[nysbirds-l] NYC Area RBA: 22 February 2019
- RBA
* New York
* New York City, Long Island, Westchester County
* Feb. 22, 2019
* NYNY1902.22
- Birds mentioned
PACIFIC LOON+
BARNACLE GOOSE+
(+ Details requested by NYSARC)
Red-necked Grebe
Razorbill
Black-legged Kittiwake
GLAUCOUS GULL
ICELAND GULL
BLACK-HEADED GULL
LITTLE GULL
EURASIAN WIGEON
HARLEQUIN DUCK
KING EIDER
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE
Cackling Goose
American Bittern
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK
EVENING GROSBEAK
NORTHERN SHRIKE
Pine Warbler
Ovenbird
Common Yellowthroat
- Transcript
If followed by (+) please submit documentation of your report
electronically and use the NYSARC online submission form found at
http://www.nybirds.org/NYSARC/goodreport.htm
You can also send reports and digital image files via email to nysarc44
(at)nybirds{dot}org.
If electronic submission is not possible, hardcopy reports and photos or
sketches are welcome. Hardcopy documentation should be mailed to:
Gary Chapin - Secretary
NYS Avian Records Committee (NYSARC)
125 Pine Springs Drive
Ticonderoga, NY 12883
Hotline: New York City Area Rare Bird Alert
Number: (212) 979-3070
Compilers: Tom Burke and Tony Lauro
Coverage: New York City, Long Island, Westchester County
Transcriber: Ben Cacace
BEGIN TAPE
Greetings. This is the New York Rare Bird Alert for Friday, February 22nd
2019 at 9pm. The highlights of today's tape are PACIFIC LOON, NORTHERN
SHRIKE, BARNACLE GOOSE, GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, KING EIDER, HARLEQUIN
DUCK, EURASIAN WIGEON, LITTLE GULL, BLACK-HEADED GULL, GLAUCOUS GULL,
ICELAND GULL, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK and EVENING GROSBEAK.
A nicely plumaged winter PACIFIC LOON was still visiting Oyster Bay's
Sagamore Yacht Club and adjacent shoreline today usually providing great
views as it moves about in the boat basin. It does also occasionally
venture out east along the shore as viewable from Florence Avenue, a
dead-end road with parking. Enter Oyster Bay on Route 106 and continue on
South Street staying to the left at the end by the white tanks to enter the
yacht club and adjacent Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park where a large
parking lot is available.
Last Saturday at Jones Beach West End a second winter plumaged PACIFIC LOON
was spotted well out in the channel off the West End Coast Guard Station
but this one has proven to be quite elusive with no recent reports.
Very scarce locally this winter an immature NORTHERN SHRIKE was found last
Monday at McAllister County Park in Belle Terre north of Port Jefferson. It
was seen for most of the day near Pirate's Cove requiring a westerly walk
along the beach but there have been no reports of the SHRIKE in the latter
part of this week.
The BARNACLE GOOSE continues in Riverhead Canada Goose flocks being seen at
the roosting site on Merritt's Pond east of Roanoke Avenue in Riverhead and
as recently as today near the Buffalo Farm off Reeves Avenue farther north
off Roanoke. A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE also continues to roost on
Merritt's Pond and was seen Thursday along Edward's Avenue just south of
Sound Avenue. Another GREATER WHITE-FRONTED continues in the Rye area of
southern Westchester sometimes resting on Playland Lake and continuing
CACKLING GOOSE this week included birds on Miller Field on Staten Island
and at Arthur J. Hendrickson Park in Valley Stream. KING EIDERS were noted
at Shinnecock Inlet again this week. A drake and a female last Saturday and
a young male yesterday. Three HARLEQUIN DUCKS were at the Jones Beach West
End jetty last Saturday but two were also still at Orient Point County Park
with a pair still in Moriches Inlet Sunday followed by a female moving off
Robert Moses State Park on Monday. Lingering drake EURASIAN WIGEON in
Brooklyn were at the Salt Marsh Nature Center Saturday and Bush Terminal
Piers Park today.
