[nysbirds-l] Doodletown Road, Rockland County: excellent birding
All, I had an extremely good, rather brief, late afternoon trip to Doodletown Road, part of Bear Mountain State Park. Excellent migration, many birds, almost constant activity. 4:30 - 6:00 pm. The highlight was probably the adult male Cerulean that stayed below my eye level ten feet away in perfect light for about thirty seconds. Amazing. >Black Vulture (2) >Red-bellied Woodpecker >Downy Woodpecker >Blue Jay >White-breasted Nuthatch >House Wren >American Robin Wood Thrush > E. Kingbird E. Wood-pewee > Blue-gray Gnatcatcher > Red-eyed Vireo Yellow-throated Vireo >Black-and-white Warbler Nashville Warbler >American Redstart, many >Northern Parula >Magnolia Warbler, many >Chestnut-sided Warbler >Black-throated Blue Warbler, pair >Yellow-rumped Warbler >Black-throated Green Warbler Wilson's Warbler Worm-eating Warbler Cerulean, 3 Hooded Warbler >Eastern Towhee >Swamp Sparrow Chipping Sparrow >Scarlet Tanager >Northern Cardinal >Indigo Bunting >Red-winged Blackbird >Baltimore Oriole, many > Bob Lewis Sleepy Hollow NY -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC 5/11
Mother's Day Sunday, 11 May, 2014 - Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City A Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, very uncommon in Central, was still being observed by many through at least 7:30 p.m. at Azalea Pond in the Ramble. It looked ready to get to a fishing area, & perhaps is by this hour...It was another very good birding day in the park, with well over 100 species noted, and at least a few apparently new arrivals, with Olive-sided Flycatchers in a few locations, and a Mourning Warbler report. Numbers of some species continued to be high, & among them Wilson;s Warbler, often among the less-common species, seemed common enough today; also in notable numbers for the shyness associated with the species on migration: Lincoln's Sparrow. Not seen all-too-often in Central, a Marsh Wren was spotted by Mike Freeman & also seen by myself & Ken Chaya, who got a quick photo, at the not-so-marshy wildflower meadow. Yet again a male Summer Tanager was seen, & a few Common Nighthawks as well. An Orange-crowned Warbler remained around the maintenance meadow. There were a few modest hatches of insects that pulled migrants down from the canopy, the phenomenon is often seen when it quickly warms as has happened the past 2 days, and may continue 1 more in this area. 5 or more Solitary Sandpipers have been noted as well as some Spotted Sandpipers. We are gearing up to a busier time for shorebird migration in the area. There were a good variety of migrants also in Riverside Park (Manhattan) later in the day, and at least a few of them visited the "drip", however it seemed most did not. The drip is harder now to see into, but may yet be worth checking for those in that neighborhood. Good birding, Tom Fiore Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Gull-billed Terns at Jones Beach
I caught up with three Gull-billed Terns (and Peter Post) at Jones Beach today, first as fly bys at the West End turnaround and then on the spit near the Coast Guard Station. A picture (of two) can be seen at http://www.stevewalternature.com/ . Presumably, these are of the group seen at Nickerson Beach in recent days. I started the day there, but they did not. I did, however, get my FOS Common Tern, quickly followed by my SOS, then TOS, two more FOSes, two more SOSes, and my EOS - which coincidentally is what I use to photograph them. Went to Muttontown later on, but didn't see the reported Bobolinks. A consolation was an Orchard Oriole along the northwest flank of the corral area, one that might not be too hard to find for someone needing that. Steve Walter Bayside, NY -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
Re:[nysbirds-l] Marine Park Nature Center Bklyn (+elsewhere/please add to J.Bay petition)
Dear Joe & all, Of course, a NYC park that has done some excellent work in planting & planning for the future of the green-space is Prospect Park-Brooklyn, which is in many ways a jewel of a place in this city and in the world. There are programs to place native plants & do work that can benefit wildlife including resident, breeding & migratory bird life, in any number of city parks around here, and of course in many other areas, but - it is really a constant struggle as well to try & get the funding & the approval to do much that can be, and in some places is, done. I know, also, there are too many instances where the value of wild areas in the urban biome is undervalued, and not always understood by decision-makers. For those who have done good, we can be thankful... [Tom Fiore, Manhattan] & n.b. (please URGE a friend or colleague to sign the petition, and