Date: 1/15/19 6:43 pm From: JOHN TURNER <redknot...> Subject: Re: [nysbirds-l] Eastern Long Island Rarities Today
It would be worthwhile to know if it had been shot.
On Tue, Jan 15, 2019 at 09:15 PM, Paul R Sweet wrote:
If anyone picks this bird up we would like to have the specimen.
Thanks, Paul
Paul Sweet | Department of Ornithology | American Museum of Natural
History | Central Park West @ 79th St | NY 10024 | Tel 212 769 5780 |
Mob 718 757 5941
On Jan 15, 2019, at 7:38 PM, David Barrett <miler6...>
<mailto:<miler6...> > wrote:
Relevant to the COMMON MURRE not being seen at Shinnecock Inlet, Joe
Girgente today found and photographed a deceased COMMON MURRE to the
west of the inlet at Triton Beach and reported it on the Queens and Long
Island alerts:
On Tue, Jan 15, 2019 at 7:25 PM Steve Walter <swalter15...>
<mailto:<swalter15...> > wrote:
The Thick-billed Murre at Shinnecock Inlet was in sight from about 8:00
to 9:30 this morning and then again briefly just after 1:30. At least
one
Razorbill was in the inlet in the morning, providing closer looks than
the Murre. To my knowledge, the Common Murre was not seen. 2 or 3
Red-necked Grebes were reported at the mouth of the inlet and further
out. A bit odd was a Ruddy Duck with Common Eiders (where the inlet
meets the bay).
The American White Pelican was present for a while in Mecox Bay’s
Hayground Cove, before flying out around 11:20. I t was best viewed when
someone came out to feed the swans. It was the only big white bird that
stayed put. Without
such intervention, it can easily be hidden by the many swans,
especially if sleeping with head and bill tucked in.
With the prospects of better Alcid pictures not looking good as the
afternoon progressed (none in sight and dimming sun), I decided to do
the wild goose chase thing. None were visible as I arrived at Doctor’s
Path (Riverhead). I went over
to Northville Turnpike (Rt. 105), where I found a small flock (by
standards of that area) in the field to the east. The
Barnacle Goose was a quick find. Within a few minutes, flock after flock
and overall huge numbers of geese began coming in from a southwest
direction, and landing in the large field on the west side of 105. A few
minutes after that, small groups from
the east side of 105 (and eventually all of them) joined the larger
group. I was hoping to photograph the Barnacle flying by. I photographed
one random flock to test the lighting. Never got the Barnacle, but
looking at the pictures when I got home revealed
a Greater White-fronted Goose (pure dump luck there). Possibly, this
is the one I saw in the west field and reported to the What’s App a few
minutes later.
Date: 1/15/19 6:16 pm From: Paul R Sweet <sweet...> Subject: Re: [nysbirds-l] Eastern Long Island Rarities Today
If anyone picks this bird up we would like to have the specimen.
Thanks, Paul
Paul Sweet | Department of Ornithology | American Museum of Natural History | Central Park West @ 79th St | NY 10024 | Tel 212 769 5780 | Mob 718 757 5941
On Jan 15, 2019, at 7:38 PM, David Barrett <miler6...><mailto:<miler6...>> wrote:
Relevant to the COMMON MURRE not being seen at Shinnecock Inlet, Joe Girgente today found and photographed a deceased COMMON MURRE to the west of the inlet at Triton Beach and reported it on the Queens and Long Island alerts:
On Tue, Jan 15, 2019 at 7:25 PM Steve Walter <swalter15...><mailto:<swalter15...>> wrote:
The Thick-billed Murre at Shinnecock Inlet was in sight from about 8:00 to 9:30 this morning and then again briefly just after 1:30. At least one Razorbill was in the inlet in the morning, providing closer looks than the Murre. To my knowledge, the Common Murre was not seen. 2 or 3 Red-necked Grebes were reported at the mouth of the inlet and further out. A bit odd was a Ruddy Duck with Common Eiders (where the inlet meets the bay).
The American White Pelican was present for a while in Mecox Bay’s Hayground Cove, before flying out around 11:20. I t was best viewed when someone came out to feed the swans. It was the only big white bird that stayed put. Without such intervention, it can easily be hidden by the many swans, especially if sleeping with head and bill tucked in.
With the prospects of better Alcid pictures not looking good as the afternoon progressed (none in sight and dimming sun), I decided to do the wild goose chase thing. None were visible as I arrived at Doctor’s Path (Riverhead). I went over to Northville Turnpike (Rt. 105), where I found a small flock (by standards of that area) in the field to the east. The Barnacle Goose was a quick find. Within a few minutes, flock after flock and overall huge numbers of geese began coming in from a southwest direction, and landing in the large field on the west side of 105. A few minutes after that, small groups from the east side of 105 (and eventually all of them) joined the larger group. I was hoping to photograph the Barnacle flying by. I photographed one random flock to test the lighting. Never got the Barnacle, but looking at the pictures when I got home revealed a Greater White-fronted Goose (pure dump luck there). Possibly, this is the one I saw in the west field and reported to the What’s App a few minutes later.
so it appears that at least one COMMON MURRE there lives on.
David Barrett
On Tue, Jan 15, 2019 at 7:25 PM Steve Walter <swalter15...> wrote:
> The *Thick-billed Murre* at Shinnecock Inlet was in sight from about 8:00
> to 9:30 this morning and then again briefly just after 1:30. At least one
> *Razorbill* was in the inlet in the morning, providing closer looks than
> the Murre. To my knowledge, the Common Murre was not seen. 2 or 3 *Red-necked
> Grebes* were reported at the mouth of the inlet and further out. A bit
> odd was a Ruddy Duck with Common Eiders (where the inlet meets the bay).
>
>
>
> The *American White Pelican* was present for a while in Mecox Bay’s
> Hayground Cove, before flying out around 11:20. I t was best viewed when
> someone came out to feed the swans. It was the only big white bird that
> stayed put. Without such intervention, it can easily be hidden by the many
> swans, especially if sleeping with head and bill tucked in.
>
>
>
> With the prospects of better Alcid pictures not looking good as the
> afternoon progressed (none in sight and dimming sun), I decided to do the
> wild goose chase thing. None were visible as I arrived at Doctor’s Path
> (Riverhead). I went over to Northville Turnpike (Rt. 105), where I found a
> small flock (by standards of that area) in the field to the east. The *Barnacle
> Goose* was a quick find. Within a few minutes, flock after flock and
> overall huge numbers of geese began coming in from a southwest direction,
> and landing in the large field on the west side of 105. A few minutes after
> that, small groups from the east side of 105 (and eventually all of them)
> joined the larger group. I was hoping to photograph the Barnacle flying by.
> I photographed one random flock to test the lighting. Never got the
> Barnacle, but looking at the pictures when I got home revealed a *Greater
> White-fronted Goose *(pure dump luck there). Possibly, this is the one I
> saw in the west field and reported to the What’s App a few minutes later.
>
>
>
>
>
> Steve Walter
>
> Bayside, NY
> --
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>
Date: 1/15/19 4:38 pm From: David Barrett <miler6...> Subject: Re: [nysbirds-l] Eastern Long Island Rarities Today
Relevant to the COMMON MURRE not being seen at Shinnecock Inlet, Joe
Girgente today found and photographed a deceased COMMON MURRE to the west
of the inlet at Triton Beach and reported it on the Queens and Long Island
alerts:
On Tue, Jan 15, 2019 at 7:25 PM Steve Walter <swalter15...> wrote:
> The *Thick-billed Murre* at Shinnecock Inlet was in sight from about 8:00
> to 9:30 this morning and then again briefly just after 1:30. At least one
> *Razorbill* was in the inlet in the morning, providing closer looks than
> the Murre. To my knowledge, the Common Murre was not seen. 2 or 3 *Red-necked
> Grebes* were reported at the mouth of the inlet and further out. A bit
> odd was a Ruddy Duck with Common Eiders (where the inlet meets the bay).
>
>
>
> The *American White Pelican* was present for a while in Mecox Bay’s
> Hayground Cove, before flying out around 11:20. I t was best viewed when
> someone came out to feed the swans. It was the only big white bird that
> stayed put. Without such intervention, it can easily be hidden by the many
> swans, especially if sleeping with head and bill tucked in.
>
>
>
> With the prospects of better Alcid pictures not looking good as the
> afternoon progressed (none in sight and dimming sun), I decided to do the
> wild goose chase thing. None were visible as I arrived at Doctor’s Path
> (Riverhead). I went over to Northville Turnpike (Rt. 105), where I found a
> small flock (by standards of that area) in the field to the east. The *Barnacle
> Goose* was a quick find. Within a few minutes, flock after flock and
> overall huge numbers of geese began coming in from a southwest direction,
> and landing in the large field on the west side of 105. A few minutes after
> that, small groups from the east side of 105 (and eventually all of them)
> joined the larger group. I was hoping to photograph the Barnacle flying by.
> I photographed one random flock to test the lighting. Never got the
> Barnacle, but looking at the pictures when I got home revealed a *Greater
> White-fronted Goose *(pure dump luck there). Possibly, this is the one I
> saw in the west field and reported to the What’s App a few minutes later.
>
>
>
>
>
> Steve Walter
>
> Bayside, NY
> --
> *NYSbirds-L List Info:*
> Welcome and Basics <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm> > Rules and Information <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm> > Subscribe, Configuration and Leave
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> The Mail Archive
> <http://www.mail-archive.com/<nysbirds-l...>/maillist.html> > Surfbirds <http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L> > ABA <http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01> > *Please submit your observations to **eBird*
> <http://ebird.org/content/ebird/>*!* > --
>
Date: 1/15/19 4:23 pm From: Steve Walter <swalter15...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Eastern Long Island Rarities Today
The Thick-billed Murre at Shinnecock Inlet was in sight from about 8:00 to 9:30 this morning and then again briefly just after 1:30. At least one Razorbill was in the inlet in the morning, providing closer looks than the Murre. To my knowledge, the Common Murre was not seen. 2 or 3 Red-necked Grebes were reported at the mouth of the inlet and further out. A bit odd was a Ruddy Duck with Common Eiders (where the inlet meets the bay).
The American White Pelican was present for a while in Mecox Bay's Hayground Cove, before flying out around 11:20. I t was best viewed when someone came out to feed the swans. It was the only big white bird that stayed put. Without such intervention, it can easily be hidden by the many swans, especially if sleeping with head and bill tucked in.
With the prospects of better Alcid pictures not looking good as the afternoon progressed (none in sight and dimming sun), I decided to do the wild goose chase thing. None were visible as I arrived at Doctor's Path (Riverhead). I went over to Northville Turnpike (Rt. 105), where I found a small flock (by standards of that area) in the field to the east. The Barnacle Goose was a quick find. Within a few minutes, flock after flock and overall huge numbers of geese began coming in from a southwest direction, and landing in the large field on the west side of 105. A few minutes after that, small groups from the east side of 105 (and eventually all of them) joined the larger group. I was hoping to photograph the Barnacle flying by. I photographed one random flock to test the lighting. Never got the Barnacle, but looking at the pictures when I got home revealed a Greater White-fronted Goose (pure dump luck there). Possibly, this is the one I saw in the west field and reported to the What's App a few minutes later.
I was there on Sunday 1/13 from approximately 10:00 AM to 2:45 PM (I left the location twice for short periods of time to take a break) and did not see the bird, even though it had been there earlier in the morning. I’m also interested in any recent sightings, as I may try one more time this week.
Jesse
> On Jan 15, 2019, at 3:26 PM, peter paul <pepaul...> wrote:
>
> Did anyone see the sparrow yesterday or today? The most recent ebird report is from Sunday January 13th. Positive or negative reports would be helpful either way.
> Thanks,
> Tripper
>
> --
> NYSbirds-L List Info:
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> Rules and Information
> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave
> Archives:
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> Surfbirds
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> Please submit your observations to eBird!
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Date: 1/15/19 12:26 pm From: peter paul <pepaul...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Golden-crowned Sparrow
Did anyone see the sparrow yesterday or today? The most recent ebird report is from Sunday January 13th. Positive or negative reports would be helpful either way. Thanks, Tripper
Date: 1/15/19 10:02 am From: Andrew Block <ablock22168...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Cool predator-prey action
Today when I was leaving my doctors appointment at DOCS on Central Ave. in Yonkers I witnessed some cool predator-prey action. I was sitting in my car and all of a sudden I saw this blur of a large bird go behind the car parked to the left of me about seven spaces over and an immature Red-tailed Hawk and European Starling came tumbling across the parking lot from behind one of the cars. The hawk missed the starling but then both flew less than a foot above the ground and under the two cars at which point they popped out right to the side of my car and landed in front of my car. I couldn't see them so slowly got out of my car to try to get a view. At that point the redtail flew up in front of me about five feet away with the starling in its talons and up and over the fence and into the woods and out of view. All this happened in less than a couple of minutes. I've seen such behavior before but never so close and never with a starling. Quite exciting!
Andrew Andrew v. F. Block
Consulting Naturalist
20 Hancock Avenue, Apt. 3
Yonkers, Westchester Co., New York 10705-4629
www.flickr.com/photos/conuropsis/albums
--
Greetings: This is the Syracuse Area Rare Bird Alert for the week on January 07, 2019
Highlights:
RED-THROATED LOON
BLACK SCOTER
TURKEY VULTURE
NORTHERN GOSHAWK
MERLIN
PEREGRINE FALCON
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL
ICELAND GULL
SNOWY OWL
NORTHERN SHRIKE
RED-HEADED WOODPECKER
EASTERN PHOEBE
GRAY CATBIRD
HERMIT THRUSH
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW
FIELD SPARROW
VESPER SPARROW
RUSTY BLACKBIRD
EVENING GROSBEAK
COMMON REDPOLL
PINE SISKIN
Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge (MNWR) and and Montezuma Wetlands Complex (MWC)
------------
1/12: A GRAY CATBIRD was seen on the South Spring Pond Trail. A PEREGRINE FALCON was seen also.
Onondaga County
------------
1/10: A VESPER SPARROW was seen on Banner road in Tully. It was seen again the next day. A WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW continues on Sunview Drive in Elbridge. A PEREGRINE FALCON was seen on East Genesee Street in Syracuse.
1/11: 15 PINE SISKINS continue at a feeder in Manlius.
1/12: An EASTERN PHOEBE was seen at Onondaga Lake Park in Liverpool.
1/13: 1 WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, a NORTHERN SHRIKE and a NORTHERN HARRIEW were seen on the West Shore Trail on Onondaga Lake. Up to 24 BALD EAGLES were seen at Murphy’s Island on Onondaga Lake. A HERMIT THRUSH was seen at the Poolsbrook area of the Erie Canal near Green Lakes.A SNOWY OWL was seen on Morgan Road in Clay. A TURKEY VULTURE was seen on Watervale Road south of Manlius. Up to 40 COMMON REDPOLLS continue on Penoyer Road east of Fabius.
Oswego County
-------------
1/7: 12 COMMON REDPOLLS were seen at Carley Mills east of Hastings.
1/12: A BLACK SCOTER was seen in Oswego Harbor. A NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen at a private residence in Hastings. A RED-THROATED LOON was seen from Sunset Bay Park on Lake Ontario. A PINE SISKIN was seen on Co. Rt. 5 in Port Ontario.
1/13: A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was seen at Noyes Sanctuary on Lake Ontario.
Madison County
------------
EVENING GROSBEAKS continue daily at a feeding station on Carpenter Road in Sheds. A NORTHERN GOSHAWK has been seen hunting at the feeders also.
1/9: A MERLIN was seen in West Eaton.
1/12: A WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW was seen at Ditchbank Road north of Canastota.
1/13: An EVENING GROSBEAK was seen on Corkinsville Road east of New Woodstock. 2 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were seen on Ditchbank Road.
Oneida County
------------
1/13: 3 EVENING GROSBEAKS were seen on Brown Tract Road in Remsen.
Herkimer County
------------
1/9: EVENING GROSBEAKS continue at a feeder north of Dolgeville.
1/11: A COMMON REDPOLL was at the feeders with EVENING GROSBEAKS in Dolgeville.
Cayuga County
------------
1/11: An EASTERN PHOEBE was seen at Fair Haven State Park.
1/12: A RED HEADED WOODPECKER was found at Fair Haven State Park.
1/13: An ICELAND GULL was seen from West Barrier Beach Park in Fair Haven.
Date: 1/14/19 7:40 am From: Jane Ross <janefross...> Subject: Re: [nysbirds-l] White Pelican, Cove rd,Suffolk County - YES
Has anyone given an opinion about why this lonely pelican is here? and whether it is healthy and can stay through the winter?
Jane F. Ross, PhD
International Education Consultant
mobile: 917-992-6708
________________________________
From: <bounce-123240690-3714509...> <bounce-123240690-3714509...> on behalf of <suefeustel...> <suefeustel...>
Sent: Monday, January 14, 2019 10:22 AM
To: <NYSBIRDS-L...>
Subject: [nysbirds-l] White Pelican, Cove rd,Suffolk County - YES
Being seen now with Mute Swans. Mostly sleeping underneath feeder left of gate.
Date: 1/13/19 5:01 pm From: Nancy Tognan <nancy.tognan...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] "Avian History and Art History" - a Queens County Bird Club presentation this Wednesday, January 16, 2019.
The Queens County Bird Club will be meeting at the Alley Pond Environmental Center, 228-06 Northern Blvd Douglaston, NY 11362 >Map of location< <http://goo.gl/8cnmjT> at 8:00 pm this Wednesday, January 16, 2019. Free admission. Refreshments served.
A.W. Cafarelli will present “Consider the Birds of the Air: Avian History and Art History”
From predators to passerines, visual images of birds have been a conspicuous presence in art throughout human history. Whether considering paleolithic carvings, ancient coinage, medieval tapestries, renaissance paintings, aboriginal featherwork, enlightenment scientific illustration, or modern animation, the analysis of these intriguing and amusing artworks provides insight into how symbolic depictions of birds reflect civilizations, and opens a scientific window onto the past for evaluating the frequency and distribution of species, reconstructing the appearance of vanished avifauna, and examining cultural practices and intercultural commerce that influence avian population dynamics and the mechanisms of extinction.
A.W. Cafarelli, Ph.D., J.D., is an ecological historian and habitat consultant whose recent field research in our region has included native forest, prairie, and wetland biomes.
Nancy Tognan
<nancy.tognan...> <mailto:<nancy.tognan...> Vice President, Queens County Bird Club
This morning, I birded a cold Sands Point Preserve (Nassau) from about 8:20AM to 11AM.
A small group of 4 Common Goldeneye very close to shore had a single female Barrow's Goldeneye with them. Goldeneye in this location are normally further out in the sound and I usually don't make any attempt to discern females to species. These birds were only about 100 feet offshore and it made identification a much easier task, even with only 10X binoculars.
Landbirds were really scarce but on my second circuit of the mostly frozen pond, I found an Eastern Phoebe and a Gray Catbird at the northern end of the pond, and a Fox Sparrow by the wood garden just west of Hempstead House.
eBird report here, with my notes on the Goldeneye:
Date: 1/13/19 12:35 pm From: Timothy Healy <tph56...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Barnacle and Greater White-fronted Geese, Riverhead Sod Farms, Suffolk County
Just found the Barnacle Goose as well, same location and vantage point!
Cheers!
-Tim H
> On Jan 13, 2019, at 3:26 PM, Timothy Healy <tph56...> wrote:
>
> Two Greater White-fronted Geese are visible from Doctor’s Path looking east across the sod fields. A few blue Snow Geese mixed into the massive flock of Canadas as well. Multiple searchers still scanning for other birds of note.
>
> Cheers!
> -Tim H
Two Greater White-fronted Geese are visible from Doctor’s Path looking east across the sod fields. A few blue Snow Geese mixed into the massive flock of Canadas as well. Multiple searchers still scanning for other birds of note.
Update: currently (2:28pm) roosting in its favorite tree on the park side of Riverside Drive at 121st St across from Riverside Church. The tree is a willow oak with dead brown leaves on it.
----
Karen Fung
NYC
Sent from my iPhone
> On Jan 13, 2019, at 1:44 PM, Karen Fung <easternbluebird...> wrote:
>
> Continues in Riverside Park, ~117-118th, visible from Forever Wild path looking west.
>
> ----
>
> Karen Fung
>
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
Date: 1/13/19 5:36 am From: Jane Ross <janefross...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] White Pelican present Sunday morning
Directly across from the dead end at Cove Road off Rose Hill Rd in WaterMill. Sometimes obscured by many preening swans. Active hunters don’t seem to bother them at the moment.
Many thanks to all who reported him yesterday!
Jane F. Ross, PhD
1112 Park Ave. New York, NY 10128
mobile: 917-992-6708
On Jan 12, 2019, at 11:40 AM, Taylor Sturm <tjsturm...><mailto:<tjsturm...>> wrote:
The previously reported American White Pelican was seen circling over northern Mecox Bay between Mill Creek and Hayround Cove. Possibly lowering in altitude towards the vicinity of where Chris originally reported it.
On Jan 12, 2019, at 10:38 AM, Christopher Gangemi <cjgangemi...><mailto:<cjgangemi...>> wrote:
Yes, so what happened is a hunter got in his boat, ostensibly just to break up the thin skin of ice that was forming in the cove and spooked the Pelican.
Sent from my iPod
On Jan 12, 2019, at 10:30 AM, Anthony Collerton <icollerton...><mailto:<icollerton...>> wrote:
Suffolk Co.
In flight over Rose Hill Road, heading West.
While hearing tantalizing reports of a big white bird flying around the base of the South Fork all morning, I spent some time hitting coastal spots in and around Montauk (Suffolk Co).
The morning was highlighted by large numbers of Black-legged Kittiwakes. There was a steady trickle from the ocean into the Block Island Sound for the first post-dawn hour, totaling a remarkable 91 birds -- with most of the birds feeding with the larid/gannet frenzies over the Razorbill flocks just NE of the point after 8am. For the remainder of the morning, I encountered kittiwakes at every ocean vantage point, with the BLKI's almost exclusively feeding over large foraging groups of Razorbill.
Additional highlights included the continuing Razorbill show (with estimates including 4400 - the Point, 600 - Camp Hero, 325 - Ditch Plains, and 200 off the village), an adult Iceland Gull at Lake Montauk Inlet, and an immature Red-shouldered Hawk at Ditch Plains.
Thanks to the diligence and persistence of several observers, I connected with the White Pelican when Gail Benson and Tom Burke saw it make one of its several returns to Hayground Cove around 2:40.
Also in the vicinity, four White-crowned Sparrows were seen at Halsey Ln x Mohawk Rd in Watermill. Albeit only studied and photographed briefly before disappearing, the adult sparrow in this group appears to be a possible Gambel's White-crowned -- showing pale lores, a yellow-orange bill, and paler gray rear auriculars. This may be of interest to some "identifiable forms" connoisseurs or any rampant annual listers who are chasing the pelican and have yet to see their White-crowned Sparrows this year.
Best,Michael McBrienBristol, RI & East Patchogue, NY
The annual Delaware-Otsego Audubon Soc. field trip to the Delaware Co. reservoirs and East and West Branches of the Delaware River turned up 25 Bald Eagles today, including birds on ice surrounding open areas of the reservoir, a kettle of 8 eagles over the village of Deposit. and others perched along the waterways. Red-tailed Hawks and a Sharp-shinned Hawk made a showing, along with a variety of waterfowl.
Andy Mason
-- Andrew Mason 1039 Peck St. Jefferson, NY 12093 (607) 652-2162 <AndyMason...>
Date: 1/12/19 11:49 am From: Gail Benson <gbensonny...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] White Pelican continues at Watermill (Suffolk County)
The White Pelican returned (again) to Cove Lane off of Rose Hill.Rd in Watermill, 2:40 p m. The bird has left and returned several times since it was found this morning. Tom Burke & Gail Benson
Date: 1/12/19 10:52 am From: Andrew Block <ablock22168...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] extralimital Kamchatka Gull & local Gr. White-fronted Goose
Hi all,
Went to see the Mew "Kamchatka" Gull again in Stamford, CT this am and it was still there at Gus Edson Park on Weed Ave. Also had 13 Monk Parakeets and two Fox Sparrows at the feeders at Cove Island Park. Then on the way home in Rye Brook we had a Greater White-fronted Goose in the frozen pond behind Rye Radiology off of Bowman Ave. along I-287.
Andrew Andrew v. F. Block
Consulting Naturalist
20 Hancock Avenue, Apt. 3
Yonkers, Westchester Co., New York 10705-4629
www.flickr.com/photos/conuropsis/albums
--
Date: 1/12/19 8:40 am From: Taylor Sturm <tjsturm...> Subject: Re: [nysbirds-l] White Pelican, Watermill (Yes but moving)
The previously reported American White Pelican was seen circling over northern Mecox Bay between Mill Creek and Hayround Cove. Possibly lowering in altitude towards the vicinity of where Chris originally reported it.
