Date: 11/24/25 8:23 am From: Daniel Scheiman <birddan...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Tundra Bean-Goose - NO
I could not relocate the Tundra Been-Goose in Oyster Bay this morning. I scoped Beaver Lake and drove a loop on Horseshoe Road. I parked at Shu Swamp to walk to the Cleft Rd. causeway, and it is an uncomfortable walk along the narrow shoulder of a narrow, winding road. Oyster Bay may be a rich neighborhood but they are poor when it comes to walkability.
Dan Scheiman
Sister Bay, WI
(originally East Meadow, NY)
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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, November 21st 2025* at 11pm. The highlights of today's tape are TUNDRA BEAN-GOOSE, TOWNSEND'S WARBLER, LECONTE'S SPARROW, ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER, CAVE SWALLOW, BOHEMIAN WAXWING, WESTERN KINGBIRD, EARED GREBE, RUFOUS-type HUMMINGBIRD, BROWN PELICAN, SANDHILL CRANE, TUNDRA SWAN, EURASIAN WIGEON, EVENING GROSBEAK and other Winter finches, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, LARK and CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS and much more.
The TUNDRA BEAN-GOOSE continues its residence in the Oyster Bay area [...] using Beaver Lake as its overnight roosting site and moving mid-morning with Canada Geese to various fields and golf courses for feeding purposes. Most reliable viewing in that area is to look south from the causeway portion of Cleft Road which splits Beaver Lake. Parking is available at nearby Shu Swamp requiring a hike.
An apparent immature TOWNSEND'S WARBLER was spotted Thursday at Highbridge Park which is south of the Alexander Hamilton Bridge and just east of Edgecombe Avenue in northern Manhattan and it continued there today. Check eBird maps for directions to this location.
A LECONTE'S SPARROW was a nice find Wednesday at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge lurking in grasses along the south side of the West Pond near the breach. The sparrow continued to Thursday but perhaps successive pursuit impacted its stay. Please stay on the paths there.
An ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER found Monday at Plumb Beach in Brooklyn was still present today seen near the Belt Parkway along the path on the north side of the marsh.
This weeks only reported CAVE SWALLOWS come from last Saturday with one noted at Fort Tilden and the Breezy Point tip.
A group of birds photographed moving over Croton Point Park last Sunday on inspection turned out to be a flock of Cedar Waxwings that included one BOHEMIAN WAXWING.
A WESTERN KINGBIRD found last Friday at Caumsett State Park was seen there again on Monday and another was spotted today at Sammy's Beach in Northwest Harbor.
The EARED GREBE on the West Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge was still present today and another was found Wednesday in Shinnecock Bay spotted from the end of Atterbury Road in Shinnecock Hills while a RED-NECKED GREBE was off Plumb Beach today.
A RUFOUS-type HUMMINGBIRD continues near Rocky Point State Pine Barrens Preserve.
Up to 4 or more BROWN PELICANS were noted fairly regularly all week in the Gravesend Bay to Breezy Point and Staten Island area while 4 birds moving northwest high over Brooklyn Monday morning were identified as SANDHILL CRANES.
A formation of roughly 40 birds moving southeast over Pelham Bay Park Wednesday morning were judged to be TUNDRA SWANS.
Single EURASIAN WIGEONS continue at Connetquot River State Park and at Frank Melville Memorial Park in Setauket.
A WESTERN CATTLE EGRET stayed at Floyd Bennett Field all week with another in Montauk Wednesday.
Providing a decent sign for some Winter finches this season have been the recent appearances of EVENING GROSBEAK at a Bridgehampton feeder last weekend and in Central Park Thursday, a small number of PINE SISKINS lately and a RED CROSSBILL at Cupsogue Beach County Park Tuesday.
Single LAPLAND LONGSPURS were at Smith Point County Park Sunday and then on Thursday at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge and Sammy's Beach whilst sparrows featured a LARK Saturday at Plumb Beach, a CLAY-COLORED at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Wednesday and Thursday and a GRASSHOPPER at Bush Terminal Piers Park Wednesday and Thursday.
A YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT appeared at Cupsogue Saturday and lingering warblers included a HOODED in Forest Park Wednesday and several ORANGE-CROWNEDS.
To phone in reports, call Tom Burke at (914) 967-4922.
This service is sponsored by the Linnaean Society of New York and the National Audubon Society. Thank you for calling.
- End transcript
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Date: 11/18/25 4:24 pm From: <marciaaabrahams...> <marciaaabrahams...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Reminder! Do not miss Marco Valtriani's "Birding in Italy" presentation at tomorrow evening's Queens County Bird Club meeting!
QUEENS COUNTY BIRD CLUB MONTHLY MEETINGWEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2025, 7:30 PMSPEAKER:Â MARCO VALTRIANI "BIRDING IN ITALY"
Reminder! Do not miss Marco Valtriani's "Birding in Italy" presentation at tomorrow evening's Queens County Bird Club meeting. The meeting will begin at 7:30 PM and held at the Alley Pond Environmental Center, 229-10 Northern Blvd, Douglaston, NY 11362.
 Marco Valtriani is an Italian biologist and nature guide who has been working in eco-tourism since 1994. A big part of his job has always been related to birds as a researcher, technician, and birding  guide. In addition to privately organized trips for individuals, he has led tours for international birding tour operators such as Wings, VENT, Naturalist Journey, and NatureTrek.
This diversity is the result of unique geological and climatic conditions, but also of centuries of human presence that have shaped the land in harmony with nature. Nowhere else in Europe does cultural and natural heritage blend so seamlessly: historic cities like Rome, Venice, and Florence are set within spectacular landscapes – from the cypress-covered hills of Tuscany to the dramatic Alps and Dolomites, the crystalline northern lakes, and the rugged Mediterranean coastline dotted with ancient villages. These environments, home to some of Europe’s rarest bird species, provide a lifetime’s worth of birding opportunities and an unforgettable experience for any nature traveler. The aim of the trip in your country would also be to do lectures (on-line too) about the landscapes and birds of Italy's many wild habitats.
Since there is no coverage at the front desk, please be prompt and ring the bell at the front door when you arrive.
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, November 14th 2025* at 11pm. The highlights of today's tape are TUNDRA BEAN-GOOSE, PURPLE GALLINULE, PACIFIC LOON, VARIED THRUSH, CAVE SWALLOW, WESTERN KINGBIRD, EARED GREBE, BROWN PELICAN, BLACK-HEADED GULL, RUFOUS-type HUMMINGBIRD, EURASIAN WIGEON, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, LARK and CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS, YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, DICKCISSEL and more.
A TUNDRA BEAN-GOOSE happily continues through today in the Oyster Bay area of Nassau County maintaining its routine roosting overnight on Beaver Lake with Canada Geese and flying out later in the morning to any of various local fields and golf courses. Most reliable viewing is to look south from the causeway portion of Cleft Road which splits Beaver Lake but parking is a problem as much of the area is private. Parking is available at nearby Shu Swamp though it does require a hike so be careful.