do so yourself if you have not.) .. This also brings up the plea to get more people to sign a petition to help the site in NYC which has hosted more species and, perhaps, greater numbers of birds than any other in the city, in its years of existence as a refuge, and likely far into the past as a rich marine resource &, - well; Doug Futuyma writes as elegantly as can be: Dear fellow birders, Please forgive my writing, especially if we are not personally acquainted, but this is an attempt to push the Petition to Restore Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge past a significant threshold. I write as one member of the Birders' Coalition for Gateway that drafted the petition. As of this evening, only 26 more signatures are needed to cross the 5,000 threshold, which I think is a respectable (but still minimal) number to have accrued before sending it to the Secretary of the Interior and the top management of Gateway National Recreation Area. You have almost certainly signed the petition yourself, but you probably know someone who would be favorable but who hasn't signed it. If each of us could enlist at least one more signatory, we will pass this threshold. The Gateway management will be providing opportunity for public comment this summer. Some of them are apparently claiming that birders and other naturalists have not been visible or vocal on the issue of restoring the West Pond, the jewel of the Wildlife Refuge. This is utterly untrue, but sending off this petition will speak loudly for our concern and engagement. It is now a year and a half since the West Pond, where we once marvelled at the abundance and diversity of waterfowl, herons, shorebirds, terns, and many other species -- including the occasional mega-rarity -- was turned into a birdless wasteland. For the sake of both our community and especially of the birds and other wildlife, we must press responsble officals, starting at the top, to do what they could have done more than a year ago. PLEASE URGE A FRIEND TO SIGN THE PETITION!! The petition is easily accessed at http://tinyurl.com/West-Pond- Petition. Many thanks, Doug Futuyma Stony Brook, NY __ _ On May 11, 2014, at 3:44 PM, wrote: > Date: May 11, 2014 > > Taking a break from our regular birding spots my wife and I went to > the Marine Park Salt Marsh Nature Center off of Ave. U in Brooklyn. > The birding was good as we saw some 30 species. The highlights were: > Clapper Rail, Solitary Sandpiper ,Killdeer, Oystercatcher, Greater > Yellowlegs, Eastern Kingbird, and Warbling Vireo. > For warblers we only saw two, the Yellow and Common Yellowthroat. > > The park is greatly improved since the last time I was there a few > years ago. There were benches along a well defined trail and > overlooks at some spots. A bridge over the mudflats made for good > walking and good viewing. I also believe that a lot of invasive non- > native plants were removed and replaced by native species.It seems > that some new plantings were recently put in. I wish that some other > parks in the NYC area would be like this. > > Best, > Joe Giunta -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Pelham Bay Park, the Bronx- the neglected park
After seeing yesterday’s bird list, my wife wanted to bird the park this morning to celebrate Mother’s Day. We had a wonderful morning, 2.5 hours at Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx. After touring the park twice, besides yesterday’s group I led, I met only two other birders! Just to let the birding community know that there are birds here and that the woods here can be challenging and a lot wilder than other parks but without the noise and hustle. Some highlights: Blackburnian Blackpoll BT Blue BT Green Canada Nashville Magnolia Redstart Chestnut-sided Yellow Warbler Yellow-rumped Ovenbird Parula B N Waterthrush Com Yellowthroat Scarlet Tanager Orchard Oriole Baltimore Oriole BH Vireo Warbling Vireo RE Vireo Tr Swallow Barn Swallow Least Sandpiper Greater Yellowlegs Lesser Yellowlegs Eastern Woods PeeWee Empidonax, most likely a Willow Flycatcher Turkey Vulture RT Hawk Spotted Sandpiper Killdeer Chip Sparrow Lincoln’s Sparrow and the usual… Jack Rothman cityislandbirds.com -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
RE:[nysbirds-l] Marine Park Nature Center Bklyn
