Date: 3/31/26 8:24 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Manhattan, NYC - 3/31 - 6 Warbler spp., other migrants
Manhattan, and elsewhere in N.Y. County, N.Y. City -
Tuesday, March 31st -
Even before noon hour, it was apparent that a nice fresh arrival of spring migrants came in to areas in the county, with some likely new to the year here for this day. At least several Louisiana Waterthrushes are in again, with multiple observers of these at Central Park. Palm Warblers of the yellow form are in with double-digit numbers, and the same for Pine Warblers, and with some female-plumaged Pines now having arrived. Some Yellow-rumped Warblers of the Myrtle form are still to be found, these still not that likely to be arrivals from far away.
One Orange-crowned Warbler at Randalls Island today might well be an individual that survived the winter in that area, but could possibly be a recent or new arrival to the county. An Ovenbird reported on March 30, at the Tudor City apt. buildings outdoor plantings, Manhattan east side, was likely a successfully overwintered warbler, not an excessively-early new migrant arrival. There still might be at least a few other survivors of the deep freezes of winter, at or near sites that offered some shelter and sustenance of whatever kinds are found in the big city. Still more warblers are possible by now, although not many other species are quite fully expected just yet.
Some other songbirds have been increasing a bit with Hermit Thrushes and Chipping Sparrows just 2 of the examples, among species that will be widespread in another week or two here. N. House Wren had been reported, and may be present in minimal numbers, while at least a few Marsh Wrens also were showing in 2 Manhattan locations by Tuesday. Other wrens present for some time include Winter Wren and in some locations, Carolina Wren, the latter in part being those which survived a tough winter even here in the big city with its possibilities of sheltered locations. Many other songbirds are starting to increase, and many also have been singing from sites around the county, even if they are not breeding at all here. An example of the latter are Red Fox Sparows, singing well lately, but breed at least several hundred miles n. of here. A few Purple Finches as well as more of American Goldfinches are starting to return.
Laughing Gulls have been slowly increasing in the county, recently showing in Central Park on the reservoir, where for a time, 500-plus gulls, mainly Ring-billed Gulls were gathered on Monday. Other less common Gull species might be watched for all thru April. On Randall's Island on Tues morning, a probable first-of-season Snowy Egret came by, and Great Egrets are ongoing in multiple areas in the county. Other herons and egrets also might be watched for as some species are arriving, as are Ibis, in the local region by now.
Much more could be noted on a day when finding 100 species in this county would not be impossible, for the devoted birder with time to wander quite a bit.
Date: 3/30/26 1:22 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] N.Y. County, NYC - 3/29 - B.-t. Grackle, Am. Oystercatcher - and Manhattan sightings
Sunday, March 29th -
At Governors Island, off the south end of Manhattan and within N.Y. County, 2 observers independently found a fly-by American Oystercatcher, still a very uncommon sight in this county, Yet more-uncommon for the county, especially as a photo-documemted and confirmed sighting, a single Boat-tailed Grackle came by, also apparently heading off north. Anyone suspecting they are seeing Boat-tailed Grackle in this county ought to attempt photos for confirmations. Thanks to M.B. Kooper, and A. Cunningham, respectively, for these 2 good finds. Of course, a variety of other migrant or semi-resident species were also seen from or on Governors Island on the day.
In Manhattan, the 2 swallow species that have been present for 7 days were seen by multiple observers at the Harlem meer in Central Park - N. Rough-winged Swallow and Tree Swallow. Some patience may be needed as the swallows are both active and-or resting at various times each day since last Monday March 23. We expect more rough-wings to come along fairly soon, as well as more of other swallows. At Inwood Hill Park, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher was seen again, one of multiple migrants and resident birds being seen there. The county overall reached or surpassed a total of 120 species this month, and we still have 2 days with potential for arrivals before April.
Good birding, and thanks to 100s of independent observers and photographers, as well as those leading or affiliated with not-for-profit guided bird walks in Manhattan and around the county, for reports and alerts all via the Discod birding app and via eBird, with the Macaulay Library for media, as well as good old word-of-mouth.
Date: 3/29/26 3:06 pm From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Sun. March 29, 2026: Wood Duck (7), Ring-necked Duck, R-b Nuthatch, Pine Warbler
Central Park, NYC
Sunday, March 29, 2026
OBS: Robert DeCandido, PhD, Deborah Allen, m.ob.
Highlights: Wood Duck (7), Ring-necked Duck, Common Merganser (4), Red-breasted Merganser (9), Black-crowned Night-Heron (7), Red-breasted Nuthatch (2), Brown Creeper, Chipping Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Pine Warbler (2).
Canada Goose - 113
Wood Duck - 7 (6 males, 1 female)
Northern Shoveler - 16
Mallard - 25-30
American Black Duck - 1 male Lake
Ring-necked Duck - 1 male Reservoir (Deb)
Common Merganser - 4 including one adult male
Red-breasted Merganser - 9
Ruddy Duck - 3
Mourning Dove - 25-30
Ring-billed and American Herring Gulls - around 150, mostly Am. Herring
Great Black-backed Gull - 3
Double-crested Cormorant - 6
Black-crowned Night-Heron - 7
Great Blue Heron - 1 west side of the Lake
Red-tailed Hawk - 3
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 6-8
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - 4 or 5
Downy Woodpecker - 3 or 4
Northern Flicker - 4 or 5
Eastern Phoebe - 4
Blue Jay - 10-15
American Crow - 2 flyovers Tupelo Field
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 9 or 10
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 2 Belvedere Castle (Edmund Berry)
Brown Creeper - 1 Evodia Field
Northern Mockingbird - 1 Oven/Willow Rock
American Robin - 20-25
House Finch - 4 Swampy Pin Oak
American Goldfinch - 4 or 5
Chipping Sparrow - 1 Evodia Field feeders (Caren Jahre)
Dark-eyed Junco - 20-25
White-throated Sparrow - 25-30
Song Sparrow - 4 or 5
Swamp Sparrow - 1 Evodia Field
Red-winged Blackbird - 1 male Evodia Field
Common Grackle - 25-30
Pine Warbler - 2 (Belvedere Castle (Edmund Berry), Upper Lobe (Sandra Critelli))
Northern Cardinal - 5 or 6
Date: 3/28/26 2:32 pm From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Sat. March 28, 2026: Common Merganser (5), Belted Kingfisher
Central Park NYC
Saturday March 28, 2026
OBS: Robert DeCandido, PhD, Deborah Allen, m.ob.
Highlights: American Black Duck, Common and Red-breasted Mergansers, Belted Kingfisher, Eastern Phoebe, Ruby- and Golden-crowned Kinglets, Brown Creeper, Winter Wren, Chipping, Fox, and Swamp Sparrows.
Canada Goose - 85
Wood Duck - 3 (2 males, 1 female)
Northern Shoveler - 12
Mallard - 26
American Black Duck - 1 male Lake
Bufflehead - 4 (2 males, 2 females)
Hooded Merganser - 4 (2 males, 2 females)
Common Merganser - 5 (1 male, 1 second-year, 3 females)
Red-breasted Merganser - 7
Ruddy Duck - 4
Mourning Dove - 25-30
Ring-billed and Herring Gulls - 50
Great Black-backed Gull - 2 Reservoir
Double-crested Cormorant - 3
Black-crowned Night-Heron - 6
Red-tailed Hawk - 1 immature perched in Ramble
Belted Kingfisher - 1 Turtle Pond (Heather Cook)
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 8-10
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - 5
Downy Woodpecker - 3 or 4
Northern Flicker - 10-12
Eastern Phoebe - 4 or 5
Blue Jay - 9-11
Tufted Titmouse - 8-10
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 2 Ramble
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 6-8
White-breasted Nuthatch - 1 male Laupot Bridge
Brown Creeper - 3
Whiter Wren - 2 Ramble (David Barrett)
Hermit Thrush - 1 Ramble
American Robin - 25-30
American Goldfinch - 3
Chipping Sparrow - 1 Evodia Field
Fox Sparrow - 1 Azalea Pond
Dark-eyed Junco - 15-20
White-throated Sparrow - 30-40
Song Sparrow - 4 or 5
Swamp sparrow - 1 Evodia Field
Red-winged Blackbird - 2 males (Pinetum, Turtle Pond)
Common Grackle - 30-40
Northern Cardinal - 6
Date: 3/28/26 2:56 am From: Thomas Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Correction to last post (finder of Bonapartes Gulls, 3/27)
A correction on the finder and photographer of 4 Bonapartes Gulls on the Hudson River off Manhattan, N.Y. City on Friday, March 27 - the observer was Linda LaBella. Apologies for the mixup, to both of these regulars of birding the county and region. The sighting was as stated, from the pier area off the western end of Dyckman Street, in northern Manhattan.
