[nysbirds-l] Shinnecock Inlet (Suffolk Co.) Black Guillemot found dead
Quick heads up for those thinking about traveling out. According to Adam Kohler's eBird checklist from this morning, the guillemot has joined the Choir Invisible. https://ebird.org/checklist/S155247693 -- Angus Wilson -- (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") NYSbirds-L List Info: NortheastBirding_DOT_com/NYSbirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/NYSbirdsRULES_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave_DOT_htm ARCHIVES: 1) mail-archive_DOT_com/nysbirds-l@cornell_DOT_edu/maillist_DOT_html 2) surfbirds_DOT_com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) birding_DOT_aba_DOT_org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: ebird_DOT_org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Montauk (Suffolk Co) alcids
The Thick-billed Murre and Common Murres continue from yesterday in the inlet at Montauk Harbour. Drifting out with the current then swimming back in Both diving occasionally. Lots of Razorbills as well including one 1st year up on the west jetty. Long Island Sound mirror calm. Surprising number of Double-crested Cormorants (for dat ) joining the Greats at the inlet mouth. Angus Wilson -- 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@cornell.edu/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] Montauk (Suffolk Co) alcids
The Thick-billed Murre and Common Murres continue from yesterday in the inlet at Montauk Harbour. Drifting out with the current then swimming back in Both diving occasionally. Lots of Razorbills as well including one 1st year up on the west jetty. Long Island Sound mirror calm. Surprising number of Double-crested Cormorants (for dat ) joining the Greats at the inlet mouth. Angus Wilson -- 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@cornell.edu/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] Re: [nysbirds-l] Smith’s Longspur - Livingston County NY…
Thanks, Andrew! Alas, I find myself increasingly dependent on a handful of responsible citizens such as yourself who regularly cross-post. Case in point, I was blissfully unaware of this noteworthy find (already a couple of days old) and suspect the same is true for many hundreds of birders across the state. With the explosion of different social media platforms, we took one step forward and two steps back. Keeping up with things only seems to be getting harder and think it's high time the birders of New York State came up with a simple, equitable solution to timely rare bird news sharing. The eBird alerts are great but lack prioritization and can be a little overwhelming at times. Likewise, there are too many area-specific Twitter feeds and who knows what else for anyone to keep track of. Some people are clearly better plugged in than others and it would useful to hear about the strategies they use to monitor the airwaves. For now, cross-posting to this STATEWIDE listserve (NYSBIRDS-L) is always worthwhile. Angus Wilson New York City -- 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@cornell.edu/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] Re: [nysbirds-l] Smith’s Longspur - Livingston County NY…
Thanks, Andrew! Alas, I find myself increasingly dependent on a handful of responsible citizens such as yourself who regularly cross-post. Case in point, I was blissfully unaware of this noteworthy find (already a couple of days old) and suspect the same is true for many hundreds of birders across the state. With the explosion of different social media platforms, we took one step forward and two steps back. Keeping up with things only seems to be getting harder and think it's high time the birders of New York State came up with a simple, equitable solution to timely rare bird news sharing. The eBird alerts are great but lack prioritization and can be a little overwhelming at times. Likewise, there are too many area-specific Twitter feeds and who knows what else for anyone to keep track of. Some people are clearly better plugged in than others and it would useful to hear about the strategies they use to monitor the airwaves. For now, cross-posting to this STATEWIDE listserve (NYSBIRDS-L) is always worthwhile. Angus Wilson New York City -- 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@cornell.edu/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] LI (Suffolk) Montauk Western Kingbird still present
Found yesterday on Montauk CBC. Ranging up and down the edg ofthe impenetrable scrub along N Fernwood Drive between intersection with West Lake Drive and first house on street. Patience required. Angus Wilson -- 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@cornell.edu/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] LI (Suffolk) Montauk Western Kingbird still present
Found yesterday on Montauk CBC. Ranging up and down the edg ofthe impenetrable scrub along N Fernwood Drive between intersection with West Lake Drive and first house on street. Patience required. Angus Wilson -- 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@cornell.edu/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/ --
Re: [nysbirds-l] Great White Heron, Marshlands Conservancy, Rye
Thank you Tim, this is very interesting and it's a little disappointing that nobody has replied or commented further. The 'egret' in the photos is clearly a Great White HERON. I do hope someone lets the observer (Paul McPartland) know so he can amend his checklist and extend the timeline in the permanent record. The full extend of this (unprecedented?) invasion of Gulf Coast specialists including Wood Stork, Roseate Spoonbill, Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Swallow-tailed Kite, and now, Great White Heron, is slowly becoming apparent. I've seen some speculation on possible causes but little in the way of hard data or convincing arguments. I'm also curious why some wetland species of similar range (e.g. Anhinga and Limpkin) were seemingly unrepresented. To be fair, there has been a lot of weird stuff this year including the vanishing Bonaparte's Gulls raised by Derek Rogers some weeks ago, and the various summering King Eiders dotted around. To me, these events all seem like topics worthy of discussion on what is supposed to be THE State-wide list. Angus Wilson New York City On Mon, Oct 11, 2021 at 8:04 PM Timothy Healy wrote: > > The lingering Great White Heron at the Marshlands Conservancy in Rye > continued today, roosting in the trees along the northern shore of Marie’s > Neck during the evening high tide. After several sporadic sightings between > late August and September, the bird has now been seen consistently on a > daily basis since October 3rd. It’s also worth noting that this > long-staying individual has apparently been staying for even longer than we > initially realized: this checklist from August 1st shows photos that > include the Great White, almost 3 full weeks before Phil Jeffrey’s original > report to the listserv. > > https://ebird.org/checklist/S92627952 > > Intriguing that this vagrant evidently showed up around the same time as > many of the other southern waders that irrupted north this summer but has > stuck around so much longer, albeit with extensive gaps between > observations. > > Cheers! > -Tim H > -- > *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 > <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm> > *Archives:* > The Mail Archive > <http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/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/>*!* > -- > -- Angus Wilson -- 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@cornell.edu/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/ --
Re: [nysbirds-l] Great White Heron, Marshlands Conservancy, Rye
Thank you Tim, this is very interesting and it's a little disappointing that nobody has replied or commented further. The 'egret' in the photos is clearly a Great White HERON. I do hope someone lets the observer (Paul McPartland) know so he can amend his checklist and extend the timeline in the permanent record. The full extend of this (unprecedented?) invasion of Gulf Coast specialists including Wood Stork, Roseate Spoonbill, Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Swallow-tailed Kite, and now, Great White Heron, is slowly becoming apparent. I've seen some speculation on possible causes but little in the way of hard data or convincing arguments. I'm also curious why some wetland species of similar range (e.g. Anhinga and Limpkin) were seemingly unrepresented. To be fair, there has been a lot of weird stuff this year including the vanishing Bonaparte's Gulls raised by Derek Rogers some weeks ago, and the various summering King Eiders dotted around. To me, these events all seem like topics worthy of discussion on what is supposed to be THE State-wide list. Angus Wilson New York City On Mon, Oct 11, 2021 at 8:04 PM Timothy Healy wrote: > > The lingering Great White Heron at the Marshlands Conservancy in Rye > continued today, roosting in the trees along the northern shore of Marie’s > Neck during the evening high tide. After several sporadic sightings between > late August and September, the bird has now been seen consistently on a > daily basis since October 3rd. It’s also worth noting that this > long-staying individual has apparently been staying for even longer than we > initially realized: this checklist from August 1st shows photos that > include the Great White, almost 3 full weeks before Phil Jeffrey’s original > report to the listserv. > > https://ebird.org/checklist/S92627952 > > Intriguing that this vagrant evidently showed up around the same time as > many of the other southern waders that irrupted north this summer but has > stuck around so much longer, albeit with extensive gaps between > observations. > > Cheers! > -Tim H > -- > *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 > <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm> > *Archives:* > The Mail Archive > <http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/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/>*!* > -- > -- Angus Wilson -- 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@cornell.edu/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] Weird stuff happening to the south of us
Birders in coastal NY (at least) should be on the lookout for WHITE IBIS. There have been multiple reports in recent days from Cape May County, New Jersey of flocks of White Ibis that appeared to be "heading north". Indeed Terry Carruthers and Pete Shen submitted eBird checklists from 20 April of an estimated 130 (yes, you read that right!) White Ibis "drifting northwards at great height". Where these birds are ending up is anybody's guess. Along these lines, many species more typical of the southern states are being found up and down the mid-Atlantic region, from Swainson's warbler and Scissor-tailed Flycatcher in NJ to a fulva ssp. Cave Swallow near the Massachusetts-New Hampshire border. This is not an exhaustive summary but something atypical (in my view) is happening. The Violet-green Swallow in near Albany, NY, and less so the multiple reports of White-faced Ibis (NJ, CT, MA) also hint at a west-to-east component. There's a lot of fresh data to digest but it is hard to believe many of these species are not finding their way in the lower tier of New York State at a minimum. -- Angus Wilson New York City, NY -- 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@cornell.edu/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] Weird stuff happening to the south of us
Birders in coastal NY (at least) should be on the lookout for WHITE IBIS. There have been multiple reports in recent days from Cape May County, New Jersey of flocks of White Ibis that appeared to be "heading north". Indeed Terry Carruthers and Pete Shen submitted eBird checklists from 20 April of an estimated 130 (yes, you read that right!) White Ibis "drifting northwards at great height". Where these birds are ending up is anybody's guess. Along these lines, many species more typical of the southern states are being found up and down the mid-Atlantic region, from Swainson's warbler and Scissor-tailed Flycatcher in NJ to a fulva ssp. Cave Swallow near the Massachusetts-New Hampshire border. This is not an exhaustive summary but something atypical (in my view) is happening. The Violet-green Swallow in near Albany, NY, and less so the multiple reports of White-faced Ibis (NJ, CT, MA) also hint at a west-to-east component. There's a lot of fresh data to digest but it is hard to believe many of these species are not finding their way in the lower tier of New York State at a minimum. -- Angus Wilson New York City, NY -- 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@cornell.edu/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/ --
Re: [nysbirds-l] RWSW Not yet
Hi Rich, The subject line is very misleading. I assume you mean THE Violet-green Swallow (VGSW) was not seen. This is a reminder of why banding codes should be avoided on listserve postings. Nevertheless looking forward to any positive or negative news about this potential 1st New York State record. Angus Wilson New York City -- 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@cornell.edu/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/ --
Re: [nysbirds-l] RWSW Not yet
Hi Rich, The subject line is very misleading. I assume you mean THE Violet-green Swallow (VGSW) was not seen. This is a reminder of why banding codes should be avoided on listserve postings. Nevertheless looking forward to any positive or negative news about this potential 1st New York State record. Angus Wilson New York City -- 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@cornell.edu/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/ --
Re: [nysbirds-l] Prospect Park (likely) Caribbean/Cuban Martin continuing
Very interesting. Can you or Doug direct the rest of us photos of the bird in question? I for one haven't seen any and don't have time to scan all the possible outlets assuming they are posted somewhere. Dissemination of hot news is so fragmented nowadays it is challenging to keep up. Thanks, Angus Wilson On Thu, Apr 1, 2021 at 8:48 PM Shaibal Mitra wrote: > Hi all, > > Pat and I headed into Brooklyn based on Doug's photos, which raised doubts > about it being a Purple Martin. I have to say that our views of the bird in > life pointed even more strongly away from Purple Martin. In addition to the > features obvious in the photos, especially the underparts pattern, I saw > this martin as a smaller and much more "normal" swallow than Purple Martin > in terms of shape and flight action. For instance, it wasn't strikingly > different from Tree Swallows, unlike the inevitable impressions given by > PUMA over time, which reveal grotesque looks, owing to the overall size, > long neck, large bill, etc. This bird never gave a starling-like > impression. The plumage also deviates from my experience with PUMA, > especially the all white undertail coverts and neat division between snowy > belly and gray-brown upper breast. > > I know very little about the three taxa of "Snowy-bellied Martin" and only > moderately more about Gray-breasted Martin. I completely understand what > Doug meant about PUMA being the "null hypothesis" but seeing the bird in > life helped me to strongly doubt that interpretation. > > Shai Mitra > Bay Shore > > From: bounce-125512311-3714...@list.cornell.edu [ > bounce-125512311-3714...@list.cornell.edu] on behalf of Doug Gochfeld [ > fresha2...@gmail.com] > Sent: Thursday, April 1, 2021 6:28 PM > To: NYSBIRDS-L@cornell edu > Subject: [nysbirds-l] Prospect Park (likely) Caribbean/Cuban Martin > continuing > > The apparent “Snowy-bellied” Martin on Prospect Lake has been continuing > on and off in Prospect Park all afternoon, since my last message. It is > ranging widely around the lake from end-to-end, but the base and tip of the > peninsula remain good general vantage points. It spent a long time at one > point at the SW corner of the lake. > > Good Birding > -Doug Gochfeld. Brooklyn, 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< > http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm> > Archives: > The Mail Archive< > http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/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/>! > -- > > -- > > 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@cornell.edu/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/ > > -- > > -- Angus Wilson New York City & The Springs, NY, USA http://birdingtotheend.blogspot.com/ -- 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@cornell.edu/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/ --
Re: [nysbirds-l] Prospect Park (likely) Caribbean/Cuban Martin continuing
Very interesting. Can you or Doug direct the rest of us photos of the bird in question? I for one haven't seen any and don't have time to scan all the possible outlets assuming they are posted somewhere. Dissemination of hot news is so fragmented nowadays it is challenging to keep up. Thanks, Angus Wilson On Thu, Apr 1, 2021 at 8:48 PM Shaibal Mitra wrote: > Hi all, > > Pat and I headed into Brooklyn based on Doug's photos, which raised doubts > about it being a Purple Martin. I have to say that our views of the bird in > life pointed even more strongly away from Purple Martin. In addition to the > features obvious in the photos, especially the underparts pattern, I saw > this martin as a smaller and much more "normal" swallow than Purple Martin > in terms of shape and flight action. For instance, it wasn't strikingly > different from Tree Swallows, unlike the inevitable impressions given by > PUMA over time, which reveal grotesque looks, owing to the overall size, > long neck, large bill, etc. This bird never gave a starling-like > impression. The plumage also deviates from my experience with PUMA, > especially the all white undertail coverts and neat division between snowy > belly and gray-brown upper breast. > > I know very little about the three taxa of "Snowy-bellied Martin" and only > moderately more about Gray-breasted Martin. I completely understand what > Doug meant about PUMA being the "null hypothesis" but seeing the bird in > life helped me to strongly doubt that interpretation. > > Shai Mitra > Bay Shore > > From: bounce-125512311-3714...@list.cornell.edu [ > bounce-125512311-3714...@list.cornell.edu] on behalf of Doug Gochfeld [ > fresha2...@gmail.com] > Sent: Thursday, April 1, 2021 6:28 PM > To: NYSBIRDS-L@cornell edu > Subject: [nysbirds-l] Prospect Park (likely) Caribbean/Cuban Martin > continuing > > The apparent “Snowy-bellied” Martin on Prospect Lake has been continuing > on and off in Prospect Park all afternoon, since my last message. It is > ranging widely around the lake from end-to-end, but the base and tip of the > peninsula remain good general vantage points. It spent a long time at one > point at the SW corner of the lake. > > Good Birding > -Doug Gochfeld. Brooklyn, 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< > http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm> > Archives: > The Mail Archive< > http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/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/>! > -- > > -- > > 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@cornell.edu/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/ > > -- > > -- Angus Wilson New York City & The Springs, NY, USA http://birdingtotheend.blogspot.com/ -- 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@cornell.edu/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] Re: [nysbirds-l] Re: Nelson’s Gull Central Park
Hi Peter, I think it would be instructive to everyone if you could summarize the details that are supportive of Nelson's Gull and how other possibilities can be safely excluded. I'm a little concerned about the structure and coloring of the bill, although perhaps I've not seen the best photos. Thanks, Angus Wilson -- 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@cornell.edu/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] Re: [nysbirds-l] Re: Nelson’s Gull Central Park
Hi Peter, I think it would be instructive to everyone if you could summarize the details that are supportive of Nelson's Gull and how other possibilities can be safely excluded. I'm a little concerned about the structure and coloring of the bill, although perhaps I've not seen the best photos. Thanks, Angus Wilson -- 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@cornell.edu/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] American Golden-Plover - another NYS migrant to worry about?
