[nysbirds-l] Marshlands Conservancy in Rye (Westchester Co): odd "egret" on 8/21

[Phil Jeffrey]

I sent this to NYSBirds-L although I don't see it yet, but this is close
enough to NYC to be of potential interest.  Note that this is a
non-definitive sighting.

Phil

On Sun, Aug 29, 2021 at 9:52 PM Phil Jeffrey  wrote:

> I'm wondering if I saw a Great White Heron.
>
> I was on a non-birding visit (but with binoculars) to Marshlands
> Conservancy on the day before hurricane/TS Henri when I saw a large white
> heron/egret that has been troubling me.  Compared to the many Great Egrets
> that I saw today in NJ, this bird remains anomalous, so:
>
> Initially assumed to be Great Egret.  The bill appeared too massive, the
> upper mandible somewhat dark, and the culmen somewhat straight.  The
> overall bill color did not present as the intense yellow that I saw on all
> the Great Egrets today.  The legs were blackish on the lower 1/4 (mud?) but
> definitely not black for the remainder - more along the lines of olive but
> not yellow.  It flew from the shore (where I had assumed it was just a
> Great Egret) to one of the mid-channel platforms and it gave a call that
> reminded me of Great Blue, which is why I actually looked at it again.  No
> plumes.  Lores appeared greenish but this bird was viewed at range without
> a scope.
>
> On the face of it, it has potential to be Great White Heron but I assumed
> I was just going senile since I've only ever seen that in FL.  I may yet
> still be nute, but this evening I noticed:
> https://ebird.org/checklist/S74368904
> from Oct 2020 (Cos Cob, CT), also one report from Nov, and also references
> an initial report by James Muchmore in late Sept 2020.
>
> Anyone birding the north shore of the L.I. sound might want to check Great
> Egrets a little more carefully than usual.
>
> Phil Jeffrey
> Princetin-ish NJ
>
>

-- 
"If you lie to the compiler, it will get its revenge"
-- Henry Spencer

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Please submit your observations to eBird:
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--

[nysbirds-l] Marshlands Conservancy in Rye (Westchester Co): odd "egret" on 8/21

[Phil Jeffrey]

I sent this to NYSBirds-L although I don't see it yet, but this is close
enough to NYC to be of potential interest.  Note that this is a
non-definitive sighting.

Phil

On Sun, Aug 29, 2021 at 9:52 PM Phil Jeffrey  wrote:

> I'm wondering if I saw a Great White Heron.
>
> I was on a non-birding visit (but with binoculars) to Marshlands
> Conservancy on the day before hurricane/TS Henri when I saw a large white
> heron/egret that has been troubling me.  Compared to the many Great Egrets
> that I saw today in NJ, this bird remains anomalous, so:
>
> Initially assumed to be Great Egret.  The bill appeared too massive, the
> upper mandible somewhat dark, and the culmen somewhat straight.  The
> overall bill color did not present as the intense yellow that I saw on all
> the Great Egrets today.  The legs were blackish on the lower 1/4 (mud?) but
> definitely not black for the remainder - more along the lines of olive but
> not yellow.  It flew from the shore (where I had assumed it was just a
> Great Egret) to one of the mid-channel platforms and it gave a call that
> reminded me of Great Blue, which is why I actually looked at it again.  No
> plumes.  Lores appeared greenish but this bird was viewed at range without
> a scope.
>
> On the face of it, it has potential to be Great White Heron but I assumed
> I was just going senile since I've only ever seen that in FL.  I may yet
> still be nute, but this evening I noticed:
> https://ebird.org/checklist/S74368904
> from Oct 2020 (Cos Cob, CT), also one report from Nov, and also references
> an initial report by James Muchmore in late Sept 2020.
>
> Anyone birding the north shore of the L.I. sound might want to check Great
> Egrets a little more carefully than usual.
>
> Phil Jeffrey
> Princetin-ish NJ
>
>

-- 
"If you lie to the compiler, it will get its revenge"
-- Henry Spencer

--

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Please submit your observations to eBird:
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--

[nysbirds-l] Marshlands Conservancy in Rye (Westchester Co): odd "egret" on 8/21

[Phil Jeffrey]

I'm wondering if I saw a Great White Heron.

I was on a non-birding visit (but with binoculars) to Marshlands
Conservancy on the day before hurricane/TS Henri when I saw a large white
heron/egret that has been troubling me.  Compared to the many Great Egrets
that I saw today in NJ, this bird remains anomalous, so:

Initially assumed to be Great Egret.  The bill appeared too massive, the
upper mandible somewhat dark, and the culmen somewhat straight.  The
overall bill color did not present as the intense yellow that I saw on all
the Great Egrets today.  The legs were blackish on the lower 1/4 (mud?) but
definitely not black for the remainder - more along the lines of olive but
not yellow.  It flew from the shore (where I had assumed it was just a
Great Egret) to one of the mid-channel platforms and it gave a call that
reminded me of Great Blue, which is why I actually looked at it again.  No
plumes.  Lores appeared greenish but this bird was viewed at range without
a scope.

On the face of it, it has potential to be Great White Heron but I assumed I
was just going senile since I've only ever seen that in FL.  I may yet
still be nute, but this evening I noticed:
https://ebird.org/checklist/S74368904
from Oct 2020 (Cos Cob, CT), also one report from Nov, and also references
an initial report by James Muchmore in late Sept 2020.

Anyone birding the north shore of the L.I. sound might want to check Great
Egrets a little more carefully than usual.

Phil Jeffrey
Princetin-ish NJ

--

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http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm
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2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

[nysbirds-l] Marshlands Conservancy in Rye (Westchester Co): odd "egret" on 8/21

[Phil Jeffrey]

I'm wondering if I saw a Great White Heron.

I was on a non-birding visit (but with binoculars) to Marshlands
Conservancy on the day before hurricane/TS Henri when I saw a large white
heron/egret that has been troubling me.  Compared to the many Great Egrets
that I saw today in NJ, this bird remains anomalous, so:

Initially assumed to be Great Egret.  The bill appeared too massive, the
upper mandible somewhat dark, and the culmen somewhat straight.  The
overall bill color did not present as the intense yellow that I saw on all
the Great Egrets today.  The legs were blackish on the lower 1/4 (mud?) but
definitely not black for the remainder - more along the lines of olive but
not yellow.  It flew from the shore (where I had assumed it was just a
Great Egret) to one of the mid-channel platforms and it gave a call that
reminded me of Great Blue, which is why I actually looked at it again.  No
plumes.  Lores appeared greenish but this bird was viewed at range without
a scope.

On the face of it, it has potential to be Great White Heron but I assumed I
was just going senile since I've only ever seen that in FL.  I may yet
still be nute, but this evening I noticed:
https://ebird.org/checklist/S74368904
from Oct 2020 (Cos Cob, CT), also one report from Nov, and also references
an initial report by James Muchmore in late Sept 2020.

Anyone birding the north shore of the L.I. sound might want to check Great
Egrets a little more carefully than usual.

Phil Jeffrey
Princetin-ish NJ

--

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http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm
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ARCHIVES:
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2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

Re: [nysbirds-l] Tentatively identified as Gray-breasted Martin - Prospect Park

[Phil Jeffrey]

Gray-breasted Martin occurs in Mexico, for example along the Gulf Coast
within about 150 km of the US-MX border, so it's also in North America.
eBird also shows a historical record for Rio Grande City (Starr Co, TX) in
the late 19th Century, which appears to be the origin of Gray-breasted
Martin on the ABA list.
https://ebird.org/checklist/S10088282
and this would appear to be consistent with the general population
distribution.

Phil Jeffrey
NJ


On Sat, Apr 3, 2021 at 8:11 PM Rob Bate  wrote:

> Doug Gochfeld and some others are now tentatively calling the Prospect
> Park Lake Martin a Gray-breasted Martin, a species found in South and
> Central Americas.  eBird hasn't any sightings in the US listed for this
> species even in southernmost Texas.
>
> The Q train stop at Parkside is the closest station to the east side of
> the lake where the bird has been seen a lot in the last day or so.  It also
> has been over on the west side of the lake where the F train to Ft Hamilton
> Parkway exit gets you a few blocks away.  Parking shouldn't be too
> prohibitive if you are driving in.  Look for the cameras and scopes if you
> go and let's hope it sticks overnight for those who'd love to see this
> ultra rarity.  I know NYSARC (NYState Area Records Committee) must be
> having a joyous time pouring over photos and recordings.
>
> Rob Bate
> Brooklyn
> --
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>

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Please submit your observations to eBird:
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--

Re: [nysbirds-l] Tentatively identified as Gray-breasted Martin - Prospect Park

[Phil Jeffrey]

Gray-breasted Martin occurs in Mexico, for example along the Gulf Coast
within about 150 km of the US-MX border, so it's also in North America.
eBird also shows a historical record for Rio Grande City (Starr Co, TX) in
the late 19th Century, which appears to be the origin of Gray-breasted
Martin on the ABA list.
https://ebird.org/checklist/S10088282
and this would appear to be consistent with the general population
distribution.

Phil Jeffrey
NJ


On Sat, Apr 3, 2021 at 8:11 PM Rob Bate  wrote:

> Doug Gochfeld and some others are now tentatively calling the Prospect
> Park Lake Martin a Gray-breasted Martin, a species found in South and
> Central Americas.  eBird hasn't any sightings in the US listed for this
> species even in southernmost Texas.
>
> The Q train stop at Parkside is the closest station to the east side of
> the lake where the bird has been seen a lot in the last day or so.  It also
> has been over on the west side of the lake where the F train to Ft Hamilton
> Parkway exit gets you a few blocks away.  Parking shouldn't be too
> prohibitive if you are driving in.  Look for the cameras and scopes if you
> go and let's hope it sticks overnight for those who'd love to see this
> ultra rarity.  I know NYSARC (NYState Area Records Committee) must be
> having a joyous time pouring over photos and recordings.
>
> Rob Bate
> Brooklyn
> --
> *NYSbirds-L List Info:*
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> ABA <http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01>
> *Please submit your observations to **eBird*
> <http://ebird.org/content/ebird/>*!*
> --
>

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Re: [nysbirds-l] Sunflower Valley Farm and Liberty Lane in Pine Island, NY are closed to birders.

[Phil Jeffrey]

The original poster auto-blocks replies, so I'll post on here

The simplest idea - and something that clearly should have been done a
while back - is to change the name of the hotspot to append either
"private" or "closed to birders"

Phil Heffrey

On Sat, Aug 22, 2020 at 9:24 AM AJIT ANTONY  wrote:

> To those birders from outside Orange County New York who bird in Orange
> County, NY.
> Please note that Sunflower Valley Farm
> in Pine Island New York has been out of bounds to birders for the past 3
> years or more. The owner has made it clear to a member of our club he knows
> that he does not want birders on his property, and we the members of the E
> A Mearns Club respect his wishes.
>
> However there was a message on the eBird RBA for Orange County New York:
>
> Upland Sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda) (1)
> - Reported Aug 18, 2020 10:00 by Anonymous eBirder
> - Sunflower Valley Farm, Orange, New York
> - Map:
> http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8=p=13=41.3354014,-74.4864158=41.3354014,-74.4864158
> - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S72581069
> - Media: 2 Photos
> - Comments: "Was wading in a large puddle near the corn and sunflower
> fields with a Killdeer.  I am not familiar with sandpipers but ID's it from
> a photo on the NYS DEC web site.  Photo attached."
>
> This birder seems unaware of the prohibition on entering the property. I
> don't believe there is a sign at either end prohibiting birding, so I don't
> blame Anonymous Birder (Btw it was not an Upland Sandpiper).
> The farm is now open for sunflower picking and a sunflower maze with a fee
> of $5 pp, and to photographers for a fee of $30.00 an hour.
> https://www.sunflowervalleyfarm.com/
>
> For those who don't know the location of Sunflower Valley Farm.
> If you're go up Skinner's Lane (off CR 6 - Pulaski Highway) and continue
> on to Skinners Tract to its end and turn left on Iris Road along the
> Wallkill River, at the end of this road there is a bridge on your right.
> The property beyond that with a dirt road which continues to CR 12 - Lower
> Road where the large silos are, is the property in question.
>
> Liberty Lane which goes north on the opposite side of Oil City Road from
> the parking lot at Wallkill River NWR is also private property and closed
> to birders.
>
> Please respect the owners' wishes. If birders are seen on these
> properties, the owners may think it that members of the local Mearns Bird
> Club are the ones trespassing, i.e. we will get the blame for you!
>
> Please refer to the ABA Code of Birding Ethics which prohibits trespassing
> on private property.
> https://www.aba.org/aba-code-of-birding-ethics/
>
> Ajit I Antony MD
> E A Mearns Bird Club
> Orange County, New York
>
> --
>
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>
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>
> Please submit your observations to eBird:
> http://ebird.org/content/ebird/
>
> --
>


-- 
"If you lie to the compiler, it will get its revenge"
-- Henry Spencer

--

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Please submit your observations to eBird:
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--

Re: [nysbirds-l] Sunflower Valley Farm and Liberty Lane in Pine Island, NY are closed to birders.

