Date: 7/19/25 2:08 am From: Ben Cacace <bcacace...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] NYC Area RBA: 18 July 2025
- RBA * New York * New York City, Long Island, Westchester County * Jul. 18, 2025 * NYNY2507.18
- Birds mentioned PURPLE GALLINULE+ WHITE IBIS+ (+ Details requested by NYSARC)
KING EIDER BLACK-NECKED STILT WHIMBREL MARBLED GODWIT LITTLE GULL Wilson's Storm-Petrel Cory's Shearwater Scopoli's Shearwater Great Shearwater Sooty Shearwater Manx Shearwater AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN BROWN PELICAN
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, July 18th 2025* at 11pm. The highlights of today's vacation shortened tape are PURPLE GALLINULE, WHITE IBIS, LITTLE GULL, AMERICAN WHITE and BROWN PELICANS, BLACK-NECKED STILT, MARBLED GODWIT and WHIMBREL, KING EIDER and more.
The adult PURPLE GALLINULE frequenting Sharrots Pond on Staten Island since June 29th was last reported there last Tuesday but might still be around.
The recent incursion of immature WHITE IBIS locally included likely the same four soaring over the Prospect Park and Green-wood Cemetery section of Brooklyn Thursday before shortly thereafter appearing at the New Creek Watershed area off Olympia Boulevard on Staten Island, two also briefly visiting Fort Wadsworth on the way. At least one was also noted at New Creek today.
At Breezy Point an immature LITTLE GULL has been present out near the tip from last Sunday through today.
An AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN has been residing at the north end of the East Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge all week. Water level remains high but is dropping with shorebird numbers so far are low.
A decent number of BROWN PELICANS have recently been gathering in the Breezy Point area of Queens and Brooklyn with counts of 19 last Monday, 7 Wednesday and 6 today with 4 farther east off Oak Beach on Monday. Be watchful for them along Long Island's south shore.
BLACK-NECKED STILT appeared today out near the Ponquogue Bridge in Shinnecock moving later to a nearby marsh. Three MARBLED GODWITS visited the Jones Beach West End Coast Guard Station area last Sunday and several WHIMBREL appeared at Breezy Point last Sunday with four more there Thursday.
A female KING EIDER was seen again off Great Gull Island Saturday to Tuesday with a second also there Monday.
An informal pelagic off Montauk Point Wednesday reported 50 WILSON'S STORM-PETRELS, 3 MANX, 2 SOOTY, 130 GREAT, 25 CORY'S and 2 SCOPOLI'S SHEARWATERS. The separation of the latter two recently split species at sea still a work in progress.
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.
- End transcript
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Date: 7/18/25 8:17 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Manhattan and N.Y. County, NYC - to 7/17 - some migrants, lingerers, etc.
New York County -in N.Y. City- somewhat emphasizing Manhattan island, also including in this report notes on Governors, Randalls, and Roosevelt Islands -
thru Thursday, July 17th -
The first, and not-early southbound Louisiana Waterthrush were moving through by at least July 12-14th in the county, barely detected as none seemed to hang around, at least in places birders lately continue to frequent.
A few male Bobolinks have been coming thru, with the most active area in the county to see any -as of Monday- being on Governors Island, although there were some passing in other areas as well. The first waves of early-moving icteridae species have been coming thru the region - as is expected for now - with a lot of that movement along outer coast sectors, but also some visible migrants coming on thru New York County, including some Red-winged Blackbird and Brown-headed Cowbird movement. This all of course not in the numbers of these that are seen later in the southbound-season, but still these can be fairly numerous in some cases in July-early Aug., even in this county. Bobolink movement is also expected to increase in the coming few weeks, as is much other movement. Shorebird southbound migration is already well underway in all of the region.
Some of the Yellow Warblers appearing lately include those which are already moving as migrants, while a fair number were here all thru June and the first half of July. An adult male Black-and-white Warbler showing this week at Bryant Park in midtown Manhattan, a bird which could be an early-ish migrant, but may also have been floating about in the county, perhaps from Central Park where that species was into early summer. However, there are a modest number of warbler species already on the move by now. A definite lingerer at Bryant Park this summer is a Lincolns Sparrow, a bird that just had not made it on to the northern areas where that species ought to be for all of summer. Also summering, and much more regular each year, some White-throated Sparrows are ongoing in that and multiple other parks in Manhattan, including some in the larger parks such as Central, Inwood Hill, Riverside, Highbridge, and in other such wooded parks, along with the smaller greenspaces that a number of White-throated Sparrows also oddly summer-thru in here in the midst of the urban.