Date: 3/28/26 1:37 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Manhattan, N.Y. City - w/ Central Park - Fri., 3/27 - Bonapartes Gulls (H. River), Palm, Pine, Y.-r. Warblers, 2 Swallow spp., etc.
Manhattan, N.Y. City - with Central Park, and other sites in Manhattan -
Friday, March 27th -
4 Bonapartes Gulls were seen and photographed -K. Becker- off the western end of Dyckman St. along the Hudson River at northern Manhattan on Friday. These and other species of gull may be moving over coming weeks.
The Northern Rough-winged Swallows seen thru Friday at the Harlem Meer in Central Park were first noted and well-photographed there as of March 23, with many observers and photographers since then, as well as the more-usual this early Tree Swallows. The swallows there have sometimes been easier to see, sometimes not. More of these species will of course be arriving. Photos, including from March 23, were placed in the Macaulay Library for media and are publicly accessible.
By Friday, multiple Palm Warblers of the yellow form had arrived on Manhattan with sightings from Central Park, Inwood Hill Park, Riverside Park, and at least a few other sites in Manhattan. For Central Park alone, a minimum of 7 individual Palms were scattered around various areas. Pine Warblers have been found in Central Park all week and still showing in multiple areas on Friday, with a very few Myrtle-form Yellow-rumped Warblers also being around, not necessarily new arrivals. A Louisiana Waterthrush which had arrived earlier this week was not re-found by Friday despite a bit of extra searching. The species will of course be regular in just a week or so all around, especially at Central Park with its multitude of small streams and waterfalls. One such flowing stream is within the C.P. Zoo grounds. Two of the streams are north of 106th St.
Of other birds showing some additional increases, Chipping Sparrows were up to more than 25 for all of Central Park by Friday, with a small flock ranging around the NE sector of the park, especially on the north sides and vicinity of the N. Meadow ballfields and adjacent knoll, where Field Sparrow was also present, along with many Song Sparrows and Dark-eyed Juncos. Swamp Sparrows were slightly increased as well by Friday. Red Fox Sparrows were still present and some singing by all these, as well as widespread White-throated Sparrows, was heard. Savannah Sparrow has been scarce but was again present. Also piping-up from a few areas in Central were Eastern Towhees, seen in multiple areas.
Rusty Blackbirds have continued at a few locations, the most-watched certainly one or more in the Central Park Ramble all this week. Some of these have been singing a bit at times. Golden-crowned Kinglets were still quite numerous in multiple Manhattan areas, with several dozen present spread all thru Central Park. Ruby-crowned Kinglet have been much less numerous since their spring arrivals have not really started yet. One slightly early Blue-gray Gnatcatcher has shown at Central Park by this week, and one was still present there on Friday. As already noted to this list, Hermit Thrushes increased a bit this week, with sightings in many more locations, esp. from the larger parks including Central Park, than had overwintered in these areas.
Great Egrets persisted at Central Park all week, a few fairly regular at the northern waterbodies. The species has also shown elsewhere on and over Manhattan. Great Blue Herons also were persisting in Central Park and some elsewhere, with some flyovers also being seen. The numbers of Black-crowned Night Herons in Central Park have increased with up to 8 or more present on recent days, including some roosts with up to 6 or more visible at once. These also have been found elsewhere in Manhattan just recently. Belted Kingfisher has appeared in Central Park, but more-regularly had been seen elsewhere this month. A Wild Turkey has continued on and on at Battery Park, at the s. end of Manhattan.
At the Central Park reservoir, still up to NINE Red-breasted Mergansers were lingering, as were at least 5 Common Mergansers. Other ducks lingering on at Central Park included Green-winged Teals, Wood Ducks, N. Shovelers, Gadwall, American Black Ducks, Hooded Mergansers, Buffleheads, Ruddy Ducks, and of course plenty of Mallards. Off on the rivers or the harbor, as watched from Manhattan, both Red-throated and Common Loons were still around and increasing numbers of Double-c reacted Cormorants have been arriving. Sightings of Great Cormorant were fewer and farther-between, at least as seen from Manhattan. American Coot was still present, including at Central Park.
Fish Crows are around recently making themselves heard at times, and Common Ravens are ongoing, with some appearing at Central Park at times. The Raven pair at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine have made a nest again, and others around Manhattan are likely engaged in similar activity by now. American Crows are regular and occasionally numerous around Manhattan. Owls of at least 5 species have been present within the past week.
Below are birds seen in Central Park on Friday, by hundreds of observers and photographers.
Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Northern Shoveler
Gadwall
Mallard
American Black Duck
Mallard x American Black Duck hybrid
Green-winged Teal
Bufflehead
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Ruddy Duck
feral Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
American Coot
Killdeer - mainly n. Manhattan.
American Woodcock
Ring-billed Gull
American Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Double-crested Cormorant
Black-crowned Night Heron
Great Egret
Great Blue Heron
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Coopers Hawk
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
Belted Kingfisher
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern -Yellow-shafted- Flicker
American Kestrel
Merlin
Peregrine Falcon
Eastern Phoebe
Blue Jay
American Crow
Fish Crow
Common Raven
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Tree Swallow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow - from 3-23, photographed at Central Park on that day and since.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
White-breasted Nuthatch
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Winter Wren
Carolina Wren
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
Northern Mockingbird
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
House Sparrow
House Finch
American Goldfinch
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Red Fox Sparrow
Dark-eyed -Slate-colored- Junco
White-throated Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Rusty Blackbird
Common Grackle
Northern Cardinal
Palm Warbler - all of the yellow form - in multiple areas on Friday.
Pine Warbler - in multiple areas in Central Park.
Yellow-rumped -Myrtle- Warbler - relatively few.
- - Louisiana Waterthrush earlier in the week, not found by Friday. - -
Many ornamental plants at Central Park and elsewhere in Manhattan have been budding and some blooming, including a number of the early varieties of cherry trees. Willow trees have been unfurling leaves, some trees and shrubs also at least started to show leaf-buds and many more are in flower by now. The Cornus mas trees in many areas are startling to bloom, and many Magnolia trees as well. At the Ramble, some planted native wildflowers had begun to bloom, including some Hepatica.
Insects that came out especially by Thursday when temparatures reached 75 F. At Central Park included Mourning Cloak and E. Comma butterflies, and there were a variety of small moths, bees, flies, beetles, bugs and other insect spp. being noticed as well as spiders - which are arachnids, not insects.
Good birding and thanks to many observers and photographers for reports via the Discord birding app, and via eBird with the Macaulay Library for media.
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: Gail Benson
[~BEGIN RBA TAPE~]
Greetings! This is the New York Rare Bird Alert for Friday, March 27,
2026 at 11:00 pm.
The highlights of today’s tape are TRUMPETER and TUNDRA SWANS,
EURASIAN WIGEON, KING EIDER, BLACK-HEADED and GLAUCOUS GULLS,
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, RED CROSSBILL, GAMBEL’S
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW and more.
The New York City TRUMPETER SWAN visiting the East River since late
February was last reported Wednesday the 25th in Brooklyn off the
North 5th Street Pier and Park, where it and an accompanying MUTE SWAN
had spent most of the week up to that point.
A TUNDRA SWAN found last Friday at Moravian Cemetery in central Staten
Island stayed there through Saturday but moved on Sunday morning.
A drake EURASIAN WIGEON noted March 13th off Shirley was seen again
Sunday with a group of AMERICAN WIGEON in Bellport Bay off Shirley
Beach on the west side of Shirley.
An immature male KING EIDER was spotted again Sunday near Shinnecock
Inlet and a little west of there near the Ponquogue Bridge,
accompanying a flock of COMMON EIDER, while a female COMMON EIDER was
unusual Monday off Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx.
