[nysbirds-l] Sat-Sun birding highlights from the Bronx and Queens...

[Andrew Baksh]

Yesterday birding at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx was very slow with
numbers down significantly from last week.  Our bird walk highlights
included *2 Wilson's Snipe* on the parade ground in the fenced in area;
seen just barely before they took off heading in a South West direction.  *1
Yellow Warbler* near the lake.  1 singing *Nashville Warbler* in the North
West Forest *(a new one for our walk and whose status is "Rare" at VCP
according to the park checklist)* a couple of *Warbling Vireos* and
*1* *Baltimore
Oriole* on the way out of the Forest on the bridle path.  No sign of the
breeding plumage *Red-necked Grebe* that we had last week on the VC lake
although I had received field reports that the bird was seen on Thursday.

I continued birding all day in the Bronx doing quite a bit of hiking while
exploring some areas that I had not birded before.  Some birds of note that
I had included: *Clapper Rail*, *21 Greater Yellowlegs*, *3 Lesser
Yellowlegs* and *1 Short-billed Dowitcher* all seen in the Pelham
Bay/Orchard Beach area.

Today:

This morning, I birded Jacob Riis Park, Fort Tilden, Floyd Bennett Field *(very
brief)* and Breezy Point where the only highlight was a *Prairie
Warbler*along the 4 wheel drive trail to the beach at Breezy Point.
Later, I ended
up at Alley Pond Park where I teamed up with Eric Miller and we tried our
best to bird the park before the rain intensified.  Highlights included: *1
Worm Eating Warbler *seen near the rest rooms, *2 Palm Warblers (Yellow**)*,
*1* *Prairie Warbler *seen near Turtle Pond and a *Blue-headed Vireo* seen
near the green bins around the adventure course area.

Also, we looked and listened unsuccessfully for the Yellow-throated Warbler
that was reported there yesterday.

Good Earth Day Birding!

Andrew Baksh
Queens NY
www.birdingdude.blogspot.com

"Always treat people as ends in themselves, never as means to an end."
 -- Immanuel
Kant 

--

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/

--

RE:[nysbirds-l] Western Palm Warblers

[swalte...@verizon.net]

>From a different perspective, I'm currently in south Florida. Surprisingly,  
still a fair number of Palm Warblers here. All of the duller variety.


Steve Walter
Bayside, NY

Connected by DROID on Verizon Wireless

-Original message-
From: Shaibal Mitra 
To: NYSBIRDS-L 
Sent: Sun, Apr 22, 2012 21:52:49 GMT+00:00
Subject: RE:[nysbirds-l] Western Palm Warblers

Sorry everyone, for the inept cut-and-paste work on my last message. The  
following is how I meant the text to read.

From: bounce-50233039-11143...@list.cornell.edu  
[bounce-50233039-11143...@list.cornell.edu] on behalf of Shaibal Mitra  
[shaibal.mi...@csi.cuny.edu]
Sent: Sunday, April 22, 2012 5:42 PM
To: NYSBIRDS-L
Subject: RE:[nysbirds-l] Western Palm Warblers

Hey Benjamin,

The disparity in spring vs. fall phenology of Western Palm Warbler in NYS is  
striking--especially so because conspecific Yellow Palms have an almost  
oppositely disparate schedule!

You are probably correct that these taxa don't get the critical attention  
they deserve, but many of us do our best with them, and here are my own  
data, for what they are worth.

In my banding work at the Fire Island Lighthouse, Suffolk County, LI, in the  
late 90s, I never captured even one northbound palmarum. Conversely, I  
captured 38 northbound hypochrysea, on dates ranging from 6 Apr to 10 May,  
with a median date of 29 Apr. (Note how late this median date for  
hypochrysea seems today, in 2012, the most remarkably advanced spring  
migration ever!)

During southbound migration, I captured 117 Western Palms on dates ranging  
from 6 Sep to 24 Nov, with a median date of 26 Sep, compared to 30 Yellow  
Palms on dates ranging from 16 Sep to 30 Oct, with a median date of 6 Oct.  
(Note the slightly later migratory occurrence of Yellow Palms during fall,  
but the counter-intuitive prevalence of Western Palms during winter,  
described below.)

When birding, I generally try to identify to subspecies all the Palm  
Warblers I see. During April and May in NYS, I've recorded Yellow Palms on  
81 occasions, compared to just two for Western Palm (Gardiner County Park,  
Suffolk County, 2 May 2000; & Clove Lakes Park, Richmond County, 30 Apr  
2010). These two spring Western Palms were fully convincing examples; I've  
seen a few other, somewhat intermediate birds also. Until this year I had  
never seen any Palm Warbler in NYS during the month of March. This year, it  
seemed inevitable that I'd connect with either a winter-survivor Western  
Palm or an early-migrant Yellow Palm during March; it was the latter that  
broke the drought.

During fall (Sep-Nov), I've accumulated 246 records of Western Palm vs. 71  
for Yellow Palm; and during winter (Dec-Feb), 11 records of Western Palm vs.  
just one of Yellow Palm.

I wonder whether the Western Palms you've seen in NYS this spring might be  
in a similar category to the remarkable run of early spring Orange-crowned  
Warblers we've enjoyed this year--specifically, whether, the uptick in April  
Records of these birds this year reflects increasing numbers of birds  
wintering nearby. In the past, New York's very few spring Orange-crowns (and  
even fewer Western Palms) tended to occur in May.

Shai Mitra
Bay Shore




Change is in the Air - Smoking in Designated Areas Only in  
effect.
Tobacco-Free Campus as of July 1, 2012.