Some Spotted Sandpipers were again on the move here in the past week. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, at least a few of which had lingered for weeks in the county, mostly on Manhattan island into early summer, are now also showing as migrants moving thru, these earlier-moving birds mainly or all adult males, and some may begin to linger in any areas with enough appropriate flowers, whether in wooded parks or gardens or simply at plantings, in this county. It also is worth a note as a reminder that rarer, western-vagrant hummingbird species are known to show in the northeast at this season, and some of those may or may-not linger too. The most likely of the rarer visitors is Rufous, a widespread western breeding hummingbird, but summer occurrences of a variety of western or even very-rarely, Mexican or Caribbean-based species of hummers may occur to the Northeast and more generally, to much of N. America including within central and eastern Canada.
A -report- of a Veery for Central Park on July 10 is interesting, this would be modesty-early for that thrush species, and at that location, some of the young Wood Thrushes that have fledged - a species that breeds in this county annually - might be taken in casual looks for some other thrush species which migrate each spring and fall, such as Veery. Wood Thrush is the one and only brown-backed thrush nesting in the county, and in multiple parks, including several at the northern end of Manhattan, as well as others.
A Yellow-crowned Night-Heron appeared on Thursday at Inwood Hill Park, where rather unusual. Much more regular on Randalls Island, Yellow-crowned Night Herons there were seen again, while already less-dependable for viewing may be the Cliff Swallows that again bred and fledged out, as some of them may, like other hirundines, have moved on to feeding areas elsewhere or simply be away from the nest-sites far more as summer goes along. Randalls Island has dependably produced as many as 50 or more spp. of birds in some visits over early summer, which is one of the richer sites for diversity in the period just-before more migrants start to swell such destinations in the county as the wooded parks, or for the early-morning and determined, Governors Island and some other high-traffic areas of migratory activity in the county. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher is a species that uncommonly nests in this county, and the sightings from Randalls Island, and in other locations of the county lately, may be of birds that at least attempted or were breeding. Belted Kingfisher has been noted for a few locations in the county, including Randalls Island, but also on Manhattan, and less-regularly, from the other islands of the county so far this summer. We have less data on birds in general coming out of Roosevelt Island, bits of which could produce many migrants by some very-determined and regular observers.
Observations of Laughing Gull in many areas and specific sites in this county continue in higher-than-average numbers, a trend that could perhaps continue in future years. We might expect a wide variety of birds of which many species were formerly-expected to be regular in parts of the U.S. East Coast in summer from Florida up to about Baltimore and then more-recently regular to Cape May and counties northwards in New Jersey, and which by this decade are becoming annual or even frequent up to much of the southern New England coast and for some, also to Maine and beyond in coastal locations. This can also include some species of songbirds that can nest on coastal-plain or coastal hill country, and which were formerly restricted to the U.S. South and then mid-Atlantic coastal regions in summer. Most modern-era birders may not be aware that the Northern Cardinal, the Northern Mockingbird, or a bit more recently, the Red-bellied Woodpecker were once much-more southern species, and that these species as well as multiple other songbirds are steadily encroaching north, and some are now found either scantly or even regularly up into northern New England or even the Maritimes in Canada, and up some rivers that end at the north Atlantic. Birders out of N.Y. state have contributed much to the knowledge in recent times, including from those doing research or simply birding in New England, all the way thru Maine up into some of the Maritimes. And of course in NYS, on the coast from Richmond County out east to and thru the barrier islands and beyond Montauk Point, Long Island.
Among other birds starting to show in somewhat greater numbers again here are Ospreys, some of them likely to be moving on from breeding sites by now. More on migrations in a coming report...
Good birding to all,
Tom Fiore
manhattan
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Date: 7/13/25 9:44 am From: K C Bailey <azanaku...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Birding Notebook Found
Hi All: I found this at EPCAL in Calverton, Suffolk County, NY today. Just chocked full of birding lists. I’m sure the owner would want it back. Would love to return it. Feel free to contact me if you have any info.-K C Bailey <azanaky...> <mailto:<azanaky...>

www.kcbailey.com
@kcbaileyhere
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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, July 11th 2025* at 11pm. The highlights of this vacation shortened tape are PURPLE GALLINULE, WHITE IBIS, BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK, AMERICAN WHITE and BROWN PELICANS, MARBLED GODWIT and WHIMBREL, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, BLUE GROSBEAK and more.
The adult PURPLE GALLINULE continues its presence at Sharotts Pond on Staten Island where it is usually viewed from the boardwalk at the north end of the pond south of Sharotts Road. This is part of Clay Pit Ponds State Park and patience may be required while searching for the GALLINULE in the thick vegetation.
Five juvenile WHITE IBIS were spotted Tuesday at Goethal's Bridge Pond on northwestern Staten Island and at least three were still being seen there through today. Viewing conditions can be difficult as the IBIS forage in this pond complex just west of the large parking lot at the Home Depot off Forest Avenue. Look for an observation platform on the southeastern side of the pond near the Home Depot and behind the self-storage units. Also on Staten Island the BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCKS continued at the New Creek Watershed up to Tuesday but has not been noted there since.