I am glad to see an informed discussion about the apparent decline in Bonaparte's Gulls both in western and coastal New York State. Birding forms tend to focus on the positive such as new sightings, influxes, and weather-related events, with much less attention given to species that might be disappearing before our eyes. The human brain is not very good at accessing the absence of something and birding record systems are seemingly not much better either. Aside from Bonaparte's Gull, I have wondered about the status of America Golden-Plover in the state. In the past several years I've noted few if any reports of larger flocks that would draw birders to sod fields and other grassy habitats in the fall, especially in eastern Long Island. In recent years only a scattering of Golden-Plovers have been reported in the fall (principally from late August to late October), rarely more than two together. Many people may have successfully ticked their 'year bird' and not given much more thought to it but the reality is that we probably are all ticking the SAME few birds. Looking at the tallies for some of the hotspots for southbound plovers it was not long ago that flocks of 60-100+ were frequent in and around Riverhead (Suffolk NY). 2016 seems to have been the last good season (many reports of 60+), with 2012 and 2013 similarly featuring some larger flocks (counts of 102, 105, etc). Is something going on? Is the apparent decline in birds staging on eastern Long Island echoed elsewhere? American Golden-Plover is an arctic and subarctic tundra nesting species that makes a long oceanic flight (a minimum of 2,400 miles nonstop) to wintering grounds in the Pampas and Campos regions of southern South America. It is possible that weather conditions have allowed birds to launch from further north and simply bypass our area. Scrutiny of trends in the Canadian Maritime Provinces and New England or the Mississippi/Missouri/Ohio flyway (if the southbound route has shifted towards the center of the continent) might shed light on this. Changes in pesticide use might also render the Long Island sod fields less attractive such that birds arriving at night leave soon after. It's worth noting that aside from a possible shift in the migration route, many high latitude breeding species undergo cycles of abundance that reflect cycles in breeding success - these may relate to lemming cycles, late snowmelt, and so on. It could be we are in the trough of one of these cycles. Careful monitoring of the relative numbers of juveniles/1st basic and adults (estimating the ratio from year to year) can give warnings of these changes. This could also be done fairly easily with Bonaparte's Gulls because these two age classes are easy to distinguish. Unfortunately, relatively few birders keep notes on these things and again there's no simple way that I can find to recover such information from eBird or other record collections. Maybe folks on this list will have insight into how best to use the available data in this regard. All food for thought. Don't get me started on Upland Sandpiper.. -- Angus Wilson New York City -- 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@cornell.edu/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] American Golden-Plover - another NYS migrant to worry about?
I am glad to see an informed discussion about the apparent decline in Bonaparte's Gulls both in western and coastal New York State. Birding forms tend to focus on the positive such as new sightings, influxes, and weather-related events, with much less attention given to species that might be disappearing before our eyes. The human brain is not very good at accessing the absence of something and birding record systems are seemingly not much better either. Aside from Bonaparte's Gull, I have wondered about the status of America Golden-Plover in the state. In the past several years I've noted few if any reports of larger flocks that would draw birders to sod fields and other grassy habitats in the fall, especially in eastern Long Island. In recent years only a scattering of Golden-Plovers have been reported in the fall (principally from late August to late October), rarely more than two together. Many people may have successfully ticked their 'year bird' and not given much more thought to it but the reality is that we probably are all ticking the SAME few birds. Looking at the tallies for some of the hotspots for southbound plovers it was not long ago that flocks of 60-100+ were frequent in and around Riverhead (Suffolk NY). 2016 seems to have been the last good season (many reports of 60+), with 2012 and 2013 similarly featuring some larger flocks (counts of 102, 105, etc). Is something going on? Is the apparent decline in birds staging on eastern Long Island echoed elsewhere? American Golden-Plover is an arctic and subarctic tundra nesting species that makes a long oceanic flight (a minimum of 2,400 miles nonstop) to wintering grounds in the Pampas and Campos regions of southern South America. It is possible that weather conditions have allowed birds to launch from further north and simply bypass our area. Scrutiny of trends in the Canadian Maritime Provinces and New England or the Mississippi/Missouri/Ohio flyway (if the southbound route has shifted towards the center of the continent) might shed light on this. Changes in pesticide use might also render the Long Island sod fields less attractive such that birds arriving at night leave soon after. It's worth noting that aside from a possible shift in the migration route, many high latitude breeding species undergo cycles of abundance that reflect cycles in breeding success - these may relate to lemming cycles, late snowmelt, and so on. It could be we are in the trough of one of these cycles. Careful monitoring of the relative numbers of juveniles/1st basic and adults (estimating the ratio from year to year) can give warnings of these changes. This could also be done fairly easily with Bonaparte's Gulls because these two age classes are easy to distinguish. Unfortunately, relatively few birders keep notes on these things and again there's no simple way that I can find to recover such information from eBird or other record collections. Maybe folks on this list will have insight into how best to use the available data in this regard. All food for thought. Don't get me started on Upland Sandpiper.. -- Angus Wilson New York City -- 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@cornell.edu/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/ --
Re: [nysbirds-l] StoneBridge Nighthawk results - 8/28
I've always been impressed and puzzled by the remarkable number of nighthawks recorded in early fall year from the Setauket Mill Pond area. Nowhere else on Long Island has numbers anywhere close to this. In fact, single-digit counts are the norm elsewhere except perhaps a few spots that are also close to the north shore of the island. I'm curious to know what aspect of the geography might explain this disparity? I would have guessed that south-bound migrants are reluctant to cross the full width of the Sound and perhaps make shorter jumps via Fisher's and Plumb Islands, mirroring the preference of several hawk species. However, that would predict large counts on the North Fork, which I'm unaware of. Alternatively is there something about the ponds and woodland of Setauket that is uniquely attractive to migrating Nighthawks? If the attraction is good rooting and feeding prospects, is there evidence that the birds counted on a particular evening remain in the area a night or two, or do they inevitably move on? Finally, is there any evidence of significant numbers on other north-facing extensions into Long Island Sound such a Eaton's Neck or Caumsett? Angus Wilson New York City On Sat, Aug 29, 2020 at 8:42 AM TURNER wrote: > We had a banner evening with 351 nighthawks passing by the watch, making > it the 2nd highest daily total we've ever recorded. We had a kettle of > about 130 birds circling above us at one point. Many swallows and swifts > and even some laughing gulls were feeding on the insect swarms above us. > > John Turner > -- 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@cornell.edu/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/ --
Re: [nysbirds-l] StoneBridge Nighthawk results - 8/28
I've always been impressed and puzzled by the remarkable number of nighthawks recorded in early fall year from the Setauket Mill Pond area. Nowhere else on Long Island has numbers anywhere close to this. In fact, single-digit counts are the norm elsewhere except perhaps a few spots that are also close to the north shore of the island. I'm curious to know what aspect of the geography might explain this disparity? I would have guessed that south-bound migrants are reluctant to cross the full width of the Sound and perhaps make shorter jumps via Fisher's and Plumb Islands, mirroring the preference of several hawk species. However, that would predict large counts on the North Fork, which I'm unaware of. Alternatively is there something about the ponds and woodland of Setauket that is uniquely attractive to migrating Nighthawks? If the attraction is good rooting and feeding prospects, is there evidence that the birds counted on a particular evening remain in the area a night or two, or do they inevitably move on? Finally, is there any evidence of significant numbers on other north-facing extensions into Long Island Sound such a Eaton's Neck or Caumsett? Angus Wilson New York City On Sat, Aug 29, 2020 at 8:42 AM TURNER wrote: > We had a banner evening with 351 nighthawks passing by the watch, making > it the 2nd highest daily total we've ever recorded. We had a kettle of > about 130 birds circling above us at one point. Many swallows and swifts > and even some laughing gulls were feeding on the insect swarms above us. > > John Turner > -- 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@cornell.edu/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] LI: Brown Booby, Ocean Parkway, Gilgo Beach (Suffolk Co.)
This evening (1 May 2020) Janice Sweet and co. photographed a bright adult BROWN BOOBY perched on the median guard rail of the Ocean Parkway at Gilgo Beach. See her eBird Checklist. https://ebird.org/checklist/S68213564 Obviously, this is a very unexpected location for this warm water sulid and is presumably associated somehow with the recent storm. It might be worth looking for at daybreak tomorrow. Note this is a very busy road and pulling over and/or parking is not looked on favorably by the authorities. -- Angus Wilson -- 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@cornell.edu/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] LI: Brown Booby, Ocean Parkway, Gilgo Beach (Suffolk Co.)
This evening (1 May 2020) Janice Sweet and co. photographed a bright adult BROWN BOOBY perched on the median guard rail of the Ocean Parkway at Gilgo Beach. See her eBird Checklist. https://ebird.org/checklist/S68213564 Obviously, this is a very unexpected location for this warm water sulid and is presumably associated somehow with the recent storm. It might be worth looking for at daybreak tomorrow. Note this is a very busy road and pulling over and/or parking is not looked on favorably by the authorities. -- Angus Wilson -- 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@cornell.edu/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] Long Island: New Year message from the Nassau/Suffolk eBird review team
Seven eBird Checklist Submission Tips
A large and increasing number of birders living on or visiting Long Island
now use eBird on a regular basis. The appeal is two-fold: foremost eBird
provides a simple way to track and store one’s own sightings and at the
same time share them with others including ornithologists and
conservationists who use the information for research and planning. Rare
Bird Alert (RBA) and Kingbird Regional or Seasonal compilers also rely
heavily on eBird data for their summaries. This will also be the chief
means of data collection for the Bird Bird Atlas.
Many birders value the fact that they can become an eBirder without needing
to take a test or demonstrate any knowledge of this citizen science project
and its rules of data entry. For this reason, teams of regional reviewers
all over the world monitor incoming checklists to make sure they conform to
shared data entry standards.
The team overseeing New York State’s Nassau and Suffolk Counties has
increased to meet the growing volume of submissions from these busy
counties and now comprises (in order of recruitment) Angus Wilson, Derek
Rogers, Michael McBrien, Brendan Fogarty, Pete Morris, Taylor Sturm, and
Brent Bomkamp. Hotspots are created and managed by Ben Cacace. As active
birders in the region (and well beyond), our names should be familiar to
most readers.
We are the folks that set the filters that define species as scarce or rare
and the range of expected dates. We review and validate flagged items that
exceed these limits ('trip the filter'), monitor overall checklist quality
and correspond with you when there are errors, missing information or other
concerns. Most people are very responsive to the feedback we provide and it
is a delight to see so many contributors improve the quality of the
checklists they routinely submit, increasing their value as part of the
permanent record. That said, we still encounter the same problems time and
time again and have decided to post occasional notes with advice intended
to help the community as a whole.
Below are seven tips that will help you prepare useful checklists and
minimize the chances that you will hear from us!
Tip #1. Provide SOME WORDS OF DESCRIPTION (or attach photos) for ANY
noteworthy birds. Usually, these will be flagged as 'rare' or as a 'high
count' based on the local filter settings. At present, the filters only
work at the county level and so may or may not flag very localized or
habitat-specific birds. A terse description of the bird or how your method
of counting the individuals is important for validation. Notes on what the
bird(s) was doing or where it was, are of secondary importance but welcome
nonetheless. Simply saying ‘continuing’ or ‘seen by many’ isn’t very
helpful at all. Incorporating media (photos, video or sound recordings) has
never been easier but should not entirely replace written comments.
Tip #2. Try to select the nearest HOT SPOT rather than creating a personal
location. There are plenty to choose from. Checklists mapped to hot spots
are used to develop occurrence data such as bar charts. If you create
personal locations, please avoid general locations (e.g. a village, town or
general area) unless there are reasons to not give the specific locality
(e.g., sensitive species or no public access). Ideally, sightings should be
less than a mile or two from the hotspot marker. For larger sites, it's
helpful to include a line or two on the precise location of any noteworthy
birds. Just think what would be useful to you if you wished to follow up on
(i.e., chase) an exciting finding made by other observers.
Tip #3. Avoid selecting SUBSPECIES on the basis of expectation or because
they are high on a list of suggestions. Identifying subspecies adds a whole
new level of enjoyment to birding. If you use this option, try to explain
the basis of your choice. This will add to your own knowledge and provide
more accurate data.
Tip #4. Pay attention to your PROTOCOL and EFFORT data. Your checklists
become more valuable when this information is accurate. While estimates are
okay, give careful thought to whether you really hiked exactly 1 mile and
birded for exactly 1 hour. The more precise the effort information, the
better. And don't forget, for traveling checklists you should NOT be
including your return mileage unless you took a different route back to
where your checklist originated. Some further guidance on this topic can be
viewed at:
http://help.ebird.org/customer/en/portal/articles/974012-how-to-make-your-checklists-more-valuable
Tip #5. Be COURTEOUS. If you are chasing a bird that was reported by
someone else, why not mention them by name? This simple act shows that you
respect your fellow birders, encourages people to submit in a timely
fashion, and also helps regional compilers understand who first discovered
noteworthy birds.
Tip #6. Not every individual bird can be identified in the field; for these
cases don't be afraid to enter them
[nysbirds-l] Long Island: New Year message from the Nassau/Suffolk eBird review team
Seven eBird Checklist Submission Tips
A large and increasing number of birders living on or visiting Long Island
now use eBird on a regular basis. The appeal is two-fold: foremost eBird
provides a simple way to track and store one’s own sightings and at the
same time share them with others including ornithologists and
conservationists who use the information for research and planning. Rare
Bird Alert (RBA) and Kingbird Regional or Seasonal compilers also rely
heavily on eBird data for their summaries. This will also be the chief
means of data collection for the Bird Bird Atlas.
Many birders value the fact that they can become an eBirder without needing
to take a test or demonstrate any knowledge of this citizen science project
and its rules of data entry. For this reason, teams of regional reviewers
all over the world monitor incoming checklists to make sure they conform to
shared data entry standards.
The team overseeing New York State’s Nassau and Suffolk Counties has
increased to meet the growing volume of submissions from these busy
counties and now comprises (in order of recruitment) Angus Wilson, Derek
Rogers, Michael McBrien, Brendan Fogarty, Pete Morris, Taylor Sturm, and
Brent Bomkamp. Hotspots are created and managed by Ben Cacace. As active
birders in the region (and well beyond), our names should be familiar to
most readers.
We are the folks that set the filters that define species as scarce or rare
and the range of expected dates. We review and validate flagged items that
exceed these limits ('trip the filter'), monitor overall checklist quality
and correspond with you when there are errors, missing information or other
concerns. Most people are very responsive to the feedback we provide and it
is a delight to see so many contributors improve the quality of the
checklists they routinely submit, increasing their value as part of the
permanent record. That said, we still encounter the same problems time and
time again and have decided to post occasional notes with advice intended
to help the community as a whole.
Below are seven tips that will help you prepare useful checklists and
minimize the chances that you will hear from us!
Tip #1. Provide SOME WORDS OF DESCRIPTION (or attach photos) for ANY
noteworthy birds. Usually, these will be flagged as 'rare' or as a 'high
count' based on the local filter settings. At present, the filters only
work at the county level and so may or may not flag very localized or
habitat-specific birds. A terse description of the bird or how your method
of counting the individuals is important for validation. Notes on what the
bird(s) was doing or where it was, are of secondary importance but welcome
nonetheless. Simply saying ‘continuing’ or ‘seen by many’ isn’t very
helpful at all. Incorporating media (photos, video or sound recordings) has
never been easier but should not entirely replace written comments.
Tip #2. Try to select the nearest HOT SPOT rather than creating a personal
location. There are plenty to choose from. Checklists mapped to hot spots
are used to develop occurrence data such as bar charts. If you create
personal locations, please avoid general locations (e.g. a village, town or
general area) unless there are reasons to not give the specific locality
(e.g., sensitive species or no public access). Ideally, sightings should be
less than a mile or two from the hotspot marker. For larger sites, it's
helpful to include a line or two on the precise location of any noteworthy
birds. Just think what would be useful to you if you wished to follow up on
(i.e., chase) an exciting finding made by other observers.
Tip #3. Avoid selecting SUBSPECIES on the basis of expectation or because
they are high on a list of suggestions. Identifying subspecies adds a whole
new level of enjoyment to birding. If you use this option, try to explain
the basis of your choice. This will add to your own knowledge and provide
more accurate data.
Tip #4. Pay attention to your PROTOCOL and EFFORT data. Your checklists
become more valuable when this information is accurate. While estimates are
okay, give careful thought to whether you really hiked exactly 1 mile and
birded for exactly 1 hour. The more precise the effort information, the
better. And don't forget, for traveling checklists you should NOT be
including your return mileage unless you took a different route back to
where your checklist originated. Some further guidance on this topic can be
viewed at:
http://help.ebird.org/customer/en/portal/articles/974012-how-to-make-your-checklists-more-valuable
Tip #5. Be COURTEOUS. If you are chasing a bird that was reported by
someone else, why not mention them by name? This simple act shows that you
respect your fellow birders, encourages people to submit in a timely
fashion, and also helps regional compilers understand who first discovered
noteworthy birds.
Tip #6. Not every individual bird can be identified in the field; for these
cases don't be afraid to enter them
[nysbirds-l] Long Island: Origins of banded Glaucous Gull at Shinnecock Inlet?
