bicknells.
Summer Tanagers, some perhaps lingering on for some days, were again seen in the multiple including near-full breeding-colored male, and also female Summers in Central Park, with many, many observers at different locations for the multiples of these there, on May 19, and certainly also still multiple Scarlet Tanagers far more widely being seen.
Late in the day on Monday, May 18, a Clay-colored Sparrow was found and photographed in the vicinity of the tennis courts and so-called Pollinator Meadow at Riverside Park northern end of the Forever Wild sanctuary, near approx. W. 121 St., and west and downslope from Riverside Drive in Manhattan. N.b., solo birders might wish to use care and caution in this area north of or at the edges of the tennis courts here - while some other park users, and other birders will visit the area, there can be times when this meadow site is nearly deserted, and where a solo person can be isolated from all other portions of the park, despite that the tennis court is often in use in good weather and there is a small bathroom and storage building at the s. side of that tennis court, 50 yards distant from the n. side meadow and, on the south side being where far more people regularly pass on the standard park paths and nearby stairway to Riverside Drive. Be aware and alert in this area at all times, a fairly good piece of advice almost anywhere in any city with millions of humans working, recreating, roaming. Eight additional native sparrow species were still being seen into this week in Manhattan but a few of these migrant sparrows may be diminished in numbers by now.
Many many more migrant and breeding birds are ongoing or passing thru each day and still more migration is certainly occurring. Foliage is excessively thick by now in many parks and other densely vegetated greenspaces, after so much warm to hot weather. Birding by finding, and hopefully observing, the birds by sounds is increasingly helpful. In places where vast numbers of people gather each day such as Central Park, a heard-only bird should be tracked to its high twiggy perch or dense wet thicket, etc. or, if possible, viewed, to be sure that there was not any person nearby using a device to play bird sounds. It does not happen often, thankfully, given the hundreds and hundreds of daily observers in busy birding places, around here, with many thousands of birders in the entire month of May making visits to our local parks and greenspaces.
Date: 5/18/26 6:31 pm From: Thomas Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Manhattan, NYC - Sun., 5/17 - Cerulean at Inwood Hill, Bicknells in CP Ramble, etc.
Manhattan, N.Y. City - Sunday, May 17th -
A singing male Cerulean Warbler graced the tall forest at Inwood Hill Park of northern Manhattan on Sunday, thanks to H. Russ for the initial find, also seen, heard and audio recorded and photographed again by others later at that location on Sunday.
Another Bicknells Thrush was recorded from The Ramble section of Central Park on Sunday with multiple observers.
On Monday, May 18, at Central Park alone, at least 25 species of warblers were present and yet-again, far more than 100 total species of wild birds were found in that park on Monday, 5-18. Both of our regular cuckoo species were seen, as were at least 8 flycatcher species, and many many more migrant and breeding species. All of these many birds were found by the collective of hundreds of observers and photographers, out thru all hours from at least sunrise into sunset.
Date: 5/18/26 1:15 pm From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Mon. May 18, 2026: 16 Species of Wood Warblers, Scarlet Tanager
Central Park NYC
Monday, May 18, 2026
OBS: Robert DeCandido, PhD, m.ob.
Highlights: 16 Species of Wood Warblers including Tennessee, Bay-breasted, Canada, and Wilson's Warblers, Scarlet Tanager. A termite hatch near Bow Bridge provided great views or some of the warblers this morning.
Canada Goose - 6
Gadwall - pair 59th Street Pond
Mallard - 14
Mourning Dove - 20-25
Chimney Swift - 6-8
American Herring Gull - 8-10 flyovers
Double-crested Cormorant - 3
Black-crowned Night-Heron - 1 adult 59th Street Pond
Great Blue Heron - 1 flyover
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 4 or 5
Great Crested Flycatcher - 1 calling in the Ramble
Blue-headed Vireo - 1 Strawberry Fields
Eastern Warbling Vireo - 4
Red-eyed Vireo - 3
Blue Jay - 6-8
Barn Swallow - 1 flyover Lake (David Barrett)
Gray Catbird - 15-20
Swainson's Thrush - 4 or 5
Wood Thrush - 1 in the Ramble
American Robin - 30-40
House Finch - 1 male Strawberry Fields
American Goldfinch - 1 male Oven
White-throated Sparrow - 5
Baltimore Oriole - 3
Red-winged Blackbird - 4 or 5
Common Grackle - 15-20
Ovenbird - 3
Northern Waterthrush - 5
Black-and-white Warbler - 4
Tennessee Warbler - 1 singing at Azalea Pond
Common Yellowthroat - 3 or 4
American Redstart - 6-8
Northern Parula - 5 or 6
Magnolia Warbler - 10-12
Bay-breasted Warbler - 4
Northern Yellow Warbler - 3
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 5
Blackpoll Warbler - 4 (male and female)
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 4
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 3
Canada Warbler - 1 male Tupelo Field
Wilson's Warbler - 1 Strawberry Fields
Scarlet Tanager - 3
Northern Cardinal - 4 or 5
Date: 5/18/26 3:50 am From: Patrice Domeischel <fourharborsheron...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] "Searching for Lost Birds" - Four Harbors Audubon Society Spring Lecture on May 20
FOUR HARBORS AUDUBON SOCIETY
SPRING LECTURE: SEARCHING FOR LOST BIRDS
Zoom lecture on Wednesday, May 20 at 7 p.m. EST
Guest Speaker, John C. Mittermeier, PhD
Just over a hundred species of birds are currently considered “lost” meaning that they are not extinct but that no one has been able to document them in the past decade or more. What are these lost birds and why can’t anyone find them? Where do they occur? Do they matter for conservation? Join John C. Mittermeier, the Director of the Search for Lost Birds at American Bird Conservancy, to answer these questions and hear stories about the efforts underway to rediscover lost birds around the world.
John C. Mittermeier, PhD, is the Director of the Search for Lost Birds at American Bird Conservancy where he supports projects to look for lost bird species around the world. Prior to joining American Bird Conservancy in 2020, he received a PhD in biodiversity conservation from the University of Oxford and he has conducted ornithological research and fieldwork in Suriname, Papua New Guinea, Madagascar, and the Solomon Islands, among other places.
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, May 15th, 2026*, at 11 pm. The highlights of today's tape are SWAINSON'S WARBLER, WHITE IBIS, PAINTED BUNTING, MISSISSIPPI KITE, AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, TUFTED DUCK, CHUCK-WILL'S-WIDOW, PHILADELPHIA VIREO, YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, PROTHONOTARY, KENTUCKY, YELLOW-THROATED WARBLERS, SUMMER and WESTERN TANAGERS, BLUE GROSBEAK, and more.
An interesting week with some nice rarities, including a SWAINSON'S WARBLER found in Prospect Park on Wednesday, while very difficult to pin down but was still at Lookout Hill today.
The adult WHITE IBIS found last week along Meadow Lane east of Shinnecock Inlet in Southampton was still present there at least to Monday, often seen from the Meadow Lane boardwalk.
A female type PAINTED BUNTING was described from Cunningham Park in Queens Monday morning, but we know of no follow-up.
A MISSISSIPPI KITE was seen soaring over Green-wood Cemetery in Brooklyn Saturday morning, apparently moving on, while an AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN found late Wednesday at Piermont Pier on the Hudson stayed into Thursday morning, but then headed south downriver.
The drake TUFTED DUCK lingering at Cammann's Pond Park in Merrick was reported there again last Saturday.
Another CHUCK-WILL'S-WIDOW was found in Central Park last Saturday.