[Phil Jeffrey]

The original poster auto-blocks replies, so I'll post on here

The simplest idea - and something that clearly should have been done a
while back - is to change the name of the hotspot to append either
"private" or "closed to birders"

Phil Heffrey

On Sat, Aug 22, 2020 at 9:24 AM AJIT ANTONY  wrote:

> To those birders from outside Orange County New York who bird in Orange
> County, NY.
> Please note that Sunflower Valley Farm
> in Pine Island New York has been out of bounds to birders for the past 3
> years or more. The owner has made it clear to a member of our club he knows
> that he does not want birders on his property, and we the members of the E
> A Mearns Club respect his wishes.
>
> However there was a message on the eBird RBA for Orange County New York:
>
> Upland Sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda) (1)
> - Reported Aug 18, 2020 10:00 by Anonymous eBirder
> - Sunflower Valley Farm, Orange, New York
> - Map:
> http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8=p=13=41.3354014,-74.4864158=41.3354014,-74.4864158
> - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S72581069
> - Media: 2 Photos
> - Comments: "Was wading in a large puddle near the corn and sunflower
> fields with a Killdeer.  I am not familiar with sandpipers but ID's it from
> a photo on the NYS DEC web site.  Photo attached."
>
> This birder seems unaware of the prohibition on entering the property. I
> don't believe there is a sign at either end prohibiting birding, so I don't
> blame Anonymous Birder (Btw it was not an Upland Sandpiper).
> The farm is now open for sunflower picking and a sunflower maze with a fee
> of $5 pp, and to photographers for a fee of $30.00 an hour.
> https://www.sunflowervalleyfarm.com/
>
> For those who don't know the location of Sunflower Valley Farm.
> If you're go up Skinner's Lane (off CR 6 - Pulaski Highway) and continue
> on to Skinners Tract to its end and turn left on Iris Road along the
> Wallkill River, at the end of this road there is a bridge on your right.
> The property beyond that with a dirt road which continues to CR 12 - Lower
> Road where the large silos are, is the property in question.
>
> Liberty Lane which goes north on the opposite side of Oil City Road from
> the parking lot at Wallkill River NWR is also private property and closed
> to birders.
>
> Please respect the owners' wishes. If birders are seen on these
> properties, the owners may think it that members of the local Mearns Bird
> Club are the ones trespassing, i.e. we will get the blame for you!
>
> Please refer to the ABA Code of Birding Ethics which prohibits trespassing
> on private property.
> https://www.aba.org/aba-code-of-birding-ethics/
>
> Ajit I Antony MD
> E A Mearns Bird Club
> Orange County, New York
>
> --
>
> NYSbirds-L List Info:
> http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm
> http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm
> http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm
>
> ARCHIVES:
> 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
> 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
> 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01
>
> Please submit your observations to eBird:
> http://ebird.org/content/ebird/
>
> --
>


-- 
"If you lie to the compiler, it will get its revenge"
-- Henry Spencer

--

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Please submit your observations to eBird:
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Re: [nysbirds-l] RBA's

[Phil Jeffrey]

http://birding.aba.org/mobiledigest/RBA01
perhaps ?
There's also 02 (Central) and 03 (Western)

Phil Jeffrey
NJ

On Sat, Jan 19, 2019 at 10:35 AM John Kent  wrote:

> I don't know, but there's another one at http://digest.sialia.com
>
> John Kent
> Selkirk
>
> On Jan 19, 2019 9:08 AM, Andrew Block  wrote:
>
> Hi all,
>
> Does anyone know what happened to the ABA page on their site that had all
> the RBAs?  I've been using that for years and now all of a sudden the page
> isn't there.  I tried contacting therm but of course haven't heard
> anything.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Andrew
>
> *Andrew v. F. Block*
> *Consulting Naturalist*
> 20 Hancock Avenue, Apt. 3
> Yonkers, Westchester Co., New York 10705-4629
> www.flickr.com/photos/conuropsis/albums
> --
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> <http://ebird.org/content/ebird/>*!*
> --
>
>
> --
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>


-- 
"If you lie to the compiler, it will get its revenge"
-- Henry Spencer

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1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

Re: [nysbirds-l] RBA's

[Phil Jeffrey]

http://birding.aba.org/mobiledigest/RBA01
perhaps ?
There's also 02 (Central) and 03 (Western)

Phil Jeffrey
NJ

On Sat, Jan 19, 2019 at 10:35 AM John Kent  wrote:

> I don't know, but there's another one at http://digest.sialia.com
>
> John Kent
> Selkirk
>
> On Jan 19, 2019 9:08 AM, Andrew Block  wrote:
>
> Hi all,
>
> Does anyone know what happened to the ABA page on their site that had all
> the RBAs?  I've been using that for years and now all of a sudden the page
> isn't there.  I tried contacting therm but of course haven't heard
> anything.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Andrew
>
> *Andrew v. F. Block*
> *Consulting Naturalist*
> 20 Hancock Avenue, Apt. 3
> Yonkers, Westchester Co., New York 10705-4629
> www.flickr.com/photos/conuropsis/albums
> --
> *NYSbirds-L List Info:*
> Welcome and Basics <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm>
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> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave
> <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm>
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> The Mail Archive
> <http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html>
> Surfbirds <http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L>
> ABA <http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01>
> *Please submit your observations to **eBird*
> <http://ebird.org/content/ebird/>*!*
> --
>
>
> --
> *NYSbirds-L List Info:*
> Welcome and Basics <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm>
> Rules and Information <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm>
> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave
> <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm>
> *Archives:*
> The Mail Archive
> <http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html>
> Surfbirds <http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L>
> ABA <http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01>
> *Please submit your observations to **eBird*
> <http://ebird.org/content/ebird/>*!*
> --
>


-- 
"If you lie to the compiler, it will get its revenge"
-- Henry Spencer

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Please submit your observations to eBird:
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Re: [nysbirds-l] Ross' Gull update - Tupper Lake Franklin County

[Phil Jeffrey]

Actually the bird was seen initially seen from the boat launch, but not
near to it - seen  well to the north as we watched it move from in-line
with the smoke stacks, flying west to east across the lake and dropping
down over the causeway to the east of it, which is when the birders on the
causeway picked it up.  (I was at the boat launch from 8:30 until the
Ross's turned up).  Difficult to assess distance but probably north of the
causeway as it came across the lake - perhaps there was some open water
over on the west side.  I think the causeway is the place to stake out
initially, and it does scan that part of the lake - around 1pm just before
I left it flew pretty much right down the causeway, although I was the only
one there at the time.

Phil

On Tue, Jan 31, 2017 at 9:09 PM, David Klauber  wrote:

> Had some technology problems in the field so sent a brief message to get
> the word out quickly.
>
> The Ross' Gull was found around 10:30 by Bob Proniewych flying east
> (north?) of the causeway bridge that feeds into the town of Tupper Lake.
> This is a short distance past the town boat launch, near a cabin that is on
> the north side of the road. We later found out that apparently the gull was
> seen shortly before flying north past the town boat launch on route 30,
> about a mile or so south of the town of Tupper lake. The house where it was
> originally found was briefly checked before this and there is no open water
> or food there.
>
> As the day warmed up there was a bit more open water around the causeway.
> Specifically, the bird was seen on the ice next to some open water just
> north or west of the parking pulloffs near the beginning of the causeway.
>
> It later relocated a bit south to a small private pier just north of the
> town boat launch, easily viewed from this location. It seemed to be
> feeding on something frozen - fish? This was around 1:30 when we left.
>
> The Northern Shrike was seen near around 1 in trees opposite the tall
> smokestack on route 3. It was not seen there earlier. It was first spotted
> a bit west of this, but moved east along the trees, moving about 1/4 mile
> or so.
>
> No sign of anything of note in Newcomb.
>
> Gray Jays at feeders on Sabatis Circle Drive
>
> 10 species total
> --
> *NYSbirds-L List Info:*
> Welcome and Basics 
> Rules and Information 
> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave
> 
> *Archives:*
> The Mail Archive
> 
> Surfbirds 
> ABA 
> *Please submit your observations to **eBird*
> *!*
> --
>



-- 
"If you lie to the compiler, it will get its revenge"
- Henry Spencer

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2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

Re: [nysbirds-l] Ross' Gull update - Tupper Lake Franklin County

[Phil Jeffrey]

Actually the bird was seen initially seen from the boat launch, but not
near to it - seen  well to the north as we watched it move from in-line
with the smoke stacks, flying west to east across the lake and dropping
down over the causeway to the east of it, which is when the birders on the
causeway picked it up.  (I was at the boat launch from 8:30 until the
Ross's turned up).  Difficult to assess distance but probably north of the
causeway as it came across the lake - perhaps there was some open water
over on the west side.  I think the causeway is the place to stake out
initially, and it does scan that part of the lake - around 1pm just before
I left it flew pretty much right down the causeway, although I was the only
one there at the time.

Phil

On Tue, Jan 31, 2017 at 9:09 PM, David Klauber  wrote:

> Had some technology problems in the field so sent a brief message to get
> the word out quickly.
>
> The Ross' Gull was found around 10:30 by Bob Proniewych flying east
> (north?) of the causeway bridge that feeds into the town of Tupper Lake.
> This is a short distance past the town boat launch, near a cabin that is on
> the north side of the road. We later found out that apparently the gull was
> seen shortly before flying north past the town boat launch on route 30,
> about a mile or so south of the town of Tupper lake. The house where it was
> originally found was briefly checked before this and there is no open water
> or food there.
>
> As the day warmed up there was a bit more open water around the causeway.
> Specifically, the bird was seen on the ice next to some open water just
> north or west of the parking pulloffs near the beginning of the causeway.
>
> It later relocated a bit south to a small private pier just north of the
> town boat launch, easily viewed from this location. It seemed to be
> feeding on something frozen - fish? This was around 1:30 when we left.
>
> The Northern Shrike was seen near around 1 in trees opposite the tall
> smokestack on route 3. It was not seen there earlier. It was first spotted
> a bit west of this, but moved east along the trees, moving about 1/4 mile
> or so.
>
> No sign of anything of note in Newcomb.
>
> Gray Jays at feeders on Sabatis Circle Drive
>
> 10 species total
> --
> *NYSbirds-L List Info:*
> Welcome and Basics 
> Rules and Information 
> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave
> 
> *Archives:*
> The Mail Archive
> 
> Surfbirds 
> ABA 
> *Please submit your observations to **eBird*
> *!*
> --
>



-- 
"If you lie to the compiler, it will get its revenge"
- Henry Spencer

--

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ARCHIVES:
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2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

Re: [nysbirds-l] ADMIN: DMARC Alert! - using Gmail filters

[Phil Jeffrey]

Under the "more" menu in Gmail select "Filter Messages Like These" and you
should see that Gmail recognizes the email as coming from a list.  In the
"has the words" field it will show
list:()

click "create filter with this search" at lower right

select "never send it to spam" and whatever other actions you want and
create the filter.

There's certainly no need to disable spam filtering entirely.

Phil Jeffrey
Princeton

On Sat, Jan 14, 2017 at 3:03 AM, Christopher T. Tessaglia-Hymes <
c...@cornell.edu> wrote:

> It appears that Gmail has joined the ranks of Yahoo, Hotmail, AOL, and
> others with respect to their DMARC policy: https://sendgrid.com/blog/
> gmail-dmarc-update-2016/.
>
(snip)

> Please take care to check your spam folder or turn off spam filtering
> altogether, should you find lots of NYSbirds-L eList messages going into
> your junk/spam folder.
>
> You can also check some of the archive sites to make sure your aren’t
> missing anything.
>
> Here are some archive websites:
>
> http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
> http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
> http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01
>
> Hope this helps...somewhat!
>
> Sincerely,
> Chris T-H
>
> --
> Chris Tessaglia-Hymes
> Listowner, NYSbirds-L
> Ithaca, New York
> c...@cornell.edu
>
>

--

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http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

Re: [nysbirds-l] ADMIN: DMARC Alert! - using Gmail filters

[Phil Jeffrey]

Under the "more" menu in Gmail select "Filter Messages Like These" and you
should see that Gmail recognizes the email as coming from a list.  In the
"has the words" field it will show
list:()

click "create filter with this search" at lower right

select "never send it to spam" and whatever other actions you want and
create the filter.

There's certainly no need to disable spam filtering entirely.

Phil Jeffrey
Princeton

On Sat, Jan 14, 2017 at 3:03 AM, Christopher T. Tessaglia-Hymes <
c...@cornell.edu> wrote:

> It appears that Gmail has joined the ranks of Yahoo, Hotmail, AOL, and
> others with respect to their DMARC policy: https://sendgrid.com/blog/
> gmail-dmarc-update-2016/.
>
(snip)

> Please take care to check your spam folder or turn off spam filtering
> altogether, should you find lots of NYSbirds-L eList messages going into
> your junk/spam folder.
>
> You can also check some of the archive sites to make sure your aren’t
> missing anything.
>
> Here are some archive websites:
>
> http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
> http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
> http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01
>
> Hope this helps...somewhat!
>
> Sincerely,
> Chris T-H
>
> --
> Chris Tessaglia-Hymes
> Listowner, NYSbirds-L
> Ithaca, New York
> c...@cornell.edu
>
>

--

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http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

Re: [nysbirds-l] St. Paul's Church, Manhattan 1903-04 - 41 species

[Phil Jeffrey]

I don't equate "interesting" with "rare".  Rare birds are often
well-characterized - not least of all in weekly RBA posts.  Interesting
birds (self-defined) run a much larger gamut than that, and I can point to
a lot of eBird checklists where there's no additional context whatsoever
for such species.

