[nysbirds-l] NO Varied; YES-RHWP
Randy Schutz of Manhatten and I birded Central Park New Year's Eve from about 8AM-1PM. Parking was a piece of cake with a large vehicle with 4WD, just smash down a snow bank and you are in. When we left no one had taken the spaces before or behind us perhaps because they did not bring a shovel. We thoroughly searched through the Varied Thrush areas about 5 times finding plenty of other birds and a couple of other birders around. Randy spotted and ID'd about 95% of the 34 species found. A Brown Creeper landed within 5 feet of us and was a treat as it stayed nearby. A Fox Sparrow also stuck around for extended looks. The immature Red-headed Woodpecker was an easy bird, it showed within a few minutes of looking. A skulking Winter Wren was pointed out to us by a huge lens. The photographer also pointed out a Cooper's Hawk. The reservoir had a Pied-billed Grebe and Ruddy Ducks. Jerry Lazarczyk Grand Island NY Globe Life Insurance $1* Buys $50,000 Life Insurance. Adults or Children. No Medical Exam. http://thirdpartyoffers.netzero.net/TGL3241/4d1ef376e59938d32st06duc -- 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) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Trumpeter Swan- Yes
First, health, happiness and good birding in 2011 ! Second, I saw the above at the same spot it was last reported from (the w/s of the s/end of Agawam Lake, Southampton, Suffolk, Co.) from about 3-3:30 PM, on Fri. 12/31/10. It's interaction with a family of 6 Mute Swans (2 adults 4 fully sized, white gray/brown juveniles) was quite surprising. At first the trumpeter stayed by itself, approx. 50' from the mutes, while it continuously bobbed it's neck, in what I took to be nuptial behavior. As I was scoping the bird, trying to read the #'s on it's wing tag, it began to beat it's wings and started to run away from the hard charging mute cob. Neither bird took flight, and after a short distance, both birds stopped running on the ice, but kept their distance. After a few minutes, the triumphant mute waddled back to it's family- this reverse aggression was the first surprise ! I now have witnessed 3 confrontations between these 2 species, with the trumpeter prevailing in the first 2 ! The 2nd surprise came when the trumpeter started moving toward the mute clan, stopping every 6, or so, steps, to gauge their reaction to his bold move...all the while continuing to do his(?) neck bobs. The trumpeter made it all the way to about 3' of a resting juvenile, who after about 30 seconds, arose and just stood there. Another moment or two went bye before the mute cob stood up, and slowly started walking toward the outsider, but not with his wings spread upwards, as in his earlier attack. Seeing this, the young mute started to advance toward the trumpeter also. Sizing this pincer movement up, the trumpeter turned, and began heading slowly for it's own section of the ice. Although both species looked to be about the same size overall, both mute bodies appeared to be heavier than the trumpeter's. In addition to having a yellow tag on each wing, the trumpeter had a silver metal band on one leg, between it's knee ankle...but, I'm quite ashamed to admit not remembering which one ! Not one, but 2 senior moments- not taking notes, as well as relying on my memory! Cheers, Bob -- 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) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] NYC Area RBA: 31 December 2010
- RBA * New York * New York City, Long Island, Westchester County * December 31, 2010 * NYNY1012.31 - Birds Mentioned: AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN+ VARIED THRUSH+ (+ Details requested by NYSARC) Eurasian Wigeon Harlequin Duck Red-necked Grebe Northern Gannet American Bittern Great Egret Black Vulture Red-shouldered Hawk Rough-legged Hawk Virginia Rail Wilson's Snipe American Woodcock Black-headed Gull Razorbill Red-headed Woodpecker Common Raven House Wren Marsh Wren Orange-crowned Warbler Nelson's Sparrow Lapland Longspur Boat-tailed Grackle Common Redpoll Pine Siskin 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 nysa...