[nysbirds-l] LI Birds: Parasitic Jaegers, Common Eiders, Clay-colored Sparrows+

There was a modest morning flight at Robert Moses SP today, with two American Pipits and a Purple Finch being perhaps the most noteworthy among the birds overhead. A lot of late fall migrants moved in today, including Golden-crowned Kinglet, Brown Creeper, Slate-colored Junco, and at least 25 Ea

RE:[nysbirds-l] LI Birds: Parasitic Jaegers, Common Eiders, Clay-colored Sparrows+

Doug Futuyma saw a third Clay-colored Sparrow today along the hedge by the Coast Guard Station at Jones Beach, Nassau County. From: Shaibal Mitra Sent: Sunday, September 26, 2010 7:52 PM To: NYSBIRDS (NYSBIRDS-L@cornell.edu) Subject: LI Birds: Parasitic

[nysbirds-l] Western Kingbird Fire Island Hawkwatch

Bob Kurtz just called to report a Western Kingbird at the Fire Island Hawkwatch, at the eastern end of Robert Moses SP. The bird in't visible at the moment, but he thinks it is still in the area. Shai Mitra Bay Shore Think green before you print this email. -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www

[nysbirds-l] Six Adult Lesser BB Gulls Heckscher, LI

Having experienced first hand some of last evening's severe weather during my drive home from Staten Island, I was eager this morning to check Heckscher SP's (southwestern Suffolk Co.) perennially productive rain puddle this morning. Although the shorebirds were meager, the sight of six adult Le

[nysbirds-l] LI Birds Yesterday and Today

Highlights from a visit to Cupsogue with Dominic Sherony yesterday (8 Sep) included two adult Caspian Terns on the main flats, a Buff-breasted Sandpiper on the bar north of the camping area, 9 Marbled Godwits on the bar north of the camping area (plus one more on the main flats), Pectoral Sandpi

[nysbirds-l] Morning Flight at Fire Island

Today I did a two-hour morning flight survey at Robert Moses SP, southwestern Suffolk Co., with help from Pat Lindsay and Brent Bomkamp and his dad. Winds were straight out of the west, which is not conducive to nocturnal migration, but we saw a fair amount of activity among diurnal migrants. A

RE: [nysbirds-l] Baird's Birds at Jones Beach

Patricia Lindsay reports that SEVEN Baird's Sandpipers and a Buff-breasted Sandpiper were present at Jones Beach West End this morning, around 6:30-7:00. These birds, all juvs as expected, were present in the beach-side area described by Steve Walter yesterday (see below). Catching up on a few

[nysbirds-l] Saturday Morning Flight at Fire Island

There was a nice morning flight at Robert Moses SP, Suffolk Co., yesterday morning (28 Aug 10). Swallows were moving heavily, passing at a rate of ca. one per second through the morning. Barns outnumbered Trees by about four to three, Banks were easy to find (we estimated ca. 50), and we noted

RE:[nysbirds-l] Monk Parakeets at Cow Harbor Park (Freeport, Nassau Co.)

Pat and I saw a Monk Parakeet a day earlier, about a quarter mile north of the parking area at Cow Meadow. It flew across the road as we were driving and perched briefly in a roadside tree, where I clearly saw the face and wing pattern diagnostic of this species. This could add great glory to ou

[nysbirds-l] 22 Godwits at Cupsogue!