I hate to burst your bubble, but 99 percent of the park resides on the West side of Gerritsen Creek and is overrun with invasive plants, illegal paintball, ATVs, dirt bikes and burned out stolen cars. The parks department and Army Corp of Engineers spent millions of dollars over many years restoring the small patch of wetlands you described on the East side, but do nothing to prevent the erosion caused by water-skiers and jet skis during the summer months. It is, however, nice in that spot for now. Good birding, Rob > Subject: Marine Park Nature Center Bklyn > From: > Date: Sun, 11 May 2014 15:44:28 -0400 > Date: May 11, 2014 > > Taking a break from our regular birding spots my wife and I went to the > Marine Park Salt Marsh Nature Center off of Ave. U in Brooklyn. The birding > was good as we saw some 30 species. The highlights were: Clapper Rail, > Solitary Sandpiper ,Killdeer, Oystercatcher, Greater Yellowlegs, Eastern > Kingbird, and Warbling Vireo. > For warblers we only saw two, the Yellow and Common Yellowthroat. > > The park is greatly improved since the last time I was there a few years > ago. There were benches along a well defined trail and overlooks at some > spots. A bridge over the mudflats made for good walking and good viewing. I > also believe that a lot of invasive non-native plants were removed and > replaced by native species.It seems that some new plantings were recently put > in. > > I wish that some other parks in the NYC area would be like this. > > Best, > Joe Giunta -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Marine Park Nature Center Bklyn
Date: May 11, 2014 Taking a break from our regular birding spots my wife and I went to the Marine Park Salt Marsh Nature Center off of Ave. U in Brooklyn. The birding was good as we saw some 30 species. The highlights were: Clapper Rail, Solitary Sandpiper ,Killdeer, Oystercatcher, Greater Yellowlegs, Eastern Kingbird, and Warbling Vireo. For warblers we only saw two, the Yellow and Common Yellowthroat. The park is greatly improved since the last time I was there a few years ago. There were benches along a well defined trail and overlooks at some spots. A bridge over the mudflats made for good walking and good viewing. I also believe that a lot of invasive non-native plants were removed and replaced by native species.It seems that some new plantings were recently put in. I wish that some other parks in the NYC area would be like this. Best, Joe Giunta -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Forest Park, Queens County - May 11: Probable Mississippi Kite
At 7:45 AM today in Forest Park, I saw a medium-sized raptor that appeared initially like a large falcon, a peregrine. But then I saw its tail with many dark and white bands and a distinctly shorter first primary and thought hey wait a minute, that could be a Mississippi Kite! I saw it for a total of about 5 seconds, which to me personally is not enough time to ID that bird with 100% certainty, especially a bird that I've only seen twice in my life. So I was telling other birders later on that I had a possible sighting. I have since upgraded that to probable, in light of sightings yesterday and today reported from Prospect Park, Brooklyn, consulting other birding guides at home, and from seeing the "Kite Whisperer's" photo from yesterday. Although the volume of birds and birdsong decreased somewhat from yesterday, there was still a nice variety of warblers, seeing and hearing 21 species. The highlights were Tennessee, Bay-breasted, Hooded, and multiple Nashvilles, Chestnut-sideds, and Wilson's. Karlo Mirth Forest Park, Queens -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Inwood Hill May 11
Just got back from a morning birding the woods at Inwood hill Park, home to the only vestige of original woodlands left in Manhattan. It was a very active morning, with multiple hatch-outs. Highlights for me included Bay-breasted, Tennessee, multiple Blackburnians and Wilson's warblers, White-crowned and Lincoln's sparrows, and an Olive-sided Flycatcher. 19 species of warblers. Sent from my iPad -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Brooklyn Kite
In birding, sometimes the story surrounding a good sighting is almost more priceless than the actual bird. Please allow my indulgence here as I think you might agree that today's serendipitous experience in Brooklyn's Green-Wood Cemetery falls into that category. The story truly begins on April 14th when a birder named Jennifer Keplar spotted, then photographed a Swallow-tailed Kite over Prospect Park's Lullwater. Mind you this was at a time when many of us fanatical birders were talking about and actively looking for one of these rarities. Also of note is that none of the regular Brooklyn birders knew this person as she apparently doesn't bird here very often. Flash forward to yesterday when the Brooklyn Bird Club posted on their Facebook page another photo by Jennifer. This time it was a Mississippi Kite that she photographed while birding in Green-Wood Cemetery yesterday! Today I slept relatively late after an amazing (and long) day of birding yesterday. After breakfast I was looking at Jennifer's photos online, comparing it to other images of immature Mississippi Kites