Date: 9/5/26 2:59 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] N.Y. County, NYC - Fri., 9/4 - Blue G’beak, Dickcissel, many other migrants
N.Y. County -in N.Y. City- including Governors, Randalls, Roosevelt, and Manhattan islands and adjacent waters and skies -
Friday, September 4th -
On Governors Island, just south of Manhattan, a Blue Grosbeak in female-like plumage was seen and photographed, and a Dickcissel was again seen, and photographed. Also present there Friday were at least 35 Bobolinks passing thru, and a wide variety of other expected migrants.
Central Park on Friday held a minimum of 24 species of migratory warblers, with almost all of the boreal-forest-breeding species being found. N. Shoveler numbers there have come up to double-digits now. A wide variety of additional migrants were seen there Friday including multiple Yellow+billed Cuckoos in different parts of the park. Many flycatcher species were present including representatives of the genus Empidonax, and other expected flycatchers. Other parks around Manhattan also featured a wide variety of migrants. Common Nighthawks we’re again on the move in modest numbers, this including sightings at Central Park and elsewhere. Broad-winged Hawks were seen from several locations, including by many observers from Central Park, as were other expected raptor species from around Manhattan and all of the county.
Date: 9/4/26 4:55 pm From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Fri., Sept. 4, 2026: Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Flycatchers 11 Wood Warbler Species
Central Park NYC
Friday, September 4, 2026
OBS: Deborah Allen, m.ob.
Highlights: Great Crested and Least Flycatchers, E. Wood-Pewee, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, 11 Species of Wood Warblers including Magnolia, Blackburnian, Prairie, and Black-throated Green Warblers.
Canada Goose - 20
Northern Shoveler - 4 Harlem Meer
Gadwall - 4
Mallard - 60-70
Mourning Dove - 4
Yellow-billed Cuckoo - 2 Loch Overlook (Paul Curtis)
Solitary Sandpiper - 1 at the Pool (Scott Brevda)
American Herring Gull - flyover
Great Egret - 1 flyover
Great Blue Heron - 2 (Harlem Meer, Pool)
Red-tailed Hawk - 1 flyover (Tom Cowieson)
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 1 female Lily Ponds
Downy Woodpecker - 1 female Lily Ponds
Northern Flicker - 2 at the Seep
American Kestrel - 1 female Nutter's Battery
Great Crested Flycatcher - 4
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 4
Least Flycatcher - 1 Wildflower Meadow (David Barrett)
Empidonax Flycatcher - 1 Harlem Meer
Eastern Warbling Vireo - 1 Lily Ponds
Red-eyed Vireo - 8
Blue Jay - 1 Conservatory Garden
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 1 at the Seep (Dan Stevenson)
Gray Catbird - 6
Northern Mockingbird - 1 Harlem Meer
Veery - 1 Children's Glade
American Robin - 10-15
House Finch - 2 Harlem Meer
American Goldfinch - 7 including 2 hatch-year birds
Baltimore Oriole - 1 hatch-year male at the Seep (Caren Jahre)
Common Grackle - 2 Harlem Meer
Ovenbird - 1 Lily Ponds (Paul Curtis)
Northern Waterthrush - 1 at the Pool
Black-and-white Warbler - 7 or 8
Common Yellowthroat - 5
American Redstart - 9
Magnolia Warbler - 1 at the Pool (Caren Jahre and Mary Kate Horbac)
Blackburnian Warbler - 1 at the Seep (Paul Curtis)
Northern Yellow Warbler - 4
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 2 (Harlem Meer, Children's Glade)
Prairie Warbler - 1 Lily Ponds (Caren Jahre)
Black-throated Green Warbler - 1 Lily Ponds (Scott Brevda)
Northern Cardinal - 4
--
Deb Allen
Date: 9/4/26 1:54 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] N.Y. County, NYC - 9/3 - L. Bl.-b. Gull, Y.-br. Chat cont., etc.
New York County -in N.Y. City- including Randalls, Governors, Roosevelt, and Manhattan islands and adjacent waters and skies -
Thursday, September 3rd -
A near-adult Lesser Black-backed Gull was seen on Randalls Island, as were a variety of other species, still including Yellow-crowned Night Herons there. At Bryant Park in Manhattan, a Yellow-breasted Chat was ongoing, with a modest variety of other migrants seen there. At Central Park in Manhattan, at least 20 species of migratory warblers were seen on Thursday. Other locations around the county also again held a wide variety of migrant birds. Common Nighthawks continue to be found on their way south.
Thanks to many finders, alerters, and reporters of various birds on Thursday.
Date: 9/3/26 1:44 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Manhattan, NYC - 9/2 - Y.-br. Chat, other migrants
Manhattan, N.Y. City - Wednesday, September 2nd -
A Yellow-breasted Chat was seen by many, and well-photographed, at Bryant Park in mid-Manhattan. Continuing there was also a Marsh Wren, and a total of at least 16 species of migratory warblers, among species seen there on Wed were Mourning, Cape May, and many other warbler species, a notable increase in species diversity for that park this week. Palm Warbler was reported there, and that species was also found elsewhere, including at Central Park. Swainsons Thrush and Veery were also found at Bryant Park. With a lot of observers, that one park had more eyes per square meter seeking birds than many other locations in Manhattan on Wed. A modest component of the native birds in that park might well have been summering - with no breeding - such as multiple White-throated Sparrows, and some other birds. Many migrants also were noted from a number of other locations in the southern half of Manhattan, in particular.
Other sites around Manhattan certainly held multiple migrants, yet again. A minor increase was seen for N. Shovelers, and Wood Ducks were again found in the multiple. At Sherman Creek park in northern Manhattan at least 6 shorebird species continued.
Good birding, with thanks to many finders, alerters, and reporters of various birds.
Date: 9/2/26 1:12 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] N.Y. County, NYC - 9/1 - Y.-br. Chat, other migrants
New York County -in N.Y. City- including Governors, Randalls, Roosevelt, and Manhattan islands and the adjacent waters and sky -
Tuesday, September 1st -
No Ibis of any kind were noted from the county on Tuesday, with some observers checking the area where one was the day prior, as well as other potentially-good Ibis habitats. A Yellow-breasted Chat was the latest of that species sighted this season in the county, on Governors Island on Tuesday. Also seen there was Savannah Sparrow, along with a variety of expected migrants or summer resident birds.
Rather early for this county, a Blue-headed Vieeo was reported at Central Park. There were only about 15 species of warblers noted for the county on the 1st of September, perhaps in part with the weather limiting the observations somewhat. Some Warbler spp. were still found in fair to good numbers. Shorebirds of at least 6 species were again noted from the county.
Nocturnal migration was up to at least modest pace over the region on Tuesday night going into Wed. early morning, with a broad array of species noted in nocturnal flight call observations.
Date: 9/1/26 2:51 pm From: marciaaabrahams at aol.com (via NYSBIRDS-L list) <NYSBIRDS-L...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Do not miss the next Queens County Bird Club meeting on Wednesday, September 16th at 7:30 PM featuring Ian Resnick "Patagonia, the south Atlantic Islands, and Antarctica"!
Queens County Bird Club Monthly Meeting
Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026Time: 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM Place: Alley Pond Environmental Center, 229-10 Northern Blvd, Douglaston, NY 11362
Ian Resnick presents "Patagonia, the south Atlantic Islands, and Antarctica"
Last October into November, Ian Resnick went on a Field Guides trip to Patagonia, the south Atlantic islands, and Antarctica. The trip, which usually leaves from and returns to Ushuaia, instead left from Puerto Madryn in Patagonia. This allowed for an extra day of birding in Patagonia, mostly in an area where Ian had been a couple of years earlier on an Earthwatch expedition. Ian will share his experience via his photos, videos, and also a slide show provided by Oceanwide Expeditions, which runs the ship used on the trip.
Doors will open at 7:00 PM and the presentation will begin at 7:30 PM. Please be prompt and ring the bell when at the front door when you arrive.
Marcia AbrahamsVP/Programs CoordinatorQueens County Bird Clubhttps://qcbirdclub.org/Email: <MarciaAAbrahams...>
Date: 9/1/26 1:56 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Manhattan, NYC - 8/31 - prob. W-f. Ibis, shorebirds, other migrants
Manhattan, N.Y. City - Monday, August 31st -
What appears to be a White-faced Ibis - unless somehow shown to be a hybrid with Glossy - was discovered at Sherman Creek park mudflats, n. Manhattan, thanks to L. Beausoleil for first getting word out, as even Glossy Ibis on the deck in this county has been fairly rare over time. As additional observers arrived and photos were being made, talk turned to the rarer-in-region White-faced Ibis, which would be a likely first county record if confirmed as that species. In a sense, this actually would be in the list of somewhat-anticipated species for rhe county, as the understanding of local occurrences of these Ibis species grows. At Sherman Creek on Monday, in particular there were also many Calidris-genus sandpipers present, possibly more than 100 total at times, of which those identified were Least and Semipalmated Sandpipers each in high numbers. Also present were Semipalmated Plover, Spotted and Solitary Sandpipers, and often typical here, Killdeer. The Ibis was found and observed only in later hours of the day, by a number of additional observers, and that ibis - just the one individual - was observed to fly south, but low along the Harlem River estuary, to an unknown new point, if it stopped off again along that waterway.
Elsewhere in Manhattan, a Marsh Wren coming to Bryant Park in midtown was slightly unusual there, although hardly a first for that park. Other parks and greenspaces held a multitude of migrants on Monday, with nice diversity for example at Inwood Hill Park. At Central Park, with many observers out and about there thru all of the day and in all sectors of that park, at least 20 species of migratory warblers were found including Mourning Warbler and some Myrtle-form Yellow-rumped Warblers, as well as other boreal-forest breeding species. Tennessee Warblers have been noted for many, many days by now. Again numerous all thru Manhattan in appropriate habitat were flycatchers including those in the genus Empidonax. Common Nighthawks and Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have continued to move in numbers.
Thanks to very many independently-walking observers and photographers for sightings, alerts, reports, and in-the-field tips and discussions on birds being seen.
Date: 8/31/26 1:38 pm From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Mon. Aug. 31, 2026: Spotted Sandpiper, Peregrine Falcon, 9 Wood Warbler Species
Central Park NYC Monday, August 31, 2026 OBS: Robert De Candido, PhD, m.ob.
On Sun, Aug 30, 2026 at 8:33 PM A Birder (via NYSBIRDS-L list) <
<NYSBIRDS-L...> wrote:
> Let me guess, the M. stands for melodramatic?
>
> On Sunday, August 30th, 2026 at 8:11 PM, Terry Sullivan <
> <singing7sullivan...> wrote:
>
> TO: the list manager,
> Please unsubscribe me from all of your lists; I
> don’t need this fountain of useless information.
> Terence M. Sullivan
>
> --
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> Sightings: Please submit your observations to eBird at
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>
On Sunday, August 30th, 2026 at 8:11 PM, Terry Sullivan <singing7sullivan...> wrote:
> TO: the list manager, > Please unsubscribe me from all of your lists; I > don’t need this fountain of useless information. > Terence M. Sullivan > > -- > NYSbirds-L List Info: > Visit: http://LISTS.cornell.edu for more information > Posting Address: <NYSbirds-L...> > Archives: > The Mail Archive: [//www.mail-archive.com/<nysbirds-l...>](https://https:<a href=)/maillist.html" class="hft-urls">https://www.mail-archive.com/<nysbirds-l...>/maillist.html > Sightings: Please submit your observations to eBird at http://www.ebird.org > --
Date: 8/30/26 4:17 pm From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] N.Y. County, NYC - 8/30 - Dickcissel, Blue G’beak, flycatchers, 24 + Warbler spp., etc.
New York County -in N.Y. City- including Governors, Randalls, Roosevelt and Manhattan islands and the adjacent waters and skies above -
thru Sunday, August 30th -
A Dickcissel showed and, especially, was heard calling a lot on Governors Island near Fort Jay on Sunday. Many other migrants were also showing there, including Bobolinks, with that species also out at Randalls Island for Sunday, along with many other migrants. Randalls continues as the site within this county to find Yellow-crowned Night Herons, sometimes present in the multiple at this season.
An adult male Blue Grosbeak was seen in the early part of Sunday at Central Park, but may have moved out. That bird could still be present on Manhattan, and also could show in Central again. A Kentucky Warbler, fairly rare in southbound migration here, was reported by R. Davis and is sure to be sought after by others in the area of Central Park where seen. Without that species, Central enjoyed at least 23 species of migratory warblers on the day, some species continuing to be fairly common, even after multiple nights of good migrations that held many night-flying warblers moving well south now.
Besides Blue Grosbeak, some Indigo Buntings were starting to appear including at Central Park, and flycatcher diversity continued at a good pace in most of the county. Olive-sided Flycatcher, along with many Empidonax-genus flycatchers, were present at Central Park and elsewhere in the county again on Sunday. Also ongoing have been Great Crested Flyctchers, E. Wood-Pewees, E. Phoebes, and E. Kingbirds. Thrushes found continue to include Veery in numbers, and Wood and Swainsons Thrushes, as in prior recent days.
Thanks to hundreds of observers and photographers all around the county and out at all hours, for sightings, alerts, reports and hot tips, with very many affiliated with not-for-profit organizations and institutions that offer regular guided bird walks in the interest of education, conservation, sound science and natural diversity.