All the geese on Sound and Northville Turnpike just were flushed by Hunters approaching field. All still in air- flocks split in all directions.
Eileen Schwinn
Mike Higgiston
Currently being seen in flock of 800-1000 Canada geese. Corner of Sound Ave and Northville turnpike. View from Sound Ave has Barnacle furthest west of flock. Hunters are in the western field which borders Route 105.
This flock is in the triangle of 105, Sound Ave and Northville Tuenpike,near golf/country club.
EileenSchwinn
Mike Higgiston
Date: 1/12/19 7:39 am From: Christopher Gangemi <cjgangemi...> Subject: Re: [nysbirds-l] White Pelican, Watermill (Yes but moving)
Yes, so what happened is a hunter got in his boat, ostensibly just to break up the thin skin of ice that was forming in the cove and spooked the Pelican.
Date: 1/12/19 6:48 am From: Christopher Gangemi <cjgangemi...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] American White Pelican
While scanning Hayground Cove north from the dead end at Cove Ave in Watermill this morning, I found an American White Pelican in with a large bevy of Mute Swans.
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
Compilers: Tom Burke and Tony Lauro Coverage: New York City, Long Island, Westchester County
Transcriber: Ben Cacace
BEGIN TAPE
Greetings. This is the New York Rare Bird Alert for Friday, January 11th 2019 at 9pm. The highlights of today's tape are THICK-BILLED MURRE, COMMON MURRE, DOVEKIE, BARNACLE GOOSE, GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, EURASIAN WIGEON, Eurasian form of GREEN-WINGED TEAL, BARROW'S GOLDENEYE, KING EIDER, HARLEQUIN DUCK, BLACK-HEADED GULL, GLAUCOUS GULL, BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE, RED CROSSBILL and more.
As the nice RAZORBILL push continues along the south shore of Long Island Shinnecock Inlet continues to add other species of alcids to the mix. Last Sunday among the few hundred RAZORBILLS were also one or more DOVEKIE spotted within the RAZORBILL flocks. Last week's THICK-BILLED MURRE was still being seen in Shinnecock Inlet up to Monday and a COMMON MURRE, photographed in the inlet last Sunday was apparently different from one seen in the afternoon both yesterday and today near the west jetty. Additionally at Shinnecock a female HARLEQUIN DUCK has been feeding daily along the west jetty and a female KING EIDER was also there last Sunday these part of a large concentration of COMMON EIDERS and mainly BLACK and SURF SCOTERS plus numbers of RED-THROATED and COMMON LOONS and up to 3 RED-NECKED GREBES.
Today 3 or more BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES were seen around offshore gull gatherings and a young GLAUCOUS GULL flew by. In addition among the birds along Dune Road west of Shinnecock Inlet have been AMERICAN BITTERNS, SNOWY OWL and a GLAUCOUS GULL near Triton Lane.
Among recent RAZORBILL flights were 120 off Breezy Point last Sunday while about 2,500 were estimated off Montauk Point on Tuesday.
The sod fields north of Riverhead are now attracting large numbers of Canada Geese among them a BARNACLE GOOSE was spotted in the fog last Tuesday and was present again today on fields on either side of Route 105 just south of Sound Avenue and north of the Northville Turnpike. Two GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE are also in this flock and another GREATER WHITE-FRONTED was present today in a Canada flock at the Buffalo Farm off Reeves Avenue just west of Roanoke Avenue.
A drake BARROW'S GOLDENEYE was seen again off Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx Wednesday with a female also off City Island last Sunday and another drake BARROW'S remains off Crab Meadow Beach in Northport. Drake EURASIAN WIGEON continue at the Marine Park Salt Marsh Nature Center in Brooklyn and at Avon Lake in Amityville and a Eurasian form of GREEN-WINGED TEAL was spotted Wednesday on Miller's Pond in Smithtown. Scattered CACKLING GEESE continue in the area.
A BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE was spotted off Robert Moses State Park last Saturday and an adult BLACK-HEADED GULL was still around the Jones Beach West End Coast Guard Station last Sunday and on Thursday an adult was spotted in Sheepshead Bay Brooklyn. Was this perhaps the same individual? An ICELAND GULL was spotted in the Brooklyn Narrows Tuesday and a GLAUCOUS GULL visited Joline Beach in the Tottenville section of Staten Island Wednesday while single LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS included one on Central Park's Reservoir last Saturday and others the length of Long Island.
Three RED-NECKED GREBES were noted off Brooklyn's Plumb Beach Tuesday.
A late OSPREY was seen on Tuesday on the Croton Reservoir system in northern Westchester County.
Four or more RED CROSSBILLS were in the pines at Jones Beach West End last Sunday and a male EVENING GROSBEAK was still being seen in Riverside Park up to Tuesday.
For lingering warblers Union Square Park in Manhattan still held OVENBIRD and COMMON YELLOWTHROAT today with the CAPE MAY WARBLER still reported to Wednesday.
Extralimitally the GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW in Downsville Ulster County was still present today. If visiting please be very mindful of the rights and sensitivities of the local residents. Also check the Connecticut list serves for the wonderful Kamchatka race of MEW GULL visiting Holly Pond in Stamford.
To phone in reports on Long Island call Tony Lauro at (631) 734-4126 or 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.
Date: 1/11/19 11:48 am From: Christopher Gangemi <cjgangemi...> Subject: Re: [nysbirds-l] Shinnecock Inlet - Common Murre continues
Refound Common Murre at 1:45. It was in the mouth of the jetty. I will try to post a picture to eBird later.
The female Harlequin was on the western side of the west jetty. As I was departing, at 2pm, a single Razorbill flew into the jetty and landed in the bay to join another, not far from the red buoy.
Strong NW winds made for challenging conditions.
On another note, the Black Vultures were not present at the Roanoke Ave Elementary school the two times I checked this morning. Plenty of Turkey Vultures about.
Sent from my iPod
> On Jan 11, 2019, at 1:45 PM, Gail Benson <gbensonny...> wrote:
>
> A Common Murre continues in Shinnecock Inlet seen from the
> west side. (First picked out by Seth Ausubel at 12:50 pm.) Going up and down the inlet but diving frequently. Female Harlequin Duck continues off west side ofwest jetty, also a small number of Black-legged Kittiwakes off shore and a few Razorbills.
> Tom Burke & Gail Benson
>
>
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Date: 1/11/19 11:24 am From: Robert Lewis <rfermat...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Extra-limital (barely) Kamchatka Gull
In Stamford CT this morning here: 41.056710, -73.504696. This is about 13 minutes from the NY state line. It's an adult.
Park at Gus Edson Park on Weed Ave. The bird was very cooperative. More information is on the CT bird listserve. Apparently it's best at low tide, which was around 12:00noon today. However, it was very easily seen from 10:00 or so until 12:30.
Apparently it's been around since Wednesday. I'm surprised no one posted about it here. Perhaps I missed it.
Date: 1/11/19 10:45 am From: Gail Benson <gbensonny...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Shinnecock Inlet - Common Murre continues
A Common Murre continues in Shinnecock Inlet seen from the west side. (First picked out by Seth Ausubel at 12:50 pm.) Going up and down the inlet but diving frequently. Female Harlequin Duck continues off west side ofwest jetty, also a small number of Black-legged Kittiwakes off shore and a few Razorbills. Tom Burke & Gail Benson
Date: 1/11/19 9:32 am From: Ken Feustel <feustel...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Barnacle Goose/White-fronted Geese-Yes(Suffolk Co.)
The Barnacle Goose and two White-fronted Geese were present late this morning in a large flock (approx. 1500) of Canada Geese in the farm field south of Sound Ave., and east of Rt. 105, across from Briermere Farms. Barnacle Goose flew out about fifteen minutes ago and headed west.
Two GWFG in huge flock on east side of Route 105, close to Sound Ave. being seen now - 12:20pm.
Birds are in group closest to Rt 105.
Eileen Schwinn
Mike Higgiston
Date: 1/9/19 11:52 am From: Ben Cacace <bcacace...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] NYC: Gramercy Park (restricted access), We. 9-Jan
Much more productive than Madison Square Park has been recently. This Manhattan park is south of 21st St and east of Park Ave.
Best bird was the first winter *WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW* seen briefly at the seed and peanuts scattered inside the fencing on the west edge of the park.
This park is closed to the public but birdable from the sidewalk. Activity was mainly on the west edge where the seed was scattered and in the nearby Sweetgum Trees.
Other species seen: Red-tailed Hawk (adult) Downy Woodpecker (male) Tufted Titmouse (3) White-breasted Nuthatch American Goldfinch (4) Dark-eyed Junco (2) Song Sparrow
Date: 1/9/19 5:47 am From: Anthony Ciancimino <sibirdwatcher...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Golden crowned Sparrow YES 1/9/18
Continues this morning (1/9) at 22 Depot St in Downsville. Bird is currently feeding under the bushes adjacent to the deck feeding station.
Anthony Ciancimino Staten Island
Date: 1/8/19 2:45 pm From: Andrew Block <ablock22168...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Wallkill River birds and extralimital Black Phoebe
Went to Liberty Loop Trail and Winding River Trail at Wallkill River NWR today to look for the Say's Phoebe. No phoebe or many other birds because of the fog but did have several American Tree Sparrows, a male Kestrel, a possible Rough-legged Hawk and a few other birds.
In the morning I was down in Hainesville, NJ, looking for the Black Phoebe seen there since last friday. I missed it last sunday, but found it first thing this morning about 8:20 by the dam outflow and watched it vocalizing and moving low around the edge of the Hainesville WMA lake and then flying out onto the ice and then across to the far side where it disappeared until about 11:30 when it reappeared at the dam area again and then made its way across the street to the marsh where it stayed until I left about 12:30pm and gave constant great views. A wonderful bird. Only the 4 or 5th siting this far east and I believe the first away from Florida from what others said.
Andrew Andrew v. F. Block
Consulting Naturalist
20 Hancock Avenue, Apt. 3
Yonkers, Westchester Co., New York 10705-4629
www.flickr.com/photos/conuropsis/albums
--
An osprey was seen and photographed along the croton reservoir just south of entrance to muscoot farm in yorktown today. I saw an osprey on same reservoir on Rte. 119 on Dec. 9. I wonder if it’s the same bird. Either way Jan. 8 is the latest in season (earliest in year) I recall osprey in (Northern) Westchester County. (I have had a lingering chipping sparrow in my yard in Ossining but many more than usual seem to have been reported this year well after “normal” departure date. Still gets flagged “rare” on ebird. Granted not a golden crowned!)
Most, or perhaps all, of various birds of note on Manhattan island that have lingered from December 2018 were still present in same general areas, into Tuesday, Jan. 8th, 2019, thus going a full week beyond New Year’s Day. For some of these species, this is getting more notable as the dates of particular species may be well after any expectations, even if there is precedent for most. Certainly the first species noted below is also the most notable in general for Manhattan (even as a single bird) that’s lingering now for some weeks.
A male Evening Grosbeak has continued at Riverside Park, a short way into that park from Riverside Drive, and most often seen (as for 1/8) in the area from around W. 117 to 121 Streets, either from a paved path nearest to the park perimeter, &/or from the trail through the “sanctuary” which begins just n. of a park entrance at 116th St. & a bit downslope; walking north takes one a bit up & on to a level trail for several hundred yards or meters; one may enter & exit the n. end of this leafy-underfoot trail, as well. At times, the grosbeak’s also been to the n. of the north end of this trail & there may be vantages to observe from above, looking into the park from near Riverside Park, & with the monumental Grant’s Tomb, as well as the large Riverside Church, at one’s back.
At Union Square Park, at least 3 warblers have continued: a Cape May (rather drab 1st-fall plumage), Ovenbird, and Common Yellowthroat (male), with all moving about to some extent, though most-often seen in the w. portions of this park; the Cape May sometimes up in trees & also skulking in some shrubs, or at times more in the open; the other 2 warblers as expected mostly low, or on the ground near shrubs; all 3 warblers occasionally popping out into the open. Other lingering species here include Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, & Swamp Sparrow & some other native non-feral birds, along with the 3 typical feral city landbird species.
At Morningside Park, at least one E. Phoebe is lingering, & there is still a question as to there being more than 1 individual there, since (it seems) birders have not coordinated to learn if one at the small pond there (near about W. 113th St. and in the e. sector of that park) is just the same, or different from, an E. Phoebe being much less-often noted but on multiple occasions nearer to W. 118-120th Streets, in the same park. It is possible this is simply one & the same bird, moving about a little, but also quite possible that 2 individuals are present. In any event, at the small pond in Morningside, an E. Phoebe was present at 3 different times of day, early, mid, & late on Tues. & appeared to be doing well for feeding at that 1 location. (Seen or reported far less, but recently noted again, an E. Phoebe that’s very obviously a different individual has been at Inwood Hill Park, in the northern end of Manhattan, 4 miles or so distant from the individaul[s] at Morningside; this latter Inwood Hill Park phoebe has been along or near the higher ridge at Inwood Hill, & may be, like some of the other birds there, tough to find at times - there is plenty of habitat & room to roam at that park.) N.B., this had been a banner season of late-lingering Phoebes in N.Y. City & vicinity, & of course there are the 2 other phoebe species in the wider region, with the Black Phoebe [of the northern form] that was found in northwest N.J. a genuinely rare find for the eastern portions of N. America. Say’s Phoebe is of course also rare hereabouts but is also reasonably regular in eastern states, esp. as seen in the multiple records over time.
Also at Morningside Park, an Orange-crowned Warbler has continued, but has also become somewhat tougher to see, potentially requiring more time & patience than it had, as it may not frequent a particular tree or area as reliably as it had been in Dec.; I’ve seen this warbler in January up along the upper (inner) perimeter wall to the park near about W. 120-121 Street, in patches of viny plants, as well as in the thicker groundcover on the slopes adjacent to the path & stairs below, & also slightly south of there; if it is still coming to a tree where a Y.-b. Sapsucker had been rather regular (in Dec.), I have missed that so far this month & am seeing a sapsucker more recently also wandering a lot more, both s. & n. of where it had been most often found previously. The O.-c. Warbler has not seemed to especially travel with any flocks, & at times, there may be few if any other birds at all in the immediate vicinity where I have located it, although it also may be near to some other (few) birds, such as sparrows, or titmice, etc. The warbler’s occasionally been heard chipping, too.
At least 2 Canvasbacks have continued near & around the W. Harlem piers park & to the north (all north of W. 125th St. at the Hudson River), with these being sometimes very tough to spot, & at other times, not at all difficult. There are places these & other waterfowl may ‘hide’ in & around the piers & the nearby footings of the Riverbank State Park just to the north.
At Central Park, a (first-fall plumaged) White-crowned Sparrow has continued in the vicinity of the East Drive [park roadway] & the adjacent bridle path, east of the reservoir, west of Fifth Ave. & nearest to the E. 90th St. park entrance; this bird has been lingering since at least December (discovered however 1 day too late after the C.B.C. period) & seems to be mixing it up with a lot of House Sparrows as well as some White-throated, & the occasional Song Sparrow[s] in that area. I’ve seen it more often in shrubs on the west side of the park drive, but it may be wandering about a bit; also one at least one occasion, one of the multiple Cooper’s Hawks lately in Manhattan (& Central Park) was hunting that area, keeping all of the nearby smaller birds in skulking mode. It is also possible the sparrow[s] go into places on the eastern side of Fifth Ave. nearby, where there are bits of potential habitat, & perhaps food.
Various other birds ongoing in Central Park have included Rusty Blackbird, Chipping Sparrow (which also are in other locations besides one that’s been seen semi-regularly in Central), Field Sparrow, [Red] Fox Sparrow, Purple Finch (variable low no’s., but seem to be at least a few that are quite regular by now), E. Towhee, both Nuthatch species, both Kinglet species, all 3 typical Mimidae species (and more than 1 individual of each), Hermit Thrushes, & plenty of other birds.
An adult Lesser Black-backed Gull was reported from the Central Park reservoir on Saturday, 1/5, by Gabriel Willow; this gull might make further appearances there so it’s worth checking for, pehaps especially at times when the reservoir seems to have good numbers of gulls (which come & go frequently, & daily, there); the report with some photos is at:
https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S51338250
Thanks to all who seek birds responsibly, with the good of the birds foremost.
- - - - - -
"I became convinced that noncooperation with evil is as much a moral obligation as is cooperation with good."
― Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
GCSP continues -seen in small thicket across River road from 22 Depot Street feeders then flew north toward river where we lost it-in view from ~8:50-9:00. Found by Sean Sime first. Also seen by Doug G. And Gary Chapin
Date: 1/8/19 3:39 am From: Ben Cacace <bcacace...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Google Maps: NY County eBird Locations (Add'l Functionality)
I've added some additional functionality to the Google Map of eBird
locations by increasing the icons displayed to 6 from the original 2.
Here's the breakdown of icons used on the map which will extend to all
future counties. I've also added a line item to each icon (5,160) showing
the # of checklists associated with each location and the county it is
linked to.
This should help with finding existing hotspots and for locating personal
locations you may wish to suggest as a hotspot. This will also help show
where a personal location is close to an existing hotspot that you may wish
to merge with a hotspot if it's not on private property (**).
1. Hotspots 80% (Red marker) - 30 hotspots
2. Hotspots 20% (Teal marker) - 204 hotspots
3. Personal locations w/ 10 or more checklists (Gold Flag) - 179 markers
4. Personal locations w/ less than 10 checklists(Gray dots) - 4,723 markers
5. Postal Codes (Olive Envelope) - 3 markers w/ 170 checklists
6. Town Codes (Purple Houses) - 21 markers w/ 456 checklists
Hotspots: there are a total of 233 with 30 making up 80% of the checklists
(55,065) & 204 making up 20% (13,941).
Personal locations: there's a total of 4,926 with 179 with 10 or more
checklists making up 56% of the checklists (9,667) and 4,723 making up
40.5% of the checklists (7,011).
(**) If you wish to merge your personal location with an existing hotspot
here are the steps:
— Sign into eBird.org
— Go to "My eBird" & select "Manage My Locations" in the right panel
— At the bottom of the screen click "Show All" to see all locations on one
page
— You can sort the list by clicking on any of the headers: Location,
Country, State/Province, County, Type* or # of Checklists
— Select your personal location (it will show a letter "P" under Type*) by
clicking "Edit" on the right side of the line
— Select the "Merge" button and you'll see all nearby hotspots as red icons
— Keep the checkmark for "Delete after merging" selected
— Click the icon that best fits your location
— ... now you'll see the hotspot description above the 'Merge' button along
with the # of checklists you'll be merging
— Click on the 'Merge' button
— Answer Yes to the 'Yes or No' query
All checklists for that personal location will be combined with the hotspot
with this process.
--
Ben Cacace
Manhattan, NYC
Date: 1/7/19 7:31 pm From: Robert Lewis <rfermat...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Golden-crowned Sparrow - update 1-7-19
Five-six people looked for the Golden-crowned Sparrow in Downsville today (January 7) from about 8:30 - 12:30. No luck.
It was very cold, 12 degrees at 8:30 warming to 19 by 12:30. No wind, partly cloudy.
The only unusual bird was a Chipping Sparrow at the feeders at 22 depot.
Bob LewisSleepy Hollow NY
Greetings: This is the Syracuse Area Rare Bird Alert for the week on December 31, 2019
Highlights:
BLACK-CROWNED HIGHT-HERON
CACKLING GOOSE
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER
SURF SCOTER
MERLIN
PEREGRINE FALCON
ICELAND GULL
GLAUCOUS GULL
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL
SNOWY OWL
SHORT-EARED OWL
NORTHERN SHRIKE
EASTERN PHOEBE
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT
EASTERN TOWHEE
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW
GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW (Extralimital)
BOREAL CHICKADEE (Extralimital)
EVENING GROSBEAK
COMMON REDPOLL
PINE SISKIN
Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge (MNWR) and and Montezuma Wetlands Complex (MWC)
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1/5: An EASTERN PHOEBE was seen at the Visitor’s Center. A COMMON YELLOWTHROAT was found at Tschache Pool.
1/6: A CACKLING GOOSE was seen at Kipp Island off of State Route 90.
Cayuga County
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1/4: 1 SURF and 4 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS were seen at West Barrier Beach in Fair Haven.
Onondaga County
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12/31: PINE SISKINS continue at a feeder in Manlius almost daily.
1/1: An EASTERN TOWHEE was again seen at a feeder south of Manlius. A WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW continues at a feeder in Elbridge and was seen through yesterday.
1/2: An EASTERN PHOEBE was seen at Three Rivers WMA north of Baldwinsville.
1/3: A BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was seen on the Onondaga Creek Creek Walk north of Hiawatha Blvd. in Syracuse. A RUDDY DUCK was seen on the Onondaga Lake West Shore Trail. A PEREGRINE FALCON was seen from Park Street in Syracuse.
1/4: EVENING GROSBEAKS were seen on Shakham Road in the Morgan Hill State Forest.
1/5: At least 25 COMMON REDPOLLS were again seen on Penoyer Road in Fabius. A NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen at the Three Rivers WMA north of Baldwinsville.
1/6: A SNOWY OWL was seen at Hancock Airport in Syracuse.
Oswego County
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1/2: An ICELAND GULL was see on Oneida Lake in Brewerton. 5 EVENING GROSBEAKS were seen on North Church Road in Boylston. A NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen at Johnson Road Marsh in Hastings.
1/4: A PEREGRINE FALCON was seen at Oswego Harbor.
1/5: 2 COMMON REDPOLLS were seen at Derby Hill.
Madison County
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EVENING GROSBEAKS continue to come to feeders daily at Carpenter Road in Sheds and Eden Hollow Road south of Erieville.
1/1: 3 ICELAND, 1 GLAUCOUS and I LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL were seen at Ditchbank Road north of Chittenango. 2 SHORT-EARED OWLS were seen on Burleson Road south of Oneida. They were reported through the 4th.
1/2: An ICELAND GULL was seen at the Madison County Landfill south of Canastota.
1/5: A NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen on Ditchbank Road north of Canastota.
Oneida County
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1/1: A MERLIN was seen in Sherrill.
Herkimer County
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EVENING GROSBEAKS continue at a feeder north of Dolgeville.
Extralimital
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12/31: A mega rare GOLDEN CROWNED SPARROW discovered in Downsville, Delaware County continues as of 1/6: Please check ebird for directions and protocols for viewing this bird.
1/5: A BOREAL CHICKADEE, rarely seen out of the Adirondacks, was found on State Park Road in Point Peninsula, Jefferson County. There have been no further sightings.
Date: 1/6/19 7:03 pm From: Richard Fried <rfried...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Linnaean Society of NY Program, January 8, 2019, at the American Museum of Natural History
6:00 pm — Sex, Science, and the Way We Bird Today – Rick Wright
Birding in the Anglo-American world is about one thing: identification, the assignment of the right name to the right organism. It doesn’t have to be that way, and it hasn’t always been that way. A bit over a century ago, “we” made the conscious decision to transform birding from a broad natural historical pursuit into a much more narrowly classificatory enterprise. This was part of an effort to re-masculinize birdwatching, which had in some views degenerated into an activity suitable only for women and children. Originally meant to make birding more scientific, the success of this effort in fact drove a wedge between birding and ornithology, which had been largely complementary disciplines for more than a century.
Rick Wright, a native of southeast Nebraska, is the author of the American Birding Association Field Guide to Birds of New Jersey, the American Birding Association Field Guide to Birds of Arizona and is a tour leader for VENT (Victor Emanuel Nature Tours).
7:30 pm — How to Tame a Fox (and Build a Dog) – Lee Dugatkin
For the last six decades Lyudmila Trut has directed a dedicated team of researchers in Siberia that has been domesticating silver foxes to replay the evolution of the dog in real time. Inside this tale of path-breaking science in the midst of the often brutal -35° F winters of Siberia is hidden a remarkable collaboration between an older, freethinking scientific genius, the geneticist Dmitri Belyaev, and a trusting but gutsy young woman. Together, Lyudmila Trut and Belyaev (who died of cancer in 1985) risked not just their careers but to an extent their lives to make scientific history. Biologist and science historian Lee Dugatkin tells the inside story of the science, politics, adventure, and love behind it all. Like a set of Russian nesting dolls, How to Tame a Fox (and Build a Dog) opens to reveal story after story, each embedded within the one that preceded it.
Dr. Dugatkin is a Professor and University Scholar in the Department of Biology at The University of Louisville. His main areas of research interest are the evolution of social behavior, and the history of science.
Both presentations are free and will be held in the Linder Theater on the first floor of the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. Enter at West 77th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue. All welcome!
The GCSP made several appearances at the usual locations this morning.
The first stop, at around 8 AM was the bushy brush on the north side of River Road at the intersection of Depot Street.
