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, October 30th 2026* at 11pm. The highlights of today's tape are TUNDRA BEAN-GOOSE, BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER, RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD, WESTERN KINGBIRD, EARED GREBE, BROWN PELICAN, WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL and PINE SISKIN, MARBLED GODWIT, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, LARK SPARROW, DICKCISSEL, and more.
He's back! The TUNDRA BEAN-GOOSE, New York's first, appearing in Mill Neck in Nassau County on November 3rd of last year was spotted back on Beaver Lake on Monday and seen there with Canada Geese again yesterday and today. The issue, if the bird continues at Beaver Lake, is parking and viewing the lake. Viewing can be done from Cleft Road on the north side of the pond but the closest parking may be at Shu Swamp located along Frost Mill Road south of Beaver Lake. Cleft Road is a narrow and busy road and pedestrians need to be carefully vigilant. The birds also tend to feed on nearby golf courses during the day.
The excitement at the Wave Hill Public Garden and Cultural Center in the Bronx continues with both the BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER and the RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD continuing to enjoy the extensive plantings there. The warbler is usually seen feeding in vegetation below the Pergola Overlook while the nearby hummingbird often is feeding on salvia and other flowers in the garden at the entrance to the Stephano Conservatory just uphill from the overlook. Wave Hill is open daily except Monday and maps are available at the entrance booth.
A WESTERN KINGBIRD on Staten Island was still around Oakwood Beach Sunday seen in the marshy area near Fox Beach Avenue and another was spotted Thursday out at Mount Misery Point north of Port Jefferson.
The EARED GREBE on the West Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge was seen last Saturday and again yesterday.
BROWN PELICANS this week included 2 noted off Coney Island on Wednesday and then 9 today moving up New York Harbor as viewed from Brooklyn's Pier 44.
Quite a surprise was the WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL photographed Monday near the Jones Beach West End Coast Guard Station. This came during a period producing huge numbers of PINE SISKINS with last weekend providing counts of many hundreds to over a thousand during morning flights especially on Saturday, however numbers hanging around seem to be substantially lower.
A COMMON GALLINULE visited Prospect Park Lake on Wednesday and an HUDSONIAN WHIMBREL was at Davis Park on Fire Island last Sunday. One to three MARBLED GODWITS fed around the Coast Guard Station sand bar at Jones Beach West End during the week. A PRAIRIE WILLET reported at Plumb Beach this week recognizes the recent AOS split of the Willet group. This larger western bird coming east in decent numbers during the latter part of the shorebird migration.
An ICELAND GULL appeared in the Montauk Harbor inlet today and CASPIAN TERN was at Plumb Beach Monday. An immature RED-HEADED WOODPECKER continues at Marshlands Conservancy in Rye and another appeared at Davis Park on Fire Island last Saturday. Several LAPLAND LONGSPURS featured 2 at Croton Point Saturday, up to 3 at Plumb Beach from Sunday and 2 at Shirley Chisholm State Park Monday. A LARK SPARROW was at Sunken Meadow State Park Monday and Tuesday and several VESPER SPARROWS were noted.
A YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT was surviving at Verizon Plaza at 3 Bryant Park in Manhattan and DICKCISSELS featured one in Prospect Park Wednesday and Thursday and one at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park today.
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.