Date: 8/30/26 12:02 pm From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Sun. Aug. 30, 2026: Belted Kingfisher, Merlin, Cape May Warbler
Central Park NYC
Sunday, August 30, 2026
OBS: Robert DeCandido, PhD, Deborah Allen, m.ob.
Highlights: Wood Duck, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Cooper's Hawk, Belted Kingfisher (Saturday), Merlin, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Cedar Waxwing, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Veery, Cape May Warbler. A Kentucky Warbler was reported at Triplet's Bridge.
Wood Duck - 1 male south end Reservoir (Deb)
Mallard - 22
Gadwall - 2 south end Reservoir (Deb)
Mourning Dove - 15-20
Chimney Swift - 2 or 3
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 3
Laughing Gull - 3
Ring-billed and American Herring Gulls - around 150
Great Black-backed Gull - 4
Double-crested Cormorant - 4
Cooper's Hawk - 2 Ramble
Belted Kingfisher - 1 Hallett Sanctuary on Saturday (Barbara Green)
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 2 or 3
Downy Woodpecker - 3 or 4
Northern Flicker - 4
Merlin - 1 Boathouse Hill
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 3
Red-eyed Vireo - 6
Blue Jay - 3 or 4
Cedar Waxwing - flock of 10
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 1 Ramble
Gray Catbird - 6-8
Veery - 1 Evodia Field
American Robin - 15-20
House Finch - 3
Baltimore Oriole - 6
Common Grackle - 4 or 5
Northern Waterthrush - 1 Triplet's Bridge
American Redstart - 6
Cape May Warbler - 2 Shakespeare Garden
Northern Yellow Warbler - 1 Tupelo Field
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 1 Maintenance Field (Caren Jahre)
Northern Cardinal - 3 or 4
---
Date: 8/30/26 1:24 am From: Thomas Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Manhattan, NYC - 26+ Warbler spp., other migrants, etc.
Manhattan, N.Y. City -
thru Saturday, August 29th -
At least 26 species of warblers were noted from Manhattan, with some good numbers in both overall tallies of birds and for species-diversity in warblers also seen at other sites of New York County by Saturday. All 26 or more warbler species were in Central Park by Saturday, with at least 22 warbler species seen there on Friday. A very strong arrival of Magnolia Warblers was featured on Saturday, and Cape May Warblers continued in the many-multiple, at Central and county-wide. Many species of warbler have increased in recent days. Various parks and greenspaces have seen a number of the migrant warblers over recent days.
These are among the warbler species being found -
Ovenbird, Worm-eating Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush, Northern Waterthrush, Blue-winged Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, Tennessee Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Mourning Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Hooded Warbler, American Redstart, Cape May Warbler, Northern Parula, Magnolia Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Northern Yellow Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Pine Warbler, Myrtle form of Yellow-rumped Warbler - the latter noted more from this county outside of Manhattan thus far, Prairie Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Canada Warbler, and Wilson's Warbler. As per the past weeks, Northern Yellow Warblers and American Redstarts remain fairly common on migration, while many more warbler species have been increasing in the past week.
Obviously many other migrants are moving - Common Nighthawks continue, as do Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, each in the multiple across this county on migrations. Flycatchers are still well represented in diversity, and thrushes continue with Wood and Swainsons Thrush ongoing lately, and Veery moving for weeks this month. Scarlet Tanagers are showing each day recently. Broad-winged Hawks, moving in low numbers region-wide, have been seen and photographed by multiple watchers at Manhattan, including at Central Park, this week, as have a variety of other expected and resident raptors.
Manhattan continues to see at least some shorebird migrants including Semipalmated Plovers, Least and Semipalmated and Spotted and Solitary Sandpipers, the latter two species regular at Central Park, and the whole plus Killdeer more so from northern Manhattan, and with all of these species also showing elsewhere in the county lately.
Thanks to hundreds of independent observers and photographers and including many affiliated with not-for-profit organizations and institutions which offer guided bird walks, and support education, conservation, sound science and natural diversity in their activities, for sightings, alerts, reports.
You can also send reports and digital image files via email to nysarc44 (at)nybirds{dot}org.
If electronic submission is not possible, hardcopy reports and photos or sketches are welcome. Hardcopy documentation should be mailed to:
Gary Chapin - Secretary NYS Avian Records Committee (NYSARC) 125 Pine Springs Drive Ticonderoga, NY 12883
Hotline: New York City Area Rare Bird Alert Number: (212) 979-3070
Compiler: Tom Burke Coverage: New York City, Long Island, Westchester County
Transcriber: Ben Cacace
BEGIN TAPE
Greetings. This is the New York Rare Bird Alert for *Friday, August 28th, 2026*, at 11 pm. The highlights of today's tape are SANDWICH TERN, EARED GREBE, WESTERN KINGBIRD, LONG-TAILED JAEGER and other pelagics, AMERICAN AVOCET, AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER, BUFF-BREASTED, UPLAND, and other sandpipers, SEDGE WREN, LARK SPARROW, GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER, and other warblers DICKCISSEL and more.
A non-breeding SANDWICH TERN was photographed during its brief visit to Plumb Beach Tuesday morning. Unfortunately not lingering as long as the EARED GREBE that was still on the West Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge at least to Tuesday.
A WESTERN KINGBIRD showed up at Caumsett State Park Thursday and continued there through today. The first of hopefully several this Fall.
Seabird diversity offshore in the Atlantic continues while numbers are thinning out. The CRESLI whale watch trip out of Montauk last Monday produced an eye-popping, dark juvenile LONG-TAILED JAEGER along with a PARASITIC JAEGER, over 3,000 WILSON'S STORM-PETRELS, and modest shearwater totals including 19 CORY'S, 4 SCOPOLI'S, 44 GREAT, 8 SOOTY, and 10 MANX.
An exciting week for shorebirds was enhanced nicely thanks to the lowered water levels at Jerome Reservoir in the Bronx. Rarities following last week's 2 BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS in the reservoir basin, with reports of 1 or 2 more this week, were an AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER visiting there Monday and Tuesday and then 5 BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS appearing Thursday increasing to 6 today. Other shorebirds among the over a dozen species visiting there featured WHITE-RUMPED, WESTERN, and PECTORAL SANDPIPERS and WILSON'S SNIPE. The reservoir is viewed best from the fence line along Reservoir Avenue near the intersection with Claflin Avenue. Other shorebirds this week featured an AMERICAN AVOCET visiting the Oceanside Marine Nature Study Area Saturday through Monday, an UPLAND SANDPIPER at Caumsett State Park Saturday, two MARBLED GODWITS lingering around field 10 at Jones Beach at least to Thursday, a WILSON'S PHALAROPE at Heckscher State Park Sunday followed by a BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER and an AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER at field 7 today, another BUFF-BREASTED at Jones Beach field 1 yesterday and 2 HUDSONIAN WHIMBRELS out on Jamaica Bay last Saturday
Two CASPIAN TERNS visited Central Park Wednesday followed by a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL Thursday, and among the variety of warblers now moving through Central and other parks have been MOURNING, HOODED, CAPE MAY, BAY-BREASTED, and WILSON'S but perhaps the most unexpected was the GOLDEN-WINGED photographed in Central Tuesday.
Among the flycatchers this week were a few OLIVE-SIDED, and YELLOW-BELLIED, and a SEDGE WREN was noted again today at the private parcel in Manhasset. A LARK SPARROW was spotted at Sherman Creek Park last Saturday and another continued at Cliffdale Farm in Westchester Sunday but the bonanza was up to 4 LARK SPARROWS at Jones Beach fields 1 and 2 starting on Wednesday with at least 2 still there today. YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT stayed in Prospect Park to Saturday with singles also in Bryant Park Tuesday and Central Park Ramble Wednesday, and a DICKCISSEL visited Floyd Bennett Field Monday.
To phone in reports, call Tom Burke at (914) 967-4922.
This service is sponsored by the Linnaean Society of New York and the National Audubon Society. Thank you for calling.
Date: 8/29/26 4:57 pm From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Sat. Aug. 29, 2026: Veery, Wood Thrush, E. Wood-Pewee, 11 Species of Wood Warblers
Central Park NYC
Saturday, August 29, 2026
OBS: Robert DeCandido, PhD, Deborah Allen, m.ob.
Highlights: Wood Duck, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Veery, Wood Thrush, Eastern Kingbird, Eastern Wood-Pewee, 11 Species of Wood Warblers including Magnolia, Blackburnian, Chestnut-sided, Black-throated Blue, and Canada Warblers.
Canada Goose - 12 Turtle Pond
Wood Duck - 1 male Reservoir (Deb)
Mallard - 23
Mourning Dove - 15-20
Chimney Swift - 2 or 3
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 1 Warbler Rock
Laughing Gull - 5
Ring-billed Gull - 40-50
American Herring Gull - around 50
Great Black-backed Gull - 6
Double-crested Cormorant - 5
Cooper's Hawk - 1 Azalea Pond (Sandra Critelli)
Broad-winged Hawk - 1 flyover (report from Andrew Rubenfeld)
Red-tailed Hawk - 2 over Turtle Pond
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 2 or 3
Downy Woodpecker - 4
Northern Flicker - 2 or 3
American Kestrel - 1 Boathouse Hill
Great Crested Flycatcher - 5
Eastern Kingbird - 1 Ramble
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 3
Empidonax Flycatcher - 1 Evodia Field
Eastern Warbling Vireo - 1 south side Turtle Pond
Red-eyed Vireo - 6-8
Blue Jay - 4 or 5
White-breasted Nuthatch - 1 Tupelo field (Sandra Critelli)
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 1 Warbler Rock
Gray Catbird - 8-10
Veery - 9 or 10
Wood Thrush - 1 Ramble
American Robin - 15-20
American Goldfinch - 2 Evodia Field
Baltimore Oriole - 6-8
Red-winged Blackbird - 1 female Turtle Pond
Common Grackle - 4-6
Ovenbird - 1 Ramble
Northern Waterthrush - 4
Black-and-white Warbler - 9-11
Common Yellowthroat - 4
American Redstart - 12-14
Magnolia Warbler - 1 west side of Tupelo Field
Blackburnian Warbler - 1 east of Evodia Field near Persimmon Slope (Paul Curtis)
Northern Yellow Warbler - 1 east of Evodia Field near Persimmon Slope
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 1 King of Poland
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 1 adult male Evodia Field
Canada Warbler - 3
Northern Cardinal - 4 or 5
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - 1 Sparrow Rock (Karen Evans)
Date: 8/29/26 10:51 am From: <russ...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Some Long Island and NYC Conservation Actions and Coalitions Update
Here are some of the irreplaceable habitats and projects om Long Island and in NYC where birds and our grandchildren need perpetual preservation instead of more development. --- #1 JAMAICA BAY WILDLIFE REFUGE (NYC) – Improving in some ways, not in others * Jamaica Bay Guardian Don Riepe: Agreed-on items in cooperation with Gateway National Recreation Area (GNRA) Superintendent and maintenance chief. - Visitor center: Now open 4 days/week (Friday-Monday). - Portable toilet in parking lot for when Visitor Center is closed. - Trail Management: Wooden fence barriers now block destructive unofficial social trails. - Trailside thicket height trimmed at areas on the West Pond trail to improve bay viewing. * Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Coalition: 16 local birding, environmental and civic organizations. * Conservation Action Agenda: The coalition has identified 34 transformative wildlife refuge improvement projects for further consideration. * OSPREY CRASH? MENHADEN CRASH? Both. Good news: Osprey breeding pairs on LI have hit an all-time historic high. Bad news: The 2026 Jamaica Bay osprey nesting survey was the worst fledgling ratio in 36 years; 20 of the 25 nests were empty! The other 5 only had one struggling chick each. People fear that industrial “reduction fishing” is to blame for depopulating Atlantic menhaden (the osprey’s primary forage) and disrupting the coastal food chain. Malnourished osprey are no longer fit enough to reproduce in some areas, and unable to catch enough to feed starving chicks. A call to action has gone out to CT and the LI East End, and a coalition led by the American Littoral Society is forming with NJ and Chesapeake groups to review what conservation actions can be proposed for a realistic sustainable approach to managing coastal and local menhaden stocks. * BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON are rapidly vanishing from breeding islands in Jamaica Bay and NY Harbor. A NYC Bird Alliance scientific study warns of their disappearance within 10 years without focused conservation action. Sign the petition to save the Black-crowned Night Heron in NYC: * www.nycbirdalliance.org/our-work/advocacy/current-advocacy-priorities/black-crowned-night-heron-protection --- #2 WOODMERE CLUB (Five Towns) – Potential for positive action * NYSOA, South Shore Audubon, Seatuck Environmental and the Long Island South Shore Waterkeeper are offering to cooperate with the municipalities, communities and developers on this landmark project that balances the development of a 155-unit age-restricted condominium with 70+ acres pledged to nature preservation and coastal open space on a former golf course.
* Recommend multi-jurisdictional approach to securing state and federal grants for coastal resiliency, natural buffering against storms and floods, and restoring coastal plains habitat.