It then flew over the the porch and adjacent shrubs in the yard of 44 Depot Street.
Unfortunately, a noisy pick-up truck pulled into the adjacent driveway, spooking everything out of the yard.
The sparrow stayed away for about 45 minutes, then refound under the shrubbery the next door yard.
After that, the sparrow made infrequent appearances up until around noon, after which I don't think it had been seen (although there may not have been anyone looking in the afternoon).
River Road is surprisingly busy with town highway department trucks coming and going to the garage just west of Depot Street. These are huge trucks with bigger snowplows on them. It would be wise to give them plenty of room by not parking on River Road (as requested in one of the initial posting about the sparrow), Also, some of the residents on Depot Street are showing signs of wear. So, please remember to not park on Depot street and do not take liberties with movement and positioning on Depot Street. As a reminder, parking is down on Bridge Street (just past the old, 1736, cemetery by the neat, 1854, covered bridge).
As a side note, I went to the pancake breakfast at the firehouse (it was a fundraiser for the family - wife, two kids - of one of the young men in town who was fatally injured in a work accident). The town folk there were extremely friendly and everyone I spoke with knew about the famous sparrow. Some even had pictures of it on their cellphones.
The neighbors are faithfully putting seed and suet cakes out for the birds, much of which was donated by Lance and visiting birders. So if the White-throats are happy, the Golden-crown should stick around.
FWIW: There is a motel (Downsville Motel) right on the corner of River Road, just down from Depot Street.
Date: 1/6/19 11:50 am From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC - Sun. Jan. 6, 2019 - N. Saw-whet Owl, American Kestrels, Brown Thrasher, Hermit Thrush
Central Park, NYC Sunday, January 6, 2019 OBS: Robert DeCandido, PhD, Deborah Allen, m.ob.
Highlights: Northern Saw-whet Owl, American Kestrels, Brown Thrasher, Hermit Thrush.
Canada Goose - many Northern Shoveler - 21 Mallard - many American Black Duck - Turtle Pond Bufflehead - pair SE Reservoir Ruddy Duck - 100+ Reservoir Mourning Dove - several Evodia Field American Coot - 5 SE Reservoir Ring-billed & Herring Gulls - around 200 Reservoir (water still high) Cooper's Hawk - 2 (adult Azalea Pond, imm. chased Am. Crow from Turtle Pond) Red-tailed Hawk - 3 (2 perched on Beresford (Sandra Critelli), 1 perched east Pinetum) Great Horned Owl - reliably reported Northern Saw-whet Owl - continues Red-bellied Woodpecker - 5 or 6 Downy Woodpecker - 2 (Warbler Rock & Shakespeare Garden) Northern Flicker - 2 females Maintenance Field American Kestrel - pair over Evodia Field Blue Jay - at least 15 American Crow - flock of around 30 perched in Ramble & several others Black-capped Chickadee - 6 (2 Evodia Field, 1 Swampy Pin Oak, 3 Maintenance Field) Tufted Titmouse - 30-40 Red-breasted Nuthatch - just south of Evodia Field White-breasted Nuthatch - at least 10 Hermit Thrush - in Japanese Holly between Boathouse and feeders (Tom Ahlf) American Robin - few Brown Thrasher - Shakespeare Garden House Finch - 5 or 6 Evodia Field American Goldfinch - 22-24 (12 Evodia Field, 10-12 Upper Lobe) Eastern Towhee - Shakespeare Garden Fox Sparrow - Evodia Field White-throated Sparrow - many Common Grackle - flock of around 75 at the Mall (Karen Evans), 4 Evodia Field Northern Cardinal - 10
Deb Allen Follow us on twitter @BirdingBobNYC & @DAllenNYC
Date: 1/6/19 10:55 am From: Sean Sime <sean...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] 3 Alcid sp ++ Shinnecock Inlet/Suffolk County
The first 2.5 hours of daylight were extremely productive at Shinnecock Inlet this morning. The amount of birds moving offshore as well as in the bay was incredible. The Razorbill show continues to be strong with hundreds streaming by in groups ranging in size from 5-30 birds(today heading east). Early on one of these groups had at least 1, possibly 3 Dovekie moving with it. The Thick-billed Murre continues near the mouth of the inlet along the western jetty. The female Harlequin was along the western side of the same jetty all morning. Two Black-legged Kittiwakes were offshore just west of the inlet. The Glaucous Gull continues at Triton Lane and the female King Eider was in the bay between the inlet and the Ponquogue Bridge before a young Bald Eagle scattered the ducks.
I looked for American Bittern and Sparrows along Dune Road and came up empty on both.
Checklist with a few images can be viewed at the following link.
Date: 1/6/19 10:05 am From: Rob Bate <robsbate...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Lions at Breezy Point
Sorry- auto correct, no reading glasses and 20 mph winds - I meant Loons, both RE-necked and common.
Also, the 30+ Razorbills turned out to be at least 120, maybe more. The frenzy did abate but there were still a few, at least by the jetty. One White-winged Scoter in the bay side gave us a scorer sweep. 20 Common Eider by the jetty.
Hampton bays - shinnecock inlet. West side of the inlet near the ocean there are good numbers of razorbills mixed in with common eiders. Razorbills are feeding on silversides.
Also seen are usuals, black scoters, long-tailed ducks, DC cormorants and a variety of gulls and seals.
Date: 1/6/19 9:07 am From: Anders Peltomaa <anders.peltomaa...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Three phoebe species?
Hi all, This morning I birded Inwood Hill Park with David Burg and Richard Aracil and near the northern part of the Ridge Trail, Richard's sharp eyes found an EASTERN PHOEBE.
If anyone, who is out twitching the Say's and Black Phoebes, wants to get a triple phoebe day - swing by IHP in northern Manhattan and you might get lucky...
Date: 1/6/19 6:04 am From: Peter Reisfeld <DrPinky...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Dark downy
Today I saw a woodpecker at my backyard suet feeder for the second time in the past few weeks. It appears to be a downy woodpecker but with very dark coloring on the face and underside. I know that Pacific downies can be somewhat buffy in these areas, but none of the photos I have seen are nearly as dark as this bird. I assume it is a mutant variant, but thought I would post it to see if there were any other ideas. Link to a photo is here:
What about making it a 3 rarity day (2 phoebes) and try for the Black Phoebe well photographed this a.m. in Sussex County (NJ). See Njbirds. As long as chasing you could make it all work.
L. Trachtenberg
Ossining
Sent from my iPhone
On Jan 5, 2019, at 3:43 PM, Robert Lewis <rfermat...><mailto:<rfermat...>> wrote:
Try the Say's Phoebe at the Winding Waters Trail, Oil City Road, Orange County. 41.289514, -74.532631
Not sure where you live, but it was a modest diversion for me coming back to Westchester County.
Some people have had good luck and saw it fairly close to the trail. For others (like me) it was way out to the east.
Bob Lewis
Sleepy Hollow NY
On Saturday, January 5, 2019, 2:38:55 PM EST, Dawn Hannay <dawnvla...><mailto:<dawnvla...>> wrote:
Friends and I going for the Golden-Crowned Sparrow tomorrow. We intend to make a day of it. Other good birding locations nearby or on the way from NYC? Tips on lunch spots, other good birds to see? Where to go if we dip on the sparrow?
Thanks, Dawn Hannay
Date: 1/5/19 12:43 pm From: Robert Lewis <rfermat...> Subject: Re: [nysbirds-l] Advice
Try the Say's Phoebe at the Winding Waters Trail, Oil City Road, Orange County. 41.289514, -74.532631
Not sure where you live, but it was a modest diversion for me coming back to Westchester County.
Some people have had good luck and saw it fairly close to the trail. For others (like me) it was way out to the east.
Bob LewisSleepy Hollow NY
On Saturday, January 5, 2019, 2:38:55 PM EST, Dawn Hannay <dawnvla...> wrote:
Friends and I going for the Golden-Crowned Sparrow tomorrow. We intend to make a day of it. Other good birding locations nearby or on the way from NYC? Tips on lunch spots, other good birds to see? Where to go if we dip on the sparrow?
Thanks, Dawn Hannay
Just wanted to share that there was another species oh phoebe around quite
close to Port Jervis but in New Jersey, not far from the NY Say’s Phoebe,
which was not reported today but rain made observation difficult. The Black
Phoebe was seen briefly this morning, at least. Might be a stop for people
birding the Orange county area tomorrow.
Date: 1/5/19 11:38 am From: Dawn Hannay <dawnvla...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Advice
Friends and I going for the Golden-Crowned Sparrow tomorrow. We intend to make a day of it. Other good birding locations nearby or on the way from NYC? Tips on lunch spots, other good birds to see? Where to go if we dip on the sparrow?
Thanks, Dawn Hannay
Date: 1/5/19 6:26 am From: Nancy Shamban <nancyshamban...> Subject: Re: [nysbirds-l] Campaign against David?
Ditto from me. Thank you to all that help especially David.
Sent from my iPhone
> On Jan 5, 2019, at 8:18 AM, edith goren <edithgoren24...> wrote:
>
> Thanks again to you and David Barrett and all who post any where and with such frequency.
> I too have been told as I bird or walk with binoculars questions about what I’ve seen by strangers and often offer my binoculars and tell novice birders of available bird walks or organizations, or good locations to go to. I have been asked not to reveal locations of Owls, but people are inquisitive if it looks like I’m attentive to a spot. ( this has made me uncomfortable with the ethics of Owl protection) not that I often spots Owls. I feel this is the best way to promote and enhance environmental protection ethics and laws, and to protect the areas of park reserved for passive recreation. I feel Gus’ promotion of informative signage is essential and aids birders to reinforce ethics. I do not support suppression of information and creates a caste system of birders. Respectfully, Edith Goren
>
> E.G.
>
>> On Jan 4, 2019, at 8:48 PM, Gus Keri <guskeri...> wrote:
>>
>> It seems there is a campaign against David Barrett’s twitter accounts, especially the Manhattan Bird alert, trying to discredit him and encouraging people to stay away from his account. I find this campaign totally unfair to David.
>>
>> In a recent internet article, the author mentioned 4 reasons for boycott the alert. I will talk about each one separately.
>>
>> 1- “Started advertising T-Shirts.”
>> To the best of my knowledge, all the non-rare-bird-related tweets are added after sunset, so it would not bother birders, most of whom turn off the alert notification at night anyway. He also posts photos and videos of birds after sunset for the same reason.
>> What is wrong with promoting T-shirt that has a photo of a bird on a birding site? It has to be a good idea to raise awareness for the world of birds anyhow.
>> Beside, I read in one of the tweets that for each T-shirt sold, the seller offers few dollars as a donation to one of the birding organization. This is a good deed.
>>
>> 2- “Promoted commercial Owl Walks that point flashlights at owls and uses excessive audio playback.”
>> The ethics of bird watching is very controversial and the birding community is deeply divided over these issues. I am not going to discuss them here. But to criticize David for promoting Birding Bob’s walks seems unreasonable to me.
>> Birding Bob is responsible for most of the rare birds alert on Manhattan Bird Alert, especially the tweets about owls in the last couple of months. On some days, I only read his tweets about rare birds and none else.
>> He goes on birding walks almost every day and finds things himself. He doesn’t need Manhattan Bird alert more than Manhattan bird alert needs him.
>> I have never gone on any of Bob’s walks and my encounters with him last only for few seconds where we exchange Hello’s only. We never talk birding politics. But I heard a lot from other birders about his walks and they do appreciate what he offers the birding community.
>>
>> 3- “Reported owls with exact locations, which resulted in the over birding of some owls, especially a specific Northern Saw-whet Owl. David's guidelines say post about any bird including all owls.”
>> Another controversial issue and it happened that I disagree strongly with it. I believe the birding experts (including eBird experts) had this policy wrong. I believe every birder have the right to see owls. Our focus should not be focused on hiding the location. It should be on educating the public on the proper viewing protocol.
>> When rare or vagrant bird appears anywhere, the birding experts list the exact location and remind each other of the protocol. It has happened last few days with the Golden-crowned Sparrow and last year with the Great Gray Owl.
>> It seems the experts would do all they can to get on rare birds they have not seen before even if it means to do things slightly different from what the code of ethics stated.
>> Well, those new birders who have never seen any owl are like the experts who have never seen a Great Gray owl or Golden-crowned Sparrow. The birding community should help them get on those owls and educate them how to view them. This is a double standard in my opinion.
>>
>> 4- “Promoted the feeding of ducks on The Pond.”
>> This is another example of where education went wrong.
>> Many people (non-birders) love to feed birds in the park but they are not aware of the danger of giving birds the wrong food. These people will continue to do so regardless of what the birding community thinks of them.
>> When I see a post in the park saying “don’t feed ducks” I laugh, because I know people will not follow such order.
>> The park department came up with a smarter idea. They started putting post on what the proper food to feed ducks and other birds, so people can enjoy feeding birds without hurting them. This is a great idea.
>> Manhattan Bird alert simply did that. It is the smart way.
>>
>> Finally, none of these reasons are valid one to declare war on any of David’s twitter accounts. I believe these accounts are the best thing that happened to NYC area birders in a long time. And the fact that the numbers of followers to each account keep rising is an indication of their importance to the birding community.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>>
>> NYSbirds-L List Info:
>> http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm >> http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm >> http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm >>
>> ARCHIVES:
>> 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/<nysbirds-l...>/maillist.html >> 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L >> 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 >>
>> Please submit your observations to eBird:
>> http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ >>
>> --
>>
>
> --
>
> NYSbirds-L List Info:
> http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm > http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm > http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm >
> ARCHIVES:
> 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/<nysbirds-l...>/maillist.html > 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L > 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 >
> Please submit your observations to eBird:
> http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ >
> --
>
Date: 1/5/19 5:19 am From: edith goren <edithgoren24...> Subject: Re: [nysbirds-l] Campaign against David?
Thanks again to you and David Barrett and all who post any where and with such frequency.
I too have been told as I bird or walk with binoculars questions about what I’ve seen by strangers and often offer my binoculars and tell novice birders of available bird walks or organizations, or good locations to go to. I have been asked not to reveal locations of Owls, but people are inquisitive if it looks like I’m attentive to a spot. ( this has made me uncomfortable with the ethics of Owl protection) not that I often spots Owls. I feel this is the best way to promote and enhance environmental protection ethics and laws, and to protect the areas of park reserved for passive recreation. I feel Gus’ promotion of informative signage is essential and aids birders to reinforce ethics. I do not support suppression of information and creates a caste system of birders. Respectfully, Edith Goren
E.G.
> On Jan 4, 2019, at 8:48 PM, Gus Keri <guskeri...> wrote:
>
> It seems there is a campaign against David Barrett’s twitter accounts, especially the Manhattan Bird alert, trying to discredit him and encouraging people to stay away from his account. I find this campaign totally unfair to David.
>
> In a recent internet article, the author mentioned 4 reasons for boycott the alert. I will talk about each one separately.
>
> 1- “Started advertising T-Shirts.”
> To the best of my knowledge, all the non-rare-bird-related tweets are added after sunset, so it would not bother birders, most of whom turn off the alert notification at night anyway. He also posts photos and videos of birds after sunset for the same reason.
> What is wrong with promoting T-shirt that has a photo of a bird on a birding site? It has to be a good idea to raise awareness for the world of birds anyhow.
> Beside, I read in one of the tweets that for each T-shirt sold, the seller offers few dollars as a donation to one of the birding organization. This is a good deed.
>
> 2- “Promoted commercial Owl Walks that point flashlights at owls and uses excessive audio playback.”
> The ethics of bird watching is very controversial and the birding community is deeply divided over these issues. I am not going to discuss them here. But to criticize David for promoting Birding Bob’s walks seems unreasonable to me.
> Birding Bob is responsible for most of the rare birds alert on Manhattan Bird Alert, especially the tweets about owls in the last couple of months. On some days, I only read his tweets about rare birds and none else.
> He goes on birding walks almost every day and finds things himself. He doesn’t need Manhattan Bird alert more than Manhattan bird alert needs him.
> I have never gone on any of Bob’s walks and my encounters with him last only for few seconds where we exchange Hello’s only. We never talk birding politics. But I heard a lot from other birders about his walks and they do appreciate what he offers the birding community.
>
> 3- “Reported owls with exact locations, which resulted in the over birding of some owls, especially a specific Northern Saw-whet Owl. David's guidelines say post about any bird including all owls.”
> Another controversial issue and it happened that I disagree strongly with it. I believe the birding experts (including eBird experts) had this policy wrong. I believe every birder have the right to see owls. Our focus should not be focused on hiding the location. It should be on educating the public on the proper viewing protocol.
> When rare or vagrant bird appears anywhere, the birding experts list the exact location and remind each other of the protocol. It has happened last few days with the Golden-crowned Sparrow and last year with the Great Gray Owl.
> It seems the experts would do all they can to get on rare birds they have not seen before even if it means to do things slightly different from what the code of ethics stated.
> Well, those new birders who have never seen any owl are like the experts who have never seen a Great Gray owl or Golden-crowned Sparrow. The birding community should help them get on those owls and educate them how to view them. This is a double standard in my opinion.
>
> 4- “Promoted the feeding of ducks on The Pond.”
> This is another example of where education went wrong.
> Many people (non-birders) love to feed birds in the park but they are not aware of the danger of giving birds the wrong food. These people will continue to do so regardless of what the birding community thinks of them.
> When I see a post in the park saying “don’t feed ducks” I laugh, because I know people will not follow such order.
> The park department came up with a smarter idea. They started putting post on what the proper food to feed ducks and other birds, so people can enjoy feeding birds without hurting them. This is a great idea.
> Manhattan Bird alert simply did that. It is the smart way.
>
> Finally, none of these reasons are valid one to declare war on any of David’s twitter accounts. I believe these accounts are the best thing that happened to NYC area birders in a long time. And the fact that the numbers of followers to each account keep rising is an indication of their importance to the birding community.
>
>
>
>
> --
>
> NYSbirds-L List Info:
> http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm > http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm > http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm >
> ARCHIVES:
> 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/<nysbirds-l...>/maillist.html > 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L > 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 >
> Please submit your observations to eBird:
> http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ >
> --
>
Date: 1/4/19 9:04 pm From: Christopher T. Tessaglia-Hymes <cth4...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] ADMIN: List Use and Rules Reminder
In light of recent inappropriate messages, I would like to take a moment to remind users of the NYSbirds-L eList that there are basic rules to help guide what is and is not appropriate content for NYSbirds-L. These rules may be found here: http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm.
Please discontinue the conversation about the apparent abuse of a user’s Twitter account. The NYSbirds-L eList is not the place for discussion about issues occurring on an entirely different social media platform. I have already notified the original poster about the inappropriate nature of the post to NYSbirds-L.
If you are uncertain about the appropriateness of what you wish to post, please don’t hesitate to ask me in private (off list) first.
Likewise, if you feel that a posting which has already been distributed to the NYSbirds-L eList may be inflammatory or may be in violation of the basic eList Rules, please forward the message in question to me with a brief explanation of the concern. In general, it is more effective for an eList Administrator to address concerns, because we have access to various mechanisms to help manage inappropriate situations occurring on an eList.
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
Compilers: Tom Burke and Tony Lauro
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, January 4, 2019
at 9:00 pm.
The highlights of today’s tape are THICK-BILLED MURRE, BROWN PELICAN,
BARROW’S GOLDENEYE, KING EIDER, HARLEQUIN DUCK, EURASIAN WIGEON, TUNDRA
SWAN, BLACK-HEADED GULL, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, RED CROSSBILL, EVENING GROSBEAK,
YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER and more.
A THICK-BILLED MURRE first spotted in Shinnecock Inlet last Sunday has been
present through today, spending most of its time feeding closer to the west
jetty as it moves with the tides from near the tip of the jetty to well
inside the inlet as the feeding conditions change. Other birds following
suit have included a RAZOBILL or two and various species of ducks including
a female KING EIDER Monday and a young HARLEQUIN DUCK Wednesday to Friday.
A drake KING EIDER has also been seen in Shinnecock Bay among the thousands
of COMMON EIDERS and Scoters present there. Other Shinnecock highlights
have featured up to 3 RED-NECKED GREBES, good numbers of RAZORBILLS and
some NORTHERN GANNETS offshore, and at least 6 BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES
Monday, when 4 TUNDRA SWANS were spotted flying east.
An internet report of a BROWN PELICAN in Moriches Inlet on Tuesday may be
the one subsequently being seen in Rhode Island.
The Southern Nassau Christmas Count last Saturday recorded a high 133
species despite high wind conditions. Highlights included 5 HARLEQUIN
DUCKS, 2 RED-NECKED GREBES, 1,287 RAZORBILLS, the adult BLACK-HEADED GULL
at Jones Beach West End, still present yesterday, 1 ICELAND and 2 LESSER
BLACK-BACKED GULLS, 4 BARN, 2 SNOWY, 1 LONG-EARED and 3 NORTHERN SAW-WHET
OWLS, 3 EASTERN PHOEBES, MARSH WREN, COMMON RAVEN, LAPLAND LONGSPUR,
CHIPPING and SALTMARSH SPARROWS, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, NASHVILLE and 2
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS, and, new on the count, a YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER
visiting a private Baldwin feeder.
Finishing the waterfowl, both drake and female BARROW’S GOLDENEYES were
spotted off Orchard Beach at Pelham Bay Park earlier in the week, and a
drake BARROW’S was found yesterday off Crab Meadow Beach in Northport. A
drake KING EIDER was seen from the Orient to New London ferry last
Saturday, and lingering EURASIAN WIGEON were noted at the Marine Park Salt
Marsh Nature Center in Brooklyn today and on Avon Lake in Amityville
Wednesday. CACKLING GEESE have been present lately at Arthur J.
Hendrickson Park in Valley Stream and at Miller Field on Staten Island,
among others.
A BLACK-HEADED GULL was at Coney Island Creek Sunday to Tuesday, a GLAUCOUS
GULL continues along Triton Lane off Dune Road, an ICELAND GULL was in the
Crab Meadow Beach parking lot Thursday, and LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were
noted at Lake Ronkonkoma Thursday and off Depot Lane in Cutchogue Tuesday.
A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was spotted near Cedar Beach on Tuesday.
A male EVENING GROSBEAK spent the week at Riverside Park in northern
Manhattan, often in the 117th Street area, and 4 RED CROSSBILLS were seen
along the boardwalk to the lighthouse at Robert Moses State Park Monday.
Generally, though, winter finches have been relatively scarce recently.
A late BLACK SKIMMER was at Bush Terminal Piers Park in Brooklyn
Wednesday.
Among some lingering WARBLERS have been a CAPE MAY still in Union Square
Park in Manhattan yesterday, a NASHVILLE in Kissena Park yesterday, and
several ORANGE-CROWNEDS scattered across the area.
Big news north of our area have been a GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW in Delaware
County and a SAY’S PHOEBE in Orange County, both lingering through today.
Check the internet for details.
To phone in reports, on Long Island call Tony Lauro at (631) 734 4126 or
call Tom Burke at (914) 967-4922 and leave a message.
This service is sponsored by the Linnaean Society of New York and the
National Audubon Society. Thank you for calling.
Date: 1/4/19 6:17 pm From: Andrew Baksh <birdingdude...> Subject: Re: [nysbirds-l] Campaign against David?
José,
I believe Gus, is referring to a discussion taking place on social media which I wish he would respond to there, so that folks would have a crack at responding appropriately.
I am enjoying all the bird reports coming through on the list serves and would like to keep it that way.
Cheers,
--------
"I prefer to be true to myself, even at the hazard of incurring the ridicule of others, rather than to be false, and to incur my own abhorrence." ~ Frederick Douglass
風 Swift as the wind
林 Quiet as the forest
火 Conquer like the fire
山 Steady as the mountain
Sun Tzu The Art of War
> (\__/)
> (= '.'=)
> (") _ (")
> Sent from somewhere in the field using my mobile device!
Andrew Baksh
www.birdingdude.blogspot.com
> On Jan 4, 2019, at 9:03 PM, Jose Ramirez-Garofalo <jose.ramirez.garofalo...> wrote:
>
> Gus, the listserv didn’t declare war on anyone..
>
>> On Fri, Jan 4, 2019 at 8:49 PM Gus Keri <guskeri...> wrote:
>> It seems there is a campaign against David Barrett’s twitter accounts, especially the Manhattan Bird alert, trying to discredit him and encouraging people to stay away from his account. I find this campaign totally unfair to David.
>>
>> In a recent internet article, the author mentioned 4 reasons for boycott the alert. I will talk about each one separately.
>>
>> 1- “Started advertising T-Shirts.”
>> To the best of my knowledge, all the non-rare-bird-related tweets are added after sunset, so it would not bother birders, most of whom turn off the alert notification at night anyway. He also posts photos and videos of birds after sunset for the same reason.
>> What is wrong with promoting T-shirt that has a photo of a bird on a birding site? It has to be a good idea to raise awareness for the world of birds anyhow.
