Thanks for sharing this spectacular record, Willie, as well as all the other great highlights from the swamps!
Gull-billed Tern was reported by DeKay (1844) to occur around the Great Lakes in New York State, at a time when it was not known from Long Island (e.g., by Giraud). DeKay's vague statement is shared by Eaton (1910) but was ignored by Bull (1974). It's interesting to note that this species, like Caspian Tern, has an inexplicable geographic distribution--practically cosmopolitan, but highly localized within almost every larger region. Shai Mitra Bay Shore ________________________________________ From: bounce-124653609-11143...@list.cornell.edu [bounce-124653609-11143...@list.cornell.edu] on behalf of Willie D'Anna [dannapot...@roadrunner.com] Sent: Monday, May 25, 2020 3:28 PM To: 'nysbirds-l' Subject: [nysbirds-l] Amazing Cayuga Pool in Genesee County and other rarities Congratulations to Peter Yoerg on one of the best finds ever in Western NY (yesterday evening) – an adult in breeding plumage GULL-BILLED TERN. With little information to go on other than somewhere in Iroquois NWR, Josh Ketry was out at Cayuga Pool early this morning and he relocated, photographed, and confirmed the identification of the tern. Many birders have been able to see it so far today. The bird spends its time sitting in and flying over Cayuga Pool, as well as nearby Kumpf Marsh. At Cayuga Pool, it is usually off to the back left (not the extreme left) and can be difficult to see because of cattails when sitting. It is much easier to see in flight. A scope is highly recommended. Cayuga Pool is being drained, which we have learned over the years can be very productive for birds. Other birds at Cayuga Pool today were: the continuing SNOWY EGRET found by Josh Ketry and singing young male ORCHARD ORIOLE, a GLOSSY IBIS (found by Josh Ketry and identified by Chris Wood), two WILSON’S PHALAROPES found by Mike Morgante, a WHIMBREL found by Joe Mitchell, and about 300 shorebirds, mostly Semipalmated Sandpipers, with some Semi Plovers, Least Sandpipers, Dunlin, one Pectoral Sandpiper, and a few Short-billed Dowitchers. My thanks to Andy Guthrie for the shorebird report. At nearby Tonawanda WMA, the CATTLE EGRET found by Bev Seyler two days ago continues. It was seen from the north-south dike through Ruddy Marsh West (access from Rt 77) and also seen back where it was discovered, at Paddy 2 (access from Griswold St) and most recently, on the dike between Paddys 3 and 4. Maps of Tonawanda WMA may be found online at the DEC web site, here: https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/106378.html At about 1:15 today, Joe Mitchell had an adult SWAINSON’S HAWK fly over his home in Alden, Erie County, heading northeast. Perhaps someone will get lucky and see it at the swamps and hopefully, David Brown will get it at the Braddock Bay hawkwatch. Good birding! Willie ------------------ Willie D'Anna Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunnerDOTcom -- 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/ --