--

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/

--



--

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/

--

[nysbirds-l] (slow) Central Park, NYC 4/22

[Tom Fiore]

Sunday, 22  April, 2012 - Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City

After the excitement of a couple of semi-rarities and a bunch of early  
arrivals the day before, Central was very slow as the rains approached  
on Sunday morning. A few of us, at least, tried the areas that had  
been productive on Saturday, with far different results.  At least  
some observers found at least one Orange-crowned Warbler still in the  
north end, and there were a very scant number of other migrants in a  
few spots, but none of the other 'special' birds of Saturday were  
noted.  From farther south in CP came a report of at least one Blue- 
winged Warbler as a 'heard-bird', at Summit Rock, near the W. 81-85  
Sts. park entrances.  A scan of the CP reservoir revealed nothing  
unusual or unexpected, in the a.m.

Good birding,

Tom Fiore,
Manhattan
--

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/

--

[nysbirds-l] raven nests

[Andrew Block]

Went to look for the raven nest on the bank building crevice on Main in New 
Rochelle today that John reported the other day.  Found the nest but no birds.  
It's in an unusual place for a ravens nest but it sure appears to be one albeit 
a small cramped one.  Will check this week on a nicer day for the inhabitants.  
Also went to check for the nest in Co-Op City with no luck.  Saw no sign of a 
nest anywhere.  I hope I was in the right place, just didn't see any sign of a 
water tower.  Oh well.
 
Andrew

Andrew v. F. Block
Consulting Naturalist/Wildlife Biologist
37 Tanglewylde Avenue
Bronxville, Westchester Co., New York 10708-3131
Phone: 914-337-1229; Cell: 914-319-9701; Fax: 914-268-0242
--

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/

--

RE:[nysbirds-l] Western Palm Warblers

[Shaibal Mitra]

Sorry everyone, for the inept cut-and-paste work on my last message. The 
following is how I meant the text to read.

From: bounce-50233039-11143...@list.cornell.edu 
[bounce-50233039-11143...@list.cornell.edu] on behalf of Shaibal Mitra 
[shaibal.mi...@csi.cuny.edu]
Sent: Sunday, April 22, 2012 5:42 PM
To: NYSBIRDS-L
Subject: RE:[nysbirds-l] Western Palm Warblers

Hey Benjamin,

The disparity in spring vs. fall phenology of Western Palm Warbler in NYS is 
striking--especially so because conspecific Yellow Palms have an almost 
oppositely disparate schedule!

You are probably correct that these taxa don't get the critical attention they 
deserve, but many of us do our best with them, and here are my own data, for 
what they are worth.

In my banding work at the Fire Island Lighthouse, Suffolk County, LI, in the 
late 90s, I never captured even one northbound palmarum. Conversely, I captured 
38 northbound hypochrysea, on dates ranging from 6 Apr to 10 May, with a median 
date of 29 Apr. (Note how late this median date for hypochrysea seems today, in 
2012, the most remarkably advanced spring migration ever!)

During southbound migration, I captured 117 Western Palms on dates ranging from 
6 Sep to 24 Nov, with a median date of 26 Sep, compared to 30 Yellow Palms on 
dates ranging from 16 Sep to 30 Oct, with a median date of 6 Oct. (Note the 
slightly later migratory occurrence of Yellow Palms during fall, but the 
counter-intuitive prevalence of Western Palms during winter, described below.)

When birding, I generally try to identify to subspecies all the Palm Warblers I 
see. During April and May in NYS, I've recorded Yellow Palms on 81 occasions, 
compared to just two for Western Palm (Gardiner County Park, Suffolk County, 2 
May 2000; & Clove Lakes Park, Richmond County, 30 Apr 2010). These two spring 
Western Palms were fully convincing examples; I've seen a few other, somewhat 
intermediate birds also. Until this year I had never seen any Palm Warbler in 
NYS during the month of March. This year, it seemed inevitable that I'd connect 
with either a winter-survivor Western Palm or an early-migrant Yellow Palm 
during March; it was the latter that broke the drought.

During fall (Sep-Nov), I've accumulated 246 records of Western Palm vs. 71 for 
Yellow Palm; and during winter (Dec-Feb), 11 records of Western Palm vs. just 
one of Yellow Palm.

I wonder whether the Western Palms you've seen in NYS this spring might be in a 
similar category to the remarkable run of early spring Orange-crowned Warblers 
we've enjoyed this year--specifically, whether, the uptick in April Records of 
these birds this year reflects increasing numbers of birds wintering nearby. In 
the past, New York's very few spring Orange-crowns (and even fewer Western 
Palms) tended to occur in May.

Shai Mitra
Bay Shore




Change is in the Air - Smoking in Designated Areas Only in 
effect.
Tobacco-Free Campus as of July 1, 2012.

--

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/

--

RE:[nysbirds-l] Western Palm Warblers

[Shaibal Mitra]

Hey Benjamin,

The disparity in spring vs. fall phenology of Western Palm Warbler in NYS is 
striking--especially so because conspecific Yellow Palms have an almost 
oppositely disparate schedule!

You are probably correct that these taxa don't get the critical attention they 
deserve, but many of us do our best with them, and here are my own data, for 
what they are worth.

In my banding work at the Fire Island Lighthouse, Suffolk County, LI, in the 
late 90s, I never captured even one northbound palmarum. Conversely, I captured 
38 northbound hypochrysea, on dates ranging from 6 Apr to 10 May, with a median 
date of 29 Apr. (Note how late this median date for hypochrysea seems today, in 
2012, the most remarkably advanced spring migration ever!)

During southbound migration, I captured 117 Western Palms on dates ranging from 
6 Sep to 24 Nov, with a median date of 26 Sep, compared to 30 Yellow Palms on 
dates ranging from 16 Sep to 30 Oct, with a median date of 6 Oct. (Note the 
slightly later migratory occurrence of Yellow Palms during fall, but the 
counter-intuitive prevalence of Western Palms during winter, described below.)

When birding, I generally try to identify to subspecies all the Palm Warblers I 
see. During April and May in NYS, I've recorded Yellow Palms on 81 occasions, 
compared to just two for Western Palm (Gardiner County Park, Suffolk County, 2 
May 2000; & Clove Lakes Park, Richmond County, 30 Apr 2010). These two spring 
Western Palms were fully convincing examples; I've seen a few other, somewhat 
intermediate birds also. Until this year I had never seen any Palm Warbler in 
NYS during the month of March. This year, it seemed inevitable that I'd connect 
with either a winter-survivor Western Palm or an early-migrant Yellow Palm 
during March; it was the latter that broke the drought.