>> Beside, I read in one of the tweets that for each T-shirt sold, the seller offers few dollars as a donation to one of the birding organization. This is a good deed.
>>
>> 2- “Promoted commercial Owl Walks that point flashlights at owls and uses excessive audio playback.”
>> The ethics of bird watching is very controversial and the birding community is deeply divided over these issues. I am not going to discuss them here. But to criticize David for promoting Birding Bob’s walks seems unreasonable to me.
>> Birding Bob is responsible for most of the rare birds alert on Manhattan Bird Alert, especially the tweets about owls in the last couple of months. On some days, I only read his tweets about rare birds and none else.
>> He goes on birding walks almost every day and finds things himself. He doesn’t need Manhattan Bird alert more than Manhattan bird alert needs him.
>> I have never gone on any of Bob’s walks and my encounters with him last only for few seconds where we exchange Hello’s only. We never talk birding politics. But I heard a lot from other birders about his walks and they do appreciate what he offers the birding community.
>>
>> 3- “Reported owls with exact locations, which resulted in the over birding of some owls, especially a specific Northern Saw-whet Owl. David's guidelines say post about any bird including all owls.”
>> Another controversial issue and it happened that I disagree strongly with it. I believe the birding experts (including eBird experts) had this policy wrong. I believe every birder have the right to see owls. Our focus should not be focused on hiding the location. It should be on educating the public on the proper viewing protocol.
>> When rare or vagrant bird appears anywhere, the birding experts list the exact location and remind each other of the protocol. It has happened last few days with the Golden-crowned Sparrow and last year with the Great Gray Owl.
>> It seems the experts would do all they can to get on rare birds they have not seen before even if it means to do things slightly different from what the code of ethics stated.
>> Well, those new birders who have never seen any owl are like the experts who have never seen a Great Gray owl or Golden-crowned Sparrow. The birding community should help them get on those owls and educate them how to view them. This is a double standard in my opinion.
>>
>> 4- “Promoted the feeding of ducks on The Pond.”
>> This is another example of where education went wrong.
>> Many people (non-birders) love to feed birds in the park but they are not aware of the danger of giving birds the wrong food. These people will continue to do so regardless of what the birding community thinks of them.
>> When I see a post in the park saying “don’t feed ducks” I laugh, because I know people will not follow such order.
>> The park department came up with a smarter idea. They started putting post on what the proper food to feed ducks and other birds, so people can enjoy feeding birds without hurting them. This is a great idea.
>> Manhattan Bird alert simply did that. It is the smart way.
>>
>> Finally, none of these reasons are valid one to declare war on any of David’s twitter accounts. I believe these accounts are the best thing that happened to NYC area birders in a long time. And the fact that the numbers of followers to each account keep rising is an indication of their importance to the birding community.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>>
>> NYSbirds-L List Info:
>> http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm >> http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm >> http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm >>
>> ARCHIVES:
>> 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/<nysbirds-l...>/maillist.html >> 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L >> 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 >>
>> Please submit your observations to eBird:
>> http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ >>
>> --
> --
> Sent from my iPhone
> --
> NYSbirds-L List Info:
> Welcome and Basics
> Rules and Information
> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave
> Archives:
> The Mail Archive
> Surfbirds
> ABA
> Please submit your observations to eBird!
> --
Date: 1/4/19 6:08 pm From: Matthew Clements <nailhead...> Subject: Re: [nysbirds-l] Campaign against David?
Inappropriate to lobby one way or another. All we did was start an argument. And I got lured in.
Keep posts to the list serve about birds. We can all make our own decisions and judgements without any advisement.
Sorry to have contributed to the thread.
Sent from my iPhone
> On Jan 4, 2019, at 9:03 PM, Jose Ramirez-Garofalo <jose.ramirez.garofalo...> wrote:
>
> Gus, the listserv didn’t declare war on anyone..
>
>> On Fri, Jan 4, 2019 at 8:49 PM Gus Keri <guskeri...> wrote:
>> It seems there is a campaign against David Barrett’s twitter accounts, especially the Manhattan Bird alert, trying to discredit him and encouraging people to stay away from his account. I find this campaign totally unfair to David.
>>
>> In a recent internet article, the author mentioned 4 reasons for boycott the alert. I will talk about each one separately.
>>
>> 1- “Started advertising T-Shirts.”
>> To the best of my knowledge, all the non-rare-bird-related tweets are added after sunset, so it would not bother birders, most of whom turn off the alert notification at night anyway. He also posts photos and videos of birds after sunset for the same reason.
>> What is wrong with promoting T-shirt that has a photo of a bird on a birding site? It has to be a good idea to raise awareness for the world of birds anyhow.
>> Beside, I read in one of the tweets that for each T-shirt sold, the seller offers few dollars as a donation to one of the birding organization. This is a good deed.
>>
>> 2- “Promoted commercial Owl Walks that point flashlights at owls and uses excessive audio playback.”
>> The ethics of bird watching is very controversial and the birding community is deeply divided over these issues. I am not going to discuss them here. But to criticize David for promoting Birding Bob’s walks seems unreasonable to me.
>> Birding Bob is responsible for most of the rare birds alert on Manhattan Bird Alert, especially the tweets about owls in the last couple of months. On some days, I only read his tweets about rare birds and none else.
>> He goes on birding walks almost every day and finds things himself. He doesn’t need Manhattan Bird alert more than Manhattan bird alert needs him.
>> I have never gone on any of Bob’s walks and my encounters with him last only for few seconds where we exchange Hello’s only. We never talk birding politics. But I heard a lot from other birders about his walks and they do appreciate what he offers the birding community.
>>
>> 3- “Reported owls with exact locations, which resulted in the over birding of some owls, especially a specific Northern Saw-whet Owl. David's guidelines say post about any bird including all owls.”
>> Another controversial issue and it happened that I disagree strongly with it. I believe the birding experts (including eBird experts) had this policy wrong. I believe every birder have the right to see owls. Our focus should not be focused on hiding the location. It should be on educating the public on the proper viewing protocol.
>> When rare or vagrant bird appears anywhere, the birding experts list the exact location and remind each other of the protocol. It has happened last few days with the Golden-crowned Sparrow and last year with the Great Gray Owl.
>> It seems the experts would do all they can to get on rare birds they have not seen before even if it means to do things slightly different from what the code of ethics stated.
>> Well, those new birders who have never seen any owl are like the experts who have never seen a Great Gray owl or Golden-crowned Sparrow. The birding community should help them get on those owls and educate them how to view them. This is a double standard in my opinion.
>>
>> 4- “Promoted the feeding of ducks on The Pond.”
>> This is another example of where education went wrong.
>> Many people (non-birders) love to feed birds in the park but they are not aware of the danger of giving birds the wrong food. These people will continue to do so regardless of what the birding community thinks of them.
>> When I see a post in the park saying “don’t feed ducks” I laugh, because I know people will not follow such order.
>> The park department came up with a smarter idea. They started putting post on what the proper food to feed ducks and other birds, so people can enjoy feeding birds without hurting them. This is a great idea.
>> Manhattan Bird alert simply did that. It is the smart way.
>>
>> Finally, none of these reasons are valid one to declare war on any of David’s twitter accounts. I believe these accounts are the best thing that happened to NYC area birders in a long time. And the fact that the numbers of followers to each account keep rising is an indication of their importance to the birding community.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>>
>> NYSbirds-L List Info:
>> http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm >> http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm >> http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm >>
>> ARCHIVES:
>> 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/<nysbirds-l...>/maillist.html >> 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L >> 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 >>
>> Please submit your observations to eBird:
>> http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ >>
>> --
>>
> --
> Sent from my iPhone
> --
> NYSbirds-L List Info:
> Welcome and Basics
> Rules and Information
> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave
> Archives:
> The Mail Archive
> Surfbirds
> ABA
> Please submit your observations to eBird!
> --
Date: 1/4/19 6:03 pm From: Jose Ramirez-Garofalo <jose.ramirez.garofalo...> Subject: Re: [nysbirds-l] Campaign against David?
Gus, the listserv didn’t declare war on anyone..
On Fri, Jan 4, 2019 at 8:49 PM Gus Keri <guskeri...> wrote:
> It seems there is a campaign against David Barrett’s twitter accounts,
> especially the Manhattan Bird alert, trying to discredit him and
> encouraging people to stay away from his account. I find this campaign
> totally unfair to David.
>
> In a recent internet article, the author mentioned 4 reasons for boycott
> the alert. I will talk about each one separately.
>
> 1- “Started advertising T-Shirts.”
> To the best of my knowledge, all the non-rare-bird-related tweets are
> added after sunset, so it would not bother birders, most of whom turn off
> the alert notification at night anyway. He also posts photos and videos of
> birds after sunset for the same reason.
> What is wrong with promoting T-shirt that has a photo of a bird on a
> birding site? It has to be a good idea to raise awareness for the world of
> birds anyhow.
> Beside, I read in one of the tweets that for each T-shirt sold, the seller
> offers few dollars as a donation to one of the birding organization. This
> is a good deed.
>
> 2- “Promoted commercial Owl Walks that point flashlights at owls and uses
> excessive audio playback.”
> The ethics of bird watching is very controversial and the birding
> community is deeply divided over these issues. I am not going to discuss
> them here. But to criticize David for promoting Birding Bob’s walks seems
> unreasonable to me.
> Birding Bob is responsible for most of the rare birds alert on Manhattan
> Bird Alert, especially the tweets about owls in the last couple of months.
> On some days, I only read his tweets about rare birds and none else.
> He goes on birding walks almost every day and finds things himself. He
> doesn’t need Manhattan Bird alert more than Manhattan bird alert needs him.
> I have never gone on any of Bob’s walks and my encounters with him last
> only for few seconds where we exchange Hello’s only. We never talk birding
> politics. But I heard a lot from other birders about his walks and they do
> appreciate what he offers the birding community.
>
> 3- “Reported owls with exact locations, which resulted in the over birding
> of some owls, especially a specific Northern Saw-whet Owl. David's
> guidelines say post about any bird including all owls.”
> Another controversial issue and it happened that I disagree strongly with
> it. I believe the birding experts (including eBird experts) had this policy
> wrong. I believe every birder have the right to see owls. Our focus should
> not be focused on hiding the location. It should be on educating the public
> on the proper viewing protocol.
> When rare or vagrant bird appears anywhere, the birding experts list the
> exact location and remind each other of the protocol. It has happened last
> few days with the Golden-crowned Sparrow and last year with the Great Gray
> Owl.
> It seems the experts would do all they can to get on rare birds they have
> not seen before even if it means to do things slightly different from what
> the code of ethics stated.
> Well, those new birders who have never seen any owl are like the experts
> who have never seen a Great Gray owl or Golden-crowned Sparrow. The birding
> community should help them get on those owls and educate them how to view
> them. This is a double standard in my opinion.
>
> 4- “Promoted the feeding of ducks on The Pond.”
> This is another example of where education went wrong.
> Many people (non-birders) love to feed birds in the park but they are not
> aware of the danger of giving birds the wrong food. These people will
> continue to do so regardless of what the birding community thinks of them.
> When I see a post in the park saying “don’t feed ducks” I laugh, because I
> know people will not follow such order.
> The park department came up with a smarter idea. They started putting post
> on what the proper food to feed ducks and other birds, so people can enjoy
> feeding birds without hurting them. This is a great idea.
> Manhattan Bird alert simply did that. It is the smart way.
>
> Finally, none of these reasons are valid one to declare war on any of
> David’s twitter accounts. I believe these accounts are the best thing that
> happened to NYC area birders in a long time. And the fact that the numbers
> of followers to each account keep rising is an indication of their
> importance to the birding community.
>
>
>
>
> --
>
> NYSbirds-L List Info:
> http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm > http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm > http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm >
> ARCHIVES:
> 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/<nysbirds-l...>/maillist.html > 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L > 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 >
> Please submit your observations to eBird:
> http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ >
> --
>
> --
Sent from my iPhone
It seems there is a campaign against David Barrett’s twitter accounts, especially the Manhattan Bird alert, trying to discredit him and encouraging people to stay away from his account. I find this campaign totally unfair to David.
In a recent internet article, the author mentioned 4 reasons for boycott the alert. I will talk about each one separately.
1- “Started advertising T-Shirts.”
To the best of my knowledge, all the non-rare-bird-related tweets are added after sunset, so it would not bother birders, most of whom turn off the alert notification at night anyway. He also posts photos and videos of birds after sunset for the same reason.
What is wrong with promoting T-shirt that has a photo of a bird on a birding site? It has to be a good idea to raise awareness for the world of birds anyhow.
Beside, I read in one of the tweets that for each T-shirt sold, the seller offers few dollars as a donation to one of the birding organization. This is a good deed.
2- “Promoted commercial Owl Walks that point flashlights at owls and uses excessive audio playback.”
The ethics of bird watching is very controversial and the birding community is deeply divided over these issues. I am not going to discuss them here. But to criticize David for promoting Birding Bob’s walks seems unreasonable to me.
Birding Bob is responsible for most of the rare birds alert on Manhattan Bird Alert, especially the tweets about owls in the last couple of months. On some days, I only read his tweets about rare birds and none else.
He goes on birding walks almost every day and finds things himself. He doesn’t need Manhattan Bird alert more than Manhattan bird alert needs him.
I have never gone on any of Bob’s walks and my encounters with him last only for few seconds where we exchange Hello’s only. We never talk birding politics. But I heard a lot from other birders about his walks and they do appreciate what he offers the birding community.
3- “Reported owls with exact locations, which resulted in the over birding of some owls, especially a specific Northern Saw-whet Owl. David's guidelines say post about any bird including all owls.”
Another controversial issue and it happened that I disagree strongly with it. I believe the birding experts (including eBird experts) had this policy wrong. I believe every birder have the right to see owls. Our focus should not be focused on hiding the location. It should be on educating the public on the proper viewing protocol.
When rare or vagrant bird appears anywhere, the birding experts list the exact location and remind each other of the protocol. It has happened last few days with the Golden-crowned Sparrow and last year with the Great Gray Owl.
It seems the experts would do all they can to get on rare birds they have not seen before even if it means to do things slightly different from what the code of ethics stated.
Well, those new birders who have never seen any owl are like the experts who have never seen a Great Gray owl or Golden-crowned Sparrow. The birding community should help them get on those owls and educate them how to view them. This is a double standard in my opinion.
4- “Promoted the feeding of ducks on The Pond.”
This is another example of where education went wrong.
Many people (non-birders) love to feed birds in the park but they are not aware of the danger of giving birds the wrong food. These people will continue to do so regardless of what the birding community thinks of them.
When I see a post in the park saying “don’t feed ducks” I laugh, because I know people will not follow such order.
The park department came up with a smarter idea. They started putting post on what the proper food to feed ducks and other birds, so people can enjoy feeding birds without hurting them. This is a great idea.
Manhattan Bird alert simply did that. It is the smart way.
Finally, none of these reasons are valid one to declare war on any of David’s twitter accounts. I believe these accounts are the best thing that happened to NYC area birders in a long time. And the fact that the numbers of followers to each account keep rising is an indication of their importance to the birding community.
Date: 1/4/19 4:57 pm From: Ben Cacace <bcacace...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] New York County: Google Maps (Hotspots & Personal Locations)
Knowing where birders are birding by viewing eBird personal locations
alongside the current hotspots on a map is possible with Google Maps. The
data is available from eBird's Explore page < https://ebird.org/explore >
by downloading sightings by county < https://ebird.org/data/download > and
pulling out the unique locations. I've created these for several counties
in the Kingbird 10 region. The New York County database has 1,326,226
sightings as of Nov/2018.
As an eBird hotspot moderator I find this is a very helpful tool. If you
look at Union Square Park you'll see a lot of personal locations associated
with the SCOTT'S ORIOLE that paid a visit there at the beginning of 2008.
If you look uptown at Isham Park near Inwood Hill Park there are a number
of personal locations where a shared location will be created. If you have
checklists for Isham Park you can easily submit a personal location as a
hotspot suggestion < https://help.ebird.org/customer/portal/articles/1010518 >.
Checklists submitted on personal locations *are not included* on any
hotspots and won't appear on the Overviews, Bar Charts or Illustrated
Checklists etc. These sightings *are included* on Overviews etc. at the
county level and above.
Only the owner of a personal location can merge these with existing
hotspots. See details below (**) for instructions if you wish to do this.
Here's a map for New York County showing *233 hotspots* and *4,903 personal
locations*. The hotspots are the red markers. The personal locations are
represented by black dots. Only the location name, ID, type and lat/lon are
shown when clicking a marker.
I did an analysis of the number of personal locations created inside
Central Park over a year ago and the number back then was over 1,000.
** If you wish to merge your personal location with an existing hotspot
here are the steps:
— Sign into eBird.org
— Go to "My eBird" & select "Manage My Locations" in the right panel
— At the bottom of the screen click "Show All" to see all locations on one
page
— You can sort the list by clicking on any of the headers: Location,
Country, State/Province, County, Type* or # of Checklists
— Select your personal location (it will show a letter "P" under Type*) by
clicking "Edit" on the right side of the line
— Select the "Merge" button and you'll see all nearby hotspots as red icons
— Keep the checkmark for "Delete after merging" selected
— Click the icon that best fits your location
— ... now you'll see the hotspot description above the 'Merge' button along
with the # of checklists you'll be merging
— Click on the 'Merge' button
— Answer Yes to the 'Yes or No' query
All checklists for that personal location will be combined with the hotspot.
--
Ben Cacace
Manhattan, NYC
Date: 1/4/19 1:42 pm From: Andrew Block <ablock22168...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Golden-crowned Sparrow and Say's Phoebe yes
I know it's been posted by Isaac, but just wanted to say the Golden-crowned was seen where Isaac said and at the feeders shortly after sunrise at 22 Depot St. Also seen while waiting for the sparrow were 2 Bald Eagles, an imm. and adult as well as a Pileated Woodpecker. Later nearby on Airport Rd. off of Rte. 30 I had at least 4 more eagles, 2 adults and 2 imm. plus 6+ Common Ravens, but no Golden Eagle. On the way home I stopped at Wallkill River N.W.R. and saw the Say's Phoebe north of Oil City/State Line Rd. along the Winding River Trail. It was far out on the right past the picnic tables about 150-200feet or so. Many of the people who were at the sparrow were there too:-)
Andrew Andrew v. F. Block
Consulting Naturalist
20 Hancock Avenue, Apt. 3
Yonkers, Westchester Co., New York 10705-4629
www.flickr.com/photos/conuropsis/albums
--
Date: 1/4/19 11:22 am From: Thomas Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Manhattan, NYC - highlights to begin 2019 (Eve. Grosbeak, many more spp.)
Manhattan, N.Y. City -
So far in this new year, as of Friday, 4th January, 2019; a rather diverse selection of species, many of them lingerers thru the end of autumn and on into the start of winter-season.
A male Evening Grosbeak has continued (thru 1/4), but can be difficult to find at times; it has been mainly in the area of Riverside Park from near about 117th to near 121 Streets, & at the north end of this range, in particular, are a very steep slope & just enough tangles & brambles to allow this bird to be hidden from easy view, but it also may be traveling to some farther areas that almost no one is visiting (for example, there is wooded habitat in a steeply-sloped area along an exit ramp of the W. Side Highway past W. 121 St. & continuing nearly 1/4 mile north, this is rarely looked-at by anyone, even in mild weather). There are some bird feeders in this park, a short way into the s. edge of the ‘sanctuary’ area, near about W. 117 St., slightly downhill from the closest park entrance to there. It could be worth looking there, & starting any seeking in that vicinity of this park. However, by at least 1 p.m. or before on Friday, the E. Grosbeak had moved to near about 119th & 120th St. within the park, not far up-slope from the entry area of the tennis courts that are below at that point. Many obs. were present for the afternoon viewing or attempts at; thanks to Karen Fung for some of the updates on-line, & of course to all reporting sightings including to this list. One further note, to access the Eve. Grosbeak area one is recommended to start out from Riverside Drive & enter the park; access from the Hudson river-path is a long, much-detoured route from north or south to the grosbeak area.
At Morningside Park, also in the same very general area but a bit east of Riverside, there are at least 1 E. Phoebe continuing by a small pond (only pond of this size in that park) near about W. 113 St. & at the lower / eastern part of the park, & an Orange-crowned Warbler also lingering, the latter most often seen in an area near a large flat rock outcrop, near W. 120 St. & also in the eastern portion of the park, not too far from Morningside Ave. which borders the e. edges of all of this park. The latter warbler is occasionally seen up on a tree with sapsucker drill-wells, & a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is also present but moves about as does this warbler; check all of the nearby brushy areas, as well. (E. Phoebe is usually favoring the noted small pond, but at times may go up-slope, & possibly wanders farther at times; check esp. the rear of the pond area, & be patient, as it can sit still for long periods, in addition to being active). Various other species in Morningside Park have included Gray Catbird, which also have been seen in Riverside Park into the new year.
Union Square Park, at E. 14-17th Streets in lower mid-Manhattan, is continuing to host at least the same 3 species of warblers as have been there for some weeks - Cape May (1st-fall plumage), Common Yellowthroat (male), & Ovenbird; also seen there have been lingering Yellow-bellied Sapsucker & Swamp Sparrow, along with more-usual in winter White-throated Sparrows. Finding the warblers here may at times be easy enough, but at times they can take a while top ‘show’ - perhaps easier in sun, which is more likely by mid-morning due to many surrounding high buildings, & on less-windy days, the Cape May at least may be a bit more inclined to show well. N.B. - this Cape May lingering into January is not a first for Manhattan, in the modern era, but is of course rather unusual & notable. The other known lingering warbler species in Manhattan this new year have all been seen in multiple other years to partly or fully overwinter there, although still of course rather notable for the season.
An E. Bluebird (male) has been seen & photographed at the n. end of Central Park for the new year; it’s unclear if this could have been a lingering bird, as there were a very good showing of that species in the city, including esp. around Manhattan, in late autumn and some of these could reasonably have stayed on, esp. where appropriate habitat or good feeding was available, as parts of Central Park have had, & where other omnivorous frugivores such as American Robins have been rather regular. A White-crowned Sparrow (first-fall plumage) has continued on into the new year around the east side of Central Park, nearest to the E. 90th St. park entrance area, which is east of the C.P. reservoir; this bird may at times associate with house sparrows, and also some White-throated Sparrows, & seems to be wandering a bit, as the other sparrows also have; it may be that it also leaves the park, using habitat just to the east along & near Fifth Ave.; it is uncommon but not unprecedented to have an overwintering White-crowned Sparrow in Manhattan, Central Park has had this happen several times in the modern era. Chipping & Field Sparrows also have lingered on this new year, & a few American Tree Sparrows have been around, as have more usual wintering [Red] Fox Sparrows. A Baltimore Oriole has been ongoing at Fort Tryon Park, & it is possible that more than 1 individual are in that park, with sightings mostly in the s. half of the park proper, including near a restaurant that is a short way into the park from the s. entrance. This park had also hosted overwintering orioles of that species in the recent past.
At least 2 Canvasbacks have been regular at the Harlem Piers along the Hudson river, a small park space north of W. 125th St., & it may be necessary to scan all the way north to as far as the edges of Riverbank State Park as well as the chance that these ducks will be hidden from view at times; this area has proven to be among the likelier places of occurence for Canvasback, a once-very-numerous species in the Central Park reservoir, mainly 20th-century, and scarce to rare there in more recent years. The species can & does also occur along the shore of Manhattan island, potentially at any site, with some areas on the Hudson (elsewhere from near 125th Street) also sometimes worth checking.
Multiple species (& individuals) of owls have been seen around Manhattan, & more have been found-out by various observers checking in sites sometimes not regularly birded by that many people. While many observers have been respectful and aware that owls require rest & room to sleep in the day, & to hunt & be given some space at all times, this is a good time to remind all that it is against the law to play any amplified sounds at any time whatsoever in Central Park - this applies to all locations, at all times of both day & night, unless one has specific written permission from the appropriate NYC agency; a violation of this law is an offense that allows for both fines & jail, in the applicable city codes. Please exercise common sense around owls and all wildlife.
Other species also include the following on, adjacent to, & over Manhattan island in the new year, thus far:
Pied-billed Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Turkey Vulture (fly-by obs.)
Canada Goose
Brant
Wood Duck
Gadwall
American Black Duck
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Canvasback (Harlem piers area)
Bufflehead
Hooded Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser (rivers)
Ruddy Duck
Bald Eagle
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
American Coot
Ring-billed Gull
[American] Herring Gull
Iceland Gull (*reported*)
Great Black-backed Gull
['feral'] Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
American Kestrel
Merlin
Peregrine Falcon
Barred Owl
Great Horned Owl
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Eastern Screech-owl
Belted Kingfisher
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Yellow-shafted Flicker
Eastern Phoebe (Morningside Park, thru 1/4)
Blue Jay
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Carolina Wren
Winter Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Eastern Bluebird (New Year’s Day, poss. afterwards)
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
Brown Thrasher
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Eastern Towhee
American Tree Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
[Red] Fox Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow (Central Park near E. 90th)
Dark-eyed Junco
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
Rusty Blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Baltimore Oriole (Fort Tryon Park, multiple sightings)
Orange-crowned Warbler (Morningside Park, nr. 120th St.)