The adult LITTLE GULL was still off Montauk Point with Bonaparte's Gulls
last Saturday while 8 or more BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES and over 200
RAZORBILLS were also reported off Montauk State Park. A BLACK-HEADED GULL
was also still at the south end of Lake Montauk Tuesday. Brooklyn too
continues to provide BLACK-HEADED GULLS with birds noted during the week at
Brooklyn Army Terminal Pier 4, Veteran's Memorial Pier and Sheepshead Bay.
A GLAUCOUS GULL was still at the Bellport Bay Yacht Club today and ICELAND
GULLS continue at Brooklyn's Austin Nichol's House and Gravesend Bay and at
the Montauk Harbor Inlet.
Unusual this winter in our area a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was spotted along the
loop causeway last Saturday.
Multiple RED-NECKED GREBES and AMERICAN BITTERNS were also reported this
week.
Warblers this week included OVENBIRD at the Bronx Zoo, a COMMON
YELLOWTHROAT continuing in Union Square Park in Manhattan and a PINE at
Southaven County Park and an EVENING GROSBEAK male continues at Riverside
Park in northern Manhattan.
To phone in reports on Long Island call Tony Lauro at (631) 734-4126 or
call Tom Burke at (914) 967-4922.
This service is sponsored by the Linnaean Society of New York and the
National
[nysbirds-l] NYC Area RBA: 22 February 2019
- RBA
* New York
* New York City, Long Island, Westchester County
* Feb. 22, 2019
* NYNY1902.22
- Birds mentioned
PACIFIC LOON+
BARNACLE GOOSE+
(+ Details requested by NYSARC)
Red-necked Grebe
Razorbill
Black-legged Kittiwake
GLAUCOUS GULL
ICELAND GULL
BLACK-HEADED GULL
LITTLE GULL
EURASIAN WIGEON
HARLEQUIN DUCK
KING EIDER
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE
Cackling Goose
American Bittern
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK
EVENING GROSBEAK
NORTHERN SHRIKE
Pine Warbler
Ovenbird
Common Yellowthroat
- Transcript
If followed by (+) please submit documentation of your report
electronically and use the NYSARC online submission form found at
http://www.nybirds.org/NYSARC/goodreport.htm
You can also send reports and digital image files via email to nysarc44
(at)nybirds{dot}org.
If electronic submission is not possible, hardcopy reports and photos or
sketches are welcome. Hardcopy documentation should be mailed to:
Gary Chapin - Secretary
NYS Avian Records Committee (NYSARC)
125 Pine Springs Drive
Ticonderoga, NY 12883
Hotline: New York City Area Rare Bird Alert
Number: (212) 979-3070
Compilers: Tom Burke and Tony Lauro
Coverage: New York City, Long Island, Westchester County
Transcriber: Ben Cacace
BEGIN TAPE
Greetings. This is the New York Rare Bird Alert for Friday, February 22nd
2019 at 9pm. The highlights of today's tape are PACIFIC LOON, NORTHERN
SHRIKE, BARNACLE GOOSE, GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, KING EIDER, HARLEQUIN
DUCK, EURASIAN WIGEON, LITTLE GULL, BLACK-HEADED GULL, GLAUCOUS GULL,
ICELAND GULL, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK and EVENING GROSBEAK.
A nicely plumaged winter PACIFIC LOON was still visiting Oyster Bay's
Sagamore Yacht Club and adjacent shoreline today usually providing great
views as it moves about in the boat basin. It does also occasionally
venture out east along the shore as viewable from Florence Avenue, a
dead-end road with parking. Enter Oyster Bay on Route 106 and continue on
South Street staying to the left at the end by the white tanks to enter the
yacht club and adjacent Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park where a large
parking lot is available.
Last Saturday at Jones Beach West End a second winter plumaged PACIFIC LOON
was spotted well out in the channel off the West End Coast Guard Station
but this one has proven to be quite elusive with no recent reports.
Very scarce locally this winter an immature NORTHERN SHRIKE was found last
Monday at McAllister County Park in Belle Terre north of Port Jefferson. It
was seen for most of the day near Pirate's Cove requiring a westerly walk
along the beach but there have been no reports of the SHRIKE in the latter
part of this week.