The adult PURPLE GALLINULE was last reported Tuesday in Montauk where it had been staying along Industrial Road at the north end of Fort Pond.
Last Saturday a PACIFIC LOON was identified off Stelhi Beach in Lattingtown on the north shore of Nassau County where it was seen sporadically through Monday morning.
The VARIED THRUSH in Prospect Park was last seen Saturday but not reported thereafter.
CAVE SWALLOWS were seen at several south shore locations especially on the stronger winds early in the week with from one up to 8 counted from Cedar Beach to the Rockaways, Coney Island and Fort Tilden. Others should hopefully also be moving through.
A WESTERN KINGBIRD was found today at Caumsett State Park along the southwest side of the polo field.
At Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge the EARED GREBE was seen at least to Tuesday on the West Pond and may continue there. Also at the bay on the East Pond 2 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS were spotted Sunday and a HUDSONIAN GODWIT was seen again Tuesday.
A sizable number of BROWN PELICANS have been hanging out recently in the waters off Breezy Point and over towards Staten Island with 15 counted off Fort Tilden and 5 off Staten Island Saturday and 23 estimated off Coney Island Monday leading up to today with 32 counted from Breezy Point and 11 off Fort Wadsworth.
A BLACK-HEADED GULL was still present Sunday at the inlet to Lake Montauk and the selasphorus hummingbird, likely RUFOUS, continues near Rocky Point State Pine Barrens Preserve.
A EURASIAN WIGEON spent the week at Frank Melville Memorial Park in Mill Pond in Setauket with another also at Connetquot River State Park.
A WESTERN CATTLE EGRET spent much of the week at Floyd Bennett Field and last Saturday a GREAT SHEARWATER, a PARASITIC JAEGER and an estimated 1,200 NORTHERN GANNETS were off Fort Tilden.
An EVENING GROSBEAK flew over the Pruyn Sanctuary in Westchester Tuesday and a LAPLAND LONGSPUR visited Croton Point Park last Saturday with another today at Robert Moses State Park field 2. A LARK SPARROW was found today in Stillwell Woods Park in Woodbury. A few CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS included 2 at Playland Park in Rye last Sunday and a GRASSHOPPER SPARROW was in Central Park Sunday.
A YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT was found at Cupsogue Beach County Park today and a DICKCISSEL visited the Reade Sanctuary in Rye Monday.
To phone in reports, call Tom Burke at (914) 967-4922.
This service is sponsored by the Linnaean Society of New York and the National Audubon Society. Thank you for calling.
- End transcript
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Date: 11/15/25 12:01 pm From: Frank Smith <fsmith140...> Subject: Re: [nysbirds-l] CBC Leaders: Get the word out!
Hi Carena
Apologies for a slightly sloppy reply but I am traveling for a week and
only have my phone.
Name of CBC circle - Southern Columbia County
4-letter ID of CBC circle - NYSC
CBC date - December 18
Contact Name - Frank Smith
Contact email - <fsmith140...>
Contact phone number (optional) (i would rather not…I am getting bombarded
with scam calls, which isn’t to say they are coming from this kind of
publicity but I am taking more precautions)
Best wishes
Frank
Frank Smith
On Mon, Nov 10, 2025 at 9:02 AM Carena <warblette...> wrote:
> Hello CBC compilers/coordinators!
>
> The CBC season starts on December 14th (just over a month away)! If
> you haven’t done so yet, please send me your 2025/2026 CBC info.....to
> help you get as many volunteers involved in your count as possible!
>
> All I need are the following 5 bits information, which you can send in
> by simply replying to this email, OR you can fill out the form on the
> NYSOA website at any time -- just go to
> https://www.nybirds.org/ProjCBC.htm and click on the ONLINE FORM link
> in the turquoise-colored box at the top of the page:
>
> Name of CBC circle
> 4-letter ID of CBC circle
> CBC date
> Contact Name
> Contact email
> Contact phone number (optional)
>
> Thanks!
> Carena Pooth
> New York State Ornithological Association (NYSOA)
> www.nybirds.org
> www.nysyoungbirders.org
>
> --
>
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>
> NYSbirds-L List Info:
> NortheastBirding_DOT_com/NYSbirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm
> NortheastBirding_DOT_com/NYSbirdsRULES_DOT_htm
> NortheastBirding_DOT_com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave_DOT_htm
>
> ARCHIVES:
> 1) mail-archive_DOT_com/nysbirds-l@cornell_DOT_edu/maillist_DOT_html
> 2) surfbirds_DOT_com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
> 3) birding_DOT_aba_DOT_org/maillist/NY01
>
> Please submit your observations to eBird:
> ebird_DOT_org/content/ebird/
>
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>
>
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Date: 11/13/25 7:37 pm From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] N.Y. County, NYC - 11/13 Clay-colored Sparrow, etc.
N.Y. County -in N.Y. City- including Roosevelt Island, Randalls Island, Governors Island, and Manhattan island and the adjacent waters and skies above -
thru Thursday, 11/13 -
A Clay-colored Sparrow was lingering on Roosevelt Island in the area of fields south of Cornell Tech, to at least Thursday. In Manhattan at least one Lincolns Sparrow was still being seen at Pier 26, just south of Hubert Street on Manhattans lower-west, along the Hudson River greenway corridor. Also in Manhattan an E. Phoebe was in Central Park, likely just one of a low-multiple of that species to be lingering or still-passing thru. The long-staying N. Waterthrush was also still at Central Park.
A rather-late American Redstart was seen on Randalls Island on Wed. and Thursday, not at all record-late dates, although well-past any peak-numbers for this, or for most of our migratory warbler species that pass thru in the autumn. Wilsons Snipe was among other birds showing on Randalls Island for Thursday. Over all of the county, sightings of warblers were diminished thru the changing weather of this week, although some of last weeks warbler species may still be lingering in some locations.
There has been some migration on all mornings of this week so far, a lot of that being of expected species for the season, Common Grackles, Red-winged Blackbirds, Cedar Waxwings, American Robins are among the non-waterbirds that are still on the move. American Pipits have been continuing in some select sites.
Good birding to all and thanks again to all observers, and photographers for many sightings and reports.
Tom Fiore
manhattan
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Date: 11/12/25 5:56 pm From: <marciaaabrahams...> <marciaaabrahams...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Reminder! Don't miss Marco Valtriani's "Birding in Italy" presentation at the Queens County Bird Club meeting next Wednesday, November 19th at 7:30 PM!
Date: 11/12/25 5:21 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] N.Y. County - Tues., 11/11 - Bonapartes Gulls, C-col. Sparrow, etc.
New York County -in N.Y. City- including Roosevelt Island, Governors Island, Randalls Island, and Manhattan island and the adjacent waters and skies above -
thru Veterans Day Tuesday, November 11th -
A Clay-colored Sparrow was found and also photographed at Roosevelt Island, in the fields south of Cornell Tech - there were also other birds of note including American Wigeon off in the East River, a part of which separates Roosevelt from Manhattan island. Some of the other sightings there on Tuesday included American Woodcock, Merlin and American Kestrel, a few Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Palm Warblers, as well as an assortment of other mostly-expected species, with some Laughing Gulls off the island for a time, and Common Ravens in the area.
