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, July 24,
2026 at 11:00 pm.
The highlights of this late vacation-shortened tape are FRANKLIN’S
GULL, BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK, RUFF, BROWN PELICAN, continuing
seabirds off Montauk Point, SEDGE WREN, BLUE GROSBEAK, SUMMER TANAGER,
DICKCISSEL and more.
On Thursday afternoon an adult FRANKLIN’S GULL was spotted feeding
with LAUGHING GULLS off Crooke’s Point at Great Kills Park on Staten
Island, staying there long enough to be nicely photographed.
The two BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCKS visiting the College Point
Wetlands in Queens since July 14th were last noted at that site last
Saturday.
A RUFF, conceivably the same individual previously out at Jones Beach,
was photographed on the East Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge last
Tuesday, the bird at the south end of the East Pond, where other
migrant shorebirds and a SORA have also been seen recently.
Several sightings of BROWN PELICANS this week peaked with 14 counted
off Oak Beach inside Fire Island Inlet last Wednesday, 1 also there
Thursday; others included a couple off Breezy Point Thursday, 1
Friday, and 2 off Watch Hill on Fire Island last Saturday.
Good numbers of pelagic seabirds continue off Eastern Long Island,
including a large flight reported from Montauk Point last Saturday
that featured high numbers of CORY’S and some accompanying SCOPOLI’S
SHEARWATERS, numerous GREAT and some SOOTY SHEARWATERS and also a few
MANX SHEARWATERS. WILSON’S STORM-PETREL and PARASITIC JAEGER were
also noted. Half-day
whale-watching trips sponsored by CRESLI from Montauk harbor are a
good way to enjoy these birds and some exciting whales.
Various migrating shorebirds lately have included 4 HUDSONIAN WHIMBREL
at Breezy Point Sunday and 2 out in Jamaica Bay Thursday as well as
other expected species.
An immature GLAUCOUS GULL continues in the Breezy Point to Coney Island area.
A SEDGE WREN Wednesday in Freshkills Park on Staten Island was heard
from the Bird Tower in the North Pond section.
SUMMER TANAGERS and BLUE GROSBEAKS continue in the Prestons Pond
Complex out in the Calverton area, and a DICKCISSEL was photographed
Friday at the Arden Avenue Beach on Staten Island.
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.