The BARNACLE GOOSE continues in Riverhead Canada Goose flocks being seen at
the roosting site on Merritt's Pond east of Roanoke Avenue in Riverhead and
as recently as today near the Buffalo Farm off Reeves Avenue farther north
off Roanoke. A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE also continues to roost on
Merritt's Pond and was seen Thursday along Edward's Avenue just south of
Sound Avenue. Another GREATER WHITE-FRONTED continues in the Rye area of
southern Westchester sometimes resting on Playland Lake and continuing
CACKLING GOOSE this week included birds on Miller Field on Staten Island
and at Arthur J. Hendrickson Park in Valley Stream. KING EIDERS were noted
at Shinnecock Inlet again this week. A drake and a female last Saturday and
a young male yesterday. Three HARLEQUIN DUCKS were at the Jones Beach West
End jetty last Saturday but two were also still at Orient Point County Park
with a pair still in Moriches Inlet Sunday followed by a female moving off
Robert Moses State Park on Monday. Lingering drake EURASIAN WIGEON in
Brooklyn were at the Salt Marsh Nature Center Saturday and Bush Terminal
Piers Park today.
The adult LITTLE GULL was still off Montauk Point with Bonaparte's Gulls
last Saturday while 8 or more BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES and over 200
RAZORBILLS were also reported off Montauk State Park. A BLACK-HEADED GULL
was also still at the south end of Lake Montauk Tuesday. Brooklyn too
continues to provide BLACK-HEADED GULLS with birds noted during the week at
Brooklyn Army Terminal Pier 4, Veteran's Memorial Pier and Sheepshead Bay.
A GLAUCOUS GULL was still at the Bellport Bay Yacht Club today and ICELAND
GULLS continue at Brooklyn's Austin Nichol's House and Gravesend Bay and at
the Montauk Harbor Inlet.
Unusual this winter in our area a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was spotted along the
loop causeway last Saturday.
Multiple RED-NECKED GREBES and AMERICAN BITTERNS were also reported this
week.
Warblers this week included OVENBIRD at the Bronx Zoo, a COMMON
YELLOWTHROAT continuing in Union Square Park in Manhattan and a PINE at
Southaven County Park and an EVENING GROSBEAK male continues at Riverside
Park in northern Manhattan.
To phone in reports on Long Island call Tony Lauro at (631) 734-4126 or
call Tom Burke at (914) 967-4922.
This service is sponsored by the Linnaean Society of New York and the
National
[nysbirds-l] County Listing DEADLINE is ONE WEEK from today
If you've already submitted your 2018 report, you should have received an individual email acknowledgment from me. Thank you again! OTHERWISE..THERE ARE ONLY 7 DAYS LEFT TO GET YOUR DATA IN! If you want your numbers to be included in the 2018 report, don't miss the Friday March 1 deadline. Data may be submitted online at http://nybirds.org/ProjCountyLists.html, via fax, via email, or via USPS (but time is very short for sending paper mail!). The form for faxing, emailing, or snail-mailing is at http://nybirds.org/CountyLists/web2018/CountyListForm2018.pd f If you're an eBirder, check out my tips for getting the data for the report from eBird: http://nybirds.org/CountyLists/ebirdhow.html For last year's compilation, see http://nybirds.org/CountyLists/archive/NYSOA-CL2017.pdf Good Birding! Carena Pooth NYSOA (New York State Ornithological Association) is a 501(c)(3) organization. --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus -- 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] County Listing DEADLINE is ONE WEEK from today
If you've already submitted your 2018 report, you should have received an individual email acknowledgment from me. Thank you again! OTHERWISE..THERE ARE ONLY 7 DAYS LEFT TO GET YOUR DATA IN! If you want your numbers to be included in the 2018 report, don't miss the Friday March 1 deadline. Data may be submitted online at http://nybirds.org/ProjCountyLists.html, via fax, via email, or via USPS (but time is very short for sending paper mail!). The form for faxing, emailing, or snail-mailing is at http://nybirds.org/CountyLists/web2018/CountyListForm2018.pd f If you're an eBirder, check out my tips for getting the data for the report from eBird: http://nybirds.org/CountyLists/ebirdhow.html For last year's compilation, see http://nybirds.org/CountyLists/archive/NYSOA-CL2017.pdf Good Birding! Carena Pooth NYSOA (New York State Ornithological Association) is a 501(c)(3) organization. --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus -- 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] European Goldfinch sightings