Over on Governors Island, a bit farther south, the southernmost island of N.Y. County, at least 11 Bonapartes Gulls were seen and photographed in the N.Y. harbor area, noted fairly early in the day on Tuesday. At times including later in the day, light to moderate snow-flurries were noticed by many in almost all areas of the county.
At least several American Woodcock were seen on Governors Island, as were a few Laughing Gulls and an assortment of other seasonally-expected species. In a few locations from the northern part of the county to the southernmost, E. Phoebes were still being seen, and others of that species could well be around, or soon to pass thru. At least to Monday, Nov. 10th, Blue-headed Vireo was still around but by now in very-diminished numbers.
Six Long-tailed Ducks were noticed on the Hudson River off northern Manhattan, on Tuesday. This is a regular but not-common species for some of the waters around the county, and we also might start to keep a watch for some other winter-waterfowl that could be arriving at any time of this late-autumn.
In the area of midtown-Manhattans Museum of Modern Art, a Scarlet Tanager was seen and photographed up on a terrace on Tuesday. This is a species that very-rarely has been seen in this county into December - even very-scarcely to CBC periods here. Most of these have of course moved far-south by now. It is good for any bird thought to be a tanager to get photographed or video-documented by observers, and a few species besides Scarlet are in the realm of possibility at this time of year among tanager-species.
A N. Waterthrush was ongoing at Central Park, a very long-lingering bird there, and yet still at least a month or more away from being a late-date for this species in either that park, or for the overall county. Other warbler sightings were minimized and certainly some of these will have moved on in recent days. However some hardier individuals are also likely to be noticed in coming days, and weeks, around here.
Sparrow diversity appeared to be dropping-off a bit, however some birds are surely still lurking in a variety of locations in the county. A White-crowned Sparrow in a plaza-planter in midtown was an example of one such, on Tuesday. As is usual for this county, particularly for Manhattan island, many White-throated Sparrows are in-place for possibly all of the winter, and in hundreds of greenspaces, in addition to being in all of the larger parks. Juncos of the expected type also are fairly numerous and widespread, for just now.
Nice numbers of Wood Ducks, Hooded Mergansers, and other seasonal duckage continue on at Central Park, there in a number of waterbodies spread around that park. Some of all these waterfowl are also showing in other sites across the county. Also for example, American Coots have also shown in additional locations besides in Central Park recently.
Thanks to many hardy observers, some out in snow-flurries, wind, and all the varying weather of recent, for sightings, alerts, and reports with non-x birding-apps and including many reports in eBird, with the Macaulay Library for media.
Good birding to all,
Tom Fiore
manhattan
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Date: 11/10/25 6:41 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] N.Y. County, NYC - 11/9 - Brown Pelicans, Grasshopper Sparrow, etc.
New York County -in N.Y. City- including Manhattan, Governors Island, Randalls Island, and Roosevelt Island, and the adjacent waters and skies above -
Sunday, November 9th -
A distant, in-flight trio of Brown Pelicans were seen from the outer-edges of the county at Governors Island - and scoping-out to the skies and waters of other counties such as Kings -i.e., Brooklyn- and perhaps of a bit of New Jerseys sky-water space, early on Sunday by a few intrepid watchers. A species that has been showing around other nearby waters mostly to the south and east of N.Y. County, recently, thus this sighting was not a shocker, although a quite-rare find for observers in this county. These birds were not thought to be lingering and may have moved west to south in their flight across a part of the N.Y. harbor areas. There were other birds seen -on- Governors Island, of course and amongst those were E. Meadowlark, and a good many Cedar Waxwings, many perhaps just passing thru. A very good number of American Pipits were again noted for Governors, into nice double-digit numbers. Other Am. Pipits also have been found in the county.
Up at Central Park on Sunday, a Grasshopper Sparrow was found - C. Baker - and then also observed and photographed by many thru the day, with some re-finding taking place within the same general area, on the southern edges of the mid-part of the N. Meadow sector of the parks northern-half, this area a bit north of a transverse-road crossing at 96th Street. A variety of other birds were lingering in Central Park, with many watchers and photographers out-and-about up until some showers later in the day. The Grasshopper Sparrow was still in place to the very end of the day, and shifted around in the large N. Meadow area as the day went along and may yet be in that area, but could also have relocated- for the day-following. While Sundays grasshopper-bird was observed by scores and scores of birders and photographers, that number of observers, photographer, oglers, etc. was totally dwarfed by the uncountable numbers of humans who were tuning-in online with the recent more-nocturnally-active birds of which several have had their activities watched by folks all around the globe thanks to socialmedia posting and so forth. One of a number this fall, an E. Bluebird -also photographed- was among many, many other species noted from Central Park for Sunday, and a few warbler species were still lurking in some locations, just as a modest number of warblers were still lingering in places around the county.
The less-common warblers seen in Manhattan on Sunday included late Black-and-white Warbler at Stuyvesanttown in the islands little-lower-east-area, a late and photographed N. Yellow Warbler at Central Park, lingering in same area by The Pond in he parks s-e quadrant and, should that bird stay and survive there to next month, a then-candidate for a look-and-photo ahead of the CBC season, and in more-general warblers of late-autumn, at least 2 lingering Orange-crowned Warblers with one seen in the n. end of Central Park again.
More Orange-crowneds may well be lingering and luring in a variety of locations in the county, even after the next nights frosty patch of night-temperature. Lingering Ovenbirds as well as Common Yellowthroats are a bit more expected for N.Y. County, particularly in some Manhattan locations, even into winter months, and so a few of each were still being reported but the full numbers of those latter species may still be higher than realized, and each species has recently turned up in many Manhattan sites in-total this month. One of the Sunday Ovenbirds was photographed at the Hallett Sanctuary area in Central Park.
For Central Park alone, there have been a dozen species of native sparrows in the past week, with the latest addition of Grasshopper. White-crowned Sparrow was still being found in at least a few locations in Manhattan as well as elsewhere in the county to Sunday. There have also been reports of American Tree Sparrow but not all such have been fully-confirmed, and that latter species may still show in a potentially-higher influx in the coming weeks in this county, the most-likely sites being in less-birded sites, for example -not- at Central Park most-typically.
Waterfowl for Sunday in this county was somewhat as for prior days, with nice numbers of Hooded Mergansers, Buffleheads, and in Central Park, also still Green-winged Teals, plus Wood Ducks in the multiple - the latter also showing in some other county-locations lately - and other ongoing dockage such as Ruddy and American Black Ducks, and Gadwall, and the other typical species, including a good many Brant at various county-locations -not for Central Park- all Brants presumed of the Atlantic-form. Double-crested Cormorants were still moving along through Sunday.