An immature BROWN BOOBY hitched a ride on a fishing boat today as it entered Montauk Harbor and then flew off presumably still in the area.
An AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN was spotted Sunday at the north end of the East Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge and has continued there lurking among the many Mute Swans and the good news is that the pond outflow is now draining properly and hopefully will lower the pond to desired shorebird levels. Another WHITE PELICAN was seen Wednesday at Piermont Pier in Rockland County. Numerous BROWN PELICANS have been seen along Long Island's south shore this week starting with singles last weekend around Cupsogue and Shinnecock and increasing to eight off Oak Beach and six off Robert Moses State Park Monday and nine off Jones Beach Tuesday plus other scattered sightings up to Thursday.
Heralding the commencement of the southbound southbound migration a WHIMBREL was spotted at Fort Tilden Beach Tuesday followed by a MARBLED GODWIT off Jones Beach field 10 on Wednesday, these joining other species expected in early July.
Single CASPIAN TERNS were noted at Great Gull Island Monday and at Plumb Beach Thursday.
Interesting was a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER at Manorville Hills County Park last Sunday and BLUE GROSBEAKS were still present in their appropriate areas in Calverton yesterday.
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.
- End transcript
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Date: 7/7/25 3:38 am From: Thomas Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] N.Y. County, NYC - to July 6th - Royal Terns, other migrants and visiting birds
New York County -in N.Y. City- including Manhattan, Governors, Randalls, and Roosevelt Islands and the adjacent waters and skies above -
thru Sunday, July 6th -
2 Royal Terns seen and photographed on July 6th, at Pier 32 off Manhattans lower-west shore, and accessed via the linear Hudson River Park along the Hudson River, were first found by A. Evans who alerted quickly in eBird and this got many more observers to see these birds, which are fairly rare for New York County. This area is just south of the western end of Canal Street. Thanks to Andrea and all others who later on also put alerts out for these uncommon visitors! Also present - and much more regular in that area - have been Common Tern, and for gulls around there, typical for summer are Laughing Gulls, which last are also appearing over much of the county, in a lot of locations, with other gulls including the usual-three for the region, Ring-billed, American Herring, and Great Black-backed Gulls.
Least Sandpipers were among the first -few- potential southbound returnees among migrants seen in the county, starting by July 4th, and in an interesting location on Governors Island, several American Woodcocks showed on July 5th, an island where it could be slightly-plausible for that latter species to attempt breeding, although few of the potential sites there might be quiet and undisturbed any longer, with the increasing developments on much of that island. Of course, far more shorebird species and more individuals among those are on the move in many locations of the wider region by now. Some swallow movements have included among other species, some Bank Swallows returning thru N.Y. City, and swallows moving in N.Y. County might also be checked for that species presence.
A very very late or simply-wandering Black-billed Cuckoo was reported from lower Manhattan on July 4th - the cuckoos which pass thru each year in spring and early fall can also turn up at unexpected times and places, this certainly qualifies as one of the latter. On the 4th of July, however, there were already some warblers migrating south, and leaving the United States as they did so, such as some Louisiana Waterthrushes passing south off the Gulf Coast over the night of the 4th. And by July 5th in N.Y. County, at least 6 warbler species were noted, although several are long-lingdering and at least 2 species are also breeding in low to modest numbers in the county. Chestnut-sided Warbler was perhaps the least-expected of those early-returning birds, although that, like some other birds that show in early summer and do not breed in the county, might be individuals that did not breed anywhere in the same year. There were also a few further reports of N. Parula on more than one of the islands of this county in the first week of July, and while all may only be lingering or summering birds, that latter species has -rarely!- bred within N.Y. City in the modern era.
Black Skimmers were seen moving past Manhattan on July 3rd, not all that surprising for the summer and for any observers who may be watching at very early or late hours, especially by the river-estuaries, or also possible at the waterbodies in Central Park, where this species sometimes shows to feed a while overnights in summer. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds were ongoing in a few locations, with no notes documenting breeding, but which is very-possible and has taken place in some other years in this county, including at Central Park where a lot of the most-recent sightings have been. Of much larger but still-passerine -indeed, the largest of passerines- we have breeding Common Ravens in a number of locations in this county, with a modern number of fledges seen.
In N.Y. County, Willow Flycatchers continued in a few locations, especially noted again from Governors Island, where a breeding attempt, and hopefully some successes, were being monitored. Lingering at Bryant Park in midtown was still a Lincolns Sparrow, likely there for well over a month, and other sparrows also included Swamp, as well as more-usual-there lingering-summering White-throated Sparrows. At Central Park, a minimum of 3 Wood Ducks continued this past week, and a Hooded Merganser came to Inwood Hill Park’s waters for at least a couple of days. Yellow-crowned Night Heron sightings were ongoing for Randalls Island, while Black-crowned Night Herons are common in dusk, overnight, and earliest hours of the day, for many locations in this county. Green Herons continue, some with young by now, and Great Blue Herons, Great and Snowy Egrets all continue to visit and feed in the county, the latter often seen as flyovers in some areas.
