New York City Rare Bird Alert

Below is the New York City Rare Bird Alert for the week ending Friday, April 5, 2019:

- RBA
* New York
* New York City, Long Island, Westchester County
* April 5, 2019
* NYNY1904.05

- Birds Mentioned

Blue-winged Teal
GREEN-WINGED TEAL (Eurasian form)
Redhead
RED-NECKED GREBE
Snowy Egret
Green Heron
RAZORBILL
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Barn Swallow
House Wren
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Purple Finch
RED CROSSBILL
Pine Siskin
Evening Grosbeak
Louisiana Waterthrush
Black-and-white Warbler
Palm Warbler
Pine Warbler

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

Compilers: Tom Burke and Tony Lauro
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, April 5, 2019 at 9:00 pm.

The highlights of today's tape are RED CROSSBILLS and other winter finches, Eurasian form of GREEN-WINGED TEAL, RED-NECKED GREBE and some spring migrants.

As we wait for a weather break so that spring migration might get going at a quicker pace, our highlights continue to have a winter flavor.

Very interesting has been the number of RED CROSSBILLS recently inhabiting a section of pitch pine woods in the Manorville area of eastern Long Island. Up to a dozen or more CROSSBILLS have even been exhibiting some nesting behavior, encouraging as this irruptive species has sporadically bred in Suffolk County in the past. The birds can be enjoyed along a trail called the Paumanok Path off Schultz Road north of exit 69 on the Long Island Expressway. The trail goes along the north side of Jones Pond, and the Crossbills, as well as some PINE SISKINS, occur in pairs and small flocks along the trail shortly after entering the woods. Ticks are prevalent in the area, so it is best to stay on the trail, avoiding both the ticks and disturbing the birds. A very limited amount of parking is available at the trailhead, or you can park along Schultz Road, making sure you pull off the road completely.

The male EVENING GROSBEAK in Riverside Park in northern Manhattan was still present yesterday, though becoming more elusive as it continues its very unexpected stay in the area usually around 117th Street and to the north. Small groups of PURPLE FINCHES also continue in our area.

The Eurasian form of GREEN-WINGED TEAL was still present Thursday with American GREEN-WINGED TEAL and other waterfowl on Santapogue Creek in West Babylon, usually frequenting a stretch of creek just below Route 27A. At Hempstead Lake State Park both a pair of BLUE-WINGED TEAL and some lingering REDHEADS have been on the Lower Pond this week.

Two RAZORBILLS were spotted off Robert Moses State Park Saturday, that same day finding two RED-NECKED GREBES off Floyd Bennet Field.

Single LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were noted at Jones Beach West End Saturday and Smith Point County Park Wednesday.

A smattering of new arrivals this week has featured SNOWY EGRET as of last Friday, GREEN HERON yesterday at Jones Beach West End, BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER in Central and Prospect Parks Sunday, HOUSE WREN Wednesday, BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER showing up at a few locations Sunday, and LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH in Central Park Wednesday. Increasing numbers have also occurred for BARN and NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS and PALM and PINE WARBLERS, among others.

To phone in reports, on Long Island call Tony Lauro at (631) 734 4126 or call Tom Burke at (914) 967-4922 and leave a message.

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

- End transcript