Today a couple of observers reported a 1 CY GLAUCOUS GULL from the parking lot at ocean-end of the Ponquogue Bridge in Hampton Bays (Suffolk Co.). A handsome bird for sure but what's really fascinating is that it carries a metal band on the right leg. With luck, someone will be able to read the band in the field or from photos so we can find out the history of the bird. I'm not aware of any other band recoveries for this species in New York State. My assumption would be that it was banded as a chick in Nunavut (Canadian High Arctic) but for once we have a chance to know for sure. Maybe we will be surprised. Readers may remember a Harlequin Duck photographed by Derek Rogers in early January 2018 at the inlet itself, which most unexpectedly turned out to be from Montana and thus from the separate western population. https://blog.nature.org/science/2018/03/26/a-harlequin-ducks-long-cross-country-migration/ If anyone is successful in reading part or all of the band numbers for the Glaucous Gull please submit the info to the Bird Banding Lab and share their response with the list. It's possible that input from multiple observers will be required to get a complete number. -- Angus Wilson, New York City -- 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@cornell.edu/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] Long Island: Origins of banded Glaucous Gull at Shinnecock Inlet?
Today a couple of observers reported a 1 CY GLAUCOUS GULL from the parking lot at ocean-end of the Ponquogue Bridge in Hampton Bays (Suffolk Co.). A handsome bird for sure but what's really fascinating is that it carries a metal band on the right leg. With luck, someone will be able to read the band in the field or from photos so we can find out the history of the bird. I'm not aware of any other band recoveries for this species in New York State. My assumption would be that it was banded as a chick in Nunavut (Canadian High Arctic) but for once we have a chance to know for sure. Maybe we will be surprised. Readers may remember a Harlequin Duck photographed by Derek Rogers in early January 2018 at the inlet itself, which most unexpectedly turned out to be from Montana and thus from the separate western population. https://blog.nature.org/science/2018/03/26/a-harlequin-ducks-long-cross-country-migration/ If anyone is successful in reading part or all of the band numbers for the Glaucous Gull please submit the info to the Bird Banding Lab and share their response with the list. It's possible that input from multiple observers will be required to get a complete number. -- Angus Wilson, New York City -- 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@cornell.edu/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] [Extralimital] Yellow-green Vireo in MA
On 15 Oct 2019, a YELLOW-GREEN VIREO was trapped twice at the Lighthouse on Monomoy Island, Cape Cod. There are very few prior records from the East Coast, although one was trapped on 5 Sep 2011 at Plum Island MA. There is also a Bermuda record from 6 Oct 1992. There are at least two records from Cape May, New Jersey, one from 26 Sep 2018 and the other 23 May 2019. Definitely something we should be watching for in coastal New York, both in the spring (May) and in the fall (Sep/Oct)! Here is a photo of the latest bird including a nice comparison to Red-eyed Vireo by the Monomoy Bird Observatory banding team https://ebird.org/checklist/S60648708 and a description of an independent sighting by Sean Williams https://ebird.org/checklist/S60657242 -- Angus Wilson (New York City) -- 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@cornell.edu/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] [Extralimital] Yellow-green Vireo in MA
On 15 Oct 2019, a YELLOW-GREEN VIREO was trapped twice at the Lighthouse on Monomoy Island, Cape Cod. There are very few prior records from the East Coast, although one was trapped on 5 Sep 2011 at Plum Island MA. There is also a Bermuda record from 6 Oct 1992. There are at least two records from Cape May, New Jersey, one from 26 Sep 2018 and the other 23 May 2019. Definitely something we should be watching for in coastal New York, both in the spring (May) and in the fall (Sep/Oct)! Here is a photo of the latest bird including a nice comparison to Red-eyed Vireo by the Monomoy Bird Observatory banding team https://ebird.org/checklist/S60648708 and a description of an independent sighting by Sean Williams https://ebird.org/checklist/S60657242 -- Angus Wilson (New York City) -- 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@cornell.edu/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] LI: Probable GRAY KINGBIRD at Smith Point CP
I'm surprised this hasn't hit the airwaves yet but at around 9 AM this morning (21 July 2019) Camron Robertson photographed what appears to be a GRAY KINGBIRD at Smith Point County Park (Suffolk CO.). This was in the Burma Road section which I believe is the offroad vehicle section east of the park entrance. His eBird checklist is here: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S58341806 Birders visiting the park or areas to the west (Fire Island, Robert Moses or Jones Beach) might want to keep an eye out and double-check any East Kingbirds they come across. Updates would, of course, be appreciated. Angus Wilson New York City, USA -- 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@cornell.edu/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] LI: Probable GRAY KINGBIRD at Smith Point CP
I'm surprised this hasn't hit the airwaves yet but at around 9 AM this morning (21 July 2019) Camron Robertson photographed what appears to be a GRAY KINGBIRD at Smith Point County Park (Suffolk CO.). This was in the Burma Road section which I believe is the offroad vehicle section east of the park entrance. His eBird checklist is here: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S58341806 Birders visiting the park or areas to the west (Fire Island, Robert Moses or Jones Beach) might want to keep an eye out and double-check any East Kingbirds they come across. Updates would, of course, be appreciated. Angus Wilson New York City, USA -- 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@cornell.edu/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/ --
Re: [nysbirds-l] Jamaica Bay East Pond Water Level 2019 & Nickerson sandpiper ID
Andrew, Thanks once again for your updates on this important shorebird site and tactful dialogue with the refuge staff. My impression is that the East Pond has declined significantly over the years as a shorebird feeding and roosting site. There could be many many reasons (assuming the data fits this personal impression) but I wonder if the pond doesn't need a more extensive spring clean so to speak? Maintaining this type of habitat (often called scapes) is a fairly advanced science involving periodic draining, freshwater flushing and remodeling. Shorebird focused refuges often construct multiple impoundments to allow some to be kept flooded whilst others are drained and then refilled. Similarly, isolated roost islands or shingle bars need to be maintained so that birds can sit out the high tide undisturbed. The Raunt, for example, has crumbled away and is now barely separated from the eastern margin. It used to be the most important site on the pond. Drawing down the water level on schedule is one thing but maybe more needed? I appreciate the Park Service and the refuge are under tight fiscal constraints but maybe birders can help through fundraising, donations of materials or if necessary, with manual labor. Has anyone sampled invertebrates in the surface mud to monitor productivity? > I wanted to share with anyone interested, an an update on the water level > on the East Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Queens Co. > Unfortunately, the news is not good. The water is quite high. On the South > End which is the where the first bit of mudflats would begin to show, the > water is right up to the phragmites on the edge of the trail before you > turn right to access the last bit heading towards the pond. > Based on my record keeping of water level and dates, we are once again > behind on schedule. I do not see any kind of flats opening up until August. > No doubt, the weather has not helped with the excessive rainfall but I > have a hard time reconciling why we seem to have a repeat of the same > situation - it seems year after year. > Changing subject slightly, I'm puzzled about the BAIRD's SANDPIPER reported from Nickerson Beach (Nassau Co.) yesterday. The few photos I've seen are marginal (seemingly distant and partly obscured by grasses) but are suggestive of an adult alternate plumaged Baird's/White-rumped Sandpiper. However, the descriptions in several eBird checklists are either inconclusive or strongly suggestive of White-rumped Sandpiper. I don't think leg color is useful (both should be blackish) and at least two reports mention a white-rump, which of course is damning for Baird's! Not sure anyone commented on the color of the lower mandible at the base. Did the dryish habitat play a part in the ID? Was wondering if there are better photos or if observers have changed their minds after reviewing online photos and other reference materials? -- Angus Wilson New York City -- 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@cornell.edu/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/ --
Re: [nysbirds-l] Jamaica Bay East Pond Water Level 2019 & Nickerson sandpiper ID
Andrew, Thanks once again for your updates on this important shorebird site and tactful dialogue with the refuge staff. My impression is that the East Pond has declined significantly over the years as a shorebird feeding and roosting site. There could be many many reasons (assuming the data fits this personal impression) but I wonder if the pond doesn't need a more extensive spring clean so to speak? Maintaining this type of habitat (often called scapes) is a fairly advanced science involving periodic draining, freshwater flushing and remodeling. Shorebird focused refuges often construct multiple impoundments to allow some to be kept flooded whilst others are drained and then refilled. Similarly, isolated roost islands or shingle bars need to be maintained so that birds can sit out the high tide undisturbed. The Raunt, for example, has crumbled away and is now barely separated from the eastern margin. It used to be the most important site on the pond. Drawing down the water level on schedule is one thing but maybe more needed? I appreciate the Park Service and the refuge are under tight fiscal constraints but maybe birders can help through fundraising, donations of materials or if necessary, with manual labor. Has anyone sampled invertebrates in the surface mud to monitor productivity? > I wanted to share with anyone interested, an an update on the water level > on the East Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Queens Co. > Unfortunately, the news is not good. The water is quite high. On the South > End which is the where the first bit of mudflats would begin to show, the > water is right up to the phragmites on the edge of the trail before you > turn right to access the last bit heading towards the pond. > Based on my record keeping of water level and dates, we are once again > behind on schedule. I do not see any kind of flats opening up until August. > No doubt, the weather has not helped with the excessive rainfall but I > have a hard time reconciling why we seem to have a repeat of the same > situation - it seems year after year. > Changing subject slightly, I'm puzzled about the BAIRD's SANDPIPER reported from Nickerson Beach (Nassau Co.) yesterday. The few photos I've seen are marginal (seemingly distant and partly obscured by grasses) but are suggestive of an adult alternate plumaged Baird's/White-rumped Sandpiper. However, the descriptions in several eBird checklists are either inconclusive or strongly suggestive of White-rumped Sandpiper. I don't think leg color is useful (both should be blackish) and at least two reports mention a white-rump, which of course is damning for Baird's! Not sure anyone commented on the color of the lower mandible at the base. Did the dryish habitat play a part in the ID? Was wondering if there are better photos or if observers have changed their minds after reviewing online photos and other reference materials? -- Angus Wilson New York City -- 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@cornell.edu/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] South Fork LI: Black-necked Stilt at Georgica Inlet (Suffolk Co)
Adult BLACK-NECKED STILT at the southern end of Georgica Pond in East Hampton (Suffolk Co). Initially in the cove at the SW corner feeding in shallow water with Greater Yellowlegs and Dunlin but flew across to the east side. Access is difficult involving a hike along the beach. Angus Wilson New York City, USA -- 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@cornell.edu/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] South Fork LI: Black-necked Stilt at Georgica Inlet (Suffolk Co)
Adult BLACK-NECKED STILT at the southern end of Georgica Pond in East Hampton (Suffolk Co). Initially in the cove at the SW corner feeding in shallow water with Greater Yellowlegs and Dunlin but flew across to the east side. Access is difficult involving a hike along the beach. Angus Wilson New York City, USA -- 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@cornell.edu/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] 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 -- 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@cornell.edu/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] 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 -- 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@cornell.edu/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/ --
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 -- 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@cornell.edu/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] Results of 2018 Montauk CBC
The 2018 Montauk CBC (89th count since the circle was created in 1920) took place place on Saturday 15 Dec. For a change, the weather was reasonably cooperative with a predawn low of 48 Fahrenheit rising to a comfortable 52 Fahrenheit through most of the day. Wind was minimal giving rise to lingering patches of mist in places, sometimes limiting views of ponds or the ocean. The otherwise ideal winter count conditions were marred only by a heavy overcast making it quite dark and gloomy in the early morning followed by a few hours of drizzle and light rain ending around midday. The 41 participants, divided across six territories, tallied a total of 128 species (including Ipswich Sparrow) on count day, with at least 4 additional species recorded in count week. Highlights included 1 BARROWS GOLDENEYE (adult male off Camp Hero), BLUE-WINGED TEAL (Big Reed Pond), 4 WOOD DUCK, 2 HARLEQUIN DUCK, 7 CANVASBACK (Oyster Pond), 1 COMMON MERGANSER, 1 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON (Gardiner’s Island), 9 BALD EAGLES, 1 RED-SHOULDERED HAWK (Napeague), 2 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (Gardiner’s Island), 2 VIRGINIA RAIL, 1 WILSON’S SNIPE, 1,898 RAZORBILL (mostly between Shagwong Pt and Montauk Pt), 7 BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE, a record 13 NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL, 22 EASTERN SCREECH OWL, 4 COMMON RAVEN, 131 RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, 76 WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH, 1 HOUSE WREN, 186 CAROLINA WREN, 5 TREE SWALLOW, 1 EASTERN PHOEBE (Big Reed Pond), 1 ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, 1 YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, 1 COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, 1 NASHVILLE WARBLER (Lake West), 1 COMMON REDPOLL, and 4 RUSTY BLACKBIRD. Compared to recent counts, scoter numbers were much reduced (4,631 combined), especially off Montauk Point offset by an excellent total of nearly two thousand Razorbills. Misses included Northern Pintail, Lesser Scaup, King Eider, Killdeer, Purple Sandpiper, Bonaparte’s Gull, Palm Warbler and Brown-headed Cowbird. Our thanks to the South Fork Natural History Museum & Nature Center (SoFo) and Hampton Coffee Company for sponsoring the compilation dinner and the Goelet Family for hosting the Gardiner’s Island survey. Karen Rubinstein, Brent Bomkamp and Angus Wilson (Co-compilers NYMK CBC) -- 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@cornell.edu/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] Results of 2018 Montauk CBC
The 2018 Montauk CBC (89th count since the circle was created in 1920) took place place on Saturday 15 Dec. For a change, the weather was reasonably cooperative with a predawn low of 48 Fahrenheit rising to a comfortable 52 Fahrenheit through most of the day. Wind was minimal giving rise to lingering patches of mist in places, sometimes limiting views of ponds or the ocean. The otherwise ideal winter count conditions were marred only by a heavy overcast making it quite dark and gloomy in the early morning followed by a few hours of drizzle and light rain ending around midday. The 41 participants, divided across six territories, tallied a total of 128 species (including Ipswich Sparrow) on count day, with at least 4 additional species recorded in count week. Highlights included 1 BARROWS GOLDENEYE (adult male off Camp Hero), BLUE-WINGED TEAL (Big Reed Pond), 4 WOOD DUCK, 2 HARLEQUIN DUCK, 7 CANVASBACK (Oyster Pond), 1 COMMON MERGANSER, 1 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON (Gardiner’s Island), 9 BALD EAGLES, 1 RED-SHOULDERED HAWK (Napeague), 2 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (Gardiner’s Island), 2 VIRGINIA RAIL, 1 WILSON’S SNIPE, 1,898 RAZORBILL (mostly between Shagwong Pt and Montauk Pt), 7 BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE, a record 13 NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL, 22 EASTERN SCREECH OWL, 4 COMMON RAVEN, 131 RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, 76 WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH, 1 HOUSE WREN, 186 CAROLINA WREN, 5 TREE SWALLOW, 1 EASTERN PHOEBE (Big Reed Pond), 1 ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, 1 YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, 1 COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, 1 NASHVILLE WARBLER (Lake West), 1 COMMON REDPOLL, and 4 RUSTY BLACKBIRD. Compared to recent counts, scoter numbers were much reduced (4,631 combined), especially off Montauk Point offset by an excellent total of nearly two thousand Razorbills. Misses included Northern Pintail, Lesser Scaup, King Eider, Killdeer, Purple Sandpiper, Bonaparte’s Gull, Palm Warbler and Brown-headed Cowbird. Our thanks to the South Fork Natural History Museum & Nature Center (SoFo) and Hampton Coffee Company for sponsoring the compilation dinner and the Goelet Family for hosting the Gardiner’s Island survey. Karen Rubinstein, Brent Bomkamp and Angus Wilson (Co-compilers NYMK CBC) -- 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@cornell.edu/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] South Fork LI: Nor’easter-related sightings
Birding conditions were difficult on the extreme east end of Long Island with high winds and heavy rain for much of the day (27 Oct 2018). In general it was difficult to look at the sea because of the amounts of water in the air and pounding surf. Visiting a number of spots between Watermill and Montauk I tallied a total of 24 Lesser Blacked Gulls, a 1st winter Black-headed Gull (Sagg Mains), one very late Black Tern (Gin Beach), a Hudsonian Godwit (Horsemill Lane Mecox), 9 Pectoral Sandpipers, 6 White-rumped Sandpiper, and 4 Red Knot. Supporting cast included lots of Northern Gannets, a few Cory's Shearwaters and a single Parasitic Jaeger. Surprisingly given other reports I only encountered a single Bonaparte's Gull. Aside from the gulls and shorebirds there seemed to be lots of Green-winged Teal on the move, predominantly traveling west to east. -- Angus Wilson New York City & The Springs, NY, USA -- 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@cornell.edu/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] South Fork LI: Nor’easter-related sightings