* Watch video: https://youtu.be/8E23GTssFhk --- #3 HEMPSTEAD PLAINS Nature Study Area (Uniondale) – Recent positive action * Proposed nature study area to preserve the last 100-acre remnant of the historic 40,000-acre tallgrass prairie that once covered Nassau County. * Hempstead Plains Preserve: Prescribed burns needed on different sections in 2025 and 2026 proved effective to reactivate and help restore the prairie ecosystem. * Renewed Focus: Nassau County Soil & Water Conservation District grant awarded for invasive plants to be removed and replaced by Hempstead Plains endemic species. * AVIAN RESTORATION: The Soldiers2 Scientists organization launched an American Kestrel Restoration nestbox project with Long Island’s first documented breeding pair in 5 years, and two kestrel chicks. * Watch video: https://youtu.be/fpr22PrsOyA * Read more: https://www.ssaudubon.org/pdfs/hempstead-plains-nature-study-area-2025.pdf --- #4 EAST MEADOW BROOK (Central & South Nassau) - Little to no change * Over 10,000 years old, Nassau County’s longest freshwater waterway - 7.5 miles – flows to the saltwater South Shore Estuary Reserve.
* The East Meadow Brook has been severely degraded in the last 100 years by channelization (straightening), pollutants, contaminants, landscaping herbicides, pesticides, nitrogen fertilizer, road salt and plastic debris in stormwater runoff that also adversely affects the bay water quality.
* The survival of the brook depends entirely on community vigilance, restoration efforts, and strict stormwater management.
* Watch video: https://youtu.be/2Kfm0IS0N74 --- #5 STILLWELL WOODS PRESERVE (Syosset) – Uncertain status * Petition to save 270-acre Stillwell Woods Preserve signed by over 4,000 concerned people. * A required land survey map was produced in 2026 but did not clearly delineate the boundary line between the passive nature preserve and the active sports fields. A supplemental survey is recommended to fix this critical deficiency by showing an unambiguous boundary to prevent future legal challenges over land-use expansion. * Strongly recommend using a land conservancy or NYS Parks to provide a conservation easement to the Town of Oyster Bay and to follow a 10-year comprehensive habitat management plan to ensure the protection of the preserve's oak barrens, meadows, native wildlife, groundwater, and aquifer resources. * Recommend following the spirit of Suffolk County Nature Preserve Handbook when drafting robust unbreakable legal protection restricted to perpetual preservation, passive nature recreation use and wildlife habitat management for Stillwell Woods. * Learn more: https://www.change.org/p/save-our-stillwell-woods-preserve --- #6 NISSEQUOGUE RIVER Restoration (Smithtown) – Developing * 120-acre confluence and wetland meadow on 2-mile river stretch in Blydenburgh County Park. * Free The Nissequogue River Coalition: 18 organizations led by Seatuck. * Lawsuit filed against Suffolk County by Seatuck Environmental Association, Save the Sound, American Rivers, Four Harbors Audubon Society, Long Island Trout Unlimited, and Open Space Council for Suffolk County’s failure to follow NY State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) requirement to complete an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to fully evaluate the potential ecological and community resilience impacts of building a new dam and impoundment on the now free-flowing stretch of the Nissequogue River. * Learn more: https://freethenissequogue.org * Here too: https://seatuck.org/nissequogue/ --- #7 EPCAL Environmental Park at Calverton (Riverhead) - Little positive progress * Consider resolving the environmental and economic stagnation at EPCAL by cleanly separating the 1,000+ non-developable ecologically sensitive acres from the 600 developable commercial acres. It’s the most effective way to protect rare kettle hole and grassland flora, fauna and habitat while streamlining economic development for the Town of Riverhead (TOR). This will address the complication that environmental issues exclusive to the sensitive habitats have gridlocked the underlying commercial land transactions into long-standing legal battles and community pushback. * Strongly recommend using a trusted land conservancy to provide a conservation easement to TOR and to manage the rare ecosystems, grassland and kettle hole habitat and wildlife. * Recommend permanently preserving the 1000+ acres as an environmental park per guidelines of the Suffolk County Nature Preserve Handbook.* Recommend permanently preserving the 1000+ acres as an environmental park per guidelines of the Suffolk County Nature Preserve Handbook. --- #8 PLUM ISLAND (Orient Point) – Recent positive action * Suffolk County has recently announced its intention to acquire the 840-acre Plum Island from the federal government and permanently preserving it. * This follows years of advocacy by the Preserve Plum Island Coalition, a powerhouse alliance of over 110 regional and national environmental organizations led by Save The Sound. * Champions: Several federal lawmakers have championed Plum Island preservation legislation in the past decade. Most recently, Senator Chuck Schumer and Representative Nick LaLota of New York, Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, and others. Thank you. * Complements Great Gull Island (17 acres), a short distance from Plum Island. Since 1949, Great Gull Island has been owned by the American Museum of Natural History which has restored its ecosystem. It now hosts the largest Common Tern nesting colony in the world and the largest Roseate Tern colony in the Western Hemisphere. Source: Linnaean Society of NY. * Learn more: https://www.savethesound.org/2026/07/16/press-release-preserve-plum-island-coalition-applauds-suffolk-countys-plan-for-plum-island/ --- #9 NEW YORK CITY - Developing * BIRD/BUILDING COLLISIONS: Millions of birds from across the western hemisphere pass through New York City each spring and fall on the way to and from their breeding and nursery grounds. They rely on natural night light cues for celestial navigation, but building light pollution disturbs these cues, disorients birds, and an estimated quarter of a million die from building window collisions in NYC each year. * Do you live or work in NYC? Please call your NYC Councilmember’s office to ask him/her to co-sponsor and support the new "Lights Out" legislation (Intro 0998) introduced in August 2026, which requires commercial buildings and large retailers to turn off nonessential lights at night. This bill can stop preventable bird collisions and saves energy. * Learn more: https://ujoin.co/campaigns/4317/actions/public?action_id=7220 --- QUICK & EASY ACTION STEPS (Takes 10 Seconds each) Many have asked how you can help preserve these remaining irreplaceable local habitats from relentless development and how to protect birds, wildlife, and biodiversity for the future and for our grandchildren. Below are a few way you can take immediate action and make your voice heard. Anyone living on Long Island or in New York City can review and sign all three of these active campaigns right now: * Sign the NIGHT HERON PETITION for NY Harbor and Jamaica Bay: www.nycbirdalliance.org/our-work/advocacy/current-advocacy-priorities/black-crowned-night-heron-protection * Sign the SAVE STILLWELL WOODS Petition: www.change.org/p/save-our-stillwell-woods-preserve * Sign the NYC LIGHT OUT Action Portal: LI residents, you CAN sign this! Migratory birds passing through NYC at night can be the same birds that were migrating through LI backyards and preserves earlier that day. www.ujoin.co/campaigns/4317/actions/public?action_id=7220 * STAY INFORMED. Subscribe to the free e-newsletter on LI wildlife conservation from: www.seatuck.org Cordially, Russell Comeau <Russ...>(928) 614-9186 Dir., Audubon NY/CT Council Dir., NYS Ornithological Assn -- NYSbirds-L List Info: Visit: http://LISTS.cornell.edu for more information Posting Address: <NYSbirds-L...> Archives: The Mail Archive: //www.mail-archive.com/<nysbirds-l...>/maillist.html" class="hft-urls">https://www.mail-archive.com/<nysbirds-l...>/maillist.html Sightings: Please submit your observations to eBird at http://www.ebird.org --
Date: 8/28/26 1:36 pm From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Fri. Aug. 28, 2026: Wood Duck, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Veery, Wood Warblers
Central Park NYC
Friday, August 28, 2026
OBS: Deborah Allen, m.ob.
Highlights: Wood Duck, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Great Blue Heron, Great Crested Flycatcher, Veery, Wood Warblers.
Canada Goose - 4 (flyover flock of 13 before walk)
Wood Duck - 1 male Harlem Meer (another on the Reservoir after lunch)
Gadwall - 1 hiding in Mallard flock in duckweed at the Meer
Mallard - 20 (35-40 earlier)
Mourning Dove - 5
Chimney Swift - 5
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 1 at the Loch (Dan Stevenson and Claire)
Great Blue Heron - 1 continuing at the Pool
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 1 Lily Ponds
Northern Flicker - 4
Great Crested Flycatcher - 5
Red-eyed Vireo - 1 Lily Ponds
Blue Jay - 9
American Crow - 3
Gray Catbird - 7
Northern Mockingbird - 6 including a couple of hatch-year birds
Veery - 1 Loch (Dan Stevenson)
American Robin - 21
House Finch - 5
American Goldfinch - 3 adult males (Sabine Schumacher)
Song Sparrow - 1 Harlem Meer (Vivian Gray)
Brown-headed Cowbird - flock of 14
Common Grackle - 1
Northern Waterthrush - 2 (Loch (E.), Pool (Caren Jahre))
Black-and-white Warbler - 6
Common Yellowthroat - 1 female Harlem Meer (Paul Curtis)
American Redstart - 1 Green Bench
Northern Yellow Warbler - 1 Wildflower Meadow (Scott Brevda)
Northern Cardinal - 4
Date: 8/28/26 7:46 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Manhattan, NYC - recent migrants
Manhattan, N.Y. City - very recent migrants -
2 Caspian Terns flew out of Central Park early on Wed., 8-26, a species that has shown more often in recent years in this county, and had been recorded in Central Park not at all long-ago, thus not a major surprise but still quite a rare species in this park. A Lesser Black-backed Gull was seen and photographed on the Central Park reservoir berm, between-rains, on Thursday, 8-27.
A Mourning Warbler for Highbridge Park south-sector was a nice addition to that park, for Wed., 8-26. Warblers present around Manhattan besides that species, in the last several days included Ovenbird, Worm-eating Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush, Northern Waterthrush, Blue-winged Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler - this species was very numerous and widespread this week, Tennessee Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Hooded Warbler, American Redstart, Cape May Warbler - occurring in the multiple and in a number of sites, found in a number of areas within Central Park and also in other parks and greenspaces, Northern Parula, Magnolia Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler,` Northern Yellow Warbler - still a common migrant, as it has been for many weeks, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Pine Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Canada Warbler, and Wilson's Warbler - all of the warbler species noted were seen in the multiple this week, and many showed increases by no-later than Wednesday, in Manhattan. Even on partly-rainy Thursday at Central Park, at least 21 species of warblers were seen.
The county, and Manhattan, are just closing in towards 150 species of wild, free-flying birds for this month, with a modest chance of going well over that tally here before the first day of September.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Among butterflies found at Central Park -some by folks also observing birds there - in the past week or less, there have been Giant Swallowtail and 3 additional Swallowtail species, Cloudless Sulphur as well as Orange Sulphur, at least 3 species of hairstreaks including White-M Hairstreak, Gray Hairstreak and many Red-banded Hairstreaks, American Snouts, Variegated Fritillary, Common Buckeye, two species of Lady, Red-spotted Purple, Monarchs, and skippers of multiple species including Fiery Skipper, and many Sachems. There are a number of dragonfly species migrating, as is typical this month, and some damselflies and dragonflies now -and lately- are fairly numerous. Many common and uncommon species of syrphid flies, a variety of wasp and bee and various other insect species have also been found. Many of these insects including a majority of the butterflies have shown in other parks around Manhattan as well. The invasively-overabundant non-native Spotted Lanternflies also continue, here and region-wide.
Date: 8/26/26 8:51 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC - Wed., 8/26 - many migrants, incl. Y.-br. Chat, 24+ warbler spp., etc.
Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City -
Wednesday, August 26 -
Many more migrants have arrived, as well as some diurnal passage, and being seen in the park are a lingering Yellow-breasted Chat in the Ramble area, multitudes of warblers with a minimum of 24 species being represented, also a bit more diversity in migrant thrushes with Swainsons Thrush and Veery in the multiple, as well as Wood Thrush. Both species of expected Cuckoos are present, as have been Common Nighthawks. Most of the annually occurring migrant flycatcher species are also present, although some Empidonax-genus species are left to that genus or in a species-pair such as Willow-Alder. Olive-sided Flycatchers are again present. A majority of boreal-forest breeding warbler species are present, with few exceptions. Vireos of at least 4 species are present, including both Yellow-throated and Philadelphia Vireo.
Birds are showing throughout the park, and there is also diversity in migrants being found around Manhattan in general. In some locations, migrants are not that scarce, and in at least a few areas, migrants have been found in good numbers.
The lingering Lesser Yellowlegs had still been present at the Central Park reservoir at least to Tuesday, 8-25. Other shorebirds are certainly again present or passing thru.
Date: 8/25/26 4:08 pm From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] more Manhattan, NYC - 8/25 - G.-w. Warbler, Y.-br. Chat
brief update from Manhattan, N.Y. City - Tuesday, Aug. 25th -
A Golden-winged Warbler was yet another of the migrant arrivals found in the Ramble area of Central Park with multiple observers and photographers by late day. Over at Bryant Park in mid-Manhattan, a Yellow-breasted Chat was showing for multiple observers. More, in a further report at some point.
Date: 8/25/26 11:21 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Manhattan, NYC - 8/25 - Pectoral SPs reported, & other arrivals
Manhattan, N.Y. City - Tuesday, Aug. 25th -
Two Pectoral Sandpipers were reported, with textual details, from Sherman Creek park mudflats in northern Manhattan this early afternoon, with additional shorebirds also noted there again.