while chatting on the phone with a birding buddy. At 8:30am I decided to bike over to Green-Wood Cemetery for some low-key birding, not even thinking about kites. At the Crescent Water I converged with birders Tom Preston and his wife and Paige Linden with her daughter and sister. We had exhausted the birds in that area and were mostly chit-chatting. I mentioned that I was thinking of heading up to Battle Hill for a little raptor watching. That comment lead to a brief discussion to Jennifer "the kite whisperer". None of us knew her and I mentioned that her profile photo shows her kissing a walrus, to which Tom replied, "I don't know about you, but if it takes kissing a walrus to see a kite in Brooklyn, I'll do it." We laughed and then I asked, "I wonder how she does it?" Tom said, "I guess she looks up a lot." My response was, "I suppose that's a good start", then looked up into the sky…directly at an immature Mississippi Kite overhead heading northeast just above the tree tops! When the kite disappeared behind the trees and we stopped laughing, high-fiving and hugging, I struggled to get out my phone to tweet, text and call as many people as possible. I still can't believe it happened and am really glad I don't have to kiss a walrus, although I suspect Tom may have been secretly looking foreword to it himself. If you go into Green-Wood Cemetery looking for this bird (or any raptors), you might want to position yourself on top of what I call "Reservoir Hill". It is the highest point in Brooklyn and a few hundred yards to the north of the Civil War Monument on Battle Hill. Good birding, Rob PS - Here is a link to Jennifer's photo of yesterday's bird: https://t.co/E1KGhxSDHN It looks as if her bird is molting tail feathers as they appear a little tattered. This morning's bird had a perfectly sharp and clean edged tail. http://citybirder.blogspot.com @thecitybirder -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC: Mother's Day birds
Hi all, A wonderful morning in Central Park today. I tallied 20 species of warblers, including two FOY species: Canada warbler and Bay-breasted warbler. On top of that, the folks in our group had spectacular views of a Summer Tanager. We found three "all-you-can-eat smorgasbords for birds" (aka hatch-outs). At one of them the star bird was a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, which was cooperative and provided a good opportunity to study this uncommon species. At the same location we also for a short moment had an Olive-sided Flycatcher (first for Central Park for my self). Lastly, but not to frown upon we saw a first-of-year Gray-cheeked Thrush. My check list for the morning ended at 73 species. Others, who have more free time today will surely have longer lists. happy birding, Anders Peltomaa Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] SNOWY OWL and nesting Merlins
There is a SNOWY OWL perched out on the nearest island in Oneida Lake, as seen from Mill Street in Constantia. The owl appears to be mostly white, with barely any streaking on it. I found it sitting on a log near the water’s edge, doing what many Snowy Owls do when I watch them – mostly nothing. At one point, he hopped down to the waterline and took a few sips of water, but then went back to his spot on the log. Other than that, his only other activity was intermittently dodging the diving COMMON TERNS, who did not seem very happy to see him there. He was still there when I left at 11:10 AM. It appears that the MERLIN pair are nesting in a tall White Pine that stands on the north side of Rt 49, across the street from the veterinary clinic just before the intersection with Kibbie Lake Rd. Yesterday morning, I watched them copulate a few times about 5 feet or so from a nest built in a crotch of the tree that is visible from my backyard. Mickey Scilingo Constantia Oswego County, NY mickey.scili...@gte.net 315-679-6299 -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Mississippi kite Kings county
Rob Jett just reported a MIKI from greenwood cemetery in Brooklyn. He reported the bird was very low over the treetops heading north and was a similar plumage to the bird photographed yesterday in the same location. I've been standing vigil on prospect park south west and have not seen anything cross into prospect. End public service announcement :) Sean sime Brooklyn, NY Sent from my iPhone -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Mississippi kite Kings county
Rob Jett just reported a MIKI from greenwood cemetery in Brooklyn. He reported the bird was very low over the treetops heading north and was a similar plumage to the bird photographed yesterday in the same location. I've been standing vigil on prospect park south west and have not seen anything cross into prospect. End public service announcement :) Sean sime Brooklyn, NY Sent from my iPhone -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] SNOWY OWL and nesting Merlins