A late GLAUCOUS GULL was spotted at Great Kills Park Saturday, while single CASPIAN TERNS visited Great Kills and Plumb Beach on Monday, the same day a BLACK TERN appeared at Nickerson Beach.
Shorebird highlights featured a flock of 15 HUDSONIAN WHIMBRELS flying past Fort Tilden last Sunday.
A PHILADELPHIA VIREO was nicely photographed in Central Park's Ramble on Tuesday, and single YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS were reported from Hoyt Farm Town Park in Commack last Saturday and Prospect Park Sunday and Monday.
Among the less common warblers, a PROTHONOTARY visited Central Park Tuesday, single KENTUCKY WARBLERS were noted in Prospect Park Wednesday and in Van Cortlandt Park Thursday, a MOURNING WARBLER appeared in Prospect Park as of last Saturday, with a CERULEAN WARBLER identified in Alley Pond Park today, and YELLOW-THROATED WARBLERS occurred in Brooklyn Botanic Garden last Saturday and in Forest Park today.
A WESTERN TANAGER visiting a private feeder in Wading River was last noted Sunday, while several SUMMER TANAGER reports during the week, chronologically including birds in Forest Park, Rocky Point, Jones Beach, Central Park, East Hampton, and Manorville, among others.
BLUE GROSBEAKS also had a banner week, sightings coming from Hunter's Point, Central Park, and the Battery, Yaphank, Forest Park, and the breeding areas around Calverton.
Among the other arrivals this week were COMMON NIGHTHAWK, GULL-BILLED and ROYAL TERNS, our 5 empidonax flycatchers (LEAST, WILLOW, ALDER, ACADIAN and YELLOW-BELLIED) and GRAY-CHEEKED and BICKNELL'S THRUSHES.
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: 5/17/26 6:50 pm From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] (Others saw) Swainsons Warbler, Wyoming Co., NY - May 17 (+ NY Co. notes)
It is rather remarkable to have had a singing male Swainsons Warbler turn up at the Beaver Meadow Audubon Center in Wyoming County of N.Y. - on Sunday, May 17 - with photos and sound-recordings in the Macaulay Library. -n.b., this bird found and observed by others. I was not out in that part of NY State.-
. . .
In New York County, my own home-county, which is a part of N.Y. City, Willow Flycatcher was noted - by one of our countys keen, active birders - at Randalls Island, on May 17. That is among sites in NY. County where there is potential for the species to breed.
In Manhattans Central Park on Sunday, May 17, a Blue Grosbeak was found and photographed in the Ramble area, by G. Willow, also seen by others there on the day. At Central Park on Sunday, at least 110 species of wild birds were found, again, for the entire park on the 1 day, by many observers and photographers, in the collective. All of Manhattan fared well with active migration.
Date: 5/17/26 4:34 pm From: marciaaabrahams at aol.com (via NYSBIRDS-L list) <NYSBIRDS-L...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Do not miss this Wednesday's Queens County Bird Club in-person meeting featuring "An Introduction to the Dragonflies of North America with Ed Lam"!
QUEENS COUNTY BIRD CLUB MONTHLY MEETING
"An Introduction to the Dragonflies of North America with Ed Lam"
Date: Wednesday, May 20, 2026Time: 7:30 PMPlace: Alley Pond Environmental Center, 229-10 Northern Blvd, Douglaston, NY 11362
There are over 300 species of dragonflies in North America. Many are brightly colored and large, making them conspicuous and eye-catching. They are beautiful insects, intricate in form and pattern, but also highly evolved predators with fascinating behaviors and life stories.
A former Queens resident, Ed Lam is the author and illustrator of Dragonflies of North America, the latest and most comprehensive identification guide to these charismatic insects. He will introduce the audience to the variety of North America’s dragonflies and how to identify them. His previous book was Damselflies of the Northeast, a guide to species of eastern Canada and the northeastern United States.
Ed Lam will have a few copies of his book with him that can be purchased at the meeting, so please make sure you have cash with you.
Marcia AbrahamsVP/Programs CoordinatorQueens County Bird Clubhttps://qcbirdclub.org/Email: <MarciaAAbrahams...>
Date: 5/17/26 1:08 pm From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Sun. May 17, 2026: Olive-sided Flycatcher (2), 17 Species of Wood Warblers
Central Park NYC
Sunday, May 17, 2026
OBS: Robert DeCandido, PhD, Deborah Allen, m.ob.
Highlights: Olive-sided Flycatcher, 17 Species of Wood Warblers including Tennessee, Nashville, Cape May, Bay-breasted, and Canada Warblers, Scarlet Tanager.
Canada Goose - 8
Mallard - 10 plus 5 ducklings
Mourning Dove - 15-20
Yellow-billed cuckoo - 3
Chimney Swift - 5-8
American Herring Gull - 30 plus 5-10 flyovers
Double-crested Cormorant - 5
Red-tailed Hawk - 1 high flyover
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 3 or 4
Northern Flicker - 1 pair Ramble
Great Crested Flycatcher - 1 Tupelo Field, heard Gill Overlook
Olive-sided Flycatcher - 2 (Captain's Bench, southwest Reservoir)
Empidonax Flycatcher - 1 (Edmund Berry)
Blue-headed Vireo - 1 Weather Station Shelter
Eastern Warbler Vireo - 4
Red-eyed Vireo - 6
Blue Jay - 8
Barn Swallow - 7
Northern Rough-winged Swallow - 1 Turtle Pond
Northern House Wren - 1 Turtle Pond
Gray Catbird - 15-20
Swainson's Thrush - 4
Wood Thrush 2 (west side Ramble, singing Evodia Field)
American Robin - 25-30
White-throated Sparrow - 5
Orchard Oriole - 1 heard-only Turtle Pond
Baltimore Oriole - 4 or 5, active nest at Maintenance Field
Red-winged Blackbird - 4-6
Common Grackle - 15-20, adults feeding 4 juveniles
Ovenbird - 3 or 4
Northern Waterthrush - 4
Black-and-white Warbler - 5 or 6
Tennessee Warbler - 1 singing east side of the Lake
Nashville Warbler - 1 Summit Rock
Common Yellowthroat - 5 or 6
American Redstart - 6 or 7
Cape May Warbler - 1 female Warbler Rock (Paul Curtis)
Northern Parula - 14-16
Magnolia Warbler - 8-10
Bay-breasted Warbler - 2 Weather Station Shelter
Northern Yellow Warbler - 1 female east side of the Lake
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 3
Blackpoll Warbler - 2 or 3
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 3 or 4
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 2 or 3
Canada Warbler - 1 Captain's Bench
Scarlet Tanager - 6
Northern Cardinal - 4 or 5
Date: 5/17/26 2:44 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC - Saturday, May 16 - 26+ warbler spp., 6 vireo spp., 8 flycatcher spp., C. Nighthawks, 2 Cuckoo spp., etc.
Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City -
Sunday, May 16th -
The park still had a minimum of 26 species of warblers, including -photographed- Louisiana Waterthrush getting late here now, and almost all of the mnorthern boreal-breeding species, including Tennessee, and also Mourning Warbler and the many others, which were found by the collective of many many hundreds of observers and photographers, park-wide and thru all of the day from sunrise into sunset.
Also seen were every species of annually-occurring vireos, 8 or more species of flycatchers, including at least 3 species of the regularly-occurring Empidonax-genus, Yellow-bellied Flycatchers the most recently-arrived of those, as well as more singing Acadian Flycatchers, and ongoing Olive-sided Flycatchers, as well as the 3 more-common, regular and breeding in this park flycatcher species - which include Great Crested Flycatcher, E. Wood-Pewee, and E. Kingbird, as well as some lingering or later-moving E. Phoebes and the diminutive Least Flycatcher.