Many more birds are also moving about, and some of that movement may be migratory, while many birds are simply moving locally around the county and local region.
Good July birding to all,
Tom Fiore
Manhattan
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You can also send reports and digital image files via email to
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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 4,
2025 at 11:00 pm.
The highlights of today’s tape are PURPLE GALLINULE, DOVEKIE,
BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK, MISSISSIPPI KITE, BLACK-NECKED STILT,
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE, ARCTIC TERN, AMERICAN WHITE and BROWN PELICANS,
DICKCISSEL, BLUE GROSBEAK and more.
An adult PURPLE GALLINULE first spotted on Sharrotts Pond on Staten
Island last Sunday was still present there today, seen from the
boardwalk at the north end of the pond south of Sharrotts Road. This
is part of Clay Pit Ponds State Park, and the GALLINULE may at times
be difficult to locate.
Somewhat extraordinary was a DOVEKIE in breeding plumage seen briefly
Monday in Shinnecock Inlet, the bird disappearing before photos could
be taken.
A BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK found last Saturday on a pond in the
New Creek Watershed west of Freeborn Street in Midland Beach, Staten
Island, was still present there today.
A MISSISSIPPI KITE was seen briefly Tuesday moving southeast over
Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn.
Five BLACK-NECKED STILTS were noted Wednesday in a dune pool off the
Nature Center at Jones Beach West End; other shorebirds there that day
featured 2 STILT SANDPIPERS, plus LESSER YELLOWLEGS and LEAST
SANDPIPERS as well as 2 WHIMBREL on the Coast Guard Station sandbar.
A RED-NECKED PHALAROPE was photographed last Saturday on the West Pond
at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge.
An immature ARCTIC TERN visited Napeague State Park last Sunday, and
an adult was photographed on the flats at Cupsogue Beach County Park
yesterday. Other TERNS included a GULL-BILLED at Jamaica Bay, a few
coastal ROSEATES, two CASPIANS on Staten Island Saturday and one at
Gilgo Monday, and more ROYALS appearing along the coast, with two
BLACKS also reported off Robert Moses State Park Wednesday.
A boat off Montauk Point Wednesday reported 45 GREAT, 3 SOOTY’S and
some CORY'S and SCOPOLI’S SHEARWATERS on a trip not far offshore.
An AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN apparently continues on eastern Long Island,
being seen in Mecox Bay on Wednesday and then on Friday at Mecox Bay
and then shortly thereafter at Shinnecock, flying west on the bayside
towards the Ponquogue Bridge.
A few BROWN PELICAN sightings this week included 5 counted at the
Jones Beach West End Coast Guard Station Monday followed by 8 seen
Thursday on sandbars in the bay off Cupsogue Beach County Park, with
singles also noted Wednesday at Shinnecock off Dune Road and off Fire
Island today.
A DICKCISSEL was identified at a restricted section of Great Kills
Park on Staten Island Monday, and BLUE GROSBEAKS continue in the
Calverton area.
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.
- End transcript
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Date: 7/1/25 3:38 am From: Thomas Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Manhattan, and N.Y. County, NYC - late June lingerers and breeding birds
Manhattan - with additions for all of New York County - in N.Y. City
thru end of June
A Pied-billed Grebe at Central Park’s Turtle Pond was quite uncommon for the county in early summer, found on June 23rd, although the species is not unprecedented in the summer months in this county. One Hooded Merganser has been in the Central Park reservoir again, unusual for this time of year, yet that species has become slightly more regular in the region in summer, and this one bird may represent part of that trend, seen over at least several recent days there.
The habitat-news out of Central Park is that in the northeast sector of that park, the big project of making a new - redesigned swimming pool and the associated shoreline of over half of the waterbody known as The Meer, is now fully re-open to the public. The Meer has tens of thousands of new plants, mainly native plants. It also has a few sections of shore-path that extend over the water, as metal boardwalk paths, while eliminating some parts of the former cindered walks, although some parts of those might remain, or will be paved. The newly-reopened area is sure to be very popular and very busy all summer on into the rest of this year, the more so as the word gets out that the new pool is ready, in use already, and the Meer path is now walkable again all-around. The water from the Loch now flows visibly - rather than partly in an invisible channel - thru a channeled but planted sluice with very small dams into the Meer, with a path alongside. Also fully-opened again is the entire Conservatory Garden in the park, which is the only gated, fenced formal garden in the park - some plantings were removed or reduced in that garden to make for wider paths of stone, and entire allies of very old large ornamental apple trees were replaced by much smaller, younger trees. It remains to be seen how native birds like all of the changes in this area of Central Park, and there is still a lot overall of that north end of that park which is still much as it had been in recent years.
