In response to my previous post, Jim Osterlund brought to my attention the presence of leucistic type robins in Alley Park (close to where I live). I visited that section of the park today, mainly to check on the presence of a territorial Yellow-throated Vireo (new breeding species for Queens). I think the vireo sang briefly, but my attention quickly shifted to this robin. How could it not? It's another cool looker. Picture is at http://www.hmana.org/steve/robin.htm Are there more of these on the way? I followed this guy's activities to a nest.
Steve Walter ----- Original Message ----- From: Steve Walter To: NYSBIRDS_L Sent: Friday, May 07, 2010 7:43 PM Subject: [nysbirds-l] Leucistic Starling What has this list come to with someone posting about a starling? Considering some of what I've seen lately, I guess anything goes. But this is a really cool looking bird, one that I'd actually describe as partially leucistic. If anyone wants to have a look, the picture is at http://www.hmana.org/steve/starling.htm . This was across the street from my house in northeastern Queens. I had stuck my head out the window to listen for migrants and this bird sure got my attention. I had to run out to try and get a picture. I could use better than this one taken in the early morning lack of light. That puts me in the peculiar position of trying to figure out how one goes about looking for an individual starling in a suburban setting. The rest of this story is that heading out the door, I noticed a Mourning Dove nest at eye level in the tree in front of the house. This is another species that maybe shouldn't be mentioned here. But by most accounts -- well, my neighbors said so -- the doves are really cute. So it needs to be mentioned. Steve Walter Baysdie, 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/ --