On Wed, Nov 30, 2016 at 6:10 PM, Dominic Garcia-Hall  wrote:

> I find most people reporting to eBird are pretty good about including
> context (location etc) in the comments field - not least because when it's
> a genuine rarity eBird mandates some kind of commentary.
>


--

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ARCHIVES:
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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] St. Paul's Church, Manhattan 1903-04 - 41 species

[Phil Jeffrey]

I don't equate "interesting" with "rare".  Rare birds are often
well-characterized - not least of all in weekly RBA posts.  Interesting
birds (self-defined) run a much larger gamut than that, and I can point to
a lot of eBird checklists where there's no additional context whatsoever
for such species.

On Wed, Nov 30, 2016 at 6:10 PM, Dominic Garcia-Hall  wrote:

> I find most people reporting to eBird are pretty good about including
> context (location etc) in the comments field - not least because when it's
> a genuine rarity eBird mandates some kind of commentary.
>


--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
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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:
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--

Re: [nysbirds-l] St. Paul's Church, Manhattan 1903-04 - 41 species

[Phil Jeffrey]

The current intent of the list as given on the list's website is not what
Kevin McGowan indicated may or may not be the original intent - and I've
pointed this out recently - its even linked at the end of every message.
Certainly this has not been a purely RBA list for quite some time -
although that's more difficult to demonstrate given that there weren't any
list archives (!) for quite some time either.

eBird is only one tiny notch up from just a basic list of species.  The
eBird reports - and I use them for trip research - are frequently without
context so they read as:

an interesting bird was seen somewhere in tens of acres of habitat

and the lack of narrative is hopeless if you want to go find anything
that's of interest to you that might drop below the anointed level of
rarity.  I believe that eBird has damaged local birding lists by the
removal of context from sightings.  IMHO, that context is extremely
valuable to all level of birders and why I run my own list as I do.  I've
mostly stopped reporting sightings to eBird for this reason.

So no, eBird is not the solution.

Phil Jeffrey
Princeton

On Wed, Nov 30, 2016 at 4:50 PM, Paul R Sweet <sw...@amnh.org> wrote:

> Daily lists are great and as I mentioned previously E-bird is an excellent
> place to record such data. If everyone posted their Central Park lists to
> NYSBIRDS-L it would certainly dilute the power of the list. See Kevin
> McGowan's  post here https://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/
> msg20105.html regarding the original intent of the list.
>
>
>

--

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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] St. Paul's Church, Manhattan 1903-04 - 41 species

[Phil Jeffrey]

The current intent of the list as given on the list's website is not what
Kevin McGowan indicated may or may not be the original intent - and I've
pointed this out recently - its even linked at the end of every message.
Certainly this has not been a purely RBA list for quite some time -
although that's more difficult to demonstrate given that there weren't any
list archives (!) for quite some time either.

eBird is only one tiny notch up from just a basic list of species.  The
eBird reports - and I use them for trip research - are frequently without
context so they read as:

an interesting bird was seen somewhere in tens of acres of habitat

and the lack of narrative is hopeless if you want to go find anything
that's of interest to you that might drop below the anointed level of
rarity.  I believe that eBird has damaged local birding lists by the
removal of context from sightings.  IMHO, that context is extremely
valuable to all level of birders and why I run my own list as I do.  I've
mostly stopped reporting sightings to eBird for this reason.

So no, eBird is not the solution.

Phil Jeffrey
Princeton

On Wed, Nov 30, 2016 at 4:50 PM, Paul R Sweet  wrote:

> Daily lists are great and as I mentioned previously E-bird is an excellent
> place to record such data. If everyone posted their Central Park lists to
> NYSBIRDS-L it would certainly dilute the power of the list. See Kevin
> McGowan's  post here https://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/
> msg20105.html regarding the original intent of the list.
>
>
>

--

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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] Another option to the drivel

[Phil Jeffrey]

Steve was wordily referring to daily digest mode, found via
http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

Daily digest mode has existed for about as long as list servers have.

In the same document tree is the source of at least one part of the
identity crisis:
http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm
(bear in mind there are syntax errors on the originating page and you may
have to append ".htm" to some URLs)

"The primary purpose of the List is to disseminate information about wild
bird sightings in and around New York State in a timely manner and to
provide an effective electronic forum for New York State area birders.



Questions and limited discussion on topics such as bird behavior,
identification, conservation, and distribution, especially as these
subjects relate to wild birds in and around New York State, are welcomed
and encouraged. The List is not for the discussion of pet birds."

If it's allegedly an RBA list the description currently does not reflect
that, and has not done so for quite some time.

Phil Jeffrey
Princeton

--

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] Another option to the drivel

[Phil Jeffrey]

Steve was wordily referring to daily digest mode, found via
http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

Daily digest mode has existed for about as long as list servers have.

In the same document tree is the source of at least one part of the
identity crisis:
http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm
(bear in mind there are syntax errors on the originating page and you may
have to append ".htm" to some URLs)

"The primary purpose of the List is to disseminate information about wild
bird sightings in and around New York State in a timely manner and to
provide an effective electronic forum for New York State area birders.



Questions and limited discussion on topics such as bird behavior,
identification, conservation, and distribution, especially as these
subjects relate to wild birds in and around New York State, are welcomed
and encouraged. The List is not for the discussion of pet birds."

If it's allegedly an RBA list the description currently does not reflect
that, and has not done so for quite some time.

Phil Jeffrey
Princeton

--

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] Quick note about Ravens

[Phil Jeffrey]

A Common Raven that I encountered on Sandy Hook (NJ) this past Saturday was
seen to fly north over Raritan Bay towards NYC.  With recent sightings on
the eastern shore of Staten Island and also at Gravesend Bay/Coney Island
it's interesting to consider just how much ground individual Ravens might
be covering - does anyone have any information on the size of an
individual's winter foraging range for this species ?

Phil Jeffrey
NJ

--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
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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] Quick note about Ravens

[Phil Jeffrey]

A Common Raven that I encountered on Sandy Hook (NJ) this past Saturday was
seen to fly north over Raritan Bay towards NYC.  With recent sightings on
the eastern shore of Staten Island and also at Gravesend Bay/Coney Island
it's interesting to consider just how much ground individual Ravens might
be covering - does anyone have any information on the size of an
individual's winter foraging range for this species ?

Phil Jeffrey
NJ

--

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] Spizella sparrows

[Phil Jeffrey]

For the issue of the covert patterning figure 19E and the legend for that 
figure suggests an explanation.  As for tail length the pictures of the Queens 
bird that I saw did not show a fully grown shape and it seems very likely that 
it is still growing, making conjecture about relative or absolute tail length 
rather hazardous.

Cheers 
Phil Jeffrey
Princeton

> On Dec 24, 2015, at 9:10 AM, Shaibal Mitra  wrote:
> 
> Thanks, Peter, for sharing this.
> 
> Although the original hard copy of the article is right here on my shelf, I 
> remembered it only dimly until you posted the link.
> 
> Among the many characters discussed by the authors are two that I'd like to 
> follow up on now, while everything is fresh in our minds. The first involves 
> the pattern of the secondary coverts, which in Brewer's Sparrow are described 
> as showing pointed black extensions along the shafts, described as absent in 
> Clay-colored Sparrow. I had noticed that the Queens bird showed such points, 
> and worried about this a little bit until I confirmed that multiple of my 
> images of Long Island Clay-colored Sparrows also clearly show this pattern:
> 
> https://picasaweb.google.com/109808209543611018404/Spizella#
> 
> I don't have an explanation for this discrepancy, but it underscores the need 
> to look at multiple characters when trying to distinguish very similar 
> species.
> 
> The second involves the relative tail length character mentioned in a number 
> of posts. Whereas the article does not mention this as a useful field 
> character for distinguishing Brewer's and Clay-colored, it is well known that 
> these two species collectively differ from Chipping in being longer-tailed, 
> relative to body size. This may not be immediately obvious from the table of 
> measurements, because the tail length values for Chipping Sparrow are 
> basically identical to those for Brewer's and Clay-colored. But the key point 
> is that Chipping Sparrow is larger than the other two, as seen most obviously 
> in its much greater wing length values. Thus, what might appear to be an 
> obscure bander's formula, "wing minus tail" is in fact an elegant way of 
> expressing relative tail length, and it is evident from the table that 
> Brewer's and Clay-colored are similarly long-tailed compared to Chipping.
> 
> Using wing length as a proxy for body size is appealing because these data 
> are relatively accessible, but the validity of this approach is restricted to 
> closely related species that have similar wing shapes. In the case of the 
> Spizella sparrows, I think this is generally true. If anything, I think 
> Chipping might be a little be longer-winged (relative to body size) than the 
> other two, with a slightly longer primary projection, but I still think 
> Clay-colored looks consistently longer-tailed than Chipping in the field and 
> suspect that Brewer's does also.
> 
> Shai Mitra
> Bay Shore
> 
> From: bounce-120008119-11143...@list.cornell.edu 
> [bounce-120008119-11143...@list.cornell.edu] on behalf of Peter Reisfeld 
> [drpi...@yahoo.com]
> Sent: Wednesday, December 23, 2015 12:59 AM
> To: NYSbirds-L@cornell.edu
> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Spizella sparrows
> 
> For those wishing to delve a bit more into this topic, here is an old review 
> discussing the range of variation of features within species, and clues to 
> help separate them.
> 
> http://www.birdpop.org/docs/pubs/Pyle_and_Howell_1996_Spizella_Sparrows_Intraspecific_Variation_and_ID.pdf
> 
> Happy winter birding,
> 
> Peter
> --
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> 
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Re: [nysbirds-l] Spizella sparrows

[Phil Jeffrey]

For the issue of the covert patterning figure 19E and the legend for that 
figure suggests an explanation.  As for tail length the pictures of the Queens 
bird that I saw did not show a fully grown shape and it seems very likely that 
it is still growing, making conjecture about relative or absolute tail length 
rather hazardous.

Cheers 
Phil Jeffrey
Princeton

> On Dec 24, 2015, at 9:10 AM, Shaibal Mitra <shaibal.mi...@csi.cuny.edu> wrote:
> 
> Thanks, Peter, for sharing this.
> 
> Although the original hard copy of the article is right here on my shelf, I 
> remembered it only dimly until you posted the link.
> 
> Among the many characters discussed by the authors are two that I'd like to 
> follow up on now, while everything is fresh in our minds. The first involves 
> the pattern of the secondary coverts, which in Brewer's Sparrow are described 
> as showing pointed black extensions along the shafts, described as absent in 
> Clay-colored Sparrow. I had noticed that the Queens bird showed such points, 
> and worried about this a little bit until I confirmed that multiple of my 
> images of Long Island Clay-colored Sparrows also clearly show this pattern:
> 
> https://picasaweb.google.com/109808209543611018404/Spizella#
> 
> I don't have an explanation for this discrepancy, but it underscores the need 
> to look at multiple characters when trying to distinguish very similar 
> species.
> 
> The second involves the relative tail length character mentioned in a number 
> of posts. Whereas the article does not mention this as a useful field 
> character for distinguishing Brewer's and Clay-colored, it is well known that 
> these two species collectively differ from Chipping in being longer-tailed, 
> relative to body size. This may not be immediately obvious from the table of 
> measurements, because the tail length values for Chipping Sparrow are 
> basically identical to those for Brewer's and Clay-colored. But the key point 
> is that Chipping Sparrow is larger than the other two, as seen most obviously 
> in its much greater wing length values. Thus, what might appear to be an 
> obscure bander's formula, "wing minus tail" is in fact an elegant way of 
> expressing relative tail length, and it is evident from the table that 
> Brewer's and Clay-colored are similarly long-tailed compared to Chipping.
> 
> Using wing length as a proxy for body size is appealing because these data 
> are relatively accessible, but the validity of this approach is restricted to 
> closely related species that have similar wing shapes. In the case of the 
> Spizella sparrows, I think this is generally true. If anything, I think 
> Chipping might be a little be longer-winged (relative to body size) than the 
> other two, with a slightly longer primary projection, but I still think 
> Clay-colored looks consistently longer-tailed than Chipping in the field and 
> suspect that Brewer's does also.
> 
> Shai Mitra
> Bay Shore
> 
> From: bounce-120008119-11143...@list.cornell.edu 
> [bounce-120008119-11143...@list.cornell.edu] on behalf of Peter Reisfeld 
> [drpi...@yahoo.com]
> Sent: Wednesday, December 23, 2015 12:59 AM
> To: NYSbirds-L@cornell.edu
> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Spizella sparrows
> 
> For those wishing to delve a bit more into this topic, here is an old review 
> discussing the range of variation of features within species, and clues to 
> help separate them.
> 
> http://www.birdpop.org/docs/pubs/Pyle_and_Howell_1996_Spizella_Sparrows_Intraspecific_Variation_and_ID.pdf
> 
> Happy winter birding,
> 
> Peter
> --
> NYSbirds-L List Info:
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> Rules and Information<http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES>
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> Leave<http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm>
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> Archive<http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html>
> Surfbirds<http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L>
> BirdingOnThe.Net<http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html>
> Please submit your observations to eBird<http://ebird.org/content/ebird/>!
> --
> 
> 
> Support CSI students this holiday season each time you shop with Amazon 
> Smile<https://smile.amazon.com/ch/13-3683723>
> 
> --
> 
> NYSbirds-L List Info:
> http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME
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> 
> ARCHIVES:
> 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.ht

Re: [nysbirds-l] Cassins/Couches survival chances?