While many migrants had good conditions for ongoing flight overnight, there were at least some new arrivals, such as already found for Central Park, including Wilsons and Black-throated Blue and at least twenty more warbler species, including some from boreal-breeding forest areas. Some diurnal flights of certain migrants is and has also been occurring.
Date: 8/24/26 10:48 pm From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park & Manhattan, NYC - Mon., 8/24 - ongoing migrants, Forsters Tern
At Central Park in Manhattan, NY. City on Monday, Aug. 24th, a minimum of 17 migrant warbler species were ongoing. Away from Central, a half-dozen or more Lesser Yellowlegs have been showing including at the flats of Sherman Creek Park as well as sightings from off Inwood Hill Parks n. side. Up to 6 additional shorebird species were also seen from northern Manhattan, while Central Park still held Solitary Sandpipers, in addition to regularly-noticed Spotted Sandpipers. Off the area of west Greenwich Village at pier 57 on the Hudson River, a Forsters Tern was noticed - J. Suzuki. Other terns, besides the most-regular Common Terns of summer in this county, may be passing thru on migration, worth close watches.
Later afternoon observers of the ongoing single Lesser-legs at the Central Park reservoir on Monday saw a Bald Eagle come along and swing down to sit on the same berm not so far from that yellowlegs, and yet this did not flush the Yellowlegs. Gulls, however, certainly reacted with fear to the Eagle arrival. Incidentally, Green-winged Teal continued at the C.P. Reservoir Monday, and N. Shoveler was still showing at Central Park.
A strong departure of migrants has occurred thru Monday night into early Tuesday, with many migrants appearing to over-fly the NYC area, some making distances of multiple hundreds of miles south, on their nocturnal journeys. In any event there may well be new arrivals for Tuesday.
Date: 8/23/26 11:59 pm From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC - 8/22, 8/23 - Lesser Yellowlegs, Y.-br. Chat, 22+ Warbler spp., etc.
Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City -
mainly sightings from Sat. and Sun., August 22-23 -
A Yellow-breasted Chat is a confirmed sighting at the Central Park Ramble on Saturday, Aug. 22.
Also found later on that same day was an in-park find at the reservoir, of a rare in this park Lesser Yellowlegs, with photos from D.J. Ringer, and this bird happily was present again on Sunday, 8-23 still at the C.P. Reservoir. High-power optics of some type can be helpful, esp so with birds far into the middle sectors of the reservoir.
As to warblers in migration, some fairly good arrival, while there also was much fly-by nocturnal migration on Sat. night. Cape May Warblers were among species turning up and with that species, up to 21 additional species of warblers were found on Sunday alone - this for all of the park, and for all day, rather than any small subset of area or time during all of Sunday, and with far more than 100 independent observers and photographers out and about from dawn to dusk hours.
Common Nighthawks are again passing thru, as are further Yellow-billed Cuckoos. And as expected, dozens more of a variety of migrant birds moving south. A fair to good number of migrants are also being seen in multiple other parks and greenspaces around Manhattan, all this month and increasingly thru the recent weekend.
Arrivals of Green-winged Teal and recent additions of N. Shoveler add to the ongoing Wood Ducks and other typical waterfowl present. Some shorebird spp beyond the rare here Lesser-legs have included Least, Spotted in the multiple, and Solitary Sandpipers.
A Virginia Rail was seen at Central Park back on Aug. 16.
. . .
For many, there was no new sighting on Sunday of the Lark Sparrow seen Saturday at Sherman Creek Park, in upper Manhattan… it seems likely that that bird, confirmed for Sat., may have placed more area birders at Sherman Creek by Sunday than had been noted in that modestly sized park before. Northern Manhattan does receive very good coverage by multiple experienced birders, still it is a part of Manhattan deserving of even greater scrutiny at essentially all times of year.
Date: 8/23/26 3:24 pm From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Sun. Aug. 23, 2026: Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Green Heron, Scarlet Tanager
Central Park NYC
Sunday, August 23, 2026
OBS: Robert DeCandido, PhD, m.ob.
Highlights: Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Green Heron, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, 6 Species of Wood Warblers, Scarlet Tanager.
Mallard - 14
Mourning Dove - 15-20
Chimney Swift - 3 or 4
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 1 Azalea Pond
American Herring Gull - 3 or 4 flyovers
Green Heron - 2 Turtle Pond
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 2 or 3
Downy Woodpecker - 1 Ramble
Northern Flicker - 3 or 4
Great Crested Flycatcher - 5
Eastern Warbling Vireo - 3 or 4
Red-eyed Vireo - 5
Blue Jay - 3 or 4
Barn Swallow - 4
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 1 Turtle Pond Dock
Gray Catbird - 6-8
American Robin - 20-25
Baltimore Oriole - 18-22
Brown-headed Cowbird - 1 immature south side Turtle Pond
Common Grackle - 8-10
Ovenbird - 3 or 4
Northern Waterthrush - 1 Upper Lobe
Black-and-white Warbler - 5
American Redstart - 6-8
Northern Yellow Warbler - 1 Upper Lobe
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 1 Ramble
Scarlet Tanager - 1 east side of Azalea Pond
Northern Cardinal - 4 or 5
--
Date: 8/22/26 9:45 pm From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Manhattan, NYC - Sat., 8/22 - Lark Sparrow, and other migrants
Manhattan, N.Y. City - Saturday, August 22nd -
The likely highlight among all birds noted for Saturday in Manhattan was the Lark Sparrow at Sherman Creek park, which is just north of the eastern end of Dyckman Street and adjoins the Harlem River. Thanks to B. Sadock for initial alert, and with multiple other observers for this bird. Also somewhat notable was a N. Harrier on the deck at one point in this park. There also were ongoing shorebirds being found, in modest diversity as compared with the wider region, but for N.Y. County, which Manhattan is one island in, the numbers of shorebirds have been quite good lately.
Over all of Manhattan, a wide variety of migrants were seen, warblers in particular, with for example a minimum of 18 species of warblers for Central Park alone. A Yellow-breasted Chat was reported at Central Park, awaiting confirmation by eBird review team.
Date: 8/22/26 2:16 pm From: Martin Sandler (via NYSBIRDS-L list) <NYSBIRDS-L...> Subject: Re: [nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Sat. Aug. 22, 2026: Am. Kestrel, Veery, 8 Species of Wood Warblers
Looks great!
Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS
On Saturday, August 22, 2026, 4:37 PM, Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> wrote:
Central Park NYC
Saturday, August 22, 2026
OBS: Robert DeCandido, PhD, Deborah Allen, m.ob.
Highlights on a cloudy morning: Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Spotted Sandpiper, Green Heron, Osprey, American Kestrel, Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Veery, 8 Species of Wood Warblers.
Mallard - 9
Mourning Dove - 30-35
Chimney Swift - 3-5
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 1 Azalea Pond
Spotted Sandpiper - 1 Turtle Pond (Ryan Serio)
American Herring Gull - 4-6 flyovers
Green Heron - 1 Turtle Pond
Great Egret - 1 Turtle Pond
Great Blue Heron - 1 immature Upper Lobe, seen earlier at Turtle Pond
Date: 8/22/26 1:37 pm From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Sat. Aug. 22, 2026: Am. Kestrel, Veery, 8 Species of Wood Warblers
Central Park NYC
Saturday, August 22, 2026
OBS: Robert DeCandido, PhD, Deborah Allen, m.ob.
Highlights on a cloudy morning: Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Spotted Sandpiper, Green Heron, Osprey, American Kestrel, Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Veery, 8 Species of Wood Warblers.
Mallard - 9
Mourning Dove - 30-35
Chimney Swift - 3-5
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 1 Azalea Pond
Spotted Sandpiper - 1 Turtle Pond (Ryan Serio)
American Herring Gull - 4-6 flyovers
Green Heron - 1 Turtle Pond
Great Egret - 1 Turtle Pond
Great Blue Heron - 1 immature Upper Lobe, seen earlier at Turtle Pond
Osprey - 1 flyover Belvedere Castle (Paul Curtis)
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 2 or 3
Downy Woodpecker - 2 or 3
Northern Flicker - 4
American Kestrel - 1 male Boathouse Hill
Great Crested Flycatcher - 3
Eastern Kingbird - 1 west side of Azalea Pond
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 1 heard (Ryan Serio)
Red-eyed Vireo - 4
Blue Jay - 2 or 3
American Crow - 2-4 heard-only
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 1 Bow Bridge (Paul Curtis)
Gray Catbird - 6-8
Northern Mockingbird - 1 Turtle Pond (Ryan Serio)
Veery - 1 Evodia Field
Wood Thrush - 1 Evodia Field (Sandra Critelli)
American Robin - 12-15
American Goldfinch - 1 male Bow Bridge
White-throated Sparrow - 1 Azalea Pond
Baltimore Oriole - 18-20
Common Grackle - 5-7
Ovenbird - 3
Northern Waterthrush - 1 Upper Lobe
Blue-winged Warbler - 3 or 4
Black-and-white Warbler - 6-8
Common Yellowthroat - 3 females
American Redstart - 12-26
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 5-7
Canada Warbler - 1 Belvedere Castle Overlook
Northern Cardinal - 4-6
--
Deb Allen
You can also send reports and digital image files via email to
nysarc44<at>nybirds<dot>org
If electronic submission is not possible, hardcopy reports and photos
or sketches are welcome. Hardcopy documentation should be mailed to:
Gary Chapin - Secretary
NYS Avian Records Committee (NYSARC)
125 Pine Springs Drive
Ticonderoga, NY 12883
Hotline: New York City Area Rare Bird Alert
Number: (212) 979-3070
Compiler: Tom Burke
Coverage: New York City, Long Island, Westchester County
Transcriber: Gail Benson
[~BEGIN RBA TAPE~]
Greetings! This is the New York Rare Bird Alert for Friday, August 21,
2026 at 11:00 pm. The highlights of today’s tape are EARED GREBE,
LONG-TAILED JAEGER, RED-NECKED PHALAROPE and other pelagics, UPLAND,
BUFF-BREASTED and BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS, MARBLED GODWIT, WILSON'S
PHALAROPE, SEDGE WREN, LARK SPARROW, YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, SUMMER
TANAGER, DICKCISSEL and more.
The EARED GREBE continues on the West Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife
Refuge, but recent rains have hampered any progress that had been made
to get the water level on the East Pond down to an appropriate level
for shorebirds and birders alike. The shorebird festival last Saturday
did find WILSON’S PHALAROPE and STILT, PECTORAL, WESTERN and WHITE
RUMPED SANDPIPERS among the many more regular species there, but even
then the pond was not traversable.
Shorebird highlights in the region have included a RED-NECKED
PHALAROPE on Westchester’s Kensico Reservoir last Saturday and another
joining 2 WILSON’S PHALAROPES Monday in ponds at Jones Beach West End
located in the dunes between Fields 1 and 2. Another WILSON'S was at
Sagg Pond Monday.
A private parcel in Manhasset, with no access allowed, did host an
UPLAND SANDPIPER as well as a SEDGE WREN last Tuesday, and a
BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER dropped by Field 5 at Robert Moses State Park
last Monday. At least 2 BAIRD’S SANDPIPERS have been visiting lowered
Jerome Reservoir in the Bronx since Monday, with another reported from
Plumb Beach on Wednesday.
Up to 3 MARBLED GODWITS have been noted this week off Field 10 at
Jones Beach State Park, with singles at Piermont Pier Thursday and
Plumb Beach today, but the peak was the 8 at Old Inlet in Bellport Bay
last Sunday. Three HUDSONIAN WHIMBRELS were out in Jamaica Bay last
Saturday, while also out at Old Inlet Sunday, besides loads of
shorebirds, were 1 CASPIAN, 4 ROSEATE, 15 ROYAL and 2 BLACK TERNS and
17 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS.
Boat trips around Montauk, especially CRESLI whale excursions, are
still also finding pelagic birds - last Friday and Sunday single
LONG-TAILED JAEGERS were reported, and Saturday and Sunday produced 1
or 2 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES, while also continuing were numbers of
WILSON’S STORM-PETRELS and GREAT and CORY'S SHEARWATERS plus a few
SCOPOLI’S, SOOTY and MANX as well, and a PARASITIC JAEGER or two.
COMMON NIGHTHAWKS are now coming through during suitable evenings, and
FLYCATCHERS migrating have included OLIVE-SIDED and various Empidonax
species.
An immature LARK SPARROW has been around the entrance parking lot to
Cliffdale Farm off Teatown Road in Westchester since Wednesday, and
single YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS were noted at Hither Hills State Park
Wednesday and in Prospect Park Thursday and today.
An increase in migrating WARBLERS this week included reports of
WORM-EATING, TENNESSEE, MOURNING, HOODED, CAPE MAY, BLACKBURNIAN,
BLACKPOLL, BLACK-THROATED BLUE and YELLOW RUMPED.
A female SUMMER TANAGER was reported today in McGolrick Park in
Greenpoint, Brooklyn, and a few calling DICKCISSELS moving overhead in
the morning were noted this week in central Westchester and at Jerome
Reservoir and Coney Island Creek.
To phone in reports call Tom Burke at (914) 967-4922.
This service is sponsored by the Linnaean Society of New York and the
National Audubon Society. Thank you for calling.