Some readers might recall recent efforts by various observers to nail down a tally for the Marbled Godwits in the Cupsogue, Suffolk County, area. This afternoon, Andy Guthrie, Patricia Lindsay and I counted zero at Pikes Beach, then six on the northeast peak of the main flats at Cupsogue, then o

[nysbirds-l] Lark Sparrow Floyd Bennett Field Brooklyn

Via text message from Doug Gochfield: A Lark Sparrow along the Archery Road at Floyd Bennett Field, Brooklyn. Shai Mitra Bay Shore Think green before you print this email. -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES AR

[nysbirds-l] LI Bird Notes: Belated report of seabirds and shorebirds

Pat saw the continuing SY Glaucous Gull at Orient Pt on Friday evening. We both saw it as our ferry pulled in on Saturday evening, but it flew off toward Gardiners Island before I could get any photos. I noticed that its right leg drooped as it flew, suggesting that an injury might underlie its

RE: [nysbirds-l] Marbled Godwits

After I spoke with Hugh, Pat found a third Marbled Godwit on the "pelican bar," about half a mile west of the main flats at Cupsogue, and north of the camper colony along the 4-wheel drive track that leads to the inlet. Later we learned that Jim Cullen had seen the two godwits on the main flats

RE: [nysbirds-l] Black-bellied Whistling Duck- Jamaica Bay

The Black-bellied Whistling-Duck was still present by bench 6 along the south shore of Jamaica Bay's West Pond when Pat and I left around 5:00 pm. Many other birders were there when we left, and others were expected to arrive later. My guess is that there is a good chance it will still be presen

[nysbirds-l] LI Bird Notes, 23-24 July

Here are a few notes from last weekend on birds not mentioned or emphasized in previous reports. At Jones Beach, Nassau Co., on Friday afternoon, the inclement weather discouraged human activity enough to allow birds to use the Short Beach island and Field 2 parking areas without much disturban

RE: [nysbirds-l] hudsonian godwit update

Shane Blodgett just called to report that the Hudsonian Godwit is present again this afternoon (Monday 12 July) on the big sandbar between Moriches Inlet and the Cupsogue flats, Suffolk County, Long Island. I've added a couple of photos from yesterday at: http://picasaweb.google.com/tixbirdz/Lo

[nysbirds-l] LI Birds: Arctic Tern, Hudsonian Godwit, Whimbrel, Cory's & Greater Shearwaters+

Birding all day with no camera (left at home) and no cell phone (battery died early), I noticed how good it felt to be liberated from these distractions. Then things got complicated. It began raining lightly and Patricia decided not to come out on the flats with me at Cupsogue, just east of Mo

[nysbirds-l] LI Birds: Early Summer Shorebirds and Seabirds

Mid June presents some interesting and unexpected opportunities for birding on Long Island. An uptick in landbird vagrancy around the time of the solstice is a well recognized (if poorly understood) pattern nowadays, but who would surmise, by checking range maps or reading the old books, that No

RE: [nysbirds-l] Blockbusting/fixed link

Matt raised a very legitimate point about potential variability in mortality risks among sites, and he did so in a non-confrontational manner, not deserving of a sarcastic response. Irony is a twin-edged sword, however, and it often rings oddly in a discussion like this. Seriously, who wouldn't

[nysbirds-l] LI Birds: Sandwich Tern+++

A Sandwich Tern was present on the blustery flats at Cupsogue, near Moriches Inlet, this afternoon, accompanied by two Arctic Terns--one First Summer and one Second Summer-type. Also seen were one Roseate, two First Summer Common, and five Second Summer-type Common Terns. Photos of some of thes

Re:[nysbirds-l] LI Birds: Cory's Shearwater, Western Sandpiper, Royal and Black Terns+

The Royal Tern was at Pikes Beach during the morning. Think green before you print this email. -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2)

[nysbirds-l] LI Birds: Cory's Shearwater, Western Sandpiper, Royal and Black Terns+

Patricia Lindsay and I spent today between Moriches and Shinnecock Inlets, Suffolk County. While I worked the Cupsogue flats on the morning's rising tide, Pat did a seawatch, then counted shorebirds at Pikes Beach. She found the seawatching slow during the morning, and it was brutally slow eve

[nysbirds-l] LI Birds: Arctic Tern+++

Inspired by Andy Baldelli's exploits down in Virginia, I visited Democrat Pt. (Fire Island Inlet) and Cupsogue (Moriches Inlet) today, in search of Arctic Terns--and found an adult at Cupsogue on the rising tide. Photos can be seen at: http://picasaweb.google.com/tixbirdz/LongIslandMiscellany201

[nysbirds-l] The Window Is Open!

A one-hour seawatch at Robert Moses SP (7:00-8:00) yielded a good flight of Common Loons, lots of milling Gannets, one White-winged Scoter, and one adult, light-morph Parasistic Jaeger heading east. Although my search for Sooty Shearwater was not successful today, I was happy to get a call from

[nysbirds-l] Wilson's Plover Still Present at Jones Beach West End

Steve Schellenger re-found Andrew Baksh's Wilson's Plover at Jones Beach West End this evening. The bird was in the swale (much drier now) on the beach side of the Field 2 pavilion and was seen by Tom Burke and several other birders in the day's waning light. Shai Mitra Bay Shore Think green

[nysbirds-l] Stellar Flight on Barrier Beach

Evidently, the passage of last night's cold front was such that many Neotrops were tempted a-flight by southwest winds early in the eve, drifted out over the New York Bight, then caught out when the winds turned northwest. Under these conditions, nocturnal migrants drop in as soon as they reach

[nysbirds-l] Sooty Fox Sparrow

Thanks to everyone sharing information and photos on this bird! My impression from the photos is that this is likely a coastal Sooty Fox Sparrow (unalaschcensis subspecies group) rather than a Slate-colored (schistacea group), mostly because the ventral streaks look so thick, blurry, and concol

RE: [nysbirds-l] May 13th Western Race Fox Sparrow in Central Park

Dear Karen and all, This report is extremely exciting and of great interest to many people. I would be most appreciative of any follow-up reports concerning whether the bird continues to be seen. Please document this bird as carefully as possible. Paul Buckley recorded a Fox Sparrow of the sub

[nysbirds-l] LI Birds: Blue Grosbeak, Roseate Tens, LBB Gulls

Ken Feustel found a young male Blue Grosbeak at Robert Moses SP, near the western tip of Fire Island, this afternoon. It feeds on the circular grassy plantings in the center of Field 2, it is very skittish and frequently flies up to the northern margin of the parking lot, west of center, when di

RE:[nysbirds-l] LI Birds: Shorebirds, Terns, Swallows++

I forgot to note that the White-winged Dove was NOT present at Jones Beach during my visit today, and the link to the woodpecker photo is: http://picasaweb.google.com/tixbirdz/LongIslandMiscellany2010#5466784752001114050 Shai Think green before you print this email. -- NYSbirds-L List Info: h

[nysbirds-l] LI Birds: Shorebirds, Terns, Swallows++

A quick visit to Jones Beach West End today yielded the best diversity of shorebirds I've seen yet this spring: 120 Black-bellied Plovers (max yesterday 90 at Cupsogue) 1 Semipalmated Plover (max yesterday 4 at Cupsogue) 70 Red Knots--most in full breeding plumage 5 Ruddy Turnstones (max yesterda

[nysbirds-l] LI Birds: Big Shorebird Push

Large numbers of shorebirds arrived today on the marsh islands north of Cedar Beach, Gilgo, and Tobay. The flocks were dominated by Dunlin (ca. 5,000) and Black-bellied Plover (ca. 500), but several unusual species were also present. Pat and I spread the word about the shorebirds after we found

[nysbirds-l] LI Birds: Willets, Semi Plovers, RAZOs, Protho+

There was a heavy movement of waterbirds along LI's outer beaches this morning, with migrating Common Loons outnumbering Red-throated for the first time this spring--at least for me. Double-crested Cormorants were moving very heavily, totaling around 1,100 over the course of the morning. The mos