Cape May Warbler (Union Square Park, a lingering bird)
Yellow-rumped [Myrtle] Warbler (northern Manhattan]
Ovenbird (several sightings in several parks & green-spaces)
Common Yellowthroat (Union Square Park)
House Sparrow
Purple Finch
House Finch
American Goldfinch
Evening Grosbeak (male, many observers, Riverside Park in areas from 116th-120th Sts.)
& likely at least a few additional species, not including spp. poss. seen on outlying islands that are politically part of New York County, which includes (in part), Manhattan.
- - -
"Aim above morality. Be not simply good, be good for something.”
- Henry David Thoreau (American writer, philosopher, naturalist, 1817-62)
Golden-crowned Sparrow continues this morning 1/4 at 22 Depot St. seen with Pat Palladino and my mom Good birding and thanks to all for the reports. Menachem
Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android
On Thu, Jan 3, 2019 at 8:59 AM, Robert A. Proniewych<baobabbob...> wrote: Continues this morning at 22 Depot Street in the town of Downsville. Gave brief views foraging in front of garage facing River Road.Robert Proniewych -- NYSbirds-L List Info: Welcome and Basics Rules and Information Subscribe, Configuration and Leave Archives: The Mail Archive Surfbirds ABA Please submit your observations to eBird! --
Date: 1/3/19 12:13 pm From: sophiesaid <sophiesaid...> Subject: Re: [nysbirds-l] Fwd: [JERSEYBI] Say's Phoebe reported from Wallkill (but on NY side)
The Say’s Phoebe is being seen at the Winding Waters trail off off OIl City Rd. This part of the Wallkill Refuge is down the road from the LIberty Loop. It has its own parking lot, and the entire trail is in NY. Scope views from a short walk from the parking lot.
Linda Scrima
Sent from AOL Mobile Mail
Get the new AOL app: mail.mobile.aol.com
On Thursday, January 3, 2019, Andrew Baksh <birdingdude...> wrote:
If anyone has any intel. See report on the Jersey list serve.
Many thanks to all who continue to report to the list serves.
--------
"I prefer to be true to myself, even at the hazard of incurring the ridicule of others, rather than to be false, and to incur my own abhorrence." ~ Frederick Douglass
風 Swift as the wind
林 Quiet as the forest
火 Conquer like the fire
山 Steady as the mountain
Sun Tzu The Art of War
(\__/)
(= '.'=)
(") _ (")
Sent from somewhere in the field using my mobile device!
Andrew Baksh
www.birdingdude.blogspot.com
Begin forwarded message:
From: Susan Treesh <sktreesh...>
Date: January 3, 2019 at 12:40:35 PM EST
To: <JERSEYBI...>
Subject: [JERSEYBI] Say's Phoebe reported from Wallkill (but on NY side)
Reply-To: Susan Treesh <sktreesh...>
Passing this report on from the Sussex County email (not text) alert - a Say's Phoebe was reported from Wallkill National Wildlife refuge this morning, BUT from the NY state Winding Waters Trail boat parking area, which is further northwest along Oil City Road from the NJ state Liberty Loop. The bird was reported east of the trail, out in the marsh, seen from near a "flood control" sign.
But worth checking on the NJ side too! I take it that the Wallkill marshes are not entirely frozen over?
Susan Treesh
Somerset
How to report NJ bird sightings: see <www.njbrc.com/index.php/reporting-rare-birds/>
or e-mail to <njbrcreport...>
List help: <jerseybi-request...>
List archives: https://lists.princeton.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=jerseybi --
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Archives:
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Please submit your observations to eBird!
--
--
Date: 1/3/19 10:25 am From: Andrew Mason <andymason...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Franklin Mt. Hawkwatch season wrapup
*_Franklin Mt. Hawkwatch 2018 Season Wrapup_*
*__*
The curtain came down on Dec. 30 for the 2018 season at the Franklin Mt. Hawkwatch, near Oneonta in NY's northern Catskill Mountains.Counter Pam Peters tallied no birds on light SW winds under overcast skies.
This year was notable for the large concentrated movement of Golden Eagles in the second half of October.From Oct. 16 through the end of the month, 250 of these large raptors were tallied, far surpassing even the total season average for the species.Over half of this count came on Oct. 25, when counters Becky Gretton and Peter Fauth and many visitors spotted 128 GEs, a single day record for eastern North America, according to data from the Hawk Migration Assoc. of North America.The previous single day high at Franklin Mt. was 71 on Nov. 11, 2015, so the magnitude of this big day cannot be overstated.
The reason for this GE push, which came two weeks before the traditional migration peak, is unknown.However, weather records for the province of Quebec, where most eastern Golden Eagles nest, show a very dry summer and fall, so prey availability could be a factor.
The GE total for the year was 323, smashing the previous high of 252 in 2005, and topped in the east only by Allegheny Front, PA's 386 in 2015.
In addition to the Golden Eagle show, a season record was set for Merlins, with 53 of this expanding species passing the lookout.Others above the 18 year average since full time counting began include Turkey Vulture, Broad-winged Hawk, Am. Kestrel and Peregrine Falcon.Red-tailed Hawks were well below average, but did show a significant rebound from last year's dismal figures.Fifteen Black Vultures were counted, indicating a slow increase in this species that is new to Franklin Mt.The season total for all raptors was 5172, just slightly above the long-term average.
All Franklin Mt. Hawkwatch data is available at www.hawkcount.org.
Thanks for their dedicated service goes to counters Kyle Dudgeon, Peter Fauth, Becky Gretton, Steve Hall, Carol and Randy Lynch, Pam Peters and Tom Salo, and also to the spotters and visitors who helped out this year.
-- Andrew Mason 1039 Peck St. Jefferson, NY 12093 (607) 652-2162 <AndyMason...>
Date: 1/3/19 10:10 am From: Gail Benson <gbensonny...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Say's Phoebe (Winding Waters trail). Orange County
This bird first e-birded this morning was just seen again, 1 pm out in the marsh. The trail just past the parking lot. This is off Oil City Road (Walkill Wildlife Refuge) Tom Burke & Gail Benson. H
Date: 1/3/19 10:01 am From: Adrian Burke <aburke173...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Evening Grosbeak — Riverside Park, Manhattan
The adult male Evening Grosbeak continues now in Riverside Park, Manhattan. It is a bit south of its previous haunts, but working back north. Now at about 119th Street.
Date: 1/3/19 9:55 am From: Andrew Baksh <birdingdude...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Fwd: [JERSEYBI] Say's Phoebe reported from Wallkill (but on NY side)
If anyone has any intel. See report on the Jersey list serve.
Many thanks to all who continue to report to the list serves.
--------
"I prefer to be true to myself, even at the hazard of incurring the ridicule of others, rather than to be false, and to incur my own abhorrence." ~ Frederick Douglass
風 Swift as the wind
林 Quiet as the forest
火 Conquer like the fire
山 Steady as the mountain
Sun Tzu The Art of War
> (\__/)
> (= '.'=)
> (") _ (")
> Sent from somewhere in the field using my mobile device!
Andrew Baksh
www.birdingdude.blogspot.com
Begin forwarded message:
> From: Susan Treesh <sktreesh...>
> Date: January 3, 2019 at 12:40:35 PM EST
> To: <JERSEYBI...>
> Subject: [JERSEYBI] Say's Phoebe reported from Wallkill (but on NY side)
> Reply-To: Susan Treesh <sktreesh...>
>
> Passing this report on from the Sussex County email (not text) alert - a Say's Phoebe was reported from Wallkill National Wildlife refuge this morning, BUT from the NY state Winding Waters Trail boat parking area, which is further northwest along Oil City Road from the NJ state Liberty Loop. The bird was reported east of the trail, out in the marsh, seen from near a "flood control" sign.
>
> But worth checking on the NJ side too! I take it that the Wallkill marshes are not entirely frozen over?
>
> Susan Treesh
> Somerset
>
>
>
> How to report NJ bird sightings: see <www.njbrc.com/index.php/reporting-rare-birds/>
> or e-mail to <njbrcreport...>
> List help: <jerseybi-request...>
> List archives: https://lists.princeton.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=jerseybi
Both of the continuing alcids at Shinnecock gave great looks over the last hour at the end of the west jetty, occasionally both the Razorbill and the Thick-bilked Murre were in the same binocular view.
The only other birds of note were 7 Red Knot foraging in the beach just west of the jetty.
Date: 1/3/19 6:25 am From: Taylor Sturm <tjsturm...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Barrow's Goldeneye - Crab Meadow Beach, Suffolk Co.
Hello,
At around 8:30 a.m. I viewed a handsome drake Barrow's Goldeneye among a group of Common Goldeneye at Crab Meadow Beach (Northport, Suffolk County). This bird was off the point which is approximately a quarter-mile west of the La Casa Cafe (restaurant) building.
The stretch of beach west of the park is private so please be respectful and stick close to the high-tide line if you try for this bird.
There was also a nice immature Iceland Gull in the parking lot!!!
Date: 1/3/19 5:23 am From: Robert Taylor <rmtaylo516...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] late report: Brown Pelican, Tuesday, Moriches Inlet
Happy New Year! Just a FYI that I saw a post on Long Island Wildlife (Facebook) that a Brown Pelican was photographed last Tuesday by Moriches Inlet. (Suffolk County, Long Island)
What if someone just caught the bird and put it in a cage for you? Would that be acceptable enough for you? hehehe
Tyler Goldstein
Jericho, NY
On Wednesday, January 2, 2019, Felipe Pimentel <fpimente...><mailto:<fpimente...>> wrote:
Based on the information posted by Lance Verderame, the last report was from Monday (12-31-18) when the bird was seen in the morning (9AM). I have not seen reports from today or even yesterday (1-1-2019). That location is about 3 hours from NYC and before undertaking the long drive, it would be nice if we have a confirmation of the bird (in that location) from today.
Felipe
On Jan 2, 2019, at 11:26 AM, Sean Sime <sean...><mailto:<sean...>> wrote:
I just spoke with John Hass who asked me to report to the list the Golden-crowned Sparrow is currently being seen in the previously reported location in Downsville, NY.
Please see the post from the original finder of the bird (Lance Verderame) regarding specific locations and access. Please use common sense and refrain from any behavior that could potentially cause ill will within the local community.
Canada Goose - around 300 Reservoir, others on the Lake* Northern Shoveler - 16+ (15 Reservoir, 1 Turtle Pond, others on the Lake) Gadwall - pair Reservoir Mallard - 35+ (25 Turtle Pond, 10, Reservoir, others on the Lake) Bufflehead - 31 Reservoir (high count) Hooded Merganser - 4 Reservoir Ruddy Duck - 101 Reservoir Pied-billed Grebe - 1 Reservoir Mourning Dove - 5 American Coot - 6 Reservoir Ring-billed and Herring Gulls - Reservoir 350+ Great Black-backed Gull - 28 Reservoir Double-crested Cormorant - Harlem Meer Cooper's Hawk - at least 4 Red-tailed Hawk - 4 or 5 Great Horned Owl - continued Northern Saw-whet Owl - 2 continued at the North end Red-bellied Woodpecker - 4 Downy Woodpecker - female at feeders Northern Flicker - Evodia Field Peregrine Falcon - pair perched & flying at El Dorado Blue Jay - 3 or 4 in most locations American Crow - 2 over Great Lawn Black-capped Chickadee - 1 Evodia Field feeders Tufted Titmouse - at least 30 Red-breasted Nuthatch - Shakespeare Garden (Alexi Kalogerakis) White-breasted Nuthatch - 7 Carolina Wren - west side of Azalea Pond American Robin - around 20 Gray Catbird - 2 (Shakespeare Garden & Upper Lobe Lawn) Northern Mockingbird - North Meadow Rec. Center Cedar Waxwing - flock of at least 10 over Great Lawn House Finch - male Evodia Field feeders American Goldfinch - 15 Evodia Field Eastern Towhee - at least 3 (pair Maintenance Field, heard Shakespeare Garden) White-throated Sparrow - many Common Grackle - a few at the feeders Northern Cardinal - 8
*A Cackling Goose was recently reported at the Reservoir, but we did not see anything resembling a Cackling Goose in the Canada Goose flock.
Several birders, including Alison Schondorf and Cathy Drake, told us about a Wood Duck on the east side of the Reservoir.
Deb Allen Follow us on twitter @BirdingBobNYC & @DAllenNYC
Date: 1/2/19 12:57 pm From: Christopher Gangemi <cjgangemi...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] No thick billed murre
Between 2:30 and 3:00 I did NOT observe the Thick Billed Murre at the Shinnecock Inlet. I was on the east side and could not observe the western side of the western jetty.
Many Eider were moving out of the inlet when I arrived. There was a large raft of birds just offshore. Perhaps it moved out there a bit. Water conditions were glassy calm.
Consolation prizes included a Red Necked Grebe and a Razorbill feeding in the inlet.
There is the continuing female barrows goldeneye still off of city island,between hart and city island,best location to view is from cross street or kilroe street.scope or bins is necessary now,but she isn't too far out.
Patrick horan The bronxSent from my Samsung Galaxy smartphone.
--
Date: 1/2/19 9:35 am From: Felipe Pimentel <fpimente...> Subject: Re: [nysbirds-l] Golden-crowned Sparrow YES
Based on the information posted by Lance Verderame, the last report was from Monday (12-31-18) when the bird was seen in the morning (9AM). I have not seen reports from today or even yesterday (1-1-2019). That location is about 3 hours from NYC and before undertaking the long drive, it would be nice if we have a confirmation of the bird (in that location) from today.
Felipe
On Jan 2, 2019, at 11:26 AM, Sean Sime <sean...><mailto:<sean...>> wrote:
I just spoke with John Hass who asked me to report to the list the Golden-crowned Sparrow is currently being seen in the previously reported location in Downsville, NY.
Please see the post from the original finder of the bird (Lance Verderame) regarding specific locations and access. Please use common sense and refrain from any behavior that could potentially cause ill will within the local community.
Date: 1/2/19 9:05 am From: Shaibal Mitra <Shaibal.Mitra...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Southern Nassau County CBC
The Southern Nassau County CBC was conducted for the 79th time on Saturday, 29 December 2018, by 89 field observers and two feeder watches. The weather was mild preceding the count and on count day, with temperatures dropping from 52 F at dawn to about 45 F at dusk as a cold front passed. Breezy conditions were a slight impediment to bird detection, but overall conditions were very favorable and coverage was as thorough and capable as we can ever recall, yielding a species total of 133, slightly above our average of 131 over the past ten years. Indicative of the thoroughness of coverage, we are aware of only two count-week species that were missed on count day: Bonapartes Gull and Pine Siskin. The latter of these is a tricky species on Long Island CBCs because, even in flight years, only a very few individuals tend to persist past November in our coastal habitats. But the former was a painful miss and a reminder of how much things can change over a lifetime of participating in CBCs. The last time Bonapartes Gull was missed on this count was in the 1952-53 season. Also illustrating the excellence of coverage were many instances in which scarce, easy to miss species were detected by more than one party: Red-necked Grebe (Jones Beach & Massapequa), American Woodcock (Tobay & Massapequa), Greater Yellowlegs (Atlantic, Five Towns, and Baldwin), Northern Saw-whet Owl (Jones Beach, Tobay, & Massapequa), Eastern Phoebe (Jones Beach & Hempstead), Marsh Wren (Tobay and bay islands), Purple Finch (Tobay & Baldwin), White-crowned Sparrow (Jones Beach, Tobay, & Loop), Rusty Blackbird (Hempstead and Massapequa), and Orange-crowned Warbler (Massapequa and Baldwin).
As usual, there were many highlights. A Yellow-throated Warbler at a private residence in the Baldwin territory was new to the cumulative list, which now stands at 242. Other notables included Snow Goose (Five Towns), Black-headed Gull (Jones Beach), Red-shouldered Hawk (Baldwin), Bald Eagle (Hempstead), four Barn Owls (bay islands), two Snowy Owls (Atlantic), Long-eared Owl (Tobay), Common Raven (Five Towns), Lapland Longspur (Atlantic), Chipping Sparrow (Mitchell), Nashville Warbler (Jones Beach), and Common Yellowthroat (Atlantic).
New all-time high counts were set for Sanderling (1201), Razorbill (1287), Red-tailed Hawk (34), Eastern Phoebe (3), Ruby-crowned Kinglet (18), and White-crowned Sparrow (9, tying 1991-92). Other totals that were high relative to recent experience included Coopers Hawk (22), American Kestrel (6), Blue Jay (182), Horned Lark (277), White-breasted Nuthatch 57, European Starling (4231).
No species were missed for the first time or recorded in all-time low numbers, but many totals were low relative to expectations formed in the modern era: Brant (17708), Mute Swan (65), American Wigeon (47), Mallard (1620), Northern Pintial (71), Green-winged Teal (71), Redhead (1), Lesser Scaup (38), Common Merganser (3), Pied-billed Grebe (10), American Coot (28), Purple Sandpiper (3), Ring-billed Gull (2115), Herring Gull (3098), Northern Harrier (16), Downy Woodpecker (47), Brown Creeper (3), Snow Bunting (40), American Tree Sparrow (21, rivaling the 79-year low of 20, from 1979-80), Junco (34), and Myrtle Warbler (183). In many of these cases, this years low counts represent a continuation of recent downward trends.
Purposeful bird counting is a fascinating and very rewarding avocation. After this years CBCs, I am left pondering why, after seemingly correlated irruptions this fall, Blue Jay and White-breasted Nuthatch remained into winter in high numbers in our area whereas Downy Woodpeckers apparently moved through.
A comprehensive summary of this years results is available on request.
Date: 1/2/19 8:26 am From: Sean Sime <sean...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Golden-crowned Sparrow YES
I just spoke with John Hass who asked me to report to the list the Golden-crowned Sparrow is currently being seen in the previously reported location in Downsville, NY.
Please see the post from the original finder of the bird (Lance Verderame) regarding specific locations and access. Please use common sense and refrain from any behavior that could potentially cause ill will within the local community.
Date: 1/2/19 6:09 am From: d Futuyma <dfutuyma...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Shinnecock Murre (Suffolk)
Ernst Mutchnik and I saw the Thick-billed Murre near the end of the west jetty and then further toward the middle if the mouth of the inlet. We lost sight of it about 15 minutes ago.
A close Razorbill is feeding inside the inlet, and a female Harlequin Duck is near the jetty.
Doug Futuyma
Sent from my iPhone
--
Greetings All, The 2018Ulster/Dutchess (NYUD) Christmas Bird Count was conducted on Saturday, December29. 49 individuals representing 15 fieldparties and one feeder watcher covered the ten sectors within this countcircle. Participants enjoyed moderatewinter temperatures ranging from a high of 52 degrees during the early morning nocturnaleffort to a low of 42 degrees at the end of the day’s diurnal effort. These conditions (along with a rainy latefall-early winter) meant water levels were high and void of ice and there wasno snow cover in the circle. Winds didpick up periodically but did hamper observation on the Hudson River or otherlarger bodies of water and did not adversely affect passerine viewing. All field parties did note oddly quite days withsome common species difficult to locate. This too may reflect on moderate conditions and the fact that birds werenot forced to congregate on small patches of open water or exposed ground. Unusual non-avian observationsincluded a whooping four mustelid species, Wood Frogs and peepers vocalizing,various active insect species, and a guy washing his car in his driveway.
88 species and 14,007individual birds were observed on count day. The species list was two aboveour average but the number of individuals was the second lowest total in theNYUD’s history and more than four thousand birds below the count average. A CommonYellowthroat identified at the Great Vly in the Town of Saugerties was theonly new addition to our composite list which now stands at 127 species after eight years. Otherhighlights included a Gray Catbird and36 Pine Siskins in West Saugertieswith a soaring Golden Eagle and 3 Northern Saw-whet Owls in KerleyCorners. The Tivoli Bays area served upa good selection of waterfowl despite the heavy pressure of hunters including aBlue-winged Teal, 9 Northern Pintails,and 28 Canvasbacks. Notable in this sector as well were 12 Eastern Screech Owls and 109 Black Vultures aiding greatly innew high counts set for both species. TheRhinebeck area may have an exciting development of colonizing Red-headed Woodpecker with that speciesbeing observed for consecutive years. The small portion of the Ashokan Reservoir withinour circle paid dividends with 5 RuddyDucks and a Common Loon while anewly accessible location in the Town of Ulster offered the count’s lone Common Redpoll and a sizable flock of 12 White-crowned Sparrows. A ChippingSparrow in the Town of Ulster rounded out a robust list of 10 sparrowspecies for the count.
Interestingly allthree falcon species were observed but exclusively in Dutchess County while 55 Bald Eagles were nicely distributedthroughout the circle. Yellow-rumpedWarbler, Hermit Thrush, Purple Finch, Savannah and Fox Sparrow were speciesrepresented by just one individual respectively. High numbers were recorded on 14 species andnew low counts were tallied on 11 species including typical number-paddingspecies like American Crow (less than half the average) and Dark-eyed Junco (abouta one third the average).
Once again I mustthank Steve Chorvas for his tutelage on CBC compiling and his patience andunderstanding with the annual barrage of questions I send his way. His data entry on count day and wonderfulsubsequent spreadsheet make my job much easier. I must also give a special thanks to Pat and Steve Johnson who helpedwith preparation of food, set up, and the breakdown of our well attended (33 NYUDers) post countcompilation. Many others brought deliciousfood and drink and made our “apps and finger foods” themed get together asuccess. Lastly, as always, JessProckup, Wendy Tocci, and Kyla DeDea made sure our clean up was done in a muchappreciated timely and helpful manner. I wish you all a Bird-filled and Healthy New Year,Mark DeDeaCo-compiler NYUDSAVE THE DATE: 9THANNUAL NYUD CBC SATURDAY, DECEMBER 28th 2019 __._,_.___ Posted by: forsythnature <forsythnature...>
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Date: 1/1/19 6:32 pm From: robert adamo <radamo4691...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] New Year's Day feast - Turkey, with a dash of Blacks !
Due to a house full of company, tonight was the 1st time I turned on the computer in over a week - so I don't know if someone has reported this sighting already.Today, at noontime, there were 8 Turkey Vultures riding the winds in the general area of the Roanoke Ave Elementary School, while 2 Black Vultures were resting and soaking up the vapors emitting from the school's chimney...my first of the season. Left unreported was a daily high of 18 T.V's. flying & roosting in the same area, within the past 2 weeks.
Date: 1/1/19 8:35 am From: Andrew Block <ablock22168...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Fw: Pelham Bay Park birds
I don't know if this go through. It didn't show on the list.
Andrew Andrew v. F. Block
Consulting Naturalist
20 Hancock Avenue, Apt. 3
Yonkers, Westchester Co., New York 10705-4629
www.flickr.com/photos/conuropsis/albums
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Andrew Block <ablock22168...>
To: NYSBIRDS-L <nysbirds-l...>
Sent: Monday, December 31, 2018 4:14 PM
Subject: Pelham Bay Park birds
As Jack mentioned earlier the Barrow's Goldeneye was still around the island with the towers, hanging with a female Common. Didn't see the Razorbill or Pileated Woodpecker, but did have the four Surf Scoters, a Cooper's Hawk, a Peregrine Falcon in the lot, and two Barred Owls. Also had three raccoons sleeping in the trees, one just above the old electrical building by the pines. I also had an American Kestrel fly over the Hutch just north of Sanford Blvd. On my way out to PBP I had a kestrel fly into the pine in my neighbors yard too.
Andrew Andrew v. F. Block
Consulting Naturalist
20 Hancock Avenue, Apt. 3
Yonkers, Westchester Co., New York 10705-4629
www.flickr.com/photos/conuropsis/albums
Date: 12/31/18 1:15 pm From: Andrew Block <ablock22168...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Pelham Bay Park birds
As Jack mentioned earlier the Barrow's Goldeneye was still around the island with the towers, hanging with a female Common. Didn't see the Razorbill or Pileated Woodpecker, but did have the four Surf Scoters, a Cooper's Hawk, a Peregrine Falcon in the lot, and two Barred Owls. Also had three raccoons sleeping in the trees, one just above the old electrical building by the pines. I also had an American Kestrel fly over the Hutch just north of Sanford Blvd. On my way out to PBP I had a kestrel fly into the pine in my neighbors yard too.