Birding conditions were difficult on the extreme east end of Long Island with high winds and heavy rain for much of the day (27 Oct 2018). In general it was difficult to look at the sea because of the amounts of water in the air and pounding surf. Visiting a number of spots between Watermill and Montauk I tallied a total of 24 Lesser Blacked Gulls, a 1st winter Black-headed Gull (Sagg Mains), one very late Black Tern (Gin Beach), a Hudsonian Godwit (Horsemill Lane Mecox), 9 Pectoral Sandpipers, 6 White-rumped Sandpiper, and 4 Red Knot. Supporting cast included lots of Northern Gannets, a few Cory's Shearwaters and a single Parasitic Jaeger. Surprisingly given other reports I only encountered a single Bonaparte's Gull. Aside from the gulls and shorebirds there seemed to be lots of Green-winged Teal on the move, predominantly traveling west to east. -- Angus Wilson New York City & The Springs, NY, USA -- 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@cornell.edu/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/ --
Re: [nysbirds-l] Black-bellied Whistling Duck - still at Nissequogue River State Park, LI
>12:05 pm. Still here today on the algae covered pond It's interesting that multiple reports from 30 June onwards are of a single bird when the original two birds were acting very much like a mated pair. Wood Ducks appear to be nesting close to this pond and I wonder if the second Whistling Duck might be occupying a nest of it's own somewhere nearby? There are no prior nesting records for New York State and observers should be especially diligent to avoid disturbance but at the same time keep an eye out for the 'missing' bird in surrounding trees or by watching to see if the continuing bird tries to visit a potential nest site or tree with a suitable cavity. Like Wood Duck, Black-bellied Wood Duck uses cavities or hollows in trees for nesting including artificial nest boxes. -- Angus Wilson New York City -- 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@cornell.edu/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/ --
Re: [nysbirds-l] Black-bellied Whistling Duck - still at Nissequogue River State Park, LI
>12:05 pm. Still here today on the algae covered pond It's interesting that multiple reports from 30 June onwards are of a single bird when the original two birds were acting very much like a mated pair. Wood Ducks appear to be nesting close to this pond and I wonder if the second Whistling Duck might be occupying a nest of it's own somewhere nearby? There are no prior nesting records for New York State and observers should be especially diligent to avoid disturbance but at the same time keep an eye out for the 'missing' bird in surrounding trees or by watching to see if the continuing bird tries to visit a potential nest site or tree with a suitable cavity. Like Wood Duck, Black-bellied Wood Duck uses cavities or hollows in trees for nesting including artificial nest boxes. -- Angus Wilson New York City -- 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@cornell.edu/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/ --
Re: [nysbirds-l] Bryant Park Northern Waterthrush etc continue
Joe, As you know from your regular visits, Bryant Park seems to have an unusual ability to hold migrants (including some scarce species e.g. Sora, Chuck-wills-widow, Prothonotary Warbler and numerous Woodcock) for long periods. I would wager, but can't prove, many of these waifs eventually die there. Remember the 2-3 chats that lingered for weeks in 2011, one eventually being found freshly dead. The rats probably make swift work of bodies so it would be hard to distinguish disappearances (moved on) from mortality. Compared to other parks, Bryant always strikes me as quite enclosed and the night sky may be masked by bright illumination, especially from the imposing Bank of America building. Does this makes it harder for migrants to escape? All speculation of course but as you point out, migrants do seem to linger from spring into the summer (and from the fall into the winter). A test would might be to trap and band individuals and look at how long they remain and compare the periods to other urban locations like central park. The habitat doesn't strike me as right for breeding of any of the species you list, even for Catbirds it seems sub-optimal. That's why I don't think they are there by choice. There was a panel discussion about the topic at a meeting of the Linnaean Society of New York a couple of years ago. Of all the 'pocket parks' in NYC, Bryant seems to be among the best for noteworthy birds. Some of this may be observer diligence, the scant foliage, abundant food scraps and the Patagonia Picnic table effect from birders following up on reports but I can't help wondering if the proximity and dimensions of the surrounding buildings aren't part of the equation. Recently I flew over Mid-Town Manhattan at night and noticed how Bryant Park stood out against the darker surrounding, more so than similar sized parks such as Union Square and Washington Square. The gender inequality in the Common Yellowthroats is interesting. I wonder if local banders might have some thoughts on this? Are spring migrants through the region a 50:50 split or is the ratio unequal? Diligent field observers might even keep notes on the ratios they observe. Angus Wilson New York City. On Fri, Jun 8, 2018 at 7:11 PM, Joseph Wallace wrote: > A check of the park between 11AM and noon revealed the skittish Northern > Waterthrush in the same location as before (southwest corner around the > shack), as well as a scattering of other lingering species amid the nesting > Catbirds: a single Ovenbird, Swainson's Thrush, and Swamp Sparrow, a > handful of White-throated Sparrows, and two male Common Yellowthroats. > > The presence of these adult birds into mid-June makes me wonder: Are they > "stuck" here, or simply an overflow of individuals that haven't paired up > this year? Also, there's been a preponderance of male Yellowthroats in the > Bryant Park population I've seen all spring: Is this reflective of some > population quirk in the area, a matter of which gender chooses the small > urban greenspace, or (most likely) some factor I haven't thought of? (I > know what female Yellowthroats look like, and the park is so small that I > haven't been missing larger numbers of them than males.) --Joe Wallace > -- > *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 > <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm> > *Archives:* > The Mail Archive > <http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/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/>*!* > -- > -- Angus Wilson New York City & The Springs, NY, USA http://birdingtotheend.blogspot.com/ -- 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@cornell.edu/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/ --
Re: [nysbirds-l] Bryant Park Northern Waterthrush etc continue
Joe, As you know from your regular visits, Bryant Park seems to have an unusual ability to hold migrants (including some scarce species e.g. Sora, Chuck-wills-widow, Prothonotary Warbler and numerous Woodcock) for long periods. I would wager, but can't prove, many of these waifs eventually die there. Remember the 2-3 chats that lingered for weeks in 2011, one eventually being found freshly dead. The rats probably make swift work of bodies so it would be hard to distinguish disappearances (moved on) from mortality. Compared to other parks, Bryant always strikes me as quite enclosed and the night sky may be masked by bright illumination, especially from the imposing Bank of America building. Does this makes it harder for migrants to escape? All speculation of course but as you point out, migrants do seem to linger from spring into the summer (and from the fall into the winter). A test would might be to trap and band individuals and look at how long they remain and compare the periods to other urban locations like central park. The habitat doesn't strike me as right for breeding of any of the species you list, even for Catbirds it seems sub-optimal. That's why I don't think they are there by choice. There was a panel discussion about the topic at a meeting of the Linnaean Society of New York a couple of years ago. Of all the 'pocket parks' in NYC, Bryant seems to be among the best for noteworthy birds. Some of this may be observer diligence, the scant foliage, abundant food scraps and the Patagonia Picnic table effect from birders following up on reports but I can't help wondering if the proximity and dimensions of the surrounding buildings aren't part of the equation. Recently I flew over Mid-Town Manhattan at night and noticed how Bryant Park stood out against the darker surrounding, more so than similar sized parks such as Union Square and Washington Square. The gender inequality in the Common Yellowthroats is interesting. I wonder if local banders might have some thoughts on this? Are spring migrants through the region a 50:50 split or is the ratio unequal? Diligent field observers might even keep notes on the ratios they observe. Angus Wilson New York City. On Fri, Jun 8, 2018 at 7:11 PM, Joseph Wallace wrote: > A check of the park between 11AM and noon revealed the skittish Northern > Waterthrush in the same location as before (southwest corner around the > shack), as well as a scattering of other lingering species amid the nesting > Catbirds: a single Ovenbird, Swainson's Thrush, and Swamp Sparrow, a > handful of White-throated Sparrows, and two male Common Yellowthroats. > > The presence of these adult birds into mid-June makes me wonder: Are they > "stuck" here, or simply an overflow of individuals that haven't paired up > this year? Also, there's been a preponderance of male Yellowthroats in the > Bryant Park population I've seen all spring: Is this reflective of some > population quirk in the area, a matter of which gender chooses the small > urban greenspace, or (most likely) some factor I haven't thought of? (I > know what female Yellowthroats look like, and the park is so small that I > haven't been missing larger numbers of them than males.) --Joe Wallace > -- > *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 > <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm> > *Archives:* > The Mail Archive > <http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/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/>*!* > -- > -- Angus Wilson New York City & The Springs, NY, USA http://birdingtotheend.blogspot.com/ -- 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@cornell.edu/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] Arthur Kopelman and CRESLI featured in NYT
Those who have ventured offshore from Montauk in search of whales and birds or have attended a winter seal walk will be interested in the photo essay about Arti Kopelman and his work with the Coastal Research Education Society of Long Island (CRESLI) published today in the New York Times. https://nyti.ms/2FknOay -- Angus Wilson New York City, NY, USA -- 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@cornell.edu/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] Arthur Kopelman and CRESLI featured in NYT
Those who have ventured offshore from Montauk in search of whales and birds or have attended a winter seal walk will be interested in the photo essay about Arti Kopelman and his work with the Coastal Research Education Society of Long Island (CRESLI) published today in the New York Times. https://nyti.ms/2FknOay -- Angus Wilson New York City, NY, USA -- 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@cornell.edu/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/ --
Re: [nysbirds-l] Possible Swallow-tailed Kite, Brooklyn/Queens NYC - update
The tentative identification of this raptor as kite did not sit well with me. I think Swallow-tailed Kite (a plausible early spring vagrant) is easily ruled out by the generally dark aspect to the body, tail and wings, and don't think this is entirely attributable to shadow. Swallow-tails are distinctive at all ages in the degree of contrast between the white head/ body and the black flight feathers. Mississippi Kites are darker but the tail appears fan shaped or narrow and square but never deeply forked. A Peregrine with one or two central tail feathers missing or damaged seems a better match to my eyes in terms of coloration and silhouette. The narrowness of the wings, especially at the base, might be an issue but perhaps this is because the bird is turned slightly? Revisiting the corresponding eBird checklist, I see the observer has now come to same conclusion: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S44965401 Fair enough but I think it's worth sharing the revision with the list so that there's no misunderstandings about whether or not a kite was logged. Still plenty of opportunities for either kite, especially if any are sighted from Sandy Hook NJ where in years past examples have been seen drifting over the Raritan Bay towards NY. Angus Wilson New York City On Thu, Apr 26, 2018 at 11:48 AM, David Barrett <mil...@gmail.com> wrote: > This morning at 10:55 Gus Keri briefly saw and photographed what appeared > to be a raptor with a long, forked-tail over Canarsie Beach Park in > Brooklyn. View and photo were heavily backlit, into the sun, so coloration > could not be perceived: > > https://twitter.com/BirdBrklyn/status/989519637820952584 > > Swallow-tailed Kite is one possibility and the photo may suggest some > other ones. The bird was flying east toward Jamaica Bay. > > David Barrett > www.bigmanhattanyear.com > -- > -- 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@cornell.edu/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/ --
Re: [nysbirds-l] Possible Swallow-tailed Kite, Brooklyn/Queens NYC - update
The tentative identification of this raptor as kite did not sit well with me. I think Swallow-tailed Kite (a plausible early spring vagrant) is easily ruled out by the generally dark aspect to the body, tail and wings, and don't think this is entirely attributable to shadow. Swallow-tails are distinctive at all ages in the degree of contrast between the white head/ body and the black flight feathers. Mississippi Kites are darker but the tail appears fan shaped or narrow and square but never deeply forked. A Peregrine with one or two central tail feathers missing or damaged seems a better match to my eyes in terms of coloration and silhouette. The narrowness of the wings, especially at the base, might be an issue but perhaps this is because the bird is turned slightly? Revisiting the corresponding eBird checklist, I see the observer has now come to same conclusion: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S44965401 Fair enough but I think it's worth sharing the revision with the list so that there's no misunderstandings about whether or not a kite was logged. Still plenty of opportunities for either kite, especially if any are sighted from Sandy Hook NJ where in years past examples have been seen drifting over the Raritan Bay towards NY. Angus Wilson New York City On Thu, Apr 26, 2018 at 11:48 AM, David Barrett wrote: > This morning at 10:55 Gus Keri briefly saw and photographed what appeared > to be a raptor with a long, forked-tail over Canarsie Beach Park in > Brooklyn. View and photo were heavily backlit, into the sun, so coloration > could not be perceived: > > https://twitter.com/BirdBrklyn/status/989519637820952584 > > Swallow-tailed Kite is one possibility and the photo may suggest some > other ones. The bird was flying east toward Jamaica Bay. > > David Barrett > www.bigmanhattanyear.com > -- > -- 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@cornell.edu/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/ --
Re: [nysbirds-l] Whimbrel at Breezy Point, Queens NY
Like Bob Paxton I was initially puzzled by the square shape of the white wedge, especially in first image (ML94655071) but accept it looks a little better in the second image (ML94655101). Is it correc to assume the dark blob is the heavy barring on the upperside of the tail? I considered Greater Yellowlegs based on the first image but that ID would be hard reconcile with seeing a decurved bill (mentioned in Cesar's original posting) but with the caveat that the bill shape is hard to discern from the photos accompanying the checklist. That said, I'm not seeing an obvious foot extension beyond the tail, which does fit with it being a Whimbrel. Are there any more photos even if not as sharp? So-called 'White-rumped Whimbrels' are genuine vagrants to eastern North America with a handful of April and May records. Tagging such birds as either 'European' or 'Eurasian/Siberian' is tricky because three subspecies (N. p. phaeopus, N. p. alboaxillaris and N. p. variegatus) need to be considered. Steppe Whimbrel (alboaxillaris) is no longer numerous and pretty unlikely, but the other two are serious contenders, with nominate 'European' Whimbrel (phaeopus) more likely perhaps in spring and the very similar 'Siberian' Whimbrel (variegatus) a sensible possibility in the fall. If I recall correctly, the tail and upper tail coverts of variegatus are darker than phaeopus. Fun stuff! Angus Wilson New York City On Mon, Apr 16, 2018 at 12:37 PM, Jose Ramirez-Garofalo < jose.ramirez.garof...@gmail.com> wrote: > It’s a European Whimbrel > > On Mon, Apr 16, 2018 at 12:09 Robert Paxton <r...@columbia.edu> wrote: > >> The Eurasian Whimbrel doesn't have a white line up the back but a white >> wedge, broad at the base and narrowing up to a point in the middle back. >>Bob Paxton >> >> On Sun, Apr 15, 2018 at 11:42 PM, Isaac Grant <hosesbroadb...@gmail.com> >> wrote: >> >>> That Whimbrel photo seems to show a Eurasian Whimbrel. Looks like a >>> white line going up the back in the one photo and barred whitish tail. >>> Super cool. >>> >>> Isaac Grant >>> Senior Loan Officer >>> >>> On Apr 15, 2018, at 3:59 PM, Cesar Castillo <czar3...@yahoo.com> wrote: >>> >>> I walked out from the Fishermans parking lot at Fort Tilden to Breezy >>> Point jetty. On the long march back a Whimbrel flew towards me and then >>> past me. I got some bad photos of it as it flew away, but you can still >>> see the curved bill and whitish rump of this largish shorebird. Other good >>> finds included a small flock of White-winged Scoters in the choppy waters >>> and hundreds of Northern Gannets, Purple Sandpipers and up to 8 Piping >>> Plovers. Some breeding plumage Common Loons. I thought I saw a seal as I >>> approached the jetty but it dove down and never popped up again. >>> >>> Here is a link to the e-bird report. >>> >>> https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S44596163 >>> >>> >>> Afterwards I stopped by Big Egg Marsh and on the way out I found a >>> Tricolored Heron. It was in the marshy area found between the bridge to >>> the Rockaways, the parking lot and the baseball fields. Very easy to >>> photograph from that spot even with my 300mm. >>> See checklist below. >>> >>> https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S44599081 >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> César >>> >>> Una tarde la princesa vio una estrella aparecer; la princesa era >>> traviesa y la quiso ir a coger. >>> La quería para hacerla decorar un prendedor, con un verso y una >>> perla, una pluma y una flor. >>> Las princesas primorosas se parecen mucho a ti; cortan lirios, cortan >>> rosas, cortan astros. Son así. >>> -*A Margarita Debayle (To Margarita Debayle) by Ruben Dario* >>> -- >>> *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 >>> <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm> >>> *Archives:* >>> The Mail Archive >>> <http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/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/>*!* >>> -- >>> >>> -- >>> *NYSbirds-L
Re: [nysbirds-l] Whimbrel at Breezy Point, Queens NY