@nybirds.org . If electronic submission is not possible, hardcopy reports and photos or sketches are welcome. Hardcopy documentation should be mailed to: Jeanne Skelly - Secretary NYS Avian Records Committee (NYSARC) 420 Chili-Scottsville Rd. Churchville, NY 14428 ~ Transcript ~ Hotline: New York City Area Rare Bird Alert Weekly Recording: (212) 979-3070 To report sightings call: Tom Burke (212) 372-1483 Tony Lauro (631) 734-4126 Compilers: Tom Burke, Tony Lauro Coverage: New York City, Long Island, Westchester County Transcriber: Karen Fung [~BEGIN RBA TAPE~] Greetings. This is the New York Rare Bird Alert for Friday, December 31st, at 10:00pm. The highlights of today's tape are VARIED THRUSH, AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, BLACK-HEADED GULLS, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, and arriving COMMON REDPOLLS. The snow-shortened Bronx-Westchester Christmas Count, held last Sunday, recorded an as-yet-undetermined number of species, but some count highlights included GREAT EGRET, RED-NECKED GREBE, NORTHERN GANNET, RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, HOUSE WREN, NELSON'S SPARROW, PINE SISKIN, and a few COMMON REDPOLLS. The Smithtown Count, conducted on Wednesday, tallied 106 species. Highlights included an EURASIAN WIGEON at Scott's Cove in Setauket Harbor; a HARLEQUIN DUCK; an AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN found off Shore Road in East Setauket, but shortly thereafter flying off to the west; 4 RAZORBILLS; VIRGINIA RAIL; 4 MARSH WRENS, and 3 COMMON REDPOLLS. As part of the Central Suffolk Count held Thursday, at Smith Point County Park in Shirley were 14 RAZORBILLS, AMERICAN WOODCOCK, 3 ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS, COMMON REDPOLL, and 74 BOAT-TAILED GRACKLE. The Central Park VARIED THRUSH was still recently around the maintenance area on the south side of the 79th Street Transverse, though it has also been noted at other surrounding locations. The immature RED-HEADED WOODPECKER also continues around the southeastern corner of the Sheep Meadow, just north of the 66th Street Transverse. Two BLACK-HEADED GULLS, adult and immature, were seen Sunday in Brooklyn on Veterans Memorial Pier at the foot of Bay Ridge Avenue in Bay Ridge. This is near Owls Head Park, where the water treatment plant has been another recent location for these birds. Last Sunday three RAZORBILLS were seen off Fort Tilden, and a HARLEQUIN DUCK was around the Fort Tilden jetty. Two COMMON RAVENS were seen again in Forest Hills near last summer's nest site. A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was spotted Thursday over Captree Island, off the eastern end of Ocean Parkway. And on Tuesday, an AMERICAN BITTERN and two BOAT-TAILED GRACKLES were at Jones Beach West End, and a LAPLAND LONGSPUR was with Horned Larks and Snow Buntings at Robert Moses State Park, parking field 5. Two more AMERICAN BITTERNS and a WILSON'S SNIPE were along Dune Road, west of Shinnecock Inlet, today. A COMMON RAVEN was seen again at the Calverton Grasslands on Tuesday, but there was was no sign of the Lark Sparrow. In Montauk, a BLACK VULTURE was seen again Tuesday and Wednesday near the Point. Indicating recent southbound movement, 65 COMMON REDPOLLS appeared Wednesday at Playland Park in Rye. Many more have been present further north of the city. A tagged Trumpeter Swan has been present recently on Lake Agawam in Southampton, the tag indicating it is from the extensive reintroduction of this species in Ontario, Canada. A few midwestern states have also been part of this project. Now that winter feeding programs in Ontario have ended, swans have of necessity been moving farther afield. Hopefully these birds are the beginnings of what will become a sustained and viable northeastern population. NYSARC continues to monitor the wanderings of these reintroduced birds and the success of the populations from which they come, for the purpose of adding the species to the New York list at the appropriate time. Current data have indicated that, per established guidelines, the time of acceptance is still in the future. NYSARC is of course not bound by the decisions of other jurisdictions. The guidelines for acceptance in situations such as this are similar to those of the ABA,
Re: [nysbirds-l] Trumpeter Swan- Yes
Anyone coming east to look for this bird would do well to check first whether the Shirley gas leak has been taken care of. Travel through the area today was quite difficult, what with the closure of Sunrise Highway between exits 57 and 59 and many of the surrounding routes. -- 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) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] NO Varied; YES-RHWP
