Date: 10/20/26 5:21 pm From: marciaaabrahams at aol.com (via NYSBIRDS-L list) <NYSBIRDS-L...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Do not miss the Queens County Bird Club meeting tomorrow night at 7:30 PM featuring Karlo & Alison Mirth "Peninsular Malaysia"!
Queens County Bird Club Monthly Meeting
Karlo & Alison Mirth present "Peninsular Malaysia"
Date & Time: Wednesday, October 21, 2026, 7:30 PM
Place: Alley Pond Environmental Center, 229-10 Northern Blvd, Douglaston, NY 11362
In September 2025, Karlo and Alison Mirth went on a Calidris Birding Tours trip to the southern part of the Malaysia Peninsula. They visited lowland rainforests, mangroves, and highland areas including world-famous Fraser's Hill. Karlo and Alison arrived two days before the start of the tour to recover from jet lag and to bird on their own in a nearby park and acquaint themselves with commonplace birds. Besides seeing many new birds and bird families, there were many sightings of other fascinating fauna including several species of primates and mammals, reptiles, and over 30 species of butterflies.
There will be no coverage at the front desk, so please be prompt and ring the doorbell to be let in.
Marcia AbrahamsVP/Programs CoordinatorQueens County Bird Clubhttps://qcbirdclub.org/Email: <MarciaAAbrahams...>
Date: 10/20/26 2:22 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Manhattan, NYC - Mon., 10/19 - Y.-br. Chat, additional arrivals, etc.
Manhattan, N.Y. City - Monday, October 19 -
Nocturnal migration overnight from Monday to now-Tuesday was very strong thru the northeast all the way south to the Gulf coast and beyond, with some migrant birds aiming for Caribbean isles where they may winter, some birds headed much farther south, and of course some birds simply getting a bit of distance from their varied farther north breeding areas.
At Central Park, the photographed arrival of Red-breasted Merganser at the reservoir on Monday made for the 2nd species of merganser arriving there this week. In this month, at least 14 species of waterfowl have been seen in, or passing over, Central Park. That total includes the recent Brant. American Coots are increasing, not just for Central Park but in at least a few sites within Manhattan N.Y. County waters. Laughing Gulls continued to visit the reservoir at Central Park, and other areas of Manhattan waters, thru Monday.
The ten native sparrow species seen at Central Park on Monday again included a Vesper Sparrow which was lingering there from at least Sunday. Vesper Sparrow had been occurring on all 4 of the main islands of N.Y. County as well, with among the latest to be well-photographed on Roosevelt Island on Monday. Scarlet Tanagers were still being seen, but the high numbers earlier this month are long off on migrations south. Fairly obviously to most observers, keep eyes out for unusual looking tanagers at this time of year, when western vagrants may start to appear.
Purple Finches, several dozen or more Pine Siskins, and Rusty Blackbirds were again found on Monday in Central Park. It might be added that Pine Siskins have been showing at sites from the northernmost point south to the southernmost point in New York County, some seem as singletons but many in flocks, occasionally well into double-digits and to dozens at one location. When finches of any type start utilizing the seeds of Sweetgum trees, which are numerous in parts of Manhattan, listen up and watch for Siskins among other birds.
At least 16 species of warblers were still present at Central Park on Monday. A few species were very slightly-late, but none of the warblers seen this fall in Manhattan are running near record-late dates yet. Prairie Warbler - possibly 2 individuals - was still at the n. end of Central Park on Monday.
A Northern Waterthrush was found at Bryant Park in mid-Manhattan on Monday. Many observers and photographers enjoyed still another Orange-crowned Warbler, among the latest finds on Monday at Battery Park city park, with yet other Orange-crowned Warblers noted elsewhere. The long-long lingering Wild Turkey continues to live at Battery Park at the southern end of Manhattan. Multiple migrant birds have been occurring there, and nearby.
A Yellow-breasted Chat was still present in Bryant Park in midtown Manhattan thru Monday, where a variety of other native birds also continue to be seen. A Marsh Wren has shown at Inwood Hill Park to Monday, a species that has also had a good run this fall in Manhattan and all of N.Y. County. Many other migrants have been showing at Inwood and other parks in the northern sector of Manhattan. All of Manhattan has featured a variety of species in parks larger and smaller, and in other greenspaces including gardens, public plazas or courtyards, and in some churchyards open to the public.
A few Empidonax-genus flycatchers have been reported lately, and if any further sightings of these occur, ideally all would be photographed or potentially even better, video-audio recorded with phone or camera, to assist with potential ID confirmations. Again, this can apply to any flycatcher seen from now thru the winter, unless positively identified as an E. Phoebe.
Thanks to many observers and photographers out and about all around Manhattan, from first light thru dusk and even later, for sightings, alerts, and reports, via the Discord app for actual birders, and via eBird with the Macaulay Library for media in visual and audio formats, and for fresh tips passed along while out in the field.
Date: 10/19/26 12:11 pm From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC, Mon. Oct. 19, 2026: White-crowned Sparrow, 9 Species of Wood Warblers
Central Park, NYC
Monday, October 19, 2026
OBS: Robert DeCandido, PhD, m.ob.
Highlights: White-crowned Sparrow, 9 Species of Wood Warblers. In addition: Pine Siskins were reported at Belvedere Castle. On Sunday Hooded Mergansers were reported at the Reservoir, and an American Wigeon was reported at the Harlem Meer. For additional Central Park reports see @BirdCentralPark and @mbalterer maintained by David Barrett.
--
Canada Goose - around 25
Wood Duck - 1 male Upper Lobe
Mallard - around 16
Mourning Dove - 10-15
American Herring Gull - 10-15 flyovers
Cooper's Hawk - 2 (adult female, immature female) Ramble
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 2 or 3
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - 15-20
Eastern Phoebe - 3 or 4
Blue Jay - 15-20
American Crow - 4 or 5
Tufted Titmouse - 2 Evodia Field
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 15-20
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 3 or 4
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 1 Pinetum (Paul Curtis)
White-breasted Nuthatch - 1 Evodia Field
Winter Wren - 1 or 2 Strawberry Fields
Gray Catbird - 4-6
Hermit Thrush - 30-35
American Robin - 25-30
Chipping Sparrow - 5-10
Dark-eyed Junco - 5-10
White-crowned Sparrow - 1 adult northeast Turtle Pond
White-throated Sparrow - 80-100
Song Sparrow - 10-15
Eastern Towhee - 4 or 5
Common Grackle - 20-15
Black-and-white Warbler - 1 Ramble
American Redstart - 1 Strawberry Fields
Cape May Warbler - 1 Pinetum
Northern Parula - 1 Pinetum (Wolfgang Demisch)
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 1 female Shakespeare Garden in spruce
Palm Warbler - 5-7
Pine Warbler - 1 Strawberry Fields
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 15-20
Black-throated Green Warbler - 1 Strawberry Fields
Northern Cardinal - 4 or 5
Date: 10/19/26 2:29 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] N.Y. County, NYC - Sat.-Sun., 10/17-18 - Y.-br. Chats, R-h. WP’s, E. Meadowlarks, Or.-cr. & other warbler spp., waterfowl migrations etc. -
New York County -in N.Y. City- including Manhattan, Randalls, Roosevelt, and Governors Islands and the adjacent waters and skies -
Saturday - Sunday, October 17 and 18th -
Many dozens of Pine Siskins were moving thru the county over the weekend, with possibly the highest reported single-location tallies at Central Park where their numbers were well into double-digits. Some had been seen at least 2 days prior, while still more came along by Sunday, and sightings of siskins also occurred for multiple locations in Manhattan as well as for both Randalls and Governors Islands by Sunday, if not before.
A very good migration of waterfowl of the season was observed over the weekend, with various arrivals new to the county or to various particular locations. Snow Goose was among such arrivals moving past northern Manhattan Saturday morning. At Central Park, Hooded Mergansers arrived in the multiple, and off Randalls Island, Long-tailed Ducks were in the fresh arrival category. Many species were seen in high numbers by Saturday, including lots of Brant, as well as Canada Geese, and assorted other waterfowl
which included some reinforcement for species already present in the county, but more so of transients passing over and thru the county over the weekend. Fresh arrivals of American Coot were among some of the birds moving in this weekend.
A Yellow-breasted Chat was ongoing at Bryant Park in Manhattan to at least Saturday. The Vesper Sparrows occurring all around the county recently included at least one seen by many at Central Park thru Sunday. Ten species of native sparrows were found in Central Park thru Sunday, and many of those also found in other locations around the county. American Pipits were found at Inwood Hill Park in n. Manhattan on both days of the weekend.
Red-headed Woodpeckers were continuing at Central Park - in the plural thru the weekend, with at least one in bright adult plumage. Eastern Meadowlarks, besides continuing in the multiple at Central Park for at least 4 days in a row, were also found elsewhere in Manhattan and on both Governors and Randalls Islands to Sunday. Some Chimney Swifts were still being noticed on the weekend, but it remains to be seen how much longer any will be showing in this county.
At Fort Tryon Park in n. Manhattan on Sunday, Yellow-breasted Chat, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Orange-crowned Warbler were among many other migrants found. Ruby-throated Hummingbird was reported there at least to Saturday - if seen anywhere at all, and when possible the late-season hummingbirds should be photographed or video recorded, to better confirm which species may be occurring this late in the fall. The same plea to anyone with a phone or a regular camera, for any flycatchers seen now thru the end of the year that are not seen as obviously Eastern Phoebes…
Multiple warbler species were still being found in the multiple around the county, with their species-diversity dropping off just a bit, as the numbers of Orange-crowned Warbler sightings from multiple county locations keeps growing. A minimum of 15 warbler species were still present at Central Park on Sunday, 10-18.
Ongoing thrush species seen, including all seen within Central Park to Sunday, included Gray-cheeked types, Swainsons, Wood, and most-commonly Hermit Thrushes. Purple Finches were seen again in some locations, including low multiples at Central Park to Sunday.
Large numbers of vultures, mostly Turkey Vultures with sprinklings of Black Vultures, were moving by the many hundreds over the weekend, and raptors of many species were on the move on both days in fair to high numbers. With one other eagle species showing in multiple locations just north of N.Y. City, it is the season to look carefully at Bald Eagles, when in nonadult plumages.
Thanks to many observers and photographers including many on guided not-for-profit bird walks led not for profit-motive, but for support of conservation and education, and outreach in natural diversity, multiple such walks having occurred just this past weekend in various locations, including multiple such walks within Central Park, for a number of organizations and institutions. Also thanks to independently-walking observers and photographers, all the above contributing sightings, alerts, and many reliable reports from all around the county, and from all hours of all recent days.
Date: 10/18/26 12:31 pm From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Sun. Oct. 18, 2026: Pine Siskin, Baltimore Oriole, Nashville, Cape May, and Other Warblers
Central Park NYC
Sunday, October 18, 2026
OBS: Robert DeCandido, PhD, m.ob.
Highlights: Pine Siskin, Baltimore Oriole, Nashville, Cape May, Black-throated Green, and Other Warblers.
Mallard - 9
Mourning Dove - 10-15
American Herring Gull = 5-10 flyovers
Cooper's Hawk - 1 adult female perching in the Ramble
Red-tailed Hawk - 1 hatch-year flyover
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 2 or 3
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - 15-20
Downy Woodpecker - 1 Ramble
Northern Flicker - 1 Shakespeare Garden
American Kestrel - 1 male Pinetum
Eastern Phoebe - 3 or 4
Blue-headed Vireo - 8
Blue Jay - 8-10
American Crow - 4 or 5
Tufted Titmouse - 2 east of Azalea Pond
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 8-10
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 10-15
Cedar Waxwing - flyover flock of around 12
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 1 Shakespeare Garden (Halley Harelson)
White-breasted Nuthatch - 1 east of Azalea Pond
Winter Wren - 4 or 5
Gray Catbird - 5-10
Hermit Thrush - 100-125
American Robin - 20-30
House Finch - 2 or 3
Pine Siskin - flock of 12-15
American Goldfinch - 4 or 5
Chipping Sparrow - 15-20
Dark-eyed Junco - 10-15
White-throated Sparrow - 100-125
Song Sparrow - 10-12
Eastern Towhee - 12-14
Baltimore Oriole - 1 female Belvedere Castle
Common Grackle - 20-25
Nashville Warbler - 1 Belvedere Castle (Paul Curtis)
Common Yellowthroat - 1 female Belvedere Castle
Cape May Warbler - 1 Pinetum
Northern Parula - 1 Ramble
Palm Warbler - 5-7
Pine Warbler - 4 or 5
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 20-25
Black-throated Green Warbler - 1 southeast Turtle Pond
Northern Cardinal - 4 or 5
Date: 10/17/26 2:56 pm From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC, Sat. Oct. 17, 2026: Red-headed Woodpecker, E. Meadowlark, Tennessee Nashville, and Cape May Warblers
Central Park, NYC
Saturday, October 17, 2026
OBS: Robert DeCandido, PhD, m.ob.
Highlights: Red-headed Woodpecker, Eastern Meadowlark, Tennessee, Nashville, and Cape May Warblers.
Canada Goose - 5
Mallard - 9
Mourning Dove - 10-15
American Herring Gull - 5-10 flyovers
Great Blue Heron - 1 Turtle Pond
Turkey Vulture - 5 flyovers
Cooper's Hawk - 3
Red-headed Woodpecker - 1 adult flying from the Point to the Ramble (Sandra Critelli)
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 2 or 3
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - 15-20
Downy Woodpecker - 2 or 3
Northern Flicker - 1 Ramble
Eastern Phoebe - 3 or 4
Blue-headed Vireo - 1 Evodia Field
Blue Jay - 12-15
American Crow - 4 or 5
Tufted Titmouse - 2 (North Maintenance Field, the Point)
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 15-20
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 3 or 4
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 1 Shakespeare Garden
White-breasted Nuthatch - 2 Ramble
Brown Creeper - 1 east of Azalea Pond
Gray Catbird - 10-12
Brown Thrasher - 2 or 3
Swainson's Thrush - 2 Ramble
Hermit Thrush - 20-25
American Robin - 25-35
Field Sparrow- 2 Pinetum
Dark-eyed Junco - 4 or 5
White-throated Sparrow - 40-50
Song Sparrow - 4 or 5
Eastern Towhee - 15-20
Eastern Meadowlark - 1 Great Lawn (David Barrett-close to 5pm)
Brown-headed Cowbird - 2 males northwest Great Lawn
Common Grackle - 3 or 4
Ovenbird - 1 Ramble
Black-and-white Warbler - 3
Tennessee Warbler - Pinetum (Dan Stevenson)
Nashville Warbler - Pinetum (Paul Curtis)
Cape May Warbler - 4 or 5 Pinetum
Northern Parula - 3
Pine Warbler - 4 or 5
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 3 or 4
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, October
16, 2026 at 11:00 pm. The highlights of today’s tape are WESTERN
KINGBIRD, AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER and MARBLED and HUDSONIAN GODWITS,
pelagics including SCOPOLI’S SHEARWATER and PARASITIC JAEGER,
RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, LARK and CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS, BLUE GROSBEAK,
DICKCISSEL and more.
A somewhat slower week than those preceding it did produce a WESTERN
KINGBIRD spotted Tuesday in Brooklyn’s Green-Wood Cemetery. And among
those shorebirds still lingering in the area have been up to 5 MARBLED
GODWITS appearing during the week on the bar off the Coast Guard
Station at Jones Beach West End, with at least 1 noted there today,
while on eastern Long Island single HUDSONIAN GODWITS included 1
Saturday at Old Inlet in Bellport Bay, 1 off Mott Lane on Fireplace
Neck in Brookhaven on Sunday and Monday, and another at Sagg Pond on
Tuesday. An HUDSONIAN WHIMBREL visited Fisher’s Island last Saturday,
while last Friday’s AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER in Westchester stayed
around Dobbs Ferry to Monday, another was in Brookhaven Sunday, and 1
visited Jacob Riis Park Sunday and Monday.
Stormy weather last Sunday did bring some coastal birds to inshore
waters, a watch off Robert Moses State Park Field 2 tallying 5
PARASITIC JAEGERS, about 40 ROYAL TERNS and 40 NORTHERN GANNETS and
various SHEARWATERS, including 5 GREAT, 3 MANX and 34
CORY’S/SCOPOLI’S, with at least 2 each of the latter species pair
separated under difficult conditions. Three PARASITIC JAEGERS were
also identified Sunday among several JAEGERS passing by Riis Park -
positively identifying species under these conditions is not always an
exact science.
An AMERICAN BITTERN in Central Park recently was taken to a rehab
center, while another visited Green-Wood Cemetery Thursday, and the
SORA surviving in Bryant Park in Manhattan was still present there
today.
At least 6 RED-HEADED WOODPECKER reports mentioned birds last Saturday
at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, the Jones Beach Coast Guard Station.