[Phil Jeffrey]

If it's fluttering around in the street about to get pretzeled by a taxi
I'm sure someone can get it to the Wild Bird Fund on the Upper West Side in
Manhattan.
http://wildbirdfund.org/

In contrast to Rick Cech's point of view, Selasphorus hummingbirds and
Western Tanagers show several records from Feb-Mar indicating overwintering
success in this region.  Western Kingbird or Ash-throated Flycatcher
essentially none.  If I were prone to wagering on survival rates of
vagrants I know where I'd put my money.

Phil Jeffrey
Princeton

On Thu, Jan 8, 2015 at 11:06 AM, Linda Orkin  wrote:

> It doesn't hurt to help beings in trouble if it is possible to do.
> Wouldn't you want the same done for you?
>
> Linda Orkin
> Ithaca,  NY
>
> On Thu, Jan 8, 2015 at 11:04 AM, Will Raup 
> wrote:
>
>>
>> Why should we get involved at all?  They are vagrants, moved out of their
>> normal range for whatever reason.  They will either survive and return
>> home, or they won't.  That's the way nature works.  I think we should stand
>> back and let nature take its course and not get directly involved.
>>
>> Will Raup
>> Glenmont, NY
>>
>>
>> --
>> Date: Thu, 8 Jan 2015 10:25:22 -0500
>> Subject: Re: [nysbirds-l] Cassins/Couches survival chances?
>> From: peter.co...@gmail.com
>> To: rc...@nyc.rr.com
>> CC: hdmcguinn...@gmail.com; orhanbir...@gmail.com; NYSBIRDS-L@cornell.edu
>>
>>
>> Good discussion,
>>
>> Here is a Dusky-capped Flycatcher eating fruit/vegetables in the warm
>> climate of El Salvador, but I also suspect the 2 kingbirds could use some
>> good bugs in this weather.
>>
>> Perhaps it would be good too make an arrangement with a rehabber in case
>> of emergency. Birds get sick fast.
>>
>> From one who lived with birds, Peter
>>
>> On Thu, Jan 8, 2015 at 7:47 AM, Rick  wrote:
>>
>> True, and don’t forget the somewhat similar overwinter survival of the
>> Rufous Hummingbird outside the American Museum of Natural History a few
>> years back; the last posting I’m aware of for that bird was 3/11/2012.
>>
>>
>>
>> 2011-12 was a mild winter, admittedly, but hummers are hardly a model of
>> cold tolerance (they lack down feathers, lose heat rapidly, and need to go
>> into torpor overnight even in comparatively mild conditions to conserve
>> energy).
>>
>>
>>
>> In any case, don’t sell birds short, provided they have adequate
>> good-quality food. (The question in my mind, aside from availability of
>> small fruits and such, is whether or not they are an adequate substitute
>> for higher-quality insect protein in severe cold, versus in milder
>> traditional overwintering sites.)
>>
>>
>>
>> Rick
>>
>>
>>
>> *From:* bounce-118683374-3714...@list.cornell.edu [mailto:
>> bounce-118683374-3714...@list.cornell.edu] *On Behalf Of *Hugh McGuinness
>> *Sent:* Thursday, January 08, 2015 7:18 AM
>> *To:* Orhan Birol
>> *Cc:* NYSBIRDS-L
>> *Subject:* Re: [nysbirds-l] Cassins/Couches survival chances?
>>
>>
>>
>> My memory of Tyrannus biology is that all members of the genus become
>> mostly or partly frugivorous during winter, and simply supplement their
>> diet with insects when available. So, their survival in NYC may depend more
>> on the availability of small fruits, for which they are competing with the
>> many Robins and Starlings, than on the availability of insects.
>>
>> Hugh
>>
>>
>>
>> On Wed, Jan 7, 2015 at 10:40 PM, Orhan Birol 
>> wrote:
>>
>> On Sunday I observed both.
>>
>> The Cassins was flycatching nonstop for the 10 minutes I was there.
>>
>> I think the row of low evergreens(boxwood?) on the west side of the
>> community gardens and plenty of shelter in the gardens, may protect it from
>> the cold.
>>
>> The Couches also has enough shelter in enclosed gardens, structures etc.
>> The 10 minutes I was there, it called nonstop but never fed.
>>
>> I have no idea if the insects both feed on will survive tonight.
>>
>> Any thoughts?
>>
>> Orhan Birol
>>
>> Shelter Island
>>
>> --
>>
>> *NYSbirds-L List Info:*
>>
>> Welcome and Basics <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME>
>>
>> Rules and Information <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES>
>>
>> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave
>> <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm>
>>
>> *Archives:*
>&g

Re: [nysbirds-l] Cassins/Couches survival chances?

[Phil Jeffrey]

If it's fluttering around in the street about to get pretzeled by a taxi
I'm sure someone can get it to the Wild Bird Fund on the Upper West Side in
Manhattan.
http://wildbirdfund.org/

In contrast to Rick Cech's point of view, Selasphorus hummingbirds and
Western Tanagers show several records from Feb-Mar indicating overwintering
success in this region.  Western Kingbird or Ash-throated Flycatcher
essentially none.  If I were prone to wagering on survival rates of
vagrants I know where I'd put my money.

Phil Jeffrey
Princeton

On Thu, Jan 8, 2015 at 11:06 AM, Linda Orkin wingmagi...@gmail.com wrote:

 It doesn't hurt to help beings in trouble if it is possible to do.
 Wouldn't you want the same done for you?

 Linda Orkin
 Ithaca,  NY

 On Thu, Jan 8, 2015 at 11:04 AM, Will Raup hoaryredp...@hotmail.com
 wrote:


 Why should we get involved at all?  They are vagrants, moved out of their
 normal range for whatever reason.  They will either survive and return
 home, or they won't.  That's the way nature works.  I think we should stand
 back and let nature take its course and not get directly involved.

 Will Raup
 Glenmont, NY


 --
 Date: Thu, 8 Jan 2015 10:25:22 -0500
 Subject: Re: [nysbirds-l] Cassins/Couches survival chances?
 From: peter.co...@gmail.com
 To: rc...@nyc.rr.com
 CC: hdmcguinn...@gmail.com; orhanbir...@gmail.com; NYSBIRDS-L@cornell.edu


 Good discussion,

 Here is a Dusky-capped Flycatcher eating fruit/vegetables in the warm
 climate of El Salvador, but I also suspect the 2 kingbirds could use some
 good bugs in this weather.

 Perhaps it would be good too make an arrangement with a rehabber in case
 of emergency. Birds get sick fast.

 From one who lived with birds, Peter

 On Thu, Jan 8, 2015 at 7:47 AM, Rick rc...@nyc.rr.com wrote:

 True, and don’t forget the somewhat similar overwinter survival of the
 Rufous Hummingbird outside the American Museum of Natural History a few
 years back; the last posting I’m aware of for that bird was 3/11/2012.



 2011-12 was a mild winter, admittedly, but hummers are hardly a model of
 cold tolerance (they lack down feathers, lose heat rapidly, and need to go
 into torpor overnight even in comparatively mild conditions to conserve
 energy).



 In any case, don’t sell birds short, provided they have adequate
 good-quality food. (The question in my mind, aside from availability of
 small fruits and such, is whether or not they are an adequate substitute
 for higher-quality insect protein in severe cold, versus in milder
 traditional overwintering sites.)



 Rick



 *From:* bounce-118683374-3714...@list.cornell.edu [mailto:
 bounce-118683374-3714...@list.cornell.edu] *On Behalf Of *Hugh McGuinness
 *Sent:* Thursday, January 08, 2015 7:18 AM
 *To:* Orhan Birol
 *Cc:* NYSBIRDS-L
 *Subject:* Re: [nysbirds-l] Cassins/Couches survival chances?



 My memory of Tyrannus biology is that all members of the genus become
 mostly or partly frugivorous during winter, and simply supplement their
 diet with insects when available. So, their survival in NYC may depend more
 on the availability of small fruits, for which they are competing with the
 many Robins and Starlings, than on the availability of insects.

 Hugh



 On Wed, Jan 7, 2015 at 10:40 PM, Orhan Birol orhanbir...@gmail.com
 wrote:

 On Sunday I observed both.

 The Cassins was flycatching nonstop for the 10 minutes I was there.

 I think the row of low evergreens(boxwood?) on the west side of the
 community gardens and plenty of shelter in the gardens, may protect it from
 the cold.

 The Couches also has enough shelter in enclosed gardens, structures etc.
 The 10 minutes I was there, it called nonstop but never fed.

 I have no idea if the insects both feed on will survive tonight.

 Any thoughts?

 Orhan Birol

 Shelter Island

 --

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 --

 Hugh McGuinness
 Washington, D.C.

 --

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Re: [nysbirds-l] N. Wheater YES

[Phil Jeffrey]

Coloration-wise, sure.  However there are at least a few European N.
Wheatear photos on the web - tagged as first fall for whatever reason -
that show more pointed primary and retrix profiles than comparable adults.
My own photos of European/Greenland ssp aren't good enough for this
comparison.  I also have no idea how feather profile varies with population
- Greenland ssp being an extreme migrant, but the European and Alaskan ones
being no slouches either.  The Portland Bill entry for 26th March 2011
suggests that feather shape could be a useful feature, with the usual
caveat that you've got to get really good photographs to make that call:
http://www.portlandbirdobs.org.uk/latest_mar2011.htm

It might be really interesting to look at good tail-end-on photos of this
Wheatear in terms of feather shape rather than color.

First approximation likelihood on age would be: proportion of adult males
seen in the prior Wheatear invasions into the NorthEast ?

Phil Jeffrey
NJ


On Fri, Oct 3, 2014 at 8:46 AM, Shaibal Mitra 
wrote:

>  This is more difficult than it might seem. Although we can probably
> exclude an adult male, distinguishing the other three age/sex combos in the
> field is very difficult.
>
>  This puts us around the same place we found ourselves back in 2001, when
> Angus and others of us staked out the then state of the art in Long Island
> wheatear analysis:
>
>  http://www.oceanwanderers.com/NYWhtear.html
>
>  Another (also possibly unanswerable) question is whether this bird is a
> Greenland Wheatear, from eastern Arctic Canada, or possibly an Alaskan
> Wheatear, beating along the trail from Beringia to Plumb Beach, as though
> it were a Yellow Wagtail!
>
>  <http://www.oceanwanderers.com/NYWhtear.html>Shai Mitra
> Bay Shore
>  --
> *From:* bounce-118101240-11143...@list.cornell.edu [
> bounce-118101240-11143...@list.cornell.edu] on behalf of Elliotte Rusty
> Harold [elh...@ibiblio.org]
> *Sent:* Friday, October 03, 2014 6:55 AM
> *To:* Arie Gilbert
> *Cc:* NYSBIRDS-L@cornell edu
> *Subject:* Re: [nysbirds-l] N. Wheater YES
>
>   Could more details be given about the birs itself? E.g is it male or
> female?
>
>
>
> --
> Celebrate Italian Heritage with a Special Broadway Benefit Concert by the
> World’s Longest Running Phantom in support of the CSI Italian Studies
> program>
> <http://csitoday.com/events/franc-dambrosios-broadway-the-phantom-unmasked/>
> --
> *NYSbirds-L List Info:*
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> BirdingOnThe.Net <http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html>
> *Please submit your observations to **eBird*
> <http://ebird.org/content/ebird/>*!*
> --
>



-- 
"If you lie to the compiler, it will get its revenge"
- Henry Spencer

--

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Please submit your observations to eBird:
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--

Re: [nysbirds-l] N. Wheater YES

[Phil Jeffrey]

Coloration-wise, sure.  However there are at least a few European N.
Wheatear photos on the web - tagged as first fall for whatever reason -
that show more pointed primary and retrix profiles than comparable adults.
My own photos of European/Greenland ssp aren't good enough for this
comparison.  I also have no idea how feather profile varies with population
- Greenland ssp being an extreme migrant, but the European and Alaskan ones
being no slouches either.  The Portland Bill entry for 26th March 2011
suggests that feather shape could be a useful feature, with the usual
caveat that you've got to get really good photographs to make that call:
http://www.portlandbirdobs.org.uk/latest_mar2011.htm

It might be really interesting to look at good tail-end-on photos of this
Wheatear in terms of feather shape rather than color.

First approximation likelihood on age would be: proportion of adult males
seen in the prior Wheatear invasions into the NorthEast ?

Phil Jeffrey
NJ


On Fri, Oct 3, 2014 at 8:46 AM, Shaibal Mitra shaibal.mi...@csi.cuny.edu
wrote:

  This is more difficult than it might seem. Although we can probably
 exclude an adult male, distinguishing the other three age/sex combos in the
 field is very difficult.