Some Common and Red-throated Loons are ongoing but there have not been great numbers seen on most days yet this fall. In gulls but is still the same 4 most-regular of this countys species, which include Laughing Gull in modest to fair numbers in some locations, and the other really-numerous gull species, Ring-billed, American Herring, and Great Black-backed Gulls.
A few Tree Swallow sightings in some locations for the past week and including through Sunday moving by Manhattan, which is not that unusual by this part of the fall, but will be less-expected as this month continues, just for this county. Any swallow -or martin!- seen from now thru the early-spring might if-possible be photographed or video-recorded, including with phone, so as to to potentially help in getting a positive ID. There can be swallow-vagrants that occur in the east that superficially or strongly resemble Tree Swallow. We are clearly and fully in the period of the year when a broad variety of odd, vagrant or off-course birds may appear and have been.
Sightings from Roosevelt and Randalls Islands had various expected sparrow species in fair numbers for some, and other species typical of the season, including a bit of increase in waterfowl. Colder weather, particularly farther-inland, and north of this county and city, may bring in some seasonal-species and possibly more in numbers of some expected arrivals, as the week goes along.
Good birding to all, thanks to all observers and photographers for plenty of sightings, alerts in non-x birding apps, and for vast numbers of eBird reports and visual and-or aiuditory media placed in the Macaulay Library, as well as old-fashioned word-of-mouth notices and in-the-field sharing.
Tom Fiore
manhattan
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Date: 11/10/25 6:01 am From: Carena <warblette...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] CBC Leaders: Get the word out!
Hello CBC compilers/coordinators!
The CBC season starts on December 14th (just over a month away)! If
you haven’t done so yet, please send me your 2025/2026 CBC info.....to
help you get as many volunteers involved in your count as possible!
All I need are the following 5 bits information, which you can send in
by simply replying to this email, OR you can fill out the form on the
NYSOA website at any time -- just go to
https://www.nybirds.org/ProjCBC.htm and click on the ONLINE FORM link
in the turquoise-colored box at the top of the page:
Name of CBC circle
4-letter ID of CBC circle
CBC date
Contact Name
Contact email
Contact phone number (optional)
Thanks!
Carena Pooth
New York State Ornithological Association (NYSOA)
www.nybirds.org
www.nysyoungbirders.org
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Date: 11/9/25 4:01 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] N.Y. County, NYC - into Sunday, Nov. 9 - recent migrants & arrivals
New York County -in N.Y. City- including Manhattan, Governors Island, Randalls Island, and Roosevelt Island and the skies-above and adjacent waters -
into Sunday, November 9th -
On Friday 11-7, a single Cave Swallow was seen and photographed from the hills on Governors Island in N.Y. County, a passage migrant-vagrant as a number of others of that species have been, passing other locations in N.Y. City and at points east, west, south and somewhat-north in this past week. Other individuals of that species could well have been moving thru this countys airspace lately but no others thus far had been seen sufficiently well, or photographed, to add confirmation to other N.Y. County possible-sightings.
There have been a modest number of Tree Swallows on the move which is fully-expected into this month, Tree Swallow also being a species that may appear in December and even in mid-winter within N.Y. City. The Cave Swallow movements are mostly for wholly thought to be of a form that is also found in parts of Texas where of course far more usual than in the northeast… however, the species has been more-understood in its movements and that the species possibly has shown in the northeast of N. America for a lot longer period of years than was realized and, perhaps some longer-ago reports of -Cliff- type swallows were in part or mostly of Cave, instead, in incursions into the northeastern parts of the U.S. and even to southeast Canada. Typically these vagrant-migrant Cave Swallows may not linger much, depending on exact localities in the northeast, but it is possible that some will in some instances. For the rare sightings in N.Y. County, these were not lingerers, and were seen to move-on rapidly.
Additional attempts were made by some on Saturday, 11-8 from the same site on Governors Island, for potential swallows and while some sightings came, these on Saturday were all seen as -Tree- Swallow, the vastly-more expected species of late autumn in the area. However a nice mix of other migrant birds were noted for Saturday on, or from Governors Island, including a number of Bonapartes Gulls not far-out at times, ongoing Laughing Gulls, Horned Lark, Pine Siskin, plus modest numbers of American Goldfinches and some Purple Finches, fairly-modest numbers of typical icterids being mainly Red-winged Blackbirds and Common Grackles, also E. Meadowlark, plus E. Bluebird, a nice number of Cedar Waxwings, a White-winged Scoter offshore, and in warblers besides rather-expected Palm and Yellow-rumped -Myrtle-form- Warblers, at least one Cape May, and a likely-lingering Orange-crowned Warbler, as well as other species of birds there on Saturday, including some light raptor movement with 2 N. Harriers right out over the encircling waters an interesting observation and photo-op.
At Central Park there have been multiple owls of multiple species in the past week-plus and since some of these were -discovered- or revealed in part by blue jays, crows, and other mobbing birds at times, there have been some crowds of humans in the areas of some of these owls, as is typical in this highly-visited large park at any time of any year when such discoveries are revealed. Hopefully all watchers and photographers will be well-behaved and reasonably quiet, as generally seems for recent days.
Multiple observers on Saturday added E. Meadowlark, seen and photographed at the Great Lawn of Central Park, to their sightings for that day. In other Central Park bird sightings, a N. Waterthrush was still lingering at The Pool, where one or more had been for many, many weeks by now - still not a latest-date by any means for Central as this species has occurred into December, albeit very-scarcely in the past. A report of N. Yellow Warbler again by the southern end of that park should, if encountered again be photographed or video recorded if possible, to add to the potential for confirming a late sighting. This is also a species which has later-date records in that park but very-rarely, and those past records also included photo-documentations. Some other warblers were still lingering in Central and in a variety of other locations around the county.
Sparrow diversity had dropped by a bit in Central Park lately and that is somewhat reflected in other locations of the county, although some Lincolns Sparrows are still being reported, less regularly by now. Roosevelt Island continued to have some migrant activity, with some sparrows and late warblers among the recent finds there.
Waterfowl arrivals while not overly-diverse in the reports so far this month - for duckage that has stayed on waters of the county - but there are some Hooded Mergansers and Bufflehead and other expected-now species showing off Inwood Hill and vicinity of n. Manhattan, and much the same in Central Park and also at a few other locations around the county, with still-good numbers of Wood Ducks particularly in Central Park, where some Green-winged Teals also are long-lingering, as well as Ruddy Ducks and many N. Shovelers, and other typical waterfowl. A female Wild Turkey was ongoing at The Battery in the south end of Manhattan.
We might see some fresh waterfowl arrival in the coming days as colder weather kicks through all of the northeastern parts - and beyond - of N. America. There were no later-date -or even late-same-day- re-finds of the recent 11-6 Western Kingbird photographed at Randalls Island or at any other sites of N.Y. County, but the possibility of same other vagrant-flycatcher species is very much still here in the region, and similarly-so for a range of other unexpected, potential rarities in the area and in this county, as November continues and on into the winter season.