I was wondering if anyone knew if the European Goldfinches that were in Prospect Park are still there or not? Also, does anyone know of any others around the NY, CT, NJ area? Any information would be appreciated. Andrew Andrew v. F. Block Consulting Naturalist 20 Hancock Avenue, Apt. 3 Yonkers, Westchester Co., New York 10705-4629 www.flickr.com/photos/conuropsis/albums -- 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] European Goldfinch sightings
I was wondering if anyone knew if the European Goldfinches that were in Prospect Park are still there or not? Also, does anyone know of any others around the NY, CT, NJ area? Any information would be appreciated. Andrew Andrew v. F. Block Consulting Naturalist 20 Hancock Avenue, Apt. 3 Yonkers, Westchester Co., New York 10705-4629 www.flickr.com/photos/conuropsis/albums -- 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] Ravens nesting at NYBG
I just found out from my friend that instead of the owls or redtails nesting on the library building at NYBG there are ravens nesting for the first time there! I will have to go check them out and get some photos. Also, if anyone cares another friend told me the Mandarin Duck is still in Central Park but down in the pond at the southern end. Andrew Andrew v. F. Block Consulting Naturalist 20 Hancock Avenue, Apt. 3 Yonkers, Westchester Co., New York 10705-4629 www.flickr.com/photos/conuropsis/albums -- 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] Ravens nesting at NYBG
I just found out from my friend that instead of the owls or redtails nesting on the library building at NYBG there are ravens nesting for the first time there! I will have to go check them out and get some photos. Also, if anyone cares another friend told me the Mandarin Duck is still in Central Park but down in the pond at the southern end. Andrew Andrew v. F. Block Consulting Naturalist 20 Hancock Avenue, Apt. 3 Yonkers, Westchester Co., New York 10705-4629 www.flickr.com/photos/conuropsis/albums -- 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] FW: Block Island Presidents Day Count
This report is from just slightly beyond New York State but might be of interest to participants in the Great Backyard Bird Count and others curious about winter bird populations. From: Shaibal Mitra Sent: Friday, February 22, 2019 10:17 AM To: ribi...@yahoogroups.com Cc: Rachel Farrell (polly...@att.net) Subject: Block Island Presidents Day Count For the 24th year, a group of birders interested in winter population trends performed a late February, CBC-style count on Block Island, on Monday, 18 Feb 2019. By flanking the regular CBC with a mid-November Veterans Day Count and this late-winter Presidents Day Count, we are examining patterns of movement and survival in winter bird populations across the winter season; at the same time, by running the series for almost a quarter of a century now, we are able to discern longitudinal trends for many species as their local wintering populations wax or wane. Monday was a challenging weather day for birding, with light rain and snow alternating throughout most of the morning and early afternoon. Given this, our robust totals for many landbird species were both interesting and gratifying. None of the regularly encountered half-hardy species was missed, and most were close to their 24-year PDC averages, despite the poor weather: Species count, avg Winter Wren 2, 2 Hermit Thrush 4, 6 Gray Catbird 14, 14 Brown Thrasher 1, 1 Eastern Towhee 7, 7 Fox Sparrow 6, 5 Swamp Sparrow 3, 5 We have learned that the seasonal trends for these uncommon-in-winter species are very similar to those of Block Island's more numerous winter resident thicket birds, and many of the latter were similarly well-represented on Monday: Black-capped Chickadee 112, 123 Carolina Wren 153, 92 (153 is a new PDC max) American Robin 187, 187 Song Sparrow 197, 178 Northern Cardinal 95, 84 Several species that showed poorly are, unfortunately, showing signs of consistent decline in recent years: Flicker 5, 19 probably a victim of the reforestation described below Northern Mockingbird 5, 16 Myrtle Warbler 50, 364 American Tree Sparrow 0, 5 Junco 1, 15 White-throated Sparrow 74, 140 Among the seabirds, Gannet (4, all adults) and Red-throated Loon (5) were greatly diminished from earlier in the winter, as usual, but at least they were not missed, as they sometimes have been on prior PDCs. Totals of 9 Horned and 2 Red-necked Grebe were well below average, and far below the numbers seen in peak years, when the Great