A BLACK-HEADED GULL in virtually full breeding plumage was seen up to
Thursday at Frank Melville Memorial Park and Pond in Setauket, this
north of Old Field Road.
An immature GLAUCOUS GULL was seen last weekend at Bush Terminal Piers
Park and nearby Bush Army Terminal Pier 4, with 1 also at Staten
Island’s Miller Field last Sunday, and lingering ICELAND GULLS were
noted at both Bush Terminal Parks above as well as at Calvert Vaux
Park Tuesday and Jerome Reservoir in the Bronx Wednesday.
A LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, perhaps wintering, was photographed along
Dune Road on Tuesday, and single RED-NECKED GREBES included 1 off
Breezy Point Saturday and 1 continuing off Floyd Bennett Field at
least to Tuesday.
An adult RED-HEADED WOODPECKER continues at Marshlands Conservancy in Rye.
A small group of RED CROSSBILLS was encountered today near Jones Pond
off the Paumanok Trail in Manorville; this species has nested in this
area before, so please do not disturb them. Access to the area is
from Schultz Road.
An immature GAMBEL’S-type WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW continues in
Brooklyn’s Green-Wood Cemetery.
Some arrivals noted during the week have featured PECTORAL SANDPIPER,
LESSER YELLOWLEGS, GLOSSY IBIS, NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED and BARN
SWALLOWS, BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER and LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH.
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.
Date: 3/27/26 3:46 pm From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Fri. March 27, 2026: Continuing Waterfowl, Tree and N. Rough-winged Swallows, Pine Warbler
Central Park NYC - North End
Friday March 27, 2026
OBS: Deborah Allen, m.ob.
Highlights for the North End, with additional birds at the Reservoir: Green-winged Teal (6), Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser (10), Tree and Northern Rough-winged Swallows, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Brown Creeper (4), Field and Swamp Sparrows, Pine Warbler.
Canada Goose - 39
Mallard - 35
Green-winged Teal - 6
Ruddy Duck - 1 Harlem Meer, others at Reservoir
Mourning Dove - 4
Ring-billed Gull - 2 Harlem Meer, others at Reservoir
American Herring Gull - 4, others at Reservoir
Great Black-backed Gull - 7 at Reservoir
Double-crested Cormorant - 2 Harlem Meer, another at Reservoir
Great Egret - 1 Harlem Meer (probably the bird reported Wednesday by Ruben Giron
Cooper's Hawk - 1
Red-tailed Hawk - 3 or 4
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - 1 Loch
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 2, others heard
Downy Woodpecker - 3
Hairy Woodpecker - heard-only
Northern Flicker - 5
Eastern Phoebe - 2
Blue Jay - 12
American Crow - 5
Tufted Titmouse - 8
Tree Swallow - 1 over Harlem Meer
Northern Rough-winged Swallow - 1 over Harlem Meer
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 4
Brown Creeper - 4
Northern Mockingbird - 1 Harlem Meer
American Robin - 28
American Goldfinch - 5
Field Sparrow - 1 stream between Meer and Loch, another heard
Fox Sparrow - 3
Dark-eyed Junco - 15
White-throated Sparrow - many
Song Sparrow - 6
Swamp Sparrow - 3
Red-winged Blackbird - 6 males
Common Grackle
Pine Warbler - 1 male Green Bench
Northern Cardinal - 6
Date: 3/26/26 4:32 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] N.Y. County, NYC - to 3/26 - Redhead, Laughing Gull, W. Snipe, N.R.-w. Swallow, Gr. Egret, L. Waterthrush, Rusty BB, etc.
N.Y. County -in N.Y. City- including Manhattan, Governors, Randalls, and Roosevelt Islands, and the adjacent waters and skies above -
Into Thursday, March 26th -
Many birds capable of song have been giving some and the singing is sure to increase with each day as spring rolls on. Some of those birds with no true songs also are vocalizing at times, according to their habits and abilities.
A drake Redhead appeared and was photographed, with at least 3 observers, off Inwood Hill Park at the northern end of Manhattan on Wed. afternoon. This duck species is generally scarce in the county in the modern era, with occasional appearances in most recent decades.
Louisiana Waterthrush arrived in the county at least by Wed, March 25, and was in Central Park as well by Thursday. The species had made initial appearances in N.Y. City at least by March 24th. Slightly earlier than the main arrivals of that species, but not unprecedented for dates.
By Monday, March 23, a slightly-early arrival of at least 2 N. Rough-winged Swallows at Central Park were added to the prior arrivals of Tree Swallows, for the year in this county. Minimal Great Egret arrivals so far, but there is still a bit of March remaining - first reports came by Sunday and some more for Monday, and slightly more by Tuesday including several at Central Park. Ospreys also came in with a bit more urgency, by the weekend. Almost any patch of habitat may hold E. Phoebe by now, as larger arrivals pick up the pace. Hermit Thrush arrivals began to appear, these are new to the year, not just the relatively few that lingered all thru the roughest parts of the winter, with some few dozen or more scattered thru parks in Manhattan and including newly arrived birds at Central Park. More Yellow-shafted Flickers have been coming in, sometimes noticed in discrete areas of sites within the county.
Also noted at Central Park from Sunday into Monday were multiple Pine Warblers at various sectors of that park. The American Wigeon continuing at The Pool in that park has been seen solely by independent observers and passersby or those participating in no-for-profit walks since that species first showed in that park this year. Hundreds of observers and photographers had seen the drake wigeon even prior to this past weekend. A Ring-nacked Duck recently continuing at the C.P. reservoir had been seen for weeks by large numbers of observers. On Monday for a time, as many as 9 Red-breasted Mergansers showed at the C.P. reservoir but again, that species is occurring in county waters in numbers up to 15-20 times greater as is typical of the season. Elsewhere in the county some Long-tailed Ducks and Common Goldeneyes were still seen to the end of last week or into the new week, and Lesser and Greater Scaup each showed as well, the latter more so thru this week. The most recent N. Pintail may have been one at Inwood Hill Park in n. Manhattan. Brant are ongoing in expected locations, as is expected thru at least mid-spring here.
The ongoing Trumpeter Swan with its Mute Swan friend on the East River have continued to be reported from, or on, N.Y. County waters at times, but far more observers were giving Kings County - Brooklyn, NYC - as the location for sightings of the rarer swan with its commoner cousin. Other Mute Swans may be seen aside from the individual partnering with the Trumpeter Swan.
Laughing Gull and Wilsons Snipe were among sightings from Governors Island last Sunday, with a bit of increase for Killdeer seen there as well. Wilsons Snipe was also present on Randalls Island from Sunday and Monday. American Woodcock were still being seen, with more than one individual turning up at a typical site for many observers to see the species in Manhattan, at Bryant Park. Others were still turning up elsewhere. Double-crested Cormorants we’re slowly increasing, and we continue to have Black-crowned Night Herons in a number of locations, including multiples staying around Central Park.
Savannah Sparrows showed a bit of increase in multiple areas of the county, as did Swamp Sparrow. Since spring officially started we have no confirmed sightings of American Tree Sparrow - and Chipping Sparrow will be the far-more-likely as we soon get in to April. Red Fox Sparrow were still around and can be heard singing well in many locations where they are gathered.
Pine Warblers had started to show in a number of county locations including multiple parks of northern Manhattan, but still in relatively modest numbers overall - this species had a nice little uptick by Wednesday, however. Myrtle-form Yellow-rumped Warblers are in even smaller supply, and those being found now are likely regionally-overwintered. Rusty Blackbirds continued to be seen at multiple locations in Central Park, and a bit less-regularly elsewhere. Such species as Golden-crowned Kinglet, Brown Creeper, and Red-breasted Nuthatch were ongoing in modest numbers around the county.
A more comprehensive list of species seen around the county will be given in a few days after further investigations and sightings.
Various trees and shrubs as well as mainly-planted or cultivated herbaceous plants are starting to have buds and some are blooming. Willows are greening up by the day, and red maples have color, as do a few other types of trees showing flower or bud colors.