Marshlands Conservancy in Rye and the Cedar Beach Marina, plus 1
Wednesday along Dune Road in Moriches and 1 at Sands Point Preserve
today.
A LARK SPARROW was near the Fire Island Lighthouse Saturday, and 4
CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS featured birds Monday at Carl Schurz Park in
Manhattan, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, and Calvert Vaux Park in
Brooklyn, and 1 Thursday at the Jones Beach West End Coast Guard
Station, while a few VESPER SPARROWS included 1 in Prospect Park
Tuesday.
A BLUE GROSBEAK was present in Sunken Meadow State Park Tuesday to
Thursday, with another at the Pruyn Sanctuary in Chappaqua on
Thursday, and among the several DICKCISSELS was 1 visiting Prospect
Park 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: 10/17/26 7:33 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Manhattan, NYC - Friday, 10/16 - Sora, Y.-br. Chat, Red-headed Woodpeckers, etc.
Manhattan, N.Y. City - Friday, October 16th -
A Sora and a Yellow-breasted Chat were each continuing on Friday, both photographed and with many observers thru the day, at Bryant Park in mid-Manhattan. Other migrant birds and likely winterers were also seen.
At Central Park, at least 2 Red-headed Woodpeckers were still around the area south of the reservoir and approximately north of the 72 Street latitude of the park, with a possibility that more than 2 individuals are in that sector of the park. One is In adult or bright plumage, and at least one - or more - are in first-fall plumage with just traces of red, or almost no red on head. Learning the calls of this species is helpful in locating, the more so if these are still setting up potential territories, which in some years in this park and elsewhere in Manhattan in past winters, have been almost-colonial, with varying degrees of non-breeding territoriality.
Also in Central Park, American Wigeon and at least 5 Green-winged Teal were ongoing, as were Wood and Ruddy Ducks, N. Shovelers, and other typical waterfowl of the season. More waterfowl arrivals are imminent around the county and in Manhattan.
Date: 10/16/26 2:49 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Manhattan, NYC - Thurs., 10/15 - Sora, Y.-br. Chat, Red-headed Woodpeckers, also 2 islands with meadowlarks, etc.
Manhattan, N.Y. City - plus some sightings from Randalls Island, NYC -
Thursday, October 15 -
A Sora was ongoing at Bryant Park in mid-Manhattan and a Yellow-breasted Chat also was noted, not clear if the Chat might be a lingering individual skulking for many days at that park or a more recently-arrived bird, on Thursday.
An Eastern Meadowlark was seen and photographed at Randalls Island - just east of Manhattan - in New York County on Thursday, where American Pipits and Spotted Sandpipers were continuing, while the multi-meadowlarks seen by some at Central Park on the same day followed the first photographed sighting in that park by some days.
An adult Red-headed Woodpecker was seen by multiple observers later on Thursday at the Great Lawn area. There have been multiples of that species within Central Park in recent days and weeks.
A minimum of 17 species of warblers were found in Central Park on Thursday, including N. Waterthrush still hanging in, with multiple other species being found in the multiple, as also was seen with warblers in a number of other parks and greenspaces of Manhattan on Thursday. Some of the warbler species are running slightly-late but none are even remotely-near any late-date records for this county or this city.
Thrushes in Manhattan - all also found at Central Park on Thursday - included Gray-cheeked types, multiples of Swainsons and Wood, and many Hermit Thrushes. Continuing in Manhattan including in Central Park were Indigo Bunting, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and some Baltimore Orioles. Red-breasted Nuthatches were again found in the multiple around Manhattan including multiples at Central Park. Purple Finches also were again seen in low multiples in Manhattan, including at Central Park. Chimney Swifts were lingering in at least a few locations including double-digit numbers over Central Park on Thursday.
Sparrows in Manhattan included a report of another Clay-colored at Inwood Hill Park, and other sparrows in Manhattan continued to include White-crowned, Lincolns, Savannah, and at least 6 additional native sparrow species including the sparrow known as Dark-eyed Junco, with White-throated Sparrows by far the most numerous now thru all of Manhattan.
The lingering American Wigeon molting into male plumage, and at least 5 Green-winged Teals were ongoing at Central Park, as were Ruddy and Wood Ducks, N. Shovelers, Gadwalls, and other typical waterfowl. Almost 100 species were found in Central Park alone on Thursday - with observers out at all hours of the day and in all sectors of that park, rather than just a limited part and for limited time there. For Manhattan overall, well over 110 species of wild, free-flying birds were seen on Thursday and a great number of species for all of N.Y. County.
Thanks to many observers for sightings, alerts, and reports as well as fresh tips from the field throughout the day, and into eve for some, with the pr owl ers out and about on a mild evening.
Date: 10/15/26 4:27 pm From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Thu. Oct. 15, 2026: E. Meadowlark, Nine Species of Wood Warblers Incl. Tennessee and Cape May
Central Park NYC
Thursday, October 15, 2026
OBS: Robert DeCandido, PhD, m.ob.
Highlights: Eastern Meadowlark (4, an exceptional number for Central Park), Nine Species of Wood Warblers Incl. Tennessee and Cape May Warblers. In addition, an adult Red-headed Woodpecker was reported Tuesday (Oct. 13) in Mugger's Woods in the Ramble.
Canada Goose - 6
Mallard - 4
Mourning Dove - 10-15
American Herring Gull - 5-10 flyovers
Red-tailed Hawk - 4
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 3 or 4
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - 20-25
Northern Flicker - 3 or 4
Eastern Phoebe - 3 or 4
Blue-headed Vireo - 3
Blue Jay - 15-20
American Crow - 10-15
Tufted Titmouse - 1 Gill Source (Dan Stevenson)
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 10-12
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 1 south side Turtle Pond (Paul Curtis)
Northern House Wren - 4 or 5
Winter Wren - 2 or 3
Gray Catbird - 8-10
Brown Thrasher - 3 or 4
Swainson's Thrush - 2 or 3
Hermit Thrush - 25-30
American Robin - 15-20
Chipping Sparrow - 10-15
Dark-eyed Junco -3 or 4
White-throatedSparrow – 500-700
Song sparrow - 10-15
Swamp Sparrow - 1 south side Turtle Pond
Eastern Towhee - 15-20
Eastern Meadowlark - 4 Great Lawn
Common Grackle - 8-10
Ovenbird - 1 southwest end of Maintenance Field
Tennessee Warbler - 1 Pinetum (Paul Curtis)
American Redstart - 1 across East Drive from the Boathouse (Dan Stevenson)
Cape May Warbler - 6-8
Northern Parula - 1 northeast Maintenance Field
Palm Warbler - 1 Great Lawn
Pine Warbler - 7-9
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 12-15
Black-throated Green Warbler - 1 south side Turtle Pond
Northern Cardinal - 4 or 5
Date: 10/15/26 8:28 am From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026: Eastern Meadowlark (4) Great Lawn
Central Park NYC
Thursday, October 15, 2026
OBS: Robert DeCandido, PhD, m.ob.
Four Eastern Meadowlarks at the southeast corner of the Great Lawn. They will fly up into trees nearby, so a bit of patience is advisable.
Date: 10/15/26 3:36 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Manhattan, NYC - 10/13 & 10/14 - many migrants
Manhattan, N.Y. City -
Tues.-Wed., October 13 - 14th -
A Sora was ongoing, and again photographed, at Bryant Park in mid-Manhattan on Tuesday and Wed.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird was noted - perhaps more than one still lingering - at the heather garden of Fort Tryon Park in northern Manhattan on Tuesday and again Wed., after a dearth of reports of any hummingbirds from elsewhere in the county over prior recent days. Any hummingbird seen from now, mid-October thru end of the year ought to be scrutinized and, if possible photographed or video recorded, to help ascertain the species. Ruby-throateds can and do occur later, rarely even a lot later but as November approaches and arrives, that species becomes less and less likely, and vagrant species of hummingbirds actually become more likely in the last two months of the year in this region.
An Eastern Kingbird was photographed on the grounds of Rockefeller University on Manhattans east side on Tuesday. Any flycatchers seen from now thru the end of this year which are not clearly E. Phoebes might be photographed or video recorded, for help in confirming their identifications. Some E. Wood-Pewees were still being seen this week, but the nearly-default flycatcher of the season now is E. Phoebe, in our region.
Red-breasted Nuthatches have been ongoing, with further arrivals moving in this week. Sparrows have had large increases, among the most obvious of the species being White-throated Sparrows, while in some locations, Savannah Sparrow was increased, including sites in the county besides some on Manhattan island. Vesper Sparrow was reported from Central Park, while a report of Clay-colored Sparrow to Wednesday may need a confirmation. Dark-eyed Juncos also have increased as have other common fall migrants, some of these to potentially linger thru fall or even to winter.
Still being seen to Wednesday were Indigo Bunting, Scarlet Tanager, and Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Also still being noted to Wed. were Swainsons and Wood Thrushes, while Hermit Thrush numbers still continue swelling, and there are a few reports of Gray-cheeked type thrushes. The latter, as well as any suspected Veery, would best be photographed or video-recorded as the fall continues, Veery in particular getting quite late for this area.
At least 17 warbler species were still around Central Park on Tuesday and Wednesday, with some still in modest numbers. Yellow-billed Cuckoo and several species of thrush were also still being seen, the most uncommon by this date in this area, a reported Veery noted to Tuesday. There was a generally strong influx of migrants on both Tues and Wed, noted thru the county, and for all areas of Manhattan. Seen and photographed were still at least a few Blackburnian Warblers to Wed., along with many other species still in some numbers such as Cape May, Bay-breasted, Blackpoll, Tennessee, American Redstart, and more. A couple of N. Waterthrush were ongoing in Manhattan, one staying for quite a while at the north end of Central Park, and at least one other in that park also remaining. This part of Oct, and any of this month is not even close to a late-record for that, or for many other of the expected migrant warbler species which are still around - even November does not provide latest-dates for many of these in Manhattan.
Waterfowl seemed to remain fairly stable and similar in terms of the most-watched areas, including the still-lingering American Wigeon, at least 5 Green-winged Teal, and multiple Wood and Ruddy Ducks, N. Shovelers, and still-more Gadwalls, just for Central Park, while other areas of Manhattan waters also will be worth more scanning.
Raptors in the skies continue to pass thru, and it is also the season for vulture migration to be increased, especially so for Turkey Vultures, sometimes in large migrating groups.
Many more species of birds have appeared here and were not mentioned above. Thanks to many observers and photographers watching and walking all thru Manhattan, for sightings, alerts, reports, and tips from the field.
Date: 10/13/26 1:11 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] N.Y. County, NYC - Mon., Oct. 12 - Sora, Clay-c. Sparrow, E. Meadowlarks, multi Marsh Wrens, many other migrants, etc.
New York County -in N.Y. City- including Manhattan, Governors, Randalls, and Roosevelt Islands and the adjacent waters and skies -
Monday, October 12 -
A Sora was ongoing at Bryant Park in midtown Manhattan, again seen and photographed Monday, Oct. 12th.
A Clay-colored Sparrow, the most recent of multiples in this county this season, was found Monday at Carl Schurz Park on Manhattans Upper East Side, that park on the verge of Manhattan and the East River estuary. There were multiple observers and photos of this sparrow. Note that at any time of day here, one might find dogs being let loose on lawns such as where this sparrow was often seen, flushing up birds from the ground. In this and other such instances, the birds may eventually come back to the same lawn areas. Also around this modestly-sized park were Chipping, Lincolns, and other typical sparrows of the season, and still a number of warblers.
Eastern Meadowlarks showed up at both Governors Island and Randalls Island, each site also having many other migrants and fall-visitant species.
A minimum of 3 Marsh Wrens were noted from the county on Monday, two or possibly three at Central Park, with sightings again by The Pond in that parks southeast corner, and an ongoing individual for 6 straight days in one piece of the Ramble. There also were sightings again at Governors Island, where the species had been noted for several recent days or longer.
The long lingering American Wigeon at Central Park appears to be molting into a male plumage, rather more visibly in the current week. 5 Green-winged Teal also continued at Central Park, lingering an even longer time. Multiple Wood Ducks, Ruddy Ducks, and plenty of N. Shovelers also continue at Central Park. At least 16 species of warblers were still in Central Park on Monday.
Also still being found at Central Park and elsewhere in the county, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Swainsons Thrushes and Wood Thrushes along with the increasing numbers of Hermit Thrushes. Many sparrow species also continued at Central Park, with up to 8 species there Monday including the sparrow known as Dark-eyed Junco. All 8 of those sparrow species were also seen in various locations across the county.
Laughing Gulls continued in the high multiples in this county, some of the double-digit numbers seen at Central Parks reservoir, with far more in some other locations.
Thanks to many observers and photographers for sightings, alerts, and reports as well as tips from while in the field.
Date: 10/12/26 2:34 pm From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Mon. Oct. 12, 2026: Marsh Wren, Merlin, Tennessee, Cape May and Other Wood Warblers
Central Park NYC
Monday, October 12, 2026
OBS: Robert DeCandido, PhD, Deborah Allen, m.ob.
Highlights: Great Blue Heron, American Kestrel, Merlin, Marsh Wren, Tennessee, Cape May and Other Wood Warblers, Scarlet Tanager.
Canada Goose - 21
Mallard - 10
Mourning Dove 20-25
American Herring Gull - 15-20 flyovers
Great Blue Heron - 1 Upper Lobe (Karen Evans and Dan Stevenson)
Cooper's Hawk - 1 flyover
Red-tailed Hawk - 3-5 flyovers
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 3 or 4
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - 10-15
Downy Woodpecker - 1 female Pinetum
Northern Flicker - 5-7
American Kestrel - 1 flyover Strawberry Fields
Merlin - 1 flyover Pinetum
Eastern Phoebe - 3
Blue Jay - 18-22
American Crow - 6
Common Raven - 3
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 10-12
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 2 Pinetum (Dan Stevenson)
Brown Creeper - 1 Pinetum
Northern House Wren - 1 Strawberry Fields
Marsh Wren - 1 near Hernshead
Gray Catbird - 30-35
Brown Thrasher - 1 north end of Strawberry Fields
Swainson's Thrush - 5-7
Hermit Thrush - 25-30
Wood Thrush - 3
American Robin - 40-50
Chipping Sparrow - 20-25
White-throated Sparrow - 20-25
Song Sparrow - 8-10
Swamp Sparrow - 1 Upper Lobe (Karen Evans, Dan Stevenson)
Eastern Towhee - 18-22
Common Grackle - 7-9
Black-and-white Warbler - 3 or 4
Tennessee Warbler - 2 (Pinetum (Dan Stevenson), Tanner's Spring (Deb))
American Redstart - 3
Cape May Warbler - 4-6
Northern Parula - 1 Pinetum
Blackpoll Warbler - 1 Strawberry Fields (Dan Stevenson)
Palm Warbler - 1 Great Lawn
Pine Warbler - 6-8
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 5-7
Scarlet Tanager - 4
Northern Cardinal - 4 or 5
--
Date: 10/12/26 12:40 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] N.Y. County, NYC - Sun., 10/11 - Nelsons, Clay-col., Vesper & other sparrows, Or.-cr. & 17 other warblers, etc.
New York County -in N.Y. City- including Governors, Randalls, Roosevelt and Manhattan Islands, and adjacent waters and sky -
Sunday, October 11 -
Rains did not keep all birders indoors all day on Sunday, and depending on exactly where in this county, rain did not start at all until a few hours past first light, with the heaviest rain quite a lot later. There was not much if any effect to birds so far noted for this county, from the passage of the ex-tropical, ex-hurricane related weather system, in terms of odd or unexpected birds turning up.
Randalls Island was the site for Nelsons Sparrow on Sunday, at the salt marsh edge of the Bronx Kill at the n. edge of the island, with multiple observers on a Linnaean Society of New York field trip, and with many other migrants seen. Large numbers of Laughing Gulls also showed there, flocking especially later in the day in the storm-remnant rain.
At Governors Island, a Clay-colored Sparrow was re-found on Sunday, as well as Vesper Sparrow and a selection of other sparrows continuing, some species of which are also ongoing elsewhere around the county.
An Orange-crowned Warbler was seen and photographed on Roosevelt Island on Sunday, as well as some other migrants being found there. At least 18 species of warblers were noted for all of the county on Sunday.
At Central Park, an American Wigeon, multiple Green-winged Teal, Wood Ducks and Ruddy Ducks, N. Shovelers and other waterfowl were all ongoing on Sunday, while various other migrants around the park included lingering Wood Thrush and a wide selection of other songbirds.
Some guided not-for-profit bird walks proceeded on Sunday, ahead of or thru the wet weather here. Thanks to multiple observers and photographers for sightings, alerts, and reports, from many locations of this county.
