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, September
18, 2026 at 11:00 pm. The highlights of today’s tape are WHITE IBIS,
WESTERN KINGBIRD, SEDGE WREN, EARED GREBE, AMERICAN AVOCET, RED-NECKED
PHALAROPE, HUDSONIAN GODWIT, BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER, LARK and
CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS, YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER,
SUMMER TANAGER, BLUE GROSBEAK, DICKCISSEL and more.
A continuing immature WHITE IBIS out in Orient at Brown’s Point Marsh
at least to Saturday was joined locally Thursday by a large incursion
of virtually all immature birds, commencing with 23 seen flying out
from the East Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge early Thursday
morning; shortly thereafter an estimated 20 or more were viewed
feeding with egrets and herons in the tidal marshes at Oakwood Beach
on Staten Island just north of Great Hills Park, these ultimately
flying off to the southwest, and around noon a group of 4 immatures
was spotted at Gilgo, also soon moving on. And there could be more to
come.
A WESTERN KINGBIRD appeared on Governors Island Saturday, and a SEDGE
WREN was heard and occasionally seen near the pollinator garden at
Caumsett State Park Saturday to Monday, with another also noted again
Tuesday on private property in Manhasset.
The EARED GREBE lingering on the West Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife
Refuge was still present Tuesday, while on the East Pond, where the
water level remains much higher than appropriate for the fall
shorebird season, nonetheless, the north end especially has attracted
an AMERICAN AVOCET, present Sunday through today, a couple of
HUDSONIAN GODWITS, one continuing through Thursday at least, up to
five WILSON'S PHALAROPES, with 2 present today, other shorebirds such
as LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER and WESTERN SANDPIPER, and along the edges
multiple SORAS and VIRGINIA RAIL.
0ther shorebirds featured scattered AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS, which on
Sunday included 14 at Nickerson Beach, 25 on a sod field in Miller
Place that also had a BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER, 7 off Mill Lane in
Mattituck and 1 on Jerome Reservoir in the Bronx again, with 2 at
Jones Beach West End Monday, while other BUFF- BREASTEDS featured 3 at
Breezy Point Tuesday, 1 Friday, and 1 at Fort Tilden Sunday.
Two RED-NECKED PHALAROPES dropped down on the Hudson River off
Piermont Pier today, and another was on the ocean off Hither Hills
Wednesday.
The summering GLAUCOUS GULL was at Coney Island Beach last weekend,
and 3 BLACK TERNS were photographed cruising over Prospect Park Lake
in the rain last Sunday.
A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was in Green-Wood Cemetery last weekend and at
the Salt Marsh Nature Center at Marine Park today.
LARK SPARROWS included 2 on Governors Island Sunday, 1 in Green-Wood
Cemetery Monday, and 1 at the Fire Island hawk watch Monday and
Thursday, and CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS were noted in Prospect Park
Tuesday and Friday and at Floyd Bennett Field Thursday.
YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS were reported from Governors Island and Fire
Island Sunday, Planting Fields Arboretum in Brookville Wednesday and
Arshamomaque Preserve in Greenport today, and a good variety of
WARBLERS included a GOLDEN-WINGED in Prospect Park today, plus a few
CONNECTICUT, MOURNING and HOODED.
A SUMMER TANAGER was in Central Park’s north end Saturday and in
Tompkins Square Park today, and BLUE GROSBEAKS were found on Governors
Island Tuesday to Thursday, and Wednesday at Fort Totten Park in
Queens and at Planting Fields.
Single DICKCISSELS were noted in Central, Prospect and Kissena Parks
and at Breezy Point.
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.