Lakes freeze. Only 39 Great Cormorants were found, continuing a trend of lower counts that has emerged over the past five years or so, and which has been noticeable on Long Island as well. (It is well worth taking a close look at a Great Cormorant at this season, when the adults are in spectacular breeding condition, with white leggings, silver hackles, orange faces, and bright blue eyes.) Scoters, especially Black Scoters, were abundant, and one flock of the latter entrained an adult male King Eider. The immense flights of Razorbills during late December seem like a dim memory now, and Monday's ferry transits each recorded this species in single digits. But two observers scoping from the Mohegan Bluffs were treated to multiple groups of 10-20 Razorbills, moving east to west and feeding. Two Common Murres present mid-Sound were already in breeding plumage, which is typical by this date. I was more surprised that the one Black Guillemot was also in breeding plumage--something I've never seen before in Rhode Island or Long Island. It was an adult, with pure white covert patches, whereas most of the birds we see this far south are immatures, presumably molting later. All gulls were mysteriously scarce, continuing a trend we've seen on the PDC (but not the Nov and Dec counts) in recent years. None of the rarer species were seen, and Bonaparte's Gull was missed. Ring-billed Gull, always scarce on Block Island in winter, was missed for the first time. A duo of adult and juvenile Kittiwakes was a highlight on the return ferry ride. In terms of relative rarity, the most unusual species detected this year was a Peregrine Falcon, representing just the second PDC record. Northern Shoveler, King Eider, and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker were each recorded for the third time; Purple Finch for the fourth; Wilson's Snipe and Marsh Wren for the fifth; and Wood Duck, Hairy Woodpecker, and White-crowned Sparrow for the seventh times on the PDC. Several of these records of scarce-in-context species illustrate interesting patterns. Birders familiar with Block Island understand that it is a superb place to observe Sapsuckers and Purple Finches during fall migration, but, historically at least, a notably poor one within southern New England to find them during the winter. The cause of the relative absence during winter of these species (and also others, such as Brown Creeper and Golden-crowned Kinglet) on Block Island, as
[nysbirds-l] FW: Block Island Presidents Day Count
This report is from just slightly beyond New York State but might be of interest to participants in the Great Backyard Bird Count and others curious about winter bird populations. From: Shaibal Mitra Sent: Friday, February 22, 2019 10:17 AM To: ribi...@yahoogroups.com Cc: Rachel Farrell (polly...@att.net) Subject: Block Island Presidents Day Count For the 24th year, a group of birders interested in winter population trends performed a late February, CBC-style count on Block Island, on Monday, 18 Feb 2019. By flanking the regular CBC with a mid-November Veterans Day Count and this late-winter Presidents Day Count, we are examining patterns of movement and survival in winter bird populations across the winter season; at the same time, by running the series for almost a quarter of a century now, we are able to discern longitudinal trends for many species as their local wintering populations wax or wane. Monday was a challenging weather day for birding, with light rain and snow alternating throughout most of the morning and early afternoon. Given this, our robust totals for many landbird species were both interesting and gratifying. None of the regularly encountered half-hardy species was missed, and most were close to their 24-year PDC averages, despite the poor weather: Species count, avg Winter Wren 2, 2 Hermit Thrush 4, 6 Gray Catbird 14, 14 Brown Thrasher 1, 1 Eastern Towhee 7, 7 Fox Sparrow 6, 5 Swamp Sparrow 3, 5 We have learned that the seasonal trends for these uncommon-in-winter species are very similar to those of Block Island's more numerous winter resident thicket birds, and many of the latter were similarly well-represented on Monday: Black-capped Chickadee 112, 123 Carolina Wren 153, 92 (153 is a new PDC max) American Robin 187, 187 Song Sparrow 197, 178 Northern Cardinal 95, 84 Several species that showed poorly are, unfortunately, showing signs of consistent decline in recent years: Flicker 5, 19 probably a victim of the reforestation described below Northern Mockingbird 5, 16 Myrtle Warbler 50, 364 American