Also seen yet again were Common Nighthawks as well as both of our regular Cuckoo spp., Black-billed the scarcer and Yellow-billed in multiple locations, some calling at times.
Far more than 110 species of wild, native birds were found on Sunday, May 16 in Central Park by the collective of hundreds and hundreds. Many of the groups were on guided walks led by and for not-for-profit Institution’s and organizations, as well as many walking independently or in informal groups.
Thanks to so many who found birds, offered alerts all in the Discord app or via eBird, and for reports of which many arrived thru eBird with the Macaulay Library for media, and also much of these busy migration days, tips, alerts and sightings noted by good old word-of-mouth.
5/16/26 - Mine Torne Rd., West Pt., NY
Time: 730am to 1130amObserver: Andrew Block
3 Mallards2 Canada Geese5 Mourning Doves5 Turkey Vultures1 Broad-winged Hawk1 Red-shouldered hawk2 Red-bellied Woodpeckers1 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker1 Hairy Woodpecker1 Northern Flicker2 Pileated Woodpeckers2 Great Crested Flycatchers3 Yellow-throated Vireos (incl. two making nest)2 Eastern Warbling Vireos3 Red-eyed Vireos4 Blue Jays2 American Crows1 Common Raven1 Tufted Titmouse (w/ nesting material)4 Tree Swallows2 Cedar Waxwings1 White-breasted Nuthatch4 Blue-gray Gnatcatchers3 Gray Catbirds2 Eastern Bluebirds3 Wood Thrushes5 American Robins1 Veery5 American Goldfinches2 Chipping Sparrows2 Field Sparrows1 Orchard Oriole3 Baltimore Orioles8+ Red-winged Blackbirds7 Brown-headed Cowbirds2 Common Grackles1 Ovenbird3 Louisiana Waterthrushes6+ Blue-winged Warblers1 Black-and-white Warbler3 Common Yellowthroats1 Hooded Warbler4 American Redstarts5 Cerulean Warblers1 Magnolia Warbler2 Northern Yellow Warblers1 Prairie Warbler1 Canada Warbler2 Scarlet Tanagers3 Northern Cardinals1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak5 Indigo Buntings
Also had five Eastern Painted Turtles, one 4+ ft. Central Ratsnake, one male Common Five-lined Skink, one American Lady, two Spicebush Swallowtails, several Eastern Tailed-Blues, one Question Mark, three Juvenal's Duskywings, three Clouded Sulphurs, three Pearl Crescents, and 2 Cabbage Whites.
Andrew
Andrew BlockConsulting Naturalist
Yonkers, New York www.flickr.com/photos/conuropsis/albums
Date: 5/16/26 2:50 pm From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Sat. May 16, 2026: 18 Species of Wood Warblers and Other Spring Migrants
Central Park NYC
Saturday, May 16, 2026
OBS: Robert DeCandido, PhD, Deborah Allen, m.ob.
Highlights on a sunny and mild morning: Eastern Wood-Pewee, 18 Species of Wood Warblers including Nashville, Cape May, Bay-breasted, Blackburnian, Canada, and Wilson's Warblers, Scarlet Tanager, Rose-breased Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting. A termite hatch on the south side of Turtle Pond was a bonus for the birds and birders.
Canada Goose - 10 plus nest
Mallard - 14-16
Mourning Dove - 14
Chimney Swift - group of 12 low over termite hatch
American Herring Gull - 35-45
Double-crested Cormorant - 5 or 6
Black-crowned Night-Heron - 1 adult west side of Lake
Turkey Vulture - 3 flyovers
Red-tailed Hawk - 1 adult at the Gill (Bob-early)
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 3 or 4
Downy Woodpecker - 1 female Turtle Pond Island
Great Crested Flycatcher - 2 or 3
Eastern Kingbird - 1 Ramble
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 1 south side Turtle Pond (Scott Brevda)
Blue-headed Vireo - 1 on the Point
Eastern Warbler Vireo - 3 or 4
Red-eyed Vireo - 4 or 5
Blue Jay - 8-10, with 2 nests
Fish Crow - 1 flyover
Northern Rough-winged Swallow- 1 flyover
Cedar Waxwing - 6-8
Gray Catbird - 15-20
Swainson's Thrush - 2 or 3
Wood Thrush - 2 or 3 including 1 singing in the Ramble
American Robin - 30-40
White-throated Sparrow - 4-6
Baltimore Oriole - 5 or 6, plus nest at Maintenance Field
Red-winged Blackbird - 4-6
Common Grackle - 10-15
Ovenbird - 6-8
Northern Waterthrush - 5 or 6
Black-and-white Warbler - 4 or 5
Nashville Warbler - 2 (Ramble (Edmund Berry), Warbler Rock (David Barrett))
Common Yellowthroat - 7 or 8
American Redstart - 6 or 7
Cape May Warbler - 2 or 3
Northern Parula - 8-10
Magnolia Warbler - 10-12
Bay-breasted Warbler - 1 Gill Overlook
Blackburnian Warbler - 1 just east of Belvedere Castle (Paul Curtis)
Northern Yellow Warbler - 3 or 4
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 8
Blackpoll Warbler - 1 male Tupelo Field
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 3 or 4
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 3 or 4
Canada Warbler - 3 or 4
Wilson's Warbler - 6 or 7
Scarlet Tanager - 5 or 6
Northern Cardinal - 5 or 6
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1 Tuliptree south of Summer House (Sabine Schumacher)
Indigo Bunting - 1 male east of Maintenance Field
Date: 5/15/26 5:09 pm From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Fri. May 15, 2026: Bicknell's Thrush, White-crowned Sparrow, 19 species of Wood Warblers
Central Park NYC
Friday, May 15, 2026
OBS: Deborah Allen, m.ob.
Highlights: Least Flycatcher, Bicknell's Thrush, White-crowned Sparrow, 19 Species of Wood Warblers including Cape May, Blackburnian, and Prairie Warblers, Scarlet Tanager, Rose-breasted Grosbeak.
Canada Goose - 22
Mallard - 5
Mourning Dove - 12-14
Chimney Swift - 7
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 1 Loch (Paul Curtis)
American Herring Gull - flyovers
Double-crested Cormorant - 5
Black-crowned Night-Heron - 1 second-cycle (immature) Pool
Great Egret - 4 flyovers
Red-tailed Hawk - 3 flyovers
Red-bellied Woodpecker - heard
Northern Flicker - 2
Least Flycatcher - 1 Grassy Knoll
Warbling Vireo - 4 or 5
Blue Jay - 4-6
American Crow - 3
Northern Rough-winged Swallow - 3
Cedar Waxwing - 4-6
Gray Catbird - 8
Veery - 2 Great Hill (Scott Brevda)
Bicknell's Thrush - 1 Loch Boardwalk
Swainson's Thrush - 1 or 2 Great Hill (Paul Curtis)
Wood Thrush - 1 Loch Boardwalk
American Robin - around 15
White-crowned Sparrow - 1 adult Plant Nursery (Scott Brevda)
White-throated Sparrow - 4 or 5
Song Sparrow - 1 Harlem Meer
Swamp Sparrow - 1 Loch
Baltimore Oriole - 3 or 4
Red-winged Blackbird - 10-12 incl. female building nest at Harlem Meer
Brown-headed Cowbird - heard-only (Andrea Hessel)
Common Grackle - 5 or 6
Ovenbird - 3 or 4
Northern Waterthrush - 2 (Loch and Pool)
Black-and-white Warbler - 4
Common Yellowthroat - 9
Hooded Warbler - 1 male Loch
American Redstart - 6
Cape May Warbler - 1 male High Meadow (Dan Stevenson)
Northern Parula - 12
Magnolia Warbler - 5
Blackburnian Warbler - 1 High Meadow
Northern Yellow Warbler - 1 at the Pool (Paul Curtis)
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 3 (Caren Jahre)
Blackpoll Warbler - 2 males (Harlem Meer, Loch)
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 6
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 3
Prairie Warbler - 1 male west end of the Pool
Black-throated Green Warbler - 2 (Loch (Paul Curtis), Lily Ponds (Andrea Hessel))
Canada Warbler - 2 males (Harlem Meer, Loch)
Wilson's Warbler - 5
Scarlet Tanager - 4
Northern Cardinal - 5 or 6
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - 3 (1 male, 2 females)
Date: 5/15/26 10:11 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC - Friday, May 15 - Bicknells Thrush, Mourning & 22+ addl’ Warbler spp, C. Nighthawks, flycatchers, etc.
Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City - Friday, May 15 -
Thru Friday morning, at least one sometimes-vocal Bicknells Thrush was still present for at least a 3rd day in the north end of the park, with again multiple observers, some having recorded the calls and-or soft song-fragments, and many making photos or videos of one of these. There are also some additional putative Bicknells, as there are also, with certainty some Gray-cheeked Thrushes, at least some also vocal at times. The complement of the other Catharus-genus thrush species are also present, including some Hermit Thrushes still passing thru, some Veery, and numerous Swainsons Thrushes all around the park. Wood Thrush is also present, some of which can breed, or attempt to, in this park.
Common Nighthawks are about, including light activity in the wee pre-sunrise hour, into Friday - and even being seen in my old new neighborhood in Manhattan perched right out, as well as some at Central Park, and somewhat likely for other areas by now as well. Also found again for this Friday are both of our annual, expected Cuckoo spp, Black-billed and the usually-more-frequently found Yellow-billed Cuckoos. Including some soft calls heard, mainly from the Yellow-billeds.
Warblers on Friday include all of the most-boreal nesting species with possible exception of Palm or Orange-crowned on this date, but present in the multiple in the park are still Cape May, Bay-breasted, Tennessee, Wilsons, and some more of Blackpoll Warblers, with Mourning Warblers as well in at least several park sectors, mainly north of the latitude of 72nd St, by morning-sightings. Also still present are multiple Hooded, Prairie, and even Worm-eating Warblers, along with the many other spp, coming to at least 22 Warbler spp just for Friday morn, and not taking in sightings from the many other Manhattan parks and greenspaces with very diverse migrants this month, this week, and this day. With such warblers as Magnolia and American Redstart still among the most numerous being found, and Blackpoll warblers still less numerous than some others, we are still as per the calendar just smack-in-the-middle of much of typical May migrations, and with many many more migrants, including more females of many species, yet to pass thru or arrive for nesting.
Good diversity in flycatchers also continues with at least 3 of the five annual Empidonax-genus present in Central again, possibly more. Olive-sided Flycatcher also is still present, with the other more-common, and breed-in-this park flycatcher species.
. . .
Outside of Central Park, a Blue Grosbeak in female plumage had still been present in the so-called pollinator meadow area in Riverside Park, near approximately W. 120-121 Sts., west of Riverside Drive, and just north of the tennis courts in Riverside by those street coordinates, seen and photographed again in the last hour of daylight Thursday, May 14, and possibly still in that area for Friday - or, it may have moved on and out.
Thanks to many hundreds of observers and photographers, including the many on the not-for-profit guided bird walk of the Linnaean Society of New York, in the north end of Central Park on this Friday, many members of which observed the lingering Bicknells Thrush at The Loch, in the morning, and to many more who walked with guides working with and for nonprofit institutions and organizations, including the American Museum of Natural History, and the NYC Bird Alliance which has a full schedule of bird walks and other events all thru the spring and beyond. And thanks also to multiple other walk leaders, participants, and supporters for and with not-for-profit organizations, for many of the sightings on this and many other spring migration days - alerts in the Discord app, as well as via eBird with the Macaulay library for media, have been flying and flowing steadily all of this month, and are continuing to. Some sightings and tips also from others in the field, direct by old-fashioned word of mouth and not all via small screens.
Date: 5/14/26 11:57 am From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Thu., May 14, 2026: Philadelphia Vireo, 18 Wood Warbler Species
Central Park NYC
Thursday, May 14, 2026
OBS: Robert DeCandido, PhD, m.ob.
Highlights on a cool, cloudy morning: Philadelphia Vireo, 18 Wood Warbler Species including Nashville, Hooded, Cap May, Blackburnian, and Wilson's Warblers.
Canada Goose - 4
Mallard - 6
Mourning Dove - 18-20
Chimney Swift - 2 or 3
American Herring Gull - 4-6 flyovers
Double-crested Cormorant - 2 Lake
Black-crowned Night-Heron - 1 adult Belvedere Castle Overlook
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 4
Downy Woodpecker - pair Top of the Point
Great Crested Flycatcher - 1 Captain's Bench
Philadelphia Vireo - 1 Source of the Gill
Warbling Vireo - 4
Red-eyed Vireo - 5
Blue Jay - 4-6
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 1 south side Turtle Pond (Dan Stevenson)
Cedar Waxwing - flyover flock of 20
Northern House Wren - 1 Source of the Gill
Gray Catbird - 12-15
Swainson's Thrush - 3
Wood Thrush - 1 singing Tupelo Field
American Robin - 35-40
White-throated Sparrow - 4-6
Eastern Towhee - 1 female Mugger's Woods
Baltimore Oriole - 3 or 4, nest above Maintenance Field Bathrooms
Red-winged Blackbird - 3 or 4
Common Grackle - 15-20
Ovenbird - 2 or 3
Northern Waterthrush - 3
Black-and-white Warbler - 5 or 6
Nashville Warbler - 1 Source of the Gill
Common Yellowthroat - 5 or 6
Hooded Warbler - 1 male Stone Arch
American Redstart - 6-8
Cape May Warbler - 3
Northern Parula - 8-10
Magnolia Warbler - 6-8
Blackburnian Warbler - 1 male Balancing Rock (Dan Stevenson)
Northern Yellow Warbler - 1 Upper Lobe
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 3
Blackpoll Warbler - 1 Captain's Bench
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 4 or 5
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 1 Captain's Bench
Black-throated Green Warbler - 2 or 3
Wilson's Warbler - 6
Scarlet Tanager - 1 female Top of the Point
Northern Cardinal - 4 or 5
Date: 5/14/26 11:00 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC - new & recent arrivals to Thursday, 5/14
Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City - into Thursday, May 14th -
Among many many other migrants being seen, new or very recently-arrived species include -
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher - observed calling, photos obtained. This brings flycatcher species seen and fully identified to at least 8 of the expected spring migrant species on this day, and for the spring. We await possibilities for some additional Empidonax-genus arrivals, such as Willow or Alder Flyctchers and in best possible circumstances, these also heard calling or singing of their own accord. Least and Acadian Flycatchers have both been passing thru or lingering for some time thru this month.
Mourning Warblers - at least several males of this species are, and were present in Central Park, with some singing at times. More of this species are sure to come thru, probably within coming days here. At least 25 species of warblers were still being found, collectively, in Central Park as of early afternoon Thursday, this includes now somewhat scarce Palm Warbler, as well as rather late Louisiana Waterthrush.
Bicknells Thrush, as well as more-numerous Gray-cheeked Thrush, plus all the rest of our expected migrant thrush species, into Thursday. Many Swainsons Thrushes are passing thru. Wood Thrush includes some breeding, or attempting to, here and in other parks of Manhattan.