There is a SNOWY OWL perched out on the nearest island in Oneida Lake, as seen from Mill Street in Constantia. The owl appears to be mostly white, with barely any streaking on it. I found it sitting on a log near the water’s edge, doing what many Snowy Owls do when I watch them – mostly nothing. At one point, he hopped down to the waterline and took a few sips of water, but then went back to his spot on the log. Other than that, his only other activity was intermittently dodging the diving COMMON TERNS, who did not seem very happy to see him there. He was still there when I left at 11:10 AM. It appears that the MERLIN pair are nesting in a tall White Pine that stands on the north side of Rt 49, across the street from the veterinary clinic just before the intersection with Kibbie Lake Rd. Yesterday morning, I watched them copulate a few times about 5 feet or so from a nest built in a crotch of the tree that is visible from my backyard. Mickey Scilingo Constantia Oswego County, NY mickey.scili...@gte.net 315-679-6299 -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC: Mother's Day birds
Hi all, A wonderful morning in Central Park today. I tallied 20 species of warblers, including two FOY species: Canada warbler and Bay-breasted warbler. On top of that, the folks in our group had spectacular views of a Summer Tanager. We found three all-you-can-eat smorgasbords for birds (aka hatch-outs). At one of them the star bird was a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, which was cooperative and provided a good opportunity to study this uncommon species. At the same location we also for a short moment had an Olive-sided Flycatcher (first for Central Park for my self). Lastly, but not to frown upon we saw a first-of-year Gray-cheeked Thrush. My check list for the morning ended at 73 species. Others, who have more free time today will surely have longer lists. happy birding, Anders Peltomaa Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Brooklyn Kite
In birding, sometimes the story surrounding a good sighting is almost more priceless than the actual bird. Please allow my indulgence here as I think you might agree that today's serendipitous experience in Brooklyn's Green-Wood Cemetery falls into that category. The story truly begins on April 14th when a birder named Jennifer Keplar spotted, then photographed a Swallow-tailed Kite over Prospect Park's Lullwater. Mind you this was at a time when many of us fanatical birders were talking about and actively looking for one of these rarities. Also of note is that none of the regular Brooklyn birders knew this person as she apparently doesn't bird here very often. Flash forward to yesterday when the Brooklyn Bird Club posted on their Facebook page another photo by Jennifer. This time it was a Mississippi Kite that she photographed while birding in Green-Wood Cemetery yesterday! Today I slept relatively late after an amazing (and long) day of birding yesterday. After breakfast I was looking at Jennifer's photos online, comparing it to other images of immature Mississippi Kites while chatting on the phone with a birding buddy. At 8:30am I decided to bike over to Green-Wood Cemetery for some low-key birding, not even thinking about kites. At the Crescent Water I converged with birders Tom Preston and his wife and Paige Linden with her daughter and sister. We had exhausted the birds in that area and were mostly chit-chatting. I mentioned that I was thinking of heading up to Battle Hill for a little raptor watching. That comment lead to a brief discussion to Jennifer the kite whisperer. None of us knew her and I mentioned that her profile photo shows her kissing a walrus, to which Tom replied, I don't know about you, but if it takes kissing a walrus to see a kite in Brooklyn, I'll do it. We laughed and then I asked, I wonder how she does it? Tom said, I guess she looks up a lot. My response was, I suppose that's a good start, then looked up into the sky…directly at an immature Mississippi Kite overhead heading northeast just above the tree tops! When the kite disappeared behind the trees and we stopped laughing, high-fiving and hugging, I struggled to get out my phone to tweet, text and call as many people as possible. I still can't believe it happened and am really glad I don't have to kiss a walrus, although I suspect Tom may have been secretly looking foreword to it himself. If you go into Green-Wood Cemetery looking for this bird (or any raptors), you might want to position yourself on top of what I call Reservoir Hill. It is the highest point in Brooklyn and a few hundred yards to the north of the Civil War Monument on Battle Hill. Good birding, Rob PS - Here is a link to Jennifer's photo of yesterday's bird: https://t.co/E1KGhxSDHN It looks as if her bird is molting tail feathers as they appear a little tattered. This morning's bird had a perfectly sharp and clean edged tail. http://citybirder.blogspot.com @thecitybirder -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Inwood Hill May 11