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds continue to be seen in at least several sites in the county, including at Central Park. Close observations could possibly reveal nesting, which have happened in the past in the modern era in this county. Not known as a common breeder here, however! There may also be some individuals that simply linger thru all or part of a summer and are not breeding or attempting to nest. The Monk Parakeets are watched more this summer than in any other year in recent memory, while not at all a new breeding species in this county, and not even in a new site where the vast majority of observers are watching at a nest. More comments below on the species. To put it bluntly, there were birds and bird-observations for a long time pre-eBird.
At least some warblers were still around the county, among these were a few of those which are breeding or could be attempting to, mainly Yellow Warblers and Common Yellowthroats. A slight possibility for the lingering American Redstarts, and even the Northern Parulas that had been lingering past mid-June, for attempts at breeding in this county, although full documentation of such would be required to prove any such. At least one of the N. Parulas is still in the Central Park Ramble, and some have reported two birds in the same area in June. Redstarts were ongoing in several areas of the county.
Other warblers that were still about have included a straggling Magnolia Warbler, a late or straggling Canada Warbler, and at least a few Ovenbirds and, as with the Ovenbirds a not-that unusual straggler for Central Park, Black-and-white Warbler. Some of the warbler species that are found in late June, or into earliest July are likely non-breeding individuals and might well stay in the county thru the summer, leaving as the fall or southbound migration - which of course starts in July - gets into higher gear. By the second week of July, at least a few warbler species may be starting to return south, in low densities and numbers - in any normal year. By late July, a lot more of the earliest-moving fall-southbound warblers and some other songbirds are already coming back - to a greater extent than is commonly expected or watched.
Laughing Gull has been quite regular in many locations recently, occasionally in modest numbers, or as singles or small groups. Yellow-crowned Night Herons are mostly found in this county at Randalls Island, but are at least occasional elsewhere, including as flybys at certain hours, which may be during darkness. Black-crowned Night Heron is by far the more common and widely-seen of the 2 night heron species in our area. Both visit, feed in, and roost in this county during warmer months and are at least uncommon visitors or partial-residents in many of the colder months, as well.
-
Some of the birds that are nesting or have bred this year in this county - some species in only one or a few locations within the county. Species noted below do not include all of the birds seen in recent weeks.
Canada Goose
Mute Swan - in locations that can be viewed in and from this county.
Gadwall
Mallard
Mallard - feral and domestic types
American Black Duck
Feral Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift
Killdeer
American Herring Gull
Common Tern
Green Heron - multiple areas in multiple county locations, including multiple nests in Central Park this summer.
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Yellow-shafted form of so-called Northern Flicker
American Kestrel
Peregrine Falcon
Coopers Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Monk Parakeet - a lot of observation of those in one location this summer. This is at a known, historical location area where the species had bred or attempted to breed over the past 4 decades or more - it is not a new area for the species, but had not been highly-observed until very recently, and the parakeets have other potential nest locations, as well. The specific location for many observers is one that was used in past years, with little observation in most of those years, it is not at all a new location to the parakeets. It may or may not be a nest site for now, but simply a regular roost, with an ongoing or rebuilt nest of sticks, as is typical.
Owls - two species are definitely breeding again. All owls are generally not posted in eBird during this season. Some birds being reported as heard may not be owls.
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Willow Flycatcher - at least attempting to.
Eastern Phoebe
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Fish Crow
Common Raven - multiple successful nestings.
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Cliff Swallow
White-breasted Nuthatch
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - nesting has occurred in at least 3 locations in the county, perhaps more this year.
House Wren
Carolina Wren
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
Northern Mockingbird
Wood Thrush
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
House Sparrow
House Finch
American Goldfinch
Chipping Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Orchard Oriole
Baltimore Oriole
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Common Grackle
Common Yellowthroat - fledged young, in at least 2 locations. This species is also lingering in some Manhattan locations where breeding is rather unlikely.
Yellow Warbler
Northern Cardinal
……………
And some species which have nested here in past decades, and could again be nesting -
Common Nighthawk - with huge decreases in the modern era, this was once a fairly common summer bird of this city including this county.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - adult males and females in the past month in a number of locations, with some sightings to the end of June.
Indigo Bunting - potential for nesting may be low, but this species has at least attempted breeding in the county before.
…..
Plus some possible or potential nesters or nest-attempters here, within N.Y. County -
Wood Duck - at least 2 continuing, but no hints of any breeding activity by these individuals.
Yellow-billed Cuckoo - this species has nested within the county in the past century.
Belted Kingfisher - occurs often in summer but are thought to be non-breeding birds.
Pileated Woodpecker - perhaps unlikely but not inconceivable in northern Manhattan.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - very unlikely. This species summers-thru in small numbers about every year, many in various odd-spots in Manhattan.