Date: 10/11/26 6:44 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] N.Y. County, NYC - Sat., 10/10 - Sora, Clay-c. Sparrow, E. Meadowlark, R-h. Woodpecker, 19 spp. of warblers at Central Park, etc.
New York County -in N.Y. City- including Manhattan, Governors, Randalls, and Roosevelt Islands and the adjacent waters and sky -
Saturday, October 10th -
A Sora was still present at Bryant Park in midtown Manhattan on Saturday, where some other migrants also were still being found, some of those being species that rather regularly attempt to or do overwinter there, including occasional warbler species. The most typical are Gray Catbirds and White-throated Sparrows, each of which can and will overwinter in multiple parts of Manhattan in many milder winters, and White-throated Sparrow almost always in fair to high numbers around the island.
A Clay-colored Sparrow was among many, many migrants noted at Governors Island on Saturday. The three locations with highest numbers of species reported Saturday from this county were Governors and Randalls Island, as well as Central Park, with the latter still having at least 19 species of warblers, those including Orange-crowned photographed by multiple observers, and somewhat-late Blackburnian, as well as multiples of Bay-breasted, Blackpoll, Cape May, and other warblers, some in fairly good numbers. Sparrows still being seen fairly widely around the county thru Saturday include White-crowned, Lincolns, and Savannah, the latter typically more numerous on the islands of the county next to Manhattan in appropriate habitats. All of these sparrow species were still ongoing at Central Park.
An adult Red-headed Woodpecker was surprisingly not-seen by many in Central Park on Saturday, despite lingering where many, many birders and photographers were passing - perhaps being distracted by an American Bittern also lingering for some days, and by Saturday the Bittern seen by many many hundreds of people. Although not the first of this season nor even the second or third, American Woodcocks showed in several locations on Saturday including at Central Park and elsewhere in Manhattan.
Birds continuing to be seen to Saturday included late-ish Bobolink in at least one location, and American Pipits in the multiple at Randalls Island, with Yellow-crowned Night Heron still lingering at Randalls, the prime location to observe that species in this county. Brant were noted from the n. end of Manhattan, and more of those will likely be coming in fairly soon, along with other goose and multiple duck species with further cold fronts.
White-eyed Vireo was again seen and photographed at Central Park - this species has shown recently in at least several Manhattan parks, and is the one vireo species that is known to have overwintered successfully more than once or twice in N.Y. City in the modern era of birding. Also present in Central and many other parks and locations of Manhattan and N.Y. County Saturday were Red-eyed, and in greater numbers, Blue-headed Vireos.
Flycatchers still being seen were restricted to some E. Wood-Pewees, and many E. Phoebes all around the county. Baltimore Orioles were still around as were small numbers of Rusty Blackbirds. Plenty of Yellow-billed Cuckoos, and modest numbers of Chimney Swifts were ongoing or passing thru in multiple areas of this county on Saturday. Laughing Gulls continued into triple-digits in multiple locations Saturday, with some still visiting Central Parks reservoir at times, along with the 3 regular gull species of the region, Ring-billed, American Herring, and Great Black-backed Gulls.
At Central Park, photographed birds on Saturday included an Eastern Meadowlark and in addition the lingering American Wigeon there had at least 5 Green-winged Teals for company. Other waterfowl included some flyovers thru the day, in various sectors of N.Y. County, these at least including some duck species already found in the county this season. Far more waterfowl are likely to arrive and pass thru in coming days and weeks.
Thanks to many observers and photographers for many sightings, alerts, reports, and tips while in the field.
Date: 10/10/26 1:09 pm From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC, Sat. Oct. 10, 2026: Y-b Cuckoo, American Bittern, Tufted Titmouse, Wood Warblers
Central Park, NYC
Saturday, October 10, 2026
OBS: Robert DeCandido, PhD, Deborah Allen, m.ob.
Highlights: Yellow-billed Cuckoo, American Bittern, Great Blue Heron, Ruby- and Golden-crowned Kinglets, Winter and N. House Wrens, Swainson's, Hermit, and Wood Thrushes, Tufted Titmouse, American Redstart, Black-throated Green and other Wood Warblers, Scarlet Tanager, Rose-breasted Grosbeak.
Canada Goose - 19
Mallard - 12
Mourning Dove - 15-20
Yellow-billed Cuckoo - 1 Boathouse Hill (Erik Skot)
American Herring Gull - 10-15
American Bittern - 1 continuing since Thursday Tupelo Field
Great Blue Heron - 1 adult Oven (Mike Schafer)
Cooper's Hawk - 1 immature Evodia Field
Red-tailed Hawk - 4 circling overhead
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 2 or 3
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - 8-10
Downy Woodpecker - 2 (Upper Lobe, south side Turtle Pond)
Northern Flicker - 1 male Shakespeare Garden
Eastern Phoebe - 3
Blue-headed Vireo - 3 (Paul Curtis)
Red-eyed Vireo - 1 east of Azalea Pond (Andrea Hessel)
Blue Jay - 15-20
American Crow - 4 or 5
Tufted Titmouse - 1 Gill Source
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 12-15
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 6-8
Brown Creeper - 1 Upper Lobe
Winter Wren - 3
Northern House Wren - 1 Tupelo Field
Gray Catbird - 20-25
Brown Thrasher - 11-13
Northern Mockingbird - 1 Turtle Pond (Claire Buyens)
Swainson's Thrush - 3 or 4
Hermit Thrush - 30-40
Wood Thrush - 2 near Weather Station
American Robin - 30-40
House Finch - 2 or 3 south side Turtle Pond
American Goldfinch - 1 Shakespeare Garden (Claire Buyens)
White-throated Sparrow - 30-35
Song Sparrow - 8-10
Swamp Sparrow - 1 Tupelo Field
Eastern Towhee - 15-20
Common Grackle - 15-20
Black-and-white Warbler - 3
Common Yellowthroat - 3
American Redstart - 1 Upper Lobe
Magnolia Warbler - 3
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 2 males (Upper Lobe, Shakespeare Garden)
Pine Warbler - 8-10
Black-throated Green Warbler - 1 east of Belvedere Castle
Scarlet Tanager - 2 south side Turtle Pond
Northern Cardinal - 5 or 6
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - 3
--
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, October 9,
2026 at 11:00 pm.The highlights of today’s tape are SAY’S PHOEBE,
ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER, LECONTE’S SPARROW, YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD,
EARED GREBE, WESTERN CATTLE-EGRET, LARK and CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS,
YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER, BLUE GROSBEAK, DICKCISSEL and more.
A week without a major storm still was able to produce some great
birds, topped nicely by the SAY’S PHOEBE found last Saturday at
Tibbetts Brook Park in Yonkers, this accommodating individual nicely
viewed during its stay there through Monday.
This was in contrast to the ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER spotted in Inwood
Hill Park on Monday and followed with some difficulty as it moved
around the park into the later afternoon but not seen thereafter.
Another nice find was the LECONTE’S SPARROW seen Wednesday and
Thursday as it skulked within the vegetation in Kissena Park in
Queens.
An adult male YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD was observed a few times Sunday
and Monday when it would occasionally perch in trees visible from the
hawk watch site at Robert Moses State Park on Fire Island.
The EARED GREBE, a long-lingering visitor to the West Pond at Jamaica
Bay Wildlife Refuge, was seen there over last weekend and again
yesterday.
Two WESTERN CATTLE-EGRETS seen this morning at Jacob Riis Park in
Queens ultimately flew southwest, and other species on the beach there
included 10 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS and 110 ROYAL TERNS.
Notable shorebirds this week included 2 AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS last
Saturday at Plumb Beach, 3 at Mecox Inlet today, and 1 Thursday and
Friday along the Hudson River shoreline in Dobbs Ferry, an HUDSONIAN
WHIMBREL Tuesday at Robert Moses State Park, an HUDSONIAN GODWIT
Wednesday and today at Mecox Inlet, and at Jamaica Bay on the East
Pond, up to 4 or more LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS plus a WILSON’S PHALAROPE
to Monday.
CASPIAN TERNS included 1 at Plumb Beach Sunday and 2 at Mecox today,
while an AMERICAN BITTERN was in Central Park yesterday and today, and
a SORA was hanging on in Bryant Park in Manhattan through today.
Single RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS were seen at at least 5 separate
locations during the week.
A LARK SPARROW was at Moses Park Field 2 on Tuesday, and a few
CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS included singles in Green-Wood Cemetery Saturday
to Thursday, on Randalls Island Monday, in Prospect Park Tuesday and
in Piermont Thursday, while last Saturday VESPER SPARROW was found in
both Inwood Hill Park and Kissena Park.
A YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT was at Croton Point Park last Saturday, while
most unexpected among the WARBLERS was a YELLOW-THROATED found
Wednesday at Montauk Point along the Seal Haulout Trail. Also notable
were the few ORANGE-CROWNEDS found and CONNECTICUT uncovered in
Prospect, Bush Terminal Piers and Pelham Bay Parks.
BLUE GROSBEAKS were reported at Planting Fields Arboretum last
Saturday and Sunken Meadow State Park Wednesday, with 2 today at East
Farm Preserve in Head of the Harbor south of Stony Brook. Dickcissels
included 1 at The Battery in Manhattan Thursday and Friday and 1 in
Prospect Park today.
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: 10/9/26 3:28 pm From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Fri., Oct. 9, 2026: Merlin, Yellow-throated Vireo, Nashville, Cape May and Other Warblers
Central Park NYC - North End
Friday, October 9, 2026
OBS: Deborah Allen, m.ob.
Highlights on a sunny, mild autumn morning: American Wigeon, Green-winged Teal, Merlin, Yellow-throated Vireo, Nashville, Cape May and Other Warblers. Several each of veteran and new birders today, plus visitors from Berlin and Mexico City.
In the Ramble, the American Bittern continued in the same shrub as on Thursday.
Canada Goose - 18-30 (2 locations)
Northern Shoveler - 14
Gadwall - 17
American Wigeon - 1 at the Pool
Mallard - around 60
Green-winged Teal - 3
Mourning Dove - 6
Chimney Swift - 4
American Herring Gull - 3 or 4 flyovers
Great Blue Heron - 1 immature Harlem Meer
Cooper's Hawk - 1 flyover (Joaquin)
Red-tailed Hawk - 3 (2 perched immatures (Caren Jahre), 1 flyover adult (Joaquin))
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 3 or 4
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - 4-6
Northern Flicker - 2 (Loch, Green Bench)
Merlin - 1 female/immature perched Harlem Meer (thanks to Fred Cohen)
Empidonax Flycatcher - 1 probable Least Flycatcher Harlem Meer (Paul Curtis)
Eastern Phoebe - 8
Yellow-throated Vireo - 1 Lily Ponds
Red-eyed Vireo - 1 Grassy Knoll
Blue Jay - 6
American Crow - heard
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 18-25
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 1 Grassy Knoll
Cedar Waxwing - 3 Green Bench (Claire Buyens and Dan Stevenson)
Brown Creeper - 2 Loch (Paul Curtis, Claire Buyens)
Winter Wren - 1 Loch (Claire Buyens)
Gray Catbird - 5
Northern Mockingbird - heard
Wood Thrush - 1 Loch (Caren Jahre)
American Robin - 10-15
American Goldfinch -around 15
Chipping Sparrow - 5
Field Sparrow - 3 (Rowena Dodds)
Dark-eyed Junco - 3
White-throated Sparrow - around 15
Song Sparrow - 13-15
Swamp Sparrow - 3 or 4
Eastern Towhee - 1 heard Harlem Meer (Caren Jahre)
Brown-headed Cowbird - 2 Harlem Meer
Common Grackle - 2 flyovers
Black-and-white Warbler - 2 (Harlem Meer (Amanda Vavilala and Dasha), Wildflower Meadow)
Nashville Warbler - 1 North Woods (Dan Stevenson)
Common Yellowthroat - 5
American Redstart - 2 (Loch (Dan Stevenson), Lily Ponds)
Cape May Warbler - 2 Great Hill (Claire Buyens)
Northern Parula - 3
Magnolia Warbler - 3 (Meer, Loch (Caren Jahre), Pool)
Pine Warbler - 1 Great Hill (Paul Curtis)
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 1 Grassy Knoll (Amanda Vavilala)
Scarlet Tanager - 2 Green Bench (seen earlier by Rubon Giron)
Northern Cardinal - 5 including a juvenile begging from an adult female
Indigo Bunting - 2 (Harlem Meer, Nutter's Battery) (Benny Romero reported others).
--
A service for Lee Rogers is scheduled for 2pm this Saturday at the Rustic Shelter (Summer House) in the Ramble with Rev. Bartlett from Madison Ave. Presbyterian Church presiding. At 2:30 birders will meet at the Evodia Field (near the bird feeders) for an informal memorial.
--
Deb Allen
A Sora was ongoing for Friday at Bryant Park in mid-Manhattan. An American Bittern remained into Friday in the Central Park Ramble. A Dickcissel was lingering again in Battery Park at the s. end of Manhattan. Among the latest of photographed Orange-crowned Warblers was one in a favored site, Carl Schurz Park on upper Manhattans far East Side, where like all of these birds, separately, this too was photographed nicely.
Many many other migrants are also ongoing and with some turnover noted daily, such that more native sparrows are showing up, and a bit less of the numbers of neotropial-wintering songbirds, as is expected in this part of autumn.
Thanks to many observers and photographers for sightings, alerts, reports, and good tips in the field.
Date: 10/8/26 7:26 pm From: Andrew Block (via NYSBIRDS-L list) <NYSBIRDS-L...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Tibbetts Brook Park birds
10/8/26 - Tibbetts Brook Park, Yonkers, NY
many Canada Geesemany Mallards16 Wood Ducksseveral Rock Pigeonsseveral Mourning Doves2 Great Blue Herons7 Turkey Vultures1 Cooper's Hawk2 Red-tailed Hawks1 Belted Kingfisher3 Red-bellied Woodpeckers2 Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers2 Downy Woodpeckers1 Hairy Woodpecker2 Northern Flickers5 Eastern Phoebesseveral Blue Jays3 Golden-crowned Kinglets1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet1 White-breasted Nuthatchseveral European Starlings3 American Robinsseveral House Sparrows3 American Goldfinchesseveral White-throated Sparrowsseveral Song Sparrows2 Swamp Sparrows1 Eastern Towheeseveral Common Grackles1 Tennessee Warbler4 Common Yellowthroats4 Palm Warblers1 Prairie Warbler1 Northern Cardinal1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak1 Indigo Bunting
Andrew
Andrew BlockConsulting Naturalist
Yonkers, New York www.flickr.com/photos/conuropsis/albums
Date: 10/8/26 2:49 pm From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC, Thu. Oct. 8, 2026: American Bittern, Barn Owl*, Bay-breasted and Tennessee Warblers
Central Park, NYC
Thursday, October 8, 2026
OBS: Robert DeCandido, PhD, Deborah Allen, m.ob.
Highlights: Green-winged Teal (8), American Bittern, Ruby- and Golden-crowned Kinglets, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Hermit Thrush, Tennessee, Bay-breasted, and 7 Other Species of Warblers.
Date: 10/8/26 11:24 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Manhattan, NYC - Thurs., Oct. 8 - Am. Bittern, Sora, Dickcissel, plenty more migrants…
Manhattan, N.Y. City - Thursday, October 10th -
With birders in multiple not-for-profit guided bird walks, and independent observers and photographers as well, an American Bittern showed nicely for many in the Central Park Ramble starting from first-light on Thursday and lingering in that area. Photos were obtained by some of these on the not-for-profit guided walks and later by others.
A Sora was a lingering bird at Bryant Park in midtown Manhattan, and a colorful Dickcissel was lingering at Battery Park at the south end of Manhattan, both seen and photographed again on Thursday, with multiple admirers in each location.
The recent ongoing spate of migrant cuckoos was continuing, not only around Manhattan including in Central Park, but also around N.Y. County, these recent sightings mostly of Yellow-billed, but a very few Black-billed Cuckoos also were still being found and well-documented. A Marsh Wren seen well and photographed in the Central Park Ramble on Wed., had not been reported so-far for Thursday, but could possibly still be around. Its been a fairly good fall here for that species, with more certainly possible going thru this month.
At least 17 species of migratory warblers were found by early afternoon on Thursday in Central Park, and the ultimate number there, and for all of Manhattan, might grow by a few additional by end of day with so many birders out enjoying the mild sunny weather, and further after-work walkers still to head thru birding locations. Some species of warblers are still being seen in fairly good, to lowered numbers, around Manhattan.
Sparrows of many species also are continuing with at least 9 native sparrow species in Central Park alone, and all of the species of that park also in sparrow-y sites scattered around Manhattan. These include White-crowned and Lincolns Sparrows in the multiple and Savannah Sparrows in somewhat more limited sites around Manhattan.