  This puts us around the same place we found ourselves back in 2001, when
 Angus and others of us staked out the then state of the art in Long Island
 wheatear analysis:

  http://www.oceanwanderers.com/NYWhtear.html

  Another (also possibly unanswerable) question is whether this bird is a
 Greenland Wheatear, from eastern Arctic Canada, or possibly an Alaskan
 Wheatear, beating along the trail from Beringia to Plumb Beach, as though
 it were a Yellow Wagtail!

  http://www.oceanwanderers.com/NYWhtear.htmlShai Mitra
 Bay Shore
  --
 *From:* bounce-118101240-11143...@list.cornell.edu [
 bounce-118101240-11143...@list.cornell.edu] on behalf of Elliotte Rusty
 Harold [elh...@ibiblio.org]
 *Sent:* Friday, October 03, 2014 6:55 AM
 *To:* Arie Gilbert
 *Cc:* NYSBIRDS-L@cornell edu
 *Subject:* Re: [nysbirds-l] N. Wheater YES

   Could more details be given about the birs itself? E.g is it male or
 female?



 --
 Celebrate Italian Heritage with a Special Broadway Benefit Concert by the
 World’s Longest Running Phantom in support of the CSI Italian Studies
 program
 http://csitoday.com/events/franc-dambrosios-broadway-the-phantom-unmasked/
 --
 *NYSbirds-L List Info:*
 Welcome and Basics http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME
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 http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm
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 Surfbirds http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
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 *Please submit your observations to **eBird*
 http://ebird.org/content/ebird/*!*
 --




-- 
If you lie to the compiler, it will get its revenge
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Please submit your observations to eBird:
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--

Re: [nysbirds-l] bird in distress -- Midtown, rehab?

[Phil Jeffrey]

Try:

The Wild Bird Fund
565 Columbus Avenue
New York, 10024
[between 87th and 88th Streets]

646-306-2862

http://wildbirdfund.org/

Cheers,
Phil Jeffrey
NJ


On Wed, Sep 3, 2014 at 8:37 AM, Meredith, Leslie <
leslie.mered...@simonandschuster.com> wrote:

>  Is there somewhere I can take a B warbler found in Midtown for
> rescue/care, please; seems to have something wrong with  its leg.
>
>
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Re: [nysbirds-l] bird in distress -- Midtown, rehab?

[Phil Jeffrey]

Try:

The Wild Bird Fund
565 Columbus Avenue
New York, 10024
[between 87th and 88th Streets]

646-306-2862

http://wildbirdfund.org/

Cheers,
Phil Jeffrey
NJ


On Wed, Sep 3, 2014 at 8:37 AM, Meredith, Leslie 
leslie.mered...@simonandschuster.com wrote:

  Is there somewhere I can take a BW warbler found in Midtown for
 rescue/care, please; seems to have something wrong with  its leg.


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Re: [nysbirds-l] Black Skimmers in Prospect Park, NYC

[Phil Jeffrey]

They've been seen in both Central and Prospect Parks over the years,
irregularly and invariably nocturnally, so it's by no means unprecedented.

Phil Jeffrey
Princeton



On Sun, Jul 13, 2014 at 8:02 PM, Gabriel Willow 
wrote:

> Last night while walking in Prospect Park around 10:30pm, I was surprised
> to see several Black Skimmers emerge from the darkness to silently glide
> over the lake near the new Lakeside Center, with their distinctive skimming
> motion. There were 8 or 9 in the flock. Beautiful birds! I didn't know they
> frequented fresh water away from beaches... They're an unusual sight even
> in the East River.
>
> Nocturnal perambulations reveal many wonders!
>
> Gabriel Willow
> NYC Audubon
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Re: [nysbirds-l] Black Skimmers in Prospect Park, NYC

[Phil Jeffrey]

They've been seen in both Central and Prospect Parks over the years,
irregularly and invariably nocturnally, so it's by no means unprecedented.

Phil Jeffrey
Princeton



On Sun, Jul 13, 2014 at 8:02 PM, Gabriel Willow gabrielwil...@yahoo.com
wrote:

 Last night while walking in Prospect Park around 10:30pm, I was surprised
 to see several Black Skimmers emerge from the darkness to silently glide
 over the lake near the new Lakeside Center, with their distinctive skimming
 motion. There were 8 or 9 in the flock. Beautiful birds! I didn't know they
 frequented fresh water away from beaches... They're an unusual sight even
 in the East River.

 Nocturnal perambulations reveal many wonders!

 Gabriel Willow
 NYC Audubon
 --

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Re: [nysbirds-l] Iceland gulls

[Phil Jeffrey]

To me it makes no more sense to dismiss hybridization amongst those two
species as a mechanism for primary darkening than it does to invoke it.
 Just because it's not proven doesn't mean the alternative is true either.
 It would be one thing if, say, glaucoides in Iceland (the country) were
darkening its primaries or Glaucous Gulls or even (American) Herring Gulls
were seen to do so, but I'm not aware of any such trend.  A Western birder
might find the idea that two similar gull species *not* hybridizing to be
alien to their experience, for example.

>From my POV it makes sense to attempt to normalize intra-(sub)species
variation by looking at that spread in Iceland glaucoides populations in,
say, Iceland itself.  While more or less anything can happen with gulls,
I'd be a lot less likely to find the "intrinsic variation" idea worthy of
Occam's Razor if the range of variation in the
bird-oft-referred-to-as-Kumlein's substantially exceeds that in the
glaucoides subspecies.

Or, more plainly put - point me to the preponderance of evidence that
hybridization is *not* going on in this form of Iceland Gull (or whatever
it is).

Phil




On Thu, Jan 16, 2014 at 12:29 PM, julian hough  wrote:

> Shai distilled down some common-sensical aspect of the complications
> surrounding Iceland Gulls and what our perceptions are about how solid
> these are as a taxon. As an exiled Brit, I grew up on nominate 
> glaucoidesIceland Gull and it often involved searching through these for a 
> vagrant
> kumlieni "Kumlien's" Iceland Gull.
> It is more a continuing bad-habit that I refer to them as Kumlien's Gull
> here since, as Shai points out, there really isn't that much of a need for
> separating them to sub-species level in the US, as perhaps there is in
> Europe where kumlieni shows up more regularly.
>
> Interestingly, adult iceland Gulls were scarce here in New England
> compared to the numbers of first-cycle birds so it was always cool to see
> an adult. The ones I have seen here in CT have all been mid-grey – to  pale
> grey pigmented and black-primaried individuals seem rather uncommon at this
> latitude. Not sure that as quantitative evidence it amounts to anything
> from a scientific aspect but I wonder what drives the range of pigmentation
>  in these birds…hormones, geography, actual hybridization?
>
> There seems to be a lot of talk – confusion – is perhaps more apt about
> what these birds are based on perpetuated myths about "hybrid swarms "of
> kumlieni or interbreeding populations of kumlieni x thayeri etc and as
> Shai points out it may not benefit us, in lieu of quantitative and
> qualitative scientific study, to continue thinking that black-primaries
> Iceland Gulls here in the US have "x" amounts of thayeri genes flowing
> through them and more whiter-primaried birds have perhaps a more
> glaucoides influence.
>
> As for separating adults from nominate glaucoides Iceland Gulls from
> Northern Europe, certain birds in Newfoundland seem to check the right
> boxes so with care the odd bird might be identifiable by sharp observers.
>
> Intrestingly, the long-calls of these white-winged gulls was recently
> studied and written up by Belgium birder Peter Adriaens here:
>
> http://birdingfrontiers.com/2014/01/09/calls-of-thayers-kumliens-and-iceland-gulls
> /
>
> Good birding,
>
> Julian
>
> Julian Hough
> New Haven, CT 06519
> www.naturescapeimages.wordpress.com
>
>
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Re: [nysbirds-l] Iceland gulls

[Phil Jeffrey]

To me it makes no more sense to dismiss hybridization amongst those two
species as a mechanism for primary darkening than it does to invoke it.
 Just because it's not proven doesn't mean the alternative is true either.
 It would be one thing if, say, glaucoides in Iceland (the country) were
darkening its primaries or Glaucous Gulls or even (American) Herring Gulls
were seen to do so, but I'm not aware of any such trend.  A Western birder
might find the idea that two similar gull species *not* hybridizing to be
alien to their experience, for example.

From my POV it makes sense to attempt to normalize intra-(sub)species
variation by looking at that spread in Iceland glaucoides populations in,
say, Iceland itself.  While more or less anything can happen with gulls,
I'd be a lot less likely to find the intrinsic variation idea worthy of
Occam's Razor if the range of variation in the
bird-oft-referred-to-as-Kumlein's substantially exceeds that in the
glaucoides subspecies.

Or, more plainly put - point me to the preponderance of evidence that
hybridization is *not* going on in this form of Iceland Gull (or whatever
it is).

Phil




On Thu, Jan 16, 2014 at 12:29 PM, julian hough jrhou...@snet.net wrote:

 Shai distilled down some common-sensical aspect of the complications
 surrounding Iceland Gulls and what our perceptions are about how solid
 these are as a taxon. As an exiled Brit, I grew up on nominate 
 glaucoidesIceland Gull and it often involved searching through these for a 
 vagrant
 kumlieni Kumlien's Iceland Gull.
 It is more a continuing bad-habit that I refer to them as Kumlien's Gull
 here since, as Shai points out, there really isn't that much of a need for
 separating them to sub-species level in the US, as perhaps there is in
 Europe where kumlieni shows up more regularly.

 Interestingly, adult iceland Gulls were scarce here in New England
 compared to the numbers of first-cycle birds so it was always cool to see
 an adult. The ones I have seen here in CT have all been mid-grey – to  pale
 grey pigmented and black-primaried individuals seem rather uncommon at this
 latitude. Not sure that as quantitative evidence it amounts to anything
 from a scientific aspect but I wonder what drives the range of pigmentation
  in these birds…hormones, geography, actual hybridization?

 There seems to be a lot of talk – confusion – is perhaps more apt about
 what these birds are based on perpetuated myths about hybrid swarms of
 kumlieni or interbreeding populations of kumlieni x thayeri etc and as
 Shai points out it may not benefit us, in lieu of quantitative and
 qualitative scientific study, to continue thinking that black-primaries
 Iceland Gulls here in the US have x amounts of thayeri genes flowing
 through them and more whiter-primaried birds have perhaps a more
 glaucoides influence.

 As for separating adults from nominate glaucoides Iceland Gulls from
 Northern Europe, certain birds in Newfoundland seem to check the right
 boxes so with care the odd bird might be identifiable by sharp observers.

 Intrestingly, the long-calls of these white-winged gulls was recently
 studied and written up by Belgium birder Peter Adriaens here:

 http://birdingfrontiers.com/2014/01/09/calls-of-thayers-kumliens-and-iceland-gulls
 /

 Good birding,

 Julian

 Julian Hough
 New Haven, CT 06519
 www.naturescapeimages.wordpress.com


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Re: [nysbirds-l] About Iceland Gulls

[Phil Jeffrey]

As far as the literature goes, K.M. Olsen and H. Larrson "Gulls of North
America, Europe and Asia" show an adult Kumlein's "Iceland" Gull with
extensive black in the primaries in photo 275 on page 223 and over the page
on 224 photo 276 shows an adult with pale eyes.

Now the whole thing just comes down to just how much thayeri we consider
being present in a Kumlein's Gull with that much black in the wingtips, but
that's probably about as fruitful as debating the length of a piece of
string.

Phil Jeffrey


On Wed, Jan 15, 2014 at 9:29 PM, Mike  wrote:

> Coincidentally, on the same day that I photographed the classic Kumliens
> Gull at Iron Pier Beach, I also photo'd an adult with black in the
> wingtips. That bird was on Artist Lake in Middle Island, also in Suffolk
> County. Photo at
> http://m.flickr.com/#/photos/35575873@N02/11913883496/sizes/m/
> In addition, that bird had pale yellow eyes, a characteristic I've never
> noticed on an adult Kumliens.
> http://m.flickr.com/#/photos/35575873@N02/11973681755/sizes/m/
>
> For comparison purposes, here is the Iron Pier Beach bird.
> http://m.flickr.com/#/photos/35575873@N02/11913257573/sizes/m/
>
> Mike Cooper
> Ridge, LI NY
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Jan 15, 2014, at 7:04 PM, Steve Walter  wrote:
>
> Pictures relating to the following are at
> http://www.stevewalternature.com/
>
> It was good to hear Mike Cooper's January 12 report that the presumably
> same
> Iceland Gull is back and doing well at Iron Pier Beach. I photographed this
> bird on January 7, 2012 (lower left) and as an immature February 16, 2009,
> making it over 5 years old now. Mike's report was timely in that I consider
> this to be the prototypical Kumlien's Gull, with gray in the wingtips, and
> I
> referred to it for comparison to a surprising looking individual at Jones
> Beach West End Sunday (wing, upper right). The markings in its wings were
> black and a bit more extensive than the Iron Pier bird, and its head a bit
> more angular than might be expected. I discussed this with Shai Mitra, who
> indicated that a bird matching my description has been seen there
> sporadically over the years. In fact, he produced a picture he took January
> 2, 2006 (top left). If indeed the same bird, it would be at least 11 years
> old now. But on top of that, he mentioned seeing a black marked individual
> in Suffolk county. The next day, Sean Sime reported a black marked bird in
> Brooklyn. What's up with that? I haven't seen literature mentioning the
> existence of Iceland Gulls with black in the wingtips. The absence of
> markings is, however, mentioned for a tiny percentage, as seen in the bird
> photographed at Point Lookout February 24, 2013 (bottom right).
> Appreciating
> a variability in Kumlien's Gulls that they may not get enough credit for.
>
>
> Steve Walter
> Bayside, NY
>
>
> --
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Re: [nysbirds-l] About Iceland Gulls

[Phil Jeffrey]

As far as the literature goes, K.M. Olsen and H. Larrson Gulls of North
America, Europe and Asia show an adult Kumlein's Iceland Gull with
extensive black in the primaries in photo 275 on page 223 and over the page
on 224 photo 276 shows an adult with pale eyes.