Red-headed Woodpecker - unlikely, and as this species would -presumably- be noticed in summer! It is a regular migrant and often winters. There was a possibility of a breeding attempt when as many as TEN individuals spent a winter in ONE park, Central Park and then several of this species remained to late-May of that year, however at exactly the point when any potential breeding might have been attempted, there was a massive tree-limbing - cutting specifically in the exact areas where the species was present and soon after, all of the individuals were no longer seen. And, since that time, fewer of the species have visited that park in any given year, although the species still occurs each year, most-often in fall and some also staying into some winters. As most know, this species is scarce as a breeder in most of the northeast in our modern era, with some sites that have the species each year, in NYS and in other parts of northeastern states.
Scarlet Tanager - adult birds have stayed thru summer in some years at some parks.
Rose-breasted Grosbeak adults have stayed thru summer in some years at some parks.
Blue Grosbeak - probably highly-unlikely, but not inconceivable in some parts of the county.
- - -
Various birds are unlikely as nesters within the county itself, but may be nesting in the vicinity, particularly for some on small uninhabited isles in, for example, the western ends of Long Island Sound, or in the East River estuary or elsewhere near this county. Many of the below species are occasional to every-day visitors at some times of each year, and some are nearly-regular all year long. A few, such as Willet, are exceedingly-rare in this county despite being common in some particular parts of N.Y. City in the nesting season. There is also the regular confusion of the species which may start to return-south early in summer, and might be mistaken for individuals which tried to breed here - and further confusion is also possible as some of those species also can and do breed in limited numbers, such as -for one example- Yellow Warbler. The hundreds of Yellow Warblers showing again by the start of August in this county are mostly southbound-migrators, some of which may linger a while here in their return journeys - while very few are likely to be those individuals or offspring which actually nested in the county, at that date or later. Each species of bird has its own particularities of phenology and that also may often be complex within each species, as well. The earliest of returning southbound migrants are often somewhat -relatively- overlooked, even to this day when so many observers continue to be active at all seasons.
American Oystercatcher - increased awareness is likely reflective of an increase in the species around the county-waters, and for adjacent shores.
American Woodcock - not known in the modern era as a breeder here, but not inconceivable - rather scarcely-documented here in summer however.
Spotted Sandpiper - fairly regular in summer, but many can be both late-stragglers, and some may linger, as well as early-southbound returnees coming thru.
Willet - rare, and is not really expected as a breeder in the county, nor for any regular passages.
Laughing Gull - regular and may be increasing a bit in the county, including visitants and flyover sightings.
Ring-billed Gull - uncommon but regular in summer, non-breeders.
Lesser Black-backed Gull - possible in summer, with rather scant sightings in most years, especially outside of unusual weather.
Great Black-backed Gull - regular in all times of year in the county.
Forsters Tern - recent sightings from a few locations, status in the county is unclear but remains a scarce species, while Common Tern is a breeding bird.
Black Skimmer - occasional and may show in any location in summer, with evening, night-time, and dawn feeding being observed for some years in some places in the county.
Double-crested Cormorant - regular all summer, frequent flyovers as well as roosting and feeding.
Black-crowned Night-Heron - regular all summer in multiple locations, especially for observers out at dusk, dawn, or in night-hours in some locations here.
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron - fairly regular but scarce in just a few locations, especially on Randalls Island.
Black Vulture - increasingly noted from this county, some are actually flying over adjacent New Jersey, but also may be found roosting, rarely in this county in summer.
Turkey Vulture - regular but generally uncommon in early summer here.
Osprey - more regular in summer than in many past decades in the county - and could -potentially- nest in some select sites in the county.
Boat-tailed Grackle - wanders into this county at various times or seasons, any suspected breeding for this county would require full-documentation.
Ovenbird - often some which summer in the county, esp. in some Manhattan locations, none suspected at all of attempting to breed.
American Redstart - few, lingering in a few sites where no breeding is at-all likely, and in all sites in the county the species is still an unlikely breeder, however, in some larger wooded parks and perhaps elsewhere, should be watched in case of any pairing, or any real evidence of attempted-breeding.
Northern Parula - uncommonly lingering into summer in the county, with more such records in the modern era.
Black-and-white Warbler - lingering birds are regular in this county, into and in summer. No breeding has ever been suspected nor documented for these here.
Summer Tanager - occasional to very late spring, perhaps some also linger to early summer, and also may re-appear thru the summer - status is little-known for much of the immediate region, but breeding is at least a possibility in the region. Much more regular that in past decades, and might be increasing a bit northwards.
And there are some additional examples of species that may sometimes be seen in early summer in this county, and which may not be breeding here. Our multiple White-throated Sparrows are not breeding in this county, the majority of those are seen in Manhattan and some may have lingered in specific locations for many many months. Less common in summer, Swamp Sparrow also is not seen as a breeder, but will sometimes linger in summer. Our regularly-breeding native sparrows are Song and Chipping, each nesting annually in multiple locations, including in Central Park. The status of summer Savannah Sparrow is unclear here, but seem likely to be straggling individuals, unless proven otherwise. The latter is generally rare to very-rare in summer in this county. In these contexts, summer is mostly a reference to the end of June and the month of July.