All of the typical six species of Vireos have come thru Central Park, and at least 5 of these species are still being found as of May 14. The scarcest by far as of this date is Philadelphia Vireo, not a common species here in spring migrations. This has been a good spring for White-eyed Vireos in Central Park, and throughout Manhattan, with sightings also from other islands of this county this spring.
There are even still Red-breasted Nuthatches passing thru at Central - and other parks - on this Thursday nearly mid-May. And there are some shorebirds still moving on, with at least 3 species in Central Park on the day so far.
. . . .
Not at Central, but one new sighting of Summer Tanager to make note of, found in the large churchyard of the Trinity church off Broadway and Amsterdam Aves in the Washington Heights neighborhood of upper Manhattan, a singing male for Thursday, at that location. Public access is often possible but there can be restrictions, to enter some parts of the church yards or properties, and respect when visiting is a must, as for any house of worship and associated properties. Scarlet Tanager and multiple other migrant species were also being found at that location for 5-14. A different-individual Summer Tanager was lingering in the Chelsea waterside park next to the Hudson River, north of W. 23rd St., into Thursday.
Thanks again to the many observers and photographers for so many sightings, alerts, reports, and tips on these many migrants moving along.
Date: 5/14/26 2:31 am From: Thomas Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Manhattan, N.Y. City - Wed, May 13 - Bicknells Thrush, multi Blue Grosbeaks, Summer Tanagers, Mourning Warblers, & etc.
As expected, a sighting of Prothonotary Warbler at Inwood Hill Park on Monday late-day, May 11 has received a confirmation for eBird archive listing. At least the 3rd of this species to be noted from N.Y. County, in this month, possibly more than that number have occurred by now in May. Inwood Hill and multiple other parks and some greenspaces in northernmost Manhattan are seeing as great a May migration as in the rest of Manhattan, thanks to all who find birds in all of these many areas. Inwood Hill in particular gives the strongest sense of what a forested Manhattan had been like in long-ago times, in portions of its relatively old-growth woods. Other parks and a few greenspaces of north Manhattan also have venerable trees, and in some neighborhoods also a variety of very old buildings, by contrast with most newer structures of this city.
Manhattan, N.Y. City - into Wednesday, May 13 -
A preface - the similar-looking Gray-cheeked Thrush has been present and any number of these have been vocal at times in Central Park and elsewhere in the county recently, including on 5-13, and including in the proximity of the scarce Bicknells - of course other migrant Catharus-genus thrush species are also present in all areas now. Swainsons Thrush is particularly numerous throughout, over recent days, and numbers of those also have been vocal at times. With most of these migrant thrushes, songs or even calls given here are not as vigorous, sometimes not as full and complete as song or even calls given on these species breeding territories. The thrush of brown-backed type which we have here as an annual breeder, as well as a passage migrant, is Wood Thrush, with of course a markedly different appearance and vocalizations to the other, migrant-only Catharus-genus thrush species.
The find of a singing Bicknells Thrush is not too unexpected these years, in mid to late May in this county, and with a number of gray-cheeked types - most readers will know that these were all thought to be one species in the past, and Eugene Pintard Bicknell was one of the collectors which was in the long-ago days before optics were becoming more the tools of field workers in ornithology, who brought a specimen of thrush in to a museum collection, which was later recognized as a new species to science. NY state is home to the most-southerly breeding range of this threatened, limited-distribution thrush, known as Bicknells, and which is closely related to the vastly more-numerous in world-distribution Gray-cheeked Thrush, the latter a species that breeds across north-boreal Canada into Alaska and even to a bit of Siberian Russia, and which winters in entirely separate areas of the nootropics - Bicknells is a Caribbean wintering species, most being on Hispaniola, and mainly la Republica Dominicana in its main wintering home. One of the Bicknells singing into this Wed. eve was in the north end of Central Park, but other locations may be receiving these migrants as well. Please DO NOT play the songs or calls of the 2 gray-cheeked and bicknell types repeatedly - it will disturb these birds unnecessarily if at all overdone, and keep them from feeding and resting properly. Trying to make audio-video recordings will be far more useful, to learning and in case of sharing in bird lists or social media. Patience is key to learning with birds…. The Bicknells Thrush was seen and sometimes heard by multiple observers at various times of day on Wed, straight into May 13 dusk. In Central Park in particular with hundreds, often many-hundreds of birders out every day in all weather now in this month of May, one should never presume that others are not nearby at any location and at any hours, who are attentively trying to observe birds - by both ears and by eyes.
A Blue Grosbeak showed in the northern part of Riverside Park, at a so-called pollinator meadow which is at approximately W. 119-121 Street, n. of a tennis court, with dual paths coming in from near the south edge of the tennis courts, and not-from a feature in Riverside known as The Drip, as well as just-north of the Forever Wild sanctuary in Riverside, which was long known as the Ladies Grove, a space protected in various ways for many, many decades from being overly-developed or outright having had older trees cut. The areas to the north of that grove are now sometimes signed as the sanctuary as well, but were not quite a part of the first efforts to conserve the greenspace - although the total area of concern over a century ago was large, and included many sections of that park. The last meetings of the original conservation group dedicated to the northern parts of Riverside Park were in 1938, and the sanctuary as still called is still there. In summer 2005, a very old Red Oak —Quercus rubra- fell, and had been estimated to have reached well over 300 years of life, some estimates to 350 years old. There are still some old, great trees in the area and elsewhere in and next to Riverside Park, on the west edges of Manhattan, north of W. 72 Street and extending into west Harlem. Riverside Drive is all-along the eastern boundary of this venerable park, which incidentally has had a very strong influx of migrant and other birds in May this year. Some of the birders that go regularly are quite dedicated to this park.
Yet another Blue Grosbeak sighting comes from not-far-off from the above location Morningside Park, at around 122-123rd Sts. on Manhattans - and Harlems western side, this park is a longish linear park with some steep slopes, but a network of paths and long steep stone steps provide a lot of maneuverability. This park, as with many in Manhattan of all sizes and locations, has its devoted observers and a lot of species have been noted here, especially in the past decade or so with increasing observation-efforts. Timing of the 2 reports make it seem a bit unlikely that the Riverside Park BG was the same individual as the grosbleu from Morningside, but given the proximity, it may be a possibility.
Summer Tanager continues its strong recent showings in Manhattan, the latest sighting being at the Chelsea waterside park north of West 23rd St., alongside the Hudson River, all west of the W. Side Highway and adjacent greenway trail. The Wednesday May 13th sighting at Chelsea-waterside was of a male molting into summer-breeding color, and had more than one observer. There are literally hundreds of larger and smaller greenspaces all around mid to lower Manhattan which are receiving migrant birds now, in May, with some sites having very dedicated observers per particular locations, local patches so to say. These include a number of public or partly-public gardens, as well as some churchyards open to the public at times, and a wide variety of other greenspaces.
The thirty-third warbler species of this spring for Manhattan (and, for all of New York County as well) has been noted, at last, the rather-expected by now Mourning Warbler, a species already present in multiple breeding areas of the northeast U.S. in the past week or longer, and having passed thru other areas within N.Y. City as well. Far more of this warbler species should be on the way thru in coming days and even to early June. Key, at least with males coming thru is that a lot will sing, as most warblers are inclined on passage here, and knowing that song, or in lieu of song, knowing calls quite well is helpful to locating, or even knowing of the presence of these sometimes-skulking lovers of moist tangles - but also these can be and are a bit arboreal at times, from lower perches as some will sing from, or forage a bit, while most of their time is likely to be within a meter or so of ground or substrate levels. In recent decades, the Mourning Warbler occasionally showed up here even in earliest days of May, but is much more-expected by around now - going into the third week of May soon. This species also helps to brings to over 175 species the tally of birds just in the month of May in N.Y. County - slightly less than that in Manhattan, or seen-from-Manhattan alone, in May, just ahead of the midpoint of this month.
