Hello, As I've already been asked twice about the location of the Red-eyed Vireo, I'll post directly to the list. As others have pointed out, this is near a record date for this species although Ive found a January arrival date from Bull.
Please email me with any other feedback or questions. First off, I should say I have no photos and although I wondered if this was a vagrant from much farther afield, I have no objective support for anything other than a red-eyed v. As many know, Clove Lakes Park is quite large. The area I observed the bird was near the wooded area of the Royal Oak section named for the road next to it. There are multiple (three or four) trails entering this wooded area perpendicular to Royal Oak (and the paved footpath. These trail and woods begin 50 yards from the street. Royal Oak Rd. intersects with Victory Blvd. Basic driving directions from Brooklyn/Verrazano will keep you on the SI Expressway/278 for most of the trip, exiting at 12/N. Gannon/Slosson, however, with major construction and big delays on 278 this route may be inadvisable. Probably preferable to exit at the "new" exit 13/Richmond/Clove Rd. and follow GPS directions to intermediate point/intersection of Howard Ave/Hillside Ave (this will circumvent some of the worst SI traffic by going over Grymes Hill near Wagner College), then final destination of Victory Blvd/Royal Oak Rd//Knox Place. Parking along Royal Oak at Sanford Pl or Knox Pl is your best bet. Park two blocks in, just before the crown of the small incline (this road is used as a cut-through and drivers tend to speed here, fyi) Walk toward the woods, and turn left on the paved path. There are multiple paths, but the best one begins adjacent to one of the benches which has a a yellow plastic caution tape hanging from a shrub. Take that path in. (Note: Regardless of which path you take, they all lead to one larger path with small outcropping of serpentine. This "main" trail runs along the ridge of the park and overlooks the northeastern side and lake.) The bird was in this area, but more precisely was first seen in a unique location/micro-habitat which is a mini-migrant trap. It's a small clearing with high grass. Continue on the trail mentioned, to the T. Walk left and you will find the clearing. This might be a good place to start looking for the bird. This clearing or glade as I call it is also adjacent to the wider main trail mentioned above. This is where I first saw the bird. I last saw it moving toward Royal Oak. ID notes For anyone wanting more info on the ID, I actually worked the ID well because I was expecting a warbler, more likely Palm (given the initial similarity). Here are my notes from eBird: Foraging along bottom layer of forest, giving excellent views from 15 feet in excellent and varied angle light with binoculars. At first, I assumed this bird was a Palm Warbler when I was trying to resolve it visually. Then saw uniform GREEN BACK, lack of wing bars, clear underside, grayish-blue cap, white supercilium without 'spectacles.' Good luck! David Jordet Begin forwarded message: > From: David Jordet <sailbir...@yahoo.com> > Subject: Red-eyed Vireo (CLP-Staten Island) > Date: April 2, 2013 6:27:15 PM EDT > To: sinatural...@yahoogroups.com, NY Birds <nysbirds-l@cornell.edu> > > I birded Clove Lakes Park (CLP) in Staten Island (Richmond County) today, > April 2nd, with average numbers of migrant species and total birds. > > Then, just as I was wishing the wind would ease up and spring weather would > really arrive I was treated to views of a single HERMIT THRUST > first-of-season NORTHERN FLICKER, large group of GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET and a > RED-EYED VIREO!!! > > The vireo surprised me because first off I wasn't expecting to see one and > secondly, it was foraging along the lowest level of the forest with the > Hermit Thrush. I don't remember ever seeing the details of the back of a > red-eyed before, with the back appearing so green. > > Good birding! > > David Jordet > Staten Island > > -- 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/ --