-
Vast numbers and diversity of insect life, much of it supporting the birds which feed on many insects are being noted all around the county. Many summer flowers are out or have been starting to bloom, with abundant rain - and summer weather.
Good July observations to all,
Tom Fiore
manhattan
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Date: 6/30/25 6:20 pm From: Andrew Block <ablock22168...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Hunter Lake Trumpeter Swans
Went to see the family of Trumpeter Swans up in Sullivan Co. on Hunter Lake in Bethel yesterday. Saw all four cruising around mostly oblivious to all the fishermen out there. Hope they come back. Good to see they aren't bothered by them much. Fathest south in NYS I've seen them nesting. Awesome.
Andrew
Andrew BlockConsulting Naturalist
Yonkers, New York www.flickr.com/photos/conuropsis/albums
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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 27,
2025 at 11:00 pm.
The highlights of today’s tape are SWALLOW-TAILED KITE, a pelagic trip
featuring BAND-RUMPED and LEACH’S STORM-PETRELS and MANX and SCOPOLI’S
SHEARWATERS, onshore SANDWICH and ARCTIC TERNS, AMERICAN WHITE and
BROWN PELICANS, LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE, PROTHONOTARY WARBLER, BLUE GROSBEAK
and more.
Last Sunday a SWALLOW-TAILED KITE was photographed mid-day as its
soared along the east side of the Hudson River over
Hastings-on-Hudson, only to once again quickly disappear.
A pelagic trip aboard the American Princess left Sheepshead Bay,
Brooklyn, Sunday evening, reaching deep water around Hudson Canyon by
dawn, and returning by Monday evening. Species encountered included 2
BLACK TERNS off Breezy Point, 1 BAND-RUMPED, 6 LEACH’S and 2,186
WILSON’S STORM-PETRELS, and 24 CORY’S, 8 SCOPOLI’S, 555 GREAT, 7 SOOTY
and 2 MANX SHEARWATERS. Also counted were 63 CORY’S or SCOPOLI’S
SHEARWATERS, indicating the problem both pelagic and onshore
sea-watchers now face in separating these two recently split but very
similar species. Good photographs, especially of the underwing
pattern, will be quite instrumental in species determination.
Pelagics seen recently from shore under appropriate weather
conditions, especially off Robert Moses State Park and points East,
have included the above-mentioned SHEARWATERS, WILSON’S STORM-PETRELS,
and also PARASITIC JAEGER.
Out on the low tide flats at Cupsogue Beach County Park in Westhampton
Beach, a SANDWICH TERN was photographed on Monday and an immature
ARCTIC TERN was spotted several times from Saturday to Tuesday, while
other TERNS included. 11. ROSEATES counted Saturday and 2 BLACK TERNS
seen Sunday.
An AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN was present again at Mecox Inlet Monday,
while BROWN PELICANS along the coast included at least 3 off Robert
Moses State Park and another at Shinnecock Inlet Thursday, preceded by
1 noted off Great Gull Island back on Friday the 20th.
An ACADIAN FLYCATCHER was still in Prospect Park Monday, while
surprising were a PROTHONOTARY WARBLER at the Mount Loretto Unique
Area on Staten Island last Saturday and a LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE visiting
Croton Point Park in Westchester on the 20th but not seen thereafter .
BLUE GROSBEAKS continue in the Calverton area, including around the
Preston's Pond complex
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.
- End transcript
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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, June 20th 2025* at 11pm. The highlights of today's tape are MISSISSIPPI KITE, AMERICAN WHITE and BROWN PELICANS, AMERICAN AVOCET, WHITE-FACED IBIS, ARCTIC TERN, probable SOUTH POLAR SKUA and other onshore pelagics, YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, SUMMER TANAGER, BLUE GROSBEAK and more.
Again this week a MISSISSIPPI KITE appeared in our area this time last Sunday briefly over the Rockefeller State Park Preserve in Westchester County, that park's second species of kite within a week, and our hope is that with this hatch year for the 17-Year Cicada that a few more kites might find their way up here.
Two species of pelicans this week featured an AMERICAN WHITE seen over the West Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge midday Monday with another reported at Bellport Bay yesterday while an immature BROWN PELICAN was reported Sunday and Thursday mornings off Nickerson Beach and off Staten Island Wednesday.
An AMERICAN AVOCET was seen today on the bay side at Smith Point County Park in Shirley but missed subsequently while the WHITE-FACED IBIS was still being seen in the West Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge at least to Monday.
This is the season that ARCTIC TERNS have been showing up at tern gathering locations with one noted at Cupsogue County Park both Tuesday and Thursday and another at Nickerson Beach on Wednesday the latter location also a decent one at which to see ROSEATE and GULL-BILLED TERNS around the colony there.