Now the whole thing just comes down to just how much thayeri we consider
being present in a Kumlein's Gull with that much black in the wingtips, but
that's probably about as fruitful as debating the length of a piece of
string.

Phil Jeffrey


On Wed, Jan 15, 2014 at 9:29 PM, Mike mike...@optonline.net wrote:

 Coincidentally, on the same day that I photographed the classic Kumliens
 Gull at Iron Pier Beach, I also photo'd an adult with black in the
 wingtips. That bird was on Artist Lake in Middle Island, also in Suffolk
 County. Photo at
 http://m.flickr.com/#/photos/35575873@N02/11913883496/sizes/m/
 In addition, that bird had pale yellow eyes, a characteristic I've never
 noticed on an adult Kumliens.
 http://m.flickr.com/#/photos/35575873@N02/11973681755/sizes/m/

 For comparison purposes, here is the Iron Pier Beach bird.
 http://m.flickr.com/#/photos/35575873@N02/11913257573/sizes/m/

 Mike Cooper
 Ridge, LI NY

 Sent from my iPhone

 On Jan 15, 2014, at 7:04 PM, Steve Walter swalte...@verizon.net wrote:

 Pictures relating to the following are at
 http://www.stevewalternature.com/

 It was good to hear Mike Cooper's January 12 report that the presumably
 same
 Iceland Gull is back and doing well at Iron Pier Beach. I photographed this
 bird on January 7, 2012 (lower left) and as an immature February 16, 2009,
 making it over 5 years old now. Mike's report was timely in that I consider
 this to be the prototypical Kumlien's Gull, with gray in the wingtips, and
 I
 referred to it for comparison to a surprising looking individual at Jones
 Beach West End Sunday (wing, upper right). The markings in its wings were
 black and a bit more extensive than the Iron Pier bird, and its head a bit
 more angular than might be expected. I discussed this with Shai Mitra, who
 indicated that a bird matching my description has been seen there
 sporadically over the years. In fact, he produced a picture he took January
 2, 2006 (top left). If indeed the same bird, it would be at least 11 years
 old now. But on top of that, he mentioned seeing a black marked individual
 in Suffolk county. The next day, Sean Sime reported a black marked bird in
 Brooklyn. What's up with that? I haven't seen literature mentioning the
 existence of Iceland Gulls with black in the wingtips. The absence of
 markings is, however, mentioned for a tiny percentage, as seen in the bird
 photographed at Point Lookout February 24, 2013 (bottom right).
 Appreciating
 a variability in Kumlien's Gulls that they may not get enough credit for.


 Steve Walter
 Bayside, NY


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[nysbirds-l] Cupsogue Red-necked Stint continues

[Phil Jeffrey]

No Elegant Term yet but Black, Roseate Terns and that hybrid Dunlin

---
Phil Jeffrey


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[nysbirds-l] Cupsogue Red-necked Stint continues

[Phil Jeffrey]

No Elegant Term yet but Black, Roseate Terns and that hybrid Dunlin

---
Phil Jeffrey


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Re: [nysbirds-l] Gilgo Gyr - Yes

[Phil Jeffrey]

Currently perched straight out in the saltmarsh from Gilgo beach (2:30 pm)

---
Phil Jeffrey


On Mar 2, 2013, at 1:12 PM, Peter Scully  wrote:

> The Gyrfalcon was present on a distant osprey platform NW of the Gilgo Beach 
> parking lot where it remained from about 8 until 12:20.  At that point it was 
> flushed by boat traffic and flew east, perching on a low dock frame across 
> the channel.  Some opportunistic NJ birders chartered a passing boat and 
> obtained excellent photos of the bird perched on the osprey tower.
> 
> -Peter
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
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Re: [nysbirds-l] Gilgo Gyr - Yes

[Phil Jeffrey]

Currently perched straight out in the saltmarsh from Gilgo beach (2:30 pm)

---
Phil Jeffrey


On Mar 2, 2013, at 1:12 PM, Peter Scully peterandrewscull...@yahoo.com wrote:

 The Gyrfalcon was present on a distant osprey platform NW of the Gilgo Beach 
 parking lot where it remained from about 8 until 12:20.  At that point it was 
 flushed by boat traffic and flew east, perching on a low dock frame across 
 the channel.  Some opportunistic NJ birders chartered a passing boat and 
 obtained excellent photos of the bird perched on the osprey tower.
 
 -Peter
 
 Sent from my iPhone
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Re: [nysbirds-l] South Fork LI: A little more information on the Montauk Lapwings

[Phil Jeffrey]

That bird was in Mercer County NJ.
The confusion probably arises because the nearest town (Allentown) is in
Monmouth.
The bird was not seen since the original sighting and wasn't evident on
checking the most likely areas around Allentown on Saturday morning - but
there's a great deal of habitat in that area.

Phil Jeffrey

On Sat, Nov 10, 2012 at 9:15 PM, Mike  wrote:

> **
> In addition to the recent Lapwings mentioned by Angus, another wa in
> Monmouth County NJ on Thursday- photos here
>
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/sgalick/8166827941/in/photostream
>
> Mike Cooper
> Ridge, LI, NY
>

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Re: [nysbirds-l] South Fork LI: A little more information on the Montauk Lapwings

[Phil Jeffrey]

That bird was in Mercer County NJ.
The confusion probably arises because the nearest town (Allentown) is in
Monmouth.
The bird was not seen since the original sighting and wasn't evident on
checking the most likely areas around Allentown on Saturday morning - but
there's a great deal of habitat in that area.

Phil Jeffrey

On Sat, Nov 10, 2012 at 9:15 PM, Mike mike...@optonline.net wrote:

 **
 In addition to the recent Lapwings mentioned by Angus, another wa in
 Monmouth County NJ on Thursday- photos here

 http://www.flickr.com/photos/sgalick/8166827941/in/photostream

 Mike Cooper
 Ridge, LI, NY


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Re: [nysbirds-l] Fwd: [SINaturaList] Hooded Crow in NJ

[Phil Jeffrey]

It's probably not a Hooded Crow - see:
http://www.howardsview.com/HoodedCrowOct21st_12/HoodedCrowBrigOct21st_12.html
where it's now tagged as a leucistic American Crow, which seems the more
appropriate ID in light of the photos on that page (the ones on the lower
part of the page are from the actual Hooded Crow, on LBI last year).

Phil Jeffrey

On Mon, Oct 22, 2012 at 11:37 AM, Jean Loscalzo  wrote:

>  As noted, this was forwarded to the SI list from NJ and might be of
> interest to some in NY.
>
> Jean Loscalzo
>
>
>  -Original Message-
> From: Mike 
> To: SINaturaList 
> Sent: Mon, Oct 22, 2012 7:10 am
> Subject: [SINaturaList] Hooded Crow in NJ
>
>
>   Forwarded from Jersey Birds
>
>  Date:Sun, 21 Oct 2012 13:37:34 -0400
> From:Sam Galick 
> Subject: Hooded Crow, Atlantic County
>
> Most likely the same Hooded Crow from NY --> LBI this past year, Howard
> Eskin reports that a Hooded Crow is presently along Jen's trail at Forsythe
> NWR.
>
> Good birding,
>
> Sam
>
> --
> Sam Galick
> Cape May, NJ
> sam.gal...@gmail.com
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/sgalick/
>
> Sent from my iPhone
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Re: [nysbirds-l] Fwd: [SINaturaList] Hooded Crow in NJ

[Phil Jeffrey]

It's probably not a Hooded Crow - see:
http://www.howardsview.com/HoodedCrowOct21st_12/HoodedCrowBrigOct21st_12.html
where it's now tagged as a leucistic American Crow, which seems the more
appropriate ID in light of the photos on that page (the ones on the lower
part of the page are from the actual Hooded Crow, on LBI last year).

Phil Jeffrey

On Mon, Oct 22, 2012 at 11:37 AM, Jean Loscalzo dm5...@aol.com wrote:

  As noted, this was forwarded to the SI list from NJ and might be of
 interest to some in NY.

 Jean Loscalzo


  -Original Message-
 From: Mike falec...@yahoo.com
 To: SINaturaList sinatural...@yahoogroups.com
 Sent: Mon, Oct 22, 2012 7:10 am
 Subject: [SINaturaList] Hooded Crow in NJ


   Forwarded from Jersey Birds

  Date:Sun, 21 Oct 2012 13:37:34 -0400
 From:Sam Galick sam.gal...@gmail.com
 Subject: Hooded Crow, Atlantic County

 Most likely the same Hooded Crow from NY -- LBI this past year, Howard
 Eskin reports that a Hooded Crow is presently along Jen's trail at Forsythe
 NWR.

 Good birding,

 Sam

 --
 Sam Galick
 Cape May, NJ
 sam.gal...@gmail.com
 http://www.flickr.com/photos/sgalick/

 Sent from my iPhone
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[nysbirds-l] Tonight: The Central Park Effect on HBO

[Phil Jeffrey]

Although this isn't a TV listing service, I thought this might
interest at least some on this list.
"The Central Park Effect" - a documentary on birds and birding in CPK
- will be showing on HBO at 9pm tonight (EDT, I assume)

The HBO website for it is at:
http://www.hbo.com/documentaries/birders-the-central-park-effect/index.html


Cheers,
Phil Jeffrey
(no affiliation with the film or HBO)

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[nysbirds-l] Tonight: The Central Park Effect on HBO

[Phil Jeffrey]

Although this isn't a TV listing service, I thought this might
interest at least some on this list.
The Central Park Effect - a documentary on birds and birding in CPK
- will be showing on HBO at 9pm tonight (EDT, I assume)

The HBO website for it is at:
http://www.hbo.com/documentaries/birders-the-central-park-effect/index.html


Cheers,
Phil Jeffrey
(no affiliation with the film or HBO)

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Re: [nysbirds-l] Knee jerk reaction to 2 guys that just didn't get it

[Phil Jeffrey]

The usual line is that it is just "two bad apples".  Since I spend a
fair amount of my birding time photographing, I've seen a lot of
photographers.  The number of bad apples is more in the range twenty
to forty.  (Think: in the course of one day two of us we documented 3
of them - how many more went undocumented ?).  In the case of Snowy
Owls I'd expect about 1/4 of the photographers to be wandering the
dunes.  Owls in particular reward bad behavior with better
photographs.

Or should I cite the case of the NY photographer who visited a local
birding spot and was apparently taping in the breeding Kentucky
Warblers for a better shot ?

There are lots of examples of this because there are lots of people
doing it, not just two.  While it is still the minority it's quite a
significant minority, and therefore a quite a significant problem for
sedentary wintering birds and breeding birds.

Phil Jeffrey

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Re: [nysbirds-l] Knee jerk reaction to 2 guys that just didn't get it

[Phil Jeffrey]

The usual line is that it is just two bad apples.  Since I spend a
fair amount of my birding time photographing, I've seen a lot of
photographers.  The number of bad apples is more in the range twenty
to forty.  (Think: in the course of one day two of us we documented 3
of them - how many more went undocumented ?).  In the case of Snowy
Owls I'd expect about 1/4 of the photographers to be wandering the
dunes.  Owls in particular reward bad behavior with better
photographs.

Or should I cite the case of the NY photographer who visited a local
birding spot and was apparently taping in the breeding Kentucky
Warblers for a better shot ?

There are lots of examples of this because there are lots of people
doing it, not just two.  While it is still the minority it's quite a
significant minority, and therefore a quite a significant problem for
sedentary wintering birds and breeding birds.

Phil Jeffrey

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Re: [nysbirds-l] Photographer problem at Breezy Point

[Phil Jeffrey]

The photographers shown in Rob's video were not the only instances.
This photographer:
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BqOGEhoql4A/Ty8zKetR49I/BLo/NhfyRUrXTrE/s1600/BozoBirdPhotographer_W5G7596.jpg
was walking all over the dune area too in pursuit of the owls as of
8:30am.  One of the owls may have flushed as a result, although they
were also observed moving independently.  I also have a photograph of
this guy's SUV and NY license plate.

Birders need to understand that bird photographers are parasitic of
the sightings on this list (this particular photographer was aware of
the original NYSBirds-L post).

Phil Jeffrey


On Sun, Feb 5, 2012 at 6:33 PM, Rob Jett  wrote:
> I really hate to have to post this note, but ...
>
> Today at Breezy Point two photographers decided to ignore common sense, 
> birding ethics and clearly posted NPS signs to get close to the reported 
> owls. They had walked a long distance into the protected dune habitat and 
> stationed themselves close to the bird to take photos. I've uploaded a video 
> of the two geniuses here:

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Re: [nysbirds-l] Photographer problem at Breezy Point

[Phil Jeffrey]

The photographers shown in Rob's video were not the only instances.
This photographer:
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BqOGEhoql4A/Ty8zKetR49I/BLo/NhfyRUrXTrE/s1600/BozoBirdPhotographer_W5G7596.jpg
was walking all over the dune area too in pursuit of the owls as of
8:30am.  One of the owls may have flushed as a result, although they
were also observed moving independently.  I also have a photograph of
this guy's SUV and NY license plate.