Just got back from a morning birding the woods at Inwood hill Park, home to the only vestige of original woodlands left in Manhattan. It was a very active morning, with multiple hatch-outs. Highlights for me included Bay-breasted, Tennessee, multiple Blackburnians and Wilson's warblers, White-crowned and Lincoln's sparrows, and an Olive-sided Flycatcher. 19 species of warblers. Sent from my iPad -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Forest Park, Queens County - May 11: Probable Mississippi Kite
At 7:45 AM today in Forest Park, I saw a medium-sized raptor that appeared initially like a large falcon, a peregrine. But then I saw its tail with many dark and white bands and a distinctly shorter first primary and thought hey wait a minute, that could be a Mississippi Kite! I saw it for a total of about 5 seconds, which to me personally is not enough time to ID that bird with 100% certainty, especially a bird that I've only seen twice in my life. So I was telling other birders later on that I had a possible sighting. I have since upgraded that to probable, in light of sightings yesterday and today reported from Prospect Park, Brooklyn, consulting other birding guides at home, and from seeing the Kite Whisperer's photo from yesterday. Although the volume of birds and birdsong decreased somewhat from yesterday, there was still a nice variety of warblers, seeing and hearing 21 species. The highlights were Tennessee, Bay-breasted, Hooded, and multiple Nashvilles, Chestnut-sideds, and Wilson's. Karlo Mirth Forest Park, Queens -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Marine Park Nature Center Bklyn
Date: May 11, 2014 Taking a break from our regular birding spots my wife and I went to the Marine Park Salt Marsh Nature Center off of Ave. U in Brooklyn. The birding was good as we saw some 30 species. The highlights were: Clapper Rail, Solitary Sandpiper ,Killdeer, Oystercatcher, Greater Yellowlegs, Eastern Kingbird, and Warbling Vireo. For warblers we only saw two, the Yellow and Common Yellowthroat. The park is greatly improved since the last time I was there a few years ago. There were benches along a well defined trail and overlooks at some spots. A bridge over the mudflats made for good walking and good viewing. I also believe that a lot of invasive non-native plants were removed and replaced by native species.It seems that some new plantings were recently put in. I wish that some other parks in the NYC area would be like this. Best, Joe Giunta -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
RE:[nysbirds-l] Marine Park Nature Center Bklyn
I hate to burst your bubble, but 99 percent of the park resides on the West side of Gerritsen Creek and is overrun with invasive plants, illegal paintball, ATVs, dirt bikes and burned out stolen cars. The parks department and Army Corp of Engineers spent millions of dollars over many years restoring the small patch of wetlands you described on the East side, but do nothing to prevent the erosion caused by water-skiers and jet skis during the summer months. It is, however, nice in that spot for now. Good birding, Rob Subject: Marine Park Nature Center Bklyn From: JGIUNTA746 AT aol.com Date: Sun, 11 May 2014 15:44:28 -0400 Date: May 11, 2014 Taking a break from our regular birding spots my wife and I went to the Marine Park Salt Marsh Nature Center off of Ave. U in Brooklyn. The birding was good as we saw some 30 species. The highlights were: Clapper Rail, Solitary Sandpiper ,Killdeer, Oystercatcher, Greater Yellowlegs, Eastern Kingbird, and Warbling Vireo. For warblers we only saw two, the Yellow and Common Yellowthroat. The park is greatly improved since the last time I was there a few years ago. There were benches along a well defined trail and overlooks at some spots. A bridge over the mudflats made for good walking and good viewing. I also believe that a lot of invasive non-native plants were removed and replaced by native species.It seems that some new plantings were recently put in. I wish that some other parks in the NYC area would be like this. Best, Joe Giunta -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Pelham Bay Park, the Bronx- the neglected park