Date: 8/21/26 2:39 pm From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Fri. Aug. 21, 2026: Osprey, Louisiana Waterthrush, Magnolia and Blackburnian Warblers
Central Park NYC
Friday August 21, 2026
OBS: Deborah Allen, m.ob.
Highlights: Wood Duck, Osprey, 8 Species of Wood Warblers including Louisiana Waterthrush, Magnolia and Blackburnian Warblers.
Canada Goose - 45
Wood Duck - 1 male Harlem Meer
Mallard - 44
Mourning Dove - 5 or 6
Chimney Swift - 2
Great Egret - 3 flyovers
Great Blue Heron - 1 at the Pool
Osprey - 1 flyover Harlem Meer
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 4
Northern Flicker - 1 Loch
Great Crested Flycatcher - 3 (Paul Curtis)
Red-eyed Vireo - 1 Lily Ponds
Blue Jay - 4
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 3
Gray Catbird - 8
Northern Mockingbird - 4
American Robin - 20-25
House Finch - heard Conservatory Garden
American Goldfinch - 2 Harlem Meer (Scott Brevda)
Song Sparrow - 1 Harlem Meer
Common Grackle - 2
Louisiana Waterthrush - 1 at the Pool
Northern Waterthrush - 2 at the Pool
Black-and-white Warbler - 1 Loch Overlook (Sabine Schumacher)
Common Yellowthroat - 1 female Loch (Sabine Schumacher, Dan Stevenson)
American Redstart - 4
Magnolia Warbler - 1 Lily Ponds (Scott Brevda, Dan Stevenson)
Blackburnian Warbler - 1 Lily Ponds (Paul Curtis)
Northern Yellow Warbler - 1 Harlem Meer (Andrea Hessel)
Northern Cardinal - 1 Great Hill
--
Date: 8/21/26 7:37 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Fri., 8/21 Pectoral Sandpiper, Randalls Island, N.Y. County, NYC
A Pectoral Sandpiper found early Friday after the overnight rains is quite uncommon for this county, although some records of the species in the county also predate the eBird era- this one at Randalls Island, just east of Manhattan, and within N.Y. County, which is in N.Y. City. Other shorebirds which have been showing this week also continue, in part.
. . . . .
As for warblers seen just in Central Park on Thursday, 8-20, at least 17 species were present in that one park for the full day, and as seen solely by birders and photographers in not-for-profit guided walks or independently. The migration of Thursday night was good, even if consisting of a lot of flyovers, thru the night up until showers came along.
Date: 8/20/26 12:23 pm From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC, Thu. Aug. 20, 2026: Red-shouldered Hawk, 7 Species of Wood Warblers Incl. Magnolia and Blackpoll.
Central Park, NYC
Thursday, August 20, 2026
OBS: Robert DeCandido, PhD, m.ob.
Highlights: Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Red-shouldered Hawk, Seven Species of Wood Warblers Including Ovenbird, Magnolia and Blackpoll warblers.
Mallard - 8
Mourning Dove - 10-15
Chimney Swift - 4-6
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 1 south of Warbler Rock
American Herring Gull - 5 flyovers
Great Egret - 1 Turtle Pond
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 3 or 4
Downy Woodpecker - 2 Ramble
Northern Flicker - 2 or 3
Great Crested Flycatcher - 2 Ramble
Eastern Warbling Vireo - 4
Red-eyed Vireo - 2 Ramble
Blue Jay - 4-6
Gray Catbird - 6-8
American Robin - 8-10
Song Sparrow - 1 Belvedere Castle
Baltimore Oriole - 12-15
Common Grackle - 8-10
Ovenbird - 2 or 3
Black-and-white Warbler - 3
American Redstart - 6
Magnolia Warbler - 2 (Belvedere Castle, south side Turtle Pond)
Northern Yellow Warbler - 3
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 1 south side Turtle Pond
Blackpoll Warbler - 1 south side Turtle Pond (Paul Curtis)
Northern Cardinal - 4 or 5
Date: 8/20/26 2:25 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] N.Y. County, NYC - to Wed., 8/19 - shorebirds, other migrants, etc.
New York County -in N.Y. City- including Manhattan, Randalls, Governors, and Roosevelt Islands and the adjacent waters and skies -
thru Wednesday, August 19th -
Some Lesser Yellowlegs were noted from both northern Manhattan as well as Randalls Island, both in N.Y. County, on Mon., Aug. 17, for a tally of at least 7 shorebird species on that day in this usually rather shorebird-impoverished county, as compared with any neighboring counties. At least 5 of the shorebird species seen Monday were also noted in Central Park, some at the reservoir. Also noted from a few N.Y. County locations from Aug. 15, 16, and 18th as well, and with fewer Greater Yellowlegs being noted lately, for the county, making for 8 shorebird spp. recently in this county. Other shorebird species beyond those noted above may well have passed into this countys airspace, but may not have stopped in to feed or rest. Some modest shorebird stop-ins or lingerers were still being seen here to Wed., 8-19.
Black-billed and Yellow-billed Cuckoos have each been found in Central Park this week, with Yellow-billed also in some other locations in this county. Olive-sided, and up to 8 additional species of Flycatchers continued for the county, with many of the species including the one noted above again seen in Central Park.
At least 21 species of warblers have turned up so far this week after the weekend in N.Y. County, and all of the 21 species noted have been found within Central Park, while varying numbers of species were showing in other locations in the county. Reports were made to eBird for Blackpoll Warbler as well as for Yellow-rumped Warbler over the previous weekend, both species reports made for Central Park in Manhattan, and thus far, reports of those 2 warbler species have remained unconfirmed by reviewers. Non-confirmations in eBird can be for multiple potential reasons, including if and when a reporter is unresponsive to an inquiry by the reviewer or, in N.Y. City, by a review team. The one site in New York County, which includes Manhattan and three additional islands, where Yellow-rumped Warbler was confirmed by review was from Randalls Island on Aug. 15th.
Date: 8/19/26 6:50 am From: Patrice Domeischel <fourharborsheron...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Tomorrow! Summer Lecture - 50,000 MILES IN SEARCH Of GODWITS - From the Mexican Border to the Arctic Ocean
Join us for an in-person presentation hosted jointly by Four Harbors Audubon Society and Seatuck Environmental Association.
50,000 MILES IN SEARCH Of GODWITS - From the Mexican Border to the Arctic Ocean
Guest Speaker: Bruce M. Beehler, PhD.
The Bates House, One Bates Road, Setauket, NY 11733
7:30 p.m.
Free and Open to all
Please register by emailing: <fourharborsheron...> <mailto:<fourharborsheron...>
Between 2019 and 2023, the speaker carried out thirteen road trips in search of Hudsonian Godwits. Beehler visited stop-over sites through the Great Plains; visited breeding habitat in western Alaska, Churchill, Manitoba, and the High Arctic of western Canada; and did field surveys at a famous autumn staging site in James Bay. In all, Beehler traveled solo by car more than 35,000 miles and 15,000 miles by plane and train, encountering Hudsonian Godwits in 10 states and provinces. He also spent time with Marbled and Bar-tailed Godwits, and 33 additional shorebird species. Moreover, Beehler accompanied various shorebird fieldworkers as they studied godwits and other species in remote and iconic field sites. In this illustrated lecture, Beehler will recount the highlights of his more than five months in the field, from Nome and Point Barrow to Tuktoyaktuk, Moosonee, and Monomoy Island.
Bruce Beehler is an ornithologist, conservationist, and naturalist. He is currently a Research Associate in the Division of Birds at the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, and a Scientific Affiliate of the American Bird Conservancy. Beehler has spent much of his scientific career studying and conserving birds and their forest habitats. After conducting doctoral fieldwork in Papua New Guinea, Beehler worked for ten years at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, followed by stints at the Wildlife Conservation Society, US Department of State, Conservation International, and the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation. Beehler is an elec- tive Fellow of the American Ornithological Society and has served on the boards of the American Bird Conservancy (ABC) and RARE. Currently, Beehler serves on the Scientific Advisory Board of the Rainforest Trust. Beehler has pub- lished seventeen books and monographs and authored scores of technical and popular articles about birds and nature. In 2007, Beehler was featured in a 60-Minutes piece highlighting an expedition he led to the Foja Mountains in the interior of New Guinea in which scores of new species of plants and animals were discovered. Today Beehler carries out natural history studies and writing focused on wildlife and natural places in North America.
Patrice Domeischel
Lecture Committee
Four Harbors Audubon Society
Date: 8/18/26 8:06 am From: Sean Beckett <sean...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Ecuador birding trip with VT nature center this February
Hi all,
We wanted to invite you to check out an upcoming birding adventure to
Ecuador with North Branch Nature Center, guided by Chip Darmstadt, on Feb
17-27. Amazing birds, unbelievable ecosystems, and a great group of
like-minded travelers. Toucans, tanagers, cock-of-the-rock, and even Andean
condors.
All the proceeds of our birding trips support our youth nature education
work here in Vermont, so these trips are a great way to combine
philanthropy with your passion for birds. And we offset the trip's carbon
footprint (including your flights) through Vermont wilderness conservation
projects with the Northeast Wilderness Trust.
On a personal note, I traveled with Chip to Ecuador as a teenager on a
similar itinerary long ago. These birds, these birding lodges, and Chip's
passionate leadership were big catalysts in my subsequent pursuit of a
career in nature—I'm so excited for others to be similarly transformed by
the experience!
Date: 8/17/26 4:13 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] N.Y. County, NYC - thru 8/16 - migration, plus regular species
New York County -in N.Y. City- including Manhattan, Randalls, Governors, and Roosevelt Islands and the adjacent waters and skies -
thru Sunday, August 16 -
As for Central Park on Sunday, Aug. 16th alone, at least 17 species of migratory Warblers were seen on the day, by many observers thru all of the park. Yellow-billed Cuckoo was again seen in the Ramble area at Central, and at least 4 species of Sandpipers showed on the day, with Least, Semipalmated, Solitary, and Spotted Sandpipers all present.
The county overall had a more active migration period leading up to and starting off the weekend. A lot of migration had been occurring, with the majority being nocturnal and of southbound migrants passing right by, going on. However, some stopovers that did show have included shorebirds such as Semipalmated Plovers, Greater Yellowlegs, Solitary, Spotted, Least, these last 3 species showing at Central Park as well as multiple other sites, and Semipalmated Sandpipers by Sunday, in some Manhattan sites and on at least 2 of the other islands of the county. Inwood Hill Park, in n. Manhattan, with its mudflats, had enjoyed some numbers of some of these shorebirds, and Sherman Creek just n. of the eastern end of Dyckman Street, had numbers of shorebirds on Sunday. Also showing in a number of typical sites have been Killdeer, which also breed in this county.
A listing of many of the species found in the past several days for N.Y. County is below -
Brant - very few, still summering.
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Wood Duck - multiple at Central Park.
Northern Shoveler
Gadwall
Mallard
American Black Duck
Wild Turkey - Battery Park, southern end of Manhattan.
feral Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Yellow-billed Cuckoo - several.
Common Nighthawks - multiple.
Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds - multiple sites.
Semipalmated Plover - multiple for the county, but not many.
Killdeer
Least Sandpiper - modest numbers at a few locations.
Semipalmated Sandpiper - in moderate numbers at some locations.
Calidris species - some of the small sandpipers on the move were not given species ID.
Spotted Sandpiper - ongoing in fair to good numbers, multiple sites.
Solitary Sandpiper - ongoing.
Greater Yellowlegs - few, which is fairly typical for this county each season.
Laughing Gull - many, an increasingly noticed species in recent years in this county.
Ring-billed Gull
American Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Common Tern - regular in summer, breeds as well.
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Snowy Egret - good numbers in recent days.
Green Heron - ongoing.
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron - regular only at Randalls Island in this county.
Black Vulture - semi-regular from n. Manhattan, less so in any other part of N.Y. County.
Turkey Vulture
Osprey - multiple, daily.
Coopers Hawk - in very small numbers.
Bald Eagle - multiple.
Red-shouldered Hawk - very unusual find recently in mid August or any part of summer.
Broad-winged Hawk - at least one confirmed sighting for Manhattan.
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Yellow-shafted Northern Flicker
Monk Parakeet - several sightings recently. A breeding species in N.Y. City.
Olive-sided Flycatcher - regular over multiple recent days at Central Oark.
Eastern Wood-Pewee - some breeders are ongoing.
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
Acadian Flycatcher
Alder Flycatcher - a few recent reports.
Willow Flycatcher
Alder or Willow Flycatcher species - some not identifiable to species.
Least Flycatcher
Eastern Phoebe
Great Crested Flycatcher - birders in family groups.
Eastern Kingbird - numbers are on the move now, as is expected here.
Eastern Warbling Vireo - the most common breeding vireo in this county.
Red-eyed Vireo - nesters and some likely migrators as well by now.
Blue Jay
American Crow
Fish Crow
Common Raven - residents.
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Purple Martins have been confirmed in southbound migration thru this county this month. More might still be found on the move, especially with careful, keen efforts.
Tree Swallow
Bank Swallow - few, so far.
Barn Swallow
Cliff Swallow - few. Most-expected at nest site, and might be moving on at any time.
White-breasted Nuthatch
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - migrating in fair numbers, in addition to scarce breeders.