During fall (Sep-Nov), I've accumulated 246 records of Western Palm vs. 71 for 
Yellow Palm; and during winter (Dec-Feb), 11 records of Western Palm vs. just 
one of Yellow Palm.

Hey Benjamin,

The disparity in spring vs. fall phenology of Western Palm Warbler in NYS is 
striking--especially so because conspecific Yellow Palms have almost oppositely 
disparate phenologies!

You are probably correct that these taxa don't get the critical attention they 
deserve, but many of us do our best with them, and here are my own data, for 
what they are worth.

In my banding work at the Fire Island Lighthouse, Suffolk County, LI, in the 
late 90s, I never captured even one northbound palmarum.
Conversely, I captured 38 northbound hypochrysea, on dates ranging from 6 Apr 
to 10 May, with a median date of 29 Apr. (Note how late this median capture 
date for hypochrysea seems today, in 2012, the most remarkably advanced spring 
migration ever!)

During southbound migration, I captured 117 nominate birds on dates ranging 
from 6 Sep to 24 Nov, with a median date of 26 Sep, compared to 30 Yellow Palms 
on dates ranging from 16 Sep to 30 Oct, with a median date of 6 Oct. (Note the 
slightly later occurrence of Yellow Palms during fall.)

When birding, I generally try to identify to subspecies all the Palm Warblers I 
see. During April and May in NYS, I've recorded Yellow Palms on 81 occasions, 
compared to just two for Western Palm (Gardiner County Park, Suffolk, 2 May 
2000; & Clove Lakes Park, Richmond, 30 Apr 2010). These two spring Western 
Palms were fully convincing examples; I've seen a few other, somewhat 
intermediate, birds also. During fall (Sep-Nov), I've accumulated 246 records 
of Western Palm vs. 71 for Yellow Palm; and during winter (Dec-Feb), 11 records 
of Western Palm vs. just one of Yellow Palm.

I wonder whether the Western Palms you've seen in NYS this spring might be in a 
similar category to the remarkable run of early spring Orange-crowned Warblers 
we've enjoyed this year--specifically, whether, the uptick in April Records of 
these birds this year reflects increasing numbers of birds wintering nearby. In 
the past, New York's very few spring Orange-crowns (and even fewer Western 
Palms) tended to occur in May.

Shai Mitra
Bay Shore



Change is in the Air - Smoking in Designated Areas Only in 
effect.
Tobacco-Free Campus as of July 1, 2012.

--

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/

--

[nysbirds-l] Western Palm Warblers

[Benjamin Van Doren]

Hi All,

Yesterday, I observed one Palm Warbler of the Western subspecies (*palmarum*)
amongst some other "Yellow" Palms (*hypochrysea*) in Central Park.
Believing this to be a notable observation because I knew they are at least
very uncommon in Spring in the northeast, I photographed it:
http://flic.kr/p/bAtwth. Later in the day, I photographed ANOTHER Western
Palm at a local patch in Rye, NY. These birds have strikingly pale
underparts, contrasting with yellow throats and undertail coverts.

I then did a bit of research. Dunn and Garrett's *Warblers* (publ. 1997)
says, of *palmarum*, "Usually only very small numbers move up the Atlantic
Coast north to the Mid-Atlantic region; Palm Warbler [Western] is casual in
spring in New England." Shai Mitra kindly informed me that David
Sibley's *Birds
of Cape May* knew of NO records of this subspecies in spring. However,
others I've talked to believe that this form is not quite as rare in spring
in the region as these publications would lead us to believe.

So my question is, has anyone noted any Western Palms this spring, or kept
records of any observations in the past? Are these occurrences increasing?
Could they be under-reported, perhaps? Dunn and Garrett note that Western
Palms migrate later than "Yellow" Palms, so perhaps one is more likely to
run into *palmarum* amongst these (relatively) later migrants than earlier
in the month--be in the lookout!


Good birding,
Benjamin Van Doren
White Plains, NY

--

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/

--

[nysbirds-l] EARTH DAY PROTHONOTARY, TERRELL RIVER, EAST MORICHES, L.I., April 21st

[Carl Starace]

Hello All,   Sally Swain and I found a Prothonotary Warbler about
10:15 this morning along the west bank of Terrell River,[County Park],
which is on the south side of Montauk Highway in East Moriches . The bird
was actively feeding,moving from the reeds to branches of overhanging
trees. We watched it for about 10 minutes. As we were returning to the main
trail we saw Dick Belanger approaching and we all walked back to the river
for more looks at the bird. If you go you'll want to take the trail that
goes directly towards the bay which is just a few feet from the entrance
off the dirt parking lot.Walk about 100 yards looking for the first trail
on the left that meanders towards the river. Good April Birding, Carl
Starace

--

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/

--

[nysbirds-l] Yellow-throated Warbler-Connetquot S.P., Suffolk

[Derek Rogers]

A note from Annie:

The Yellow-throated warbler is singing again this morning. It's favoring the 
same trees - evergreens and oaks by the comfort stations at the hatchery. New 
additions this morning included BG gnatcatcher, Black & white and blue-winged 
warblers. Nice birds on a gray morning.

If you're going, aim for the morning - it hasn't been seen/heard after mid-day.

Good luck!
annie mac



--

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/

--

[nysbirds-l] Hudson-Mohawk Birdline

[David Martin]

This a summary of the Hudson-Mohawk Birdline reports for the week 
ending  18 April 2012.   In order to be included in the weekly summary, 
reports should be emailed to birdl...@hmbc.net 
or posted on HMBirds before 8 PM Wednesday.