Andrew Andrew v. F. Block
Consulting Naturalist
20 Hancock Avenue, Apt. 3
Yonkers, Westchester Co., New York 10705-4629
www.flickr.com/photos/conuropsis/albums
--
Apologies, didn't realize it was on private property when I first posted. Congrats to Lance on the find.
Happy New Year to all and good birding.
Menachem
Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android
On Mon, Dec 31, 2018 at 7:45 AM, Menachem Goldstein<goldsteinm95...> wrote: Just saw eBird reports of a Golden-crowned Sparrow in Downsville Delaware County. Any more details as to a specific location would be greatly appreciated. I'm sure many birders would like to search for it.
Thanks,
Menachem
Greetings: This is the Syracuse Area Rare Bird Alert for the week on December 24, 2018
Highlights:
PEREGRINE FALCON
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK
NORTHERN HARRIER
BALD EAGLE
SANDHILL CRANE
KILLDEER
GLAUCOUS GULL
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL
SNOWY OWL
NORTHERN SHRIKE
EASTERN TOWHEE
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW
FIELD SPARROW
EVENING GROSBEAK
COMMON REDPOLL
PINE SISKIN
Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge (MNWR) and and Montezuma Wetlands Complex (MWC)
------------
12/25: A first year NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen on VanDyne Spoor Road.
12/30: A SANDHILL CRANE was seen in Mays Pool.
Onondaga County
------------
12/25: An EASTERN TOWHEE continues at a feeder south of Manlius.
12/30: 14 COMMON REDPOLLS were seen on the west shore trail of Onondaga Lake. A PINE SISKIN was seen on Harrington Road in Syracuse. A PEREGRINE FALCON was seen from Bennett Corners Road east of Elbridge. A SNOWY OWL was seen at Hancock Airport. A FIELD SPARROW was seen on the west shore trail of Onondaga Lake. A WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW was seen at a feeder in Elbridge. A WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW and an EASTERN TOWHEEE were seen on New Seneca Turnpike west of Marcellus.
12/31: 2 PINE SISKINS were seen at a feeder in Manlius. 8 BALD EAGLES were seen near Murphy’s Island near Destiny in Syracuse.
Oswego County
------------
12/21: A LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was found at Lake Neatahwanta in Fulton.
12/27: A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, not as plentiful as in past years, was seen on Morey Road east of Hastings.
Madison County
------------
12/27: A NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen on Eden Hollow Road.
12/28: The New Woodstock CBC found EVENING GROSBEAKS in the following locations. Mutton Hill Road, Eaton Reservoir, Jones Road and Ecden Hollow Road. A KILLDEER was heard onSouth Hill Road in DeRuyter. A NORTHERN SHRIKE was again seen on Eden Hollow Road. 23 COMMON REDPOLLS were seen on Hatch Lake Road.
12/31: 10 EVENING GROSBEAKS continue at a feeder on Eden Hollow Road. A NORTHERN HARRIER was seen on Ditchbank Road north of Chittenango.
Oneida County
------------
12/30: 16 BALD EAGLES, 7 adults and 9 immatures, were seen on the east end of Oneida Lake from Verona Beach State Park to Sylvan Beach.
Herkimer County
------------
EVENING GROSBEAKS continue to be seen almost daily at a feeder north of Dolgeville.
12/26: 2 PINE SISKINS were seen at a feeder in Dolgeville.
12/30: A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was seen on Snell’s Bush Road south of Dolgeville.
Cayuga County
------------
12/24: A GLAUCOUS GULL was seen at West Barrier Beach in Fair Haven.
Date: 12/31/18 12:40 pm From: Karen Fung <easternbluebird...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Evening Grosbeak photos from Riverside Park, Manhattan, today (31 December)
All -- I included some photos in today's eBird checklist. Amazing that the bird has stuck around this long (assuming it's the same individual from the Riverside Park CBC on 16 December). Let's hope it will be there tomorrow to welcome in the New Year.
Date: 12/31/18 12:22 pm From: Jack Rothman <jacroth1...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Barrow's Goldeneye, Orchard Beach, Pelham Bay Park, Bronx.
I re-found the Barrow’s Goldeneye first located by Ricard Aracil off Orchard Beach yesterday, swimming with some Common Goldeneye. There were also a few Surf Scoter mixed in with a large raft of Greater Scaup.
As of yesterday, the Pileated Woodpecker remains on Hunter Island.
Date: 12/31/18 12:13 pm From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central & Riverside Parks NYC - Sun. Dec. 30, 2018 - N. Saw-whet, Barred, and Great Horned Owls, Evening Grosbeak
Central & Riverside Parks, NYC Sunday, December 30, 2018 OBS: Robert DeCandido, PhD, Deborah Allen, m.ob.
Highlights:
Central Park: Northern Saw-whet Owl (2), Barred Owl, Great Horned Owl, Cooper's Hawk and other wintering birds. Between 7 & 7:20AM Bob & I watched a Barred Owl repeatedly flying from tree to tree in response to some rambunctious squirrels. Later on, the group watched a couple of American Crows mobbing the owl. The loud cawing attracted a Cooper's Hawk, which eventually chased away the crows, leaving the owl to sleep in peace.
A male Evening Grosbeak continued in Riverside Park.
Central Park:
Canada Goose - 8 Northern Shoveler - 27 Lake Mallard - 75 (Lake & Turtle Pond) American Black Duck - male Turtle Pond Bufflehead - male Turtle Pond Mourning Dove - 16 (Evodia Field & Great Lawn) Great Blue Heron - 1 or 2 (Boathouse & Turtle Pond) Cooper's Hawk - 4 Red-tailed Hawk - 2 or 3 Great Horned Owl - continuing Barred Owl - continuing (mobbed by American Crows) Northern Saw-whet Owl - 2 continuing in same location Red-bellied Woodpecker - 5 or 6 Downy Woodpecker - Warbler Rock Blue Jay - 20 American Crow - 7 (2 mobbing Barred Owl, flock of 5 Great Lawn) Black-capped Chickadee - 4 (2 Upper Lobe, 1 Turtle Pond, 1 feeders) Tufted Titmouse - 40-50 Red-breasted Nuthatch - Evodia Field feeders White-breasted Nuthatch - 7 Brown Creeper - the Oven Winter Wren - Delacorte Theater American Robin - small numbers Gray Catbird - Shakespeare Garden Northern Mockingbird - Winterdale Arch Cedar Waxwing - flock of around 10 over Shakespeare Garden American Goldfinch - 6 Eastern Towhee - heard in two locations White-throated Sparrow - many Common Grackle - around 300 Noorthern Cardinal - 15
Riverside Park: The male Evening Grosbeak, first reported on the Christmas Count Dec. 16th, continued, while a Peregrine Falcon called from a perch outside the Riverside Church nest and later circled overhead.
Deb Allen Follow us on twitter @BirdingBobNYC & @DAllenNYC.
Date: 12/31/18 11:33 am From: d Futuyma <dfutuyma...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Shinnecock Murre (Suffolk)
The Thick-billed Murre continues in Shinnecock Inlet, quite close to the wall on the western side. Multiple observers have also seen at least 200 Razorbills, a few Black-legged Kittiwakes (distant), etc.
Doug Futuyma
Date: 12/31/18 9:03 am From: Arie Gilbert <ArieGilbert...> Subject: Re:[nysbirds-l] Golden-crowned Sparrow and private property birds
Fellow Birders, Chasers, and others similarly afflicted.
There is the exciting report of a Golden-crowned Sparrow representing perhaps the 4th NYS sighting.
It is on private property (unfortunately), and as of yet the location, permission to visit, and other parameters have not been disclosed.
Some of you ( myself included ) would like to have this information so that we might enjoy this bird as well, while there are some out there who promote non-disclosure.
*Unfortunately* there is precedent for discretion or non-disclosure being a good idea, and that sucks: don't you be the cause of that idea being perpetuated!
So if you are one of those who would like to see this bird, and would like *subsequent* good birds in such places be made known, perhaps the following would be something to take note of and put into practice...
Private property is, well, ~private~. Remember that. Most if not all of us would be alarmed or at least concerned if an unexpected group of people assembled outside. So behave *as if it were your home* and treat them as you would hope to be treated. You don't have the "right", but if you are nice you will be given permission. It is so much better to ask permission first, than try to after you have already pissed them off.
Should a non birder inquire, show them your book with the bird in it, offer them a look through your optics, and *share your enthusiasm*.
Also put yourself in the shoes of the finder of a rarity, or the person who puts themselves out to obtain access for the marauding hoards that will descend upon the hapless home-owner. DON'T MAKE THEM REGRET REPORTING OR REQUESTING ACCESS.
As a visitor, it should be of utmost concern to each and every one of us to dispel any qualms the residents may have. This is for the benefit of the resident, for you, and for future birders hoping to get to the location in question. IOW don't make them conclude birders are jerks, and don't ruin it for others!
How to do this? First of all, be *exceedingly* polite. NEVER TRESPASS. Do not enter onto the property unless *you specifically* have been given permission to enter onto the property. Don't knock on their door, don't ask to use their bathroom etc.
Don't block the road or driveways, and be conscious of the effect on the neighbors too. Be polite to them *as well*.
If you see someone blocking the road and creating a potential issue, *gently* remind them that we will all suffer and that we are trying to avoid any potential problems.
If reports are posted with instructions on where to park, where to go, what to do/not do etc. -follow the suggestions-
Remember 'first impressions': If the first on the scene create an issue no matter how small, it may ruin it for others thereafter.
OTOH if the first on the scene create a positive experience and the take away is that 'birders are such nice people' it will keep the door open. "The only thing better than seeing a good bird is getting others on it" - A.G.
FWIW I have been to many a private residence that had hosted a rarity. Many hosts come away with it being a positive experience; some have sign-in books I bring a case of suet or bag of bird seed to leave as a gift. If you are a good photographer ( or even if you're not ) maybe send them a print. *It promotes good will*.
It would be great if we collectively could disabuse those who believe it, that disclosure of these birds will create a problem.
If that doesn't work, we can always tar and feather the transgressors and release them in Central Park so we can receive thrice hourly ebird sighting reports of them. ;)
Happy impending new year and here's to good birds,
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Date: 12/31/18 8:48 am From: David La Magna <dlamagna...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Red Crossbills - RMSP
Anyone looking for a good year end twitch, there were 4 cooperative Red Crossbills, 2 male and 2 females, along the boardwalk to the Robert Moses Lighthouse (about 3/4 of the way to the lighthouse).
Date: 12/31/18 5:31 am From: Andrew Baksh <birdingdude...> Subject: Re: [nysbirds-l] Golden-crowned Sparrow RFI
Any eBird report links and or were there photos? If so, please share.
Thank You.
--------
"I prefer to be true to myself, even at the hazard of incurring the ridicule of others, rather than to be false, and to incur my own abhorrence." ~ Frederick Douglass
風 Swift as the wind
林 Quiet as the forest
火 Conquer like the fire
山 Steady as the mountain
Sun Tzu The Art of War
> (\__/)
> (= '.'=)
> (") _ (")
> Sent from somewhere in the field using my mobile device!
Andrew Baksh
www.birdingdude.blogspot.com
> On Dec 31, 2018, at 7:45 AM, Menachem Goldstein <goldsteinm95...> wrote:
>
> Just saw eBird reports of a Golden-crowned Sparrow in Downsville Delaware County. Any more details as to a specific location would be greatly appreciated. I'm sure many birders would like to search for it.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Menachem
>
> Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android
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Just saw eBird reports of a Golden-crowned Sparrow in Downsville Delaware County. Any more details as to a specific location would be greatly appreciated. I'm sure many birders would like to search for it.
Thanks,
Menachem
Date: 12/30/18 6:32 pm From: Richard Aracil <raptorara...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Barrows Goldeneye - Pelham Bay Park, Bronx 12/30
Hi All,
Late this afternoon, there was a very nice drake BARROW'S GOLDENEYE which I viewed from Orchard Beach as it foraged with a raft of Common Goldeneye just off High Island (the island with the big antennas). The bird was still there when I left.
Good Birding and Happy New Year!
Rich Aracil
Bronx
Date: 12/30/18 7:20 am From: d Futuyma <dfutuyma...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Manhattan Evening Grosbeak
The male EVGR is along Riverside Park just north of Grant’s Tomb. A low fence is along the park walk, and there are rose shrubs in fruit. Other birds also.
Doug Futuyma
Date: 12/29/18 4:29 pm From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Pelham Bay Park, Bronx - Sat. Dec. 29, 2018 - Pileated Woodpecker, Bald Eagles & Owls
Pelham Bay Park, Bronx Saturday 29, 2018 OBS: Robert DeCandido, PhD, Deborah Allen, m.ob.
Highlights: Pileated Woodpecker, Bald Eagles, Great Horned and Barred Owls.
Canada Goose - at least 250 Mallard - small numbers American Black Duck - 200+ Orchard Beach Lagoon Greater Scaup - at least 200 in a flock off Orchard Beach Bufflehead - 100+ mostly in the Orchard Beach Lagoon Common Goldeneye - a few off Twin Island early morning Red-breasted Merganser - small numbers Mourning Dove - at least 8 Ring-billed Gull - 200+ in Orchard Beach Parking Lot Herring Gull - around 10 Great Black-backed Gull - adult on island in Orchard Beach Lagoon Red-throated Loon - off Twin Island Common Loon - Orchard Beach Lagoon & off Twin Island Great Egret - Orchard Beach Lagoon Sharp-shinned Hawk - flyover Hunter Island Bald Eagle - 2 (adult & first-cycle seen separately over Hunter Island) Red-tailed Hawk - probably 3 or 4 Great Horned Owl - continuing Barred Owl - 2 continue Red-bellied Woodpecker - at least 2 Hunter Island Hairy Woodpecker - Hunter Island Northern Flicker - Hunter Island Pileated Woodpecker - 1st-cycle male Hunter Island (Jack Rothman & Andrea Hessel) Blue Jay - at least 10 Hunter Island Black-capped Chickadee - at least 4 Hunter Island & Twin Island Tufted Titmouse - at least 10 White-breasted Nuthatch - 4 American Goldfinch Song Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Northern Cardinal
Deb Allen Follow us on twitter @BirdingBobNYC & @DAllenNYC
Date: 12/29/18 11:57 am From: Karen Fung <easternbluebird...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] UPDATE Re: Evening Grosbeak Riverside Park (Manhattan)
From the intel I'm getting, it was refound by others in the same area of the park (i.e., north of 120th), and observations were from the "Forever Wild" path below, not from RSD above. The bird was perched high in a tree, then came down to eye level, and photos were taken. It was in view for maybe 30 minutes, and last seen around 1:50pm, when it flew into a bush and folks lost sight of it.
Sounds like it's still around and worth a twitch.
Karen
On Sat, Dec 29, 2018 at 11:01 AM Karen Fung <easternbluebird...> wrote:
> Male, seen perched in a tree ~10:45a in the wooded area of the park > between the tennis courts and Riverside Church, just north of W120th. Lost > it while texting. This is the same area it was reported during the CBC on > 16 Dec. Unfortunately no camera with me. > > ---- > > Karen Fung > NYC > > > Sent from my iPhone > >
Date: 12/29/18 8:01 am From: Karen Fung <easternbluebird...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Evening Grosbeak Riverside Park (Manhattan)
Male, seen perched in a tree ~10:45a in the wooded area of the park between the tennis courts and Riverside Church, just north of W120th. Lost it while texting. This is the same area it was reported during the CBC on 16 Dec. Unfortunately no camera with me.
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
Compilers: Tom Burke and Tony Lauro
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, December 28,
2018 at 8:00 pm.
The highlights of today’s tape are MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRD, COMMON MURRE,
BLACK GUILLEMOT and RAZORBILL numbers, BLACK-HEADED GULL, BLACK-LEGGED
KITTIWAKE, GLAUCOUS and ICELAND GULLS, CATTLE EGRET, HARLEQUIN DUCK,
RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, RED CROSSBILL and more.
A great find any time in the northeast, a young MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRD was
spotted Saturday morning at Point Judith on a Rhode Island Christmas Bird
Count. As the bird continued west, birders contemplated sites along Long
Island Sound’s north shore to look for it. The FRIGATEBIRD instead turned
left and was next seen moving by the Coast Guard Station on the north side
of the Ponquogue Bridge at Shinnecock around 3 pm in the afternoon, still
heading west but, unfortunately, not seen again.
For local Christmas Bird Counts, the Bronx Westchester last Sunday recorded
116 species, including two RED-NECKED GREBES, a WILSON’S SNIPE, nine BALD
EAGLES, a RAZORBILL off Rye, one NORTHERN SAW-WHET and ten BARRED OWLS, a
RED-HEADLED WOODPECKER at Pelham Bay, four EASTERN PHOEBES, three PINE
SISKINS, eight CHIPPING, one LINCOLN’S and four WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS, a
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT and ninety-one RUSTY BLACKBIRDS.
The Smithtown Count held yesterday netted 98 species, highlights including
a EURASIAN form of GREEN-WINGED TEAL, four COMMON EIDERS, a SHORT-BILLED
DOWITCHER, one LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, nine NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS,
MERLIN and PEREGRINE FALCON, four COMMON RAVENS, two MARSH WRENS and two
PINE SISKINS.
The impressive RAZORBILL invasion on Eastern Long Island continues, with
over 9,000 estimated yesterday off Montauk Point and adjacent Camp Hero,
these numbers continuing to build over the last two weeks. Very few other
alcids, though, have
joined this movement. A COMMON MURRE was seen briefly off Camp Hero last
Sunday afternoon and reported again off the Point Monday morning, and a
BLACK GUILLEMOT was photographed as it few into Shinnecock Inlet last
Saturday afternoon. Farther west on Long Island, 677 RAZORBILLS were
counted moving by Robert Moses State Park Field 2 Wednesday morning.
Also at Montauk Point Thursday were a BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE and a LESSER
BLACK-BACKED GULL, with a RED-NECKED GREBE at Culloden Point. An ICELAND
GULL continues around the Montauk harbor entrance, and a CATTLE EGRET was
seen in flight along Route 27 west of the town of Montauk last Sunday,
while a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT was spotted at Hither Hills State Park
Thursday.
Three HARLEQUIN DUCKS were present at Shinnecock Inlet Wednesday, along
with a GLAUCOUS GULL, perhaps the same bird frequenting the area around
Triton Lane at least to Wednesday.
An adult BLACK-HEADED GULL continues to be seen around the bar adjacent to
the Coast Guard Station at Jones Beach West End, and two LESSER
BLACK-BACKED GULLS were at Robert Moses State Park Tuesday, with one at
West End Wednesday.
Other ICELAND GULLS were noted in Manhattan last Saturday and in Brooklyn
Tuesday.
A few CACKLING GEESE have been noted locally, but we have no report of the
PINK-FOOTED GOOSE since December 20th.
Single RED-NECKED GREBES were seen last Sunday off Coney Island Pier and
Floyd Bennett Field.
It seems few winter finches continue to linger in our area, but among them
were four or more RED CROSSBILLS seen Sunday in Brookhaven State Park.
Among a fairly low variety of late lingering WARBLERS have been a CAPE MAY
in Manhattan’s Union Square Park, joining an OVENBIRD and COMMON
YELLOWTHROAT there, and a TENNESSEE still present Wednesday at the West
Meadow Wetlands Preserve in Stony Brook.
An ORANGE-CROWNED WABLER was in Morningside Park in northern Manhattan
Tuesday, and among various other interesting passerines in the area was a
ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK visiting a private feeder in Mastic Wednesday
To phone in reports, on Long Island call Tony Lauro at (631) 734-4126 or
call Tom Burke at (914) 967-4922 and leave a message.
This service is sponsored by the Linnaean Society of New York and the
National Audubon Society. Thank you for calling, and Happy New Year!
Date: 12/28/18 9:22 am From: richard gostic <rgostic...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Smithtown Count results, Suffolk County, Long Island
The Smithtown Count in Suffolk County on Long Island was held on
Thursday, December 27 amid bright sunshine, light breezes, and
temperatures topping out in the low 40’s. Unfortunately, the pleasant
conditions did not encourage the birds to come out and greet us as we
recorded 98 species which is several species less than our typical
average. The highlights of the count included:
5 Green-winged Teal that included a single Eurasian (Common) Teal
Date: 12/28/18 5:28 am From: Ken Feustel <feustel...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] South Fork, LI Field Trip Report (Suffolk Co.)
The highlight of birding at Montauk Pt. Thursday morning was the large, continuing flight of Razorbills. In 2.5 hours of birding at the Point and Camp Hero State Park we recorded 9,015 Razorbills, the number once again exceeding the total count of the three scoters and Common Eider at this location. Unlike earlier reports, the Razorbills did not linger near shore, although easily visible with a spotting scope. One would think that there must be another species of alcid in this blizzard of birds, however we managed to miss out on this possibility. Birds of interest included a single Black-legged Kittiwake and a single Iceland Gull at the Point, a Red-necked Grebe at Culloden Point, and a Yellow-breasted Chat at Hither Hills State Park east campground (Site i8). We missed Bonaparte’s Gull and Horned Grebe completely until we got to Hither Hills. All in all a beautiful day on the south fork, and an ideal day for those lucky birders doing their annual CBC’s.
Date: 12/27/18 6:21 pm From: David La Magna <dlamagna...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Eurasian Green-winged Teal - Smithtown, Suffolk County
For anyone interested a Eurasian Green-winged Teal was discovered during the Smithtown CBC today at Bill Richards Park in Suffolk County. It was on the eastern spur of the only pond on site.
This park may not be Google map-able. It is a dirt parking lot just east of the entrance to Blydenburgh County Park on the west bound lane of 454/347 Vets Hwy. Park and follow the trail to the lake.
Date: 12/27/18 7:30 am From: Jeff Bolsinger <jsbolsinger...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Canton-Potdam CBC
Sorry about the late post. On Saturday, 22 December 22 participants in 10 parties counted birds for the Canton-Potsdam Christmas Bird Count. It was a little chilly but otherwise weather was reasonably good, but numbers for most species were quite low. The most unusual bird of the day was a juvenile Golden Eagle Tom and Eileen Wheeler found at a deer carcass along the boundary of Canton and Potsdam. Six parties tallied a total of 80 Pine Grosbeaks, and Common Redpolls were widely scattered in flocks of up to 60-70 individuals. Bohemian Waxwings have been virtually absent from the Canton-Potsdam area so far this winter and none were found on count day, but I found several flocks a couple of days later in Potsdam so at least added if for count week. Here is the full list:
Canada Goose—9
Ruffed Grouse—3
Wild Turkey—309
Great Blue Heron—1
Bald Eagle—3
Golden Eagle—1
Cooper’s Hawk—3
Red-tailed Hawk—15
Rough-legged Hawk—1
Merlin—1
Rock Pigeon—335
Mourning Dove—57
Barred Owl—1
Red-bellied Woodpecker—2
Downy Woodpecker—38
Hairy Woodpecker—35
Northern Flicker—1
Pileated Woodpecker—5
Northern Shrike—1
Blue Jay—106
American Crow—103
Common Raven—16
Horned Lark—35
Black-capped Chickadee—597
Red-breasted Nuthatch—3
White-breasted Nuthatch—57
Brown Creeper—2
Eastern Bluebird—CW
American Robin—1
European Starling—433
Cedar Waxwing—11
Bohemian Waxwing—CW
American Tree Sparrow—15
Song Sparrow—1
Dark-eyed Junco—112
Snow Bunting—33
Northern Cardinal—74
Red-winged Blackbird—1
Pine Grosbeak—80
Common Redpoll—361
American Goldfinch—52
House Sparrow—230
Date: 12/26/18 11:03 am From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC - Tue. Dec. 25, 2018 - Continuing Owls & Falcons
Central Park NYC Tuesday December 25, 2018 OBS: Robert DeCandido, PhD
Highlights: Continuing Barred and Northern Saw-whet Owls & Falcons.
Canada Goose - 250+ Reservoir, Lake and Pond Wood Duck - male at the Pond Northern Shoveler - 20+ Mallard - 100+ Bufflehead - at least 6 Reservoir Ruddy Duck - 150+ Reservoir Pied-billed Grebe - west side Reservoir (Jane) Mourning Dove - 6 American Coot - 6 Reservoir Ring-billed and Herring Gulls - around 200 Reservoir Great Black-backed Gull - 4 Reservoir Great Blue Heron - immature fishing east side of Lake near Boathouse Cooper's Hawk - 3 or 4 Red-tailed Hawk - 4 Barred Owl - continued mid-park (spotted by Harry from the Netherlands) Northern Saw-whet Owl - continued mid-park (another reported at the North End) Red-bellied Woodpecker - at least 6 Downy Woodpecker - 4 American Kestrel - male area of Cedar Hill & Boathouse Peregrine Falcon - 2 (adult pair perched Reservoir), 2 others reported Blue Jay - around 30 American Crow - 5 flyovers in small flock Black-capped Chickadee - 2 Evodia Field feeders Tufted Titmouse - around 40 Red-breasted Nuthatch - feeders White-breasted Nuthatch - 5 Hermit Thrush - near Boathouse (Bob - early a.m.) American Robin - around 30 Gray Catbird - 3 or 4 Northern Mockingbird - Winderdale Arch House Finch - 4 Purple Finch - female Evodia Field feeders (Bob - early a.m.) American Goldfinch - 4 Fox Sparrow - Swampy Pin Oak White-throated Sparrow - 50+ Common Grackle - flock of 40-50 on the Mall, a few at the feeders Northern Cardinal - 6
Happy Holidays to All,
Deb Allen Follow us on twitter @BirdingBobNYC & @DAllenNYC
Date: 12/26/18 7:49 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Manhattan, NYC 12/25 [lingering warblers, E. Phoebe, etc.]