Northern House Wren
Carolina Wren
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
Northern Mockingbird
Veery - few so far.
Wood Thrush - modest numbers of breeders, and some possible migrators by now.
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing - fairly numerous overall for the summer.
House Finch
American Goldfinch
Chipping Sparrow - nested here in modest numbers, as is typical in every year.
White-throated Sparrow - small numbers spend summer every year, not breeding!
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow - a few have summered, not a breeding species in this county.
Eastern Towhee
Bobolink - rather few being noticed so far, this is an annual migrant here, with a low rate of detection.
Orchard Oriole - still being found, some certainly moving now which is very expected.
Baltimore Oriole
Red-winged Blackbird - some typical early movements of this species, plus locals.
Brown-headed Cowbird - migrants are showing this month.
Common Grackle
-
Ovenbird - multiple.
Worm-eating Warbler - multiple.
Louisiana Waterthrush
Northern Waterthrush - multiple.
Blue-winged Warbler - multiple.
Black-and-white Warbler - good numbers showing recently.
Mourning Warbler - few so far, and fully expected now.
Common Yellowthroat - fairly common.
Hooded Warbler - at least several already came thru.
American Redstart - many, one of the most common warblers recently.
Northern Parula - multiple.
Magnolia Warbler - few so far.
Bay-breasted Warbler - not that early by now, for the first of these to have moved south.
Blackburnian Warbler - several, so far.
Northern Yellow Warbler - the most common migrant warbler of the past 4 to 6 weeks here.
Chestnut-sided Warbler - multiple, but not that many yet.
Pine Warbler - multiple.
Prairie Warbler - at least several.
Black-throated Green Warbler - this was one of the earlier than expected birds of the season.
Canada Warbler - multiple.
-
Scarlet Tanager - multiple, in modest numbers.
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - few, so far.
- Note - there are likely some additional species that came thru the county in recent days. All of the warbler species noted above have been found in Central Park, Manhattan but not quite all of these may have shown on Sunday. A number of warblers are turning up all around the county. About 100 species of wild, free flying birds have been seen in Central Park this month so far, with over 120 species of birds for all of New York County thus far, this month. Much more migration is expected here in the coming 2 weeks.
Date: 8/16/26 4:17 pm From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Sun. Aug. 16, 2026: Olive-sided Flycatcher, 7 Species of Wood Warblers
Central Park NYC
Sunday, August 16, 2026
OBS: Robert DeCandido, PhD, Deborah Allen, m.ob.
Highlights: Spotted Sandpiper, Green Heron, Osprey, Olive-sided Flycatcher, 7 Species of Wood Warblers.
Mallard - 15
Mourning Dove - 15-20
Chimney Swift - 6-8
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 1 Oak Bridge
Spotted Sandpiper - 1 Turtle Pond (Ryan Serio)
Green Heron - 1 Turtle Pond
Osprey - 1 flyover
Red-tailed Hawk - 1 perched Central Park West
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 2 or 3
Downy Woodpecker - 2 or 3
Great Crested Flycatcher - 2 Ramble
Olive-sided Flycatcher - 1 Boathouse Hill (Mary Kate Horbac)*
Eastern Warbling Vireo - 4 or 5
Blue Jay - 5 or 6
Barn Swallow - 4
White-breasted Nuthatch - 1 Persimmon Slope
Gray Catbird - 6
American Robin - 15-20
House Finch - 2 or 3 heard
Baltimore Oriole - 6-8
Brown-headed Cowbird - 7 Great Lawn (Sandra Critelli)
Common Grackle - 4-6
Ovenbird - 1 Captain's Bench
Northern Waterthrush - 4
Black-and-white Warbler - 2 (Gill, Belvedere Castle)
American Redstart - 8-10
Northern Parula - 1 Azalea Pond (Sandra Critelli)
Northern Yellow Warbler - 2 or 3
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 2 (Maintenance Field, Persimmon Slope)
Northern Cardinal - 4 or 5
*An Olive-sided Flycatcher was photographed at the Oven on Saturday by Sandra Critelli.
Date: 8/15/26 11:23 pm From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC - Sat., 8/15 - 21+ Warbler spp., C. Nighthawks redux
Central Park in Manhattan, N.Y. City on Saturday, August 15th recorded at least 21 migratory warbler species, that tally without the inclusion of Yellow-rumped. Other species of migrants were also found and on the move again have been some Common
Nighthawks. Sightings from many observers and photographers all thru the park all day on Saturday, and all walking independently and-or solely in support of not-for-profit institutions and organizations which offer guided nonprofit birding walks, for the causes of education, conservation, sound science and natural diversity. A further report with more migrant bird details, after the weekend.
Date: 8/15/26 3:52 pm From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Sat. Aug. 15, 2026: 11 Species of Wood Warblers
Central Park NYC
Saturday, August 15, 2026
OBS: Robert DeCandido, PhD, Deborah Allen, m.ob.
Highlights: Semipalmated and Spotted Sandpipers, Green Heron, Wood Thrush, Eleven Species of Wood Warblers including Blue-winged, Chestnut-sided, Yellow-rumped, Canada and Wilson's Warblers, and Northern Parula.
Canada Goose - 23
Wood Duck - 1 male Reservoir
Mallard - 73
Mourning Dove - 10-15
Semipalmated Sandpiper - 1 Reservoir
Spotted Sandpiper - 1 Reservoir
Laughing Gull - 20-30
Ring-billed Gull - 25-30
American Herring Gull - around 20
Great Black-backed Gull - 1 Reservoir
Double-crested Cormorant - 3
Black-crowned Night-Heron - 1 at the Riviera (Phyllis Newman)
Green Heron - 2 Turtle Pond
Red-tailed Hawk - 1 flyover
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 2 or 3
Downy Woodpecker - 4
Northern Flicker - 5
Great Crested Flycatcher - 1 Tupelo Field (Dan Stevenson)
Eastern Warbler Vireo - 4 or 5
Red-eyed Vireo - 1 Tupelo field
Blue Jay - 5 or 6
Barn Swallow - flock of around 40
Gray Catbird - 6-8
Wood Thrush - 1 west side of Tupelo
American Robin - 10-15
House Finch - 1 male at the Oven
Song Sparrow - 2 singing Reservoir
Baltimore Oriole - 10-12
Common Grackle - flock of 35-40 and a few others
Ovenbird - 1 Captain's Bench
Northern Waterthrush - 2 (Turtle Pond, Evodia Field)
Blue-winged Warbler - 2 (Boathouse Hill, Maintenance Field)
Black-and-white Warbler - 3
American Redstart - 5-7
Northern Parula - 1 Azalea Pond (Karen Evans)
Northern Yellow Warbler - 1 Captain's Bench
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 3
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 1 Turtle Pond
Canada Warbler - 4
Wilson's Warbler - 1 Maintenance Field
Northern Cardinal - 4 or 5
You can also send reports and digital image files via email to
nysarc44<at>nybirds<dot>org
If electronic submission is not possible, hardcopy reports and photos
or sketches are welcome. Hardcopy documentation should be mailed to:
Gary Chapin - Secretary
NYS Avian Records Committee (NYSARC)
125 Pine Springs Drive
Ticonderoga, NY 12883
Hotline: New York City Area Rare Bird Alert
Number: (212) 979-3070
Compiler: Tom Burke
Coverage: New York City, Long Island, Westchester County
Transcriber: Gail Benson
[~BEGIN RBA TAPE~]
Greetings! This is the New York Rare Bird Alert for Friday, August 14,
2026 at 11:00 pm.
The highlights of today’s tape are BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK, EARED
GREBE, BROWN PELICAN, UPLAND, BUFF BREASTED and BAIRD’S SANDPIPERS,
WILSON'S PHALAROPE, MARBLED GODWIT, GLAUCOUS GULL, various pelagics,
OLIVE SIDED, YELLOW-BELLIED and other FLYCATCHERS, PROTHONOTARY and
other WARBLERS, DICKCISSEL and more.
A single BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCK recently visiting Jones Beach
State Park was first spotted near the theater Monday, then around the
traffic circle Tuesday, but its elusive wanderings kept it mostly
hidden; on Thursday it was finally relocated on a small pond just west
of the bandshell and administration building. There were no follow-up
sightings today, though it may still be around there somewhere.
An EARED GREBE initially spotted Tuesday on the West Pond at Jamaica
Bay Wildlife Refuge has continued there through today; still retaining
most of its breeding plumage, the GREBE has often been frequenting
the northern end of the pond and can be tricky to locate.
BROWN PELICAN sightings this week featured two moving around the
Breezy Point area last Saturday and three flying west off Long Beach
today.
An UPLAND SANDPIPER’S distinctive flight call was heard early Friday
morning as the bird flew southeast over Cinder Island in Middle Bay,
headed unseen towards Point Lookout.
The first BUFF-BREASTED SANDPAPER of the season was photographed
Sunday at Field 7 in Heckscher State Park, and a BAIRD’S SANDPIPER was
nicely documented at Piermont Pier on Wednesday. A WILSON’S PHALAROPE
visiting the dune pools between Fields 1 and 2 at Jones Beach West End
since last Friday was joined by a second one today, and another was
seen today at the Raunt on the East Pond at Jamaica Bay, where water
levels remain challenging at best.
A MARBLED GODWIT at Plumb Beach last weekend and two at Great Kills
Park Sunday were followed by two Tuesday on the bar at Jones Beach
West End, these moving east to Field 10 on Wednesday and continuing
there today.
A GLAUCOUS GULL was still around Coney Island today, 2 GULL-BILLED
TERNS were noted at Plumb Beach irregularly through today, CASPIAN
TERNS were spotted at seven different locations during the week, and
increasing ROYAL TERNS reached 15 at Plumb Beach Monday.
Birders going out on the CRESLI Whale-watching trips Saturday, Sunday
and Wednesday recorded PARASITIC JAEGER, good numbers of WILSON’S
STORM-PETRELS, and decent numbers of GREAT and CORY'S plus a few
SCOPOLI’s, SOOTY, and MANX SHEARWATERS.
Among this week's migrant FLYCATCHERS were OLIVE-SIDED plus
YELLOW-BELLIED, ACADIAN and other Empidonax species, while the
WARBLERS were highlighted by a PROTHONOTARY in Prospect Park
Wednesday, CERULEAN in Central Park last weekend, and others including
WORM-EATING, BLUE-WINGED, TENNESSEE, NASHVILLE, a MOURNING in Prospect
Park today, HOODED in Central Park, CAPE MAY, NORTHERN PARULA and
BAY-BREASTED. And a DICKCISSEL was encountered at Dyker Beach in
Brooklyn Wednesday.
To phone in reports call Tom Burke at (914) 967-4922.
This service is sponsored by the Linnaean Society of New York and the
National Audubon Society. Thank you for calling.
Date: 8/14/26 3:36 pm From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC - Fri., 8/14 - 18+ Warbler spp., C. Nighthawks, etc.
Central Park, Manhattan, NYC - Friday, August 14th -
A minimum of 18 species of migratory Americas-hemisphere warblers were found at Central Park on Friday, with a majority represented by multiple individuals seen and some species now running to double-digits of individuals for all of the park, and as seen by many birders and photographers at all times and in all sectors of the park. As far as reports, thus far, a Cerulean Warbler was not reported on Friday. More of some recently arriving species are starting to appear such as Magnolia, Chestnut-sided, and other warbler species. The greatest numbers for now still seem to be with Northern Yellow Warblers and American Redstarts, but other species are growing in numbers as well.
Diurnal flight now included Bobolinks in at least modest numbers and Eastern Kingbirds in very good numbers on passage. Common Nighthawks also are starting to reappear, any seen being presumptive migrants here. The park has surpassed 100 species of wild and free-flying birds for this month, thus far, and many more species will be sure to show in coming weeks.
. . . . .
Other parks and greenspaces around Manhattan are also receiving more passage flights and some drop-ins of migrants, such that for example, Bryant Park in mid-Manhattan has had at least 8 species of migrant warblers, most of those seen to this Friday. The larger parks are beginning to receive a greater diversity of migrants, in addition to heavily-birded every-day Central Park.
Good birding, thanks to hundreds of independent observers and photographers as well as those walking in support of or with leaders for not-for-profit institutions and organizations for many finds, re-finds, alerts, and reports with many coming via eBird and media in the Macaulay Library, as well as tips and reports via word-of-mouth.
Date: 8/13/26 3:17 pm From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC - to 8/13 - 8+ flycatcher spp., other migrants
Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City -
to Thursday, August 13th -
Among migrant flycatchers, Olive-sided Flycatcher was new to the southbound season, and of other migrants, multiple species of Empidonax-genus flycatchers were being noted, including Alder, as well as Willow, Least, Acadian, and Yellow-bellied Flycatchers , the first and last of these partly identified thru calls heard while observing. Also ongoing have been E. Wood-Pewee, Great Crested Flycatcher, E. Phoebe, and E. Kingbird with the latter species in modest diurnal migrations by now.
A young Red-shouldered Hawk in August in this park is a very unusual bird for the date here. The first N. Shovelers of the season are appearing, also found elsewhere in this county lately. Wood Ducks continue in small numbers as well. Solitary and Spotted Sandpipers were still showing at Central Park, while elsewhere in Manhattan there have also been Semipalmated and Least Sandpipers coming through. Yellowlegs also were noted, but not yet to species, and in flight only, including over Central Park.