Ninety-six species were reported this week.
Best birds:
BLACK SCOTER: Saratoga Lake(2), 4/15;
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER: Galway Lake(2), 4/16
HORNED GREBE: Saratoga Lake(12), 4/15;
RED-NECKED GREBE: Saratoga Lake(7), 4/15;
GREAT EGRET: Coxsackie Grasslands, 4/11;
Other Notable Reports:
  Mute Swan: Vosburgh's Marsh, 4/15;
Wood Duck: VFHP (5), 4/13, 4/18; Five Rivers, 4/15, 4/16; Vosburgh's 
Marsh, 4/15; Great Flats, 4/11;
Gadwall: VFHP(2), 4/13;
American Wigeon: Black Creek Marsh, 4/12;
Blue-winged Teal: VFHP(2), 4/13; Vosburgh's Marsh, 4/15;
Northern Shoveler: Nisky RR Station(2), 4/15;
Green-winged Teal: VFHP(2), 4/13;
Lesser Scaup: Saratoga Lake, 4/15;
Bufflehead: Galway Lake, 4/16;
Hooded Merganser: Five Rivers, 4/15, 4/16; Collins Lake, 4/11;
Ruddy Duck: Saratoga Lake, 4/15;
Ruffed Grouse: Vosburgh's Marsh, 4/15;
Common Loon: Saratoga Lake(2), 4/15; New Baltimore, 4/15; Tomhannock 
Res, 4/15; Galway Lake, 4/16;
Pied-billed Grebe: Saratoga Lake, 4/15;
Double-crested Cormorant: Coxsackie Boat Launch, 4/11; Collins Lake, 4/11
American Bittern: Meadowdale Rd, 4/16;
Green Heron: Five Rivers, 4/16
Osprey: Ft. Miller Rt 4, 4/15; Collins Lake, 4/11;
Bald Eagle: Ferry Dr., 4/13; Schodack Town Park, 4/15
Northern Harrier: Five Rivers, 4/15;
Cooper's Hawk: Stuyvesant, 4/13;
Red-shouldered Hawk: Luther Rd., 4/16;
Broad-winged Hawk: Palenville, 4/11; Cherry Plain, 4/15; Guilderland, 
4/13; Luther Rd, 4/16;
Rough-legged Hawk: Guilderland, 4/13;
American Kestrel: VFHP, 4/13
Virginia Rail: Black Creek Marsh (2), 4/12; Great Flats(2), 4/11;
Wilson's Snipe: VFHP, 4/13; Five Rivers, 4/15; Black Creek Marsh, 4/17;
Barred Owl: Cherry Plain, 4/15;
Chimmey Swift: Albany, 4/7;
Belted Kingfisher: Black Creek Marsh(2), 4/17; Great Flats, 4/11;
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker: Cherry Plain, 4/15; Colonie(3), 4/16;
Pileated Woodpecker: Five Rivers, 4/15;
Blue-headed Vireo: Five Rivers, 4/15;
Common Raven: Black Creek Marsh, 4/12; Cherry Plain, 4/15;
Red-breasted Nuthatch: Pine Bush, 4/12;
House Wren: Meadowdale Rd, 4/18;
Brown Creeper: Pine Bush, 4/12; Colonie, 4/16; Guilderland, 4/15; Great 
Flats, 4/11;
Golden-crowned Kinglet: Colonie, 4/16;
Ruby--crowned Kinglet: Five Rivers, 4/15; Vosburgh's Marsh, 4/15; 
Albany, 4/18; VFHP, 4/18;
Hermit Thrush: Five Rivers, 4/15; Cherry Plain, 4/15; Great Dune, 4/16;
Gray Catbird: VFHP, 4/18; Meadowdale Rd, 4/18;
Brown Thrasher: Meadowdale Rd, 4/12, 4/18; 4/18; Five Rivers, 4/16;
Yellow-rumped Warbler: Vosburgh's Marsh, 4/15; Five Rivers, 4/16, 4/18;
Pine Warbler: Pine Bush, 4/12;
Louisiana Waterthrush: Five Rivers, 4/15;
Eastern Towhee: Pine Bush, 4/12; Five Rivers, 4/15; Albany, 4/18;
Savannah Sparrow: Picture, 4/16
Swamp Sparrow: Schodack Town Park, 4/15; Great Flats, 4/11;
Eastern Meadow Lark: Ft. Edward, 4/15;
Rusty Blackbird: Black Creek Marsh(20), 4/17
Purple Finch: Colonie, 4/16;
Pine Siskin: Providence, 4/16;

Thanks to: Don Gresens compiler, (Mansion Sq site); Larry Federman, 
(Palenville); Rich Guthrie, (Coxsackie Grasslands, Coxsackie Boat 
Launch, Vosburgh's Marsh, New Baltimore); Alan Mapes, (Black Creek 
Marsh, Five Rivers); Tom Williams, (Pine Bush, Five Rivers, Great 
Dune,VFHP); Larry Alden, (Meadowdale Rd);Nancy Jane K, (Stuyvesant); 
John Hershey, (VFHP, Ferry Dr.); Tom McClenahan, (Saratoga Lake); Ken 
Harper, (Ft. Edward, Ft Miller Rt 4); Bob Yunick, (Nisky RR Station); 
Naomi Lloyd,( Cherry Plain); Curt Morgan, (Schodack Town Park, Picture); 
Ellen Pemrick, (Colonie, Tomhannock Res); Alan Schroeder, (Guilderland); 
Barb Beebe,( Five Rivers); Susan Beaudoin, (Luther Rd); Alan French, 
(Glenville); Stephen ?, (Galway Lake); Will Raup, (Albany); Nancy 
Castillo, (Providence); Jason Mesick, (Black Creek Marsh); Thurs Gp, 
(Collins Lake, Great Flats);

--

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/

--

[nysbirds-l] Indigo Buntings - Sayville, Suffolk

[Derek Rogers]

Didn't have to go very far to view some good birds.