E. Phoebe, the most-commonly-found late-autumn flycatcher here, has now been rather scarce in the past few days in New York County. If any unexpected species is encountered even a phone-photo or video may be helpful in determining any IDs on tricky-to-ID species.
Good birding to all, and thanks to many many observers for so many finds, re-finds, and reports and alerts of recent birds, many-most of these reported in eBird and with the Macaulay Library for media in visual and auditory forms.
Tom Fiore
manhattan
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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, November 7, 2025 at 11:00 pm. The highlights of today's tape are TUNDRA BEAN-GOOSE, SMITH'S LONGSPUR, PURPLE GALLINULE, VARIED THRUSH, CAVE SWALLOW, WESTERN KINGBIRD, EARED GREBE, BROWN PELICAN, BLACK-HEADED GULL, SANDHILL CRANE, RUFOUS-TYPE HUMMINGBIRD, EURASIAN WIGEON, WESTERN CATTLE-EGRET, LARK and CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS, DICKCISSEL, and more.
An exciting week regionally began with a BEAN-GOOSE spotted Monday at the Planting Fields Arboretum in Oyster Bay, analysis of field marks pointing to this as the TUNDRA form of this recently split taxon. Since Monday, the GOOSE has been found to roost overnight with CANADA GEESE on Beaver Lake, this area visible looking south from the causeway portion of Cleft Road. There is parking at nearby Shu Swamp, requiring a hike, but much of the area is private. The GEESE leave the lake later in the morning, flying out to any of the various fields or golf courses in the area. On Tuesday it was found southwest of the lake at the Nassau Country Club on a pond off Nassau Road. Good luck!
A SMITH'S LONGSPUR was found in dunes east of Shinnecock Inlet last Sunday and seen again Monday but not reported since.
An adult PURPLE GALLINULE spotted Wednesday along Industrial Road at the north end of Fort Pond in Montauk was still present today, and, interestingly, may be the same individual that visited this same location last October.
The striking male VARIED THRUSH has continued through the week in Prospect Park, usually seen just below the Litchfield Villa just east of Prospect Park West and 5th Street.
CAVE SWALLOWS have again made their late fall incursion into New York, both up in the Great Lakes region and now coastally in our area. So far they've been noted locally in the Bronx since Tuesday around the Pelham Bay landfill, sparsely so far along the Westchester coast, and at Governors Island today, but more are up along the Connecticut coast and hopefully will be moving our way and likely along the Atlantic shore of Long Island as well.
A WESTERN KINGBIRD was seen briefly Thursday at Randalls Island, and another has since last Sunday been visiting the Suffolk County Farm and Education Center, where a LARK SPARROW was also seen Monday and Wednesday.
At Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, the EARED GREBE was still present today on the West Pond, where an HUDSONIAN GODWIT was spotted last Saturday.
A number of BROWN PELICANS have been seen in lower New York Bay since last Sunday from both Breezy Point and various Brooklyn locations as well as from northeastern Staten Island, these including counts of 16 off Brooklyn Monday and 17 off Fort Tilden Thursday.
A BLACK-HEADED GULL was joined by an ICELAND GULL on Fort Pond Bay in Montauk on Wednesday, a RED-NECKED GREBE was off Wolfe's Pond Park Thursday, four SANDHILL CRANES flew over the Chestnut Ridge hawk watch in Bedford last Sunday, and a WESTERN CATTLE-EGRET was last seen in Cutchogue Sunday.
For waterfowl, a EURASIAN WIGEON was back at Connetquot River State Park as of Wednesday, and two HARLEQUIN DUCKS were at Fort Tilden Sunday, while also notable were a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK at Sheepshead Bay Wednesday and a Selasphorus HUMMINGBIRD, likely RUFOUS, near the Rocky Point State Pine Barrens Preserve to Friday.
An EVENING GROSBEAK flew over Alley Pond Park Friday morning, and SPARROWS included a LARK in Central Park Thursday, 3 CLAY-COLORED, 2 GRASSHOPPER and a few VESPER, with some DICKCISSELS continuing locally,
To phone in reports, call Tom Burke at (914) 967-4922.
This service is sponsored by the Linnaean Society of New York and the National Audubon Society. Thank you for calling. - End transcript
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Date: 11/7/25 2:52 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Manhattan, NYC - 11/6 - Central Park Lark Sparrow, etc.
A Broad-billed Hummingbird confirmed for Derby-Evans township, in Erie County NY, thru at least Nov. 4th is a super-reminder to be watchful for any hummingbirds that may turn up from now thru early spring with a possibility of a vagrant species, and not limited to just one vagrant-species in the realms of possibilities - with photos and videos a near-must to help in confirming species and-or gender with a lot of winter-season or non-adult-male hummers. The Tundra Bean Goose in Nassau County, NY and a bright Purple Gallinule out east in Montauk, Suffolk County, NY were hot-sightings out-east for Thursday, while a photographed Smiths Longspur from Nov. 2nd and 3rd at Shinnecock in e. Long Island was not reported -in ebird- after the 3rd. A few scattered Redpolls have been going through in southern and other parts of NY, with some sightings eastward. Cave Swallows were again moving on Nov. 6th and in southeast NY perhaps more total-birders were on-watch at multiple sites and counties, than the locations which did manage to gather up some nice sightings of this now-annual-in-NYS late-autumn species.
. . .
Manhattan, N.Y. City - Thursday, November 6th -
A Lark Sparrow was photographed and reported in Central Park in an area just-north of the 96th Street Transverse Road that runs east-west through the park, with some seekers trying to re-find this later in the day after the morning find of the rarer sparrow, unfortunately with no further success. This area is north of the large tennis-courts area and is also north of all of the reservoir in Central Park. This bird could potentially still be lingering anywhere within that park. Very windy conditions and a locally-hunting Coopers and perhaps other hawks could have made the sparrows around the area a bit shy as the day went on.
At Inwood Hill Park, 2 of the regular observers for that park noted 5 Snow Buntings passing through, although a slight chance they could be lingering in that area in northern Manhattan and not far from the Hudson River. Also noted for Inwood-area was an Osprey, a species that could possibly be lingering a bit late in that general area of the river although this most-recent for Thursday may have been on its way as so many other birds, including various raptors more seasonally-expected were. Its also worth noting that some Osprey have been following a trend in N.Y. City and vicinity of staying -or moving- quite a lot later than the old-expected later-dates of long-ago, which of course can be said of so many species in the current era - birds now linger when they once-had mostly cleared out to the south in late autumn, and with a lot more in observer-effort and observer-numbers nowadays, vastly more observers being afield, at all seasons in recent decades than in the times of longer-ago-birding. N. Pintail has been noted for Inwood Hill Park, at least as recently as Wed., 11-5 and warblers still being seen Thursday at Inwood have included a Black-throated Blue, a species that has been seen on a CBC at that location in past years.
Farther downtown at the Chelsea waterside park north of W. 23rd St. along the Hudson River greenway, yet another in the multiples of Orange-crowned Warblers recently was found, specifically near the smallish skate-park there nearer to the 23rd St. side. Excellent photos were made available in eBird and the Macaulay Library of this bird.