Red-breasted Nuthatches are ongoing in multiple sites, with ongoing multiples of them at Central Park on Thursday. American Wigeon, Green-winged Teals, Ruddy Ducks, Wood Ducks and other regular autumnal waterfowl are all ongoing at Central Park, with some of these species also showing elsewhere around Manhattan and N.Y. County. Also still to be found are Laughing Gulls in the multiple, including those appearing at Central Park.
Many other migrants are still being found thru Thursday, and further uncommon or rarer species may be awaiting discovery. And we will hope that the various owls that are around will be observed quietly and with respect to their needs, without any need to zoom up to a bird that might be sleeping and requires daily rest.
Thanks to many, many observers and photographers for sightings, alerts, reports, and in-the-field tips.
Date: 10/8/26 4:38 am From: Patrice Domeischel <fourharborsheron...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] 2026 Results - Four Harbors Audubon Society - Stone Bridge Common Nighthawk Watch
October 6 concluded our 10th year tallying migrating Common Nighthawks at the Stone Bridge Common Nighthawk Watch in Setauket.
Over the 41-day period, August 27 - October 6, from 5:30 p.m. to dusk, we counted 1,564 birds, and logged 4173 hours at the bridge for a 0.38 birds-per-minute total. This year's count surpassed each of our last 3 years, but fell far short of our high in 2019 of 2757.
Totals over the last ten years were:
2017: 2046
2018: 2018 (a coincidence)
2019: 2757
2020: 2245
2021: 1819
2022: 1625
2023: 1022
2024: 669
2025: 912
2026: 1564
In addition, to catch early migrators, we conducted a Supplemental Count from August 14 - 26. This count is separate, and will not be included in our regular watch totals. The Supplemental count total over the 13-day period was 234. Hours logged were 1880 for 0.12 birds per minute.
Highlights included low-flying birds feeding at dusk, including one we named Tail-less. This nighthawk’s tail appeared to be torn off, likely a raptor attack. Tail-less delighted us every evening from September 7 through the 17th. This is the first time we have been able to document a nighthawk remaining in the area, and returning to feed on subsequent evenings, before migrating on.
We would like to thank everyone who assisted at the Bridge this year, counters and observers alike. Their spotting and counting skills were greatly appreciated! And many thanks to Frank Melville Memorial Park for use of your stone bridge.
Hope you will all join us next year!
Patrice Domeischel and John Turner
Stone Bridge Common Nighthawk Watch
Four Harbors Audubon Society
Date: 10/7/26 1:56 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] N.Y. County, NYC - Tues., 10/6 - Sora, Nelsons Sparrow, Dickcissel, Blue Grosbeak, NO Ash-throated reports for Tues. :[ etc.
New York County -in N.Y. City- including Manhattan, Randalls, Roosevelt, and Governors Islands, and the adjacent waters and skies -
Tuesday, October 6th -
A Sora was lingering at Bryant Park in mid-Manhattan thru Tuesday and was seen by many, many observers by then. A Dickcissel was also lingering at Battery Park in lower Manhattan on Tuesday, multiple observers and again well photographed.
A Nelsons Sparrow was noted again by some of the observers at Randalls Island on Tuesday. Blue Grosbeak, American Pipits, and a variety of other birds of the season were again noted at Randalls Island.
Overall the county has come up with over 150 species of birds in less than one week of October, although the overall bird diversity had already dropped by 10 percent or so by
Tuesday relative to prior recent days. Atlantic-type Brant have been starting to arrive in still-modest numbers so far, and other geese have been moving a bit - with the possibility that Cackler types are passing thru, as was recently reported for the county, although confirmations can sometimes be tough from some flight photos, or from some sight-only reports.
More waterfowl arrivals are likely at any time from now to end of the year. Gulls still include Laughing Gulls in some locations, reducing in numbers, while the usual-three gull species of this area may swell, those being Ring-billed, American Herring, and Great Black-backed Gulls.
At Central Park, ongoing species included American Wigeon, multiple Green-winged Teals, Ruddy Ducks, Wood Ducks, and plenty of N. Shovelers among the waterfowl there, and there were still at least twenty species of migratory warblers being found in Central, including a few Hooded Warblers, one or more of those in full male-type plumage. Tennessee Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler, and Wilsons Warbler were among many others, and Blackpoll and Cape May Warblers were still being seen in the multiple as was so in general around the county on Tuesday.
A good many warbler species are still being found in high-multiples in the aggregate around the county, some species still easily into double-digits, most obviously perhaps Palm and Myrtle-form Yellow-rumped Warblers, as well as Common Yellowthroats still lurking in plenty of locations.
Rusty Blackbirds and Red-breasted Nuthatches were again seen, particularly noted from Central Park again. Thrushes still included a few Gray-cheeked types, Wood, Swainsons, and plenty of Hermit Thrush, while Veery as is expected might be just about gone from these parts - if veery is suspected from now to any later dates in the year, photos or video may be helpful to confirm it as that species, which for the most part are almost all going south of Texas by about now.
For sparrows there are ongoing White-crowned, Lincolns, Field, Chipping, Swamp, Song, Savannah, and plenty of White-throated Sparrows, as well as increasing Dark-eyed Juncos, all of these being seen in Central Park thru Tuesday as well as scattered thru all of the 4 islands of this county. Some additional sparrow arrivals are certain in this month and next, and could include potential rarer sparrows too.
Other migrant species still being seen in modest numbers have included Scarlet Tanager, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, and Baltimore Oriole. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have still been appearing but numbers are dropping, as expected.
Check any hummers seen a bit more closely from now thru this fall, as at some point, vagrant hummingbird species become -more- likely than our regular Ruby-throated, especially so once November rolls in. If a non-Ruby-throated is suspected, attempt lots of photos, the closer the better, and including the tail of the hummingbird. Chimney Swifts have been continuing, with rather lower numbers by Tuesday but still well into double-digits at some locations.
Diurnally flying raptors and two vulture species have been showing in migration lately, with up to 11 species in raptors including all 3 regular falcon species of the area, for this county to and thru Tuesday. Nocturnal raptors are also ongoing in some locations here.
The previous Ash-throated Flycatcher of Inwood Hill Park was NOT reported again on Tuesday, although it could potentially still be lurking somewhere in that park or within Manhattan or this county, somewhere.
Thanks to many observers and photographers for sightings, re-finds, alerts, and reports.
Date: 10/6/26 1:22 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] N.Y. County, NYC - Mon., 10/5 - ASH-THR. Flycatcher, Sora, Clay-c. Sparrow, Blue Grosbeak, Dickcissel, etc.
New York County -in N.Y. City- including Manhattan, Randalls, Roosevelt, and Governors Islands and the adjacent waters and skies -
Monday, October 5th -
The year-first Ash-throated Flycatcher for N.Y. County was found at Inwood Hill Park on Monday - Joe DiCostanzo, a regular of this park and well-known to many birders from all around NY state, this region, on thru Brazil, and Great Gull Island NY, where he did much past work with Helen Hays and others in conservation of and research on breeding, and in Brazil, migrant-wintering of terns, particularly Common Terns and Roseate Terns, of Great Gull - the Monday-in-Manhattan Ash-throated Flycatcher also re-discovered in the same area of Inwood Hill by B.M.B., his eBird moniker, and also a regular of Inwood Hill Park - and happily also seen by a number of the other reliably regular and keen birders of Inwood Hill, and some additional birders of Manhattan, the flycatcher seen around the n. sector of the park, somewhat closer to the W. 215th St. side -and far from the Dyckman St. side- around the marsh regeneration area by the lagoons s. edge and in or along the nearby soccer pitch or field. If searched for again, as this bird surely will be, and if not re-found on Tuesday, some searching all thru the semi-open edges of various fields in the area might be productive…. Hopefully, this rarity can be re-found, however it is a species that on some occasions regionally can turn up as a one-day-wonder. Thanks to all for the alerts and follow ups, and later reports. At least several observers did obtain photos, and also useful should the bird be found again would be video with audio. It is possible that there is some proclivity to this species turning up, when it does here, in the northern Manhattan sector of the county, although with sample sizes low over the years, it is just a possibility that that area could be in any way favored by rarer Myiarchus and kin.
…. In other NY State flycatcher-rarities, the lingering Says Phoebe originally found by Tim Graves was still being seen Monday at Tibbetts Brook Park in southern Westchester County. And a lingering Scissor-tailed Flycatcher is ongoing, out-west in Chautauqua County. As a reminder with flycatchers of all sorts, if found from now on in the northeast region, give a second look, perhaps especially so to any Empidonax-genus types that might turn up in the reminder of this year….
Back to Manhattan in N.Y. County, slightly late Common Nighthawks - perhaps two - were seen on Monday from Inwood Hill Park, a site that can regularly have sightings of this species, in season. This park runs just slightly behind Central Park in the total number of species of birds found annually, and that with something like 2 percent of the huge numbers of birders and photographers who roam Central Park all year around. The n. portions of Manhattan have many very keen birders, and some are very loyal to certain patches and parks in that productive part of Manhattan. The same is so for other sections of Manhattan as well - it aint all-about Central Park in Manhattan.
Giving northern Manhattan some more of its due in birding, an Orange-crowned Warbler was among the sightings at Fort Tryon Park, this not the first of the species for Manhattan or the county, but a seasonal specialty most-regularly found by this month and with luck, sometimes on into winter. Fort Tryon Park is also a site to check on the hummingbirds that in particular may show at that parks Heather Garden, potentially in later season if any appropriate flowers remain in bloom - the heathers, even with very small flowers and which are hardy thru chilly weather, and can bloom in winter there, can be utilized by hummingbirds and, at least some years ago, hosted 2 Calliope Hummingbirds for some weeks in late fall into winter. For this past week Ruby-throated Hummingbirds were the species being seen there and in multiple other locations of Manhattan, and some at the other islands of the county.
A Sora was seen and photographed - D. Ricci- at Bryant Park, in mid-Manhattan on Monday, this species of course potentially a skulker - and thin as a rail - thus could be tough to see at times!
Also Manhattan, a brightly plumaged Dickcissel was seen and photographed at Battery Park on Monday, and multiple other migrants were also present there.
Randalls Island provided Clay-colored Sparrow, and Blue Grosbeak, again on Monday, each presumed to be lingering from prior observations in recent days there. Many other migrants were also still being seen at Randalls, and at least two Yellow-crowned Night Herons were present, at that site which is the best in the county to find the latter species.
Central Park on Monday featured more than 85 species of birds in total and at least 19 of those species were migratory warblers. These sightings from many, many observers, including those on, or in support of, not-for-profit guided bird walks, and independent observers and photographers, in sum having been out and about at all hours and in all sectors of that park, rather than only in one limited area and for short duration on Monday. The now Long-lingering American Wigeon and Green-winged Teals were ongoing at Central Park thru Monday. The number of sparrow species found there were at least nine, including the sparrow known as Dark-eyed Junco.
Date: 10/5/26 2:20 pm From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Mon. Oct. 5, 2026: Green Heron, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Cape May and Other Warblers
Central Park, NYC
Monday, October 5, 2026
OBS: Robert DeCandido, PhD, Deborah Allen, m.ob.
Highlights: Green Heron, Great Blue Heron, Ruby- and Golden-crowned Kinglets, Eastern Towhee (12-14), Cape May Warbler and Ten Other Wood Warbler Species.
Canada Goose - 19
Mallard - 68
American Black Duck - 2 at 59th Street Pond (Bob-early)
Mourning Dove - 10-15
American Herring Gull - 3 or 4 flyovers
Green Heron - 1 hatch-year/first-cycle Turtle Pond
Great Blue Heron - 1 59th Street Pond (Bob-early)
Cooper's Hawk - 2 flyovers
Red-tailed Hawk - 1 flyover
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 3 or 4
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - 10-15
Downy Woodpecker - 1 Strawberry Fields
Northern Flicker - 12-16
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 1 Pinetum (Paul Curtis)
Eastern Phoebe - 1 Pinetum
Red-eyed Vireo - 1 Strawberry Fields
Blue Jay - 30-35 including small migratory flocks
American Crow - 25-30
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 10-14
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 1 Magic Bush (Karen Evans)
Cedar Waxwing - 2 Sparrow Rock
Brown Creeper - 3 or 4
Northern House Wren - 1 north end of Maintenance Field
Gray Catbird - 15-20
Brown Thrasher - 3 or 4
Swainson's Thrush - 8-10
Wood Thrush - 2 or 3
American Robin - 25-30
White-throated Sparrow - 10-15
Eastern Towhee - 12-14
Ovenbird - 1 Upper Lobe
Black-and-white Warbler - 6
Common Yellowthroat - 1 Upper Lobe (Karen Evans)
American Redstart - 3 or 4
Cape May Warbler - 1 Magic Bush
Northern Parula - 5 or 6
Magnolia Warbler - 2 (Strawberry Fields, Balcony Bridge)
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 2 (male and female) Pinetum
Palm Warbler - 3 or 4
Pine Warbler - 7-9
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 3
Northern Cardinal - 6-8
--
Date: 10/5/26 12:11 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] N.Y. County, NYC - Sun., 10/4 - Blue Grosbeaks, Red-headed WP’s, more migrants
New York County -in N.Y. City- including Governors, Randalls, Roosevelt and Manhattan islands, and the adjacent waters and skies -
Sunday, October 4th -
At least two Blue Grosbeaks were seen on Sunday, one in a new-to-this-fall location at Riverside Park - K. Fung - in the pollinator meadow alongside the West Side Highway now-closed off ramp going to W. 125th St, and just north of the north tennis courts of Riverside, so around approx. 120-121 Steeets in latitude, this site being a bit isolated even though not very far from a main path to and next to the adjacent tennis courts - please be aware whenever visiting this site, which has native plants and many quite tall, with some non-native plants and brush all around as well. One access to this meadow is from west of the small brick tennis building, then head north along the west edge of the fenced tennis court, to reach the pollinator meadow area. It may also be approached from paths on the east edges of the tennis courts. Another Blue Grosbeak was ongoing at Randalls Island, and might be a bird lingering for some time. Neither of these Blue Grosbeaks are adult males - the typical occurrences of the species in fall season are in more subdued plumages.
Red-headed Woodpeckers continued as well on Sunday in at least 2 locations, at Governors Island, and in Central Park. We shall see if some of the recent arrivals of this species stick around, as in past years this has sometimes been an overwintering species in the county, mainly from Manhattan. Learning the calls of this species well can be helpful in locating, although some individuals may be quiet much of the time in fall or winter, especially if just one of this often somewhat colonial and gregarious species is in a set cold-weather territory.
Randalls Island added American Pipit to the fall bird list for that location on Sunday, and it can be added that Wilsons Snipe was one of the many species found on Saturday at Randalls, where Yellow-crowned Night Heron was still present thru the weekend. There were still fairly good numbers and diversity of migrants for all of the islands of N.Y. County on Sunday, but also some departure overnight on Saturday.
At least 22 species of migratory warblers were found in Central Park on Sunday, and at least 23 species were noted for N.Y. County on the day. Still in good numbers overall were such species as Blackpoll, American Redstart, and others of course including Myrtle form Yellow-rumped, and Palm Warblers of 2 forms typical for fall. Some of the warblers were among a bit of morning flight that was evident to early-birders in some locations on Sunday, although the morning flight was low by comparison with Saturday, with that mornings flight events that even went on into afternoon in multiple locations.
Sundays tally of native birds for the county was more than 120 species, with more than 100 species for Central Park, which includes various flyovers such as diurnal raptors and swallows, in this instance, Tree Swallows. As always, the tallies of species for the county, or for just one site such as Central Park, here represent many hundreds -to thousands- of observer-hours, not just from one small area or from a very limited amount of time on part of a given morning. Some observers begin watching at first light, or even in the wee-hours, and some may still be watching at dusk or later on.
Within the family Icteridae, a smattering of Bobolinks were still being found in the county, while Baltimore Orioles were again seen in modest numbers. Rusty Blackbirds were noted again Sunday, including several at Central Park. Common Grackles have increased with some flocks into the several-hundreds or more, while other Blackbird species have yet to push thru in the anticipated numbers here, likely as fall continues.
The further arrivals of sparrows, as well as some departure of some earlier-season migrants was noted in many locations in the county by Sunday, including at Central Park. The Ramble sector of Central Park alone had at least 8 species of native sparrow on Sunday, none rare, but ongoing species such as White-crowned, Field, Lincolns, etc. were seen by multiple observers and photographers, with plenty of fresh sparrow arrival in the entirety of Central Park, as well as numerous other sites in the county. Very common migrants such as Chipping and White-throated Sparrow each increased from Saturday - as noted in Central Park, these were sightings from all of the park and by large numbers of observers and photographers in all sectors of that park at most hours up to when late day rains came in, some observers birding on thru the showers as well.
Savannah Sparrows, most typically in their best numbers off Manhattan at the other large islands with habitat, were numerous Sunday, and also were present in many Manhattan locations, including Central Park. Some or even many of these could be ongoing individuals, along with fresh arrivals.