I had 2 male INDIGO BUNTINGS literally  at my doorstep this morning. They were 
walking up the stems of some recently seeded dandelion and picking the 
remaining seeds off the heads.

My first RUBY THROATED HUMMINGBIRD of the season was at my feeder as well.

A great morning already.

Best,
Derek Rogers
Sayville




--

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/

--

[nysbirds-l] Indigo Buntings - Sayville, Suffolk

[Derek Rogers]

Didn't have to go very far to view some good birds.

I had 2 male INDIGO BUNTINGS literally  at my doorstep this morning. They were 
walking up the stems of some recently seeded dandelion and picking the 
remaining seeds off the heads.

My first RUBY THROATED HUMMINGBIRD of the season was at my feeder as well.

A great morning already.

Best,
Derek Rogers
Sayville




--

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/

--

[nysbirds-l] Hudson-Mohawk Birdline

[David Martin]

This a summary of the Hudson-Mohawk Birdline reports for the week 
ending  18 April 2012.   In order to be included in the weekly summary, 
reports should be emailed to birdl...@hmbc.net 
mailto:birdl...@hmbc.netor posted on HMBirds before 8 PM Wednesday.

Ninety-six species were reported this week.
Best birds:
BLACK SCOTER: Saratoga Lake(2), 4/15;
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER: Galway Lake(2), 4/16
HORNED GREBE: Saratoga Lake(12), 4/15;
RED-NECKED GREBE: Saratoga Lake(7), 4/15;
GREAT EGRET: Coxsackie Grasslands, 4/11;
Other Notable Reports:
  Mute Swan: Vosburgh's Marsh, 4/15;
Wood Duck: VFHP (5), 4/13, 4/18; Five Rivers, 4/15, 4/16; Vosburgh's 
Marsh, 4/15; Great Flats, 4/11;
Gadwall: VFHP(2), 4/13;
American Wigeon: Black Creek Marsh, 4/12;
Blue-winged Teal: VFHP(2), 4/13; Vosburgh's Marsh, 4/15;
Northern Shoveler: Nisky RR Station(2), 4/15;
Green-winged Teal: VFHP(2), 4/13;
Lesser Scaup: Saratoga Lake, 4/15;
Bufflehead: Galway Lake, 4/16;
Hooded Merganser: Five Rivers, 4/15, 4/16; Collins Lake, 4/11;
Ruddy Duck: Saratoga Lake, 4/15;
Ruffed Grouse: Vosburgh's Marsh, 4/15;
Common Loon: Saratoga Lake(2), 4/15; New Baltimore, 4/15; Tomhannock 
Res, 4/15; Galway Lake, 4/16;
Pied-billed Grebe: Saratoga Lake, 4/15;
Double-crested Cormorant: Coxsackie Boat Launch, 4/11; Collins Lake, 4/11
American Bittern: Meadowdale Rd, 4/16;
Green Heron: Five Rivers, 4/16
Osprey: Ft. Miller Rt 4, 4/15; Collins Lake, 4/11;
Bald Eagle: Ferry Dr., 4/13; Schodack Town Park, 4/15
Northern Harrier: Five Rivers, 4/15;
Cooper's Hawk: Stuyvesant, 4/13;
Red-shouldered Hawk: Luther Rd., 4/16;
Broad-winged Hawk: Palenville, 4/11; Cherry Plain, 4/15; Guilderland, 
4/13; Luther Rd, 4/16;
Rough-legged Hawk: Guilderland, 4/13;
American Kestrel: VFHP, 4/13
Virginia Rail: Black Creek Marsh (2), 4/12; Great Flats(2), 4/11;
Wilson's Snipe: VFHP, 4/13; Five Rivers, 4/15; Black Creek Marsh, 4/17;
Barred Owl: Cherry Plain, 4/15;
Chimmey Swift: Albany, 4/7;
Belted Kingfisher: Black Creek Marsh(2), 4/17; Great Flats, 4/11;
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker: Cherry Plain, 4/15; Colonie(3), 4/16;
Pileated Woodpecker: Five Rivers, 4/15;
Blue-headed Vireo: Five Rivers, 4/15;
Common Raven: Black Creek Marsh, 4/12; Cherry Plain, 4/15;
Red-breasted Nuthatch: Pine Bush, 4/12;
House Wren: Meadowdale Rd, 4/18;
Brown Creeper: Pine Bush, 4/12; Colonie, 4/16; Guilderland, 4/15; Great 
Flats, 4/11;
Golden-crowned Kinglet: Colonie, 4/16;
Ruby--crowned Kinglet: Five Rivers, 4/15; Vosburgh's Marsh, 4/15; 
Albany, 4/18; VFHP, 4/18;
Hermit Thrush: Five Rivers, 4/15; Cherry Plain, 4/15; Great Dune, 4/16;
Gray Catbird: VFHP, 4/18; Meadowdale Rd, 4/18;
Brown Thrasher: Meadowdale Rd, 4/12, 4/18; 4/18; Five Rivers, 4/16;
Yellow-rumped Warbler: Vosburgh's Marsh, 4/15; Five Rivers, 4/16, 4/18;
Pine Warbler: Pine Bush, 4/12;
Louisiana Waterthrush: Five Rivers, 4/15;
Eastern Towhee: Pine Bush, 4/12; Five Rivers, 4/15; Albany, 4/18;
Savannah Sparrow: Picture, 4/16
Swamp Sparrow: Schodack Town Park, 4/15; Great Flats, 4/11;
Eastern Meadow Lark: Ft. Edward, 4/15;
Rusty Blackbird: Black Creek Marsh(20), 4/17
Purple Finch: Colonie, 4/16;
Pine Siskin: Providence, 4/16;