[nysbirds-l] Hudsonian Godwit Orange County, Sat-Sun

A breeding-plumaged Hudsonian Godwit was found at the Wallkill River NWR, Orange Co. on Saturday evening by members of the Mearns Bird Club, including Dennis Murphy. It was found again on Sunday morning by Tom Burke, Gail Benson, and Andy Guthrie. The bird fed along a muddy berm trending north

[nysbirds-l] Uppie-date+

The Upland Sandpiper continued at Robert Moses SP, Suffolk Co., LI through the day today and was seen by many observers. Apparently it was difficult to find at times, but it was still there at 18:35 when I swung through on my way home. I looked at the ocean briefly just before this and was pleas

[nysbirds-l] Upland Sandpiper on Fire Island

There was an Upland Sandpiper at Robert Moses SP, Suffolk Co., LI this morning. The bird was on the roadside grass a little east of the exit ramp to Field 4, or about a quarter mile west of the entrance to Field 5, around 9:00 am. Ken Feustel and others looked for it without success later in the

RE: [nysbirds-l] Brooklyn BLVUs

Curiously, statewide trends and recent Long Island trends stand in remarkably different relationship for each of the big black carrion-eaters under discussion. When Griscom analyzed the status of Turkey Vulture in 1923, this species was common in the highlands of northern New Jersey but poorly

[nysbirds-l] North NY Update 21 Feb--Ivory Gull Yes, Tufted Duck Yes, Hawk Owl No

The adult Ivory Gull found by Pat Jones on Friday, near the NY/VT/Canada border remained through the weekend. Having been seen by Bryan Pfeiffer and others at the usual spot near the Vermont side of the causeway early in on Sunday morning, the bird went unseen for a couple of hours until redisco

[nysbirds-l] Champlain Hawk Owl--No, VT Ivory Gull--Yes

Today Pat Jones searched for but did not see the Champlain Northern Hawk Owl. However, he found an adult Ivory Gull just east of Rouses Point, on the north side of the causeway, near the VT end. It was feeding on a fish carcass. The Northern Shrike continues in Champlain. Shai Mitra Bay Shore

RE: [nysbirds-l] Brooklyn - Black Vulture

Hi everyone, I would lean toward local movements, rather than northbound migration, as the mechanism behind most of the observations mentioned in this thread. Among freshwater ducks, facultative dispersal is often conspicuous throughout the winter on Long Island, where unfrozen salt water is al

[nysbirds-l] Dovekie Ashore on Staten Island

Tom Brown and Juliette Goulet from College of Staten Island just called with news of a distressed Dovekie found ashore at Miller Filed, Staten Island--undoubtedly a victim of yesterday's storm. A similar storm on 26-27 Dec drove a number of Dovekies ashore from southeastern New England to Long

[nysbirds-l] More Eastern LI Birds

Hi all, Although I came south from New England via the wrong Fork of eastern Long Island to witness yesterday's excitement at Montauk, I was pleased to find a young male King Eider at Iron Pier, Northville, Suffolk County. On Wednesday, on my way up to the ferry in Orient, I saw the male Barrow

RE:[nysbirds-l] Long Island CBCs: Southern Nassau County and Captree

Islip, as stated). Sy Schiff's and Joe Giunta's count-week Lapland Longspur was for Southern Nassau (not for Captree, as stated). Shai Mitra Editor, The Kingbird From: Shaibal Mitra Sent: Monday, January 04, 2010 6:20 PM To: NYSBIRDS (NYSBIRDS-L@c

[nysbirds-l] Long Island CBCs: Southern Nassau County and Captree

Hi everyone, The Southern Nassau County Christmas Bird Count was conducted on Saturday, 2 January 2010, by 49+ participants. This represents the 70th time this CBC has been held since its inception in 1932 (there were several years with no count during the 1930s and 1940s). References to “recen

[nysbirds-l] "Common" Mew Gull Present in Brooklyn This Morning

The previously reported "Common" Mew Gull was present this morning in Brooklyn, just southeast of the pedestrian bridge, from 8:00-8:15. A lot of people searched later without luck. Three of us dashed over to Staten Island afterward and saw the Summer Tanager at Clove Lakes Park (and also Red-h

