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.