Some additional warbler species are showing at a lot of various locations on Manhattan island, including in small parks, gardens, green-spaces of many kinds as well as the larger parks, and also out on the other-islands of N.Y. County, with as-expected the most numerous warblers lately being Palm and Myrtle-form Yellow-rumped, as well as Common Yellowthroat and a small-surge of recent Ovenbird sightings. These latter 2 warbler species are annual in occurrence as very-late lingerers and even overwinterers in Manhattan in all recent decades. In many years, Orange-crowned is also a long-lingeng species in N.Y. County and in various adjacent sites.
Flocks of Common Grackles ruled the morning-flights -seen in their thousands- as seen from some vantage-points again on Thursday, with a fraction of those in Cedar Waxwing-numbers in passage yet still very good many-hundreds of the latter, along with many Red-winged Blackbirds on passage again, and a variety of other birds moving in Thursdays big winds, including modest flights noted for Brant and other waterfowl and for some Turkey Vulture migration which is ongoing.
American Woodcock continued to be found in Manhattan and elsewhere in this county. Some Laughing Gulls are continuing at various sites, more-so by now in the other isles -besides Manhattan- within this whole county.
Well over 100 species of wild, native birds were seen collectively on Thursday in, or passing thru, N.Y. County.
Good birding to all - and thanks to many for many finds, and alerts, and reports,
Tom Fiore
manhattan
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Date: 11/6/25 5:29 pm From: <marciaaabrahams...> <marciaaabrahams...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Italian Nature Guide and Biologist, Marco Valtriani will present "Birding in Italy" at the next Queens County Bird Club meeting on Wednesday, November 19th at 7:30 PM.
Date: 11/6/25 12:24 pm From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] N.Y. County, NYC - thru 11/6 - W. Kingbird, H. Grebe, other arrivals, plus late-lingering birds
New York County, N.Y. City -thru Thursday, Nov. 6th-
A Western Kingbird has appeared on Randalls Island Thursday around mid-day, Nov. 6th, just-shy of the eastern part of an N.Y.F.D. -not open to public- area in the central-northeast portion of the island, and was seen -also photographed- thanks-firstly to R. Zucker for the find, then with others, also regulars at Randalls and keen observers, on-scene, before this -first-for-Randalls- bird may have left the area. It may or may not still be present in that area, updates would be excellent, if this is re-found at all. A few other nice sightings for the same island this day included E. Bluebirds in numbers, and Vesper Sparrow which perhaps is still-lingering for some days, plus a variety of other seasonal species. Some birders may still be checking some parts of Randalls and sites adjacent to the area the Kingbird was seen, which could however by now possibly include n.-w. Queens County in N.Y. City, or even Manhattans far-east edges in Harlem and vicinity, or certainly some farther-flown site. Not on-site myself I believe the Kingbird had been somewhat near to Field 27 of the island, and then flew across the cyclone fence into the restricted areas of the N.Y.F.D. Fire Academy, and their grounds.
. . .
A Horned Grebe on the Hudson River, scoped from northern Manhattan on Nov. 4th, with thanks to N. Souirgi for the find, was seen by several other observers as well, a rather uncommonly noticed species for that area and a rather uncommonly-found species for all of New York county despite being very regular in the local region at some times of year.Numbers of waterfowl have risen somewhat, with at least 12 Hooded Mergansers and up to 20-plus, at times, of Buffleheads in Central Park alone at times in the past week, and somewhat higher numbers of Ruddy Ducks. Wood Ducks continued in double-digits for Manhattan. Brant of the Atlantic-form are becoming more evident although as is typical, far higher numbers may be seen out of Manhattan itself in this county, on or in adjacent-waters of the 3 other large islands of the county. More intensive searching of the county-waters may begin to reveal some other recent waterfowl arrivals. Some Red-breasted Mergansers have shown at times off Manhattan, but numbers have been minimal. Black Scoter was noted at a Hudson River site, and not just in the river-migration watch areas most typically covered on some autumn days, this past week.
Lingering-late birds at Bryant Park in mid-Manhattan included Wood Thrush and American Redstart, thru at least Nov. 5th. A Scarlet Tanager was noted at a university location on Manhattans far-east side on Nov. 3rd, a rather late date. A Blue-headed Vireo on Nov. 5th at Central Park was just slightly-late for the species.
Multiple Orange-crowned Warblers have continued to show in Manhattan, including at least 3 in Central Park in different areas there, as well as at the south end of Manhattan, and there are some other likely sightings, some of these into Nov. 6th. Cape May Warblers were ongoing at Central Park, with at least 2 lingering in one location for many days of Nov., thus far, and moving particularly within a grove of elm trees. N. Waterthrush had at least 1 ongoing representative at The Pool in Central Parks n-w quadrant, a very long-lingering bird there.
Other warbler species that were lingering into this first week of November included Nashville, Palm, Pine, Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, Myrtle-form Yellow-rumped, N. Parula, Ovenbird and Common Yellowthroat, and there may be some additional lingering warblers. Many of these species have diminished greatly in numbers, but besides the multi-Orange-crowneds, there are multiples of at least 6 of these species, and some may persist even into winter such as Ovenbird and Common Yellowthroat, each sometimes staying in even the smallest or least-expected small patches of habitat in Manhattan in some past winters.
Purple Finches continued to show in various locations, including at Central Park. Also showing in many areas, and on the move in good to very-good numbers on some days have been Cedar Waxwings, as well as the expected strong numbers of American Robins as well as Common Grackles, the latter along with some additional blackbird-species -the grackles especially into the multi-thousands in some morning-flights- on the wing. Although many species have diminished in their higher numbers seen in October, at least 10 native sparrow species have been found in Manhattan into November, with Lincolns and White-crowned among those, as well as Red Fox Sparrow and Savannah Sparrow. Vesper Sparrow was continuing in at least some areas of New York County. Rusty Blackbirds were still around this week in a few locations including at Central Park.
Some frosty nights ahead, particularly to the north, may both chase-out some lingering birds and likewise possibly bring in some new arrivals, and more passage of seasonal species. We have had a fairly good arrival of some species that are -sensitive in densely-human-populated places- and will be noted far later in the coming weeks or months, even when some have been very-publicly reported. In a number of instances as is not-unusual, American Crows and some other non-raptors have mobbed or made noise and thus attract curious passersby, which in some locations is likely to include at least some birders.
Good birding - and thanks to all reporting any finds, alerting for some species on the non-x alert systems and to all for many reports and also photos in eBird with the Macaulay Library for media archives.
Tom Fiore
manhattan
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Date: 11/5/25 4:38 am From: Andrew Block <ablock22168...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Tundra bean goose yes
Seen at south end of beaver lake from shuswamp overlook through culvert under train tracks. Seen from about 100ft. Others seeing it from causeway at north end. This is in mill neck.