A female E. Bluebird was noted by a group of observers at the n. end of Central Park on Wed., while a fairly late date here in this county for the species, it is not unprecedented including in mid-May at Central Park.
Monk Parakeet sightings have continued, with some in northern Manhattan where the species has been known to nest in recent years, and also from Central Park and other locations of mid-upper Manhattan, where the species has at least been occasional for decades. It is a regular, known breeding bird of each of the five counties of N.Y. City, but a bit better known in some colonies that continue in some of the other parts of the city. In N.Y. County, any nesters have not been successful in forming even modest colonies as far as known - and of course, this is a large, green, not all-that-quiet bird.
We also have a further report of Yellow-breasted Chat, at Fort Tryon Park, perhaps a lingerer there where one had been some days ago. It is a species which, on migration will sometimes linger in spring, and can disappear for days only to return to a general area again after not being noticed over some days. In fall to early winters here, this species has -rarely- stayed on for months, in locations where the individual had to have been feeding well. More typical in spring for this species here are briefer appearances. A Pine Siskin was still being reported at Central Park to Wednesday, and some Purple Finches have continued to pass thru Manhattan. A bit late for this county by now, Brown Creeper has been reported into this week, and not at all late are some sightings of Ruby-crowned Kinglets, even if the latter have peaked on their northbound passages and departures from here.
Many more migrants and breeding birds can be noted in an upcoming report. Thanks again to hundreds of very keen and often-energetic observers and photographers for great numbers of sightings, alerts in Discord, the app that virtually all birders now use for rapid alerting of birds seen as well as for other uses, and with very frequent hourly-updated alerts and reports in eBird, including the Macaulay Library archiving media in both visual and auditory forms. The many word-of-mouth bird reports and hints each day or night are also appreciated, the majority coming in-the-field, ie in real-time.
Date: 5/12/26 5:43 pm From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC - Tues, 5/12 - Philly Vireo, Prothonotary Warbler, etc.
Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City - Tuesday, May 12 -
The newly arrived Prothonotary Warbler on Tuesday, seen by many, photographed by some, made some rounds of watery areas in and next to The Ramble at times on Tuesday, with varying observations by varying observers moving around as was this individual warbler. Possibly a 1st-spring male, or a female if no song is heard, this warbler also spent some time west of The Lake, but overall was seen at and next to waters slow or swifter, small streams that run to the lake or by the lake itself. This species now makes for at least 31 species of migratory Americas-hemisphere warblers thus far this spring in Central Park alone, and it is possible that a 32nd species had already occurred there this spring.
A Philadelphia Vireo was well-photographed in Central Park as well on Tuesday, an uncommon find for the spring here, but not as uncommon to rare as once had seemed in spring migrations of past times in our local area. This may be partly due to increased awareness of the finer points on ID, it is a vireo that may be a bit easier for many to pick out in the fall, when some are slightly more colorful and stand out a little from some potential ID-confusion alternative birds, not all of which confusion-species are other vireo spp.! This species of vireo nests in NY state, but might still be the least-known of the breeding vireos of NYS, excepting those special places where it has nested, in some counties. It also breeds in northern New England - and far more in parts of Canada - where, in some locales, this - Philadelphia - can far outnumber Red-eyed Vireo, even in habitat suitable to both vireo spp., and where both co-occur.
Another Prothonotary Warbler has been reported from May 11, and may possibly be lingering, around the northern sector of Manhattan. It would be quite a happening, but it is not inconceivable that Prothonotary Warbler could nest, or attempt to, in some parts of N.Y. City. Remember that there are five counties in N.Y. City, and four have more types of habitat and far more of it, for breeding birds, than most of Manhattan. Location, location, location - as the real estate saying goes, the context a little different for our breeding birds…
Thanks to many observers and photographers for sightings, alerts in Discord and to eBird, and vast numbers of reports with some word-of-mouth bird news also shared in the field and in real-time. Media including sound and visual, are in the Macaulay Library as linked in with eBird archiving.
Date: 5/11/26 1:56 pm From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Mon. May 11, 2026: 20 Species of Wood Warblers, Other Spring Migrants
Central Park NYC
Monday, May 11, 2026
OBS: Robert DeCandido, PhD, m.ob.
Highlights: 20 Species of Wood Warblers including Nashville, Hooded, Bay-breasted, Prairie, Canada and Wilson's Warblers, Other Spring Migrants including Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Least Flycatcher, Wood Thrush, Scarlet Tanager, and Rose-breasted Grosbeak.
Canada Goose - 6 adults and some nest
Mallard - 8
Mourning Dove - 15-20
Chimney Swift - 4 or 5
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 1 Mugger's Woods
American Herring Gull - 6-8 flyovers
Double-crested Cormorant - 5 or 6
Black-crowned Night-Heron - 1 adult Hernshead
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 3 or 4
Downy Woodpecker - 1 female Point
Northern Flicker - 1 on the Point
Least Flycatcher - 1 south side of Turtle Pond
Blue-headed Vireo - 1 Strawberry Fields
Warbling Vireo - 4 (2 pairs)
Red-eyed Vireo - 5 or 6
Blue Jay - 10-12
Northern Rough-winged Swallow - 3
Northern House Wren - 2 (Shakespeare Garden, Point)
Gray Catbird - 25-30
Veery - 1 Ramble
Swainson's Thrush - 1 Ramble
Wood Thrush - 5 or 6
American Robin - 30-40
White-throated Sparrow - 8-10
Swamp Sparrow - 1 on the Point
Baltimore Oriole - 3 or 4
Red-winged Blackbird - 5 or 6
Common Grackle - 15-20
Ovenbird - 7
Northern Waterthrush - 5 or 6
Black-and-white Warbler - 15-20
Nashville Warbler - 3 or 4
Common Yellowthroat - 8-10
Hooded Warbler - 1 male Tupelo Field (Alexandra Wang)
American Redstart - 4 or 5
Cape May Warbler - 3
Northern Parula - 6-8
Magnolia Warbler - 12-14
Bay-breasted Warbler - 3
Northern Yellow Warbler - 1 Kong of Poland
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 3
Blackpoll Warbler - 1 male Strawberry Fields
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 10-12
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 3 or 4
Prairie Warbler - 1 north end of Maintenance field
Black-throated Green Warbler - 2 (Mugger's Woods, Strawberry Fields)
Canada Warbler - 3
Wilson's Warbler - 4
Scarlet Tanager - 2 (Captain's Bench, Humming Tombstone)
Northern Cardinal - 5 or 6
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - 1 male Shakespeare Garden
Date: 5/11/26 1:34 pm From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC - Mon., 5/11 - Blue Grosbeak, Sum.Tanager[s], 24+ warbler spp., etc.
Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City - Monday, May 11th -
A female-plumaged Blue Grosbeak was found in Central Park for Monday - this not the individual of that species from Battery Park in Manhattan on same-day, which had the beginnings adult male plumage. Summer Tanager in Central Park may be lingering, continuing individuals - or newer arrivals, seen by many observers again, and in prior days. Some observers reported both adult male as well as female-plumaged Summer on Monday, and including the two seen in same tree. At least 24 species of warblers were found in Central Park on Monday, while other parks and greenspaces all around Manhattan are having good to excellent diversity in these and other migrants into May 11th. A Northern Shoveler reported from Central Park is getting a bit late, but is not at all unprecedented far into May here. At least 110 species of birds reportable as non-feral or non-domestic were found in Central Park on Monday, May 11 - and that number may yet grow, with additional confirmed reports.