Thanks to: Don Gresens compiler, (Mansion Sq site); Larry Federman, 
(Palenville); Rich Guthrie, (Coxsackie Grasslands, Coxsackie Boat 
Launch, Vosburgh's Marsh, New Baltimore); Alan Mapes, (Black Creek 
Marsh, Five Rivers); Tom Williams, (Pine Bush, Five Rivers, Great 
Dune,VFHP); Larry Alden, (Meadowdale Rd);Nancy Jane K, (Stuyvesant); 
John Hershey, (VFHP, Ferry Dr.); Tom McClenahan, (Saratoga Lake); Ken 
Harper, (Ft. Edward, Ft Miller Rt 4); Bob Yunick, (Nisky RR Station); 
Naomi Lloyd,( Cherry Plain); Curt Morgan, (Schodack Town Park, Picture); 
Ellen Pemrick, (Colonie, Tomhannock Res); Alan Schroeder, (Guilderland); 
Barb Beebe,( Five Rivers); Susan Beaudoin, (Luther Rd); Alan French, 
(Glenville); Stephen ?, (Galway Lake); Will Raup, (Albany); Nancy 
Castillo, (Providence); Jason Mesick, (Black Creek Marsh); Thurs Gp, 
(Collins Lake, Great Flats);

--

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/

--

[nysbirds-l] Yellow-throated Warbler-Connetquot S.P., Suffolk

[Derek Rogers]

A note from Annie:

The Yellow-throated warbler is singing again this morning. It's favoring the 
same trees - evergreens and oaks by the comfort stations at the hatchery. New 
additions this morning included BG gnatcatcher, Black  white and blue-winged 
warblers. Nice birds on a gray morning.

If you're going, aim for the morning - it hasn't been seen/heard after mid-day.

Good luck!
annie mac



--

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/

--

[nysbirds-l] EARTH DAY PROTHONOTARY, TERRELL RIVER, EAST MORICHES, L.I., April 21st

[Carl Starace]

Hello All,   Sally Swain and I found a Prothonotary Warbler about
10:15 this morning along the west bank of Terrell River,[County Park],
which is on the south side of Montauk Highway in East Moriches . The bird
was actively feeding,moving from the reeds to branches of overhanging
trees. We watched it for about 10 minutes. As we were returning to the main
trail we saw Dick Belanger approaching and we all walked back to the river
for more looks at the bird. If you go you'll want to take the trail that
goes directly towards the bay which is just a few feet from the entrance
off the dirt parking lot.Walk about 100 yards looking for the first trail
on the left that meanders towards the river. Good April Birding, Carl
Starace

--

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/

--

[nysbirds-l] Western Palm Warblers

[Benjamin Van Doren]

Hi All,

Yesterday, I observed one Palm Warbler of the Western subspecies (*palmarum*)
amongst some other Yellow Palms (*hypochrysea*) in Central Park.
Believing this to be a notable observation because I knew they are at least
very uncommon in Spring in the northeast, I photographed it:
http://flic.kr/p/bAtwth. Later in the day, I photographed ANOTHER Western
Palm at a local patch in Rye, NY. These birds have strikingly pale
underparts, contrasting with yellow throats and undertail coverts.

I then did a bit of research. Dunn and Garrett's *Warblers* (publ. 1997)
says, of *palmarum*, Usually only very small numbers move up the Atlantic
Coast north to the Mid-Atlantic region; Palm Warbler [Western] is casual in
spring in New England. Shai Mitra kindly informed me that David
Sibley's *Birds
of Cape May* knew of NO records of this subspecies in spring. However,
others I've talked to believe that this form is not quite as rare in spring
in the region as these publications would lead us to believe.

So my question is, has anyone noted any Western Palms this spring, or kept
records of any observations in the past? Are these occurrences increasing?
Could they be under-reported, perhaps? Dunn and Garrett note that Western
Palms migrate later than Yellow Palms, so perhaps one is more likely to
run into *palmarum* amongst these (relatively) later migrants than earlier
in the month--be in the lookout!


Good birding,
Benjamin Van Doren
White Plains, NY

--

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/

--

RE:[nysbirds-l] Western Palm Warblers

[Shaibal Mitra]

Hey Benjamin,

The disparity in spring vs. fall phenology of Western Palm Warbler in NYS is 
striking--especially so because conspecific Yellow Palms have an almost 
oppositely disparate schedule!

You are probably correct that these taxa don't get the critical attention they 
deserve, but many of us do our best with them, and here are my own data, for 
what they are worth.

In my banding work at the Fire Island Lighthouse, Suffolk County, LI, in the 
late 90s, I never captured even one northbound palmarum. Conversely, I captured 
38 northbound hypochrysea, on dates ranging from 6 Apr to 10 May, with a median 
date of 29 Apr. (Note how late this median date for hypochrysea seems today, in 
2012, the most remarkably advanced spring migration ever!)

During southbound migration, I captured 117 Western Palms on dates ranging from 
6 Sep to 24 Nov, with a median date of 26 Sep, compared to 30 Yellow Palms on 
dates ranging from 16 Sep to 30 Oct, with a median date of 6 Oct. (Note the 
slightly later migratory occurrence of Yellow Palms during fall, but the 
counter-intuitive prevalence of Western Palms during winter, described below.)

When birding, I generally try to identify to subspecies all the Palm Warblers I 
see. During April and May in NYS, I've recorded Yellow Palms on 81 occasions, 
compared to just two for Western Palm (Gardiner County Park, Suffolk County, 2 
May 2000;  Clove Lakes Park, Richmond County, 30 Apr 2010). These two spring 
Western Palms were fully convincing examples; I've seen a few other, somewhat 
intermediate birds also. Until this year I had never seen any Palm Warbler in 
NYS during the month of March. This year, it seemed inevitable that I'd connect 
with either a winter-survivor Western Palm or an early-migrant Yellow Palm 
during March; it was the latter that broke the drought.

During fall (Sep-Nov), I've accumulated 246 records of Western Palm vs. 71 for 
Yellow Palm; and during winter (Dec-Feb), 11 records of Western Palm vs. just 
one of Yellow Palm.

Hey Benjamin,

The disparity in spring vs. fall phenology of Western Palm Warbler in NYS is 
striking--especially so because conspecific Yellow Palms have almost oppositely 
disparate phenologies!