Purple Finches again showed at Central Park on Sunday, some photographed. Another aspect of arrivals were the increase of Wood Ducks, although just slightly to nearly ten of that species on Sunday at Central Park, a typically good site to find them. Around the county, American Black Duck increased, and there were some Common Loons on the move, but not very many.
Thanks to many hundreds of observers and photographers for sightings, alerts, reports, and tips in the field.
Date: 10/4/26 3:18 pm From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Sun. Oct. 4, 2026: Green Heron, Wood Thrush (12-14), 11 Species of Wood Warblers
Central Park NYC
Sunday, October 4, 2026
OBS: Robert DeCandido, PhD, Deborah Allen, m.ob.
While diversity for early October was fairly good in terms of the number of species, many species, especially sparrows, were underrepresented. Highlights on an overcast morning with a brief bout of drizzle: Green Heron, Blue-headed and Red-eyed Vireos, Winter Wren, Hermit Thrush, Wood Thrush (12-14), 11 Species of Wood Warblers, Scarlet Tanager, Rose-breasted Grosbeak.
Canada Goose - 16
Mallard - 21
Mourning Dove - 21
Chimney Swift - 20
American Herring Gull - 5 flyovers
Green Heron - 1 hatch-year/first-cycle Turtle Pond (David Barrett)
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 2 or 3
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - 5 or 6
Downy Woodpecker - 4
Northern Flicker - 12-15
Eastern Phoebe - 2 or 3
Blue-headed Vireo - 3
Red-eyed Vireo - 3
Blue Jay - 30-35 including small flyover flocks of migrants
American Crow - 12 Great Lawn (Deb-early)
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 3 or 4
Cedar Waxwing - 1 on the Point (Claire Buyens)
Winter Wren - 3 or 4
Gray Catbird - 30-40
Brown Thrasher - 3 or 4
Swainson's Thrush - 6-8
Hermit Thrush - 1 Ramble
Wood Thrush - 12-14
American Robin - 20-25
House Finch - 3-5 (Edmund Berry)
Chipping Sparrow - 3
White-throated Sparrow - 20-25 (fewer than Saturday)
Song Sparrow - 3
Eastern Towhee - 4 or 5
Common Grackle - flock of 10
Ovenbird - 2 Ramble
Black-and-white Warbler - 3 or 4
Common Yellowthroat - 3 or 4
American Redstart - 2 or 3
Northern Parula - 2 or 3 (Claire Buyens)
Magnolia Warbler - 1 south side Turtle Pond (Paul Curtis)
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 1 female Gill Overlook (Edmund Berry)
Palm Warbler - 1 Sparrow Rock (Edmund Berry)
Pine Warbler - Pinetum (Edmund Berry)
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 3 or 4
Black-throated Green Warbler - 1 on the Point
Scarlet Tanager - 2 south side of Turtle Pond
Northern Cardinal - 6-8
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - 2 (Oven (Dan Stevenson), Evodia Field)
Date: 10/4/26 9:27 am From: Andrew Block (via NYSBIRDS-L list) <NYSBIRDS-L...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Say's Phoebe yes
The Say's Phoebe immature found yesterday by the handicapped parking spaces north of the mini golf area at Tibbett's Brook Park in Yonkers was there again today early in the am and then disappeered for a few hours and came back the the same place and gave great views for about 15 minutes before flying across the field towards the brook and bridge northeast of there. Nice find to whomever found it yesterday.
Andrew
Andrew BlockConsulting Naturalist
Yonkers, New York www.flickr.com/photos/conuropsis/albums
Date: 10/4/26 5:19 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] N.Y. County, NYC - Sat., 10/3 - major migration, new arrivals, etc.
New York County -in N.Y. City- including Governors, Randalls, Roosevelt, and Manhattan islands and the adjacent waters and sky -
Saturday, October 3rd -
Plenty of migration was occurring from overnight Friday, Oct. 2 into Saturday, Oct. 3, all around the region, and N.Y. County partook of a fair bit of this strong regional migration event. Birds including those mostly known to migrate at night were still flying on and around seeking good places to settle for the day, into not just late morning but some even to the afternoon hours of Saturday.
A nice find at Roosevelt Island was an Eastern Meadowkark, likely a first of fall for N.Y. County. That species was observed at several times of day, by several observers, and multiple other migrants were also observed there including some diversity in warblers and sparrows.
Randalls Island received a good number of observers and effort to find birds through the day, while Governors Island had somewhat fewer total species, it was also clearly very active with many birds, as was so all around the county, and in general around the wider region. Manhattan island with its many many observers all over the island and at every hour of day, plus some in the dark hours of twilight meant that Manhattan also had a very large tally of birds by end of Oct. 3rd. These sightings included at least 5 species of owls, some already known of.
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Both Governors Island and Randalls Island received the first known Nelsons Sparrows of the season for this county. Randalls also pulled out Dickcissel and Blue Grosbeak, while Governors brought American Pipits. The great day for Red-headed Woodpeckers was likely topped by up to five individuals of that species at Governors, at least two there being adults. Red-headed Woodpeckers also occurred at Randalls Island, and in the multiple at Central Park, although by far the most observers saw a single adult thru the day at Central, and there were also sightings of Red-headed at Riverside Park, and reports that strongly suggested others elsewhere in Manhattan on Saturday.
Clay-colored Sparrow was one more of the specials seen at Randalls Island, while all around the county were fresh additions of White-crowned Sparrows, Lincolns Sparrows, and many other sparrow species, along with the sparrow known as Dark-eyed Junco in higher numbers than previously. The at-least 12 species of sparrows for Saturday in this county also included Vesper Sparrow.
Warblers occurred in their strongest flight of this southbound season so far in this county with a large push of Yellow-rumped Warblers, all noted to form being of the expected Myrtle form. Also moving in very high numbers were Blackpoll Warblers as well as over ten additional species, including Palm Warblers of both the yellow and western forms. The county overall had at least 22 species of warblers, almost all or all of which were seen in the multiple, and many by the dozens to many-hundred, thru the county.
Eastern Phoebes made a big move on Saturday, the county overall receiving hundreds of new arrivals of that species, and seeing a very few E. Kingbirds now straggling after the main migrations of most kingbirds weeks ago. Also moving in numbers again on Saturday were Scarlet Tanagers, and in lesser but notable numbers, Baltimore Orioles. At least a few Rusty Blackbirds were seen, with others perhaps coming in with varied flocks of icterids. There were still a few later-moving Bobolinks.
An attempt at a comprehensive list of birds noted in N.Y. County on October 3, 2026 -
Brant - few, so far.
Canada Goose
Mute Swan - East River, ongoing.
Wood Duck - multiple.
Northern Shoveler
Gadwall
American Wigeon - including a lingering one at The Pool in Central Park.
Mallard
American Black Duck
Mallard x American Black Duck hybrids
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal - including lingerers at Central Park.
Ring-necked Duck
Ruddy Duck
duck sp. or waterfowl species - some distant birds not identified past Duck types or sizes.
Wild Turkey - ongoing at The Battery in Manhattan.
Pied-billed Grebe
FERAL Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Yellow-billed Cuckoo - multiple.
Black-billed Cuckoo - several, photographed.
Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - multiple.
American Coot
Killdeer
American Woodcock
Wilson's Snipe
Spotted Sandpiper
Solitary Sandpiper - at Central Park.
Laughing Gull - many.
Ring-billed Gull
American Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Forsters Tern - still some around the waters of Randalls Island.
Common Loon
Great Cormorant
Double-crested Cormorant - many on the move, new arrivals.
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Green Heron
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron - ongoing at Randalls Island
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Coopers Hawk
Bald Eagle
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
owl species - a minimum of 5 spp in the county.
Belted Kingfisher
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - increased.
Red-headed Woodpecker - multiple, as partially noted already.
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern -Yellow-shafted- Flicker
American Kestrel
Merlin
Peregrine Falcon
Monk Parakeet - this species is at least a rare-resident, multiple sightings this fall.
Olive-sided Flycatcher - reported, getting a bit late.
Eastern Wood-Pewee - diminished numbers by now.
Least or Empidonax-genus Flycatcher - very few.
Eastern Phoebe - hundreds of new arrivals for the county.
Eastern Kingbird - few, and getting almost late now.
White-eyed Vireo - several.
Blue-headed Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay - many hundreds, moving in diurnal flights.
American Crow
Fish Crow
Common Raven
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
House Wren
Winter Wren
Carolina Wren
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
Northern Mockingbird
Veery - a few reports, now quite late since peak movement is many weeks past.
Gray-cheeked Thrush
Swainsons Thrush
Hermit Thrush
Wood Thrush
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing - hundreds in morning flight.
House Sparrow
American Pipit - Governors Island.
House Finch
Purple Finch - rather few.
American Goldfinch
Chipping Sparrow
Clay-colored Sparrow - Randalls Island.
Field Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco - increased.
White-crowned Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow - increased.
Vesper Sparrow
Nelsons Sparrow - interior form, but possibly sightings of more than one form.
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Lincolns Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Bobolink
Eastern Meadowlark - Roosevelt Island.
Baltimore Oriole
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Rusty Blackbird - multiple, but not very many.
Common Grackle
blackbird sp.
-
Ovenbird - multiple.
Northern Waterthrush - multiples.
Black-and-white Warbler - fairly numerous overall.
Tennessee Warbler - multiple.
Nashville Warbler - many.
Common Yellowthroat - many - indeed common, for this day.
Hooded Warbler - at least low multiples, some of these likely lingering individuals.
American Redstart - many.
Cape May Warbler - many dozens of this species in the county, some locations having up to ten or more on the day, and some sightings of 4 or more at one time.
Northern Parula - very many, near common on the day.
Magnolia Warbler - many.
Bay-breasted Warbler - low multiples, some not definite, on a day when so many Blackpoll Warblers were on the move.
Blackburnian Warbler - in the low multiple.
Yellow Warbler - fair numbers around the county.
Chestnut-sided Warbler - multiple
Blackpoll Warbler - many, far more than on any prior single days in this county this fall.
Bay-breasted or Blackpoll Warbler sp.
Black-throated Blue Warbler - multiple
Palm Warbler - many of both the yellow form and the western form.
Pine Warbler - multiple
Yellow-rumped Warbler - all of the Myrtle form, as far as noted.
Prairie Warbler - multiple
Black-throated Green Warbler - multiple.
Setophaga sp. - some in this category, not identified to species.
- - - there were a few additional warbler species reported which require confirmations, mostly due only to the late date per species of some of those reports.
warbler sp. (Parulidae sp.) - plenty in this category, esp. as flyovers.
-
Scarlet Tanager - many, a large fresh arrival on Saturday.
- Summer or Scarlet Tanager sp. - some were undetermined to species.
- tanager sp. (Piranga sp.) - some not determined to species.
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - multiple.
Blue Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting -multiples.
Dickcissel
. . . And it was very likely at least a few additional migrant species occurred. Over 150 species known so far came into or passed by New York County on Saturday.
Thanks to many hundreds of observers and photographers for sightings, alerts, and reports as well as hot tips on some species.
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, October 2nd 2026* at 11pm. The highlights of today's tape are such storm related birds as SOUTH POLAR SKUA, NORTHERN FULMAR, LEACH'S STORM-PETREL, LONG-TAILED JAEGER and BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE among others plus BROWN PELICAN, EARED GREBE, AMERICAN AVOCET, MARBLED and HUDSONIAN GODWITS, RED-NECKED PHALAROPE, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, LARK and CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS, SUMMER TANAGER, BLUE GROSBEAK, DICKCISSEL and more.
A nor'easter, hammering our shores since Wednesday, September 23rd, finally lessened its grip on Monday but in the interim it provided us with some coastal excitement topped by the SOUTH POLAR SKUA nicely photographed off Montauk Point last Saturday. Then on Sunday at the Point a NORTHERN FULMAR was glimpsed cruising through the waves where other pelagics included a few PARASITIC JAEGERS plus CORY'S, SCOPOLI'S, GREAT, SOOTY and MANX SHEARWATERS and NORTHERN GANNETS in varying numbers.
Meanwhile in western Long Island Sound over the weekend an uncertain number of LEACH'S and WILSON'S STORM-PETRELS along with some PARASITIC JAEGERS gathered in the waters east of the Throgs Neck Bridge between Fort Totten in Queens and Belden Point on City Island. Despite generally poor viewing conditions a LONG-TAILED JAEGER was also identified off Fort Totten and City Island on Saturday and a juvenile BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE was seen and photographed off City Island over the weekend.
A RED-NECKED PHALAROPE was also found Saturday at Prospect Point on Long Island's north shore at Sam's Point. A BROWN PELICAN appeared Thursday on the ocean as viewed from the Fire Island hawkwatch site at Robert Moses State Park and the EARED GREBE at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge was still on the West Pond today.
Various shorebirds featured the AMERICAN AVOCET still at the north end of the East Pond at Jamaica Bay last Monday. An AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER at Floyd Bennett Field Saturday to Monday was followed by 3 off Hulse Landing Road in Calverton Wednesday and 4 at Plumb Beach today. An UPLAND SANDPIPER was heard over Hulse Landing Road Wednesday. An HUDSONIAN WHIMBREL visited Jones Beach field 6 Monday. An HUDSONIAN GODWIT at Belden Point on City Island Saturday was followed by 2 at Timber Point Golf Course Tuesday and possibly today and 3 MARBLED GODWITS were on Goose Island off Massapequa Wednesday.
Single RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS were noted in Green-wood Cemetery Tuesday, at Robert Moses State Park Thursday and at Tompkins Square Park in Manhattan today.
A LAPLAND LONGSPUR at Lake Montauk Sunday was followed by one at Robert Moses State Park today. A LARK SPARROW was seen at Floyd Bennett Field Monday and Wednesday and single CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS were spotted Monday in Central Park, Fort Totten and on Governors Island with another in Prospect Park today.
A YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT was seen on Governors Island Monday and Tuesday with another at the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx Wednesday. Single SUMMER TANAGERS were reported from Central Park Tuesday and Wednesday, at Robert Moses State Park Tuesday and at the South Fork Natural History Museum Wednesday. Eight BLUE GROSBEAK reports included individuals at Floyd Bennett Field, Robert Moses State Park, Sunken Meadow State Park, Planting Fields Arboretum and the Suffolk County Farm and Education Center while DICKCISSELS included one at Piermont Pier Thursday, one on Green-wood Cemetery Thursday and Friday and one at Kensico Reservoir in Westchester Thursday along with a BLUE GROSBEAK.
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: 10/3/26 2:34 pm From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC - Sat., 10/3 - Red-headed Woodpeckers redux
Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City -
Saturday, October 3rd -
One adult, among the multiple Red-headed Woodpeckers to be seen in Central Park, with more for all of N.Y. County on Saturday, was observed by far more than 300 people, mostly birders, and including more than 200 birders with multiple not-for-profit guided bird walks from the early morning onward. Other Red-headed Woodpeckers also were seen, and a much more thorough account of the very strong migrations all around N.Y. County - including more than 100 species of birds just in Central Park on Saturday, and far more for all of the county - will be written up in a report at a later time.
Thanks to vast numbers of observers and photographers out and about at all hours, in nearly every corner of the county for Saturday for sightings, re-finds, alerts, and reports.
Date: 10/3/26 2:07 pm From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Sat. Oct. 3, 2026: Red-headed Woodpecker, Lincoln's Sparrow, Tennessee Warbler
Central Park NYC
Saturday, October 3, 2026
OBS: Robert DeCandido, PhD, Deborah Allen, m.ob.
Highlights: Red-headed Woodpecker, Lincoln's Sparrow, Tennessee, Cape May and other Wood Warblers. Scarlet Tanager, Rose-breasted Grosbeak. In Addition: Miriam Rakowski reported a Black-billed Cuckoo east of Belvedere Castle; Dan Stevenson and Karen Evans reported Field and White-crowned Sparrows and Black-throated Blue and Black-throated Green Warblers in upper Shakespeare Garden.