Tree Sparrow 0, 5 Junco 1, 15 White-throated Sparrow 74, 140 Among the seabirds, Gannet (4, all adults) and Red-throated Loon (5) were greatly diminished from earlier in the winter, as usual, but at least they were not missed, as they sometimes have been on prior PDCs. Totals of 9 Horned and 2 Red-necked Grebe were well below average, and far below the numbers seen in peak years, when the Great Lakes freeze. Only 39 Great Cormorants were found, continuing a trend of lower counts that has emerged over the past five years or so, and which has been noticeable on Long Island as well. (It is well worth taking a close look at a Great Cormorant at this season, when the adults are in spectacular breeding condition, with white leggings, silver hackles, orange faces, and bright blue eyes.) Scoters, especially Black Scoters, were abundant, and one flock of the latter entrained an adult male King Eider. The immense flights of Razorbills during late December seem like a dim memory now, and Monday's ferry transits each recorded this species in single digits. But two observers scoping from the Mohegan Bluffs were treated to multiple groups of 10-20 Razorbills, moving east to west and feeding. Two Common Murres present mid-Sound were already in breeding plumage, which is typical by this date. I was more surprised that the one Black Guillemot was also in breeding plumage--something I've never seen before in Rhode Island or Long Island. It was an adult, with pure white covert patches, whereas most of the birds we see this far south are immatures, presumably molting later. All gulls were mysteriously scarce, continuing a trend we've seen on the PDC (but not the Nov and Dec counts) in recent years. None of the rarer species were seen, and Bonaparte's Gull was missed. Ring-billed Gull, always scarce on Block Island in winter, was missed for the first time. A duo of adult and juvenile Kittiwakes was a highlight on the return ferry ride. In terms of relative rarity, the most unusual species detected this year was a Peregrine Falcon, representing just the second PDC record. Northern Shoveler, King Eider, and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker were each recorded for the third time; Purple Finch for the fourth; Wilson's Snipe and Marsh Wren for the fifth; and Wood Duck, Hairy Woodpecker, and White-crowned Sparrow for the seventh times on the PDC. Several of these records of scarce-in-context species illustrate interesting patterns. Birders familiar with Block Island understand that it is a superb place to observe Sapsuckers and Purple Finches during fall migration, but, historically at least, a notably poor one within southern New England to find them during the winter. The cause of the relative absence during winter of these species (and also others, such as Brown Creeper and Golden-crowned Kinglet) on Block Island, as
[nysbirds-l] Evening Grosbeak, Manhattan, NYC 2/16-22
Saturday, 2/16 thru Friday, 2/22, 2018 - A solo male Evening Grosbeak has continued at Manhattan’s Riverside Park in New York City; it has remained for well over 2 months, & has been observed by many hundreds during its stay so far. Early Friday, & on many mornings & some afternoons, it’s been along or near the foot path in the sanctuary part of this park (marked at either end of trail by white ‘forever wild’ signage), and it comes down to the ground & low branches, with patient & quiet observation, at regular intervals - from near W. 117-118 Street (latitude); also occasional a bit farther north, & it’s sometimes very high in surrounding trees, or on the ground & then can be obscured. Patience is key. I have had luck there both at just past sunrise, as well as some mid-day periods, less luck with end-of-day attempts, although some have seen it then. In Central Park, & also as reported from a few other Manhattan parks, there have been very modest numbers of Purple Finch seen in the past week. Also at Central, over the past full week, a few species have shown some shifts in numbers, including Bufflehead, esp. on the reservoir, with more than 2 dozen at times; and in land-birds, a concentration of American Robins were at the n. end of the park (totals of over 120 on some days) & possibly have moved on. Sparrow species that have overwintered in Central Park so far have included: Field (n. end of the park), Chipping (Ramble), White-crowned (first-winter remained in vicinity of E. 88-91 St., near East Drive or bridle path), [Red] Fox (multiple), Swamp (at least 2 in s. half of park), & typical Song & abundant White-throated