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are regular, after the multiple nestings and fledglings that took place on Manhattan including at Central Park, however by now the species is also a regular diurnal migrant, with some migrants stopping in at garden sites, or potentially anywhere at all that has some attractive flower plantings. Belted Kingfishers are on the move, with some at Central Park lately.
At least 19 species of warblers were showing at Central Park with a Cerulean Warbler lingering on at the Ramble area, and now still more Bay-breasted Warblers coming oin. Orchard Orioles have continued to show here and elsewhere in Manhattan. Small numbers of Nashville Warbler have been reported, including at Central Park and most recently, also from Inwood Hill Park in n. Manhattan.
…..
Elsewhere in the county, 3 Caspian Terns were noted flying past Governors Island on Aug. 10, and one of that species had been seen on the Hudson River off northern Manhattan that day, as well as the 2 Caspian Terns that many saw and photographed on the Central Park reservoir on that day.
Good birding, thanks to many observers and photographers for sightings and re-finds, alerts thru the Discord app, and for many reports also via eBird, including the Macaulay Library for media, as well as reports via good old word-of-mouth.
Date: 8/11/26 2:15 pm From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC - warbler sightings by Aug. 11th
Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City -
to Tuesday, August 11th -
Returning southbound warbler species showing by Tuesday, August 11th at Central Park, in three days beginning Aug. 9th, have included -
Ovenbird
Louisiana Waterthrush
Northern Waterthrush
Worm-eating Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
Blue-winged Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Mourning Warbler
Hooded Warbler
Canada Warbler
American Redstart
Blackburnian Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Pine Warbler
Northern Yellow Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Canada Warbler
Many of the above warbler species were seen in the multiple over all of the park, very few were represented by just one individual bird. The latter situation might be noted of the Cerulean, and also for Mourning Warbler, thus far this week starting on Sunday. At least 85 species of birds were noted from Central Park, and likely still-more species may have been present.
-None- of the above Warbler spp. is -record early- and, it should be noted, eBird alone is not really an accurate measure of all historical records nor of the overall phenologies of birds in this area, over time, measured in more than a couple of decades on migration in this area, although it would be fairly good for the modest time that digital bird records have been kept, in comparison to all the many many more bird records detailing phenology for over a century now, in just this region.
Date: 8/10/26 1:39 pm From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC - 8/10 - Caspian Terns, 21+ Warbler spp, etc.
Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City -
Monday, August 10th -
Two Caspian Terns showed on the reservoir at Central Park, first noted by A. Kramer and later seen by many, on Monday 8-10. A Cerulean Warbler was ongoing in the Ramble area of the park. Also arriving or continuing were at least 21 species of warblers including such species as Worm-eating, Hooded, Bay-breasted, Black-throated Green, and Magnolia Warbler and at least 16 additional warbler species. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher as well as Least Flycatcher were found along with a diversity of other southbound migrants. Incidentally, Bay-breasted Warbler is -NOT- record early at all, many of the warblers seen are simply in the first weeks of standard arrival periods, with peak southbound migrations of some species expected later in the season, each year. The peak month for diversity in autumn or really southbound-migration for American warblers is now - that is, the month of August. By September, overall numbers of some warbler species grows, but peak diversity starts to drops off, within our region.
More on all the many migrants in a future report,
- good birding,
Date: 8/9/26 2:11 pm From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC - Sunday, Aug. 9th - 14 warbler spp including Cerulean
Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City - Sunday, August 9 -
With ongoing nocturnal migrations each recent night, there have been some new additions to the southbound migrants showing at Central Park, with at least 14 species of migratory warblers present in the park this Sunday, as seen by birders and photographers walking independently and-or with not for profit guides and in support of birding for nonprofit organizations which support education, conservation, diversity in nature, and foster a caring community in birding, locally, regionally, and with some institutions and organizations, also worldwide.
A Cerulean Warbler had continued to be seen by many, many observers, and it is only assumed this one lingering individual in the Central Park Ramble is one of the two Ceruleans that had been present from late July - but that is not absolutely known with certainty. Multiple observers saw 1 Cerulaean Warbler on Sunday, as had been so since the re-find of just one, on Aug. 7th. Other warbler species in this park will be noted in a future report detailing some elsewhere-in-Manhattan sightings.
Date: 8/9/26 1:55 pm From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Sun. Aug. 9, 2026: Green Heron, 5 Species of Wood Warblers
Central Park NYC
Sunday, August 9, 2026
OBS: Robert DeCandido, PhD, Deborah Allen, m.ob.
Highlights on yet another hot, humid morning: Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Green Heron,Great Crested Flycatcher, Louisiana and Northern Waterthrushes, Black-and-white Warbler, American Redstart, Northern Yellow Warbler. Charlotte Khoo reported the continuing Cerulean Warbler at the south end of the Maintenance Field.
Canada Goose - flyover flock of 15-18
Mourning Dove - 15-20
Chimney Swift - 3-5
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 1 Upper Lobe (Edmund Berry)
American Herring Gull - flyover
Green Heron - 1 hatch-year bird at the Upper Lobe
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 3-5 including a hatch-year bird
Downy Woodpecker - 3
Northern Flicker - 4
Great Crested Flycatcher - 1 Tupelo Field (E. J. Bartolazo)
Eastern Warbling Vireo - 3 or 4
Red-eyed Vireo - 2 or 3
Blue Jay - 3 or 4
Barn Swallow - 1 Turtle Pond
Gray Catbird - 12-14
American Robin - 15-20
White-throated Sparrow - 1 at the Oven/Willow Rock
Baltimore Oriole - 15-20
Common Grackle - 8-10
Louisiana Waterthrush - 1 at the Gill near Azalea Pond
Northern Waterthrush - 1 Turtle Pond
Black-and-white Warbler - 2 or 3
American Redstart - 4 or 5 including an adult male
Northern Yellow Warbler - 8-10
Northern Cardinal - 4 or 5
You can also send reports and digital image files via email to nysarc44 (at)nybirds{dot}org.
If electronic submission is not possible, hardcopy reports and photos or sketches are welcome. Hardcopy documentation should be mailed to:
Gary Chapin - Secretary NYS Avian Records Committee (NYSARC) 125 Pine Springs Drive Ticonderoga, NY 12883
Hotline: New York City Area Rare Bird Alert Number: (212) 979-3070
Compiler: Tom Burke Coverage: New York City, Long Island, Westchester County
Transcriber: Ben Cacace
BEGIN TAPE
Greetings. This is the New York Rare Bird Alert for *Friday, August 7th 2026* at 11pm. The highlights of today's tape are BROWN PELICAN, apparent onshore SARGASSO SHEARWATER, and other pelagics, RED-NECKED and WILSON'S PHALAROPES, and other shorebirds, GLAUCOUS GULL, BLUE GROSBEAK, and more.
Continued sightings of BROWN PELICANS this week were mostly confined to coastal waters along the western end of New York's barrier beaches beginning last weekend with 2 off Breezy Point, both days, and Sunday sightings of one at Plumb Beach, and 2 off Jones Beach, and on Thursday 2 were seen in the bay south of Freeport with one also off Oak Beach today.
A shearwater, photographed close offshore at Jacob Riis Park last Sunday, appears to be an unexpected coastal record of AUDUBON'S SHEARWATER as it appears in your field guides but now conflicted by a recent name change to SARGASSO SHEARWATER. More analysis of this interesting record will follow.
Meanwhile the CRESLI whale trips out of Montauk Harbor continue to produce a nice variety of pelagic birds. Birders on boats on Wednesday and today were treated to up to 7 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES, a PARASITIC JAEGER Friday, a few WILSON'S STORM-PETRELS, and a variety of shearwaters including some GREAT and CORY'S with SCOPOLI'S also reported, and fewer SOOTY and MANX plus some whales and dolphins. A few WILSON'S STORM-PETRELS have also been noted this week off Breezy Point and Riis Park as well as in Lower New York Bay.
With both adult and juvenile shorebirds now moving south, unfortunately the shorebirding opportunities at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge are not at all ideal on the East Pond with high water conditions persisting. Species such as LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, and PECTORAL, WHITE-RUMPED, and STILT SANDPIPERS are occurring but water levels need to be lower. HUDSONIAN WHIMBRELS appeared this week on Staten Island with one at Great Kills Park Sunday and 2 at Miller Field on Monday, and 3 also visited Plumb Beach Sunday. A WILSON'S PHALAROPE visited the dune pools between fields 1 & 2 at Jones Beach West End today.
The Brooklyn lingering immature GLAUCOUS GULL seen today at the Coney Island Beach and Boardwalk between 19th and 21st Streets. A couple of GULL-BILLED TERNS were at Plumb Beach Thursday following a CASPIAN TERN there the day before and a few CASPIANS have also been occurring recently along the Hudson River.
Among the recent landbird migrants an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER was spotted Wednesday at the Hilltop Hanover Farm in Yorktown in central Westchester and a few scattered warbler migrants featured CERULEAN in both Prospect and Central Parks plus BLACK-AND-WHITE, MAGNOLIA, BAY-BREASTED at Green-wood Cemetery, PRAIRIE and CANADA.
BLUE GROSBEAKS continue at several sites around Calverton including the Preston's Pond Complex.
To phone in reports, call Tom Burke at (914) 967-4922.
This service is sponsored by the Linnaean Society of New York and the National Audubon Society. Thank you for calling.
Date: 8/8/26 12:16 pm From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC, Fri. and Sat. Aug. 7-8, 2026: Cerulean, Blue-winged, and Other Wood Warblers
Central Park NYC
Friday and Saturday, August 7-8, 2026
OBS: Robert DeCandido, PhD, Deborah Allen, m.ob.
Saturday List:
Wood Duck - 1 male Reservoir
Gadwall - 3
Mallard - 2 dozen
Mourning Dove - 30-35
Chimney Swift - 3-5
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 1 Oak Bridge
Laughing Gull - 3
Ring-billed Gull - 1
American Herring Gull - 18
Great Black-backed Gull - 12
Double-crested Cormorant - 6
Red-billed Woodpecker - 4-6 including 2 hatch-year birds
Eastern Warbling Vireo - 2 east of Azalea Pond
Red-eyed Vireo - 2 at the Oven
Blue Jay - 4 or 5
Barn Swallow - 4
Gray Catbird - 10-12
Northern Mockingbird - 1 flyover
Wood Thrush - 1 Evodia Field
American Robin - 15-20
House Finch - 1 Summer House
White-throated Sparrow - 3
Song Sparrow - 2 Reservoir
Baltimore Oriole - 8-10
Common Grackle - 10-12
Northern Waterthrush - 2 (Oven, Evodia Field)
Blue-winged Warbler - 3
Black-and-white Warbler - 4
American Redstart - 3
Cerulean Warbler - 1 south end of Maintenance Field (continuing)
Northern Yellow Warbler - 4
Northern Cardinal - 4 or 5
--
Highlights Friday, Aug. 8th: Black-crowned Night-Heron, Great Egret, Great Blue Heron, Osprey, Red-tailed Hawk, Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Empidonax Flycatcher (probable Least), Fish Crow (flyover flock), Cedar Waxwing, American Goldfinch, Louisiana Waterthrush, Black-and-white Warbler, American Redstart, Northern Yellow Warbler. In addition, Wolfgang Demisch reported a Spotted Sandpiper at the Reservoir.
Date: 8/7/26 12:46 pm From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC - Fri., 8/7 - Cerulean, Prairie, and 10 add’l Warbler spp., etc.
Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City -
Friday, Aug. 7th -
At least one Cerulean Warbler was ongoing at Central Park, along with at least eleven other migratory warbler species on the day. Prairie Warbler may have been new to the southbound migration season here. All of the other species were represented by more than one individual and the majority by multiple individuals. N. Waterthrush showed another uptick, and again some of that species were away from any nearby water, as can be typical in migration, esp. for newly arrived migrants of that species. N. Parula also showed a bit of increase. N. Yellow Warblers and American Redstarts continued in numbers, and Black-and-white Warblers were also in many locations.
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds were present in the multiple again. Least Flycatcher was identified among Empidinax-genus flycatchers passing thru, and the regular breeding flycatchers of the park were each present in the multiple - Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Wood-Pewee, and E. Kingbird, with the latter in numbers in early morning indicating some diurnal southbound movement. At least 70 total species of wild, free-flying birds were in Central Park on Friday alone.
Elsewhere in Manhattan and N.Y. County, some of the regular, annual shorebirds were again being found, including multiples of Solitary and Spotted Sandpipers.
The solidly dark back rules out most Aythya species besides Ring-necked
duck and Tufted Duck. The head shape, and the (faint, here) ring on the
bill look good for Ring-Necked. It also shows the pale spur by the wing
that would be bright white on an adult male.
Zach Schwartz-Weinstein
203 500 7774
On Thu, Aug 6, 2026 at 4:15 PM Joshua Malbin <joshuamalbin...> wrote:
> That is an odd duck.