Manhattan, N.Y. City - Christmas day, 25 December, 2018 - With early sun showing, & temp’s. above-freezing at sun-up, the first bird seen at Morningside Park was a lingering Eastern Phoebe, at the rear of the small pond, near W. 112-113th St. in the eastern part of this park; next up, very shortly after, and also lingering, an Orange-crowned Warbler, in the vicinity of a large, flat rock outcrop just barely north of W. 120th St. & not far west of Morningside Ave., also in the eastern part of this park - the warbler first found in a weedy patch, then as it often may be, up a tree that has a sap-flow, presumed a result of Y.-b. Sapsucker workings, one of the latter also being regular in the same area. N.B., the E. Phoebe can & does wander a bit, but a bit of patience at the one-&-only pond in the aforementioned area is likely to produce a sighting - with patience &, some sun is likely also of help. The O.-crowned W. may be prone to some wandering, but also has been quite partial to the (other) area noted above and patience may be rewarded, again some sun may be helpful for it, too. Not that long after good views of these birds (& some closeup photos), my next stop of length was in Union Square Park, where a Cape May Warbler (1st-fall, & likely female, plumage) also is lingering. That warbler was again seen in the area of U. Square that is along the park’s w. edges, and both in a few trees nearest to the latitude of E. 16th St., as well as as far south as some shrubs just n. of the dog-run enclosure, & about even with E. 15th St. - this warbler can at times go into the shrubs & not be obvious, as well as spending time at what, again, appears to be a possible sapsucker well… or, at least, a sappy spot on one of the elms, specifically, one that is immediately east of a starbucks over on the street, & (the elm tree) having a prominently broken, felled limb on the ground, within the park edge. The other 2 warbler species also lingering at Union Square Park were actually a bit tougher to spot on Xmas day, as parts of the s. end of the park were locked-gated-closed off to any access. The shops were perhaps just closed for the day or even only for a part of, and all of the park may be open as usual in future. I did have bin’s. views of Ovenbird, & Common Yellowthroat (male); only the Cape May Warbler here gave a lot of photo-ops. Checking around at a number of other lower-Manhattan parks was not all that productive, and I then returned to Central Park, where many of the birds being seen (there) on a regular basis by hundreds of observers this late fall were again present; I did however come up with an immature White-crowned Sparrow (photographed), thanks to a tip from Mike Freeman of Manhattan, this bird was on the bridle path just barely north of a main entry area from the E. 90th Street entrance (i.e., just west of Fifth Ave. & along the edges of the cindered bridle path. This bird was found by Mike F. just a day after the manhattan part of the Lower Hudson CBC count-period had expired. Other species in Central Park on Christmas day included: Pied-billed Grebe (lingering, reservoir), Great Blue Heron, Canada Goose, Wood Duck (multiple, including 1 drake next to the leg-banded/exotic drake Mandarin duck, which I helped a few folks see at around 8:15 a.m., before moving on to native species), Gadwall, Mallard, Northern Shoveler, Bufflehead, Hooded Merganser, Ruddy Duck, Cooper's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, American Coot, Ring-billed Gull, [American] Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, ['feral'] Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, American Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon, Great Horned Owl, Barred Owl, Northern Saw-whet Owl (all lingering & all seen by hundreds of observers in recent weeks), Red-bellied Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Yellow-shafted Flicker, Blue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Red-breasted Nuthatch, White-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper (in 2 locations), Carolina Wren, Winter Wren (1), Ruby-crowned Kinglet (1), Hermit Thrush, American Robin, Gray Catbird (4, in 3 locations), Northern Mockingbird, Brown Thrasher (1, where it’s been since mid-autumn), European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Eastern Towhee, [Red] Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow (1 immature as noted above, photo’d. - and perhaps present for some weeks or more but not seen at this location until recently), Slate-colored Junco, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, Rusty Blackbird (1 noted in same area as recent weeks), Common Grackle, Purple Finch (multiple, not many), House Finch, American Goldfinch, & House Sparrow. - - - -“He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it.” - Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. good end-of-2018 birding to all, Tom Fioremanhattan
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Date: 12/25/18 8:24 am From: Michael Britt <sootyshear...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Black Dirt Roughleggin 12/22/18
Merry Christmas! Mark French and I hit 9 stops in the Black Dirt Region (one in NJ, eight in NY) on Saturday. Numbers were low overall and we didn't wait out the owls because of the wind. Short-eareds often wait until near full darkness, before emerging on windy evenings. We tallied 13 NORTHERN HARRIERS (low), 8 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS (very low - six light, one dark, one intermediate morph), 5 AMERICAN KESTRELS (four males, one female), 2 LAPLAND LONGSPURS (Skinner's), & 19 WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS (one large flock with one adult and eighteen first-winters).
A separate note for some interesting RED-TAILED HAWKS. A completely dark bird and I mean completely, except for a "red tail" was seen on Skinner's. We had two other interesting Red-tails, at an area a mile or more away. One appeared to be a classic abieticola. A second bird was very dark overall and only appeared to have a sliver of light coloring extending down the middle of the breast. Unfortunately this bird spent most of its time ground-hunting. When it did make a short flight, we only got a rear-view, confirming that it was a RTHA but we did not get a better look at the front of the bird. Could this be an offspring of the all dark bird that is resident around Skinner's?
Date: 12/24/18 9:35 am From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC - Sun. Dec. 23, 2018 - Continuing Barred and Great Horned Owls & Other Wintering Raptors
Central Park NYC Sunday December 23, 2018 OBS: Robert DeCandido, PhD, Deborah Allen, m.ob.
Highlights: Continuing Barred and Great Horned Owls & Other Wintering Raptors.
Canada Goose - 400+ Reservoir, 12 Turtle Pond, others on the Lake Northern Shoveler - 66+ (61 Lake, 4 Turtle Pond, 1 Reservoir) Mallard - 85+ (57 Reservoir, 5 Turtle Pond, 23 the Point, others on the Lake) American Black Duck - Reservoir Bufflehead - 12 (10 Reservoir, 1 the Pool, 1 Turtle Pond) Hooded Merganser - 2 Reservoir Ruddy Duck - 122 Reservoir Mourning Dove - 8 American Coot - 2 Reservoir Ring-billed & Herring Gulls - 200+ Reservoir Double-crested Cormorant - flyover Great Blue Heron - east shore of Lake near Boathouse Cooper's Hawk - 2 (female Great Lawn, hatch-year male Cedar Hill) Red-tailed Hawk - at least 2 including adult female of Beresford pair Great Horned Owl - continues mid-park, left roost at 4:54PM Barred Owl - continues at north end, also reported mid-park Red-bellied Woodpecker - at least 6 Downy Woodpecker - 3 (1 Turtle Pond, 2 top of Oven) Northern Flicker - female Maintenance Field American Kestrel - 2 (male & female) Great Lawn Peregrine Falcon - ad. female north end of Reservoir (thanks to Wolfgang Demisch) Blue Jay - 15-20 American Crow - flyover Turtle Pond Black-capped Chickadee - 2 (Great Lawn (Andrea Hessel), s. of feeders) Tufted Titmouse - 30+ Red-breasted Nuthatch - (feeders, Pinetum (Ryan Serio)) White-breasted Nuthatch - 8-10 Brown Creeper - Swampy Pin Oak Carolina Wren - Azalea Pond Hermit Thrush - 2 (Top of Oven, Triplet's Bridge) American Robin - 25+ Northern Mockingbird - Cedar Hill House Finch - 8 (6 Maintenance Field, 2 s. of Azalea Pond) Purple Finch - female s. of Azalea Pond (Ryan Serio) American Goldfinch - at least 10 Eastern Towhee - 4 (2 Shakespeare Garden, 2 Maintenance Field) White-throated Sparrow - 100+ Dark-eyed Junco - 4 Northern Cardinal - 4
Deb Allen Follow us on twitter @BirdingBobNYC & @DAllenNYC
Date: 12/24/18 7:21 am From: Robert Lewis <rfermat...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Rough-legged Hawk yesterday at the Oil City area
Rough-legged Hawk December 23 at the Oil City area.
The bird was approximately here: 41.290645, -74.524183. I walked up the path called Liberty Lane. Couldn't get too close to the bird.
BTW neither the parking area nor this dirt road were roped off. Yet it seems to be on a National Wildlife Refuge. Apparently not affected by the shutdown(?) Bob LewisSleepy Hollow NY
Date: 12/23/18 12:52 pm From: Angus Wilson <oceanwanderers...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] South Fork LI: Common Murre and Cattle Egret in Montauk
The spectacular Razorbill and Red-throated Loon show continues in Block Island Sound as viewed from the north shore of Montauk Point (Suffolk Co.), with several thousand of both species easily visible from different vantage points. As others have noted, the activity dries up mid-morning but small numbers of Razorbill can still be seen throughout the day. Seaduck numbers seem to be climbing compared to a week or two ago.
Early afternoon a basic plumaged COMMON MURRE was seen briefly in Turtle Cove as viewed from the Camp Hero Bluffs. It was 300-400 yards out and diving rapidly among the rafts of Black Scoter and Common Eider. I was unable to relocate the Barrow's Goldeneye found on the CBC.
Lastly, on my way home I was surprised by a CATTLE EGRET flying east along the Montauk Hwy (Rt 27) just before where the new and old roads split. Although I gave chase along the Old Montauk Hwy, I could not find refind the egret but it's possible it will overnight in grassy areas of Montauk Village or Deep Hollow.
-- Angus Wilson New York City & The Springs, NY, USA
Date: 12/23/18 9:38 am From: kathryn klecan <kathk68...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Red Crossbills, Brookhaven State Pk, Suffolk
At 11 am today, while running, I encountered 4 (perhaps more) Red Crossbills visiting a small puddle in a tire rut. They retreated to the tops of the pines and fell silent before I could obtain audio. As I run without bins and eyeglasses I had to leave it at that. They weren’t seen or heard upon my return. As there is a lot of habitat around they are probably not chaseable. The small puddle will likely be gone by days end. But hear are details anyway. Enter at main entrance ( east side of William Floyd Pkwy at Whiskey Rd. Walk east from trail kiosk on fire rd for a few minutes. You will reach a bench, take right fork for about 1/10th of a mile. FYI Main trails can also be traversed by mountain bike which would allow for greater coverage (though you might have to walk through some sandy areas). Hunters may be present so wear some orange.
The Bird was flying westbound along the bay at approximately 3 PM. Iphone photos taken. only three photos were cropped and zoomed in. zooming on mobile device or laptop shows profiles better. Probably bird that was sighted earlier in the day at Point Judith, Rhode Island. Below is a link to my ebird checklist with photos.
A belated report came in, thanks to (in part) Laura Jacobs, Robert O. Paxton, & (forwarding this news) Karen Fung (all of Manhattan), that on Sunday, 16 December in the northern area of Riverside Park, and while a number of participants there conducted that section of the Lower Hudson Christmas Bird Count (CBC), a male Evening Grosbeak was found & enjoyed by allpresent. This was near W. 120th Street, east of a tennis court and where a section of woods is thickly-vegetated and has a partly very steep-sided slope. The Grosbeak was also sought on subsequent days, but not seen again. It is very likely a unique sighting for the entire count circle, although some sectors may yet report their CBC sightings. (Again, the Manhattan bird-count is a part of the 2-state Lower Hudson circle, taking in portions of adjacent New Jersey just west across the Hudson river, from Manhattan.) All of Manhattan, & some adjacent islands that are in the same county: New York Co., are also included in the count’s circle. This is now the 4th reliable report of Evening Grosbeak seen in Manhattan this season, with only the first report being of more than a single bird (two birds, in that first-reported sighting, from Central Park). Subsequent (2) sightings, also photo-documented, have been in Central Park, each of singles, 1 in female plumage, then a male, as was this latest. Additional birds that were good for the north-Riverside count sector were Red-breasted Merganser (3, Hudson river), & Red-breasted Nuthatch (2), & there was a highest-ever count for Tufted Titmouse there, as well as a very good count of White-throated Sparrow with 317 in that count-section alone, both of the latter fitting with local trends for those species this season. AlthoughR.-br. Merganser, & Red-breasted Nuthatch may be occasional from, & in, Riverdside Park, these 2 species were new to that count-sector (at least in the area counted, the “north” portion of the park). Good numbers of Blue Jay were also noted by the Riverside-N. group & at least 1 Peregrine was also found, despite the wet count day. Congrat’s to that team, and all who took part in all areas, on a wet & rather windy day, for excellent work. - - -One of many interesting sightings from just across the Hudson, as part of the Lower Hudson CBC, on Sunday 12/16 was of a Glaucous Gull, reported as a probable 2nd-cycle for age & plumage, this on the New Jersey side of the river. Also of interest if not hugely surprising given the general movements of the species so far this season, at least one Evening Grosbeak was noted from a C.B.C. in Bergen County, N.J. (rather near to northern Manhattan, across to the west of the Hudson river and the sighting a bit ‘inland’) on Sat., 12/15/‘18 - this as part of the Fyke CBC (all of which is in New Jersey). Good birding & happy winter solstice,
Tom Fioremanhattan
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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
Compilers: Tom Burke and Tony Lauro Coverage: New York City, Long Island, Westchester County
Transcriber: Ben Cacace
BEGIN TAPE
Greetings. This is the New York Rare Bird Alert for Friday, December 21st 2018 at 8pm. The highlights of today's tape are PINK-FOOTED GOOSE, GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, BARROW'S GOLDENEYE, HARLEQUIN DUCK, BLACK-HEADED GULL, BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE, YELLOW-THROATED and other warblers, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, winter finches and Christmas Count results.
The Christmas Count season began with a very mixed weekend. A decent Saturday followed by a very rainy, windy Sunday. Saturday won.
The Montauk Christmas Count Saturday recorded 127 species the highlights including a BLUE-WINGED TEAL, 4 WOOD DUCKS, 2 HARLEQUIN DUCKS a female BARROW'S GOLDENEYE off the Camp Hero Overlook, 9 BALD EAGLES and 2 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS on Gardiners Island, 6 RED-NECKED GREBES, WILSON'S SNIPE and 6 AMERICAN WOODCOCK, 8 BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES and 4 ICELAND GULLS, an amazing 1,898 RAZORBILLS, mostly off the point, 13 NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS and 3 SNOWY OWLS, EASTERN PHOEBE, HOUSE WREN, NASHVILLE, ORANGE-CROWNED and PINE WARBLERS, YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, 1 COMMON REDPOLL and 45 PINE SISKINS.
Brooklyn Saturday netted 121 species including 50 COMMON EIDER, 3 RED-NECKED GREBES, a RAZORBILL, 1 ICELAND GULL, BARN, SNOWY and 3 NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS, 3 EASTERN PHOEBES, 2 MARSH WRENS, an EVENING GROSBEAK, 3 COMMON REDPOLLS and 4 PINE SISKINS and a YELLOW WARBLER.
The Northern Nassau Count produced 104 species Saturday with a CACKLING GOOSE, 4 BALD EAGLES, 4 NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS, 3 EASTERN PHOEBES and 1 MARSH and 5 HOUSE WRENS. A much more trying Sunday captured and recorded 117 species featuring RED-NECKED GREBE, AMERICAN BITTERN, 1,145 RAZORBILLS, 11 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS, 2 NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS, 4 EASTERN PHOEBES, 2 LAPLAND LONGSPURS, BALTIMORE ORIOLE, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER and 6 RED CROSSBILLS.
Queens on Sunday recorded 112 species highlighted by a PINK-FOOTED GOOSE as well as ICELAND GULL, NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL, EASTERN PHOEBE and 7 ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS. The PINK-FOOTED GOOSE was still present at least to Thursday at what is called the Nassau County Storm Water Drainage Basin Number 21 which is located north of Marcus Avenue in Lake Success. The goose could be on the basin or on surrounding grassy areas.
The Greenwich-Stamford Count including eastern Westchester County netted 103 species Sunday including COMMON EIDER, RED-NECKED GREBE, NORTHERN GOSHAWK, 2 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, BLACK-HEADED GULL and for count period a male PAINTED BUNTING at a private feeder in Connecticut.
The Rockland County Count on Sunday featuring AMERICAN BITTERN among its 75 species.
As part of the Lower Hudson Count Sunday an EVENING GROSBEAK was found up in Riverside Park in Manhattan.
As a follow-up to the large RAZORBILL numbers on the Montauk and Captree Counts on Thursday around one thousand were estimated off Montauk and 700 off Shinnecock Inlet. The invasion continuing.
A drake HARLEQUIN DUCK was at Shinnecock Inlet last Friday, another at Montauk yesterday. A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, flooding around southern Westchester County, was on Playland Lake in Rye again yesterday. Single drake EURASIAN WIGEON were again noted on Avon Lake in Amityville and at Brooklyn's Marine Park Salt Marsh Nature Center this week.
An immature GLAUCOUS GULL was still around Triton Lane off Dune Road in Hampton Bays yesterday and the adult BLACK-HEADED GULL continues around the bar off the Coast Guard Station at Jones Beach West End.
An adult RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was spotted at Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx Wednesday.
Some intriguing late warblers noted this week featured a YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER at a private Oceanside feeder last weekend. A late CAPE MAY WARBLER found Monday along with an OVENBIRD and a COMMON YELLOWTHROAT in Manhattan's Union Square Park. A PRAIRIE WARBLER in Pelham Bay Park Wednesday, a TENNESSEE WARBLER at the West Meadow Wetlands Preserve in Stony Brook from Saturday to yesterday and a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT at Marshlands Conservancy in Rye Wednesday.
To phone in reports on Long Island call Tony Lauro at (631) 734-4126 or 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.
Date: 12/20/18 5:00 pm From: kathryn klecan <kathk68...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Razorbills montauk and shinnecock inlet Suffolk County
Like to celebrate my bday with a sunrise and some birding. Ideal conditions at Montauk today made turning 50 more bearable. Highlights were 1000+ Razorbills, a drake Harlequin duck and a Red-necked grebe. Two grey seals were a bonus. The mouth of Shinnecock Inlet hosted another 700+ Razorbills. A quick stop at Eastport Lake for Canvasbacks, 39, and Redhead, 2 among the building numbers of waterfowl.
Date: 12/20/18 2:48 pm From: Ben Cacace <bcacace...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] eBird.org Shared Location - Nassau County Storm Water Drainage Basin No. 21
A marker was created for 'Nassau County Storm Water Drainage Basin No. 21' in
Nassau County based on the reports of the *Pink-footed Goose*. The hotspot
is currently available.
If you wish to merge your personal location with an existing hotspot here
are the steps:
— Sign into eBird.org
— Go to "My eBird" & select "Manage My Locations" in the right panel
— At the bottom of the screen click "Show All" to see all locations on one
page
— You can sort the list by clicking on any of the headers: Location,
Country, State/Province, County, Type* or # of Checklists
— Select your personal location (it will show a letter "P" under Type*) by
clicking "Edit" on the right side of the line
— Select the "Merge" button and you'll see all nearby hotspots as red icons
— Keep the checkmark for "Delete after merging" selected
— Click the icon that best fits your location
— ... now you'll see the hotspot description above the 'Merge' button along
with the # of checklists you'll be merging
— Click on the 'Merge' button
— Answer Yes to the 'Yes or No' query
All checklists for that personal location will be combined with the hotspot
with this process.
--
Ben Cacace
Manhattan, NYC
Date: 12/20/18 10:46 am From: kevin rogers <kev31317...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Black-headed gull,Jones beach coast guard -yes
Didn't see it on the SandBar by coast guard so walked East on the sand towards the bridge and found it actively feeding just off the shore fraternizing with the red-breasted mergansers. Good looks right now 1:45 pm --
Date: 12/20/18 9:18 am From: Irene Grysman <igrysman...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] EXACT LOCATION FOR Pink-Footed Goose still at the Naussa County Storm Water Drainage Basin No. 21 (correct name ) off Marcus Avenue in Lake Success, Naussau County
Date: 12/20/18 9:03 am From: Irene Grysman <igrysman...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Pink-Footed Goose still at the Naussa County Storm Water Drainage Basin No. 21 (correct name ) off Marcus Avenue in Lake Success, Naussau County
Pink-Footed Goose still at the Naussa County Storm Water Drainage Basin No. 21 (correct name ) off Marcus Avenue in Lake Success, Naussau
Saul and I found goose standing on frozen area on east side of "pond" by parking in lot of PAC ( progressive athletic club) and walking through breaks in fence.Do so at your own risk! Beware of thorns! Bird was seen awesomely standing on its bright pink bubble gum legs and feet showing its self off beautifully. A life for us!!
Date: 12/19/18 11:38 am From: Jack Rothman <jacroth1...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Pelham Bay Park
Joe McManus and I dipped on the Pileated Woodpecker this morning on Hunter Island, but were surprised by an adult Red-headed Woodpecker. Other notable species were the Juvenile Bald Eagle, Barred Owl and fifteen or so common Goldeneye.
.
The complete checklist and photos https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S50802891 <https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S50802891>
In the Southern Zone we were again surprised to come upon a Prairie Warbler.
Date: 12/19/18 7:34 am From: Shaibal Mitra <Shaibal.Mitra...> Subject: RE: [nysbirds-l] Cape May Warbler, etc. - Union Square Pk., NYC Tues., 12/18
Hi Tom and all,
Thanks for the information and synthesis of these interesting records. It is intriguing that Yellow-throated Warbler, in areas well north of its breeding range, occurs more frequently in winter than at any other season.
Regarding Cape May Warblers in winter, I agree that this is probably the most frequently encountered species in our area among those that have wholly Neotropical wintering ranges (all of the warblers that are more frequent than it on our CBCs winter commonly in the southeastern US, with which our area is increasingly ecologically associated). Participants on the upcoming CBCs should keep in mind that active sapsucker wells are strongly predictive of other interesting nectar-feeding species at this season, including Cape May Warblers and Baltimore Orioles. Other rarities have also been found in this context, such as the Western Tanager at Central Park in March 2008:
--and the Scott's Oriole at Union Square Park in January 2008, which was ogled by a semi-circle of voyeuristic birders as it wrestled on the ground with a none-too-pleased sapsucker at the feet of the statue of Mahatma Gandhi!
Bottom line: if you find active sapsucker wells, linger for 15-20 minutes to see whether any commensal nectarivores are around.
Shai Mitra
Bay Shore
________________________________________
From: <bounce-123197124-11143133...> [<bounce-123197124-11143133...>] on behalf of Tom Fiore [<tomfi2...>]
Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2018 6:26 AM
To: <nysbirds-L...>
Subject: [nysbirds-l] Cape May Warbler, etc. - Union Square Pk., NYC Tues., 12/18
Tuesday, 18 December, 2018
Union Square Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City
A 1st-fall, presumed female Cape May Warbler was present again at the above park, and again in the same area where Rob Bate had found it first the previous day. I had to wait a bit before noticing the warbler, not terribly high in bare trees near the w. edge of this park, roughly opposite a starbucks, as a landmark on the adjacent street, which is Union Square West, & a bit north of E. 15th St.
The Cape May (quite a drab bird as 1st-year females of that species can be, but not nearly the grayest I've ever seen in that plumage) then went down into low (but raised up from street-level) shrubs that partly surround a fully-fenced off dark statue, just below the above-noted area, & the warbler became extremely furtive in those shrubs; however I was able to click a number of ID-suitable photos in a short time, and at least one from under 5 yards.
After its' brief showing in low perspective, it either went back into the shrubs, which are extremely dense evergreens, or possibly gave me the slip by going up & away to somewhere. I intentionally visited at an hour sort of similar to when Rob Bate had discovered this, & the sun on Tues. afternoon was certainly out in full, despite the comparative chill this cold-front passage day.
I also took a much shorter time to see & photo. a couple of the other birds lately residing at this park, including Ovenbird, Common Yellowthroat (an adult male), & Swamp Sparrow with the usual throngs of both hungry and shopping humans, & the also-usual-in-winter White-throated Sparrows that Manhattan sees so long as major snows do not 'push' the latter on to the south.