Good birding, and thanks to many independent observers and photographers and to the many affiliated with or guiding walks for not-for-profit organizations, including the NYC Bird Alliance, the American Museum of Natural History, the Linnaean Society of New York and additional non-profit organizations and institutions. Reports and alerts were offered via the Discord birding app, and via eBird with the Macaulay Library for media, and thru good old word of mouth.
Date: 3/23/26 4:54 pm From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Sun. March 22, 2026: American Wigeon, Co. and Red-breasted Mergansers, Bald Eagle, E. Phoebe
Central Park NYC
Sunday March 22, 2026
OBS: Robert DeCandido, PhD, Deborah Allen, m.ob.
Highlights: American Wigeon, Common and Red-breasted Mergansers, Great Blue Heron, Osprey, Bald Eagle, Eastern Phoebe, Fox Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow.
Canada Goose - 7
Northern Shoveler - 12
American Wigeon - 1 male continued at the Pool (Deb-early)
Mallard - 56
Green-winged Teal - several continued at the Pool
Ring-necked Duck - 1 male continued at the Reservoir (@mbalerter on "X")
Bufflehead - 3
Common Merganser - 2 females Reservoir (Ryan Serio)
Red-breasted Merganser - 6 females Reservoir (Ryan Serio)
Ruddy Duck - 3
Mourning Dove - around 20
Ring-billed Gull - 12
Herring Gull - 35
Great Black-backed Gull - 9
Double-crested Cormorant - 2 Reservoir
Black-crowned Night-Heron - 2 adults west side of Lake
Great Blue Heron - 1 adult Turtle Pond
Osprey - 1 flyover (J.P.)
Bald Eagle - 1 flyover (Ryan Serio)
Red-tailed Hawk - 1 adult near Boathouse
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 6
Downy Woodpecker - 2 or 3
Northern Flicker - at least 2
Eastern Phoebe - 3
Blue Jay - 12-15
American Crow - 2 flyovers
Tufted Titmouse - 7-10
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 2 Azalea Pons (Bob-early)
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 6-8
American Robin - 25-30
American Goldfinch - 6-8
Fox Sparrow - 3
Dark-eyed Junco - 12-15
White-throated Sparrow - 20-25
Song Sparrow - 3 or 4
Swamp Sparrow - 1 Evodia Field
Red-winged Blackbird - 3 or 4
Brown-headed Cowbird - 1 Evodia Field (J.P.)
Common Grackle - 40-50
Northern Cardinal - 7-9
How do individuals navigate through the world? Though there are many ways
to answer this question, we need more modern computing techniques to answer
on a global scale. I explore how bird song changes across time and space.
Singing is an important bird behavior, being necessary for reproduction in
a majority of bird species.
Working with Adelphi University students and faculty, I use machine
learning algorithms to explore how song changes are explained by climate,
time, geography, urbanization, and more.
Dr. Kaiya Provost is an Assistant Professor at Adelphi University. She
studies the evolution of birds, including how they sound, the color of
their feathers, and their genetics.
Date: 3/21/26 4:51 pm From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC, Sat. March 21, 2026: Co. and Red-breasted Mergansers, Osprey, Chipping Sparrow
Central Park, NYC
Saturday March 21, 2026
OBS: Robert DeCandido, PhD, Deborah Allen, m.ob.
Highlights on a warm and breezy morning: Common and Red-breasted Mergansers, Osprey, Cooper's Hawk, Eastern Phoebe, Ruby- and Golden-crowned Kinglets, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Chipping and Fox Sparrows.
Canada Goose - at least 60
Wood Duck - 3 males
Mallard - around 25
Bufflehead - 10
Hooded Merganser - 1 male Reservoir
Common Merganser - 4
Red-breasted Merganser - 6
Mourning Dove - 10-15
Ring-billed and Herring Gulls - around 250, mostly Ring-billed
Great Black-backed Gull - 8
Double-crested Cormorant - 2 (Reservoir and Lake)
Black-crowned Night-Heron - 2 west side of the Lake
Osprey - 1 flyover (Sandra Critelli)
Cooper's Hawk - 1 or 2 in the Ramble
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 5 or 6
Downy Woodpecker - 2 (the Point, Great Lawn)
Eastern Phoebe - 1 Maintenance Field (Sam)
Blue Jay - 8
Tufted Titmouse - 6
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 1 Azalea Pond
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 2
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 2 Shakespeare Garden
Brown Creeper - 1 Mouth of the Gill
American Robin - around 20
American Goldfinch - 9 (Sandra Critelli)
Chipping Sparrow - 1 Evodia Field (Sandra Critelli)
Fox Sparrow - 1 Humming Tombstone (Sandra Critelli)
White-throated Sparrow - 20-25
Song Sparrow - 1 Evodia field
Red-winged Blackbird - 2 or 3
Common Grackle - 40-50
Northern Cardinal - 6-8
Date: 3/21/26 10:48 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC - to Fri., 3/20 - Am. Wigeon & other ducks, Pine Warblers, etc.
Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City -
to Fri., March 20, with some updates to Saturday
Pine Warblers continued in the park thru Friday, not many but in multiple areas. Also noted again, by fewer observers, was Myrtle-form Yellow-rumped Warbler.
A drake American Wigeon showed at The Pool in Central Parks n-w quadrant by Thursday morning, 3-19, and was seen later that day into Friday by many more observers and photographers, with up to 6 Green-winged Teal also at the Pool, the latter a very long lingering species there. The Wigeon was continuing for a 3rd day at that location to Saturday. A few Hooded Mergansers also persisted there and elsewhere in the park, and other waterfowl in the park has included Wood Duck, N.Shoveler, Gadwall, American Black Duck, Ring-necked Duck, Bufflehead, Ruddy Duck, Common and Red-breasted Merganser, along with motley Mallards and Canada Geese.
Sparrows in the park have included Red Fox, Swamp, and other overwintered other recently-increased species such as Song Sparrow, and Dark-eyed Junco, as well as the hordes of White-throated Sparrows. The flyovers being noticed have included both Black and multiples of Turkey Vultures, Bald Eagle, and assorted other regulars among the birds of prey, including all 3 regular falcons - American Kestrel, Merlin, and Peregrine. Small passerines seen in the multiple include, among others, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Brown Creeper, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Black-capped Chickadee, and various other species. Ruby-crowned Kinglets seen to now were local-wintering individuals.
Good birding, thanks to many observers and photographers for alerts and reports in the Discord app, and via eBird with the Macaulay Library for media, and via good old word of mouth.
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, March 20th 2026* at 11pm. The highlights of today's tape are TRUMPETER and TUNDRA SWANS, EURASIAN WIGEON, KING EIDER, BARROW'S GOLDENEYE, BLACK-HEADED and GLAUCOUS GULLS, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, Gambel's WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, and more.
The New York City TRUMPETER SWAN continues along the Brooklyn shore of the East River. Today, it was present with its accompanying Mute Swan for much of the day around the North 5th Street Pier and Park. These birds have frequented this section of the East River north of the Williamsburg Bridge for much of the week and seem to be comfortable there.
An adult TUNDRA SWAN was present today on the East Pond in Moravian Cemetery in central Staten Island. This likely the same swan spotted on Tuesday at High Rock Park.
Two male EURASIAN WIGEON were reported Saturday around The Raunt on the East Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, and one was noted again Monday on Agawam Lake in Southampton. An immature male KING EIDER was spotted this morning in a Common Eider flock just north of Shinnecock Inlet, and a female type BARROW'S GOLDENEYE was seen again with Common Goldeneye Tuesday in Gravesend Bay as viewed from the middle parking lot off the Belt Parkway.
A BLACK-HEADED GULL acquiring full breeding plumage was present at Plumb Beach at least through Thursday, with another adult still at Terrell River County Park at least through last weekend. A GLAUCOUS GULL visited Sammy's Beach in East Hampton last Saturday, while scattered ICELAND GULLS included one all week at Bush Terminal Piers Park, one at Calvert Vaux Park in Brooklyn today, and one still at Old Field Point Wednesday. A few LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS also continue along the coast.
A RED-NECKED GREBE spent all week around the Mill Basin at Floyd Bennett Field, with another off Pelham Bay Park on Saturday.
An adult RED-HEADED WOODPECKER continued through the week at Marshlands Conservancy in Rye.
A nice find was an immature Gambel's type WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW present in Green-wood Cemetery from Tuesday through today.