Canada Goose - 12
Wood Duck - 1 male Turtle Pond
Mallard - 17
American Black Duck - 1 male Turtle Pond
Mourning Dove - around 20
Chimney Swift - 8-10
American Herring Gull 4 or 5 flyovers
Cooper's Hawk - 1 adult female at Azalea Pond (Bob-early)
Red-tailed Hawk - 3 flyovers
Red-headed Woodpecker - 1 adult Evodia Field (Annie Plum, MD)
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 2 or 3
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - 4-6
Downy Woodpecker - 3
Hairy Woodpecker - heard
Northern Flicker - 15-20
Eastern Phoebe - 5 or 6
Blue-headed Vireo - 3 or 4
Red-eyed Vireo - 1 Belvedere Castle
Blue Jay - 10-15
American Crow - flock of 9
Common Raven - 1 flyover (Paul Curtis, MD)
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 5
Northern House Wren - 2 (Upper Shakespeare Garden (Dan Stevenson), Pinetum (Deb-early))
Gray Catbird - 30-40
Brown Thrasher - 9-13
Swainson's Thrush - 12-15
Wood Thrush - 4 or 5
American Robin - 25-30
Dark-eyed Junco - 1 southeast Turtle Pond
White-throated Sparrow - 60-80
Song Sparrow - 9 or 10
Lincoln's Sparrow - 1 Tupelo Field
Swamp Sparrow - 1 Shakespeare Garden (Deb-early)
Eastern Towhee - 1 female south side Turtle Pond
Common Grackle - 8-10
Ovenbird - 1 Evodia Field
Black-and-white Warbler - 5 or 6
Tennessee Warbler - 1 southeast Turtle Pond
Common Yellowthroat - 5 or 6
American Redstart - 3
Cape May Warbler - 1 hatch-year female Boathouse Hill
Northern Parula - 4 or 5
Magnolia Warbler - 3 or 4
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 1 Upper Lobe (Andrea Hessel, MD)
Palm Warbler - 1 "Western" Pinetum (Deb-early)
Pine Warbler - 2 or 3
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 1 Gill Overlook
Scarlet Tanager - 3 or 4
Northern Cardinal - 5 or 6
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - 6 or 7
Morningside Park and Tompkins Square Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City -
Friday, October 2nd -
The Connecticut Warbler found - O. Fischer - at the northern end of Morningside Park in Manhattan was later seen and very well-photographed by additional later seekers there, on Friday, Oct. 2nd. A lot of other nice migrant species were also seen at Morningside.
An adult Red-headed Woodpecker was found and reported - L. Beausoleil - in Tompkins Square Park in Manhattan, and on Friday morning, thru later on Friday, was subsequently seen as well as photographed by more observers there. It could potentially linger there for sone time. Other migrant species in nice variety were also present. For the Red-headed, some sightings were around the parks dog run up in an elm and also moving to other trees at times.
The value of birding the patches shows off. And, yes, observer-finder skill, as well as persistence, helps a great deal. Thanks to all for sightings, re-finds, alerts, reports and tips on the spot for birds showing in the areas of this report.
Another time for reports out of so-often noted Central Park sightings, and for various reports from all around the rest of N.Y. County in N.Y. City.
Date: 10/2/26 1:07 pm From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Fri. Oct. 2, 2026: Yellow-billed Cuckoo, N. Yellow, Prairie, Black-throated Green and Other Wood Warblers
Central Park NYC
Friday October 2, 2026
OBS: Deborah Allen, m.ob.
Highlights: Green-winged Teal, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Solitary Sandpiper, Northern Yellow, Prairie, Black-throated Green and Other Wood Warblers.
Canada Goose - 26
Gadwall - 10
Mallard - 50-60
Green-winged Teal - 3
Mourning Dove - 6
Yellow-billed Cuckoo - 2 Loch Overlook (Caren Jahre)
Chimney Swift - 10-12
Solitary Sandpiper - 1 at the Pool
American Herring Gull - 4 flyovers
Great Blue Heron - 1 Harlem Meer
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 1 flyover
Red-tailed Hawk - 2 or 3 flyovers
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 2 heard
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 3
Eastern Phoebe - 5
Blue Jay - 6
American Crow - 3
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 3
Northern House Wren - 1 Harlem Meer (Dan Stevenson)
Gray Catbird - 20-25
Brown Thrasher - 1 or 2 at the Pool
Northern Mockingbird - 1 Harlem Meer
Swainson's Thrush - 2 at the Pool (Paul Curtis)
Wood Thrush - 1 at the Pool
American Robin - around a dozen
House Finch - 2 at the Seep (Paul Curtis)
American Goldfinch - 10-12
White-throated Sparrow - 2 (Wildflower Meadow, Pool)
Song Sparrow - 2 or 3 Harlem Meer
Black-and-white Warbler - 5
Common Yellowthroat - 9
American Redstart - 5
Northern Parula - 5
Magnolia Warbler - 1 at the Seep
Northern Yellow Warbler - 1 at the Pool (Dan Stevenson)
Palm Warbler - 1 "Western" Compost
Prairie Warbler - 1 Harlem Meer (Paul Curtis)
Black-throated Green Warbler - 1 at the Pool (Paul Curtis)
Northern Cardinal - 2 Loch
Date: 10/2/26 2:45 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Manhattan, NYC - Oct. 1st - migration ongoing
Manhattan, N.Y. City -
thru Thursday, Oct. 1 -
There was a report of Blue Grosbeak at Central Park for early Thursday in female-like plumage. A fair amount of nocturnal migration was occurring overnight Thursday into Friday - today - and we shall learn how much of that nocturnal flight might have included liftoff and departure for birds having been lingering in Manhattan and other areas in this region. Indigo Buntings were much more widely reported again, including low multiples from around Central Park.
Yellow-billed Cuckoos were noted from several locations, including Central Park. Common Nighthawks were still pushing thru as well on Thursday, Oct. 1st. Great Crested Flycatcher was again found at Central Park on the first day of October. Modest numbers of Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers are present. Purple Finches were again appearing including some in Central Park on Thursday. Many observers noted an increase of Brown Thrashers from all around Manhattan, and including Central Park.
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds were again seen in fairly good numbers, most of all at locations with many appropriate flowers for their feeding needs. Chimney Swifts were ongoing, into high double-digits. Green Heron was still being noted from Central Park on Thursday.
At least 21 species of warblers were found in Central Park on Thursday, with some species running very slightly late at this date. These included Blackburnian, also seen elsewhere in Manhattan, and Tennessee, as well as Hooded Warblers, and at least 14 of the warbler species into double-digits per species for the day. 22 or more warbler species were found for all of Manhattan on Thursday.
Red-breasted Nuthatches were seen in multiple locations of Central Park, as was so elsewhere in Manhattan. At least 4 vireo species were found at Central Park, including White-eyed and Philadelphia, as well as Red-eyed and Blue-headed Vireos, the latter two species in the multiple.
A minimum of 8 native sparrow species were found in Manhattan, with all of those species also being seen at Central Park on Thursday. Lincolns Sparrow was found in at least 8 different parks and greenspaces of Manhattan. White-crowned was among the ongoing sparrow species, including some at Central Park on Thursday.
Ongoing into October at Central Park were American Wigeon, Green-winged Teals, Ruddy and Wood Ducks, N. Shovelers and other waterfowl. A rather small number of shorebirds were still being found around Manhattan. Laughing Gulls were again found in numbers, including at or over Central Park on Oct. 1st.
Over all of Manhattan, more than 105 species of birds were found on Thursday, and of those, nearly 90 species were seen at Central Park, these by many observers out at all varied hours of the day, and at Central, in all sectors of that park rather than only in a limited portion. Also providing many of the first sightings of some species for the new month was Inwood Hill Park, while additional parks and many other greenspaces added a wide variety of birds to the start of October.
Thanks to hundreds of observers and photographers either walking independently or in support of, or leading, guided not-for-profit bird walks, of which there were several in Central Park alone on Thursday, plus other such not-for-profit bird walks at other Manhattan locations as well, on the day, for so many sightings, alerts, tips in the field, and reliable reports.
Date: 10/1/26 4:34 pm From: marciaaabrahams at aol.com (via NYSBIRDS-L list) <NYSBIRDS-L...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Do not miss the next Queens County Bird Club/NY meeting on Wednesday, October 21st at 7:30 PM featuring Karlo & Alison Mirth "Peninsular Malaysia"!
Queens County Bird Club Monthly Meeting
Karlo & Alison Mirth present "Peninsular Malaysia"
Date & Time: Wednesday, October 21, 2026, 7:30 PM
Place: Alley Pond Environmental Center, 229-10 Northern Blvd, Douglaston, NY 11362
In September 2025, Karlo and Alison Mirth went on a Calidris Birding Tours trip to the southern part of the Malaysia Peninsula. They visited lowland rainforests, mangroves, and highland areas including world-famous Fraser's Hill. Karlo and Alison arrived two days before the start of the tour to recover from jet lag and to bird on their own in a nearby park and acquaint themselves with commonplace birds. Besides seeing many new birds and bird families, there were many sightings of other fascinating fauna including several species of primates and mammals, reptiles, and over 30 species of butterflies.
There will be no coverage at the front desk, so please be prompt and ring the doorbell to be let in.
Marcia AbrahamsVP/Programs CoordinatorQueens County Bird Clubhttps://qcbirdclub.org/Email: <MarciaAAbrahams...>
Date: 10/1/26 3:50 pm From: marciaaabrahams at aol.com (via NYSBIRDS-L list) <NYSBIRDS-L...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Do not miss the next Queens County Bird Club/NY meeting on Wednesday, October 21st at 7:30 PM featuring Karlo & Alison Mirth ""Peninsular Malaysia"!
Queens County Bird Club Monthly Meeting
Karlo & Alison Mirth present "Peninsular Malaysia"
Date & Time: Wednesday, October 21, 2026, 7:30 PM
Place: Alley Pond Environmental Center, 229-10 Northern Blvd, Douglaston, NY 11362
In September 2025, Karlo and Alison Mirth went on a Calidris Birding Tours trip to the southern part of the Malaysia Peninsula. They visited lowland rainforests, mangroves, and highland areas including world-famous Fraser's Hill. Karlo and Alison arrived two days before the start of the tour to recover from jet lag and to bird on their own in a nearby park and acquaint themselves with commonplace birds. Besides seeing many new birds and bird families, there were many sightings of other fascinating fauna including several species of primates and mammals, reptiles, and over 30 species of butterflies.
There will be no coverage at the front desk, so please be prompt and ring the doorbell to be let in.
Marcia AbrahamsVP/Programs CoordinatorQueens County Bird Clubhttps://qcbirdclub.org/Email: <MarciaAAbrahams...>
Date: 10/1/26 12:01 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Manhattan, NYC - to 9/30 - Blue Grosbeak, Sum. Tanager, many other migrants
Manhattan, N.Y. City - thru Wed., September 30 -
A Blue Grosbeak in female-like plumage was seen and photographed - L. Beausoleil - at a grassy area on United Nations property in Manhattans east side on Wednesday.
A Summer Tanager in female plumage was still in the area of the Hallett Sanctuary at the north edge of The Pond - in Central Park, thru Wednesday 9-30, this being in that parks southeast sector. A Clay-colored Sparrows seen on Sept. 28 at Central Park has been confirmed after review.
More than 110 species of birds were being seen in Manhattan on Wednesday, 9-30. That number included at least 22 species of migratory warblers, of which many species were still around in numbers, including but not limited to Cape May, Bay-breasted, Blackpoll, Chestnut-sided and other warbler species. All of the noted warbler species thru Wednesday in Manhattan were also present just in Central Park on the day, with so many observers there at all hours and in all sectors of that park, however warblers of many species and many other migrants are being seen all around Manhattan in multiple parks and greenspaces, larger and smaller.
Not much noted from these reports lately, Marsh Wrens have turned up in multiple sites in N.Y. County, including various areas on Manhattan, among the latest at Inwood Hill Park in n. Manhattan to Wednesday. Also noted at Inwood Hill Park as of Wed., 2 N. Pintails. Golden-crowned Kinglets increased in numbers this week, being seen in multiple Manhattan sites, including again at Central Park. Ruby-crowned Kinglets are also still widespread, as expected thru the autumn here.
Many Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are still lingering or passing thru, of course most commonly seen where appropriate flowers are blooming in any good quantities.
Common Nighthawks were continuing to be seen over Manhattan thru Sept. 30th.
At Central Park, American Wigeon, Green-winged Teal, Ruddy and Wood Ducks are ongoing as are N. Shovelers and other typical waterfowl there. Laughing Gulls continue to frequent the C.P. reservoir, and are also still seen in multiple Manhattan and other locations of the county, most of all along the river estuaries or N.Y. Harbor.
Veery had been seen again in a few locations to the last day of September, including at Central Park. Other thrush species still being seen in multiple locations include some Gray-cheeked types, Wood, Swainsons, and Hermit Thrushes. Plenty of sparrows are showing in fair diversity and some increases occurred for some of the species this week. Lincolns and White-crowned Sparrows are each still being found. Scarlet Tanagers were continuing in fairly good numbers all around Manhattan to the end of September. Also still being seen in numbers around Manhattan were Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and Indigo Buntings, as well as many many other typical migrants.
The previously-noted brightly-plumaged Dickcissel at Central Park on Tuesday was seen by more than 50 observers that day, many as supporters of or participants to not-for-profit guided bird walks at that park, which continue in October, organized by a wide variety of nonprofit organizations and institutions.
A female Wild Turkey is an ongoing, long-staying near resident of Battery Park in lower Manhattan, regularly seen by birders and others. The Battery area of lower Manhattan is one of the sectors of Manhattan seeing a wide variety of migrants each day recently, this includes many waterfront parks and greenspaces, as well as some parks, publicly accessible churchyards, gardens, and places among the area greenspaces.
Thanks to many observers and photographers for so many sightings, alerts, and reports.
Date: 9/30/26 1:15 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] N.Y. County, NYC - to Tues., 9/29 - Y.-br. Chat, Clay-col. Sparrow, Dickcissel + Sum.Tanager for Central Park, etc.
New York County -in N.Y. City- including Manhattan with Central Park, Governors Island, Randalls Island and Roosevelt Island, as well as the adjacent waters and skies above -
to Tuesday, September 29th -
A Clay-colored Sparrow was found on Governors Island on Monday, Sept. 28. A Yellow-breasted Chat was ongoing from Monday to Tuesday, Sept. 28-29, also at Governors Island. A good many more migrants, some in fairly strong numbers, were noted from Governors on recent days once the island was re-opened after a short hiatus to visitors in the peak storm period last weekend.
A brightly colored Dickcissel was among Tuesday highlights at Central Park, with this latest find of the species at a location just east of the parks West Drive roadway and west of the old bridle path, in the approx. latitude of W. 83-84 Streets. Birders locally sometimes refer to the location as Sparrow Rock, a holdout-name from days of birding that park in the twentieth century. Plenty of observers for this bird once the word was out. As is sometimes so with the species, this Dickcissel showed amiability with a group of House Sparrows, in this case standing out reasonably well in its much brighter plumage.
The now long-staying Summer Tanager, in female plumage, was still at the same area of Central Park by The Pond in the parks southeast corner, thru Tuesday, and yet again well-photographed there.
A Lesser Yellowlegs is one of the shorebirds now confirmed from Randalls Island on Monday, with the storm that brought rarer species in that and prior days in the area and in this county. Randalls had ongoing good variety in expected migrants thru Tuesday, including ongoing lingering Yellow-crowned Night Herons, and good diversity in both warblers and sparrows, as well as many other birds, but not the rarest birds of the storm-watching sessions.
Roosevelt Island has had rather less regular reporting but had migrants seen at the start of last weekend, those including Forsters Tern on Saturday. It is yet another of the many locations in this county that has the potential for an avian rarity, as-always dependent on some observers being around to potentially observe.
Among many and varied migrants being seen, Great Crested Flycatcher and Veery were among some species still around and just slightly late for any peak fall movements. Both of the latter were still being seen at Central Park. At the same time, more sparrows continue to come in to the county, and deserve further scrutiny as some less-common or even rare sparrows get to peak-possibilities in terms of potential date periods in coming weeks or months. As noted already in prior reports, White-crowned Sparrows have turned up in higher than expected numbers already in this county. It is slightly possible that some arrivals were in some way storm-affected.
At Central Park alone on Tuesday, at least 22 species of migratory warblers were seen by many, many observers, these including some with guided, organized bird walks for not-for-profit institutions and organizations, and by those walking independently, all including multiple photographers as well. A fair number of warblers were still being seen in good numbers, partially an indication that not all or perhaps not-most already present in the Parulidae tribe in this county chose to lift off on Monday night. Overall the county with its 4 major islands and many, varied greenspaces was still hosting a wide variety of migrant birds. With any boosts from such arrivals as waterfowl or certain other autumnal arrivals, this month could still tally near 200 species in the county, and at the least will run to over 190 species of confirmed species of wild and free-flying birds this month.
Of ongoing waterfowl, an American Wigeon, plus Green-winged Teal, Wood and Ruddy Ducks, multiple N. Shovelers were all ongoing at Central Park in Manhattan thru Tuesday, with all of those above duck species also appearing elsewhere in this county this month, mainly more-recently, along with regulars such as Gadwall, and movement of N. Pintails, plus the usual motley crew of waterfowl. A very few Brant had summered over in the county and some of those were still being seen. A number of Common Loons have been showing in the county, most as flyovers on the move, but at least a few in local waters here, numbers so far being quite modest.
