John Haas, and all, A fantastic report, clear photos, and a very rough hike for anyone not accustomed to winter climbs in the region (high peaks of Catskill Mountains)... the old Gorham, Maine FEEDER record gives (dim) hopes of an easier way, with this one... ('seed-trail' down to the nearest accommodating birder's or bird-feeding enthusiast's home, or even a trailhead at road-side feeder... oh, well - you never know...;-) It will be fascinating to hear if any intrepid and well-prepared and in- shape birders add to this recent report... Interesting too on the old NY report.
thanks to John for his research - and it is certainly a rare 'vagrant'. As some know, Sandia Crest in New Mexico is one of the less-difficult ways to seek three North American "Rosy-finch" species! Below, from the official NYS Bird Checklist, the FULL list available via NYSOA's website at: http://www.nybirds.org/Publications/ChecklistNYS.htm (*codes are explained within that page) >>>>> (No Rosy-finches in this or other sections of the current, "official" NY state bird check-list): ............ Family Fringillidae — Finches and Crossbills Brambling Fringilla montifringilla (N) Pine Grosbeak Pinicola enucleator Purple Finch Carpodacus purpureus * House Finch C. mexicanus (I) * Red Crossbill Loxia curvirostra * White-winged Crossbill L. leucoptera * Common Redpoll Acanthis flammea Hoary Redpoll A. hornemanni (D) Pine Siskin Spinus pinus * American Goldfinch S. tristis * European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis (IE) * Evening Grosbeak Coccothraustes vespertinus * <<<<<<< Tom Fiore, Manhattan - - - - - - - - - - On Dec 23, 2011, at 8:34 AM, vanh...@citlink.net wrote: First, congratulations to Dave Rankin on such a great find. Secondly, I am surprised no one has made comment on this bird. It would as far as I can tell be a first record for New York. The photos are clearly a Gray-crowned Rosy-finch, and the timing is perfect for a vagrant of this species. Since I knew nothing about Rosy-finches vagrancy to the east, I checked it out and was surprised at what I found. Though not frequent, it certainly does occur. Here is what I've found: E-bird: 1 - McComb, Michigan 3/11/84 1 - Lucas, Ohio 2/26/86 1 - Will, Illinois 11/17/90 1 - two days Chelmford, Ontario, CAN 1/30 - 1/31/05 1 - Chippewa, Michigan 2/14/05 1 - apparently wintered: Barago, Michigan 12/17/06 12/21/06 12/30/06 3/16/07 From state and province records: 1 - accepted report Quebec Avian Records Committee (date location I was unable to find) 1 - Gorham Maine - wintered at feeder 12/15/36 - 3/10/37 captured and banded on 3/7/37 Hopefully, there will be followup on this bird,with possible repeat sightings. If weather eventually turns bad, close watch at feeders is warranted. John Haas _______ -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --