Best of the Fortnight

Here's my final "fortnight" posting for 2022. Wishing everyone a Happy and Healthy New Year, filled with lots of great birding sightings:

Lesser Black-backed Gull, Floyd Bennett Field, Brooklyn, NY

A few thousand Common Grackle, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Japanese Zelkova "sapcicle, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Bald Eagle, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Purple Sandpiper, Coney Island, Brooklyn, NY

Bonaparte's Gull, Coney Island, Brooklyn, NY

Turkey Vulture, Coney Island, Brooklyn, NY

Upcoming Trips

There are no walks scheduled for the coming weekend, December 24th - 25th, due to the holidays. Check back again soon...

"Birding in Peace" 2022

This past weekend marked the end of my Green-Wood Cemetery "Birding in Peace" tours for 2022. After a short break we will begin the walks again on January 22, 2023. As I've done each year, below is a short video with some of the birds seen over the previous year. I hope you enjoy it:

Best of the Fortnight

As the year winds down, here is my second to last fortnight favs for 2022:

Black-capped Chickadee, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Carolina Wren, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

European Beeches, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Sharp-shinned Hawk, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

"Autumnalis" Higan Cherry, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

White-breasted Nuthatch, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Merlin, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

...Read more

Upcoming Trips & Christmas Bird Count

This week begins the annual Christmas Bird Count official count period around New York. For that reason nearly all organizations have suspended trips for their area's survey dates. That said, I will still be leading the last Sunday "Birding in Peace" dawn walk for 2022 at Green-Wood Cemetery. Details can be found here.

New York City Rare Bird Alert

Below is the New York City Rare Bird Alert for the week ending Friday, December 9, 2022:

- RBA
* New York
* New York City, Long Island, Westchester County
* Dec. 9, 2022
* NYNY2212.09


- Birds mentioned
PINK-FOOTED GOOSE+
PAINTED BUNTING+
(+ Details requested by NYSARC)

GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE
Cackling Goose
EURASIAN WIGEON
Harlequin Duck
Common Gallinule
Piping Plover
MARBLED GODWIT
Long-billed Dowitcher
Razorbill
BLACK-HEADED GULL
Lesser Black-backed Gull
American Bittern
RED CROSSBILL
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT
Ovenbird
Orange-crowned Warbler
Nashville Warbler
American Redstart
Cape May Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler

- 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 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, December 9th 2022* at 11pm. The highlights of today's tape are PAINTED BUNTING, PINK-FOOTED and GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, EURASIAN WIGEON, HARLEQUIN DUCK, BLACK-HEADED GULL, MARBLED GODWIT, RED CROSSBILL, YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT and more.

A fairly bright female plumaged PAINTED BUNTING showed up Thursday at the feeders at the Oceanside Marine Nature Study Area and was still being seen there today. The park entrance is at the end of Slice Drive and Oceanside.

Out in Northport on Long Island the PINK-FOOTED GOOSE, first seen at the Northport High School back on November 27th, was still present last weekend but it and the accompanying Canada Goose flock do range considerably around that area. The PINK-FOOTED has also been seen southwest of there at Greenlawn Memorial Park and over on Tung Ting Pond in Centerport. So the flocks, which also include single GREATER WHITE-FRONTED and CACKLING GEESE, can require some effort to track them down. A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE also continues to visit and roost on a small pond off Bowman Avenue in Rye Brook, Westchester County by the Rye Bridge shopping center. A drake EURASIAN WIGEON was still on a Mill Pond east of Lake Avenue in Oyster Bay Sunday and a HARLEQUIN DUCK has been seen recently at Point Lookout where 2 PIPING PLOVERS were still around on Wednesday.

A BLACK-HEADED GULL was reported out at the tip of Breezy Point last Sunday along with 3 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS a few of the latter still lingering around.

Five MARBLED GODWITS remain in Jones Inlet often seen on the bar off the West End Coast Guard Station. A LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER was also reported there Tuesday and up to 9 RED CROSSBILLS have been feeding in the West End pines all week. Other LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS continue at Santapogue Creek in West Babylon.

A decent number of RAZORBILLS were seen today out at Orient Point by passengers on the Orient to New London Ferry. A COMMON GALLINULE has been present recently on the Mill Pond north of Merrick Road in Wantagh and AMERICAN BITTERNS have returned to the marshes along Dune Road.

A YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT was reported at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge on Sunday and besides several lingering ORANGE-CROWNEDS some other warblers noted this week included OVENBIRD, NASHVILLE, AMERICAN REDSTART in Prospect Park, a CAPE MAY in Union Square Park, a YELLOW at Calvert Vaux Park and BLACK-THROATED BLUE.

As Christmas Count season is about to begin please call in count results for inclusion here.

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.

- End transcript ...Read more

Upcoming Trips

Below are the birding/nature trips for the weekend of December 10 - December 11, 2022:

Bedford Audubon Society

Field Trip to Milford Point & Silver Sands
Saturday, December 10, 2022
Leader: Tait Johansson
Description: _____
Registration: Registration required by emailing Susan at info@bedfordaudubon.org or by calling 914-302-9713.
View Details


**********

Brooklyn Bird Club

Introduction to Birdwatching
Saturday, December 10, 2022, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Leader: A member of the Brooklyn Bird Club
Description: Whether you’re just starting out or have already joined the birding ranks, this introductory walk is for you. Join a member of the Brooklyn Bird Club to learn the basics of birding and search for the dozens of species that visit Prospect Park through all seasons. All levels are welcome.
Registration: No registration necessary.
View Details


Meet at the Hook: Birding on the New Jersey Coast
Saturday, December 10, 2022
Leader: Ryan Goldberg
Description: Winter waterfowl, raptors, irruptive finches, and open-ground specialists like snow buntings and horned larks at one of the Garden State’s best and most beautiful birding sites, Sandy Hook, an eight-mile-long spit of land that juts into New York’s Lower Bay and boasts rich oceanside and bayside dunes, marshes, and cedar groves. Sandy Hook is part of Gateway National Recreation Area, which also includes coastal sites in the city like Fort Tilden, Breezy Point Tip, Jamaica Bay, Great Kills, and Plumb Beach.
Registration: ryan.goldberg@gmail.com
View Details


**********

Gateway National Parks

Great Kills Park Bird Walk
Sunday, December 11, 2022, 9:00am - 12:00pm
Leader: Park Rangers
Description: Join us for bird walk sponsored by the Friends of Blue Heron Pond Park. We will scan the bay for ducks, loons, grebes and gulls. Wear comfortable walking shoes and appropriate clothing; inclement weather or temperatures below 32 degrees will cancel the program.
Registration: No registration required\.
View Details


**********

New York City Audubon

Free: Twilight Stroll on Governors Island with Annie Barry
Saturday, December 10, 2022, 3:00pm - 4:30pm
Leader: Annie Barry
Description: Meet the winter birds of Governors Island! Nearly 240 bird species have been spotted on the island, which provides excellent habitat all year round. Whether you’re an expert birder or a beginner, these tours will help you discover all of the bird life the island has to offer this winter.
Registration: Ferry Tickets
View Details


**********

North Shore Audubon Society

Point Lookout
Saturday, December 10, 2022, 9:30am - 12:00pm
Leader: Jennifer (516) 767-3454
Description:
Registration:
View Details


**********

Protectors of Pine Oak Woods

Willowbrook Park
Saturday, December 10, 2022, 11:00am - 1:00pm
Leader: Don Recklies
Description: We’ll walk the White Trail from parking lot beside the restrooms past the chimney to the restoration area between the chimney and Rockland Avenue. Meet at the Willowbrook Pond parking lot on Eaton Place, off of Richmond Avenue. Because much of the White Trail is a wet trail, inclement weather, or a heavy rain the day before (but not just a light rain) will cancel this walk.
Registration: or more information call Don Recklies at (718) 768-9036.
View Details


**********

Queens County Bird Club

Montauk
Saturday, December 10, 2022, 7:30am - 4:30pm
Leader: Ian Resnick - (917) 626-9562
Description: Razorbills and gannets are possible here, and you will definitely see Common Eider and scoters.
Registration: Please contact trip leader for meeting time and location. Ask whether to pack a lunch or whether to plan on eating lunch out.
View Details


**********

South Shore Audubon Society

Point Lookout Town Park (and Lido Preserve afterwards)
Sunday, December 11, 2022
Leader: Members of SSAS
Description: From the Southern State Parkway, exit onto the Meadowbrook State Parkway south. Exit from the Meadowbrook at Loop Parkway (just before the Jones Beach toll booths) toward Point Lookout. The Loop Parkway ends west of Point Lookout at Lido Boulevard. Continue straight across Lido Boulevard into Point Lookout Park. Travel past the ticket booths and curve left into the very large parking lot on the south side of the park. Park in the southeast corner, closest to the private homes of the village of Point Lookout and the beach. We will walk east along the beach toward Jones Inlet. After returning to the parking lot, we will drive west on Lido Boulevard to Lido Beach Passive Nature Preserve on the north side of Lido Boulevard to walk through the bay marsh.
Registration: Registration is required by calling Joe Landesberg at 516-467-9498
View Details


**********

Urban Park Rangers

Birding: Bald Eagle Watch at Palisade Avenue and Spaulding Lane (in Riverdale Park), Bronx
Saturday, December 10, 2022, 1:00pm - 12:00pm
Winter is a spectacular time for observing bald eagles in New York City parks. See if you can spot any on this adventure with our Urban Park Rangers. Bring your own binoculars.
Free


Winter Birding at Perkins Visitors Center (in Wave Hill), Bronx
Sunday, December 11, 2022, 9:30am - 11:00am
Explore Wave Hill’s tranquil gardens and woodlands with naturalists Paul Keim and Gabriel Willow to observe birds in their winter habitat.
Free

Birding: Winter Waterfowl at 43rd Street and 1st Avenue (in Bush Terminal Park), Brooklyn
Sunday, December 11, 2022, 10:00am - 11:00am
Birding programs are appropriate for all skill levels and beginners are welcome. Please bring your own binoculars.
Free

Birding: Winter Waterfowl at Entrance - Baisley Blvd. & 157th Street (in Baisley Pond Park), Queens
Sunday, December 11, 2022, 10:00am - 11:00am
Birding programs are appropriate for all skill levels and beginners are welcome. Please bring your own binoculars.
...Read more

New York City Rare Bird Alert

Below is the New York City Rare Bird Alert for the week ending Friday, December 2, 2022:

-RBA
* New York
* New York City, Long Island, Westchester County
* Dec. 2, 2022
* NYNY2212.02


- Birds Mentioned

PINK-FOOTED GOOSE+
RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD
BROWN BOOBY+
WESTERN TANAGER+
(+ Details requested by NYSARC)

GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE
Cackling Goose
Canada Goose
EURASIAN WIGEON
GREEN-WINGED TEAL (Eurasian form)
HARLEQUIN DUCK
Red-necked Grebe
Eared Grebe
SANDHILL CRANE
MARBLED GODWIT
Long-billed Dowitcher
Dovekie
Black-legged Kittiwake
BLACK-HEADED GULL
Iceland Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Golden Eagle
Northern Goshawk
RED CROSSBILL
LAPLAND LONGSPUR
Grasshopper Sparrow
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT
Orange-crowned Warbler
Cape May Warbler
SUMMER TANAGER
DICKCISSEL


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 nysarc44nybirdsorg

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, December 2, 2022 at 10:00 pm.

The highlights of today's tape are PINK-FOOTED GOOSE, a Selasphorus RUFOUS-like HUMMINGBIRD, BROWN BOOBY, SANDHILL CRANE, WESTERN and SUMMER TANAGERS, GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, EURASIAN WIGEON, Eurasian form of GREEN-WINGED TEAL and HARLEQUIN DUCK, BLACK-HEADED GULL, MARBLED GODWIT, RED CROSSBILL, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, DICKCISSEL and more.

Out in Northport a PINK-FOOTED GOOSE last Sunday joined the gathered Geese on the High School fields where a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED had previously been found among the CANADAS, these also including a CACKLING GOOSE. Based on feeding needs and amount of disturbance, the Goose flocks move around this area, with the rarer ones sometimes being relocated at a few other similar local locations as well as at Tung Ting Pond in Centerport. The Westchester GREATER-WHITE FRONTED GOOSE continues to visit a pond in Rye Brook located off Bowman Avenue.

A Selasphorus HUMMINGBIRD, likely a RUFOUS, continued at a private feeder in Rocky Point at least to Monday, and such vagrants should be looked for at feeders and still blooming Salvia plantings.

The last report of a BROWN BOOBY off Richmond Terrace on northwestern Staten Island came from last Saturday.

Small flocks of SANDHILL CRANES over Westchester recently included a group of 12 over the Chestnut Ridge hawk watch in Bedford last Monday, followed by 16 noted over Armonk 2 hours later, and 5 more just north of White Plains on Wednesday.

Two rare and unexpected TANAGERS this week featured a SUMMER TANAGER found in Georgica thickets last Saturday, followed by a WESTERN TANAGER photographed at Fort Tilden on Sunday.

Single drake EURASIAN WIGEON were seen this week on 2 separate Mill Ponds, 1 in Oyster Bay east of Lake Avenue and 1 in Sayville just north of Montauk Highway, Route 85.

A drake Eurasian form of GREEN-WINGED TEAL was photographed Monday along Santapogue Creek in West Babylon, and a female HARLEQUIN DUCK was spotted off Breezy Point Sunday.

An adult BLACK-HEADED GULL, presumably a returning winter visitor, was spotted Wednesday in Setauket Harbor. Other GULLS featured an ICELAND and a LESSER BLACK-BACKED at the Ponquogue Bridge at Shinnecock last Saturday and occasional BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES, including 1 off Mecox Saturday and 2 off Robert Moses State Park Wednesday.

A deceased DOVEKIE was found Sunday at Orient Beach State Park.

Notable shorebirds featured up to five MARBLED GODWITS at Jones Beach West End and a few LONG -BILLED DOWITCHERS continuing at Santapogue Creek, with 2 others at Jones Beach West End Thursday.

A RED-NECKED GREBE appeared at Orient Point Sunday, and we belatedly report an EARED GREBE photographed off Glen Island Park in Westchester back on November 23rd.

On the raptor front, with most migrants having passed through, this week included reports of a NORTHERN GOSHAWK over Inwood Hill Park Saturday and a GOLDEN EAGLE photographed over Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx Monday.

Continuing small numbers of RED CROSSBILLS featured 11 at Robert Moses State Park and 2 at Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge Saturday, 4 at Jones Beach Monday and 7 in Prospect Park Tuesday.

A LAPLAND LONGSPUR was reported from Heckscher State Park Thursday, and a GRASSHOPPER SPARROW was spotted at Moses Park Saturday, with a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT noted at Mecox and a DICKCISSEL at Orient Point County Park, both also on Saturday.

Warblers still include some ORANGE-CROWNEDS as well as a CAPE MAY in Union Square Park

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.

- End transcript ...Read more