Randy Schutz of Manhatten and I birded Central Park New Year's Eve from about 8AM-1PM. Parking was a piece of cake with a large vehicle with 4WD, just smash down a snow bank and you are in. When we left no one had taken the spaces before or behind us perhaps because they did not bring a shovel. We thoroughly searched through the Varied Thrush areas about 5 times finding plenty of other birds and a couple of other birders around. Randy spotted and ID'd about 95% of the 34 species found. A Brown Creeper landed within 5 feet of us and was a treat as it stayed nearby. A Fox Sparrow also stuck around for extended looks. The immature Red-headed Woodpecker was an easy bird, it showed within a few minutes of looking. A skulking Winter Wren was pointed out to us by a huge lens. The photographer also pointed out a Cooper's Hawk. The reservoir had a Pied-billed Grebe and Ruddy Ducks. Jerry Lazarczyk Grand Island NY Globe Life Insurance $1* Buys $50,000 Life Insurance. Adults or Children. No Medical Exam. http://thirdpartyoffers.netzero.net/TGL3241/4d1ef376e59938d32st06duc -- 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) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Trumpeter Swan- Yes
First, health, happiness and good birding in 2011 ! Second, I saw the above at the same spot it was last reported from (the w/s of the s/end of Agawam Lake, Southampton, Suffolk, Co.) from about 3-3:30 PM, on Fri. 12/31/10. It's interaction with a family of 6 Mute Swans (2 adults & 4 fully sized, white & gray/brown juveniles) was quite surprising. At first the trumpeter stayed by itself, approx. 50' from the mutes, while it continuously "bobbed" it's neck, in what I took to be nuptial behavior. As I was scoping the bird, trying to read the #'s on it's wing tag, it began to beat it's wings and started to run away from the hard charging mute cob. Neither bird took flight, and after a short distance, both birds stopped running on the ice, but kept their distance. After a few minutes, the triumphant mute waddled back to it's family- this "reverse aggression" was the first surprise ! I now have witnessed 3 confrontations between these 2 species, with the trumpeter prevailing in the first 2 ! The 2nd surprise came when the trumpeter started moving toward the mute clan, stopping every 6, or so, steps, to gauge their reaction to his bold move...all the while continuing to do his(?) neck "bobs". The trumpeter made it all the way to about 3' of a resting juvenile, who after about 30 seconds, arose and just stood there. Another moment or two went bye before the mute cob stood up, and slowly started walking toward the "outsider", but not with his wings spread upwards, as in his earlier attack. Seeing this, the young mute started to advance toward the trumpeter also. Sizing this pincer movement up, the trumpeter turned, and began heading slowly for it's own section of the ice. Although both species looked to be about the same size overall, both mute bodies appeared to be heavier than the trumpeter's. In addition to having a yellow tag on each wing, the trumpeter had a silver metal band on one leg, between it's knee & ankle...but, I'm quite ashamed to admit not remembering which one ! Not one, but 2 "senior moments"- not taking notes, as well as relying on my memory! Cheers, Bob -- 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) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] NYC Area RBA: 31 December 2010
- RBA * New York * New York City, Long Island, Westchester County * December 31, 2010 * NYNY1012.31 - Birds Mentioned: AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN+ VARIED THRUSH+ (+ Details requested by NYSARC) Eurasian Wigeon Harlequin Duck Red-necked Grebe Northern Gannet American Bittern Great Egret Black Vulture Red-shouldered Hawk Rough-legged Hawk Virginia Rail Wilson's Snipe American Woodcock Black-headed Gull Razorbill Red-headed Woodpecker Common Raven House Wren Marsh Wren Orange-crowned Warbler Nelson's Sparrow Lapland Longspur Boat-tailed Grackle Common Redpoll Pine Siskin 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 nysa...