Like Bob Paxton I was initially puzzled by the square shape of the white wedge, especially in first image (ML94655071) but accept it looks a little better in the second image (ML94655101). Is it correc to assume the dark blob is the heavy barring on the upperside of the tail? I considered Greater Yellowlegs based on the first image but that ID would be hard reconcile with seeing a decurved bill (mentioned in Cesar's original posting) but with the caveat that the bill shape is hard to discern from the photos accompanying the checklist. That said, I'm not seeing an obvious foot extension beyond the tail, which does fit with it being a Whimbrel. Are there any more photos even if not as sharp? So-called 'White-rumped Whimbrels' are genuine vagrants to eastern North America with a handful of April and May records. Tagging such birds as either 'European' or 'Eurasian/Siberian' is tricky because three subspecies (N. p. phaeopus, N. p. alboaxillaris and N. p. variegatus) need to be considered. Steppe Whimbrel (alboaxillaris) is no longer numerous and pretty unlikely, but the other two are serious contenders, with nominate 'European' Whimbrel (phaeopus) more likely perhaps in spring and the very similar 'Siberian' Whimbrel (variegatus) a sensible possibility in the fall. If I recall correctly, the tail and upper tail coverts of variegatus are darker than phaeopus. Fun stuff! Angus Wilson New York City On Mon, Apr 16, 2018 at 12:37 PM, Jose Ramirez-Garofalo < jose.ramirez.garof...@gmail.com> wrote: > It’s a European Whimbrel > > On Mon, Apr 16, 2018 at 12:09 Robert Paxton wrote: > >> The Eurasian Whimbrel doesn't have a white line up the back but a white >> wedge, broad at the base and narrowing up to a point in the middle back. >>Bob Paxton >> >> On Sun, Apr 15, 2018 at 11:42 PM, Isaac Grant >> wrote: >> >>> That Whimbrel photo seems to show a Eurasian Whimbrel. Looks like a >>> white line going up the back in the one photo and barred whitish tail. >>> Super cool. >>> >>> Isaac Grant >>> Senior Loan Officer >>> >>> On Apr 15, 2018, at 3:59 PM, Cesar Castillo wrote: >>> >>> I walked out from the Fishermans parking lot at Fort Tilden to Breezy >>> Point jetty. On the long march back a Whimbrel flew towards me and then >>> past me. I got some bad photos of it as it flew away, but you can still >>> see the curved bill and whitish rump of this largish shorebird. Other good >>> finds included a small flock of White-winged Scoters in the choppy waters >>> and hundreds of Northern Gannets, Purple Sandpipers and up to 8 Piping >>> Plovers. Some breeding plumage Common Loons. I thought I saw a seal as I >>> approached the jetty but it dove down and never popped up again. >>> >>> Here is a link to the e-bird report. >>> >>> https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S44596163 >>> >>> >>> Afterwards I stopped by Big Egg Marsh and on the way out I found a >>> Tricolored Heron. It was in the marshy area found between the bridge to >>> the Rockaways, the parking lot and the baseball fields. Very easy to >>> photograph from that spot even with my 300mm. >>> See checklist below. >>> >>> https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S44599081 >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> César >>> >>> Una tarde la princesa vio una estrella aparecer; la princesa era >>> traviesa y la quiso ir a coger. >>> La quería para hacerla decorar un prendedor, con un verso y una >>> perla, una pluma y una flor. >>> Las princesas primorosas se parecen mucho a ti; cortan lirios, cortan >>> rosas, cortan astros. Son así. >>> -*A Margarita Debayle (To Margarita Debayle) by Ruben Dario* >>> -- >>> *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 >>> <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm> >>> *Archives:* >>> The Mail Archive >>> <http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/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/>*!* >>> -- >>> >>> -- >>> *NYSbirds-L List Info:* >>> Welcome and Basics <http://www.northeastbirdin
Re: [nysbirds-l] New NYS Jamaica Bay Park
Rather than discuss access to the website I think we should cut to the chase and consider the specifics - as far as they are knowable - of the proposal itself. What is the plan exactly? Will it be good or bad from a birding and wildlife perspective? Have local environmental groups been consulted with regard to park design? >From the posted statement the state government is working in partnership with the National Park Service and the City of New York to create a new 407-acre state park on the north shore of Jamaica Bay in Brooklyn (Kings Co). This includes the former Pennsylvania Avenue and Fountain Avenue Landfills. Anyone driving or more usually crawling in bumper-to-bumper traffic along the Belt Parkway will have passed these raised mounds, which have been capped and planted with grasses and some trees. In the past Rough-legged Hawks were sometimes visible hovering over the landfill or perched on small trees and venting pipes but I don't know if that's still true. I remember reports of things like Yellow-headed Blackbird during the capping work when the site was very much off limits to the public. According to the announcement "The park will feature opportunities for biking, hiking, water-based activities such as fishing, kayaking, and waterfront environmental education, and will include restrooms, shade structures and concessions. With National Park Service approval, phase 1 is expected to fully open in 2019. Later phases will include construction of a connecting bridge between the two sites, dedicated environmental education facilities, and an amphitheater, creating a unique and expansive cultural and natural space for the community. The 407-acre site, which has never been open to the public, includes the former Pennsylvania Avenue Landfill and Fountain Avenue Landfill, which were operated by NYC Department of Sanitation from 1956-1983 and deeded to the National Park Service as part of Gateway National Recreation Area in 1974. In 2002, the NYC Department of Environmental Protection began a $235 million site remediation that included the installation of an impermeable cap and below-ground barrier to support future use. In addition, more than 1.2 million cubic yards of clean soil, up to four feet deep, was spread across the site and more than 35,000 trees and shrubs were planted. The addition of prairie grass and native plantings prevents erosion and has created a diverse ecosystem of more than 400 acres of coastal meadows, wetlands, and woodlands that have attracted local wildlife. The full remediation and restoration of the site was completed with significant community input in 2009." The vision is for a natural preserve featuring 'open rolling hills' and '3.5 miles of waterfront, connecting city and nature, and asphalt to meadows'. From a birding perspective this sounds like a welcome increase in the open landscape habitat, which is otherwise scarce within the city boundaries, especially the densely urban Kings County (aka Brooklyn) but a lot will depend on how it's managed. Hopefully the grassland will be maintained as grassland and not allowed to revert to scrub or be converted to sports fields or dry ski slopes. I'm guessing the park might also give improved viewing access to the channels, mud flats, islands and tidal marshes of the northern parts of Jamaica Bay, which are generally under birded because of limited access. Again a boon for birders, perhaps. It would have been helpful if a map was included in the announcement to give a better idea of scope. Without more specifics or a map I'm left wondering if the park includes some of the creeks that flow into the bay? Hopefully NYSBIRDS_L subscribers living in the area will have more information and will be giving thought to the possibilities. Angus Wilson, New York City -- 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@cornell.edu/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/ --
Re: [nysbirds-l] New NYS Jamaica Bay Park
Rather than discuss access to the website I think we should cut to the chase and consider the specifics - as far as they are knowable - of the proposal itself. What is the plan exactly? Will it be good or bad from a birding and wildlife perspective? Have local environmental groups been consulted with regard to park design? >From the posted statement the state government is working in partnership with the National Park Service and the City of New York to create a new 407-acre state park on the north shore of Jamaica Bay in Brooklyn (Kings Co). This includes the former Pennsylvania Avenue and Fountain Avenue Landfills. Anyone driving or more usually crawling in bumper-to-bumper traffic along the Belt Parkway will have passed these raised mounds, which have been capped and planted with grasses and some trees. In the past Rough-legged Hawks were sometimes visible hovering over the landfill or perched on small trees and venting pipes but I don't know if that's still true. I remember reports of things like Yellow-headed Blackbird during the capping work when the site was very much off limits to the public. According to the announcement "The park will feature opportunities for biking, hiking, water-based activities such as fishing, kayaking, and waterfront environmental education, and will include restrooms, shade structures and concessions. With National Park Service approval, phase 1 is expected to fully open in 2019. Later phases will include construction of a connecting bridge between the two sites, dedicated environmental education facilities, and an amphitheater, creating a unique and expansive cultural and natural space for the community. The 407-acre site, which has never been open to the public, includes the former Pennsylvania Avenue Landfill and Fountain Avenue Landfill, which were operated by NYC Department of Sanitation from 1956-1983 and deeded to the National Park Service as part of Gateway National Recreation Area in 1974. In 2002, the NYC Department of Environmental Protection began a $235 million site remediation that included the installation of an impermeable cap and below-ground barrier to support future use. In addition, more than 1.2 million cubic yards of clean soil, up to four feet deep, was spread across the site and more than 35,000 trees and shrubs were planted. The addition of prairie grass and native plantings prevents erosion and has created a diverse ecosystem of more than 400 acres of coastal meadows, wetlands, and woodlands that have attracted local wildlife. The full remediation and restoration of the site was completed with significant community input in 2009." The vision is for a natural preserve featuring 'open rolling hills' and '3.5 miles of waterfront, connecting city and nature, and asphalt to meadows'. From a birding perspective this sounds like a welcome increase in the open landscape habitat, which is otherwise scarce within the city boundaries, especially the densely urban Kings County (aka Brooklyn) but a lot will depend on how it's managed. Hopefully the grassland will be maintained as grassland and not allowed to revert to scrub or be converted to sports fields or dry ski slopes. I'm guessing the park might also give improved viewing access to the channels, mud flats, islands and tidal marshes of the northern parts of Jamaica Bay, which are generally under birded because of limited access. Again a boon for birders, perhaps. It would have been helpful if a map was included in the announcement to give a better idea of scope. Without more specifics or a map I'm left wondering if the park includes some of the creeks that flow into the bay? Hopefully NYSBIRDS_L subscribers living in the area will have more information and will be giving thought to the possibilities. Angus Wilson, New York City -- 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@cornell.edu/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/ --
Re: [nysbirds-l] Ithaca rarities
New York is a large and geographically diverse state and I suspect one of the problems undermining the usefulness of this STATEWIDE list as well as contributing to the impression that it is principally focused on downstate, is the careless use of location information. Too often posts simply assume locations will be familiar to people living hundreds of miles away and make no effort to accommodate the wider readership. I suspect cross-posting to more localized lists (where this is less of a problem) is a contributing factor but in truth vague subject lines and location information has been a problem for years. Why should a birder in northern NY or far western NY be expected to know the name of some pond or beach on Long Island? Taking a few extra clicks to include the county or general region in the subject line makes a HUGE difference to the usefulness of the list as a news sharing tool. 'Me too' posts also contribute to the chatter but can be useful especially with noteworthy rarities. It would be nice to seem more information sharing from every corner of NYS to know what's happening in the broader sense. I suspect most folks don't have the bandwidth to subscribe to all the regional lists. Angus Wilson New York City -- 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@cornell.edu/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/ --
Re: [nysbirds-l] Ithaca rarities
New York is a large and geographically diverse state and I suspect one of the problems undermining the usefulness of this STATEWIDE list as well as contributing to the impression that it is principally focused on downstate, is the careless use of location information. Too often posts simply assume locations will be familiar to people living hundreds of miles away and make no effort to accommodate the wider readership. I suspect cross-posting to more localized lists (where this is less of a problem) is a contributing factor but in truth vague subject lines and location information has been a problem for years. Why should a birder in northern NY or far western NY be expected to know the name of some pond or beach on Long Island? Taking a few extra clicks to include the county or general region in the subject line makes a HUGE difference to the usefulness of the list as a news sharing tool. 'Me too' posts also contribute to the chatter but can be useful especially with noteworthy rarities. It would be nice to seem more information sharing from every corner of NYS to know what's happening in the broader sense. I suspect most folks don't have the bandwidth to subscribe to all the regional lists. Angus Wilson New York City -- 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@cornell.edu/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] Montauk CBC Results
The 2017 Montauk CBC (the 88th since the first count in 1920) took place on Saturday 16 Dec and was yet again accompanied by a winter weather advisory, ugh! The snowfall ended around midnight on the 15th leaving 1-4 inches on the ground. Temperatures rose during the day from a crisp predawn 25F to a more comfortable 39F at dusk. Not surprisingly most bodies of freshwater within the count circle were either partially or entirely frozen. For the human counters the wind provided the biggest challenge, blowing across Long Island Sound from the WNW for much of the day, sometimes gusting to more than 20 mph. Not surprisingly there were lots of red cheeks and watery eyes at the compilation. Luckily the wind had dropped sufficiently by mid day for a party to make the bumpy crossing to Gardiner’s Island allowing an abbreviated survey of this important territory, although as it turned out the freshwater ponds were also frozen and essentially devoid of the needed waterfowl. Nonetheless the forty-one participants tallied a very respectable total of 122 species plus two distinctive subspecies, with at least one additional species (Common Merganser) recorded during count week. A total of 27,137 individual birds were logged. Highlights included a PINK-FOOTED GOOSE at Montauk Downs golf course (2nd record for count), 2 KING EIDER, 1 RING-NECKED PHEASANT, 1 RED-NECKED GREBE, 2 GREAT EGRET, 3 BALD EAGLE, 3 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, 2 VIRGINIA RAIL, 4 WILSON’S SNIPE, 4 AMERICAN WOODCOCK, 2 ICELAND GULL, 1 GLAUCOUS GULL, 1 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, 1 BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE, 15 EASTERN SCREECH OWL, 2 GREAT HORNED OWL, 4 SNOWY OWL, 1 NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL, 3 FISH CROW, 1 COMMON RAVEN (2nd for count), 1 TREE SWALLOW (1st since 2005), 33 GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET, 1 ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, 6 PALM WARBLER, 1 NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH (Lake Montauk shore, 3rd for count), 1 COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, 1 YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT (Kirk Park), 4 CHIPPING SPARROW, 1 GRASSHOPPER SPARROW (Hither Hills SP Camp Ground, 4th for count), 1 LAPLAND LONGSPUR (1st since 2007), and 31 EASTERN MEADOWLARK. We also added one new taxon to the already lengthy list, with a winter adult male AUDUBON’S (YELLOW-RUMPED) WARBLER in a stand of pines within the main Napeague marsh. This regional rarity was discovered by Derek Rogers on 2 Dec and refound by Derek and Pete Morris on count day. Painful misses included several species of freshwater ducks (wigeon, anybody?), Short-eared Owl, American Pipit, Brown Creeper and Purple Finch. Our warmest thanks to the brave participants for being out in the field with us, the Suffolk County Park, Gardiner’s Island and Nature Conservancy staff who enabled us to survey important areas and to Frank Quevedo and the South Fork Museum of Natural History (SoFo) for hosting a splendid compilation dinner. Next year’s count will be held on Saturday 15 Dec 2018, please mark your calendars. As Uncle Sam might say - THE MONTAUK COUNT NEEDS YOU! Angus Wilson and Karen Rubenstein, Co-compilers -- 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@cornell.edu/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] Montauk CBC Results
The 2017 Montauk CBC (the 88th since the first count in 1920) took place on Saturday 16 Dec and was yet again accompanied by a winter weather advisory, ugh! The snowfall ended around midnight on the 15th leaving 1-4 inches on the ground. Temperatures rose during the day from a crisp predawn 25F to a more comfortable 39F at dusk. Not surprisingly most bodies of freshwater within the count circle were either partially or entirely frozen. For the human counters the wind provided the biggest challenge, blowing across Long Island Sound from the WNW for much of the day, sometimes gusting to more than 20 mph. Not surprisingly there were lots of red cheeks and watery eyes at the compilation. Luckily the wind had dropped sufficiently by mid day for a party to make the bumpy crossing to Gardiner’s Island allowing an abbreviated survey of this important territory, although as it turned out the freshwater ponds were also frozen and essentially devoid of the needed waterfowl. Nonetheless the forty-one participants tallied a very respectable total of 122 species plus two distinctive subspecies, with at least one additional species (Common Merganser) recorded during count week. A total of 27,137 individual birds were logged. Highlights included a PINK-FOOTED GOOSE at Montauk Downs golf course (2nd record for count), 2 KING EIDER, 1 RING-NECKED PHEASANT, 1 RED-NECKED GREBE, 2 GREAT EGRET, 3 BALD EAGLE, 3 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, 2 VIRGINIA RAIL, 4 WILSON’S SNIPE, 4 AMERICAN WOODCOCK, 2 ICELAND GULL, 1 GLAUCOUS GULL, 1 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, 1 BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE, 15 EASTERN SCREECH OWL, 2 GREAT HORNED OWL, 4 SNOWY OWL, 1 NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL, 3 FISH CROW, 1 COMMON RAVEN (2nd for count), 1 TREE SWALLOW (1st since 2005), 33 GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET, 1 ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, 6 PALM WARBLER, 1 NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH (Lake Montauk shore, 3rd for count), 1 COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, 1 YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT (Kirk Park), 4 CHIPPING SPARROW, 1 GRASSHOPPER SPARROW (Hither Hills SP Camp Ground, 4th for count), 1 LAPLAND LONGSPUR (1st since 2007), and 31 EASTERN MEADOWLARK. We also added one new taxon to the already lengthy list, with a winter adult male AUDUBON’S (YELLOW-RUMPED) WARBLER in a stand of pines within the main Napeague marsh. This regional rarity was discovered by Derek Rogers on 2 Dec and refound by Derek and Pete Morris on count day. Painful misses included several species of freshwater ducks (wigeon, anybody?), Short-eared Owl, American Pipit, Brown Creeper and Purple Finch. Our warmest thanks to the brave participants for being out in the field with us, the Suffolk County Park, Gardiner’s Island and Nature Conservancy staff who enabled us to survey important areas and to Frank Quevedo and the South Fork Museum of Natural History (SoFo) for hosting a splendid compilation dinner. Next year’s count will be held on Saturday 15 Dec 2018, please mark your calendars. As Uncle Sam might say - THE MONTAUK COUNT NEEDS YOU! Angus Wilson and Karen Rubenstein, Co-compilers -- 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@cornell.edu/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] Missing posts?