A notable gathering of 37 PIPING PLOVERS were counted last Sunday at Fire Island's Old Inlet in Bellport Bay, and other arrivals have featured YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON, SNOWY EGRET, CHIPPING SPARROW, and PALM WARBLER.
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.
Date: 3/19/26 12:33 pm From: Peter Polshek <pmaxp...> Subject: Re: [nysbirds-l] Reminder! Do not miss Shai Mitra's "Avian Vagrancy: The Sport and the Science of Rare Birds" presentation for the Queens County Bird Club tomorrow evening at 7:30 PM!
<div></div><div>Shai Mitra "Avian Vagrancy/The Sport and the Science of Rare Birds"Date & Time: Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at 7:30 PM.Place: Alley Pond Environmental Center, 229-10 Northern Blvd, Douglaston, NY 11362 <br/>Vagrant birds - individuals occurring far beyond the expected geographical limits of their taxa have fascinated people for centuries. Long dismissed as the stuff of mere sport and as biologically meaningless accidents, these records are emerging as a valuable dataset. <br/>Shai Mitra begins this multimedia presentation with a discussion of the sport of finding and documenting rare birds, which is still more of an art than a science, despite technological revolutions in meteorology and surveillance. The resulting body of records constitutes a rapidly growing and increasingly accessible dataset that offers insights into important scientific questions: demographic trends in distant populations, the causes and consequences of long-distance dispersal, the biological properties of local sites, the forces shaping community composition, and, ultimately, a more rational approach to conservation. <br/>Shai Mitra has studied birds in the northeast and around the world for 40+ years. He has a BA in Biology from Cornell University and a PhD in Evolutionary Biology from the University of Chicago. From 1996 to 2000, he operated a major bird-banding station at the Fire Island Lighthouse on the South Shore of Long Island. Currently, he is an assistant professor of biology at the College of Staten Island, with research interests in the areas of avian ecology, evolution, and conservation. Shai is editor of The Kingbird, the quarterly publication of the New York State Ornithological Association; co-compiler of bird records for the New York City and Long Island region; chair of the Rhode Island Avian Records Committee; and co-compiler of the Southern Nassau County and Napatree, Rhode Island, Christmas Bird Counts. <br/> <br/>Marcia AbrahamsVP/Programs CoordinatorQueens County Bird Clubhttps://qcbirdclub.org/Email: <MarciaAAbrahams...> <br/> <br/>--
Date: 3/19/26 3:25 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] N.Y. County, NYC - to 3/18
New York County -in N.Y. City- including Manhattan, Roosevelt, Randall’s, and Governors Islands, and the adjacent waters and surrounding skies -
thru March 18th -
A relatively slow past weekend for local observed migration in this county. Pine Warbler was found by somewhat more observers from Central Park, but the large arrival is very much still to come, even though eBird will not be auto-alerting, nor flagging individual reports on further sightings of those now.
The beginnings of Yellow-shafted Flicker movement was seen by at least Sunday, 15th with modest arrivals to some areas. Eastern Phoebes had very slight increases, but far more will eventually push in. Osprey were struggling to show much in this county and of course far more should be coming in by later this month thru April. Raptor movement generally had slowed again with the most recent winds and weather.
Savannah Sparrows had turned up by March 11 and 12 at a few locations in the county. One of the sites, Governors Island, had a good showing of Killdeer by that date as well. Red Fox Sparrows were increasing, with some passing thru in addition to those that overwintered. Dark-eyed Juncos have become more numerous again. Increases were also being noticed for Golden-crowned Kinglet and somewhat for Brown Creeper, even before last weekend. These will be increasing once we see a weather pattern encouraging to birds in more southerly states, and into the northeast.
Wood Ducks were seen in various locations, in fairly modest numbers relative to the big migratory flights earlier this month. Green-winged Teal were ongoing in Central Park, as was at least one Ring-necked Duck and a quartet of Common Mergansers there recently. Multiple observers had noted Red-breasted Merganser from last week at Central Park, while far greater numbers of the latter species were, as is usual, seen in the salt or brackish tidal waters of the county. Greater and Lesser Scaup were found again off both Randalls and Governors Islands, with fewer of the latter species by Sunday, overall as would be generally expected here. Some Common Goldeneyes were still being seen in the past week but had diminished as the weekend passed, and the same may be noted for Long-tailed Duck. American Woodcock were still around, with as is typical the most-often noticed, from Bryant Park in mid-Manhattan.
Horned Grebe was presumed a continuing bird around Randalls Island from last Friday into this past weekend. Some Common and Red-throated Loons continued to be seen in the waters of this county in the past week. The first modern-era non-speculative and massively documented Trumpeter Swan in N.Y. County was still being seen at times into this week from places in this county, although much or most of this one current swan duo -in company with a Mute Swan- movements have been far more visible from the Brooklyn -Kings County- side of the East River in N.Y. City, rather than from the Manhattan side. Some days after the sighting, a Purple Sandpiper was confirmed in an eBird report from an unusual location for the species, Randalls Island on March 11. A confirmation was also made for Savannah Sparrow at Central Park on that same date. A Wild Turkey was ongoing at Battery Park at the s. end of Manhattan this week, very long staying there over many many months.
At Central Park, Black-crowned Night Heron numbers already showed a slight uptick there by Sunday. Multiple independent birders and photographers at Central Park on Sunday had seen up to ten Red-breasted Mergansers, some from first-light, others much later in that day. At least 9 of that species were still present early-week at the C.P. reservoir. The waters of Manhattan annually see vastly greater numbers of that species in peak periods of the colder half of the year, and yet more are present in winter periods in the county, often into triple-digits.
Overall, by Sunday, Central Park alone was recording up to 62 or more species of wild birds, seen and reported reliably on the one day by birders and photographers individually or in not-for-profit guided bird walks, with alerts and reports to Discord birding app, and in eBird. Pine Warblers were among the many birds from Sunday at Central Park, and that species was again seen there into this week. Myrtle-form Yellow-rumped Warbler has again been reported in Central Park as well. Thus far in this month, just over 70 species of wild birds have occurred at Central Park. That number is a little less than two-thirds of all species for the county in the same time period.
Good birding, and happy end-of-winter at least by our calendars, as of this Friday morning- with the vernal equinox, bring on spring!
Date: 3/17/26 4:05 pm From: marciaaabrahams at aol.com (via NYSBIRDS-L list) <NYSBIRDS-L...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Reminder! Do not miss Shai Mitra's "Avian Vagrancy: The Sport and the Science of Rare Birds" presentation for the Queens County Bird Club tomorrow evening at 7:30 PM!
Shai Mitra "Avian Vagrancy/The Sport and the Science of Rare Birds"Date & Time: Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at 7:30 PM.Place: Alley Pond Environmental Center, 229-10 Northern Blvd, Douglaston, NY 11362
Vagrant birds - individuals occurring far beyond the expected geographical limits of their taxa have fascinated people for centuries. Long dismissed as the stuff of mere sport and as biologically meaningless accidents, these records are emerging as a valuable dataset.
Shai Mitra begins this multimedia presentation with a discussion of the sport of finding and documenting rare birds, which is still more of an art than a science, despite technological revolutions in meteorology and surveillance. The resulting body of records constitutes a rapidly growing and increasingly accessible dataset that offers insights into important scientific questions: demographic trends in distant populations, the causes and consequences of long-distance dispersal, the biological properties of local sites, the forces shaping community composition, and, ultimately, a more rational approach to conservation.
Shai Mitra has studied birds in the northeast and around the world for 40+ years. He has a BA in Biology from Cornell University and a PhD in Evolutionary Biology from the University of Chicago. From 1996 to 2000, he operated a major bird-banding station at the Fire Island Lighthouse on the South Shore of Long Island. Currently, he is an assistant professor of biology at the College of Staten Island, with research interests in the areas of avian ecology, evolution, and conservation. Shai is editor of The Kingbird, the quarterly publication of the New York State Ornithological Association; co-compiler of bird records for the New York City and Long Island region; chair of the Rhode Island Avian Records Committee; and co-compiler of the Southern Nassau County and Napatree, Rhode Island, Christmas Bird Counts.