>
> For others’ reference, I believe this is the checklist in question:
>
> https://ebird.org/checklist/S379383896 >
>
> On Thu, Aug 6, 2026 at 3:21 PM Gary Bletsch (via NYSBIRDS-L list) <
> <NYSBIRDS-L...> wrote:
>
>> Dear NY Birders,
>>
>> There was an odd Aythya duck at Dunkirk Harbor recently. That is in
>> Chautauqua County, NY. There had been a pair of Redheads there on the 21st
>> and 24th of July; each time, a drake Ring-necked Duck was with them, making
>> for an odd little out-of-season band of Aythya ducks.
>>
>> On the 2nd August at 1435, I birded there again. This time, there were
>> only two Aythyas. A drake Redhead was in the company of a duck that had me
>> puzzled; it did not look like the RNDU that I'd seen on the two previous
>> visits. I took photos and put them on my eBird checklist, initially
>> attempting to put the odd bird down as a Redhead.
>>
>> During the photo-uploading process, the Merlin application insisted that
>> the odd duck was a Ring-necked Duck. Looking at the photos, I cannot say
>> that it was a RNDU; the shape of the head seems wrong. Nor does the bird
>> look right for a REDH. Granted, I have never lived anywhere where I have
>> been able to see many Aythyas this time of year, so I don't have much
>> experience with them in eclipse or juvenile plumages.
>>
>> The bird does have a suggestion of what RT Peterson described as "a
>> vertical white mark before the wing," albeit not very pronounced.
>>
>> The hotspot is called Dunkirk Harbor; my checklist is number hecklist
>> S379383896although I know that sometimes that does not help people
>> trying to find a checklist on eBird!
>>
>> Anyway, I'd love to hear any opinions as to this bird's identity.
>>
>> Thanks.
>>
>> Yours truly,
>>
>> Gary Bletsch
>> Jamestown, NY
>> --
>> NYSbirds-L List Info:
>> Visit: http://LISTS.cornell.edu for more information
>> Posting Address: <NYSbirds-L...>
>> Archives:
>> The Mail Archive: //www.mail-archive.com/<nysbirds-l...>
>> <https:%3Ca%20href=>/maillist.html" class="hft-urls">https:
>> //www.mail-archive.com/<nysbirds-l...>/maillist.html
>> Sightings: Please submit your observations to eBird at
>> http://www.ebird.org >> --
>>
> --
> NYSbirds-L List Info:
> Visit: http://LISTS.cornell.edu for more information
> Posting Address: <NYSbirds-L...>
> Archives:
> The Mail Archive: //www.mail-archive.com/<nysbirds-l...>
> <https:%3Ca%20href=>/maillist.html" class="hft-urls">https:
> //www.mail-archive.com/<nysbirds-l...>/maillist.html
> Sightings: Please submit your observations to eBird at
> http://www.ebird.org > --
>
Date: 8/6/26 2:01 pm From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] N.Y. County, NYC - to Aug. 6 - Royal & other Terns, P. Martins, other migrants
New York County -in N.Y. City- including Manhattan, Randalls, Governors, and Roosevelt Islands and the adjacent waters and skies - into August 6th -
There were some good flights of southbound migrants again by Monday night into Tues. morning, 8-4, and however as can often be so, many of the migrants simply sailed past N.Y. City or more-specific to this report, many migrants did not stop in at N.Y. County in the nocturnal or early-morning passage of various species. We regularly see this, especially on fair-weather nights and mornings, and so for example there can be much the same, ongoing set of migrant species lingering a while in the typically more relaxed period of summer to early autumn migrations here, while at the same time, occasionally strong to very strong migrations take place which includes large nocturnal overflights. This can lead some observers on the ground to mistakenly assume that little or no migration has occurred, while in actuality by now, early August, it is normal to find larger and larger numbers and diversity of some species-groups, migratory warblers among them, moving in good to very good numbers, densities, and species-diversity. Weather obviously plays a role, and on some midsummer nights, even with a good to excellent nocturnal migration, there may be relatively little in new drop-ins at various locations.
A sighting of 8 migrant Purple Martins was fortuitous on the rainstorm passage in midday of Mon., 8-3, at Randalls Island, where also noted in that day and passage of the storm were some peep, sandpipers of the genus Calidris, one a Least Sandpiper and others of another species, left as peep sp, and in that sense only, perhaps the rare-in-county sightings that got away too rapidly. Or, perhaps the non-rare peep, Semipalmated Sandpiper, of which that and Least also have appeared already in some prior southbound shorebird movements this summer. The hope for further shorebird sightings, both in numbers and hopes of greater diversity, continue on as does summer and its intensifying migrations. This month so far has featured just Solitary, many Spotted, and for peep, ie Calidris-genus, just Least Sandpipers in any numbers. Killdeer were very modestly increased at a few sites, where that species also may have bred. An American Woodcock recently at one county location might represent a breeding effort.
A Royal Tern was sighted and photographed flying along the Hudson River on 8-1, near upper Manhattan. Forsters Tern has been noted in the singular along with the regular and expected-breeding Common Terns at and around Governors Island, to Aug. 4th. Some Forsters Terns have been along the Hudson as well, with more of the documented sightings a bit north of N.Y. City on that river, but likely some have moved along Manhattan shores or just-across by New Jersey, visibly for some Manhattan-side observers recently. Common Tern is also fairly regular partway up the Hudson along lower Manhattan, and sometimes elsewhere on the county waters. All terns should be checked closely especially if away from the few regular sites for Common Tern in N.Y. County, as tern movements and migrations are underway, generally.
There has been very little detection of definite southbound migrants from Governors Island thus far this month, but that May pick up in the coming week. Some typical midsummer movements of icterids including Bobolink, Orchard Oriole, Brown-headed Cowbird, and greater numbers of Red-winged Blackbirds had already been passing by since later in July. These icterid flights are not unusual for these dates, are region-wide, and noted annually. The numbers of such species as Red-winged Blackbirds of course increase greatly in calendar-fall, at a much later phase in overall soubound migrations than the more-restricted movement of the last species in calendar-summer.
At Randalls Island there also has been limited detection of migrants, especially of passerines, but that might pick up somewhat in the coming week or so. Yellow-crowned Night-Herons and Cliff Swallows, the latter a breeding species, are ongoing at Randalls, as are some dozens of other typical summer birds, some others of which also manage to breed here. A very few Brant have been summering.
The county overall has been seeing an uptick in numbers of species and of migrants, with for example, a good movement of, among other migrants, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher and American Redstart, as well as the Red-winged Blackbirds migrating, as noted above for this time of the year. Eastern Kingbird, and various hirundines also are among migrants beginning to show in numbers sufficient to start being noticed, including for these and various other species, being noted on their diurnal migrations.
Yellow-billed Cuckoos continued to be seen, and mainly fully-expected warblers of up to twelve or more species in these first days of August, with the more-common warblers lately getting a bit more numerous and a bit more widespread. A modest number of Scarlet Tanagers were showing up recently.
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds continue to be on the move. A Wild Turkey has continued on essentially resident at Battery Park in lower Manhattan. The movements of migrant ducks have barely registered so far, but among early-movers are some Wood Ducks at least wandering, seen in multiple county locations besides the usuals of Central
Park, and a single Ruddy Duck was noted at Governors Island to kick off this month. Monk Parakeets, a breeding species in N.Y. City, were seen again in n. Manhattan.
Cerulean Warbler was reported on Wed., Aug. 5th at Central Park, after multiple days of no sightings there after the 4 late-July days with very high numbers of observers and photographers. In N.Y. County, some of the other warblers showing, and in numbers include Northern Waterthrush, the latter turning up even in multiple sites with no water to speak of in the specific site, as happens on migration with this species, while for the lower numbers of Louisiana Waterthrushes passing thru, it is rather rare to find that species much away from water, and often by flowing water. Other fairly numerous warblers by now include Black-and-white, and especially Northern Yellow Warblers, with American Redstarts also showing in many locations. At least 6 additional warbler spp. are turning up in multiple locations this week in the county, including multiple-but-not-many N. Parulas, and others, but the majority of flights in overnight migrations were of passage birds, rather than migrants dropping in to stay a while. Central Park alone had at least 11 warbler species present by Aug. 6.
Central Park had over 75 species found thus far this month, with nearly 70 species present on Aug. 6th, spread across all of the park. A greater diversity of species ought to be possible by next week.
Thanks to many observers and reporters for sightings, alerts in part in the Discord app, and many reports in eBird with the Macaulay Library for media, as well as reports via good old word-of-mouth.
On Thu, Aug 6, 2026 at 3:21 PM Gary Bletsch (via NYSBIRDS-L list) <
<NYSBIRDS-L...> wrote:
> Dear NY Birders,
>
> There was an odd Aythya duck at Dunkirk Harbor recently. That is in
> Chautauqua County, NY. There had been a pair of Redheads there on the 21st
> and 24th of July; each time, a drake Ring-necked Duck was with them, making
> for an odd little out-of-season band of Aythya ducks.
>
> On the 2nd August at 1435, I birded there again. This time, there were
> only two Aythyas. A drake Redhead was in the company of a duck that had me
> puzzled; it did not look like the RNDU that I'd seen on the two previous
> visits. I took photos and put them on my eBird checklist, initially
> attempting to put the odd bird down as a Redhead.
>
> During the photo-uploading process, the Merlin application insisted that
> the odd duck was a Ring-necked Duck. Looking at the photos, I cannot say
> that it was a RNDU; the shape of the head seems wrong. Nor does the bird
> look right for a REDH. Granted, I have never lived anywhere where I have
> been able to see many Aythyas this time of year, so I don't have much
> experience with them in eclipse or juvenile plumages.
>
> The bird does have a suggestion of what RT Peterson described as "a
> vertical white mark before the wing," albeit not very pronounced.
>
> The hotspot is called Dunkirk Harbor; my checklist is number hecklist
> S379383896although I know that sometimes that does not help people trying
> to find a checklist on eBird!
>
> Anyway, I'd love to hear any opinions as to this bird's identity.
>
> Thanks.
>
> Yours truly,
>
> Gary Bletsch
> Jamestown, NY
> --
> NYSbirds-L List Info:
> Visit: http://LISTS.cornell.edu for more information
> Posting Address: <NYSbirds-L...>
> Archives:
> The Mail Archive: //www.mail-archive.com/<nysbirds-l...>
> <https:%3Ca%20href=>/maillist.html" class="hft-urls">https:
> //www.mail-archive.com/<nysbirds-l...>/maillist.html
> Sightings: Please submit your observations to eBird at
> http://www.ebird.org > --
>
Gary, your bird is a good match for the definitive alternate male Ring-necked Duck in Waterfowl of North America by Reeber (2015).
Good birding!
Willie D’Anna
Wilson, NY, Niagara County
From: Gary Bletsch (via NYSBIRDS-L list) <NYSBIRDS-L...>
Sent: Thursday, August 6, 2026 3:20 PM
To: <nysbirds-l...>
Subject: [nysbirds-l] confusing Aythya duck
Dear NY Birders,
There was an odd Aythya duck at Dunkirk Harbor recently. That is in Chautauqua County, NY. There had been a pair of Redheads there on the 21st and 24th of July; each time, a drake Ring-necked Duck was with them, making for an odd little out-of-season band of Aythya ducks.
On the 2nd August at 1435, I birded there again. This time, there were only two Aythyas. A drake Redhead was in the company of a duck that had me puzzled; it did not look like the RNDU that I'd seen on the two previous visits. I took photos and put them on my eBird checklist, initially attempting to put the odd bird down as a Redhead.
During the photo-uploading process, the Merlin application insisted that the odd duck was a Ring-necked Duck. Looking at the photos, I cannot say that it was a RNDU; the shape of the head seems wrong. Nor does the bird look right for a REDH. Granted, I have never lived anywhere where I have been able to see many Aythyas this time of year, so I don't have much experience with them in eclipse or juvenile plumages.
The bird does have a suggestion of what RT Peterson described as "a vertical white mark before the wing," albeit not very pronounced.
The hotspot is called Dunkirk Harbor; my checklist is number
hecklist S379383896
although I know that sometimes that does not help people trying to find a checklist on eBird!
Anyway, I'd love to hear any opinions as to this bird's identity.
Dear NY Birders,
There was an odd Aythya duck at Dunkirk Harbor recently. That is in Chautauqua County, NY. There had been a pair of Redheads there on the 21st and 24th of July; each time, a drake Ring-necked Duck was with them, making for an odd little out-of-season band of Aythya ducks.
On the 2nd August at 1435, I birded there again. This time, there were only two Aythyas. A drake Redhead was in the company of a duck that had me puzzled; it did not look like the RNDU that I'd seen on the two previous visits. I took photos and put them on my eBird checklist, initially attempting to put the odd bird down as a Redhead.
During the photo-uploading process, the Merlin application insisted that the odd duck was a Ring-necked Duck. Looking at the photos, I cannot say that it was a RNDU; the shape of the head seems wrong. Nor does the bird look right for a REDH. Granted, I have never lived anywhere where I have been able to see many Aythyas this time of year, so I don't have much experience with them in eclipse or juvenile plumages.
The bird does have a suggestion of what RT Peterson described as "a vertical white mark before the wing," albeit not very pronounced.
The hotspot is called Dunkirk Harbor; my checklist is number
hecklist S379383896
although I know that sometimes that does not help people trying to find a checklist on eBird!
Anyway, I'd love to hear any opinions as to this bird's identity.
Thanks.
Yours truly,
Gary BletschJamestown, NY