RE: [nysbirds-l] Mew Gull Description

Although I only deduced his name later, I'm sure Vincent was the fellow who notified several of us that the "Common" Mew Gull was present on the rocks near the pedestrian bridge around 3:30. We walked north and found the bird right where Vincent told us it would be. We studied it briefly there

[nysbirds-l] Black Guillemot Subspecies

I spent some time this morning looking over references. “The Birds of the Western Palearctic” (Volume IV, 208-219) gives lots of detail on geographical variation in Black Guillemots. According to this work (pp. 218-219), white tips to the secondaries are absent in races other than the northernm

[nysbirds-l] Black Guillemot at Sebonac Inlet, Suffolk Co.

The Black Guillemot was present again this morning at Sebonac Inlet, Suffolk Co. In life, the bird's white plumage and dainty bill were very distinctive-looking compared to New England birds. As noted before, the paucity of dark markings on the head, neck, and back are particularly striking in v

RE: [nysbirds-l] Fw: Southampton Black Guillemot Photo

Pat Lindsay also saw this bird this afternoon. Given that this is a juv, the bird's extremely pale overall appearance is beyond anything I've ever seen in the usual Black Guillemots we see in Mass, RI, and LI (race atlantis). The bird also shows a very petite bill. I wonder whether this indivi

RE: [nysbirds-l] West End/Jones Beach Today (Nassau Co.)

Angus, Ken, and all, Interestingly, Dick Ferren had two Whistling Swans fly past his seawatch at Block Island's Southeast Light yesterday, during the middle of the day (not far around the corner from the Beach Head). There must be at least six birds involved. Shai Mitra Bay Shore _

[nysbirds-l] FW: Origins of Winter Vagrants--Research and a Chance to Help

As discussed in recent posts by Tom Fiore, Angus Wilson, and others, early December can be an exciting time for finding unusual birds in the Northeast, and the upcoming CBC season is sure to feature many exciting discoveries. The question of where our early winter avian novelties come from is su

[nysbirds-l] Western Kingbird Jones Beach LI

Sam Jannazzo just called with news of a Western Kingbird at the Nature Center, Jones Beach West End, Nassau County, Long Island. Shai Mitra Bay Shore (posting from Clinton, NJ) -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES

[nysbirds-l] Kittiwakes, Another Cattle Egret+

Pat duly found a Cattle Egret this morning in the Lapwing field east of Mecox Bay. Meanwhile, I checked the inlet, pursuant to Doug Futuyma's tip about the Kittiwake flight, and I counted 13 Kittiwakes moving west in just 20 minutes. Twenty minutes later, the two of us tallied 11 more Kittiwakes

Re: [nysbirds-l] Cattle Egret at Floyd Bennett

Hi Rob and all, That's a really neat find, and in my mind, it's a good indication that other oddities are likely lurking in the weeds around here. As Cattle Egrets have vanished as breeding birds in NYS and New England, November has become a relatively good time for seeing them here. The species

[nysbirds-l] Pink-footed and Barnacle Geese--YES, New Location

Brad Carlson just called with news that he's enjoying stunning views of the Pink-Footed and Barnacle Geese on the athletic fields of Kings Park High School, along Rte. 25a, on the North Shore of western Suffolk County, Long Island. This spot is not too far east of Sunken Meadow SP. Shai Mitra B

[nysbirds-l] An Opportunity to Improve Habitat at Jones Beach, Long Island

Ed Coyle asked me to post this to the list. The site in question is admittedly a tiny part of New York State, but I feel sure that it has been enjoyed by birders from all parts, and that many people will take interest in this opportunity to improve the habitat there. Hello Long Island Birders,

Re: [nysbirds-l] Barnacle & Pink-footed Geese at Sunken Meadow S.P., Suffolk Co.