@nybirds.org . If electronic submission is not possible, hardcopy reports and photos or sketches are welcome. Hardcopy documentation should be mailed to: Jeanne Skelly - Secretary NYS Avian Records Committee (NYSARC) 420 Chili-Scottsville Rd. Churchville, NY 14428 ~ Transcript ~ Hotline: New York City Area Rare Bird Alert Weekly Recording: (212) 979-3070 To report sightings call: Tom Burke (212) 372-1483 Tony Lauro (631) 734-4126 Compilers: Tom Burke, Tony Lauro Coverage: New York City, Long Island, Westchester County Transcriber: Karen Fung [~BEGIN RBA TAPE~] Greetings. This is the New York Rare Bird Alert for Friday, December 31st, at 10:00pm. The highlights of today's tape are VARIED THRUSH, AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, BLACK-HEADED GULLS, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, and arriving COMMON REDPOLLS. The snow-shortened Bronx-Westchester Christmas Count, held last Sunday, recorded an as-yet-undetermined number of species, but some count highlights included GREAT EGRET, RED-NECKED GREBE, NORTHERN GANNET, RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, HOUSE WREN, NELSON'S SPARROW, PINE SISKIN, and a few COMMON REDPOLLS. The Smithtown Count, conducted on Wednesday, tallied 106 species. Highlights included an EURASIAN WIGEON at Scott's Cove in Setauket Harbor; a HARLEQUIN DUCK; an AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN found off Shore Road in East Setauket, but shortly thereafter flying off to the west; 4 RAZORBILLS; VIRGINIA RAIL; 4 MARSH WRENS, and 3 COMMON REDPOLLS. As part of the Central Suffolk Count held Thursday, at Smith Point County Park in Shirley were 14 RAZORBILLS, AMERICAN WOODCOCK, 3 ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS, COMMON REDPOLL, and 74 BOAT-TAILED GRACKLE. The Central Park VARIED THRUSH was still recently around the maintenance area on the south side of the 79th Street Transverse, though it has also been noted at other surrounding locations. The immature RED-HEADED WOODPECKER also continues around the southeastern corner of the Sheep Meadow, just north of the 66th Street Transverse. Two BLACK-HEADED GULLS, adult and immature, were seen Sunday in Brooklyn on Veterans Memorial Pier at the foot of Bay Ridge Avenue in Bay Ridge. This is near Owls Head Park, where the water treatment plant has been another recent location for these birds. Last Sunday three RAZORBILLS were seen off Fort Tilden, and a HARLEQUIN DUCK was around the Fort Tilden jetty. Two COMMON RAVENS were seen again in Forest Hills near last summer's nest site. A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was spotted Thursday over Captree Island, off the eastern end of Ocean Parkway. And on Tuesday, an AMERICAN BITTERN and two BOAT-TAILED GRACKLES were at Jones Beach West End, and a LAPLAND LONGSPUR was with Horned Larks and Snow Buntings at Robert Moses State Park, parking field 5. Two more AMERICAN BITTERNS and a WILSON'S SNIPE were along Dune Road, west of Shinnecock Inlet, today. A COMMON RAVEN was seen again at the Calverton Grasslands on Tuesday, but there was was no sign of the Lark Sparrow. In Montauk, a BLACK VULTURE was seen again Tuesday and Wednesday near the Point. Indicating recent southbound movement, 65 COMMON REDPOLLS appeared Wednesday at Playland Park in Rye. Many more have been present further north of the city. A tagged Trumpeter Swan has been present recently on Lake Agawam in Southampton, the tag indicating it is from the extensive reintroduction of this species in Ontario, Canada. A few midwestern states have also been part of this project. Now that winter feeding programs in Ontario have ended, swans have of necessity been moving farther afield. Hopefully these birds are the beginnings of what will become a sustained and viable northeastern population. NYSARC continues to monitor the wanderings of these reintroduced birds and the success of the populations from which they come, for the purpose of adding the species to the New York list at the appropriate time. Current data have indicated that, per established guidelines, the time of acceptance is still in the future. NYSARC is of course not bound by the decisions of other jurisdictions. The guidelines for acceptance in situations such as this are similar to those of the ABA,
Re: [nysbirds-l] Trumpeter Swan- Yes
Anyone coming east to look for this bird would do well to check first whether the Shirley gas leak has been taken care of. Travel through the area today was quite difficult, what with the closure of Sunrise Highway between exits 57 and 59 and many of the surrounding routes. -- 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) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC 1/1/11