The Cape May Warbler might be a 'unique' species for the Lower Hudson CBC-2018 count (week), but compilers will confirm at a future point if that is so. And again, thanks to Rob Bate for some direction-info specific to that 1 warbler, & of course for the find.
- - - -
A note from an adjacent state (to NY), an adult-plumaged Yellow-throated Warbler (of the race albilora) turned up in Addison County, Vermont, and that occurence is in fact just one of many through the years in various northeast states & some of the Canadian maritime provinces, in December & also, in a number of cases over the decades, wintering birds. I myself have visited a modest number of wintering Yellow-throated Warblers in the greater northeast over the past 30+ years. Some, perhaps really all, were at least occasional, if not quite regular, at various home feeding stations. An eBird report with fun photos for anyone with interest in the VT sighting for 12/18/18: https://ebird.org/vt/view/checklist/S50782919
There are more than 100 records for Yellow-throated Warbler in the northeast states & Maritime provinces in the Dec. thru Feb. period, historically to present day. Also, a species such as Cape May (many of which winter, which actually can mean a stay of more than 6 months for some individuals, on Caribbean isles) is not as rare as one may assume in the month of December in this region, but there are certainly not as many winter records of the latter warbler as for Yellow-throated. A good book, not the most up-to-date in many ways, but with a wealth of information on this sort of topic, and many others in its thorough text sections, is (late 20th century pub. date) A Field Guide to North American Warblers in the Peterson field guide series, authored by Jon L. Dunn & Kimball L. Garrett, which is still pretty available on-line & perhaps in some shops.
Date: 12/19/18 6:07 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Cape May Warbler, etc. - Union Square Pk., NYC Tues., 12/18
Tuesday, 18 December, 2018
Union Square Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City
A 1st-fall, presumed female Cape May Warbler was present again at the above park, and again in the same area where Rob Bate had found it first the previous day. I had to wait a bit before noticing the warbler, not terribly high in bare trees near the w. edge of this park, roughly opposite a starbucks, as a landmark on the adjacent street, which is Union Square West, & a bit north of E. 15th St.
The Cape May (quite a drab bird as 1st-year females of that species can be, but not nearly the grayest I've ever seen in that plumage) then went down into low (but raised up from street-level) shrubs that partly surround a fully-fenced off dark statue, just below the above-noted area, & the warbler became extremely furtive in those shrubs; however I was able to click a number of ID-suitable photos in a short time, and at least one from under 5 yards.
After its' brief showing in low perspective, it either went back into the shrubs, which are extremely dense evergreens, or possibly gave me the slip by going up & away to somewhere. I intentionally visited at an hour sort of similar to when Rob Bate had discovered this, & the sun on Tues. afternoon was certainly out in full, despite the comparative chill this cold-front passage day.
I also took a much shorter time to see & photo. a couple of the other birds lately residing at this park, including Ovenbird, Common Yellowthroat (an adult male), & Swamp Sparrow with the usual throngs of both hungry and shopping humans, & the also-usual-in-winter White-throated Sparrows that Manhattan sees so long as major snows do not 'push' the latter on to the south.
The Cape May Warbler might be a 'unique' species for the Lower Hudson CBC-2018 count (week), but compilers will confirm at a future point if that is so. And again, thanks to Rob Bate for some direction-info specific to that 1 warbler, & of course for the find.
- - - -
A note from an adjacent state (to NY), an adult-plumaged Yellow-throated Warbler (of the race albilora) turned up in Addison County, Vermont, and that occurence is in fact just one of many through the years in various northeast states & some of the Canadian maritime provinces, in December & also, in a number of cases over the decades, wintering birds. I myself have visited a modest number of wintering Yellow-throated Warblers in the greater northeast over the past 30+ years. Some, perhaps really all, were at least occasional, if not quite regular, at various home feeding stations. An eBird report with fun photos for anyone with interest in the VT sighting for 12/18/18: https://ebird.org/vt/view/checklist/S50782919
There are more than 100 records for Yellow-throated Warbler in the northeast states & Maritime provinces in the Dec. thru Feb. period, historically to present day. Also, a species such as Cape May (many of which “winter”, which actually can mean a stay of more than 6 months for some individuals, on Caribbean isles) is not as ‘rare’ as one may assume in the month of December in this region, but there are certainly not as many winter records of the latter warbler as for Yellow-throated. A good book, not the most up-to-date in many ways, but with a wealth of information on this sort of topic, and many others in its thorough text sections, is (late 20th century pub. date) “A Field Guide to North American Warblers” in the Peterson field guide series, authored by Jon L. Dunn & Kimball L. Garrett, which is still pretty available on-line & perhaps in some shops.
Date: 12/18/18 11:03 am From: Gus Keri <guskeri...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Fwd: Pink-footed Goose in Nassau County
Hi everyone, From the information I gathered from the replies to my initial email I found out that the ballfield at the southern edge of the water is called "Merillon Field" and that Nassau county had designated this body of water as a "Sump" and not a pond; Therefore, I changed the name of the location on my eBird list to "Merillon Field Sump" and asked eBird to consider it as a hot spot. Do you agree? Gus Keri
Sent using Zoho Mail
============ Forwarded message ============ From : Gus Keri <guskeri...> To : "Birding alert, NYSBirds, Birding alert"<nysbirds-l...> Date : Mon, 17 Dec 2018 18:59:51 -0800 Subject : Pink-footed Goose in Nassau County ============ Forwarded message ============ > Hi everyone, > > Apparently, there is a confusion about the name of the pond where the goose is at. The first report said it's Lake Success. But if you put Lake Success in Google map, you get a lake that is north of the Northern State Parkway (NSP). > The goose is at the pond that is south of the NSP. In the middle of the triangle that is made by NST, Marcus Ave and New Hyde Park Rd. (exit 25 on NSP toward Marcus Ave.) > I couldn't find the name of this pond anywhere. > Any time you click on one of the four water bodies in Lake Success Village, you see the words "Lake Success" pop up. > > The confusion continues with reporting this bird to eBird. You see all kind of names for this location. > I hope someone who lives in the area could clarify to us the proper name. > And I think eBird should assign a hot spot name for this location. > > I spent two hours today until the goose decided to wake up and swim around. > Enjoy this video of the Pink-footed Goose: > > https://twitter.com/BirdQueens/status/1074853973243379712 > > Gus Keri >
Date: 12/18/18 6:40 am From: Donna Schulman <queensgirl30...> Subject: Re: [nysbirds-l] Pink-footed Goose in Nassau County
The original report by Steve Schellenger was referring to Lake Success the village in the town of North Hempstead, Nassau County, not a lake. It's a well-known area to those of us who grew up in Queens and Long Island.
*A Pink-footed Goose was found late Sunday 12/16/18 at 4pm on the Queens County CBC on Marcus Ave. in Lake Success. It was on the ball field on the north side of the street between Lakeville Rd. and New Hyde Park Rd. with a flock of Canada Geese. This is in Nassau County.* *Steve Schellenger*
Donna *---------------------------------------*
*Donna L. SchulmanForest Hills, NY <queensgirl30...> <queensgirl30...>*
Date: 12/18/18 5:20 am From: Alan Wells <awells...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] 2018 Christmas Bird Count - Rockland Audubon Society
2018 Christmas Bird Count - Rockland Audubon Society
On Sunday, December 16, 2018 Rockland Audubon conducted its 72nd Christmas Bird Count. Despite the challenging weather conditions (nearly continuous rain), 29 individuals conducted field counts. They were joined by 13 feeder watchers. All but one of our 10 circle sub-regions was represented by at least one counter. Preliminary results are summarized below.
During count day, 75 species were detected. To date, an additional 3 species have been detected during count week (Merlin, Osprey, and Brown-headed Cowbird) bringing the species total to 78. In all, 12,654 individual birds were counted. The number of species is near the average for the post-1977 period (the count circle was shifted slightly in 1978 so prior counts are not directly comparable). The number of individuals is the second lowest since 1978. The lowest count was 12,136 in 2016.
New to Count in 2018: Black Scoter
Unusual Finds: Brant, Northern Pintail, and American Bittern; all found in only 3 of the previous 71 counts.
High Counts: 92 Wild Turkey (previous high 86 in 2016).
Missed: Ring-necked Duck; Wood Duck; Ring-necked Pheasant; Ruffed Grouse; Northern Harrier; American Kestrel; Killdeer; Barred Owl; Great Horned Owl; Brown Creeper; Golden-crowned Kinglet; Ruby-crowned Kinglet; Hermit Thrush; Cedar Waxwing; Yellow-rumped Warbler; Eastern Towhee; and Swamp Sparrow.
Date: 12/18/18 3:55 am From: Thomas Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Manhattan, NYC - E. Phoebe, warblers & etc. in CBC period
Manhattan, N.Y. City -
As of Monday, 17 December, there were at least 5 species of warblers accounted for on Manhattan island with the Christmas Bird Count (CBC) week ongoing, including a majority of those seen on count day, despite poor weather for most of the day Sunday, the 16th. There may have been more than this total, & of course the area of the overall count includes part of another state - New Jersey, from where there are often at least a few warbler species &/or individuals added to the full circle’s tally - as well as any number of other species & loads of additional individual birds there...
The warblers found for Sunday on Manhattan include - Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-rumped [Myrtle] Warbler, Ovenbird, & Common Yellowthroat. At least one additional species was found Monday 12/17: Cape May Warbler. Details of some of these sightings below - (note that none of the sightings noted herein are from Central Park, & all are from Manhattan island, all of which is a part of the Lower Hudson circle, the CBC’s official name for the count-area that includes (in part) N.Y. County & Manhattan (and of course, Central Park, plus multiple other parks with many birds in them. This count is also in a 2-state circle, shared with N.J.)
An Orange-crowned Warbler has lingered at Morningside Park, as first found & photo’d by Terry Zahner on Sat./15th; this bird was present on Sunday & was still in the same area as of Mon./17th. It has favored an area at & near a large flat outcrop of rock in the lower portion of that park, closer to Morningside Ave. at the eastern edge, rather than the higher ground up by Morningside Drive, & the rock is fairly near to W. 120-121st Streets, within the park; a small set of steps is also in the area, and mostly to the north, some obvious conifer trees. Other than the Y.-b. Sapsucker in the area, which has provided some flowing sap for that warbler, it did not appear to be following with any specific flocks or other birds, & may not be esp. ‘loyal’ to the sapsucker, either, but that has been the 1 bird it’s slightly associated with. It’s also been flighty & could take a lot of patience, effort, &/or luck to see, and of course also may have moved on by this time.
And there’s also been a lingering E. Phoebe in Morningside Park, which has been around the small pond therein (there’s just one in that park) at about W. 113th St.; this is almost surely the same phoebe there for some weeks (or much longer) by now. It’s been seen on count-Sunday & was reported by T. Zahner on Sat.; in addition, I photographed it for Mon./17th. We’ve had a lot of E. Phoebes regionally lingering thru much of Nov., so this was not a tremendous surprise but it is an unusual find in December in Manhattan, and it’s possible it may try to stay on, & be a “year” bird as of January 1st, although a lot can happen in 2 weeks & at this time of year.
A bird apparently not found on the day of the count on Sunday - Cape May Warbler, a species that has been seen multiple times quite late in the year in Manhattan, & even has had a January appearance some years ago in Central Park - this found in Union Sqaure Park by Rob Bate, seen at the western side of that park, in the middle section between south & north, but slightly more north within the park itself - “15th-16th” Sts., for latitude. It’s worth keeping an eye out for any ‘late’ migrants, as the push of yet another cold front could still usher in some surprises.
Since I was one of those counters who helped with the northern Manhattan section of the CBC, I’ll just note 1 warbler that was seen, a [Myrtle] Yellow-rumped Warbler spotted by the party I was with (& thanks to B. Inskeep for the insta-ID), seen by all in our section-party; that along the Hudson river path, immediately south of Dyckman Street. There have been more than a couple of Ovenbirds & Common Yellowthroats in at least several locations in Manhattan over recent days, and at least a few of these have already been seen & reported during the count-period so far; more might be discovered by those still watching for warblers & whatever other late-lingerers are about or which could yet pass through. It’s become somewhat regular that the latter two warbler species will linger at least into early winter in Manhattan, some also attempting to stay on.
As with any C.B.C. anywhere, the full results will be known sometime after the count-week period is past; in the case of a 2-state count as is that which includes Manhattan, there will be some birds that would be unusual if not almost-unheard-of for Manhattan, added to the Lower Hudson CBC tally, thanks to dedicated birders and also some very special habitat, across the Hudson from NYC, in the adjacent region of New Jersey.
- - -
The occasional legal reminder that playing of any amplified sounds whatsoever in Central Park of N.Y. City, without express permission (that’s a permit from the City of New York) is a violation of the law & this applies throughout all of the park and at all times, & year-round. (Signage regarding this is well posted within this park.)
Date: 12/17/18 7:50 pm From: John Gluth <jgluth...> Subject: Re:[nysbirds-l] Pink-footed Goose in Nassau County
According to Google Street View, Merillon Field is the name of the trio of softball/baseball diamonds which border the south side of the pond on which the Pink-footed Goose has been seen. If an eBird Hot Spot is created it should probably bear that name.
Date: 12/17/18 7:26 pm From: Susan Herbst <susieq60...> Subject: Re: [nysbirds-l] Pink-footed Goose in Nassau County
In fairness, I don’t think that body of water has a name.
I seem to recall that it’s more like a sump (rather unnaturally rectangular) with the baseball field to the south of it.
Good luck if you go.
Sue Herbst
Date: 12/17/18 7:00 pm From: Gus Keri <guskeri...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Pink-footed Goose in Nassau County
Hi everyone,
Apparently, there is a confusion about the name of the pond where the goose is at. The first report said it's Lake Success. But if you put Lake Success in Google map, you get a lake that is north of the Northern State Parkway (NSP). The goose is at the pond that is south of the NSP. In the middle of the triangle that is made by NST, Marcus Ave and New Hyde Park Rd. (exit 25 on NSP toward Marcus Ave.) I couldn't find the name of this pond anywhere. Any time you click on one of the four water bodies in Lake Success Village, you see the words "Lake Success" pop up.
The confusion continues with reporting this bird to eBird. You see all kind of names for this location. I hope someone who lives in the area could clarify to us the proper name. And I think eBird should assign a hot spot name for this location.
I spent two hours today until the goose decided to wake up and swim around. Enjoy this video of the Pink-footed Goose:
The Queens County Christmas Bird Count was held yesterday in suboptimal conditions but our hale and hearty birders performed admirably anyway, with 112 species recorded on count day.
Our big misses were Killdeer, Pied-billed Grebe, Wilson's Snipe, Fish Crow, Eastern Towhee, and Northern Gannet.
Good finds included the (reported to this listserv already) Pink-footed Goose in Lake Success (first for the count on count day), an Eastern Phoebe in Greentree, an Iceland Gull at Alley Pond Environmental Center, two Palm Warblers in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, and a Northern Saw-whet Owl in Charles Memorial Park. Also, Bald Eagles have returned to Willow Lake Preserve.
Seven Orange-crowned Warblers is a new count high but most species numbers were depressed due to the very rough weather.
On a more somber note the Rockaways party stumbled across a body in Bayswater Point State Park in far southeastern Queens, a most unwelcome first for the count.
Thanks to everyone who participated, especially the new participants, several of whom were doing their first-ever Christmas Bird Counts, and the sector leaders, who soldiered on, in some cases with teams much-reduced by illness. And thanks to Nancy Tognan, Arie Gilbert, and Ian Resnick, who all did important work in making sure the compilation dinner ran smoothly.
Good Birding, Corey Finger
P.S. Next year's count will be on Sunday, 15 December. Mark your calendars!
Greetings: This is the Syracuse Area Rare Bird Alert for the week on December 10, 2018
Highlights:
RED-THROATED LOON
RED-NECKED GREBE
AMERICAN WIGEON
BLACK SCOTER
SURF SCOTER
PEREGRINE FALCON
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK
NORTHERN HARRIER
GOLDEN EAGLE
ICELAND GULL
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL
EASTERN PHOEBE
NORTHERN SHRIKE
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT
CHIPPING SPARROW
EASTERN TOWHEE
BALTIMORE ORIOLE
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW
CHIPPING SPARROW
SAVANNAH SPARROW
EVENING GROSBEAK
COMMON REDPOLL
Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge (MNWR) and and Montezuma Wetlands Complex (MWC)
------------
12/16: A dark ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK and a NORTHERN HARRIER were seen from East Road.
Onondaga county
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12/10: 2 BLACK SCOTERS were seen from the end of the Onondaga Creek Creekwalk in Syracuse. An EASTERN TOWHEE continues at a feeder south of Manlius. An EVENING GROSBEAK was seen from the West Shore Trail on Onondaga Lake.
12/11: A WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW was seen along the West Shore Trail of Onondaga Lake. It has been seen through the 15th. A CHIPPING SPARROW was seen at a feeder on Comstock in Syracuse. It also has been seen through the 15th.
12/14: 8 EVENING GROSBEAKS were found on Shakham Road near the Cortland County line.
12/15: Higthlights of the Syracuse Christmas Bird Count were WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, SAVANNAH SPARROW, EASTERN PHOEBE, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, AMERICAN WIGEON and PEREGRINE FALCON.
12/16: A NORTHERN SHRIKE continues on the West Shore Trail of Onondaga Lake.
Oswego County
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12/10: A LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL and an ICELAND GULL were seen is Oswego Harbor.
12/13: A SURF SCOTER was seen in Oswego Harbor.
12/16: A SURF SCOTER and a RED-THROATED LOON WERE seen in Oswego County. A WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW was seen on Parsons Road near Hannibal. A RED-THROATED LOON was seen in Oswego Harbor. A COMMON REDPOLL was seen near battle Island Golf Course.
Madison County
------------
12/10: EVENING GROSBEAKS and a male BALTIMORE continue to come to feeders on Carpenter road near Sheds.
12/13: An EASTERN PHOEBE was seen on Ditchbank Road north of Chittenango. 3 ICELAND GULLS and a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL were seen at the Madison County Landfill south of Canastota.
Herkimer county
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12/11: EVENING GROSBEAKS continue at a feeder north of Dolgeville.A GOLDEN EAGLE was seen near Barto Hill in Fairfield
The Captree CBC, in southwestern Suffolk County, Long Island, was conducted on Sunday, 16 December 2018 under challenging conditions of 15-20 mph northeast winds and rain. Despite the difficulties, coverage was excellent and the species total of 117 was right there between our 57-year average of 116 species and our ten-year average of 118.
Some of the more unusual species were:
Red-necked Grebe Robert Moses SP
Virginia Rail West Sayville area
American Bittern Cedar Beach/Oak Beach/Captree area
Turkey Vulture Islip area--just the second ever on this count
Two Northern Saw-whet Owls
4 Eastern Phoebes--in keeping with this species' remarkable run on other regional CBCs this weekend
38 Tree Swallows Cedar Beach/Oak Beach/Captree area
Marsh Wren Heckscher area
3 Purple Finches Fire Island Lighthouse, Democrat Pt, and Belmont Lake area
2 Lapland Longspurs Democrat Pt and West Sayville area
White-crowned Sparrow Captree SP
Baltimore Oriole West Islip feeder
Orange-crowned Warbler Fire Island Lighthouse
Common Yellowthroat Heckscher area
Palm Warbler Cedar Beach/Oak Beach/Captree area
There was also a spectacular crush of Razorbills, passing west to east close to shore on the ocean front, totaling 1,145! To put this is perspective, the previous CBC maximum was just 12. Other notable high counts included 11 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, all at Robert Moses and Democrat Pt, greatly exceeding the previous max of three, and 322 Common Eiders, also at Fire Island, far above the previous high of 86.
The most disappointing misses were:
American Wigeon--the first time missed in 57 years
Northern Pintail
Black-bellied Plover
Greater Yellowlegs
Bonaparte's Gull
Great Horned Owl
American Kestrel--present today, of course
Brown-headed Cowbird
Many counts were lower than usual, which is not surprising given the obstacles to detection caused by wind and rain.
The compilation dinner at Villa Monaco in West Islip seemed especially cheerful and festive this year, and we gratefully acknowledge a generous contribution again this year from the Great South Bay Audubon Society, reducing the cost of the meal for our participants.
We will finalize the results in the coming days and share them with Great South Bay Audubon and anyone else who requests a summary.
Date: 12/17/18 12:29 pm From: Kaitlyn Parkins <kparkins...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] December 16th Central Park CBC preliminary results
Yesterday a group of intrepid birders braved the awful weather for the 119th Central Park Christmas Bird Count. 5,323 birds of 57 species were counted. See preliminary totals below. Count week birds thus far include Red-winged Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, Purple Finch, House Finch, Ovenbird, Pied-billed Grebe, and Field Sparrow.
Other counts for the New Jersey Lower Hudson count circle took place at Governor's Island, Randall's Island, Riverside Park, Inwood Hill Park, Stuyvesant Town & Cove, East River & Corlear's Hook Parks, Bryant Park, Tompkins Square Park, Lower Manhattan, and throughout Hudson and Bergen County.
The final results for Central Park and the entire NJLH circle will be available at nycaudubon.org <http://nycaudubon.org/>after count week ends!
Canada Goose 366 Wood Duck 7 American Black Duck 1 Mallard 289 Northern Shoveler 84 Bufflehead 20 Hooded Merganser 10 Ruddy Duck 142 Pied-billed Grebe 1 Double-crested Cormorant 2 Great Blue Heron 3 Cooper's Hawk 5 Red-shouldered Hawk 2 Red-tailed Hawk 13 Merlin 1 Peregrine Falcon 1 American Coot 9 Ring-billed Gull 89 Herring Gull 104 Great Black-backed Gull 4 Rock Pigeon 635 Mourning Dove 67 Great Horned Owl 1 Barred Owl 1 Northern Saw-whet Owl 2 Red-bellied Woodpecker 44 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 5 Downy Woodpecker 6 Northern Flicker 3 Blue Jay 265 American Crow 10 Common Raven 2 Black-capped Chickadee 9 Tufted Titmouse 247 Red-breasted Nuthatch 2 White-breasted Nuthatch 50 Brown Creeper 2 Carolina Wren 1 Winter Wren 2 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1 Hermit Thrush 11 American Robin 180 Gray Catbird 2 Northern Mockingbird 5 European Starling 167 Cedar Waxwing 2 Chipping Sparrow 1 Fox Sparrow 5 Dark-eyed Junco 33 White-throated Sparrow 1017 Song Sparrow 12 Swamp Sparrow 1 Eastern Towhee 5 Northern Cardinal 59 Common Grackle 861 American Goldfinch 17 House Sparrow 437
-- Kaitlyn Parkins Conservation Biologist New York City Audubon 71 West 23rd Street, Suite 1523 New York, NY 10010
Date: 12/17/18 7:38 am From: matt klein <matt.klein...> Subject: Re: [nysbirds-l] Pink-footed Goose
Pink footed goose still here. Middle of flock of Canadas on pond. Being viewed from the north side of the lake, in the center by the green electrical box. The goose’s head is tucked but it is not hard to find with a little scanning.
Regards,
Matt
... to be continued.
On Dec 17, 2018, at 8:55 AM, Deborah Martin <martindf...><mailto:<martindf...>> wrote:
Pink-footed Goose continues on the pond behind the ball field where it was seen last night. (as described below). I viewed it through the fence at the medical building with the address 2 ProHealthPlaza on the awning.
On Dec 17, 2018, at 1:31 AM, Steven Schellenger <sws6752...><mailto:<sws6752...>> wrote:
Date: 12/17/18 5:55 am From: Deborah Martin <martindf...> Subject: Re: [nysbirds-l] Pink-footed Goose
Pink-footed Goose continues on the pond behind the ball field where it was seen last night. (as described below). I viewed it through the fence at the medical building with the address 2 ProHealthPlaza on the awning.
> On Dec 17, 2018, at 1:31 AM, Steven Schellenger <sws6752...> wrote:
>
> A Pink-footed Goose was found late Sunday 12/16/18 at 4pm on the Queens County CBC on Marcus Ave. in Lake Success. It was on the ball field on the north side of the street between Lakeville Rd. and New Hyde Park Rd. with a flock of Canada Geese. This is in Nassau County.
> Steve Schellenger
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Date: 12/17/18 4:57 am From: Angus Wilson <oceanwanderers...> Subject: Re:[nysbirds-l] Results of 2018 Montauk CBC - minor correction
The BARROW'S GOLDENEYE found by Tom Burke and Gail Benson, and seen by others in the Point South party was in fact a FEMALE, not adult male as I incorrectly stated in the count highlights.
Obviously this is a pivotal detail and would make a big difference to anyone searching for the bird! With luck it will be refound before Tuesday swimming with a small raft of Pintail, Lesser Scaup, King Eider and Pied-billed Grebes ;)
My thanks to Andrew Baksh and Taylor Sturm for politely pointing out my error.
-- Angus Wilson New York City & The Springs, NY, USA