I've posted some photos of yesterday's Pink-footed and Barnacle Geese at: http://picasaweb.google.com/tixbirdz/Various2009# Shai -Original Message----- From: Shaibal Mitra mi...@mail.csi.cuny.edu Sent 11/4/2009 11:09:46 AM To: NYSBIRDS NYSBIRDS-L@cornell.edu Subject: Re: [

Re: [nysbirds-l] Barnacle & Pink-footed Geese at Sunken Meadow S.P., Suffolk Co.

Hi everyone, Regarding Bob's and Angus' queries about the identities of the Pink-footed and Barnacle Geese present now at Sunken Meadow SP, my own feeling is that the Barnacle is likely the same bird that wintered at Sunken Meadow SP in January 2008 (two winters ago, and that the Pink-footed is

[nysbirds-l] Pink-footed Goose Suffolk County Long Island

Ken Feustel just called with news of a Pink-footed Goose at Sunken Meadow SP, on the north shore of western Suffolk County, Long Island. The bird is with Canada Geese on a ballfield to the east of the main entrance. Shai Mitra Bay Shore -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/

[nysbirds-l] LI Birds: Large Numbers of Common Eiders++

Common Eiders are occurring in unprecedented numbers around Fire Island Inlet, western Suffolk County. A tally of 390 at Robert Moses SP today far exceeded anything in my experience here. Also present along the barrier beach ocean front were thousands of Black Scoters, hundreds of Surf Scoters,

[nysbirds-l] LI Birds: Western Kingbird Red-necked Grebe, Lapland Longspurs++

Last night's flight cleared too late for any overnight flight, but waterbirds and diurnal migrant landbirds were active this morning on Long Island. Michael McBrien studied a Western Kingbird at the horse farm in Montauk--LI's first of the season, as far as I am aware. Highlights for Patricia L

Fw: [nysbirds-l] Swainson's Hawk Pics

A juvenile Swainson's Hawk was present at Great Gull Island 18 Sep-4 Oct 1998. At the time, this was regarded as the first fully documented record from Long Island. An article supporting this record, including a black and white photo, was published in "The Kingbird" Volume 49, pages 309-312. Shai

[nysbirds-l] Lesser Black-backed Gulls Eastern LI, inc fos Juvenile

Not too long ago, the first half of October was regarded as the peak migration period for Lesser Black-backed Gulls on Long Island. Although this view has been altered in recent years by observations of earlier concentrations (mostly storm-associated, during September and even late August), rain

[nysbirds-l] LI Birds: CC Sparrow, Dickcissel+

There was a nice flight along Long Island's barrier beaches this morning. Highlights of an hour or so of birding on my way to work were Clay-colored Sparrow at Robert Moses SP plus Dickcissel and Lincoln's Sparrow at Cedar Beach Marina. Moving heavily were Yellow-shafted Flickers, Eastern Phoeb

Re: [nysbirds-l] Report of Temmick's Stint on Eastern Long Island

Having viewed five photos of this bird (after narrowly missing it in life, unfortunately), it is my impression that it is a Least Sandpiper in winter aspect--possibly a first-summer bird. Birds of this appearance are not seen often in northeastern North America, and I can remember at least sever

Re: [nysbirds-l] Flamingo - Westchester County

Hi All, A banded American Flamingo was seen along the Rhode Island shore, at Quonochontaug, on 6 August. Bob Bushnell and others reported a band on the left leg of the free-flying bird. American Flamingos have been suspected as genuine vagrants to the Northeast in the past, but I don't know wh

[nysbirds-l] Brown Pelicans at Jones Beach, LI

Brendan Fogarty just called with news of three Brown Pelicans at Jones Beach West End. The birds were on the ocean, fairly far out from the Field 2 pavilion, and making frequent short flights. Shai Mitra Bay Shore -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://

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