You are probably correct that these taxa don't get the critical attention they 
deserve, but many of us do our best with them, and here are my own data, for 
what they are worth.

In my banding work at the Fire Island Lighthouse, Suffolk County, LI, in the 
late 90s, I never captured even one northbound palmarum.
Conversely, I captured 38 northbound hypochrysea, on dates ranging from 6 Apr 
to 10 May, with a median date of 29 Apr. (Note how late this median capture 
date for hypochrysea seems today, in 2012, the most remarkably advanced spring 
migration ever!)

During southbound migration, I captured 117 nominate birds on dates ranging 
from 6 Sep to 24 Nov, with a median date of 26 Sep, compared to 30 Yellow Palms 
on dates ranging from 16 Sep to 30 Oct, with a median date of 6 Oct. (Note the 
slightly later occurrence of Yellow Palms during fall.)

When birding, I generally try to identify to subspecies all the Palm Warblers I 
see. During April and May in NYS, I've recorded Yellow Palms on 81 occasions, 
compared to just two for Western Palm (Gardiner County Park, Suffolk, 2 May 
2000;  Clove Lakes Park, Richmond, 30 Apr 2010). These two spring Western 
Palms were fully convincing examples; I've seen a few other, somewhat 
intermediate, birds also. During fall (Sep-Nov), I've accumulated 246 records 
of Western Palm vs. 71 for Yellow Palm; and during winter (Dec-Feb), 11 records 
of Western Palm vs. just one of Yellow Palm.

I wonder whether the Western Palms you've seen in NYS this spring might be in a 
similar category to the remarkable run of early spring Orange-crowned Warblers 
we've enjoyed this year--specifically, whether, the uptick in April Records of 
these birds this year reflects increasing numbers of birds wintering nearby. In 
the past, New York's very few spring Orange-crowns (and even fewer Western 
Palms) tended to occur in May.

Shai Mitra
Bay Shore



Change is in the Air - Smoking in Designated Areas Only in 
effect.http://www.csi.cuny.edu/tobaccofree
Tobacco-Free Campus as of July 1, 2012.

--

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/

--

RE:[nysbirds-l] Western Palm Warblers

[Shaibal Mitra]

Sorry everyone, for the inept cut-and-paste work on my last message. The 
following is how I meant the text to read.

From: bounce-50233039-11143...@list.cornell.edu 
[bounce-50233039-11143...@list.cornell.edu] on behalf of Shaibal Mitra 
[shaibal.mi...@csi.cuny.edu]
Sent: Sunday, April 22, 2012 5:42 PM
To: NYSBIRDS-L
Subject: RE:[nysbirds-l] Western Palm Warblers

Hey Benjamin,

The disparity in spring vs. fall phenology of Western Palm Warbler in NYS is 
striking--especially so because conspecific Yellow Palms have an almost 
oppositely disparate schedule!

You are probably correct that these taxa don't get the critical attention they 
deserve, but many of us do our best with them, and here are my own data, for 
what they are worth.

In my banding work at the Fire Island Lighthouse, Suffolk County, LI, in the 
late 90s, I never captured even one northbound palmarum. Conversely, I captured 
38 northbound hypochrysea, on dates ranging from 6 Apr to 10 May, with a median 
date of 29 Apr. (Note how late this median date for hypochrysea seems today, in 
2012, the most remarkably advanced spring migration ever!)

During southbound migration, I captured 117 Western Palms on dates ranging from 
6 Sep to 24 Nov, with a median date of 26 Sep, compared to 30 Yellow Palms on 
dates ranging from 16 Sep to 30 Oct, with a median date of 6 Oct. (Note the 
slightly later migratory occurrence of Yellow Palms during fall, but the 
counter-intuitive prevalence of Western Palms during winter, described below.)

When birding, I generally try to identify to subspecies all the Palm Warblers I 
see. During April and May in NYS, I've recorded Yellow Palms on 81 occasions, 
compared to just two for Western Palm (Gardiner County Park, Suffolk County, 2 
May 2000;  Clove Lakes Park, Richmond County, 30 Apr 2010). These two spring 
Western Palms were fully convincing examples; I've seen a few other, somewhat 
intermediate birds also. Until this year I had never seen any Palm Warbler in 
NYS during the month of March. This year, it seemed inevitable that I'd connect 
with either a winter-survivor Western Palm or an early-migrant Yellow Palm 
during March; it was the latter that broke the drought.

During fall (Sep-Nov), I've accumulated 246 records of Western Palm vs. 71 for 
Yellow Palm; and during winter (Dec-Feb), 11 records of Western Palm vs. just 
one of Yellow Palm.

I wonder whether the Western Palms you've seen in NYS this spring might be in a 
similar category to the remarkable run of early spring Orange-crowned Warblers 
we've enjoyed this year--specifically, whether, the uptick in April Records of 
these birds this year reflects increasing numbers of birds wintering nearby. In 
the past, New York's very few spring Orange-crowns (and even fewer Western 
Palms) tended to occur in May.

Shai Mitra
Bay Shore




Change is in the Air - Smoking in Designated Areas Only in 
effect.http://www.csi.cuny.edu/tobaccofree
Tobacco-Free Campus as of July 1, 2012.

--

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/

--

[nysbirds-l] (slow) Central Park, NYC 4/22

[Tom Fiore]

Sunday, 22  April, 2012 - Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City

After the excitement of a couple of semi-rarities and a bunch of early  
arrivals the day before, Central was very slow as the rains approached  
on Sunday morning. A few of us, at least, tried the areas that had  
been productive on Saturday, with far different results.  At least  
some observers found at least one Orange-crowned Warbler still in the  
north end, and there were a very scant number of other migrants in a  
few spots, but none of the other 'special' birds of Saturday were  
noted.  From farther south in CP came a report of at least one Blue- 
winged Warbler as a 'heard-bird', at Summit Rock, near the W. 81-85  
Sts. park entrances.  A scan of the CP reservoir revealed nothing  
unusual or unexpected, in the a.m.

