[nysbirds-l] Christmas Morning in Northern Sullivan
It's great to get out birding in the cold during the holiday season . It helps shake off some of the gastronomical excesses of the season. Today, I was able to get out to Northern Sullivan County. On Hunter Road I had Redpolls flying over in a couple of different spots, 8 Snow Buntings, 2 Ravens and a calling Great Horned Owl. On Blue Hill Road, a house with feeders had 36 nearby Evening Grosbeaks! They were in two trees across the road from the house, calling away. I continued on Blue Hill Road but the driving conditions were very iffy, so I turned around and went into Grahamsville. Near Grahamsville, I couldn't find the Northern Shrike located by Scott Baldinger on Friday on the little league ballfields on 55A. I had a Brown Creeper, a flyover Common Merganser, and 3 Black Ducks on the reservoir. On Muhtig Road on the way back to Liberty, there were 3 more Snow Buntings. I didn't have time to check out all the spots, but was very content with the results. Thanks to Scott for prompting me to get out there. Merry Christmas to all! - Tom Preston -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Varied Thrush, etc., Central Park, NYC 12/25
Saturday, December 25th, 2010 At Central Park, in Manhattan, New York City, the lingering VARIED THRUSH was again seen in the areas near and surrounding the "maintenance field" and building at the corner of the Ramble area, just south of the E. 79 Street Transverse Road & immediately west of the East Drive roadway of the park. The Varied Thrush was seen by a number of observers in the afternoon hours, including myself. It ranged from near & just east of the men's room and a bit to the south, east, &/or west at times, and was within the company of the flock that is continuing to hold 2 male E. Towhees, along with many White- throated Sparrows and assorted other regularly-seen wintering birds. A bit of patience may be needed in spotting the thrush, as it can be skulking, although when in movement it's rather noticeable - no other bird looks quite like that, in the area... The juvenile (non-red-headed) RED-HEADED WOODPECKER remains in the area of trees along and near the southeast corner of Sheep Meadow, a bit north of the 66 Street Transverse Road thru Central Park... it may also take a bit of patience as it can sit still for a while at times but it usually, like the thrush in the maintenance field area, is mobile eventually and is then fairly evident. Good birding and stay safe in winter storms, where & when they move through! Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Niagara River Gulls
Betsy and I birded the river for several hours today. We started at Goat Island on the NY side and had 6 LESSER BLACK-BACKED and 2 ICELAND GULLS. Lots of gulls sitting here. Our next stop was at the power plants on the Ontario side - the Adam Beck overlook. This spot was loaded with gulls. We had at least 10 ICELAND GULLS, two GLAUCOUS (juv. and second winter), and two LESSER BLACK-BACKEDS. We also had an adult gull that looked similar to a California Gull. The bird seemed slightly smaller than the Herring Gulls, the mantle was paler than on a Lesser Black-backed, and there was a lot of black in the wingtips, all field marks for California Gull. However, there was only one small mirror in the wingtips. In addition brief views of the legs gave me the impression that they had both yellow and pink tones. I suspect that this was a Herring X Lesser Black-backed Gull. Only a handful of BONAPARTE'S GULLS were at the Whirlpool (Spanish Aero Car). Above the falls we searched for the reported Slaty-backed Gull and found 3 ICELAND GULLS, one adult HERRING X GLAUCOUS GULL, also known as Nelson's Gull, and a dark-mantled gull that seemed like it might be a candidate for Slaty-backed. This bird was in a feeding flock below the control gates. Unfortunately, it was distant and the snow began coming down in earnest before it flew downriver and out of sight, so our views were inconclusive. I hope everyone had a merry Christmas. Good birding! Willie Willie D'Anna Betsy Potter Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com http://www.betsypottersart.com -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Harlequin Duck in East Hampton, Suffolk Cty
I visited Clearwater Beach in the hamlet of Springs in East Hampton, Suffolk Cty with my sister late this afternoon (12/25) and found a female Harlequin Duck associating with a female Long Tailed Duck *very* close to the shore. The ducks were first found near some pilings at the mouth of of the entrance into Hog Creek. About 20 minutes later they were entering the inlet. As we left, 10 (perhaps more) Eastern Bluebirds flew in and were feeding in the conifers in and around the grassy area. Here's the lat/long where the ducks were first seen. 41° 3'1.39"N 72°10'6.00"W Karen Rubinstein New York City/Springs, NY -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Common Redpolls
This morning while driving through DeBruce (Sullivan County) I found a flock of 90+ Common Redpolls feeding in birch trees. Hopefully I will see some at my feeders soon! -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] NYC Area RBA: 24 December 2010
- RBA * New York * New York City, Long Island, Westchester County * Dec. 24, 2010 * NYNY1012.24 - Birds mentioned VARIED THRUSH+ (+ Details requested by NYSARC) GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE Cackling Goose KING EIDER Harlequin Duck BARROW'S GOLDENEYE Red-necked Grebe EARED GREBE Northern Gannet Great Egret Green Heron Black Vulture Osprey Bald Eagle Red-shouldered Hawk Rough-legged Hawk Virginia Rail Semipalmated Plover American Oystercatcher American Woodcock Black-headed Gull ICELAND GULL Lesser Black-backed Gull GLAUCOUS GULL Black-legged Kittiwake Black Skimmer Razorbill Barred Owl Northern Saw-whet Owl Red-headed Woodpecker Eastern Phoebe Common Raven House Wren Marsh Wren Orange-crowned Warbler Pine Warbler Palm Warbler Ovenbird Northern Waterthrush Common Yellowthroat Yellow-breasted Chat Chipping Sparrow Vesper Sparrow LARK SPARROW Lincoln's Sparrow Boat-tailed Grackle RED CROSSBILL WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL - Transcript If followed by (+) please submit documentation of your report electronically and use the NYSARC online submission form found at http://www.nybirds.org/NYSARC/goodreport.htm You can also send reports and digital image files via email to nysa...@nybirds.org. If electronic submission is not possible, hardcopy reports and photos or sketches are welcome. Hardcopy documentation should be mailed to: Jeanne Skelly - Secretary NYS Avian Records Committee (NYSARC) 420 Chili-Scottsville Rd. Churchville, NY 14428 Hotline: New York City Area Rare Bird Alert Number: (212) 979-3070 To report sightings call: Tom Burke (212) 372-1483 (weekdays, during the day) Tony Lauro at (631) 734-4126 (Long Island) Compiler: Tom Burke, Tony Lauro Coverage: New York City, Long Island, Westchester County Transcriber: Ben Cacace BEGIN TAPE Greetings. This is the New York Rare Bird Alert for Friday, December 24th 2010 at 9pm. The highlights of today's tape are VARIED THRUSH, EARED GREBE, BARROW'S GOLDENEYE, KING EIDER, GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, GLAUCOUS GULL, ICELAND GULL, LARK SPARROW, RED CROSSBILL and WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL. Certainly one of the most unusual Christmas Count birds so far has to be the VARIED THRUSH in the Central Park section of the Lower Hudson Count. The thrush tending to wander somewhat lately does continue to frequent the edges around the Maintenance Field and buildings just south of the 79th Street transverse. The closest park entrance is at 5th Avenue and 79th Street and continuing across the roadway to the maintenance buildings and field. Also in the park has been an immature RED-HEADED WOODPECKER usually found near the southeast corner of the Sheep Meadow. The Montauk Christmas Count last Saturday reported 129 species highlights featuring 6 HARLEQUIN DUCKS, a drake KING EIDER off the south side of Montauk Point, 6 RED-NECKED GREBES, 2 BALD EAGLES and 4 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS; at Gardiner's Island 3 VIRGINIA RAILS, an AMERICAN WOODCOCK, 2 ICELAND GULLS, 4 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS, 176 RAZORBILLS, a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT and LINCOLN'S SPARROW. The Brooklyn Count on Saturday netted 125 species including a HARLEQUIN DUCK, KING EIDER still present today off the eastern end of Fort Tilden, RED-NECKED GREBE, 7 RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS, AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHERS, BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, 3 BLACK SKIMMERS at Coney Island, COMMON RAVEN, 6 ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS along with 2 PINE WARBLERS, 2 PALM WARBLERS and 2 COMMON YELLOWTHROATS, LINCOLN'S SPARROW and 1 RED CROSSBILL. The Northern Nassau Count Saturday tallied 105 species featuring GREEN HERON, ORANGE-CROWNED and PALM WARBLERS and a LINCOLN'S SPARROW. On Sunday the Captree Count recorded 119 species highlights including 2 GREAT EGRETS, OSPREY, BALD EAGLE, 2 VIRGINIA RAILS, ICELAND GULL, BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE, 5 RAZORBILLS, EASTERN PHOEBE, MARSH WREN, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, OVENBIRD, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT and 8 BOAT-TAILED GRACKLES. The Sagaponack Count Sunday netted 114 species featuring 5 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE and a CACKLING GOOSE these usually either on Hook Pond or on a field along Further Lane in East Hampton. A drake BARROW'S GOLDENEYE, back again off Bay Avenue at Long Beach in Noyack, 4 RED-NECKED GREBES, an EARED GREBE off Main Beach in East Hampton, 2 BALD EAGLES, 31 RAZORBILLS, 2 NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS, HOUSE WREN, 6 CHIPPING SPARROWS and 3 VESPER SPARROWS, 2 RED CROSSBILLS over Northwest and a WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL at Hook Creek on Pondview Road in East Hampton. The Queens Count Sunday among its 112 species featured SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, COMMON RAVEN and NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH. The Greenwich-Stamford Count Sunday, including parts of Westchester County, tallied 108 species including RED-NECKED GREBE, 3 plus NORTHERN GANNETS, 4 BLACK VULTURES, BALD EAGLE, BARRED OWL, NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL, MARSH WREN, COMMON RAVEN and COMMON YELLOWTHROAT. In Brooklyn the adult BLACK-HEADED GULL in Bay Ridge was relocated Thursday and seen again today while an immature BLACK-HEADED
[nysbirds-l] Sullivan County
A bright sunny morning Friday, following Thursday's near white out conditions with snow falling sideways in the high winds produced some great birds. A number of birders were out around the county and while no one got all of the birds, everyone found something good. Lance already posted his BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS, I can only hope they find some of our abundant berries and fruits and remain in the area. Arlene Borko and I had many COMMON REDPOLLS in several locations totaling about 80 birds. EVENING GROSBEAKS were present again at Sue Rayono's home at the corner of Smith and Cooley Mt. Roads on the Liberty/Neversink line. SNOW BUNTINGS and HORNED LARKS were each found in appropriate spots. Scott Baldinger had a dark-phase ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, as well as a NORTHERN SHRIKE on Rt 53 near the Rondout Reservoir. RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS put in a good showing with three seen and a total of 17 BALD EAGLES for the day was a good count. John Haas -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