Andrew Block Yonkers new YorkÂ
Yahoo Mail: Search, Organize, Conquer
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Date: 11/3/25 8:09 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Manhattan, NYC -to 11/2- plus county-sightings
Manhattan and other-where all in New York County, within N.Y. City - including multiple reports from Roosevelt, Randalls, and Governors islands.
- thru Sunday, Nov. 2nd -
Some fine seasonal migration was ongoing thru the first weekend -and first 2 days- of November, with all of New York County benefiting from many migrants passing by or dropping in.
Snow Bunting was one of the much-less-common birds for the county seen at Randalls Island for the 2nd time in this autumn, this latest a single on Sunday, 11-2 with several observers. Some of many other birds at Randalls have included ongoing Spotted Sandpiper, E. Meadowlark at least to Saturday, Vesper Sparrows which have also been in nice numbers for the county generally, and a good mix of other migrants and arrivals for Randalls Island.
Next to the the western terminus of Dyckman St., in northern Manhattan on the edge of the Hudson River, sightings for Nov. 1st and 2nd included, among many other birds, some waterfowl movement that included White-winged Scoter, and Black Scoter, plus Greater Scaup as well as a mix of other waterfowl, such as Green-winged Teals, N. Pintails, and Wood Ducks, plus many Brant and other species which are fully-expected for the dates. Large numbers of Cedar Waxwings, blackbirds including Common Grackles in large flocks, and by 11-2 there were several E. Meadowlarks, and raptors in the area or on the move included a few sightings of Osprey, as well as more seasonally expected species of raptors, including Merlin, N. Harrier, Bald Eagles and other species. At this area of northern Manhattan, Black Vultures are seen regularly nearly all year-round, while Turkey Vultures are continuing to move here and thru parts of the county.
A late-ish Tennessee Warbler was seen and photographed by at least several observers at Roosevelt Island, where close attention in recent days and weeks has produced a nice bounty of other migrant sightings over the autumn. This date for a Tennessee is certainly late for the area, but not at all record-late, with the species - quite rarely - showing in some years well into December. Baltimore Orioles have turned up on all four of the larger islands of New York County recently, thus for Governors, Randalls, Roosevelt, and several for Manhattan island, including still hanging in at Central Park.
Eastern Bluebirds have been moving through the county in very nice numbers recently, and high counts for the year of the species have on some days been achieved at some locations such as on Governors and Randalls Islands, while multiple other sites in the county, including Central Park in Manhattan, have some of this bluebird species. Up to seventeen E. Bluebirds were noted for Governors Island on 11-2. While a lot in one site, this is far from a record-high number in the county at one site, over the far more than a century of prior bird observation in this county, and even Central Park has had more in some past occurrences, although not recently in any such numbers. American Pipit has also been seen lately in multiple sites in the county, with some sightings in the multiple.
Warblers still lingering at Central Park to the end of October - and some into November - have included Northern Yellow Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Cape May Warbler, long-staying Northern Waterthrushes, and Orange-crowned Warblers in multiple locations, one found in the Ramble area by Friday 10-31 having also been well-photographed, and at least several for the north end of the park to at least Sunday, 11-2, also nicely photographed. There are other Orange-crowneds being found in other locations as well, and this could be the near peak time to seek the species in our area for autumn. As many are aware this species is very capable of lingering well into winter, all through the region and certainly through all of N.Y. City.
Getting late at Fort Tryon Park in northern Manhattan have been several warbler species, most recently a photographed American Redstart for Sunday, 11-2. Some of the warblers lingering around the county may, in some locations, be working in proximity to various Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers whose drillings make for sap-flows and which thusly can attract insects or other small arthropods, this sort of feeding had been seen many times in late autumns and some winters past - that noted, many birds which prefer insect and arthropod prey items are still finding these as the temperatures in this county and likely thru the local region have overall been mild enough to keep the insects and their relatives active and available to hungry birds.
Rusty Blackbirds have continued into the start of November, at least one of these being seen by multitudes of observers at the n. end of Central Park. Blue-headed Vireos were still being seen in the county, and some of the recent Red-eyed Vireos had been found to nearly the end of October. It is possible that White-eyed Vireo could be found again, and equally possible that any seen thru late October have by now moved on. One of the later Catharus-genus thrush species still being seen other than expected-into-winter Hermit Thrushes, had been Gray-cheeked Thrush, an individual with many observers.
Thereve been modest ongoing arrivals of American Woodcock around the county, and perhaps a bit of Killdeer movement, and Laughing Gulls were still persisting on and near various waters of the county thru Sunday. Loons of the expected 2 species, Common and Red-throated, have each been seen as November gets into gear. A couple of modestly-late Barn Swallow reports have come in for the start of November. We continue to see Purple Finch both as lingeries in some sites, and seemingly more-so on passage on many days lately.
Central Parks waterfowl has continued to include at least 6 or more Hooded Mergansers, up to one-dozen or more Wood Ducks spread thru the park, some Buffleheads, Ruddy Ducks, Gadwalls, American Black Ducks, many N. Shovelers, and the typical motley Mallards and possible hybrid types, along with Canada Geese. The American Coot numbers have increased slightly in recent days at the C.P. reservoir. Waterfowl have slowly been gaining in variety and numbers in New York County waters, while at this same start-of-November period some parts of N.Y. Citys waters have enjoyed nice arrivals of a variety of anticipated or more-uncommon waterfowl.
A female Wild Turkey was a long-long-long staying individual at Battery Park in lower Manhattan, sometimes noticed in the vicinity of the small carousel at the parks south side. This park also has enjoyed some migrants and some birds of interest may be seen looking out on to N.Y. Harbor from here. We are getting a modest influx of owls lately, and with a number of observations
Thanks to many observers and photographers out and about all around the county in recent days, for finds, alerts, reports, some coming in thru good old word-of-mouth, and far more by way of the non-x bird alert apps and in eBird with the Macaulay library for media.
Good birding to all,
Tom Fiore
manhattan
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Date: 11/1/25 2:48 pm From: Andrew Block <ablock22168...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Prospect Park Varied Thrush yes, Planting Fields Kingbird no
The Varied Thrush below Litchfield Villa in Prospect Park was there this am with many viewing this bird all morning. At Planting Fields Arboretum in Upper Brookville the previously reported Western Kingbird by the farm garden next to the large gravel parking lot was not see this am, but a Swamp Sparrow, two Vesper Sparrows, a few Savannah Sparrows and a Ruby-crowned Kinglet were seen in the dump area across from the farm garden. There were also a few Golden-crowned Kinglets around and three more Ruby-crowneds near the entrance and bathrooms.
Andrew
Andrew BlockConsulting Naturalist
Yonkers, New York www.flickr.com/photos/conuropsis/albums
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If electronic submission is not possible, hardcopy reports and photos or
sketches are welcome. Hardcopy documentation should be mailed to:
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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, October 31,
2025 at 11:00 pm. The highlights of today's tape are COMMON. CUCKOO,
PINK-FOOTED GOOSE, VARIED THRUSH, WESTERN KINGBIRD, BROWN PELICAN, GREATER
WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, WESTERN CATTLE EGRET, AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER,
HUDSONIAN GODWIT, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, CLAY-COLORED SPARROW,
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, SUMMER TANAGER, DICKCISSEL and more.