Sparrow; Slate-colored Juncos persisted in a few smallish flocks, & Eastern Towhee has as well, with a minimum of 3 just in Central (the latter also at Riverside Park near Grant’s Tomb, and a few in other Manhattan locations this winter). Definite survivors amongst warblers that tried to overwinter on Manhattan island include the male Common Yellowthroat at Union Square Park, and Yellow-rumped Warbler at Inwood Hill Park; there may also be stiill a few other warblers, such as Ovenbird, perhaps others, that did make it through the ups & downs of this very climate-changed winter seen thus far. Many other species of course also wintered in Manhattan; & the chance some freshly-arrived early-birds will start to arrive in coming days, on favorable winds and weather. Vultures and some raptors are lately on the move, being seen and getting going in some parts of the region in the past week. - - - - "Have we fallen into a mesmerized state that makes us accept as inevitable that which is inferior or detrimental, as though having lost the will or the vision to demand that which is good?” - Rachel Carson (1907-1964; marine biologist, conservationist, author whose books include ‘Silent Spring’. Sir David Attenborough has remarked that that book may have had an effect on science second only to Charles Darwin’s “On the Origin of Species”.) Good birding, Tom Fiore manhattan -- 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] Evening Grosbeak, Manhattan, NYC 2/16-22
Saturday, 2/16 thru Friday, 2/22, 2018 - A solo male Evening Grosbeak has continued at Manhattan’s Riverside Park in New York City; it has remained for well over 2 months, & has been observed by many hundreds during its stay so far. Early Friday, & on many mornings & some afternoons, it’s been along or near the foot path in the sanctuary part of this park (marked at either end of trail by white ‘forever wild’ signage), and it comes down to the ground & low branches, with patient & quiet observation, at regular intervals - from near W. 117-118 Street (latitude); also occasional a bit farther north, & it’s sometimes very high in surrounding trees, or on the ground & then can be obscured. Patience is key. I have had luck there both at just past sunrise, as well as some mid-day periods, less luck with end-of-day attempts, although some have seen it then. In Central Park, & also as reported from a few other Manhattan parks, there have been very modest numbers of Purple Finch seen in the past week. Also at Central, over the past full week, a few species have shown some shifts in numbers, including Bufflehead, esp. on the reservoir, with more than 2 dozen at times; and in land-birds, a concentration of American Robins were at the n. end of the park (totals of over 120 on some days) & possibly have moved on. Sparrow species that have overwintered in Central Park so far have included: Field (n. end of the park), Chipping (Ramble), White-crowned (first-winter remained in vicinity of E. 88-91 St., near East Drive or bridle path), [Red] Fox (multiple), Swamp (at least 2 in s. half of park), & typical Song & abundant White-throated Sparrow; Slate-colored Juncos persisted in a few smallish flocks, & Eastern Towhee has as well, with a minimum of 3 just in Central (the latter also at Riverside Park near Grant’s Tomb, and a few in other Manhattan locations this winter). Definite survivors amongst warblers that tried to overwinter on Manhattan island include the male Common Yellowthroat at Union Square Park, and Yellow-rumped Warbler at Inwood Hill Park; there may also be stiill a few other warblers, such as Ovenbird, perhaps others, that did make it through the ups & downs of this very climate-changed winter seen thus far. Many other species of course also wintered in Manhattan; & the chance some freshly-arrived early-birds will start to arrive in coming days, on favorable winds and weather. Vultures and some raptors are lately on the move, being seen and getting going in some parts of the region in the past week. - - - - "Have we fallen into a mesmerized state that makes us accept as inevitable that which is inferior or detrimental, as though having lost the will or the vision to demand that which is good?” - Rachel Carson (1907-1964; marine biologist, conservationist, author whose books include ‘Silent Spring’. Sir David Attenborough has remarked that that book may have had an effect on science second only to Charles Darwin’s “On the Origin of Species”.) Good birding, Tom Fiore manhattan -- 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/ --
