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.