The COMMON CUCKOO first noted out in Riverhead back on October 23rd, stayed
roughly in the same area just east of Roanoke Avenue through Saturday,
though eluding birders for quite a while, and then on Sunday it was found
in the morning a little further east along Reeves Avenue but soon
thereafter apparently disappeared for good.
The PINK-FOOTED GOOSE, keeping company with CANADA GEESE at the Buffalo
Farm on the west side of Roanoke Avenue just south of Reeves Avenue,
continued through Monday and was reported Tuesday just north of there but
not since, though a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was found Tuesday at the
Buffalo Farm, both of these rarer geese likely still in that area.
Last Monday a stunning adult male VARIED THRUSH was found in Prospect Park
and has continued there through today. The location is near Litchfield
Villa just east of Prospect Park West and 5th Street. Check with birders
at the site for more specific directions.
A WESTERN KINGBIRD found at the Planting Fields Arboretum in Oyster Bay
last Sunday was still present today around the fenced in farm by the
arboretum.
Five BROWN PELICANS were seen off Coney Island Creek Park last Sunday but
not reported subsequently.
A WESTERN CATTLE EGRET, present since Wednesday in the Cutchogue area on
the North Fork, was still being seen today, usually briefly, as it flies
around back fields at the Pellegrini Vineyards, following the cattle herd
on the northwest side of Main Road.
Among the shorebirds, an AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER visited Fort Tilden
Tuesday, where 9 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were also counted, and the
HUDSONIAN GODWIT was seen again Saturday and Tuesday on the East Pond at
Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge.
The recent storm event did produce 5 PARASITIC JAEGERS spotted off Riis
Park on Thursday, 11 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS also noted there, and a
CASPIAN TERN was around Robert Moses State Park Wednesday and Thursday,
while the season’s first alcids featured 2 RAZORBILLS off Smith Point
County Park in Shirley on Thursday.
An AMERICAN BITTERN was spotted in Prospect Park last Saturday and again
today.
RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS this week included 1 in Green-Wood Cemetery last
Saturday and 1 all week at Marshlands Conservancy in Rye.
On Sunday and Monday single CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS were present at Hudson
River Park in lower Manhattan and at Jones Beach West End, and a
GRASSHOPPER SPARROW visited Planting Fields Arboretum Monday and Tuesday,
while several VESPER SPARROWS were also locally uncovered during the week.
YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS occurred at the JFK Tobay Sanctuary Saturday,
Green-Wood Cemetery Sunday, Marshlands Conservancy in Rye Sunday and
Monday, and Inwood Hill Park Monday, and several ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS
and DICKCISSELS were found, but the surprise was a SUMMER TANAGER seen
Saturday and Tuesday in Kissena Park in Queens.
To phone in reports, call Tom Burke at (914) 967-4922.
This service is sponsored by the Linnaean Society of New York and the
National Audubon Society. Thank you for calling.
- End transcript
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Date: 10/31/25 12:22 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park & Manhattan overall, NYC - to 10/30 - modest waterfowl arrivals, etc.
Central Park, with other Manhattan locations, all of which within N.Y. City -
thru Thursday, October 30th -
Firstly, the hybrid-northeaster type rain system that passed into NYC and vicinity with varying dousing of rain and occasional bursts of moderate-force winds at Manhattan had essentially nothing to do with major and dangerous hurricane Melissa - that named storm has been far far south and not at all close to any part of NY state or to the northeastern parts of North America.
There was some overnight migration with many expected seasonal species moving from Wed. night into Thursday morning over and thru Manhattan - species such as Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, American Robin, Dark-eyed Junco and other such typical species were among the common and expected species on the move for the night that began on 10-29. Of the observers out and about in Manhattan, plus at least a few searching sites just out of Manhattan but in the same county, few to nearly no storm-waifs or unusual birds were found by us who were looking, and all sightings for Thursday could well have been essentially-standard for about any day around this date and with no storm at all nearby. There were some breaks in the wet and windy weather in some hours and Thursday finished out with peeks of sun as well as excellent rainbows for some in Manhattan by the late-day.
Some further waterfowl arrivals, although many of these were likely to have come in during earlier, recent days, and along with associated water birds have been showing as this week carried along. The arrivals have included multiple but modest numbers of Hooded Mergansers, multiple but minimal so far Red-breasted Mergansers, very few so far Buffleheads, and loons of both species we typically find in the colder months, Common and Red-throated Loons. A few American Coots and Pied-billed Grebe for
Central Park were already present and not newly arrived. Double-crested Cormorants are also continuing in plenty of the waters of Manhattan. The same of the up to one dozen Green-winged Teals which are mostly being seen regularly for many weeks at The Pool in Central Park. Some N. Shovelers are turning up in a few places next to Manhattan aside from the usual locations for that species as ongoing for months, in Central Park, with just modest recent increases. Brant all presumed of the
Atlantic form have been numerous in Manhattan waters and-or around N.Y. County.
Up to fourteen Wood Ducks were in Central Park for Thursday with a minimum of eight at once on the reservoir during the rains, and others around various other waterbodies of Central. Gulls of the still-potentially 4 species which have been common or regular and expected still featured plenty of Laughing Gulls, some in Central Park at intervals, and the bulk of gulls all around being Ring-billed, American Herring, and Great Black-backed Gulls. There have been some sightings of possible Lesser Black-backed Gull in a few locations this week, including on the other islands of New York County just outside of Manhattan. A few other gull species have been suspected but with no firm textual descriptions by watchers or any publicly available photos so far. It is certainly a period for potentially uncommon or rarer gulls to make appearances. Even a phone-photo may help in determining ID of some of the birds showing up out there.
Birds still continuing at Central Park at least thru Wednesday and some also seen on Thursday included Rusty Blackbirds, and at least one-dozen warbler species which include lingering American Yellow Warbler, and Magnolia Warbler, as well as long-lingering Northern Waterthrushes, plus the remainder of warbler species still hanging in. The only fairly numerous warblers stil being found around Manhattan by now are Palm Warbler and the Myrtle form of Yellow-rumped Warbler, but some species continue in the multiple such as Ovenbirds, Common Yellowthroats, Black-throated Blue Warblers, N. Parulas, Nashville, and at least a few other warbler species. The Orange-crowned Warbler migrations ought to be ongoing, or some still lingering, and at least two of those were ongoing at Central Park thru Thursday, at near-opposite ends of the park.
Many species of migrants or longer-staying birds are being found all around Manhattan, including in the smaller parks as well as the larger, and in greenspaces of all kinds including gardens, plazas, church yards, and so on. In many past years some of the rarer birds of the county - or occasionally for all of NY state - were found in smaller greenspaces of Manhattan, in addition to the more-birded locations that receive many observers and photographers.
Good birding,
Tom Fiore
manhattan
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