Date: 5/11/26 7:42 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] N.Y. County, NYC - weekend of May 9-10 - many birds! (+5/11 Monday-Blue Grosbeak, Battery Park, Manhattan)
A young or molting-to-adult male Blue Grosbeak is now at Battery Park, near the south end of Manhattan, for Monday, May 11. More details in a further report for all-Manhattan birds.
. . . .
New York County -in N.Y. City- including Manhattan, Governors, Randalls, and Roosevelt Islands and some other smaller isles, as well as the surrounding waters and skies above -
The past weekend provided fairly good to excellent conditions for bird observing, and modest or better conditions for birds stopping in, or passing by in close-enough encounters for observations. Some of the rarer species came earlier this month, a few just-barely before the 2-day weekend. For warbler diversity, at least 28 warbler species were noted, with just one of those species - Prothonotary - not noted for Central Park or any other part of Manhattan, solely at Randalls, as noted previously and below. A modest number of migrants were best left identified to genus, such as some distant and unheard Calidris-genus and a few other-larger sandpipers or shorebirds, some Empidonax-genus flycatchers, and perhaps a few of Catharus-genus thrushes. Some reports for species not listed at all below may have not been confirmed, which may take time, or not receive confirmations by review, which can happen for a multitude of reasons. Many but not all of the sightings have been placed on eBird, and some contain associated media archived in the Macaulay Library. Numbers of -total- observers run to well over 500 for the weekend.
Birds of the past weekend, for May 9th and 10th in New York County.
Brant - ongoing in numbers here.
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Wood Duck - scarcer now.
Gadwall
Mallard
American Black Duck
Mallard x American Black Duck - hybrids
Green-winged Teal
White-winged Scoter - in NY Harbor only.
Bufflehead
Red-breasted Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Wild Turkey - an ongoing individual.
feral Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Black-billed Cuckoo
Common Nighthawk
N.B.,
- - Chuck-will's-widow and Eastern Whip-poor-will, each well-documented in the prior week. - -
Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
American Coot - a bit late for here.
American Oystercatcher - NY Harbor migrant or area-breeder.
Semipalmated Plover - few.
Killdeer
Least Sandpiper
Semipalmated Sandpiper
American Woodcock
Spotted Sandpiper - still common in the county.
Solitary Sandpiper
Greater Yellowlegs
Lesser Yellowlegs
-Greater or Lesser- Yellowlegs-species, when seen distantly and not heard.
-larger shorebird sp., and shorebird sp., particularly Calidris in flight at some distance and not heard.
Bonaparte's Gull - found at and along Randalls Island, with a few reports out in NY Harbor, single for Randalls - not an unprecedented county-date for the species, NB, records of birds generally, go back farther, much-farther in time, than the modern-eBird era with observations from -all- of the twentieth century, and rarely, even earlier.
Laughing Gull - numerous in some locations at times.
Ring-billed Gull - numbers have been dropping.
American Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Common Tern - growing numbers, with up to 25-plus around Governors Island, still growing, and also some elsewhere in the county waters - a breeding species.
Forster's Tern - confirmed sighting from along Randalls Island. Others likely earlier in this spring.
- large tern sp.- distantly over NY Harbor, on May 10th.
Red-throated Loon
Common Loon
Great Cormorant - scarce by now.
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Green Heron
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron - thus far this year, the only fully-confirmed sightings -adult bird- were and are for Randalls Island, starting by this past weekend.
Black Vulture - most regularly seen from n. Manhattan.
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Sharp-shinned Hawk - also see below note.
Cooper's Hawk
- Sharp-shinned or Cooper's Hawk - some sightings best placed in this dual-possibilities category.
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
- owls of multiple spp. are ongoing.
Belted Kingfisher
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - scarce, but a few may summer-over, esp. first-spring individuals, and are never breeding here.
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern -Yellow-shafted- Flicker
American Kestrel
Merlin
Peregrine Falcon
Monk Parakeet - scarce breeder.
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Acadian Flycatcher - in part, by vocalizations heard.
Alder/Willow Flycatcher - in past also known as Traills Flycatcher - both of these Emopidonax-genus now a possibility. Willow attempts breeding in this county.
Least Flycatcher
Eastern Phoebe - decreased in this past week.
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird - increased in this past week.
White-eyed Vireo - good spring for this vireo in this country, found in multiple parks. A potential breeder in this county, breeds annually in New York City.
Yellow-throated Vireo
Blue-headed Vireo - still passing thru.
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Fish Crow
Common Raven - breeds in this county, including on Manhattan.
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Tree Swallow
Bank Swallow
Barn Swallow
Cliff Swallow - the scarcest of the 5 annually-occurring swallow spp. in this county, breeds in low numbers. Has now been seen as a likely pair at Randalls Island.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
House Wren
Winter Wren - scant now, but a few still lingering.
Marsh Wren - most recently found on Governors Island.
Carolina Wren
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
Northern Mockingbird
Veery
Gray-cheeked Thrush - multiple, but still-more are likely… and see next -
-Gray-cheeked or Bicknell’s - thrushes with grayish cheeks, and not heard at all.
Swainson's Thrush
Hermit Thrush - scarcer but still some around, including some in such parks as Bryant Park in mid-Manhattan.
Wood Thrush
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing - increases.
House Sparrow
House Finch
Purple Finch - ongoing in multiple locations.
Pine Siskin - few, and mainly-only from Central Park in recent days.
American Goldfinch
Chipping Sparrow
Clay-colored Sparrow - one, photographed at Randalls Island on May 10.
Field Sparrow
Dark-eyed -Slate-colored- Junco - scant, and late, for this county.
White-crowned Sparrow - in multiple locations thru the weekend.
White-throated Sparrow
- - Seaside Sparrow - seen and photographed May 8.- -
Savannah Sparrow - still numerous and in many locations.
Song Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Bobolink
Orchard Oriole
Baltimore Oriole
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Rusty Blackbird - scant now, and getting slightly-late here.
Common Grackle
-
Ovenbird
Worm-eating Warbler
Louisiana Waterthrush - scarcer now, and by now, best confirmed if photographed or video-recorded with audio. However, there are rare records here to June.
Northern Waterthrush
- Louisiana/Northern Waterthrush - indefinite sightings of waterthrushes, with Northern far more likely and common now.
Blue-winged Warbler
Golden-winged x Blue-winged -hybrid- Warbler some sightings of blue-winged pertain to these hybrid assemblages. Not counted as an additional species.
Black-and-white Warbler
Prothonotary Warbler - one, at Randalls Island by May 10, with photos and multiple observers.
Tennessee Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Hooded Warbler
American Redstart
Cape May Warbler
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Palm Warbler - rather late in this county, but not unprecedented - few, seen at Central Park and elsewhere to May 10, and after that.
Pine Warbler
Yellow-rumped -Myrtle- Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Canada Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
-
Scarlet Tanager
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting
- and some other species also reported, not listed above, with some additions fairly likely.
- - -
Thanks to so many keen and energetic observers and photographers for many-hundreds of sightings, alerts, reports, tips, etc. and to all of the leaders and helpers on many not-for-profit guided walks organized by and with non-profit organizations and institutions, which are ongoing this spring in this county - and all around N.Y. City.
Many species are already nesting or preparing to nest in this county, and many more soon will be. Please allow those and all migrants some space as you observe and do nothing that might jeopardize the nesting efforts. Thank you.