I've noticed that I regularly miss posts to this list, especially local rarities. The latest was the note from Brendan Fogarty copied in Ben Cacece's hot spot post. Curious, are others experiencing the same problem? Could this be related to messages being cc'd to the list rather than posted directly? Have not noticed gaps in direct conversations. Not seeing the missing messages in other folders. Not the end of the world but seems like another factor in the increasingly fragmented dissemination of noteworthy bird sightings in our region. We, as a community, need to come up with a simple solution that does not require a deluge of eBird alert notifications or subscriptions to many local and statewide lists and facebook groups. It's ironic but I feel less clued in now than I did 5 years ago. Back to the weekly RBA to find out what I've missed? Angus Wilson New York City, USA -- 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@cornell.edu/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] Missing posts?
I've noticed that I regularly miss posts to this list, especially local rarities. The latest was the note from Brendan Fogarty copied in Ben Cacece's hot spot post. Curious, are others experiencing the same problem? Could this be related to messages being cc'd to the list rather than posted directly? Have not noticed gaps in direct conversations. Not seeing the missing messages in other folders. Not the end of the world but seems like another factor in the increasingly fragmented dissemination of noteworthy bird sightings in our region. We, as a community, need to come up with a simple solution that does not require a deluge of eBird alert notifications or subscriptions to many local and statewide lists and facebook groups. It's ironic but I feel less clued in now than I did 5 years ago. Back to the weekly RBA to find out what I've missed? Angus Wilson New York City, USA -- 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@cornell.edu/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/ --
Re: [nysbirds-l] Governors Island: European Goldfinch Flock (18-Dec)
For European Goldfinch I suspect 'domesticated' isn't an option. Same for other known or presumed escapes or deliberate releases that occur with regularity in NYS (e.g. Chukar and various non-domesticated waterfowl). Personally, I think tracking these potential colonizers is important and interesting. Simply invalidating them or discouraging reporting isn't a good solution. Issues with list purity can be a separate conversation, decoupled from the scientific uses of this information. Angus Wilson New York City, NY -- 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@cornell.edu/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/ --
Re: [nysbirds-l] Governors Island: European Goldfinch Flock (18-Dec)
For European Goldfinch I suspect 'domesticated' isn't an option. Same for other known or presumed escapes or deliberate releases that occur with regularity in NYS (e.g. Chukar and various non-domesticated waterfowl). Personally, I think tracking these potential colonizers is important and interesting. Simply invalidating them or discouraging reporting isn't a good solution. Issues with list purity can be a separate conversation, decoupled from the scientific uses of this information. Angus Wilson New York City, NY -- 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@cornell.edu/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] South Fork LI: Cattle Egret
A short while ago Vicki Bustamante found a CATTLE EGRET on the side of Montauk Hwy Rt 27 just east of Bridgehampton (Suffolk Co.) and before Sagg Mains Rd. Not present now but there are a lot of grassy fields in area. Might eventually turn up among the cattle at Mecox Dairy, a popular spot for this species. Something to keep eye out for if you are in area. Angus Wilson New York City, USA -- 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@cornell.edu/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] South Fork LI: Cattle Egret
A short while ago Vicki Bustamante found a CATTLE EGRET on the side of Montauk Hwy Rt 27 just east of Bridgehampton (Suffolk Co.) and before Sagg Mains Rd. Not present now but there are a lot of grassy fields in area. Might eventually turn up among the cattle at Mecox Dairy, a popular spot for this species. Something to keep eye out for if you are in area. Angus Wilson New York City, USA -- 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@cornell.edu/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/ --
Re: DECEASED - Re: [nysbirds-l] Corn Crake at Cedar Beach (Suffolk Co.)
I should probably soften my reference to the NJ Dotterels as 'likely'. Reviewing the heavily cropped photos (see NJ list) I'm less convinced that American Golden-Plover can be safely ruled out. Hopefully the birds have lingered overnight and will be studied carefully today. Will update the list if I hear any more. Dotterel is a species that comes to mind when thinking of possible origins for a Corncrake and Common Greenshank. There was also a recent report of a candidate Common/Oriental Cuckoo in MA but as far as I know it was not photographed or refound. Angus Wilson On Thu, Nov 9, 2017 at 7:44 AM, Angus Wilson <oceanwander...@gmail.com> wrote: > >Things come in threes and while I missed the Greenshank and the Corn > Crake you twitchers should be good for one more great rarity before winter > sets in. > > This might be answered in the form of 2 likely (EURASIAN) DOTTEREL, > photographed on the the Johnson Sod farm in Salem Co., southern NJ. > > Angus Wilson > -- Angus Wilson New York City & The Springs, NY, USA http://birdingtotheend.blogspot.com/ -- 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@cornell.edu/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/ --
Re: DECEASED - Re: [nysbirds-l] Corn Crake at Cedar Beach (Suffolk Co.)
I should probably soften my reference to the NJ Dotterels as 'likely'. Reviewing the heavily cropped photos (see NJ list) I'm less convinced that American Golden-Plover can be safely ruled out. Hopefully the birds have lingered overnight and will be studied carefully today. Will update the list if I hear any more. Dotterel is a species that comes to mind when thinking of possible origins for a Corncrake and Common Greenshank. There was also a recent report of a candidate Common/Oriental Cuckoo in MA but as far as I know it was not photographed or refound. Angus Wilson On Thu, Nov 9, 2017 at 7:44 AM, Angus Wilson wrote: > >Things come in threes and while I missed the Greenshank and the Corn > Crake you twitchers should be good for one more great rarity before winter > sets in. > > This might be answered in the form of 2 likely (EURASIAN) DOTTEREL, > photographed on the the Johnson Sod farm in Salem Co., southern NJ. > > Angus Wilson > -- Angus Wilson New York City & The Springs, NY, USA http://birdingtotheend.blogspot.com/ -- 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@cornell.edu/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/ --
Re: DECEASED - Re: [nysbirds-l] Corn Crake at Cedar Beach (Suffolk Co.)
>Things come in threes and while I missed the Greenshank and the Corn Crake you twitchers should be good for one more great rarity before winter sets in. This might be answered in the form of 2 likely (EURASIAN) DOTTEREL, photographed on the the Johnson Sod farm in Salem Co., southern NJ. Angus Wilson -- 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@cornell.edu/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/ --
Re: DECEASED - Re: [nysbirds-l] Corn Crake at Cedar Beach (Suffolk Co.)
>Things come in threes and while I missed the Greenshank and the Corn Crake you twitchers should be good for one more great rarity before winter sets in. This might be answered in the form of 2 likely (EURASIAN) DOTTEREL, photographed on the the Johnson Sod farm in Salem Co., southern NJ. Angus Wilson -- 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@cornell.edu/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] South Fork LI: Brown Booby continues on Lake Montauk
Despite a sharp drop off in resighting reports, the adult BROWN BOOBY continues jus south of Star Island on green navigation marker #11. Most of the yachts it has used as a roost have gone including Maui and the ‘blue’ boat. Angus Wilson New York City, USA -- 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@cornell.edu/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] South Fork LI: Brown Booby continues on Lake Montauk
Despite a sharp drop off in resighting reports, the adult BROWN BOOBY continues jus south of Star Island on green navigation marker #11. Most of the yachts it has used as a roost have gone including Maui and the ‘blue’ boat. Angus Wilson New York City, USA -- 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@cornell.edu/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] South Fork LI: coastal gannet and scoter flight
The onshore winds produced a good East to West flight of sea duck and gannets this morning but with modest diversity. Highlights of a 1 hr count from East Hampton (Suffolk) were 2 RAZORBILLS (more typical of December) and a single Corys Shearwater. Absence of jaegers and terns seems noteworthy. Angus Wilson New York City, USA -- 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@cornell.edu/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] South Fork LI: coastal gannet and scoter flight
The onshore winds produced a good East to West flight of sea duck and gannets this morning but with modest diversity. Highlights of a 1 hr count from East Hampton (Suffolk) were 2 RAZORBILLS (more typical of December) and a single Corys Shearwater. Absence of jaegers and terns seems noteworthy. Angus Wilson New York City, USA -- 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@cornell.edu/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] Lake Montauk Brown Booby, Montauk, NY (Suffolk Co.) -update
In addition to the two yachts mentioned in previous posts, the adult BROWN BOOBY, is also using the raised steel framework of a pontoon at the oyster hatchery near the north end of 'Lake Montauk' (in truth is an enclosed saltwater bay). The booby is currently tucked in with several cormorants, including a subadult GREAT CORMORANT. A number of ROYAL TERNS, and Forster's terns roosting with gulls on submerged oyster rearing cages. Angus Wilson -- 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@cornell.edu/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] Lake Montauk Brown Booby, Montauk, NY (Suffolk Co.) -update
In addition to the two yachts mentioned in previous posts, the adult BROWN BOOBY, is also using the raised steel framework of a pontoon at the oyster hatchery near the north end of 'Lake Montauk' (in truth is an enclosed saltwater bay). The booby is currently tucked in with several cormorants, including a subadult GREAT CORMORANT. A number of ROYAL TERNS, and Forster's terns roosting with gulls on submerged oyster rearing cages. Angus Wilson -- 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@cornell.edu/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/ --
Re: [nysbirds-l] Curlew Sandpiper Jones Beach we2 - really?
Looking at the photos that are included with Stacy Meyerheinrich's eBird
checklist (link below) I would suggest the observers reconsider the ID. IMO
this bird is very clearly a Dunlin, as proposed in a follow up posting by
Steve Walter.
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S39350964
Dunlins with very long and slightly decurved bills are typical of the North
American subspecies, particularly *C. a. hudsonia* ('Hudsonian Dunlin'),
which breeds in the central Canadian arctic and is the predominant migrant
through coastal NYS. Individuals are frequently mistaken for Curlew
Sandpiper, in large part because bill length is especially pronounced in
females.
When identifying shorebirds it's important to establish the age of the bird
as this influences feather details, which can be critical. This bird looks
to be transitioning into first basic plumage (i.e., first fall). Few of the
upper part feathers (scapulars, wing coverts) have pale edging as would be
expected for juvenile plumage; these edges have already abraded. The
centers of the grayer feathers have a short dark central vein, this dark
line is longer and often more prominent in Curlew Sands.
Note also the very short supercilium (a characteristic feature of Hudsonian
dunlin) which is limited to a pale arc above they eye. In Curlew Sandpiper
this usually extends further forward and behind relative to the eye.
As for the absence of dark central upper tail coverts ('white rump'), I've
always found this is exceptionally difficult to assess with accuracy in the
field. It's a negative mark, meaning you are hoping to see something that's
not there. The central line could be hidden by the way the feathers are
folded over each other. Although touted as a key mark in the field guides,
Curlew Sandpipers often have dark spots and darker feathers peaking through
so this is a very problematic field mark. Best ignored in favor of feather
details (as discussed above) and structure such as leg length.
Returning to the Jones Beach bird, the photos aren't ideal to assess
uppertail coverts. There are hints of dark but I'm not sure exactly which
feathers are involved. Certainly the images don't prove this point.
You can read more about this reoccurring ID challenge in a feature I posted
on OceanWanderers.com, many years, and many miles, ago.
http://www.oceanwanderers.com/BSmallSHorebird.html
Anyhow, sorry to throw water on the sighting. Regardless its always
instructive to take a close, hard look at interesting birds and we should
thank Stacy for getting the photos on line so quickly.
Angus Wilson
NYC/Springs, NY
--
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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@cornell.edu/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/
--
Re: [nysbirds-l] Curlew Sandpiper Jones Beach we2 - really?
Looking at the photos that are included with Stacy Meyerheinrich's eBird
checklist (link below) I would suggest the observers reconsider the ID. IMO
this bird is very clearly a Dunlin, as proposed in a follow up posting by
Steve Walter.
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S39350964
Dunlins with very long and slightly decurved bills are typical of the North
American subspecies, particularly *C. a. hudsonia* ('Hudsonian Dunlin'),
which breeds in the central Canadian arctic and is the predominant migrant
through coastal NYS. Individuals are frequently mistaken for Curlew
Sandpiper, in large part because bill length is especially pronounced in
females.
When identifying shorebirds it's important to establish the age of the bird
as this influences feather details, which can be critical. This bird looks
to be transitioning into first basic plumage (i.e., first fall). Few of the
upper part feathers (scapulars, wing coverts) have pale edging as would be
expected for juvenile plumage; these edges have already abraded. The
centers of the grayer feathers have a short dark central vein, this dark
line is longer and often more prominent in Curlew Sands.
Note also the very short supercilium (a characteristic feature of Hudsonian
dunlin) which is limited to a pale arc above they eye. In Curlew Sandpiper
this usually extends further forward and behind relative to the eye.
As for the absence of dark central upper tail coverts ('white rump'), I've
always found this is exceptionally difficult to assess with accuracy in the
field. It's a negative mark, meaning you are hoping to see something that's
not there. The central line could be hidden by the way the feathers are
folded over each other. Although touted as a key mark in the field guides,
Curlew Sandpipers often have dark spots and darker feathers peaking through
so this is a very problematic field mark. Best ignored in favor of feather
details (as discussed above) and structure such as leg length.
Returning to the Jones Beach bird, the photos aren't ideal to assess
uppertail coverts. There are hints of dark but I'm not sure exactly which
feathers are involved. Certainly the images don't prove this point.
You can read more about this reoccurring ID challenge in a feature I posted
on OceanWanderers.com, many years, and many miles, ago.
http://www.oceanwanderers.com/BSmallSHorebird.html
Anyhow, sorry to throw water on the sighting. Regardless its always
instructive to take a close, hard look at interesting birds and we should
thank Stacy for getting the photos on line so quickly.