Laughing Gulls continue their high numbers in this county, a situation already noted well before any recent storms and certainly not reduced yet after the latest storm. These are showing in many locations, including at times by the dozens at Central Park, mainly on or near the reservoir there. All gulls noticed at that reservoir can fluctuate greatly in numbers at any time of day and any part of a year. At times, one might find few to no gulls there, and within the same day there could be hundreds at a different time of the day. This has been so for a very very long time at that site within Central Park.
All sectors of the county had some migrant birds around thru Tuesday and in some locations the variety and numbers were fairly good, post-storm passage. Incidentally a bit of an effect from, or effects related to, that last storm which moved up the coast was still noticeable in the atmospheric layering to as far west as eastern Ohio on Tuesday morning, while the main rotation of that storm pulled off to or past the Canadian Maritime provinces later Tuesday.
Thanks to many observers for sightings, alerts, and reports this week of autumn, even as we could get a touch of summer again for a bit in the NYC area in the upcoming days.
Date: 9/29/26 3:25 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] N.Y. County, NYC - 9/27-28 - 2 Storm Petrel spp., shorebirds, other storm birds and migrants, etc.
New York County -in N.Y. City- including Randalls, Manhattan, Roosevelt, and usually Governors Island, plus all adjacent waters and sky -
Mainly for Sunday and Monday, September 27 and 28 -
Wilsons Storm Petrel is exceedingly rare in this county, and at least one was noted by multiple observers from Randalls Island to Monday in the storm-winds that have brought many other birds farther west than usual or to be seen from land, in this county, with up to 4 of the Wilsons seen by some on storm watch on Sunday. The storm-petrel-shows seemed to be disappearing by later in the day Monday, as the storm pulled away.
Already noted, but with up to 6 Leachs Storm Petrels from Randalls Island as of Sunday, this latter species possibly staying unseen for Monday, while Wilsons Storm Petrel occurred from Randalls in up to at least 4 individuals tallied. It is certainly possible that more than these numbers of each of these Storm Petrel species were occurring in the various periods during the storm when being noted. Some quite good photos were obtained from some observing these 2 Storm Petrel species, each of course very rare for this county.
Up to twelve Pectoral Sandpipers were recorded from the storm passage watches, these all from Randalls Island, on Monday, and on Sunday, a sighting of 3 Dunlin have been confirmed also from Randalls Island. Black-bellied Plover was also a result of storm birding efforts, seen more briefly as a calling flyover, and still a rarity for this county.
Wilsons Snipe have just occurred in multiple locations in the county - this last is an annually occurring regular migrant here but is in some years fairly scarce. More than a dozen species of shorebirds have now been reported from this county this month, some earlier in the month as expected migrants, and some still being seen, also expected for now, such as Least, Solitary, and Spotted Sandpipers as well as Killdeer. At least one Yellowlegs was reported for Monday, needing to be confirmed.
Royal Terns sightings occurred in up to three seen at once, with a trio over the Hudson River on Sunday, and further sightings also from Manhattan, then by Monday, at least singly from Randalls Island. Other terns noted to species included multiple Forsters, rather few Common, and one documented Caspian Tern, most of these associated with the noreaster type storm passage, which was pulling away by later Monday Some other Tern spp. were hinted at in text in some reports but not actually reported and no others seeming to be documented in this county out of any recent days. Black Skimmer had shown again but not in anything like the numbers at the lower East River from Saturday.
Rusty Blackbird was again found and photographed in Manhattan and this time, Sunday, not in Central Park as happened a week ago, but at Fort Tryon Park in northern Manhattan. More of this species are reasonably likely to show in the coming month.
A Clay-colored Sparrow was reported from the Central Park Ramble on Monday, not the first day this species was suggested in the same area, this latest also awaiting confirmation after review thru eBird. Once a rare species, with the increased breeding range of this sparrow in the greater northeast, it is not as rare by any means as was before 2000. Generally still found more often in the later months of the year in this county as well as the local region.
White-crowned Sparrows have been found on all four of the larger islands of this county, some in groups rather than all just singletons, with the latest sightings including photos taken on Governors Island later on Monday, when the storm had moved off east. Also noted to Monday at Governors were Lincolns and other expected migrant sparrows, Bobolink, and on Monday, Black Skimmer, which was also seen by greater numbers of observers who arrived to Randalls Island thru the day Monday. As to White-crowned Sparrow observations at least five separate individuals, possibly more, were in Central Park alone on Monday, in widely separated areas with multiples being photographed, and others in a variety of other locations in Manhattan and the rest of this county. All of the annual and expected migrant sparrow species in this county are yet to show in the numbers likely to be found in the coming two months or so here.
A Connecticut Warbler seen on Sept. 25 at Washington Square Park in the Greenwich village section of Manhattan has been confirmed, and same for a Mourning Warbler running very slightly late, at Riverside Park in Manhattan on Sept. 28. Many warblers were lingering thru the stormy weather and some may yet be around before they choose to head south, out of this county. Almost all areas of the county continued to hold at least some migrant warblers, as well as many other types of migrant birds. At least 20 species of warblers were still present in the county thru Monday, 9-28.
Over 125 species of birds were noted for the county even on Monday alone, and numbers of total species might grow slightly if some rarer species are still to be ascertained or confirmed to species. The above likely omits some birds and sightings, as well as details on so many interesting finds or re-finds in this county in recent days.
Thanks to many hardy N.Y. County observers all thru the storm weather as well as those taking advantage of the less wet or windy periods recently, for many many hundreds of sightings, reports, many alerts and all sorts of good bird discussion and knowledge.
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, September 25th 2026* at 11pm. The highlights of today's tape are EARED GREBE, WHITE IBIS, SEDGE WREN, LEACH'S STORM-PETREL, AMERICAN AVOCET, AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER, BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER, WILSON'S PHALAROPE, BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE, CLAY-COLORED SPARROW and LARK SPARROWS, SUMMER TANAGER, BLUE GROSBEAK, DICKCISSEL, and more.
Still lingering at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, the EARED GREBE was spotted as recently as Tuesday on the West Pond and 3 AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS were found on Bay Island south of the West Pond last Saturday. Over on the East Pond, which is still dealing with too high a water level, the AMERICAN AVOCET was noted at the north end both last Saturday and again today. Other shorebirds did include a LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER and a WESTERN SANDPIPER, a couple of CASPIAN TERNS continue, and along the pond edges there have been up to 4 SORAS and a VIRGINIA RAIL. An immature WHITE IBIS visited the Tobay JFK Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary Saturday and the SEDGE WREN spending time on private property in Manhasset was still there Tuesday along with a LARK SPARROW.
A couple of very interesting birds in western Long Island Sound began Wednesday with the appearance of a couple of LEACH'S STORM-PETRELS spotted off City Island in the Bronx. These birds were difficult to see generally due to distance and a very wind-blown water offshore. It did include one with a broken wing that was retrieved by a boat visiting Hart Island. This excitement continued Thursday and Friday as well both from Belden Point on City Island and by birders at Nassau sites like Stepping Stone Park that provide views into Eastchester Bay east of the Throgs Neck Bridge. These waters likely will continue to be rough this weekend but the conditions are also presumably responsible for the juvenile BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE photographed off Belden Point Friday afternoon. Another LEACH'S STORM-PETREL was noted Thursday from Governors Island looking towards New Jersey and a STORM-PETREL was also spotted moving east well off Rye Thursday afternoon. A BLACK TERN was off City Island Sunday.
An AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER visited Piermont Pier Sunday to Wednesday and another was at Five Island Park in New Rochelle Wednesday. Two BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS were at Breezy Point last Saturday where 75 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS and 3 CASPIAN TERNS were also present and a BAIRD'S SANDPIPER was at Heckscher State Park field 7 Saturday and Tuesday with a WILSON'S PHALAROPE at that spot yesterday.
An AMERICAN BITTERN visited Prospect Park Lake last Saturday and 98 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were counted at Robert Moses State Park last Sunday.
Notable landbirds this week, not a great one for migration, included a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW at Brooklyn Bridge Park Saturday and 2 GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS at Randall's Island Tuesday plus a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT at the Welwyn Preserve in Glen Cove Wednesday. Warblers included an ORANGE-CROWNED plus a few CONNECTICUT and HOODED. Reports of SUMMER TANAGER came from Hempstead Lake State Park Saturday, at Randall's Island Sunday and Central Park much of the week and BLUE GROSBEAKS were encountered in Green-wood Cemetery Saturday, Fort Tilden Monday and Planting Fields Arboretum in Oyster Bay Wednesday while DICKCISSELS featured birds at Pelham Bay Saturday and Green-wood Wednesday and at the Lenoir Preserve and the Kensico Reservoir in Westchester today.
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: 9/27/26 1:59 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] N.Y. County, NYC - Saturday 9/26 - Black Skimmers, terns, other stormbirds, etc.
New York County -in N.Y. City- including Manhattan, Randalls, Governors, and Roosevelt Islands and the adjacent waters and sky -
Saturday, September 26 -
Up to fifteen Black Skimmers were found at and near the Pier 11 heliport on the lower
East River on Manhattans shore, the first alert from L. Beausoleil of around one dozen of this species bringing other birders in the morning of Sept. 26. These high numbers may be double or more to prior peak numbers in the modern era or known historic records of the species in county waters, and are also a rather late-in-year occurrence relative to past finds, most typical of summer months, for a species usually uncommon at best in this county, despite its regular occurrence and some breeding in some adjacent counties, including within N.Y. City.
Randalls Island in N.Y. County -which is at the juncture of westernmost Long Island Sound connecting to the estuary known as the East River of Manhattan, and off to the north-northwest, the estuary of the Harlem River dividing the southwest Bronx from Manhattan- had rather less-stunning birds show up by comparison to the eastern edges of the Bronx, notably Belden Point on City Island in Bronx County, from where Black-legged Kittiwake got plenty of attention on Friday, 9-25, and drew yet more watchers to the east Bronx Sound-watch, for Saturday 9-26 east-Bronx finds of, among other storm-driven species, up to ten or more Leachs Storm Petrels, Parasitic Jaeger and a number of other birds most likely almost-only on such a storm watch, as these days are providing. Randalls watchers found Forsters Terns, also being seen eastward in numbers, and there was a later-Saturday Caspian Tern off Randalls as well. Forsters Tern and Common Tern were each seen elsewhere on Saturday in N.Y. County. Great Cormorant off Randalls is an annually expected species for all of the cooler and cold months of each year, not a real surprise by this date, for the location or the county. Fair numbers of typical migrants were noted at Randalls on Saturday.
Governors Island had seemingly no unusual or unexpected birds reported from Saturday, and may have received relatively little observation compared with other locations, particularly by birders who left N.Y. County to observe farther east. There were some NY County-Manhattan observers trying their luck from Riverside Park and some other Hudson River locations on Saturday, no known rarities being reported.
Laughing Gulls were ongoing in numbers in various typical locations in the county, not at all unusual for all of this month, and likely to be found well into October here as well, with such good numbers around this year in this county.
Much of Saturday turned out either rain-free or just barely-drizzly in much of the county, although there was some variability in rainfall even in a fairly compact county as this one is. Winds were another matter, as were tides where the latter was noticed, with plenty of strong gusts and excessively high tide noted.
Another Connecticut Warbler was reported with some textual details on Saturday from Madison Square Park, following a report from Friday of that species from Washington Square Park, each in lower-mid Manhattan, Washington Square being within the Greenwich Village neighborhood. This is very much the time period of any year to seek that warbler species, and the somewhat high numbers of sightings and reports might lately be connected in part with regional weather of the past week, and thru this weekend.
Warbler species such as Blackpoll Warbler and Cape May Warbler were among a wider assortment of warbler species being found in many county locations, in numbers at some areas in the county. At least twenty species of warbler were found on Saturday in the county, and of those all but one species was noted from Central Park.
Over the county, a nearly similar number of expected seasonal migrants were found on Saturday as had been seen Friday here. There were many birds seeming to linger in much the same areas on both days. Sparrows again included White-crowned in the low multiple, while such species as Lincolns and Savannah Sparrow were ongoing, along with the various more-common migrant sparrow species. Coming days and weeks are likely to bring fresh batches of sparrow arrivals, with possibilities for rarer species. At Central Park, lingering species were many, including ongoing American Wigeon, Green-winged Teal, Ruddy and Wood Ducks and assorted other typical waterfowl of the month.
At least 90 species were found for N.Y. county on Saturday, even with the various observers who defected to other eastward locations, and of course a slight reduction of observers and photographers not wishing to come out and play in the wind and rains.
………
In rarer vagrant flycatchers, a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher was still being seen across the far western side of NY state in Chautauqua County to Saturday. While vastly far from NY, or anywhere in the east, a stunning seabird find, probably new to the nation of Canada if confirmed in any avian-records committees, was confirmed for eBird, off British Columbia - of a Juan Fernandez Petrel, photographed and thus far agreed by experts to be of that species, and seen from land, no less. Thats in the northeastern Pacific so we easterners should not be expecting that, but it is a reminder that pelagic birds can show up at times far from where typically expected.
Thanks to all observers and photographers all around, for many sightings, alerts, and reports.
Good birding, and stay safe around high winds, tides, and waters.
Date: 9/26/26 1:35 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC - 9/22 to 9/25 - Sum. Tanager, Or.-cr., CT, + 23 add’l. Warbler spp., etc.
Among many birds of interest seen by dedicated watchers at Governors Island on Thursday, 9-24 was a scoped Leachs Storm Petrel, a very rare sighting for New York County, or to be seen hereabouts from land. This bird, seen twice by observers familiar with this and other typically-pelagic birds, was not re-found later on, and was a bit distant to Governors Island when found and re-found. Modest numbers of Forsters Terns and at least a couple of Common Terns were noted on both 9-24 and 9-25, and while not at all unusual by date or location, Purple Finch was among species noticed from Governors Island, a species already found so far in low numbers in Mamhattan including at Central Park, earlier this month.
. . . .
Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City -
A female-plumaged Summer Tanager, which has been well-photographed on multiple days by multiple people, has continued around The Pond and Hallett Sanctuary area in the parks southeast corner, thru Friday. This now by far the longest-lingering known individual of the species thus far this fall.
An Orange-crowned Warbler at Central Park on Sept. 22 is a confirmed sighting. One of the Connecticut Warblers of Central Park continued in the Ramble sector of the park to Friday, Sept. 25, confirmed as well. In total, at least 25 species of migratory warblers were found into the latter days of this week in Central Park, including the above birds. A few of the species are running very-slightly later than the average-peak fall dates for the particular species.
Olive-sided Flycatcher was among the flycatchers still being seen at Central Park thru Friday. Many of the Empidonax-genus flycatchers appear to have moved on, although Least Flycatcher was, unsurprisingly, still being noted. In the weeks and months going ahead thru fall, any Empidonax-type flycatcher seen ought to be closely scrutinized and if possible, video-audio recorded in case of any sort of vocalizations, or photographed, for the possibility of vagrant types of this genus, which may originate in western states. This would also hold for any flycatcher at all that might appear in any way different from the standard migrants we find here in each year.
Multiple White-crowned Sparrows have come in to Manhattan, some at Central Park and also in the multiple elsewhere, including at Inwood Hill Park. Far more sparrow arrivals are likely soon, with some additional migrants turning up this week including more Dark-eyed Juncos, Chipoing and White-throated Sparrows and assorted other species.
Philadelphia Vireo was still showing for many observers and photographers thru this week, most sightings from not-for-profit guided bird walks, offered regularly for Central and many other parks and areas in Manhattan, and all around N.Y. City, organized by nonprofit organizations and institutions in support of conservation, education, sound science, and natural diversity. The increasingly regular vireo by now, overall, however is Blue-headed Vireo.
Central Park still was managing to tally at least 95 species of wild, free-flying birds on Friday, 9-25, as found by hundreds of observers and photographers out at all hours of the day, and not restricted to any small sections of the park.
Thanks to many all around N.Y. County for sightings, alerts, and reports including photos, audio, video and good textual descriptions of rare or less-common birds.
Good rain-birding for the hardy, and take good care in high winds or any storm-surge areas of the region.
Date: 9/25/26 4:38 pm From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Fri., Sept. 25, 2026: Sparrows and Wood Warblers (14 Species)
Central Park NYC
Friday, September 25, 2026
OBS: Deborah Allen, Robert DeCandido, PhD, m.ob.
Highlights seen mostly at the North End (Deb), with additions from the Ramble (Bob): White-crowned, Savannah, Lincoln's and Swamp Sparrows; Wood Warblers (14 Species including Cape May, Blackpoll, Chestnut-sided, and Yellow-rumped Warblers). Also noted: A Brown Creeper at Azalea Pond thanks to Andrew Rubenfeld. Ruben Giron reported a Nashville Warbler near the Davis Center.
