Date: 5/21/25 3:59 pm From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Fork-tailed Flycatcher, Randalls Island, NYC - 5/21
Surely a bird-of-the-month for New York County, a Fork-tailed Flycatcher was revealed - by finder Karen Becker of Manhattan - on Wednesday, May 21st, at an old, now-unused golf driving-range at Randalls Island, which is just east of Manhattan, N.Y. City. The Fork-tailed was in company with some E. Kingbirds offering nice comparisons with that relative in the same genus. Fork-tailed Flycatchers in N.America are generally seen as reverse or wrong-way migrants which for various reasons include some individuals of their species that rather than go a shorter distance within their typical range - which for Fork-tailed is quite a large range - but some get into very elongated flights that bring some far far out of expected range - and in instances like the Randalls Island discovery, also bring some birders from fair distances... Many came to view this flycatcher from nearby and from multiple other counties thru the day on Wed. - This species was not-quite on most birders radar as a species to be expected here - but here it came. Thanks to K. Becker as well as to many others who helped keep eyes on the rarity, and some who lent scopes or even cameras for viewing by arriving additional seekers.
Good birding to all,
Tom Fiore
Manhattan
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