Angus Wilson
NYC/Springs, NY
--
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@cornell.edu/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/
--
Re: [nysbirds-l] Ruff @ JBWR East Pond
Are we looking at the correct photo? I'm not seeing an obvious Ruff. Is the rightmost bird the candidate? Angus Wilson On Mon, Sep 11, 2017 at 6:14 PM, John Gluth <jgl...@optonline.net> wrote: > Somehow the image link in that eBird checklist was broken, but I managed > to track down Juan Salas' Photostream on Flickr and the image is still > there. Here's the link: > https://www.flickr.com/photos/23604521@N00/36321978034/in/photostream/ > > John Gluth, > Sent from my iPhone > -- > *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 > <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm> > *Archives:* > The Mail Archive > <http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/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/>*!* > -- > -- Angus Wilson New York City & The Springs, NY, USA http://birdingtotheend.blogspot.com/ -- 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@cornell.edu/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/ --
Re: [nysbirds-l] Ruff @ JBWR East Pond
Are we looking at the correct photo? I'm not seeing an obvious Ruff. Is the rightmost bird the candidate? Angus Wilson On Mon, Sep 11, 2017 at 6:14 PM, John Gluth wrote: > Somehow the image link in that eBird checklist was broken, but I managed > to track down Juan Salas' Photostream on Flickr and the image is still > there. Here's the link: > https://www.flickr.com/photos/23604521@N00/36321978034/in/photostream/ > > John Gluth, > Sent from my iPhone > -- > *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 > <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm> > *Archives:* > The Mail Archive > <http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/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/>*!* > -- > -- Angus Wilson New York City & The Springs, NY, USA http://birdingtotheend.blogspot.com/ -- 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@cornell.edu/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] Large numbers of Shearwaters off Montauk
The prevailing east winds have pushed a lot of shearwaters (thousands) up against the eastern tip of Long Island and into Block Island Sound. Easily visible at Montauk Inlet just beyond the jetties. Predominantly Cory's but also Great, Sooty and one or two Manx. Birds still present today, although the wind has slackened a bit. Interestingly quite a few Wilson's Storm-Petrels this morning, most NW of Montauk Point. Another Brown Pelican continues off Orient Point. Angus Wilson, New York City & The Springs, NY -- 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@cornell.edu/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] Large numbers of Shearwaters off Montauk
The prevailing east winds have pushed a lot of shearwaters (thousands) up against the eastern tip of Long Island and into Block Island Sound. Easily visible at Montauk Inlet just beyond the jetties. Predominantly Cory's but also Great, Sooty and one or two Manx. Birds still present today, although the wind has slackened a bit. Interestingly quite a few Wilson's Storm-Petrels this morning, most NW of Montauk Point. Another Brown Pelican continues off Orient Point. Angus Wilson, New York City & The Springs, NY -- 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@cornell.edu/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] AOS Checklist Supplement: Greenland returns to North America
The lumping of Thayer's Gull and retention of 'Willet', 'Yellow-rumped Warbler' and Hoary Redpoll were briefly discussed earlier on this forum but this predated the actual publication of the annual AOS Checklist supplement, which is now available. http://www.americanornithologypubs.org/doi/pdf/10.1642/AUK-17-72.1 As always this detailed technical report makes for very interesting, if strenuous, reading. One of the decisions I had not seen mentioned before was the return of Greenland to North America. With a landmass of 836,330 square miles, this is a rather significant event don't you think? Greenland was included in the very first checklist (1886), only to be removed in 1993. The committee was mighty powerful back then. >From a Checklist perspective this has a real impact because it adds nine Eurasian species based on historical records and establishes four species (Pink-footed Goose, Eurasian Golden-Plover, Redwing and Fieldfare) as regular breeders in North America. With Greenland becoming rapidly greener and more accessible to both landbirds and visiting humans, the potential for new species seems higher than ever. My suspicion is that birders and researchers visiting Greenland will discover vagrants that would otherwise be potential firsts for the US or Canada. Commentators have used memorable headlines such as 'Goodbye Thayer's Gull' but of course that's not true. The enigmatic taxon is retained as a subspecies, and individuals fitting the established identification criteria will still occur in New York. Phew! Gull watchers, especially those in the western half of the state, will still have hours of fun studying and debating over candidates. The taxonomic status of Kumlein's Gull remains fuzzy. Is it also a subspecies under the banner of Iceland Gull or stable hybrid swarm sitting between Thayer's and nominate Iceland, similar to 'Olympic Gull' in the Pacific Northwest? This conundrum may not be resolved until necessary field work is done. The Supplement also details changes to the list order and scientific names of several species on the New York State checklist, with the inevitable frustrations to list keepers that this causes. Anyhow, lots of information and ideas to pick over. Kudos to the members of the *American Ornithological Society’s Committee on Classification and Nomenclature of North and Middle American Birds* (a mouthful otherwise truncated to NACC) for their hard work in curating these lists and in sifting through the complex arguments and mounds of scientific data on which the decisions are based. The Committee's task seems all the harder knowing that amateur birders around the world pay close attention to each and every decision, irrespective of whether it results in a change. Angus Wilson New York City, NY -- 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@cornell.edu/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] AOS Checklist Supplement: Greenland returns to North America
The lumping of Thayer's Gull and retention of 'Willet', 'Yellow-rumped Warbler' and Hoary Redpoll were briefly discussed earlier on this forum but this predated the actual publication of the annual AOS Checklist supplement, which is now available. http://www.americanornithologypubs.org/doi/pdf/10.1642/AUK-17-72.1 As always this detailed technical report makes for very interesting, if strenuous, reading. One of the decisions I had not seen mentioned before was the return of Greenland to North America. With a landmass of 836,330 square miles, this is a rather significant event don't you think? Greenland was included in the very first checklist (1886), only to be removed in 1993. The committee was mighty powerful back then. >From a Checklist perspective this has a real impact because it adds nine Eurasian species based on historical records and establishes four species (Pink-footed Goose, Eurasian Golden-Plover, Redwing and Fieldfare) as regular breeders in North America. With Greenland becoming rapidly greener and more accessible to both landbirds and visiting humans, the potential for new species seems higher than ever. My suspicion is that birders and researchers visiting Greenland will discover vagrants that would otherwise be potential firsts for the US or Canada. Commentators have used memorable headlines such as 'Goodbye Thayer's Gull' but of course that's not true. The enigmatic taxon is retained as a subspecies, and individuals fitting the established identification criteria will still occur in New York. Phew! Gull watchers, especially those in the western half of the state, will still have hours of fun studying and debating over candidates. The taxonomic status of Kumlein's Gull remains fuzzy. Is it also a subspecies under the banner of Iceland Gull or stable hybrid swarm sitting between Thayer's and nominate Iceland, similar to 'Olympic Gull' in the Pacific Northwest? This conundrum may not be resolved until necessary field work is done. The Supplement also details changes to the list order and scientific names of several species on the New York State checklist, with the inevitable frustrations to list keepers that this causes. Anyhow, lots of information and ideas to pick over. Kudos to the members of the *American Ornithological Society’s Committee on Classification and Nomenclature of North and Middle American Birds* (a mouthful otherwise truncated to NACC) for their hard work in curating these lists and in sifting through the complex arguments and mounds of scientific data on which the decisions are based. The Committee's task seems all the harder knowing that amateur birders around the world pay close attention to each and every decision, irrespective of whether it results in a change. Angus Wilson New York City, NY -- 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@cornell.edu/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/ --
Re: [nysbirds-l] Question about hybridization between Seaside Sparrow and Saltmarsh Sparrow.
Maybe I'm missing something but could you perhaps explain why you think this not a pure Seaside Sparrow? I am not noticing any inconsistencies, although to be fair it's difficult to evaluate a single photo of a partially obscured bird that's facing away As a side note, I am not aware of evidence for frequent hybridization between Seaside and Saltmarsh. However, there is extensive hybridization between Nelson's and Saltmarsh Sparrows in the 130 mile zone of overlap along the New England coastline from Plum Island in northern Massachusetts to southern Maine. Angus Wilson New York City, NY On Fri, Apr 28, 2017 at 5:21 PM, Juan Salas <juansalasprieto1...@gmail.com> wrote: > I apologize for the cross-posting. > I have photographed a Seaside Sparrow this morning at the Salt Marsh > Nature Center in Marine Park, Brooklyn that seems to have some features > that match Saltmarsh Sparrow. I have read that these two species hybridize > regularly. > https://www.flickr.com/photos/23604521@N00/34194070461/in/ > datetaken-public/ > What would be your opinion about this bird? > Thank you, > Juan Salas > -- > *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 > <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm> > *Archives:* > The Mail Archive > <http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/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/>*!* > -- > -- Angus Wilson New York City & The Springs, NY, USA http://birdingtotheend.blogspot.com/ -- 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@cornell.edu/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/ --
Re: [nysbirds-l] Question about hybridization between Seaside Sparrow and Saltmarsh Sparrow.
Maybe I'm missing something but could you perhaps explain why you think this not a pure Seaside Sparrow? I am not noticing any inconsistencies, although to be fair it's difficult to evaluate a single photo of a partially obscured bird that's facing away As a side note, I am not aware of evidence for frequent hybridization between Seaside and Saltmarsh. However, there is extensive hybridization between Nelson's and Saltmarsh Sparrows in the 130 mile zone of overlap along the New England coastline from Plum Island in northern Massachusetts to southern Maine. Angus Wilson New York City, NY On Fri, Apr 28, 2017 at 5:21 PM, Juan Salas wrote: > I apologize for the cross-posting. > I have photographed a Seaside Sparrow this morning at the Salt Marsh > Nature Center in Marine Park, Brooklyn that seems to have some features > that match Saltmarsh Sparrow. I have read that these two species hybridize > regularly. > https://www.flickr.com/photos/23604521@N00/34194070461/in/ > datetaken-public/ > What would be your opinion about this bird? > Thank you, > Juan Salas > -- > *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 > <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm> > *Archives:* > The Mail Archive > <http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/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/>*!* > -- > -- Angus Wilson New York City & The Springs, NY, USA http://birdingtotheend.blogspot.com/ -- 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@cornell.edu/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] Cattle Egrets and the use of subspecies designations on eBird checklists
When creating an eBird checklist one has the option of selecting a species, subspecies or sometimes a subspecies group. I've noticed an uptick recently in the number of observers in coastal New York using the latter two options, in the belief perhaps that this improves the scientific value of their checklist or to guard against future taxonomic upgrades that would promote subspecies to full species status. Unfortunately very few checklists provide any justification for subspecies designations and I suspect the majority are simply guesses based on range or other assumptions. While these choices may well be correct, I don't think this is good practice because it implies a greater level of observation than actually occurred. Importantly subspecies selections may actually be wrong, which could confuse future analyses. A timely example is the CATTLE EGRET that's lingering in mid-town Manhattan. I noticed several recent checklists entering this bird as 'Cattle Egret (Eastern) (Bubulcus ibis coromandus)'. THIS IS NOT CORRECT. Other observers have entered the sighting at the species level only 'Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis)' or as 'Cattle Egret (Western) (Bubulcus ibis ibis)'. In this case, these are both correct. That said, I don't think I've seen a single checklist using Western Cattle Egret that actually comments on how this selection was made. So why is Western Cattle Egret correct? Cattle Egret has a broad distribution across the temperate and tropical zones of both the Old and New Worlds. The Americas were colonized in the 1950s by birds that crossed the Atlantic from Africa, and are thus Western Cattle Egret (B. ibis ibis). The name reflects the fact that these are from the western half of the pre-expansion range (i.e. southern Europe, the Middle East and Africa). The range of Eastern Cattle Egret (B. ibis coromandus) extends from central Asia eastward through India to Japan and now includes Australia and New Zealand following a similarly rapid range expansion in the opposite direction. Why both subspecies underwent massive range expansions at about the same time is fascinating topic in itself. To my knowledge there is no evidence that Eastern Cattle Egret has occurred in the eastern US and Canada (or I suspect, anywhere in the Americas except perhaps as vagrants to western Alaska or Hawaii). This is important because some authorities already treat Eastern and Western Cattle Egrets as separate species and makes the point that labels should be used carefully and if possible chosen on the basis of direct observation rather than assumptions from a pull-down menu. In the case of the Manhattan egret I think we can safely call this individual a Western Cattle Egret because of the limited extent of the pale orange feathering on the breast, head, neck and center of the back. This coloring is usually more extensive and often a darker orange in Eastern Cattle Egrets of similar age. The taxa also differ in their proportions, especially leg and bill length, but this would be hard to assess on a lone bird without good photos. Bill, leg and iris color are too variable to be much use. There are rumors that vocalizations may also be diagnostic but when was last time you heard a Cattle Egret calling away from a nesting colony? In summary, I recommend entering sightings into eBird at subspecies level with caution, ideally providing a note on why you did so. Plenty of birds can be identified at this level and this is a great way to hone your observation skills and expand your knowledge of bird distribution. It's true that for many common birds blanket assumptions are reasonable, at least in the northeast. For example in New York State, Northern Flickers are almost invariably Yellow-shafted (Colaptes auratus auratus), and likewise Northern Orioles are almost always Baltimore Orioles (Icterus galbula). These assumptions would not necessarily hold if you were birding closer to the Rockies where the western counterparts are more frequent and broad zones of overlap give rise to frequent integrades. Identifying birds at the subspecies levels adds a thrilling dimension to birding but can be tricky and less clear cut than species identifications. It's great that eBird offers this as an option because it should improve our knowledge of subspecies ranges, but for the reasons discussed above, these choices should be used with care. Here are a couple of useful links from eBird expanding on this thought provoking topic. http://help.ebird.org/customer/portal/articles/1010552-understanding- subspecies-in-ebird http://help.ebird.org/customer/portal/articles/1006768-entering-non-species- taxa?b_id=1928 -- Angus Wilson New York City & The Springs, NY, USA -- 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@cornell.edu/maillist.
[nysbirds-l] South Fork LI: Cattle Egret
There's an adult CATTLE EGRET at Mecox Dairy in Bridgehampton (Suffolk Co.), a regular site for this species over the years. The egret was actually with horses in the paddock on the NE side of Mecox Road, viewed from Halsey Lane. -- Angus Wilson New York City & The Springs, NY, USA http://birdingtotheend.blogspot.com/ -- 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@cornell.edu/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] South Fork LI: Cattle Egret
There's an adult CATTLE EGRET at Mecox Dairy in Bridgehampton (Suffolk Co.), a regular site for this species over the years. The egret was actually with horses in the paddock on the NE side of Mecox Road, viewed from Halsey Lane. -- Angus Wilson New York City & The Springs, NY, USA http://birdingtotheend.blogspot.com/ -- 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@cornell.edu/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] Montauk CBC Results Summary
The Montauk CBC took place on Saturday (17 Dec 2016). Early counters faced difficult conditions with low temperatures and a couple of inches of snow. This switched to heavy rain around daybreak that continued through the morning. Teams working on foot were first frozen then drenched. Ugh! Fortunately, the weather improved considerably during the afternoon becoming much warmer and drier, although some places remained shrouded in mist. In the late afternoon shafts of sunlight broke through the dark clouds and bathed the landscape in gold. All told, the count tallied a very respectable 118 species, with two additional (count week) species, Short-eared Owl and Greater White-fronted Goose found on Friday and Sunday, respectively. Highlights on count day included 34 Razorbills (scarce so far this winter), single Snowy and Saw-whet owls, American Kestrel, Eastern Phoebe, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow-breasted Chat and Rusty Blackbird. One new species was added, a Common Raven on Gardiner's Island, bringing the count list to 229 species. In light of the remarkable expansion of ravens throughout New York State, this only seemed a matter of time. We also scored a new high count for American Bittern of two, with lone individuals skulking in marshes along the edges of Accabonac and Napeague Harbors. Three Virginia Rails were located, two at Big Reed Pond in Montauk and one off Landing Lane in Accabonac. Misses included a number of ducks. King Eider and Harlequin Duck were not found despite good numbers of eider and scoter in the waters surrounding Montauk Point and freshwater species were mostly displaced onto the ocean by the freeze. A small party managed to visit Gardiner's Island in the late afternoon but found the main freshwater pond entirely frozen. The pond normally hosts a variety of waterfowl, often species not found elsewhere, but on count day the pond was essentially birdless. Winter finches were largely absent with no sightings of crossbills, redpolls or siskins but a handful of Purple Finch were found. So much for the Evening Grosbeaks many of us had been dreaming of. Less fanciful possibilities, Black-legged Kittiwake, Great Yellowlegs, Eastern Bluebird and White-crowned Sparrow also went unseen. An unusual number of Baltimore Orioles have lingered on Long Island this fall, some into December, but none were found during the count, perhaps also victims of the vicious cold snap in the week leading up to the count. Our thanks to everyone who joined us in the field regardless of the grim conditions. It was also gratifying that so many counters were able to stop in at Felicia's Restaurant in Amagansett after dark to share news of the day and enjoy a warming meal. Requests to restore the end of day compilation were duly noted and we will try to make this happen next year. Speaking of which, the next year’s Montauk CBC will take place on Saturday 16 December 2017. We have an abundance of wonderful territory and welcome eager counters. Additional reminders will go out closer to the date. Karen Rubinstein & Angus Wilson Co-Compilers, Montauk CBC -- 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@cornell.edu/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] Montauk CBC Results Summary
The Montauk CBC took place on Saturday (17 Dec 2016). Early counters faced difficult conditions with low temperatures and a couple of inches of snow. This switched to heavy rain around daybreak that continued through the morning. Teams working on foot were first frozen then drenched. Ugh! Fortunately, the weather improved considerably during the afternoon becoming much warmer and drier, although some places remained shrouded in mist. In the late afternoon shafts of sunlight broke through the dark clouds and bathed the landscape in gold. All told, the count tallied a very respectable 118 species, with two additional (count week) species, Short-eared Owl and Greater White-fronted Goose found on Friday and Sunday, respectively. Highlights on count day included 34 Razorbills (scarce so far this winter), single Snowy and Saw-whet owls, American Kestrel, Eastern Phoebe, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow-breasted Chat and Rusty Blackbird. One new species was added, a Common Raven on Gardiner's Island, bringing the count list to 229 species. In light of the remarkable expansion of ravens throughout New York State, this only seemed a matter of time. We also scored a new high count for American Bittern of two, with lone individuals skulking in marshes along the edges of Accabonac and Napeague Harbors. Three Virginia Rails were located, two at Big Reed Pond in Montauk and one off Landing Lane in Accabonac. Misses included a number of ducks. King Eider and Harlequin Duck were not found despite good numbers of eider and scoter in the waters surrounding Montauk Point and freshwater species were mostly displaced onto the ocean by the freeze. A small party managed to visit Gardiner's Island in the late afternoon but found the main freshwater pond entirely frozen. The pond normally hosts a variety of waterfowl, often species not found elsewhere, but on count day the pond was essentially birdless. Winter finches were largely absent with no sightings of crossbills, redpolls or siskins but a handful of Purple Finch were found. So much for the Evening Grosbeaks many of us had been dreaming of. Less fanciful possibilities, Black-legged Kittiwake, Great Yellowlegs, Eastern Bluebird and White-crowned Sparrow also went unseen. An unusual number of Baltimore Orioles have lingered on Long Island this fall, some into December, but none were found during the count, perhaps also victims of the vicious cold snap in the week leading up to the count. Our thanks to everyone who joined us in the field regardless of the grim conditions. It was also gratifying that so many counters were able to stop in at Felicia's Restaurant in Amagansett after dark to share news of the day and enjoy a warming meal. Requests to restore the end of day compilation were duly noted and we will try to make this happen next year. Speaking of which, the next year’s Montauk CBC will take place on Saturday 16 December 2017. We have an abundance of wonderful territory and welcome eager counters. Additional reminders will go out closer to the date. Karen Rubinstein & Angus Wilson Co-Compilers, Montauk CBC -- 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@cornell.edu/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] South Fork LI: Tundra Swans return to Hook Pond, East Hampton
A pair of adult TUNDRA SWANS were present on Hook Pond in East Hampton (Suffolk Co.). This is a the only regular wintering spot for the species on Long Island and their arrival is slightly later than usual, perhaps reflecting the relatively mild conditions in late November. Angus Wilson New York City/Springs -- 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] South Fork LI: Tundra Swans return to Hook Pond, East Hampton
A pair of adult TUNDRA SWANS were present on Hook Pond in East Hampton (Suffolk Co.). This is a the only regular wintering spot for the species on Long Island and their arrival is slightly later than usual, perhaps reflecting the relatively mild conditions in late November. Angus Wilson New York City/Springs -- 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] Manhattan Empidonax - Inwood Hill Park
Hi Isaac, Thanks for bring this to everyone's attention. As most readers will already know, the field identification of empidonax flycatchers in the fall can be extremely difficult but not impossible. I think it would be educational and healthy for the list for us to have an online discussion of this bird beyond the usual 'it's still here' updates. Based on the eye ring and shape of the bird the main contenders are WESTERN FLYCATCHER (WEFL) and YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER (YBFL). Even though YBFL pass through New York City area with some regularity on migration they are extremely rare at such a late date, although not unheard of. Using 'likelihood' is therefore not really appropriate and we must rely on images, live views, and if we get really lucky, some vocalization. I'd be very curious to hear the arguments advocating YBFL put forward on Whatbird as mentioned but not expanded upon in John Keane's written comments. Perhaps someone who has seen them can paraphrase? At this late hour I am happy to remain agnostic about the identification and would like to hear the arguments. Any empid in December is exciting and a great find. Hopefully local birders will be able to refind the bird tomorrow and obtain additional photos. If not, we already have a good set of images to chew on. Cheers, Angus Wilson New York City On Thu, Dec 8, 2016 at 9:45 PM, isaac grant <hosesbroadb...@gmail.com> wrote: > This was just posted to ebird. If any are not on it have a look. > > http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S32922727 > -- 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] Manhattan Empidonax - Inwood Hill Park
Hi Isaac, Thanks for bring this to everyone's attention. As most readers will already know, the field identification of empidonax flycatchers in the fall can be extremely difficult but not impossible. I think it would be educational and healthy for the list for us to have an online discussion of this bird beyond the usual 'it's still here' updates. Based on the eye ring and shape of the bird the main contenders are WESTERN FLYCATCHER (WEFL) and YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER (YBFL). Even though YBFL pass through New York City area with some regularity on migration they are extremely rare at such a late date, although not unheard of. Using 'likelihood' is therefore not really appropriate and we must rely on images, live views, and if we get really lucky, some vocalization. I'd be very curious to hear the arguments advocating YBFL put forward on Whatbird as mentioned but not expanded upon in John Keane's written comments. Perhaps someone who has seen them can paraphrase? At this late hour I am happy to remain agnostic about the identification and would like to hear the arguments. Any empid in December is exciting and a great find. Hopefully local birders will be able to refind the bird tomorrow and obtain additional photos. If not, we already have a good set of images to chew on. Cheers, Angus Wilson New York City On Thu, Dec 8, 2016 at 9:45 PM, isaac grant wrote: > This was just posted to ebird. If any are not on it have a look. > > http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S32922727 > -- 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] South Fork LI: Pacific Loon off Montauk Point
At 1:16 PM a basic plumage PACIFIC LOON flew east past the bluffs at Camp Hero SP (Suffolk Co.) and rounded the point passing out of view. A search from several vantage points along the northside of the point failed to re find the bird. There are a lot of Red-throated and Common Loons in the area so care is needed. There was a report of a Pacific Loon from this location a couple of weeks ago. The only other bird of note at the Point was a single RAZORBILL working it's way through the large scoter/eider flock. The RED-NECKED GREBE continues on the southwest arm of Fort Pond Bay. Angus Wilson NYC & Springs -- 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] South Fork LI: Pacific Loon off Montauk Point
At 1:16 PM a basic plumage PACIFIC LOON flew east past the bluffs at Camp Hero SP (Suffolk Co.) and rounded the point passing out of view. A search from several vantage points along the northside of the point failed to re find the bird. There are a lot of Red-throated and Common Loons in the area so care is needed. There was a report of a Pacific Loon from this location a couple of weeks ago. The only other bird of note at the Point was a single RAZORBILL working it's way through the large scoter/eider flock. The RED-NECKED GREBE continues on the southwest arm of Fort Pond Bay. Angus Wilson NYC & Springs -- 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] LI Offshore: So Polar Skua, Leach's Storm-Petrels and Puffins.