Good birding,

Tom Fiore,
Manhattan
--

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/

--

RE:[nysbirds-l] Western Palm Warblers

[swalte...@verizon.net]

From a different perspective, I'm currently in south Florida. Surprisingly,  
still a fair number of Palm Warblers here. All of the duller variety.


Steve Walter
Bayside, NY

Connected by DROID on Verizon Wireless

-Original message-
From: Shaibal Mitra shaibal.mi...@csi.cuny.edu
To: NYSBIRDS-L nysbirds-l@cornell.edu
Sent: Sun, Apr 22, 2012 21:52:49 GMT+00:00
Subject: RE:[nysbirds-l] Western Palm Warblers

Sorry everyone, for the inept cut-and-paste work on my last message. The  
following is how I meant the text to read.

From: bounce-50233039-11143...@list.cornell.edu  
[bounce-50233039-11143...@list.cornell.edu] on behalf of Shaibal Mitra  
[shaibal.mi...@csi.cuny.edu]
Sent: Sunday, April 22, 2012 5:42 PM
To: NYSBIRDS-L
Subject: RE:[nysbirds-l] Western Palm Warblers

Hey Benjamin,

The disparity in spring vs. fall phenology of Western Palm Warbler in NYS is  
striking--especially so because conspecific Yellow Palms have an almost  
oppositely disparate schedule!

You are probably correct that these taxa don't get the critical attention  
they deserve, but many of us do our best with them, and here are my own  
data, for what they are worth.

In my banding work at the Fire Island Lighthouse, Suffolk County, LI, in the  
late 90s, I never captured even one northbound palmarum. Conversely, I  
captured 38 northbound hypochrysea, on dates ranging from 6 Apr to 10 May,  
with a median date of 29 Apr. (Note how late this median date for  
hypochrysea seems today, in 2012, the most remarkably advanced spring  
migration ever!)

During southbound migration, I captured 117 Western Palms on dates ranging  
from 6 Sep to 24 Nov, with a median date of 26 Sep, compared to 30 Yellow  
Palms on dates ranging from 16 Sep to 30 Oct, with a median date of 6 Oct.  
(Note the slightly later migratory occurrence of Yellow Palms during fall,  
but the counter-intuitive prevalence of Western Palms during winter,  
described below.)

When birding, I generally try to identify to subspecies all the Palm  
Warblers I see. During April and May in NYS, I've recorded Yellow Palms on  
81 occasions, compared to just two for Western Palm (Gardiner County Park,  
Suffolk County, 2 May 2000;  Clove Lakes Park, Richmond County, 30 Apr  
2010). These two spring Western Palms were fully convincing examples; I've  
seen a few other, somewhat intermediate birds also. Until this year I had  
never seen any Palm Warbler in NYS during the month of March. This year, it  
seemed inevitable that I'd connect with either a winter-survivor Western  
Palm or an early-migrant Yellow Palm during March; it was the latter that  
broke the drought.

During fall (Sep-Nov), I've accumulated 246 records of Western Palm vs. 71  
for Yellow Palm; and during winter (Dec-Feb), 11 records of Western Palm vs.  
just one of Yellow Palm.

I wonder whether the Western Palms you've seen in NYS this spring might be  
in a similar category to the remarkable run of early spring Orange-crowned  
Warblers we've enjoyed this year--specifically, whether, the uptick in April  
Records of these birds this year reflects increasing numbers of birds  
wintering nearby. In the past, New York's very few spring Orange-crowns (and  
even fewer Western Palms) tended to occur in May.

Shai Mitra
Bay Shore




Change is in the Air - Smoking in Designated Areas Only in  
effect.http://www.csi.cuny.edu/tobaccofree
Tobacco-Free Campus as of July 1, 2012.

--

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/

--



--

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/

--

[nysbirds-l] Sat-Sun birding highlights from the Bronx and Queens...

[Andrew Baksh]

Yesterday birding at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx was very slow with
numbers down significantly from last week.  Our bird walk highlights
included *2 Wilson's Snipe* on the parade ground in the fenced in area;
seen just barely before they took off heading in a South West direction.  *1
Yellow Warbler* near the lake.  1 singing *Nashville Warbler* in the North
West Forest *(a new one for our walk and whose status is Rare at VCP
according to the park checklist)* a couple of *Warbling Vireos* and
*1* *Baltimore
Oriole* on the way out of the Forest on the bridle path.  No sign of the
breeding plumage *Red-necked Grebe* that we had last week on the VC lake
although I had received field reports that the bird was seen on Thursday.

I continued birding all day in the Bronx doing quite a bit of hiking while
exploring some areas that I had not birded before.  Some birds of note that
I had included: *Clapper Rail*, *21 Greater Yellowlegs*, *3 Lesser
Yellowlegs* and *1 Short-billed Dowitcher* all seen in the Pelham
Bay/Orchard Beach area.

Today:

This morning, I birded Jacob Riis Park, Fort Tilden, Floyd Bennett Field *(very
brief)* and Breezy Point where the only highlight was a *Prairie
Warbler*along the 4 wheel drive trail to the beach at Breezy Point.
Later, I ended
up at Alley Pond Park where I teamed up with Eric Miller and we tried our
best to bird the park before the rain intensified.  Highlights included: *1
Worm Eating Warbler *seen near the rest rooms, *2 Palm Warblers (Yellow**)*,
*1* *Prairie Warbler *seen near Turtle Pond and a *Blue-headed Vireo* seen
near the green bins around the adventure course area.

Also, we looked and listened unsuccessfully for the Yellow-throated Warbler
that was reported there yesterday.

Good Earth Day Birding!

Andrew Baksh
Queens NY
www.birdingdude.blogspot.com

Always treat people as ends in themselves, never as means to an end.
 -- Immanuel
Kant http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/11038.Immanuel_Kant

--

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/

--