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, May 8th, 2026*, at 11 pm. The highlights of today's tape are WHITE IBIS and WHITE-FACED IBIS, TUFTED DUCK, CHUCK-WILL'S-WIDOW, AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, PROTHONOTARY, YELLOW-THROATED, and KENTUCKY WARBLERS, SUMMER and WESTERN TANAGERS, BLUE GROSBEAK, and more.
An adult WHITE IBIS, presumably an overshoot from the good numbers colonizing southern New Jersey, was found Tuesday along Dune Road, east of Shinnecock Inlet near Road D, and was still in that vicinity Thursday. There was also a report from last Sunday of a nicely plumaged WHITE-FACED IBIS with a group of Glossy Ibis out at Sammy's Beach in East Hampton.
A drake TUFTED DUCK continues its presence at Cammann's Pond in Merrick, reported there Sunday and Thursday.
A roosting CHUCK-WILL'S-WIDOW was found today in the north end of Central Park, and a couple of EASTERN WHIP-POOR-WILLS were also uncovered in Central Park and on Governors Island.
Also notable were an AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER spotted Wednesday on the flats at Cupsogue Beach County Park and single CASPIAN TERNS in Prospect Park Monday and on Randall's Island Tuesday.
Besides the adult RED-HEADED WOODPECKER continuing at Marshlands Conservancy in Rye, several other sightings during the week included birds at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge and in Prospect Park, plus at more likely nesting areas like the Paumanok Trail off Schultz Road in Manorville and Connetquot River State Park.
GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS were noted this week in Van Cortlandt Park Sunday and Owl's Head Park in Brooklyn Monday while YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS were seen Monday at Fort Tryon Park and on Tuesday in Central Park and at Canarsie Beach Park.
As the variety of warblers locally continues to increase, the rarities do as well. PROTHONOTARY was still at Sheldrake Lake in Larchmont Saturday, followed by one in Westbury Monday and another at the Hoyt Farm Town Park in Commack Wednesday. Some YELLOW-THROATED WARBLERS included 2 at Hoyt Farm Saturday, followed by singles at Floyd Bennett Field Sunday, in Green-wood Cemetery Monday, and at Calvert Vaux Park and Sixteen Diamonds Ballfields in Brooklyn today. KENTUCKY WARBLERS visited Central Park Wednesday, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden Thursday, and the Trap House on Staten Island today, while a MOURNING WARBLER was photographed today at the Salt Marsh Nature Center in Marine Park. CERULEAN WARBLERS included reports from Floyd Bennett Field Sunday, Central Park Tuesday, and Green-wood Cemetery today, and an ORANGE-CROWNED was photographed in Mattituck yesterday. Other warbler arrivals have included TENNESSEE, NASHVILLE, BAY-BREASTED, BLACKPOLL, CANADA, and WILSON'S.
Increasing SUMMER TANAGERS included migrants in Forest Park Sunday to Tuesday and at Valley Stream State Park today and out on eastern Long Island, where nesting is likely at the Rocky Point State Pine Barrens Preserve from Tuesday on. A WESTERN TANAGER continued to visit a private feeder in Wading River all week, and BLUE GROSBEAKS continue to arrive at eastern Long Island breeding areas such as Preston Ponds Complex and other sites in the Calverton area, including one at Hulse Landing Road on Thursday.
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: 5/10/26 7:11 pm From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC, Sun. May 10, 2026: 18 Species of Wood Warblers and other Spring Migrants
Central Park, NYC
Sunday May 10, 2026
OBS: Robert DeCandido, PhD, Deborah Allen, m.ob.
Highlights: Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Eastern Kingbird, Cedar Waxwing, 18 Species of Wood Warblers including Nashville, Cape May, Prairie, Canada, and Wilson's Warblers, Scarlet Tanager, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, and other Spring Migrants.
Canada Goose - 8
Gadwall - 4 (2 males, 2 females)
Mallard - 10
Mourning Dove - 30-35
Chimney Swift - 4 or 5
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 2 (female Persimmon Slope, male east of Maint. Field)
American Herring Gull - 10
Great Black-backed Gull - 5
Double-crested Cormorant - 4
Red-tailed Hawk - flyover
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 4 or 5
Northern Flicker - 1 Tupelo Field
Great Crested Flycatcher - 2 or 3
Eastern Kingbird - 1 Boathouse Hill
Blue-headed Vireo - 2 or 3
Warbling Vireo - 4
Red-eyed Vireo - 5
Blue Jay - 8-10
Northern Rough-winged Swallow - 3
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 3 or 4
Cedar Waxwing - 3-5 Tuliptree Shakespeare Garden
Gray Catbird - 25-30
Veery - 2 or 3
Wood Thrush - 6-8
American Robin - 35-40
White-throated Sparrow - 5-10
Swamp Sparrow - 1 Turtle Pond
Baltimore Oriole - 6-8
Red-winged Blackbird - 7-9
Common Grackle - 20-25
Ovenbird - 5-7
Northern Waterthrush - 3
Black-and-white Warbler - 8-10
Nashville Warbler - 3 or 4
Common Yellowthroat - 5 or 6
American Redstart - 4 or 5
Cape May Warbler - 2 Captain's Bench
Northern Parula - 6-8
Magnolia Warbler - 10-12
Northern Yellow Warbler - 2 or 3
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 3
Blackpoll Warbler - 1
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 3 or 4
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 5 or 6
Prairie Warbler - 2 (King of Poland, north end of Maintenance Field
Black-throated Green Warbler - 5 or 6
Canada Warbler - 2 (Tupelo Field, south side Turtle Pond)
Wilson's Warbler - 2 (Castle (Halley H., Maintenance Field)
Scarlet Tanager - 4
Northern Cardinal - 8 or 9 including nest with 3 young (Sandra Critelli
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - 1 female Humming Tombstone
Indigo Bunting - 1 Sparrow Rock (Caren Jahre)
Date: 5/10/26 4:52 pm From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] N.Y. County, NYC - Sun., May 10 - Prothonotary W., Clay-c. Sparrow, & many other migrants
New York County -in N.Y. City- including 4 main islands all within the county - Randalls featured in this report, as well as Manhattan, Governors, and Roosevelt Islands, along with adjacent waters and skies above these -
Sunday -Moms Day- May 10th -
Some excellent sightings from a very active Randalls Island for freshly arrived plus some lingering birds, which included a bright Prothonotary Warbler, first seen by two-amigos of the regular group who have covered Randalls Island in all seasons, and seen later, with some additional pix made, by more observers and photographers. Also seen by the early-arrivers to Randalls, a photographed Clay-colored Sparrow, and in total by all later observers combined, at least 90 species of birds on the island for the day… thanks to D. Aronov and A. Cunningham for their many finds at Randalls, as well as to others who came out to view and photo birds there.
All of the county experienced good migrant arrival, and all four of the main islands saw some fresh arrivals, for two other islands, including probable new-to-the-year species per island, and for Manhattan, at least a nice increase of a variety of migrant species which had been seen there in recent days or longer. Warbler diversity was still quite good over the county, and many sites had up to fifteen to twenty-plus species of warblers within each site.
Roosevelt Island with a small contingent of observers had nice additions to the known 2026 birds for that island, more added this May 10th. Governors Island with somewhat more birder-attention had fine migration for the day as well. In Manhattan, perhaps still lacking the Prothonotary but, at least 27 species of warblers were found, collectively by many hundreds of observers and photographers. There was a bit of movement also seen from boats in NY harbor and vicinity on this Mothers Day, which at times were transiting in, or in-view of and from, N.Y. County waters and airspace. Thanks to all for so many sightings, alerts, and reports plus photos that, for a time, some reporting systems were close to maxing. A further report with far more of the species on this fine birding-day Mothers Day will be given, at some point.