Birders need to understand that bird photographers are parasitic of
the sightings on this list (this particular photographer was aware of
the original NYSBirds-L post).

Phil Jeffrey


On Sun, Feb 5, 2012 at 6:33 PM, Rob Jett citybir...@earthlink.net wrote:
 I really hate to have to post this note, but ...

 Today at Breezy Point two photographers decided to ignore common sense, 
 birding ethics and clearly posted NPS signs to get close to the reported 
 owls. They had walked a long distance into the protected dune habitat and 
 stationed themselves close to the bird to take photos. I've uploaded a video 
 of the two geniuses here:

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Re: [nysbirds-l] Black-throated Gray Warbler- central park

[Phil Jeffrey]

The Rambles Shed is the building at the north end of what we call the
Maintenance Field (confirmed by Jack Meyer):

40.778372,-73.967907

Your LatLong was pointing at the structure in the parking lot of the
Boathouse, further to the south.

Phil Jeffrey

On Wed, Nov 23, 2011 at 12:22 PM, Jim Osterlund  wrote:
> Embarrassed to say I don't know Central Park well enough.  The only
> qualifying object I can pick up in satellite view is marked;  can someone
> comment?
> 40.775713,-73.968099 - Google Maps

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Please submit your observations to eBird:
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--

Re: [nysbirds-l] Black-throated Gray Warbler- central park

[Phil Jeffrey]

The Rambles Shed is the building at the north end of what we call the
Maintenance Field (confirmed by Jack Meyer):

40.778372,-73.967907

Your LatLong was pointing at the structure in the parking lot of the
Boathouse, further to the south.

Phil Jeffrey

On Wed, Nov 23, 2011 at 12:22 PM, Jim Osterlund james...@optonline.net wrote:
 Embarrassed to say I don't know Central Park well enough.  The only
 qualifying object I can pick up in satellite view is marked;  can someone
 comment?
 40.775713,-73.968099 - Google Maps

--

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Please submit your observations to eBird:
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--

Re: [nysbirds-l] the bottom line....

[Phil Jeffrey]

The list partitioning into rare and common birds is basically
illusory.  NJ makes a go of it but most of the rare birds are carried
on the "general" list, and often get there first.  If you compare the
rarity reporting this spring, BTBlue seems to have covered very few of
them.  Some have been reported here (NYSBirds) or eBirdsNYC (most).

What a lot of birders don't get is that it takes effort to do the
rare/common partitioning.  Jack Siler wrote software on
birdingonthe.net to pull species out of RBAs, but that's simpler since
RBAs have a fairly structured format.  Nevertheless that was clearly
some hours of coding to create that.  To run a rare bird list would
require an effort during migration that dwarfs the minimal effort
needed to clobber 20 emails.  But rather than complain about current
lists, ante up and put in that effort.  Ben C and Karen F take a
certain amount of time out of their lives to make sure that the RBA
now appears online.  Then there's the RBA compilers themselves, etc.
This stuff does not magically appear.

Probably one's best bet for someone that wants to put in no effort
would be something like the BirdsEye smartphone app, which relies on
Cornell's eBird reporting and can pull out unusual sightings in local
areas.  Of course, people have to report to eBird in the first place,
which circles back onto requiring some sort of effort.

Most people on lists join and read and do not post.  I understand why
this happens, but those people also need to understand that people
that *do* post take time out of their lives to do so.  And lost in
this whole discussion is one point: I think it's fair to say that
Ruby-throated Hummingbird is not a widespread breeder in NYC, although
perhaps someone will tell me if I'm wrong in that.

Phil

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Please submit your observations to eBird:
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--

Re: [nysbirds-l] hummer at feeder

[Phil Jeffrey]

Lots of solutions for this:
1.  Aforementioned delete key
2.  Mail programs like Gmail allow you to filter user by name (e.g.
kedenb...@optonline.net) , for example straight into the trash
3.  We can figure out your contributions to the list via
http://www.mail-archive.com/search?q=Kedenburg=nysbirds-l%40cornell.edu
 - in this regard the average signal/noise level of Andrew Block's
posts considerably exceeds yours.
4.  The definitive alternative is to leave the list


On Sat, Jun 11, 2011 at 10:06 AM, Rick & Linda Kedenburg
 wrote:
> We don't find this interesting or unusual. Linda & I have feeders here on
> the North Fork of LI and get breeding RT Hummingbirds every year that nest

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3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

Re: [nysbirds-l] hummer at feeder

[Phil Jeffrey]

Lots of solutions for this:
1.  Aforementioned delete key
2.  Mail programs like Gmail allow you to filter user by name (e.g.
kedenb...@optonline.net) , for example straight into the trash
3.  We can figure out your contributions to the list via
http://www.mail-archive.com/search?q=Kedenburgl=nysbirds-l%40cornell.edu
 - in this regard the average signal/noise level of Andrew Block's
posts considerably exceeds yours.
4.  The definitive alternative is to leave the list


On Sat, Jun 11, 2011 at 10:06 AM, Rick  Linda Kedenburg
kedenb...@optonline.net wrote:
 We don't find this interesting or unusual. Linda  I have feeders here on
 the North Fork of LI and get breeding RT Hummingbirds every year that nest

--

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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] the bottom line....

[Phil Jeffrey]

The list partitioning into rare and common birds is basically
illusory.  NJ makes a go of it but most of the rare birds are carried
on the general list, and often get there first.  If you compare the
rarity reporting this spring, BTBlue seems to have covered very few of
them.  Some have been reported here (NYSBirds) or eBirdsNYC (most).

What a lot of birders don't get is that it takes effort to do the
rare/common partitioning.  Jack Siler wrote software on
birdingonthe.net to pull species out of RBAs, but that's simpler since
RBAs have a fairly structured format.  Nevertheless that was clearly
some hours of coding to create that.  To run a rare bird list would
require an effort during migration that dwarfs the minimal effort
needed to clobber 20 emails.  But rather than complain about current
lists, ante up and put in that effort.  Ben C and Karen F take a
certain amount of time out of their lives to make sure that the RBA
now appears online.  Then there's the RBA compilers themselves, etc.
This stuff does not magically appear.

Probably one's best bet for someone that wants to put in no effort
would be something like the BirdsEye smartphone app, which relies on
Cornell's eBird reporting and can pull out unusual sightings in local
areas.  Of course, people have to report to eBird in the first place,
which circles back onto requiring some sort of effort.

Most people on lists join and read and do not post.  I understand why
this happens, but those people also need to understand that people
that *do* post take time out of their lives to do so.  And lost in
this whole discussion is one point: I think it's fair to say that
Ruby-throated Hummingbird is not a widespread breeder in NYC, although
perhaps someone will tell me if I'm wrong in that.

Phil

--

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http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME
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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] Snow geese at JBNWR

[Phil Jeffrey]

But pertinently Jamaica Bay WR is not the full extent of Jamaica Bay.
So eBird flagging 200 for Jamaica Bay in February is not as
unreasonable as it sounds, because I've been there in February during
a freeze and seen *none*.  In fact as pointed out there probably
aren't all that many within the WR boundaries during the freeze, and
it's certainly well down from the pre-freeze counts during December
(i.e. don't use December counts to indicate likely February counts).
I'm all for accurate information too.

Phil

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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/

--

Re: [nysbirds-l] Snow geese at JBNWR

[Phil Jeffrey]

Really ?  Does anyone see 1,000+ Snow Geese in Jamaica Bay when the
hard freeze sets in during January and February ?  I thought they left
for points south when that occurred and then sometimes re-stage and
Jamaica Bay WR on their way back north, around now.  In fact I had a
flock of ~200 fly over me in Central NJ this morning - in an atypical
location, so they may be on the move in general.

The furthest north I know of a permanent wintering Snow Goose
population is Brigantine division of Forsythe NWR in NJ.

Phil Jeffrey
Princeton

On Sat, Feb 26, 2011 at 7:33 PM, Steve Walter  wrote:
> 200 Snow Geese in Jamaica Bay is unusual. There's usually around 1000 or
> more. You may wish to refer back in your e-mail archives to "Brooklyn Count
> #s - Update", posted 12/19/10 at 11:42 A.M.
>
> --
> From: "Joseph O'Sullivan" 
> Sent: Saturday, February 26, 2011 6:45 PM
> To: 
> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Snow geese at JBNWR
>
>> A large flock of snow geese has arrived at the Jamaica Bay NWR. 200+
>> geese were in the salt marshes west of West Pond at 2:30pm. I entered
>> 200 snow geese into e-bird, and e-bird considers this an unusual
>> sighting, so I'm passing it on.
>>
>> Also at the refuge were a great cormorant and 1+ common mergansers,
>> both first of season for me.
>>
>> --
>>
>> 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 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/
>
> --
>



-- 
"If you lie to the compiler, it will get its revenge"
- Henry Spencer

--

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3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

Re: [nysbirds-l] Snow geese at JBNWR

[Phil Jeffrey]

Really ?  Does anyone see 1,000+ Snow Geese in Jamaica Bay when the
hard freeze sets in during January and February ?  I thought they left
for points south when that occurred and then sometimes re-stage and
Jamaica Bay WR on their way back north, around now.  In fact I had a
flock of ~200 fly over me in Central NJ this morning - in an atypical
location, so they may be on the move in general.

The furthest north I know of a permanent wintering Snow Goose
population is Brigantine division of Forsythe NWR in NJ.

Phil Jeffrey
Princeton

On Sat, Feb 26, 2011 at 7:33 PM, Steve Walter swalte...@verizon.net wrote:
 200 Snow Geese in Jamaica Bay is unusual. There's usually around 1000 or
 more. You may wish to refer back in your e-mail archives to Brooklyn Count
 #s - Update, posted 12/19/10 at 11:42 A.M.

 --
 From: Joseph O'Sullivan josulliva...@gmail.com
 Sent: Saturday, February 26, 2011 6:45 PM
 To: nysbird...@list.cornell.edu
 Subject: [nysbirds-l] Snow geese at JBNWR

 A large flock of snow geese has arrived at the Jamaica Bay NWR. 200+
 geese were in the salt marshes west of West Pond at 2:30pm. I entered
 200 snow geese into e-bird, and e-bird considers this an unusual
 sighting, so I'm passing it on.

 Also at the refuge were a great cormorant and 1+ common mergansers,
 both first of season for me.

 --

 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 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/

 --




-- 
If you lie to the compiler, it will get its revenge
- Henry Spencer

--

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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/

--

Re: [nysbirds-l] Snow geese at JBNWR

[Phil Jeffrey]

But pertinently Jamaica Bay WR is not the full extent of Jamaica Bay.
So eBird flagging 200 for Jamaica Bay in February is not as
unreasonable as it sounds, because I've been there in February during
a freeze and seen *none*.  In fact as pointed out there probably
aren't all that many within the WR boundaries during the freeze, and
it's certainly well down from the pre-freeze counts during December
(i.e. don't use December counts to indicate likely February counts).
I'm all for accurate information too.

Phil

--

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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/

--

Re: [nysbirds-l] Another Example of Unethical Behavior

[Phil Jeffrey]

I'd agree with "many photographers", but disagree with *most*.
The first ebirdsnyc post is just sightings, so not of any interest
apart from the link to the blog.  The followup is interesting in its
set of rationales, some perhaps bizarre, as cited by John.  The blog
gives some idea of how far he went, but I'm not sure it gives much
basis for anything beyond a trespass legal action, however much it may
be warranted.

But for those that are curious, the ebirdsnyc messages are:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ebirdsnyc/message/8615
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ebirdsnyc/message/8618

Blog: http://yojimbot.blogspot.com/

Phil Jeffrey
Princeton NJ


On Tue, Feb 22, 2011 at 12:36 PM, Andrew Block  wrote:
> Here, Here.  I'm glad so many people responded to the unbelievable actions
> of this person.  As I've said before not all but many if not most so called
> photographers have no scruples and will do anything to get close to their
> quarry.  You would think that when this guy found the end of the trail he'd
> know to not go any farther, but no, he did as I've seen many do.  There is
> no excuse for doing what he did and I hope since he violtated several
> federal laws he will be prosecuted by the DEC to the full extent of the
> laws.  I do not however agree with closing down of the preserve as John
> suggested.  In general birders follow the rules and not all should be
> penalized for one's idiotic habits.

--

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3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

Re: [nysbirds-l] Another Example of Unethical Behavior

[Phil Jeffrey]

I'd agree with many photographers, but disagree with *most*.
The first ebirdsnyc post is just sightings, so not of any interest
apart from the link to the blog.  The followup is interesting in its
set of rationales, some perhaps bizarre, as cited by John.  The blog
gives some idea of how far he went, but I'm not sure it gives much
basis for anything beyond a trespass legal action, however much it may
be warranted.

But for those that are curious, the ebirdsnyc messages are:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ebirdsnyc/message/8615
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ebirdsnyc/message/8618

Blog: http://yojimbot.blogspot.com/

Phil Jeffrey
Princeton NJ


On Tue, Feb 22, 2011 at 12:36 PM, Andrew Block ablock22...@yahoo.com wrote:
 Here, Here.  I'm glad so many people responded to the unbelievable actions
 of this person.  As I've said before not all but many if not most so called
 photographers have no scruples and will do anything to get close to their
 quarry.  You would think that when this guy found the end of the trail he'd
 know to not go any farther, but no, he did as I've seen many do.  There is
 no excuse for doing what he did and I hope since he violtated several
 federal laws he will be prosecuted by the DEC to the full extent of the
 laws.  I do not however agree with closing down of the preserve as John
 suggested.  In general birders follow the rules and not all should be
 penalized for one's idiotic habits.