Marcia AbrahamsVP/Programs CoordinatorQueens County Bird Clubhttps://qcbirdclub.org/Email: <MarciaAAbrahams...>
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, March 13th 2026* at 11pm. The highlights of today's tape are SWAINSON'S HAWK, PACIFIC LOON, TRUMPETER SWAN, COMMON and THICK-BILLED MURRES, AMERICAN GOSHAWK, TUNDRA SWAN, EURASIAN WIGEON, BLACK-HEADED and GLAUCOUS GULLS, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, Spring migrants and more.
A brief warm spell brought in a few early migrants this week but our only reports of the adult SWAINSON'S HAWK in Brooklyn came from last Monday with the bird seen both at the Sim's Municipal Recycling Center and flying over nearby Green-wood Cemetery. The recycling center is a restricted access property but can be viewed from outside the surrounding fencing but time will tell if the hawk moved on during this weather break.
A PACIFIC LOON recently lingering around Jones Inlet was reported again last weekend out in the boat channel off Jones Beach West End but not since, though possibly still present.
The TRUMPETER SWAN recently visiting the East River with an accompanying Mute Swan has been seen the last several days off or near Brooklyn's Marsha P. Johnson State Park or just to the south at the North 5th Street Pier and Park in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn.
Both MURRES were reported locally last Saturday with a THICK-BILLED photographed first off Plumb Beach and then almost 2 hours later farther west off Brighton Beach while a COMMON MURRE was spotted well outside Shinnecock Inlet drifting to the east.
The immature AMERICAN GOSHAWK at Jones Beach West End was seen a few times this week as it stealthily hunts around the dunes near the boardwalk also appropriately used as a hawkwatch site with sightings often rather brief and somewhat obstructed.
Two TUNDRA SWANS were spotted moving north over Croton Point Park in Westchester Monday morning. A drake EURASIAN WIGEON was reported from the East Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Tuesday and Wednesday and another was noted today in a waterfowl gathering in Bellport Bay off Shirley Beach on the west side of Shirley.
An adult BLACK-HEADED GULL was spotted Tuesday on the beach at Oldfield Point and Lighthouse. An immature GLAUCOUS GULL was moving between Brooklyn Army Terminal Pier 4 and Bush Terminal Piers Park early in the week at least to Tuesday with one or two ICELAND GULLS doing the same through Thursday. Single ICELANDS were also noted Saturday at Great Kills Park and Shinnecock Inlet with others still hanging around Gravesend Bay through today.
A RED-NECKED GREBE was still around Floyd Bennett Field to Tuesday with another that day at Oldfield Point.
A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was spotted Monday at Pine Meadow County Park in Eastport and an adult RED-HEADED WOODPECKER continues at Marshlands Conservancy in Rye.
Among the few expected migrants beginning to show up recently have been PIPING PLOVER, LESSER YELLOWLEGS, LAUGHING GULL, GREAT EGRET, OSPREY, TREE SWALLOW and PINE WARBLER.
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.
Date: 3/15/26 3:33 pm From: Deborah Allen <dallenyc...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Central Park NYC, Sun. March 15, 2026: Red-breasted (MAX) and Common Merganser, E. Phoebe, Co. Raven
Central Park NYC
Sunday, March 15, 2026
OBS: Robert DeCandido, PhD, Deborah Allen, m.ob.
Highlights: 3 Wood Ducks, 10 Red-breasted and 3 Common Mergansers, Ring-necked Duck, Eastern Phoebe, Common Raven, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Red- and White-breasted Nuthatches, Brown Creeper, Hermit Thrush (reported Saturday).
Canada Goose - 6
Wood Duck - 3 males
Northern Shoveler - 6
Mallard - 10
Ring-necked Duck - 1 male continuing at the Reservoir
Bufflehead - 7
Hooded Merganser - 4-6
Common Merganser - 3 (2 males, 1 female) continuing at the Reservoir
Red-breasted Merganser - 10 (including 1 adult male and at least 4 immature males) - Deb*
Mourning Dove - 15-20
Ring-billed and Herring Gulls - 80-100
Great Black-backed Gull - 1 Reservoir
Cooper's Hawk - 1 immature Shakespeare Garden
Red-tailed Hawk - 1 immature King-of-Poland
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 3 or 4
Downy Woodpecker - 2 or 3
Northern Flicker - 1 male on the Point
Eastern Phoebe - Great Lawn (Sandra Critelli)
Blue Jay - 6
American Crow - flock of 10
Common Raven - 1 Ramble
Tufted Titmouse - 6-8
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 1 Top of the Point
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 3 (Caren Jahre)
White-breasted Nuthatch - 2 (Swampy Pin Oak, Top of the Point)
Brown Creeper - 1 Swampy Pin Oak (Liza Meneades)
Hermit Thrush - 1 at Evodia Field feeders (Sandra Critelli on Saturday 3/14)
American Robin - 40-50
American Goldfinch - 2 Swampy Pin Oak
Dark-eyed Junco - 15-20
White-throated Sparrow - 15-20
Song Sparrow - 4
Red-winged Blackbird - 2 or 3
Common Grackle - 40-50
Northern Cardinal - 4 or 5
--
*This is a new maximum for Red-breasted Merganser for Central Park. The previous high count was seven from Irving Cantor on April 26, 1940.
Incidentally, there is a prior report of Trumpeter Swan in NYC of a bird at the Reservoir in December 2006 with 3 very competent observers. However, at that time, the bird was not considered countable in NY State because of an introduction program.
Date: 3/12/26 3:46 pm From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] N.Y. County, NYC - to 3/12 - Pine Warblers, other arrivals and lingerers, etc.
New York County -in N.Y. City- including Manhattan, Randalls, Governors, and Roosevelt Islands and the surrounding waters and skies above -
to March 12th -
A Cackling Goose flew over on March 9, with multiple observers watching from the western terminus of Dyckman Street in n. Manhattan that morning. Flight photos were submitted in an eBird report and are archived in the Macaulay Library. A Wilsons Snipe showed at Governors Island by March 11th.
Pine Warbler sightings came in for Central Park on March 11, and possibly lingering near an array of feeders there at times, but sightings were spread thru multiple areas there. A majority of observers saw just one individual that was in the Ramble area and came to the main bird-feeding station of the park and vicinity. A few of the Pine Warblers had already arrived by at least March 9th. There have been a few recent Myrtle-form Yellow-rumped Warbler sightings as well, including from Central Park, and these are almost certainly individuals which did not winter very far out of the county or city.
More Eastern Phoebes were appearing in multiple locations thru this week. American Woodcocks also showed further increase, some appearing at sites where probably or definitely annual on spring migration. A number of these sites are in mid and lower Manhattan. At least a few Tree Swallows were arriving at such locations as Governors Island, and as passage migrants seen elsewhere. A very few Osprey were beginning to arrive this week as well.
Black Vultures were noticed in at least several more locations as flyovers by this week, and Turkey Vulture movements were even more apparent and becoming much more numerous. There were ongoing sightings of Red-shouldered Hawks, some perhaps lingering overwintered birds, but some certainly freshly-moving migrants headed north, along with some other early-moving raptors, including Bald Eagles, Coopers and smaller numbers of Sharp-shinned Hawks, and some Red-tailed Hawks which were not among the large contingents of local-breeding Red-tails.
At Central Park, Rusty Blackbirds were being found, one or two of which may possibly have wintered, but also quite likely a number had just recently arrived. Central Park still had some lingering definitely-overwintered species, although many amongst these, such as various ducks, had been long-lingering there, such as Green-winged Teals. Ring-necked Duck was one of the newer passage migrant ducks to drop in at Central Park. There have been some of the latter elsewhere in the county, also. The maxima of 25 species of waterfowl at one time for the county, earlier this month, probably will not be repeated this spring here, but time will tell.
Field Sparrows showed in at least several locations just for Central Park, while others were turning up elsewhere in the county, many more than the few known to have wintered mainly on Randalls Island. Red Fox Sparrows were still being found, mostly in Manhattan. Chipping Sparrow sightings could still be of individuals that had wintered not far away, or possibly in the county, in a few weeks these should become common. A small number of Swamp Sparrows have also been noticed, some of which possibly wintered here, or relatively locally. Song Sparrow numbers also were showing upticks, as expected now. Vastly more American Robins have begun to move in and thru.