-
Canada Goose - around 30
Northern Shoveler - 4
Gadwall - 20-15
American Wigeon - 1 hatch-year bird at the Pool
Mallard - 60-70
Green-winged Teal - 2 at the Pool, one a male with rust on the chin
Mourning Dove - 25-30
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 2 Conservatory Garden
American Herring Gull - 6 or 7 flyovers
Great Blue Heron - 1 hatch-year Harlem Meer
Red-tailed Hawk - 3 or 4
Barred Owl - continuing bird snacking on E. Chipmunk
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 2 at the Loch
Downy Woodpecker - 1 Loch (Sophie Van Brussel)
Northern Flicker - 10-15
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 4
Eastern Phoebe - 7
Blue-headed Vireo - 2 (Harlem Meer (Tom Cowieson), Lily Ponds)
Red-eyed Vireo - 1 at the Loch (Claire Buyens)
Blue Jay - 3 or 4
American Crow - 3
Gray Catbird - 3
Northern Mockingbird - 5
Swainson's Thrush - 1 at the Pool (Claire Buyens)
American Robin - around 2 dozen
American Goldfinch - 3 near Davis Center (Dasha)
White-crowned Sparrow - 1 Maintenance Field
Savannah Sparrow - 2 near Plant Nursery (Caren Jahre)
Song Sparrow - 1 Compost
Lincoln's Sparrow - 1 Maintenance Field
Swamp Sparrow - 3
Brown-headed Cowbird - 4
Common Grackle - 2 Plant Nursery
Ovenbird - 1 North Woods
Northern Waterthrush - 3
Black-and-white Warbler - 3
Common Yellowthroat - 4
American Redstart - 11
Cape May Warbler - 1 Laupot Bridge
Northern Parula - 8
Magnolia Warbler - 1 Harlem Meer (Paul Curtis)
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 1 Tupelo Field
Blackpoll Warbler - 1 Grassy Knoll
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 5
Palm Warbler - 5
Pine Warbler - 1 Green Bench (Paul Curtis)
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 1 Green Bench
Scarlet Tanager - 1 male at the Pool (Marta Torres)
Northern Cardinal - 4 or 5
Date: 9/24/26 12:15 pm From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Thu., Sept. 24, 2026: Cape May and Other Wood Warblers, Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Central Park, NYC
Thursday, September 24, 2026
OBS: Robert DeCandido, PhD, Deborah Allen, m.ob.
Highlights on a cool and breezy morning: Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Brown Thrasher, Cape May and Other Wood Warblers, Rose-breasted Grosbeak.
Canada Goose - 11
Mallard - 14
Mourning Dove - 20-25
Chimney Swift - 8-10
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 3
American Herring Gull - 3 flyovers
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 3 or 4
Downy Woodpecker - 2 or 3
Northern Flicker - 6-9
Red-eyed Vireo - 3
Blue Jay - 8-10
American Crow - 4 or 5 heard (Bob-early)
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 1 Maintenance Field
Gray Catbird - 8-10
Brown Thrasher - 5 or 6
Gray-cheeked Thrush - 1 Maintenance Field
Swainson's Thrush - 5 or 6
American Robin - 25-30
House Finch - 3
White-throated Sparrow - 3
Song Sparrow - Tupelo Field
Ovenbird - 1 Shakespeare Garden
Black-and-white Warbler - 3 or 4
Common Yellowthroat - 5 or 6
American Redstart - 10-12
Cape May Warbler - 2 Azalea Pond
Northern Parula - 6
Magnolia Warbler - 2 or 3
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 3 or 4
Northern Cardinal - 3 or 4
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - 7
Date: 9/24/26 9:01 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC - to Thurs., 9/24 - Summer Tanagers, 22+ Warbler spp., etc.
Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City -
into Thursday, September 24 -
A female-plumaged Summer Tanager was ongoing to Thursday around the Hallett Sanctuary area in the parks southeast corner - this individual had been lingering in that area for some time by now.
Veery was found in the Ramble section of the park on Thursday during a guided bird walk led for the nonprofit institution, the American Museum of Natural History. Other related thrushes also found on Thursday included Gray-cheeked Thrush - and others with that appearance not designated to species, and Swainsons, Hermit, and Wood Thrushes. Golden-crowned Kinglet is new to this season here, and besides Central Park at least a few were turning up elsewhere in the county by Thursday. Ruby-crowned Kinglets are the more-numerous as is typical for this early-autumn period here.
At least 22 species of migratory warblers were ongoing at Central Park, with some species still in double-digit numbers over all of the park. In waterfowl, Ruddy Duck, Green-winged Teals, and American Wigeon all continue in the park, as do multiple Wood Ducks, N. Shovelers, and Gadwall along with other usual waterfowl of the park. Laughing Gulls continue to show, especially at the C.P. reservoir, in numbers.
Overall for Thursday morning alone over 85 species of birds were being found, with more a possibility on the day. Many other parks and greenspaces all around Manhattan had migrant birds into Thursday, as well as more generally around all of the county. More reports may be forthcoming…
Thanks to many observers and photographers for sightings, alerts, and reports.
Date: 9/22/26 6:04 pm From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] N.Y. County, NYC - Tues, 9/22 - Grasshopper Sparrow, ongoing Sum. Tanager & CT Warbler, etc.
New York County -in N.Y. City- including Randalls, Roosevelt, Governors, and Manhattan islands and the adjacent waters and sky -
Tuesday, September 22 -
At least one photographed Grasshopper Sparrow was found - A. Drogin - at the defunct driving range section of Randalls Island on Tuesday, with other observers also able to see and photograph. There may have been a 2nd individual of that species in the area. Many other migrants were also seen on Randalls, and the Yellow-crowned Night Herons were still around, at this most-reliable site for the latter in this county.
A female Summer Tanager was still at Central Park, in the area near Hallet Sanctuary in the parks southeast corner. A Connecticut Warbler was seen in the Ramble of Central Park by a not-for-profit birding group, as well as by additional independent observers, this bird perhaps a lingering individual there.
At least 5 vireo species were present in Central Park, including photographed Philadelphia and Yellow-throated Vireo. Many other migrant species were still being seen in Central Park, and at many, many other locations around the county. An American Wigeon has lingered in Central Park, as some more waterfowl movements occur around the county. Green-winged Teal also were ongoing at Central Park.
Other migrant birds hanging in thru Tuesday included Great Crested Flycatcher, Veery, and multiple Indigo Buntings, Scarlet Tanagers, and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks as well as Ruby-throated Hummingbirds in some places with appropriate nectar sources.
Migrant birds continue to be seen in good diversity in the larger and many smaller parks as well as many other greenspaces, including various gardens, churchyards open to the public, plazas and still other places around the county.
Thanks to many observers and photographers for sightings, alerts, and reports.
Date: 9/21/26 3:59 pm From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC - Mon., 9/21 - 21+ Warbler spp
LCentral Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City -
Monday, September 21 -
As found by independent observers and photographers and by those with or in support of not-for-profit organizations and institutions offering regular guided bird walks which support conservation, education, sound science, and natural diversity, including many guided walks in Central Park and in many other locations around the county and N.Y. City, those in Central Park on Monday found at least 21 species of migratory warblers, that tally not including the report of a Connecticut Warbler in the Ramble area. In lower Manhattan a Canada Warbler, very slightly late for that species, was additionally noted.
Sparrows found in Central Park again on Monday included Lincolns, Savannah, Swamp, Chipping, Field, many-multiple White-throated and the nearly year-round Song Sparrows. Indigo Buntings were also still being found. Among the multiple flycatcher species were slightly-late now Great Crested Flycatcher as well as some Empidonax-genus flycatchers, including Yellow-bellied Flycatcher. Olive-sided Flycatcher was also reported Monday. At least 4 species of vireos were found on Monday, with Eastern Warbling Vireo getting slightly-late, while Red-eyed Vireo is still moderately common and Blue-headed Vireos might still increase. White-eyed Vireo is a species that has, very rarely, even wintered in N.Y. City, and is an annual breeder in this city.
Also in Central Park, another report was made of Summer Tanager, in a month which has featured multiple confirmed sightings for the county. More than ninety species of wild, free-flying birds were found on Monday 9-21 for Central Park alone, by birders and photographers out all thru the day and in all sectors of that park, rather than only one section and for only a limited time period.
Thanks to many observers and photographers for sightings, alerts, and reports.
Date: 9/21/26 3:13 pm From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Mon. Sept. 21, 2026: Raptors, Cape May, Bay-breasted, and Chestnut-sided Warblers
Central Park NYC
Monday, September 21, 2026
OBS: Robert DeCandido, PhD, Deborah Allen, m.ob.
Highlights: Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Osprey, Cooper's Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk, Great Crested Flycatcher, Brown Thrasher (9), Wood Thrush (8-10), Cape May, Bay-breasted, Chestnut-sided and Other Wood Warbler, Rose-breasted Grosbeak. In addition: Patricia Essler reported a Scarlet Tanager at Tupelo Field, and Andrew Rubenfeld reported a Winter Wren at the Gill Overlook.
Mallard - 3
Chimney Swift - 8-10
American Herring Gull - 1 flyover
Black-crowned Night-Heron - 1 adult flying low over the Lake
Osprey - 1 flyover
Cooper's Hawk - 1 adult Azalea Pond (Bob-early)
Broad-winged Hawk - 1 flyover adult
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 3 or 4
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - 2 (Strawberry Fields, Evodia Field (Karen Evans))
Downy Woodpecker - 1 male Gill Source
Northern Flicker - 8-10
Great Crested Flycatcher - 1 Gill Overlook (Iron Railing)
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 6-8
Red-eyed Vireo - 1 Strawberry Fields
Blue Jay - 8-10
American Crow - 2 or 3 heard
Northern House Wren - 1 Gill Overlook
Gray Catbird - 12-15
Brown Thrasher - 9
Swainson's Thrush - 4 or 5
Wood Thrush - 8-10
American Robin - 20-15
Song Sparrow - 1 south end of Lake (Bob-early)
Ovenbird - 3
Northern Waterthrush - 1 Evodia Field (Karen Evans, Dan Stevenson)
Black-and-white Warbler - 3 or 4
Common Yellowthroat - 4 or 5
American Redstart - 12-14
Cape May Warbler - 2 (Gill Overlook, east of Azalea Pond)
Northern Parula 3 or 4
Magnolia Warbler - 2 or 3
Bay-breasted Warbler - 1 Strawberry Fields
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 1 Gill Overlook
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 4 or 5
Northern Cardinal - 4 or 5
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - 3
Date: 9/21/26 4:44 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] N.Y. County, NYC - Sunday, 9/20 - migrants, incl. Sum. Tanager, Dickcissel, etc.
N.Y. County -in N.Y. City- including Manhattan, Randalls, Governors, and Roosevelt Islands and the adjacent waters and sky -
thru Sunday, September 20th -
At Randalls Island among many other species, a Summer Tanager showed, one among the higher-than-expected fall sightings of this species already documented in this county. A Dickcissel showed at Inwood Hill Park in n. Manhattan, that also a species turning up in higher than the usual lower number anticipated this early in the season of southbound migrations in this county.
Over the county, at least 20 species of warblers were found on Sunday with at least 19 of those twenty species seen at Central Park by observers unruffled by forecasts of real rain - of which there was some, while much of Sunday was mild, humid, rather overcast, and still featured over 100 species of birds in the county. Birds such as Veery, Great
Crested Flycatcher, and others typically of slightly earlier peak-departure timing were still being found in the county. Other areas of the county also featured many migrants again after very active migrations on prior days.
Thanks to rainy-day observers and photographers for Sunday sightings, alerts, and reports of many migrants.
Date: 9/20/26 10:20 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] N.Y. County, NYC - Sat., 9/19 - great migration diversity
New York County -in N.Y. City- including Governors, Randalls, Roosevelt and Manhattan islands and the adjacent waters and sky -
Saturday, September 19 -
Nearly 120 species of birds showed at Central Park in Manhattan on Saturday, with numbers of new arrivals and reinforcements of some species which were already present there. However, the county overall featured a much broader variety of migrants and plenty to be seen on all 4 of the major islands of the county. There was a quite good morning-flight in all sectors of the county, and also a strong flight during the night from Friday into Saturday, with of course far more birds that carried on, moving farther south, and passing over the local area in the night.
An E. Whip-poor-will at Central Park was seen well by many - including by multiple observers walking independently, and with photos taken by some. In the category of caprimulgids, more Common Nighthawks were also seen, a few during full daylight.
Connecticut Warblers have been noted from multiple locations, with one on Governors Island well-photographed on Saturday. Various other sightings are so far this year not as well-documented, some even when noted by experienced observers.
Red-headed Woodpeckers were found in at least 2 locations on Saturday, both being adult birds, one at Randalls Island, and another at Central Park, the latter just-possibly a lingering bird, although the species has been moving in fair numbers around the wider region.
Dickcissel has been doing nicely in terms of appearances in this county - and around the wider region - recently, and another sighting of a vocal bird of this species came from Governors Island on Saturday, where many migrants were seen by large numbers of observers in yet another of the multiple not-for-profit guided bird walks occurring almost daily now in this county, with supporting institutions and organizations which lead on such areas as outreach in conservation and education, sound science, and strong support for natural diversity, and happily with more and more young people from many backgrounds coming to enjoy our birds and all of nature.
The Saturday Dickcissel at Central Park in Manhattan was seen and heard by fewer observers but also is fully confirmed and, it might still be lingering in that park, as with the other individual seen at Governors. Bobolinks have continued passing thru with some going thru Manhattan including Central Park, on Saturday and in many other county locations, in modest numbers.
A Rusty Blackbird in basic -ie winter- plumage was seen and well-photographed at Central Park on Saturday, the first of the season. A Pine Siskin is a confirmed sighting from Governors Island on Saturday, and a small flight of Purple Finch occurred thru at least far west Manhattan. Red-breasted Nuthatches were again detected from some locations, including in Central and many other parks in Manhattan. Some of the latter seemed to be new arrivals.
The movement of Scarlet Tanagers on Saturday morning was exceptional, and that movement was also noted from tens of miles out of Manhattan if not much farther, with more than 50 Scarlets in and over Central Park alone on Saturday, and vastly more - well into triple-digits for all of the county - on the day. It might be a good time to be checking for any potential vagrant Tanagers that could be around, beyond the uncommon Summer Tanagers of which we have had low multiples recently.
Vireos have continued to include all six of the annually occurring species with this seasons good showing by Philadelphia Vireo continuing with multiples of that species. All of the other five vireo species were still present at Central Park to Saturday. For flycatchers, a fairly good diversity was still being seen around the county, but some species are now showing diminished numbers, as more E. Phoebes come in.
We are in that phase of the year where there are still Great Crested Flycatchers pushing through but, any Myiarchus-genus flycatcher seen in coming weeks or months ought to be scrutinized and if possible, closely photographed or video-audio recorded so as to check details in the case of potential rarer vagrant species. This also would be best for sightings of Empidonax-genus flycatchers noted in the coming weeks or months, and even for any flycatcher that looks not-quite like an expected local, such as Eastern Phoebe of which we can sometimes see lingerers to early winter, or later in some years.
We also are in that time of year for paying some attention to Hummingbird details as the weather and season changes. For now, all sightings here have been of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, and that species can be ongoing for some weeks or longer, but that species is less and likely as the year goes along. By November, a vagrant species of hummingbird, with some variety of species as possibilities, becomes as-likely, if any hummingbird is found in the northeast, and the vagrant rather than the Ruby-throated is actually the more-likely by the final six weeks of the year in late Nov. or December. Photos, videos, very close observations will all be very helpful.
Waterfowl and waterbirds turning up on Saturday also included some Common Loons, including a couple overflying Manhattan and Central and Riverside Parks, and a
also over Randalls Island on Saturday. A Ruddy Duck was a new arrival at Central Park, where American Wigeon also continued, and another Am. Wigeon was found at Randalls Island. The Yellow-crowned Night Heron still is best sought in this county at Randalls, and we shall see how late into this year that species persists.
A nice movement of N. Pintails was observed going past Central Park in morning flight, while Green-winged Teal were noted, and many N. Shovelers, as well as some Wood Ducks continuing at Central Park and elsewhere, along with all the usual summering-over-all waterfowl of the county. Laughing Gulls are still moderately common, as expected for now, and a rather few Common Terns were still around mainly from the N.Y. Harbor area or the south end of the Hudson river. Double-created Cormorants have been moving by the many-hundreds and some groups flying over were into the 80-plus range per group. Vast numbers of N. Flickers were moving thru, not especially unusual for this time of year, in any case numbers just for Manhattan only were likely up to quadruple digits in morning hours on Saturday. Within that cohort, other woodpecker species were likely to be much less obvious even if on the move such as the less widely understood and lesser movements in some seasons, of Red-bellied Woodpecker and other species of woodpecker.
Thanks to many hundreds of observers on Saturday from all around the county, for sightings, alerts, and reports, many with photos or video-audio included.
