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, June 19,
2026 at 11:00 pm. The highlights of today’s tape are SANDWICH and
ARCTIC TERNS, BROWN PELICAN, WILSON’S PHALAROPE, YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT,
BLUE GROSBEAK, an influx of SHEARWATERS, Summer Count results and
more.
Quite notable this week was the collection of TERNS present locally
along the south shore of Long Island, topped by the adult SANDWICH
TERN present on the flats today at Cupsogue Beach County Park, the
second one seen there so far this year. An ARCTIC TERN was also seen
at Cupsogue last Sunday, but most ARCTIC sightings this week have been
at Democrat Point at the western end of Fire Island State Park, where
2 were noted last Saturday, followed by 3 spotted there the next day
and then 1 or more to Wednesday, with 3 again reported there today.
Also noted at Democrat Point during the week, along with the COMMON,
FORSTER’S and LEAST TERNS, have been a few ROSEATES and ROYALS plus a
couple of BLACK TERNS, a CASPIAN TERN last Saturday, and a GULL-BILLED
TERN reported Friday, with 2 other GULL-BILLEDS at nearby Cedar Beach
last Saturday. Democrat Point is a hike but can be quite worthwhile.
Also along the ocean this Friday afternoon were sightings of 1 to 3
BROWN PELICANS between Gilgo and Fire Island Inlet at Robert Moses
State Park east to Smith Point County Park and Moriches Bay.
SHEARWATER activity has also recently increased nicely offshore,
especially off Moses Park and east to Montauk Point, with decent
numbers of CORY’S and SOOTY SHEARWATERS, fewer GREAT and small numbers
of MANX SHEARWATERS, and also some WILSON’S STORM-PETRELS and
PARASITIC JAEGERS. Also watch for possible SCOPOLI’S SHEARWATERS
among the CORY’S, though definitive separation of the 2 species could
be quite challenging, depending on the distance and viewing
conditions.
And also watch for LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS, mostly non-adults, along
the ocean beaches.
A female WILSON’S PHALAROPE was at the south end of the East Pond at
Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge today, with 2 PHALAROPES also noted there
last Saturday,
Lingering ACADIAN FLYCATCHERS, likely attempting to nest, have been
encountered recently in Prospect Park, Gardiner County Park, Heckscher
State Park, and Connetquot River State Park, among others.
A YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT has been singing near the Graham Boulevard
Bridge at the New Creek Watershed on Staten Island at least to
Tuesday, and another was at the Marine Park Salt Marsh Nature Center
last Sunday.
BLUE GROSBEAKS continue at the Prestons Pond Complex and other sites
in the Calverton area and also at the Rocky Point Pine Barrens State
Forest.
The Captree Summer Bird Count last Saturday recorded about 131
species, including 2 new species - BLACK TERN and CANADA WARBLER, plus
other such highlights as ARCTIC, GULL-BILLED, ROSEATE, CASPIAN and
ROYAL TERNS and ACADIAN FLYCATCHER.
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.