The Iceland Gull at the Central Park reservoir both days of last weekend is confirmed. That species and other less-common or rare gulls could potentially turn up into
April, in any parts of the county. Less than favorable weather for influxes of other species-groups may still favor gull movement, in coming days or weeks. Gulls of the usual 3 species continued to be seen in high numbers at times - Ring-billed, American Herring, and Great Black Gulls. In the wider region, Laughing Gull have been starting to show up including elsewhere in N.Y. City.
More than a week later, reporting of N. Saw-whet Owl for Manhattan has been unmasked. Various other owls have also been seen this month in this county.
The total number of wild bird species seen in the county at least pushed just modestly into triple-digits for the month, so far. Additional species are likely, somewhat pending the variable weather of March. Thanks to many observers and photographers for alerts and further reports.
Date: 3/12/26 9:45 am From: Pat Aitken <aitkenpatricia...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] NYSOA research grant available
NYSOA Is pleased to announce the availability of an Avian Research Grant. The primary goal of the grant is to encourage advances in the biology, ecology and conservation of New York species. The grant will fund one or more recipients up to $2500 and is open to professional or student applicants.
Date: 3/11/26 4:21 pm From: marciaaabrahams at aol.com (via NYSBIRDS-L list) <NYSBIRDS-L...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Reminder! Do not miss Shai Mitra's "Avian Vagrancy: The Sport and the Science of Rare Birds" presentation for the Queens County Bird Club next Wednesday evening at 7:30 PM!
Shai Mitra "Avian Vagrancy/The Sport and the Science of Rare Birds"Date & Time: Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at 7:30 PM.Place: Alley Pond Environmental Center, 229-10 Northern Blvd, Douglaston, NY 11362
Vagrant birds - individuals occurring far beyond the expected geographical limits of their taxa have fascinated people for centuries. Long dismissed as the stuff of mere sport and as biologically meaningless accidents, these records are emerging as a valuable dataset.
Shai Mitra begins this multimedia presentation with a discussion of the sport of finding and documenting rare birds, which is still more of an art than a science, despite technological revolutions in meteorology and surveillance. The resulting body of records constitutes a rapidly growing and increasingly accessible dataset that offers insights into important scientific questions: demographic trends in distant populations, the causes and consequences of long-distance dispersal, the biological properties of local sites, the forces shaping community composition, and, ultimately, a more rational approach to conservation.
Shai Mitra has studied birds in the northeast and around the world for 40+ years. He has a BA in Biology from Cornell University and a PhD in Evolutionary Biology from the University of Chicago. From 1996 to 2000, he operated a major bird-banding station at the Fire Island Lighthouse on the South Shore of Long Island. Currently, he is an assistant professor of biology at the College of Staten Island, with research interests in the areas of avian ecology, evolution, and conservation. Shai is editor of The Kingbird, the quarterly publication of the New York State Ornithological Association; co-compiler of bird records for the New York City and Long Island region; chair of the Rhode Island Avian Records Committee; and co-compiler of the Southern Nassau County and Napatree, Rhode Island, Christmas Bird Counts.
Marcia AbrahamsVP/Programs CoordinatorQueens County Bird Clubhttps://qcbirdclub.org/Email: <MarciaAAbrahams...>
Date: 3/9/26 3:05 am From: Tom Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] N.Y. County, NYC - to March 8 - waterfowl movement, E. Phoebes, & other birds
New York County -in N.Y. City- including Manhattan, Randalls, Governors, and Roosevelt Islands and the adjacent waters and skies above -
to Sunday, March 8th -
2 Black Scoters were noted flying up the Hudson River off lower Manhattan on March 7, a quite scarce species anytime or anywhere in this county. Also seen were various other ducks on the move, with Wood Duck particularly numerous with over thirty seen from one viewing point. That was repeated somewhat as more than a dozen Wood Duck were at Central Park in total, by Saturday, and that number did not take in flyovers.
On Sunday, a great flight of Wood Duck occurred, and at least one observer came just 4 individual Wood Ducks shy of triple-digit numbers of the species flying north, from the vantage point of the western terminus of Dyckman St. and the adjacent fields, near the northern end of Manhattan, all looking out on the Hudson River. From that vantage, at least ten Snow Geese were moving along with over fifty times more Canada Geese, as well as some Brant, and other duckage which included dozens of Common Mergansers, N. Pintail, and non-white-winged scoter species, along with other ducks on the move. Greater numbers of Snow Geese and very-slightly more Wood Ducks were also noted as part of the significant regional movements for Sunday, from Randalls Island The many other birds seen in flight also included modestly high numbers of Red-winged Blackbirds and American Robins, each well into several hundred moving.
The first report of a photographed Eastern Phoebe came by Sunday, at Central Parks north end. An Iceland Gull was reported from the Central Park reservoir on both Saturday and Sunday. Other E. Phoebes were being noted later in the day Sunday, from various points in Manhattan.
3 Horned Larks were photographed at close range at Inwood Hill Park on March 5th, reasonably likely to have been migrants stopping in, although the habitat there is in part suitable to such a species taking up longer stays. The report and photos are in eBird and the Macaulay Library, thanks to W. Andermann.
At least nine Purple Sandpipers were noted at Governors Island on March 5. Duckage there still had recent American Wigeons as well as Long-tailed Ducks, Lesser and Greater Scaup, and Common Goldeneyes among other species. The widespread sightings of the last species in particular in the county over the late winter to now have been far more numerous, by locations where found, than in many many years - some sightings have included 1 individual on the Harlem River well north of Randalls Island and also well south of the Inwood area at Manhattans north edge. At least 24 species of waterfowl had been seen since March 1st in this county.
Black-crowned Night Heron and Pied-billed Grebe each reappeared in at least several county locations, including for Central Park. Horned Grebe was found again off Randalls Island by Sunday. A Monk Parakeet was reported from Governors Island, and Black Vulture was reported over Central Park, and also from farther south in Manhattan. Turkey Vulture was still, as usual, the much more often seen vulture species in the county.
Reports of such species as White-crowned Sparrow or Orange-crowned Warbler in the county now are interesting, and either, if confirmed, would likely mean those species did manage to overwinter rather locally, perhaps even in the county. At least one individual warbler looked to have successfully wintered on Manhattan, a Myrtle form Yellow-rumped Warbler at Carl Schurz Park, again noticed for Sunday.
Generally rather modest numbers of typical migrants of this season were noticed such as Red-winged Blackbirds and Common Grackles, although both of the latter showed in at least a few locations in triple-digit numbers, where very few had been thru winter, by the middle of last week. Still more will certainly be moving in coming days. Brown-headed Cowbirds also have turned up, a few of which might have been wintering. Rusty Blackbird was recently reported from the s. end of Central Park and could represent a bird wintering locally, while a very few have also been seen starting to move, perhaps somewhat locally.
Other birds also present at Central Park have included Red-breasted and White-breasted Nuthatches, Brown Creepers, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, N. Yellow-shafted Flicker, Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglets, Red Fox Sparrows and many more species, many of these also being found here and there at other locations.
American Woodcock were ongoing, with more-regular sightings at Bryant Park in mid-Manhattan, but some additional locations that include Central Park. Killdeer had already been showing some very modest increases, with seemingly new modest increases by Sunday, at typical sites for the species such as Governors Island, and a bit more so by Sunday at Randalls Island. At least a few Killdeer also touched down at Central Park in the pre-dawn on Sunday.
Most of the sightings of a Trumpeter Swan seen moving about the East River estuary recently in the company of a Mute Swan were more recently listed from the Brooklyn - Kings County - side, where the majority of closer views were had of the Trumpeter. A number of observers have also been taking the ferries that ply this waterway and have been able to obtain views of the desired swan along the East River.
The long-staying Wild Turkey was ongoing at The Battery at Manhattans south end thru the weekend. Among many reports for recent days in the county have been Pine Siskin and also Pine Warbler, each wanting confirmations.
Good birding, and thanks to many observers and photographers for alerts and reports in the Discord birding app as well as thru eBird, with the Macaulay Library for media, and some reports also via good old word of mouth.
If, in my note of 20 Feb, I suggested that winter 2025-2026 hadn't been too bad, or that the worst was past, Mother Nature always has the last word.