The Captree Summer Bird Count recorded about 127 species last Saturday with both the ICELAND GULL at Heckscher State Park and the CASPIAN TERN in Sayville new for the count. Other highlights included LEAST BITTERN, ACADIAN FLYCATCHER and the YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER at the Bayard Cutting Arboretum in Great River but also quite notable was the ocean flight witnessed off Robert Moses State Park a day later on Sunday.
Finally some CORY'S and GREAT SHEARWATERS began showing up as did a MANX and 3 SOOTY SHEARWATERS plus a few WILSON'S STORM-PETRELS but the most interesting bird spent its time harassing the larger shearwaters and though dealing with long distance and not ideal viewing conditions but spurred by discernable field marks was thought to be a SOUTH POLAR SKUA unfortunately moving on shortly thereafter.
A couple of CASPIAN TERNS flew over Playland Lake in Rye Wednesday evening with another at Great Kills Park today.
A YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT was noted in the woods at Wagner College off Hillside Avenue on Staten Island today.
Both SUMMER TANAGER and BLUE GROSBEAK continue in the Calverton area especially around the Preston's Pond Complex off Grumman Boulevard.
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.
- End transcript
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Date: 6/20/25 3:46 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] N.Y. County, NYC - into June 19th
New York County -in N.Y. City- including Manhattan, Governors, Randalls, and Roosevelt islands and the adjacent waters and skies above -
thru June 19th, the last full day of spring on the calendar -
Glossy Ibis occurred as a fly-by over Governors Island on June 14th. On June 19th -also known as Juneteenth- 2 American Oystercatchers were noted passing Governors Island moving towards western Brooklyn, and also noted again at Governors were Willow Flycatchers, potentially a breeding pair, although full confirmation will be if-when any young are seen, and that any young also are seen to fledge successfully as well. A Black Skimmer was again noted for this county on June 14, seen from Roosevelt Island.
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds were ongoing in several sites, particularly and most-recently in the garden of Fort Tryon Park, upper Manhattan. This species has sometimes bred in this county, including in parks in Manhattan in the modern era. Manhattan will typically have a number of summering Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, and this summer looks to be no-exception, with some of these individuals -which are not breeding here- in even the smallest of greenspaces, or occasionally in street trees, in and along various neighborhoods streets or boulevards. Some of the individuals may be lingering beyond one full calendar year.
Lingering birds at Bryant Park in midtown Manhattan included at least several warblers, with Magnolia Warbler the more unusual for the date and location, this week. Other warblers still being seen in the county have included Canada, N. Parula, Ovenbird, Common Yellowthroat, Black-and-white, and Yellow Warblers, plus American Redstarts - all of these species found in multiple sites to this week. A few Mourning Warblers were also straggling thru to this week, and at least one female Blackpoll, but other female warblers could remain lurking in deep foliage and being rather quiet as well. More-usual lingerers at Bryant Park have been numbers of White-throated Sparrow, some Gray Catbirds, and at least Swamp Sparrow as well as some other species - often a couple of warblers which may summer thru in that park, in particular Ovenbird and-or Common Yellowthroat.
Northern Parulas were still being found around N.Y. City in some locations this week, and that also included in New York County, in part on Manhattan island. This is a species that has - very rarely - bred or attempted to nest in this city in approximations of appropriate habitat, so quietly watching any lingering birds, especially if paired, might be interesting. American Redstart is also at least possible as a breeder in the county, and Yellow Warbler and Common Yellowthroat have bred or attempted to regularly, if in limited sites in the county.Overall, a fair majority of all bird species still in this county now are breeding here, or are regular, perhaps daily visitors or non breeding lingerers.
At Randalls Island, numbers of night-herons continued with more than one Yellow-crowned Night-Heron semi-regular through this week, and many Black-crowneds in varying plumages, which are also seen from around the county, particularly at night and dawn or dusk hours - the latter can be seen coming and going at multiple locations in the county, at those tween-the-dark-and-the-light hours. Cliff Swallows are also still around Randalls Island with at least 2 successful fledges already-recently, and hopefully more, while in the county overall, Barn Swallow is by far most common with Tree and N. Rough-winged Swallows also regular in multiple locations. Regular in the past 10 or more days at Randalls Island have been Green Heron, Snowy and Great Egret, all including fly-by birds, and a modest variety of birds that may potentially be breeding there, but which also may be breeding elsewhere nearby -or, not breeding in this calender year- and are simply regular visitors.
This county has had Indigo Bunting attempt nesting over the years in various locations, and has also had individuals linger into calendar summer with no evident nesting, there are still at least a few of this species around, the males generally more obvious but some females also lingered as well. Monk Parakeets are ongoing, particularly at one long-favored site where they have nested in the past at the western edge of upper Manhattan. A few reports also have come from other locations recently.
Happy Summer Solstice to all in the northern hemisphere,
Tom Fiore
manhattan
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