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.