Taking advantage of the stable high pressure over the region, John Shemilt, Derek Rogers and I spent Sunday offshore, reaching deep water about 82 miles SE of Shinnecock Inlet (Suffolk Co.). Although conditions were often misty inshore, there were good patches of visibility and flat seas beyond the shelf break. Appropriate for the date, we encountered a good mix of spring migrants including a SOUTH POLAR SKUA, single dark-morph POMARINE and dark-morph PARASITIC JAEGERS, Cory's (15), Great (1), Cory's/Great (5), Sooty (53) and Manx Shearwaters (4), good numbers of LEACH'S STORM PETRELS (77), Wilson's Storm-Petrels (177) and a number of offshore terns including 2 ARCTIC TERNS and a pair of ATLANTIC PUFFIN. Other notable wildlife included Risso's Dolphin, Short-beaked Common Dolphin and three ocean sunfish. Angus Wilson, New York City -- 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] LI Offshore: So Polar Skua, Leach's Storm-Petrels and Puffins.
Taking advantage of the stable high pressure over the region, John Shemilt, Derek Rogers and I spent Sunday offshore, reaching deep water about 82 miles SE of Shinnecock Inlet (Suffolk Co.). Although conditions were often misty inshore, there were good patches of visibility and flat seas beyond the shelf break. Appropriate for the date, we encountered a good mix of spring migrants including a SOUTH POLAR SKUA, single dark-morph POMARINE and dark-morph PARASITIC JAEGERS, Cory's (15), Great (1), Cory's/Great (5), Sooty (53) and Manx Shearwaters (4), good numbers of LEACH'S STORM PETRELS (77), Wilson's Storm-Petrels (177) and a number of offshore terns including 2 ARCTIC TERNS and a pair of ATLANTIC PUFFIN. Other notable wildlife included Risso's Dolphin, Short-beaked Common Dolphin and three ocean sunfish. Angus Wilson, New York City -- 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] Fwd: [ebirdsnyc] Fwd: [JERSEYBI] Smew, Warren County
Nowadays we need to be careful what we mean when we say "Rare Bird Alert".
There really are two different versions and I think the discussion is
referring to the daily automated listings generated from eBird checklists
for species considered scarce to rare to an area by the filtering software.
These eBird Rare Bird Alerts (maybe we should call them eRBAs) are a mix of
vetted items (marked "Confirmed" by local reviewers) and unreviewed items
(marked "Unconfirmed" or not marked depending on how you are viewing the
alert). This is different from traditional RBAs that you listen to on the
phone or are transcribed to listserves, where all of the contents are
vetted and often researched by the compiler.
There are many potential sources of error that can creep into eBird
checklists, which is why there is a global network of volunteer reviewers
working behind the scenes. Errors can be everything from true mistaken IDs
or misunderstandings about the species that occur regularly at the location
to simple entry mistakes (e.g. thick finger syndrome). Entries that are
reviewed but not validated by the local reviewer remain in the database but
do not appear on the eBird alert or other public outputs.
The beauty of the eRBAs is that they are fast and regular (hourly? daily?).
But again they are created by smart software, so as Rich Guthrie has
already stated, "when in doubt check for "Confirmed"". Better still, look
at the checklist yourself to see what supporting information is provided.
Are there photos? Is there a convincing description of the bird that
supports the identification? If there are no comments at all or something
vague or general, this to me suggests a mistake but if the observer clearly
knows that they are reporting something unusual and has taken a few extra
seconds to say why or to upload a photo, then I'm inclined to take the
sighting a lot more seriously.
The ability to look at the checklists (the raw data so to speak) and decide
for oneself whether the claim is plausible, or not, is one of the most
exciting features of these new tools and a great way to hone your
distributional knowledge and identification skills. Adding useful comments
to your checklists, such as a description of the bird or by providing
specific details on where it was so that others may look for it, will make
everyone's life easier.
Cheers, Angus Wilson
New York City
On Thu, Feb 18, 2016 at 3:27 PM, Richard Guthrie <richardpguth...@gmail.com>
wrote:
> Great Backyard Bird Count. This sort of thing happens every year. Reports
> will go through but extreme reports will be vetted by eBird reviewers. When
> in doubt, check for "Confirmed".
>
> Rich Guthrie
> New Baltimore
> The Greene County
> New York
>
>
> On Thu, Feb 18, 2016 at 1:53 PM, Larry Trachtenberg <
> trachtenb...@amsllp.com> wrote:
>
>> The other day on the NJ rare bird alert there's was posted 2 swainson's
>> Hawks and 4 Bachman's sparrows and a few other not likely to be credible
>> species. I don't know who posted but the Bachman's were ridiculous.
>>
>> L Trachtenberg
>> Ossining
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>> On Feb 18, 2016, at 9:35 AM, Andrew Baksh <birdingd...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> FYI...please take note of the comment below from Phil Jeffery.
>>
>> 風 Swift as the wind
>> 林 Quiet as the forest
>> 火 Conquer like the fire
>> 山 Steady as the mountain
>> Sun Tzu <http://refspace.com/quotes/Sun_Tzu> *The Art of War*
>> <http://refspace.com/quotes/The_Art_of_War>
>>
>> (\__/)
>> (= '.'=)
>>
>> (") _ (")
>>
>> Sent from somewhere in the field using my mobile device!
>>
>>
>> Andrew Baksh
>> www.birdingdude.blogspot.com
>>
>> Begin forwarded message:
>>
>> *From:* "Phil Jeffrey phil.jeff...@gmail.com [ebirdsnyc]" <
>> ebirdsnyc-nore...@yahoogroups.com>
>> *Date:* February 18, 2016 at 12:16:16 PM EST
>> *To:* ebirds NYC <ebirds...@yahoogroups.com>
>> *Subject:* *Re: [ebirdsnyc] Fwd: [JERSEYBI] Smew, Warren County*
>> *Reply-To:* Phil Jeffrey <phil.jeff...@gmail.com>
>>
>>
>>
>> If considering chasing this bird, please be aware that:
>>
>> 1. the photographer has not indicated exactly where it was seen -
>> despite requests - and the Delaware Water Gap is long with the road not
>> tracking the river bank in many places
>> 2. at this time I'm more than a little cynical about the actual report,
>> since merely finding a Smew is remarkable, much less getting fairly close
>> for a shot of one on a river that is not all that narrow. The lack of
>> further information is *odd*.
>>
>
Re: [nysbirds-l] Fwd: [ebirdsnyc] Fwd: [JERSEYBI] Smew, Warren County
Nowadays we need to be careful what we mean when we say "Rare Bird Alert".
There really are two different versions and I think the discussion is
referring to the daily automated listings generated from eBird checklists
for species considered scarce to rare to an area by the filtering software.
These eBird Rare Bird Alerts (maybe we should call them eRBAs) are a mix of
vetted items (marked "Confirmed" by local reviewers) and unreviewed items
(marked "Unconfirmed" or not marked depending on how you are viewing the
alert). This is different from traditional RBAs that you listen to on the
phone or are transcribed to listserves, where all of the contents are
vetted and often researched by the compiler.
There are many potential sources of error that can creep into eBird
checklists, which is why there is a global network of volunteer reviewers
working behind the scenes. Errors can be everything from true mistaken IDs
or misunderstandings about the species that occur regularly at the location
to simple entry mistakes (e.g. thick finger syndrome). Entries that are
reviewed but not validated by the local reviewer remain in the database but
do not appear on the eBird alert or other public outputs.
The beauty of the eRBAs is that they are fast and regular (hourly? daily?).
But again they are created by smart software, so as Rich Guthrie has
already stated, "when in doubt check for "Confirmed"". Better still, look
at the checklist yourself to see what supporting information is provided.
Are there photos? Is there a convincing description of the bird that
supports the identification? If there are no comments at all or something
vague or general, this to me suggests a mistake but if the observer clearly
knows that they are reporting something unusual and has taken a few extra
seconds to say why or to upload a photo, then I'm inclined to take the
sighting a lot more seriously.
The ability to look at the checklists (the raw data so to speak) and decide
for oneself whether the claim is plausible, or not, is one of the most
exciting features of these new tools and a great way to hone your
distributional knowledge and identification skills. Adding useful comments
to your checklists, such as a description of the bird or by providing
specific details on where it was so that others may look for it, will make
everyone's life easier.
Cheers, Angus Wilson
New York City
On Thu, Feb 18, 2016 at 3:27 PM, Richard Guthrie
wrote:
> Great Backyard Bird Count. This sort of thing happens every year. Reports
> will go through but extreme reports will be vetted by eBird reviewers. When
> in doubt, check for "Confirmed".
>
> Rich Guthrie
> New Baltimore
> The Greene County
> New York
>
>
> On Thu, Feb 18, 2016 at 1:53 PM, Larry Trachtenberg <
> trachtenb...@amsllp.com> wrote:
>
>> The other day on the NJ rare bird alert there's was posted 2 swainson's
>> Hawks and 4 Bachman's sparrows and a few other not likely to be credible
>> species. I don't know who posted but the Bachman's were ridiculous.
>>
>> L Trachtenberg
>> Ossining
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>> On Feb 18, 2016, at 9:35 AM, Andrew Baksh wrote:
>>
>> FYI...please take note of the comment below from Phil Jeffery.
>>
>> 風 Swift as the wind
>> 林 Quiet as the forest
>> 火 Conquer like the fire
>> 山 Steady as the mountain
>> Sun Tzu <http://refspace.com/quotes/Sun_Tzu> *The Art of War*
>> <http://refspace.com/quotes/The_Art_of_War>
>>
>> (\__/)
>> (= '.'=)
>>
>> (") _ (")
>>
>> Sent from somewhere in the field using my mobile device!
>>
>>
>> Andrew Baksh
>> www.birdingdude.blogspot.com
>>
>> Begin forwarded message:
>>
>> *From:* "Phil Jeffrey phil.jeff...@gmail.com [ebirdsnyc]" <
>> ebirdsnyc-nore...@yahoogroups.com>
>> *Date:* February 18, 2016 at 12:16:16 PM EST
>> *To:* ebirds NYC
>> *Subject:* *Re: [ebirdsnyc] Fwd: [JERSEYBI] Smew, Warren County*
>> *Reply-To:* Phil Jeffrey
>>
>>
>>
>> If considering chasing this bird, please be aware that:
>>
>> 1. the photographer has not indicated exactly where it was seen -
>> despite requests - and the Delaware Water Gap is long with the road not
>> tracking the river bank in many places
>> 2. at this time I'm more than a little cynical about the actual report,
>> since merely finding a Smew is remarkable, much less getting fairly close
>> for a shot of one on a river that is not all that narrow. The lack of
>> further information is *odd*.
>>
>> I will post an update if it gets reported.
>>
>> If you're not a subscriber, the NJ and PA lists can be tracked v
[nysbirds-l] Montauk CBC – Provisional results
The forty-four participants on the 2015 Montauk CBC battled strong W to NW winds all day yesterday (Saturday 19 Dec 2015). Winds were such that the Gardiner’s Island party was unable to make the bay crossing due to safety concerns, thereby eliminating one of the six count territories. Despite the challenges, the provisional species total came to 111 species, with at least 4 additional species for count week. Highlights included the ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER discovered by John Gluth in the Fort Hill Cemetery above Montauk Village (one prior from 2007), a GREEN HERON found in the Napeague strip by Chase Cammerota (only one prior from 1973), 3 DOVEKIE, CLAPPER RAIL, 3 VIRGINIA’S RAIL, a drake KING EIDER off the Camp Hero bluffs, SHORT-EARED and SNOWY OWLS in Napeague and COMMON REDPOLL in Montauk. Numbers were generally low to middling with a handful of painful misses, not least because nobody could survey Gardiner's Island. The compilation dinner was held in the Ashawagh Hall in Springs, a new and comfortable venue. Our thanks to Naoko Tanese for preparing the dinner. Unfortunately, the Western Kingbirf that had lingered at Montauk Point for couple of weeks was not found on count day and the last reports we are aware of were from Tuesday 15 Dec, just before count week period. Our sincere thanks to the territory captains (Doug Futuyma, Vicki Bustamante, Tom Burke, Shai Mitra, Patricia Lindsay, Derek Rogers and Frank Quevedo) for their leadership in the field and of course to all the participants who braved the weather to help us cover this unique count circle. Angus Wilson and Karen Rubinstein, Co-compilers -- 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/ --