--

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/

--

Re: [nysbirds-l] Boneheads

[Phil Jeffrey]

Flickr allows creation of groups to which people can post photographs.
 Regular email lists like Yahoo can be configured to allow attachments
and public archives.  These are probably the good first approximations
and can be set up so they can be moderated.  The issue with hosting on
a private site (e.g. my site, since this is a thing I've often
advocated) is that the correct ID of the miscreant is critical.  You
don't want to start falsely accusing people.

Phil Jeffrey

On Sun, Jan 9, 2011 at 4:25 PM, Jim Osterlund  wrote:
> David Klauber has an excellent idea;  all we need is a place to send these
> photographs for prominent display.  Any ideas?
>

--

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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/

--

Re: [nysbirds-l] Boneheads

[Phil Jeffrey]

Flickr allows creation of groups to which people can post photographs.
 Regular email lists like Yahoo can be configured to allow attachments
and public archives.  These are probably the good first approximations
and can be set up so they can be moderated.  The issue with hosting on
a private site (e.g. my site, since this is a thing I've often
advocated) is that the correct ID of the miscreant is critical.  You
don't want to start falsely accusing people.

Phil Jeffrey

On Sun, Jan 9, 2011 at 4:25 PM, Jim Osterlund james...@optonline.net wrote:
 David Klauber has an excellent idea;  all we need is a place to send these
 photographs for prominent display.  Any ideas?


--

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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/

--

Re: [nysbirds-l] Identity of Jones Beach Shrike

[Phil Jeffrey]

My own shots of the Shrike, showing some detail:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/phil-jeffrey/5198713710/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/phil-jeffrey/5198713688/

Phil Jeffrey

--

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Please submit your observations to eBird:
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Re: [nysbirds-l] (semi-)official NYC checklist ? - SUMMARY

[Phil Jeffrey]

Every so often I get a little tweaked over the hype associated with eBird.
Yes, it's a useful endeavor.
Yes, it's actual science - but it's science with a large error level
in the data, and the error isn't trivial to estimate.
It has the sort of error level I associate with a badly-controlled
Sociology experiment.
Speaking as a professional scientist in the biological sciences, I'd
like to see the quality of some of those journals - the "peer reviewed
publication" in Nature below is just a News article - not peer
reviewed and just fluff.  That's either sloppy or disingenuous.  The
P.N.A.S. article might be worth a look at - that's the second best
journal in that list.

But "Bulletin of the American Society for Information Science and Technology".
Since Monday Night Football is on in the background as I write this:
Who are we kidding ?  C'mon man.

I made the Swiss Cheese comment:
Ben C. and I were using eBird to look at Prothonotary records with a
view to potential breeding populations north of NYC (there are some on
the nw of NY State).
Now I actually *know* at least some of the Prothonotary records in
NYC.  Many of these are simply not present in the database. Cornell
doesn't mine this list or eBirdsNYC for those records, it relies on
contributors which are a small subset of the birding population to
report.  NYSBirds and eBirdsNYC have the same thing - a small minority
report sightings.  However those lists don't purport to be a
representative record of sightings.

Other comments like: "robust verification"  are largely meaningless if
you have to say: "is it getting better every month".  Robust
verification would require actual checking of every reported sighting,
not flagging the most error-prone observations using a very simple
probability model.  I wonder how many House Finch sightings are
verified ?  The actual counts ?

So if we can skip over all the PR here - eBird *IS* currently not very
useful for constructing an NYC checklist.  It's currently a very
incomplete record and fundamentally flawed as a result.  I expect it
will get better, and I certainly hope it will get better, but that
doesn't mean that it already qualifies as "good".  It only qualifies
as "good" if you have very low standards indeed.

Phil Jeffrey, D.Phil.

On Mon, Nov 1, 2010 at 8:12 PM, Andrew Farnsworth
 wrote:
> Hi all,
> I want to comment on some points in the checklist thread about eBird
> and lists - the eBird team can speak to issues about how to generate
> lists and give much more detail than I, but I want to discuss comments
> relevant to science and eBird and what is an is not science.  To speak

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Re:[nysbirds-l] (semi-)official NYC checklist ? - SUMMARY

[Phil Jeffrey]

For those of you with an aversion to reading my wordy posts, see:
http://philjeffrey.net/NYC_unofficial_list.html

For the rest of you:
Thanks to the many people that replied, mostly off-list.
There is no official checklist.  The best approximation is the one
appearing in NYC Audubon's NYC birding book, and you can find that
online at: http://www.nycaudubon.org/kids/birds/
and was mentioned in the very first reply to my question by Patrick Santinello.

The online NYState checklist, of lesser use since there's no
distinction between NYC and anywhere else, is at:
http://nybirds.org/Publications/ChecklistNYS.htm
but obviously it's a superset and I'm pretty sure Spruce Grouse
doesn't occur in NYC (for example).

The major problem with the Audubon list is the omission of rarities
such as Broad-billed and Sharp-tailed Sandpipers or Rufous and
Calliope Hummingbirds and the fact that it's difficult to me to know
which rarities they've omitted without wading through NYSARC
proceedings dating back through the Middle Ages.  The Audubon list has
this strange compulsion of alphabetizing within family groups, which
may drive you a little crazy.

Another list that has been cited is the static one at Mike Freeman's
site http://www.nycbirdreport.com but sightings are not tagged so it's
impossible to assess the error level.

One or two mentioned eBirds (not my eBirdsNYC), but Cornell's eBirds
database has more holes than swiss cheese and is not that useful for
coverage.

Lastly there's the Central Park Conservancy bird list, but of course
CPK is not a great place to observe shorebirds, so there are large
gaps in that too.

Ergo, here's a slightly more ordered list, enabled via Ben Cacace,
Marie Winn and the NYC Audubon list.
http://philjeffrey.net/NYC_unofficial_list.html

If your favorite rarity is not on it, email me.  I'll see if I can
find a way to data mine old NYSARC records.

Thanks
Phil Jeffrey

On Thu, Oct 28, 2010 at 5:14 PM, Phil Jeffrey  wrote:
> A UK birder asked me, and I realize I have no idea if there is one, or
> even where to start looking for it.
> Any pointers welcome.
>
> Thanks
> Phil Jeffrey
>



-- 
"If you lie to the compiler, it will get its revenge"
- Henry Spencer

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Please submit your observations to eBird:
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[nysbirds-l] Does anyone have a (semi-)official NYC checklist ?

[Phil Jeffrey]

A UK birder asked me, and I realize I have no idea if there is one, or
even where to start looking for it.
Any pointers welcome.

Thanks
Phil Jeffrey

--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME
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ARCHIVES:
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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] Does anyone have a (semi-)official NYC checklist ?

[Phil Jeffrey]

A UK birder asked me, and I realize I have no idea if there is one, or
even where to start looking for it.
Any pointers welcome.

Thanks
Phil Jeffrey

--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME
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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/

--

Re: [nysbirds-l] Prothonotary Warbler-my experience

[Phil Jeffrey]

I think most of us here know that this Prothonotary will probably die
of exposure and malnutrition.  This is a fate that is the destiny of
most of the very late fall vagrants - those Ash-throated Flycatchers
aren't going to turn around and make it back to the desert southwest -
and in some rare cases actually documented (that dead Western Tanager
in NJ that was found a few winters back).

Like the Scott's Oriole, this bird is being an opportunistic
scavenger.  The lay public aren't going to know any better so will
treat it like a sparrow.  Any birder or photographer who thinks that
bread forms any part of normal Prothonotary diet is a total idiot.
Any photographer that is using bread to lure the Prothonotary out is a
self-centered moron.  Go and pick up the bread.  Block the
photographer's shot. Tell them to go to a pet store and get some suet.
 Above all, don't play nice, because a photographer that acts like
that is thinking only of themselves.  Try and educate them if you
want, but I advocate more immediate negative feedback.

I personally doubt this bird has much chance, but if it is going to
have any, it's going to have to get a better diet.

Phil Jeffrey

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Please submit your observations to eBird:
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Re: [nysbirds-l] Prothonotary Warbler-my experience

[Phil Jeffrey]

Everyone is *not* doing it, and in instances like this I think it
could be helpful to figure out who the photographer is.

Phil Jeffrey

On Mon, Oct 25, 2010 at 4:32 PM, drilbu  wrote:
> I just returned from viewing the Warbler at the NYPL.
> I was very annoyed to witness a photographer feeding the bird pieces of
> bread to tease it out from behind the bushes.  When I confronted the
> photographer, he said to me, everyone is doing it.
>
> Whether everyone was doing it or not, it is wrong and in no way justifies
> his action.
> I think as people who love and respect wildlife we should speak out when we
> see endangering migratory
> birds by feeding them.
>
> Shari Zirlin

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Please submit your observations to eBird:
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Re: [nysbirds-l] Prothonotary Warbler-my experience

[Phil Jeffrey]

Everyone is *not* doing it, and in instances like this I think it
could be helpful to figure out who the photographer is.

Phil Jeffrey

On Mon, Oct 25, 2010 at 4:32 PM, drilbu dri...@yahoo.com wrote:
 I just returned from viewing the Warbler at the NYPL.
 I was very annoyed to witness a photographer feeding the bird pieces of
 bread to tease it out from behind the bushes.  When I confronted the
 photographer, he said to me, everyone is doing it.

 Whether everyone was doing it or not, it is wrong and in no way justifies
 his action.
 I think as people who love and respect wildlife we should speak out when we
 see endangering migratory
 birds by feeding them.

 Shari Zirlin

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Please submit your observations to eBird:
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[nysbirds-l] Fox Sparrow photos from Strawberry Fields/CPK

[Phil Jeffrey]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/phil-jeffrey/4604064831/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/phil-jeffrey/4604677564/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/phil-jeffrey/4604064801/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/phil-jeffrey/4604064731/

Click on the "all sizes" icon to see the original size that I uploaded
(900x600).

A word on color: this bird looked more uniform and perhaps darker in
the undergrowth than it does here.  I warmed the images a little to
compensate for the color cast induced by shooting in shadows but the
bird is in mixed lighting which produces the usual complications for
color considerations.  This bird was NOT shot with flash since I don't
think it's smart to do that with rarities (and it produces its own
color issues e.g. with Catharus thrushes).  A quick scan of the Rising
sparrow book (the photo one) makes me think that this is not the
Sooty/Pacific race but one of the interior west races, based partly on
the coloration of the bill but also on the lack of uniformity of
plumage coloration.  The Hermit-like more rufous tail was evident in
the field, although perhaps not quite as blatant, but the contrast
between the back and the wings was more limited.

Sadly I now have to work and unable to do more research until later.

Phil Jeffrey

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Please submit your observations to eBird:
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Re: [nysbirds-l] May 13th Western Race Fox Sparrow in Central Park

[Phil Jeffrey]

It was still there as of 8:20am and appears to be of a far western ssp  
- a chocolate brown and gray, getting a little warmer in the primaries  
and tail.  I have pics.  For those looking for it - it's an active  
feeder but it's quite shy.


---
Phil Jeffrey


On May 13, 2010, at 7:50 AM, Shaibal Mitra  
 wrote:



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 subspecies altivagans at Fire Island  
Lighthouse on almost this date (12 May 71--note that these dates are  
a month later than Red Fox Sparrows are expected in southeastern  
NY). Collected as a specimen, that record has been much studied and  
debated over the years. This one deserves to be described in detail  
and photographed if possible.


Shai Mitra
Bay Shore

From: bounce-5795959-11143...@list.cornell.edu  
[bounce-5795959-11143...@list.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of Karen Fung  
[easternblueb...@gmail.com]

Sent: Thursday, May 13, 2010 7:07 AM
To: ebirds...@yahoogroups.com; nysbirds-L@cornell.edu
Subject: [nysbirds-l] May 13th Western Race Fox Sparrow in Central  
Park


Hi All,
Stephanie Seymour and Rob Fanning just called to report a Fox Sparrow
(Western Subspecies, a much grayer form) in Strawberry Fields in
Central Park.  The sparrow was found on the wood chip path by Steve
Chang and Andrew Rubenfeld about 15 min ago (~6:45am).  Good luck if
you go.

Karen Fung


Think green before you print this email.

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Re: [nysbirds-l] "report" of heard-only warbler, 5/5

[Phil Jeffrey]

Note: Tom doesn't run that list and as far as I know isn't even a
subscriber to ebirdsnyc.  How Tom thinks anyone should sign their post
to that list is irrelevant.  Since I do run that list I encourage
people to sign first names but I have no current intention of making
it mandatory.  In fact Matthew did sign his post.  Subscribers to the
list can see his email and question him directly if they felt the
urge.

But let's return the favor of making that post in the first place:

I find it dubious to start questioning sightings reported on other
lists, especially in light of the author of the commentary.  Other NYC
birders might understand if I make allusions to throwing stones in
glass houses.

Phil Jeffrey
Princeton/Ewing

> 4. Report of such rarity deserves a full name & place of residence
> included in the post.
>
> sharp ears -
> discern well
> & any news
> report soon.
>
> Tom Fiore,
> Manhattan
>

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