After seeing yesterday’s bird list, my wife wanted to bird the park this morning to celebrate Mother’s Day. We had a wonderful morning, 2.5 hours at Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx. After touring the park twice, besides yesterday’s group I led, I met only two other birders! Just to let the birding community know that there are birds here and that the woods here can be challenging and a lot wilder than other parks but without the noise and hustle. Some highlights: Blackburnian Blackpoll BT Blue BT Green Canada Nashville Magnolia Redstart Chestnut-sided Yellow Warbler Yellow-rumped Ovenbird Parula BW N Waterthrush Com Yellowthroat Scarlet Tanager Orchard Oriole Baltimore Oriole BH Vireo Warbling Vireo RE Vireo Tr Swallow Barn Swallow Least Sandpiper Greater Yellowlegs Lesser Yellowlegs Eastern Woods PeeWee Empidonax, most likely a Willow Flycatcher Turkey Vulture RT Hawk Spotted Sandpiper Killdeer Chip Sparrow Lincoln’s Sparrow and the usual… Jack Rothman cityislandbirds.com -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Gull-billed Terns at Jones Beach
I caught up with three Gull-billed Terns (and Peter Post) at Jones Beach today, first as fly bys at the West End turnaround and then on the spit near the Coast Guard Station. A picture (of two) can be seen at http://www.stevewalternature.com/ . Presumably, these are of the group seen at Nickerson Beach in recent days. I started the day there, but they did not. I did, however, get my FOS Common Tern, quickly followed by my SOS, then TOS, two more FOSes, two more SOSes, and my EOS - which coincidentally is what I use to photograph them. Went to Muttontown later on, but didn't see the reported Bobolinks. A consolation was an Orchard Oriole along the northwest flank of the corral area, one that might not be too hard to find for someone needing that. Steve Walter Bayside, NY -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC 5/11
Mother's Day Sunday, 11 May, 2014 - Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City A Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, very uncommon in Central, was still being observed by many through at least 7:30 p.m. at Azalea Pond in the Ramble. It looked ready to get to a fishing area, perhaps is by this hour...It was another very good birding day in the park, with well over 100 species noted, and at least a few apparently new arrivals, with Olive-sided Flycatchers in a few locations, and a Mourning Warbler report. Numbers of some species continued to be high, among them Wilson;s Warbler, often among the less-common species, seemed common enough today; also in notable numbers for the shyness associated with the species on migration: Lincoln's Sparrow. Not seen all-too-often in Central, a Marsh Wren was spotted by Mike Freeman also seen by myself Ken Chaya, who got a quick photo, at the not-so-marshy wildflower meadow. Yet again a male Summer Tanager was seen, a few Common Nighthawks as well. An Orange-crowned Warbler remained around the maintenance meadow. There were a few modest hatches of insects that pulled migrants down from the canopy, the phenomenon is often seen when it quickly warms as has happened the past 2 days, and may continue 1 more in this area. 5 or more Solitary Sandpipers have been noted as well as some Spotted Sandpipers. We are gearing up to a busier time for shorebird migration in the area. There were a good variety of migrants also in Riverside Park (Manhattan) later in the day, and at least a few of them visited the drip, however it seemed most did not. The drip is harder now to see into, but may yet be worth checking for those in that neighborhood. Good birding, Tom Fiore Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Doodletown Road, Rockland County: excellent birding
All, I had an extremely good, rather brief, late afternoon trip to Doodletown Road, part of Bear Mountain State Park. Excellent migration, many birds, almost constant activity. 4:30 - 6:00 pm. The highlight was probably the adult male Cerulean that stayed below my eye level ten feet away in perfect light for about thirty seconds. Amazing. Black Vulture (2) Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Blue Jay White-breasted Nuthatch House Wren American Robin Wood Thrush E. Kingbird E. Wood-pewee Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Red-eyed Vireo Yellow-throated Vireo Black-and-white Warbler Nashville Warbler American Redstart, many Northern Parula Magnolia Warbler, many Chestnut-sided Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler, pair Yellow-rumped Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Wilson's Warbler Worm-eating Warbler Cerulean, 3 Hooded Warbler Eastern Towhee Swamp Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Scarlet Tanager Northern Cardinal Indigo Bunting Red-winged Blackbird Baltimore Oriole, many Bob Lewis Sleepy Hollow NY -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