Saturday, 1st of January, 2011 - Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City VARIED THRUSH, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, CHIPPING SPARROW were among the species I found on this first day of the new calendar year, in birding Central Park from the south end thru to the north, in the hours between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. - the thrush seen only after extensive searches, and on the east side of the park drive (East Drive) at "Cedar Hill" which is a steeply sloping lawn area interspersed by a variety of conifers, including a few cedars, on the south side of the E. 79 Street transverse road that bisects the park (under the grade level of the park.) The Varied Thrush was in company of a mixed flock, feeding under cover of some of the conifers mid-slope, with other species including Golden -crowned Kinglet, Red-breasted Nuthatch, E. Towhee, N. Mockingbird, White-throated Sparrows and a few Blue Jays & American Robins at times, and all seen at about 10:30 a.m. I went over to the Ramble to see if any other birders were about, to give them a heads-up on the thrush yet I saw no one else. (I had seen only 2 other birders briefly, near the reservoir at least an hour earlier). I also noticed that a Cooper's Hawk was regularly making passes in the areas where the thrush had most often been reported in the past weeks - this is likely the same Cooper's that's also been around the ramble's feeders quite regularly this season. As a young bird it is still polishing its' hunting skills but it certainly can scare out & quiet a section of the park for some time after its passes. I believe the Varied Thrush may well have been exploring more territory for some time but remained habitual to its one "original" staked area for a good while, and perhaps will be found there again, but equally possibly will start to range farther, depending more than anything else on good feeding. If the associated flocks are in any particular area, I think it's at least a hint that the thrush could be as well. Two male towhees and a modest tally of White-throated Sparrows are among these, or so it seems the thrush is often associating loosely with, or nearby. The (non-red-headed) Red-headed Woodpecker was again along the s. side path between Sheep Meadow & the 66 Street transverse road, seen easily again and at one point a bit farther west, to where some leaf- composting piles were located on the s. side of the path. A surprise later on at the Conservatory Garden was a brightly-plumaged adult Chipping Sparrow, rather rare this well into the season (and not, to my knowledge, found at all in the Manhattan portions of the CBC 2 weeks prior) - seen well to positively eliminate any other member of the genus Spizella (such as American Tree, which is a more likely sparrow at this time of year & which is actually very uncommon in Central Park, generally, relative to other areas in NYC & vicinity). The reservoir had at one point over 1,500 gulls on the thin ice & in the open water areas, which I scanned & had no luck finding any unexpected species. 2 drake Wood Ducks were seen on the Pond near Central Park South and Fifth Ave., as they have been for a while recently. An American Woodcock was in the Loch, adding to 2 or more seen in recent days, presumably birds that were working south, or at least coastal from colder, more recently-frozen locations. 5 Atlantic Brant were fly-overs only, as they did go over the reservoir and even circled around as if considering landing, but went on a bit west, perhaps to the Hudson river off Manhattan's upper west side. (Brant are relatively rare as drop-ins to Central, although regular fly-overs in their typical fall migration period.) Additional species picked up in various areas of the park included a male Belted Kingfisher working the north end (and seemingly finding very little to sit & stay long there), Brown Thrasher, 2 Brown Creepers, 2 Winter Wrens (the Ramble & the Loch), a couple of Hermit Thrush, Swamp Sparrow (Lake below "Hernshead") and at least 6 "red" Fox Sparrows, in 4 different areas, plus a goodly number of Dark-eyed Juncos, many seen along the Mall very early in the a.m. - and the one female Brown-headed Cowbird was around the zoo grounds. The mostly-frozen Meer still contained a single Ruddy Duck near the Dana Center building. Pied-billed Grebe Canada Goose Atlantic Brant Wood Duck Gadwall American Black Duck Mallard Northern Shoveler Bufflehead Hooded Merganser Ruddy Duck Cooper's Hawk Red-tailed Hawk American Kestrel American Coot American Woodcock Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Great Black-backed Gull Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Belted Kingfisher Red-headed Woodpecker Red-bellied Woodpecker Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Northern [Yellow-shafted] Flicker Blue Jay American Crow Black-capped Chickadee Tufted Titmouse Red-breasted Nuthatch White-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper
