New York City Rare Bird Alert

Below is the New York City Rare Bird Alert for the week ending Friday, March 15, 2013:

- RBA
* New York
* New York City, Long Island, Westchester County
* Mar. 15, 2013
* NYNY1303.15

- Birds mentioned

GYRFALCON+
VARIED THRUSH+
(+ Details requested by NYSARC)

EURASIAN WIGEON
TUFTED DUCK
Red-necked Grebe
Great Egret
Osprey
American Woodcock
Eastern Phoebe
Lapland Longspur
Boat-tailed Grackle
White-winged Crossbill
Common Redpoll
Pine Siskin
Evening Grosbeak

- 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 nysarc3 AT nybirds.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)
486 High Street
Victor, NY 14564

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, March 15th 2013 at 8pm. The highlights of today's tape are GYRFALCON, VARIED THRUSH, TUFTED DUCK, EURASIAN WIGEON and Spring migrants.

A slower week with a number of local rarities becoming more elusive or just moving on.

The GYRFALCON was spotted last Saturday morning east of Gilgo but has not been noted since despite extensive searching and patient waiting last Sunday. Has it moved on?

The RED-NECKED GREBE was still in the boat basin at Captree State Park on Sunday and also on Sunday a good movement of BOAT-TAILED GRACKLES heading east was noted along the beach.

The male VARIED THRUSH in Prospect Park was spotted last Saturday to early afternoon and again early Sunday morning around the Nethermead Arches but was not seen again until Wednesday when it appeared for a short while near the Ambergill Pool in the Ravine a little north of the Nethermead Arches. It was spotted again at this same site today in the early afternoon. It has been seen both foraging on the ground and perched high in trees and is probably covering a reasonable amount of territory in that section of the park. Also in Prospect Wednesday were an EASTERN PHOEBE and 5 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS with some PINE SISKINS continuing around the feeders near the lake and a few COMMON REDPOLLS also drifting through.

The drake TUFTED DUCK was still on the pond at Heckscher Park in Huntington last Saturday but was missed later on. This park is off Route 25A and Park Avenue.

Three EURASIAN WIGEON were spotted at Massapequa Preserve Friday and also present were GREAT EGRET, OSPREY and a WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL.

The OSPREY was back at Oceanside Marine Nature Study Area on Wednesday.

Four AMERICAN WOODCOCK were displaying at Marshlands Conservancy in Rye last Sunday evening indicating that they should be performing in most suitable areas now. A female EVENING GROSBEAK was also at Marshlands Conservancy Wednesday and Thursday.

At Jones Beach West End the LAPLAND LONGSPUR was on the field near the gazebo at the Coast Guard Station parking lot today.

To phone in reports on Long Island, call Tony Lauro at (631) 734-4126, or during the day except Sunday call Tom Burke at (212) 372-1483.

This service is sponsored by the Linnaean Society of New York and the National Audubon Society. Thank you for calling.

- End transcript