The Block Island Presidents Day Count was conducted by seven participants on 2 March 2026. This marks the 31st consecutive iteration of this late winter, CBC-style bird survey on Block Island and its nearshore waters and completes the 30th consecutive full survey cycle (November, December, and February/March). As in the case of the 1 March 2003 PDC, winter storms pushed back the date of the count, but the blizzard of 23 February 2026 was one of the most severe ever recorded on Block Island. The snowfall of ca. 30 inches and hurricane-force winds of this epic bomb cyclone snapped trees, flattened bushes, and transformed the island’s kettle hole thickets from damp, food-rich refuges into frozen, snow-filled deserts. Furthermore, an earlier major storm in late January had already deposited heavy accumulations of snow and was followed immediately by a prolonged period of unusually cold temperatures, making this winter by far the harshest locally since the winter of 2014-2015.
Not surprisingly, bird abundance was dramatically affected. Large, generalist waterfowl such as Canada Goose, Mallard, and Greater Scaup were recorded at levels 200-600% above their February norms, and most of the other species recorded at higher-than-average abundance were also waterfowl, including counts of 21 Gadwall, 37 American Wigeon, and a drake Eurasian Wigeon (continuing from December). In contrast, species sensitive to severe conditions, such as Pied-billed Grebe, American Coot, Northern Gannet, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, and Winter and Marsh Wrens, were absent. The persistence of 12 Ruddy Ducks was an exception to this generalization. Not necessarily attributable to weather but deserving mention here was an exceptionally low count of 39 Red-breasted Mergansers.
Landbird diversity and abundance were exceptionally low. Whereas an average of 36 such species have been detected on the PDCs, just 29 were found this year, matching the previous minimum, recorded in February 1997. Similarly, we counted just 39 individual landbirds per party-mile on foot, by far the lowest value of this metric ever recorded on any PDC, or any prior winter count (the previous low was 53 in February 2010). To put this in context, we had recorded 112 landbirds per mile on foot on the preceding CBC, on 18 December 2025, implying that roughly two-thirds of the landbirds present in December were lost over the next ten weeks.
Among the most generally abundant species inhabiting Block Island’s thickets and yards, Black-capped Chickadee and Northern Cardinal fared relatively well, with losses of just 24% and 17%, respectively. In contrast, House Finch, White-throated Sparrow, and Song Sparrow suffered losses of 67%, 64%, and 66%, respectively, very close to the overall value for landbird species collectively. Less numerous species also diminished, with three Gray Catbirds, one Brown Thrasher, and three Hermit Thrushes each 50-90% below December values and again in line with the overall pattern of landbird diminution. American Goldfinch, Eastern Towhee, and Swamp Sparrow were absent on the PDC, following counts of 6, 15, and 11 in December, but these misses were not too surprising because each of these species had been missed on two prior PDCs.
But for some species, the losses were more notable. Yellow-shafted Flicker and Myrtle Warbler were each missed entirely for the first time ever across the 92 winter counts, 100% losses from counts of 14 and 256 in December. Although some amount of dispersal is conceivable for these relatively mobile species, mortality is the only reasonable explanation for the near-extirpation of Carolina Wrens, only eight of which were found—a grievous loss of 96% of the 186 tallied on the CBC. This species’ oft-cited vulnerability to severe winter weather has been observed so infrequently in recent decades (at least in southern New England and Long Island) that their near-absence on this PDC was viscerally alarming, and I found myself alternately speeding up and slowing down on my 9.6-mile route, disbelieving my eyes and ears. The only comparable mortality in the three decades for which quantitative data are available occurred in 2014-2015, when just 10 Carolina Wrens were found on the PDC, following a count of 121 on the preceding CBC, a loss of 92%. Overall, we have found that this species diminishes by 24% on average between the CBC and the PDC (-19% on average, if the two catastrophic winters are excluded). Following the 2014-2015 season, abundance rebounded quickly, increasing from 26 in December 2015 to 80, 136, 170, 210, and 304 over the next five CBCs. The count of 304 in December 2020 was the highest ever, and we've regarded the somewhat lower counts since then as likely related to changes in habitat on the island rather than late winter mortality—until now. It remains to be seen how well the survivors of the winter of 2025-2026 will fare.
Shai Mitra
Bay Shore, NY
________________________________
From: Shaibal Mitra <Shaibal.Mitra...>
Sent: Friday, February 20, 2026 12:41 PM
To: NYSBIRDS-L <nysbirds-l...>
Subject: Recent Bird Mortality
Like everyone online, I’ve been hearing a lot about bird mortality lately. Although this is an expected consequence of the prolonged severe cold and heavy snow-cover we’ve been experiencing, a lot of folks have been expressing concerns that avian flu might be involved too, at least as a contributing factor. Seeing and hearing about dead birds is naturally upsetting, but I urge birders to focus attention and energy on things we can feasibly accomplish, rather than just amplify each other’s distress.
Regarding avian influenza, the most we can do is to seek objective data, evaluate it quantitatively, but most importantly, to advocate for evidence-based local, state, and federal regulation of agricultural practices that potentially interact with virus transmission in natural populations of wild birds—not an easy job, and not one to be accomplished quickly or decisively.
Documenting and recording dead birds is valuable also, but again with the caveat that a quantitative perspective is essential to gain anything useful from the exercise. Every bird dies once in its life, so it is an irony that the vastly increased winter populations of many species (consider that Canada Goose didn’t over-winter abundantly in the Northeast until relatively recently) implies the eventual deaths of all those additional birds. And this “eventual” mortality can’t be expected to play out gently; we know from experience and from general principle that it will unfold in highly variable and irregular ways, just as severe winter weather and pathogen outbreaks are themselves highly variable and unpredictable in timing and intensity.
More useful than counting dead birds would be counting living birds. For instance, we recently completed the NYSOA January Waterfowl Count. Although this was prior to the worst of the severe weather, the data ought still to inform whether catastrophic disease mortality was happening as of late January, and my recollection is that counts during that survey, and during the Christmas Bird Counts a month earlier, were not in any way alarmingly low. And any of us is free to go out now and replicate any part of the effort employed in those earlier surveys. Thirty years ago, a group of purposeful birders began replicating the Block Island CBC in November and again in February for just this purpose, and many people were surprised to learn that Gray Catbirds, Hermit Thrushes, and Swamp Sparrows survived from December to February at rates only slightly lower than did White-throated and Song Sparrows. Clearly, a part of the perception of scarcity in late winter is driven by changes in the behavior of birders, yet our birding effort is the thing that is most completely within our control.
Winter weather is highly variable in the Northeast. Among the many, many mild and snowless winters of recent decades, there have also been unusually severe ones. Many of us remember (or should remember) how much worse the winter of 2014-2015 was than what we have just experienced this year. It’s worth re-visiting the Kingbird Regional Reports for that season (see links to the June 2015 issue and to that winter’s Wikipedia page, below). Terrible as it was, we went out and counted birds on the Block Island Presidents Day Count on 23 Feb 2015, and we found 75 species, 33 landbird species, and 72 landbirds/foot-mile, all predictably depressed (but only slightly so) from the 30-year average values of 80, 36, and 81.
Going further back, there were several exceptionally severe winters in the late 70s and early 80s (Nantucket Sound froze over!). One of the most memorable weather events in my lifetime was the Great Blizzard of 6-7 February 1978 (which followed another blizzard in late January, as I remember). This storm produced more than 30 inches of snow in southern Rhode Island (more than 40 inches in northern RI) and similarly huge amounts on Long Island.
As a reality check to what we are experiencing today, check out the photos in that article to see the congenial relationship between the National Guard and the local people (as well as the conspicuous tobacco use!) in Boston in the aftermath of that storm.
Circling back to things we can do, purposeful birding produces results of great potential value—but especially if they are organized, interpreted, and published, rather than dispersed among the dross and chaff clogging our digital environment. Consider contributing to the Kingbird Regional Reports, or other similar, curated endeavors.
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: Gail Benson
[~BEGIN RBA TAPE~]
Greetings! This is the New York Rare Bird Alert for Friday, March 6, 2026
at 11:00 pm.
The highlights of today’s tape are SWAINSON’S HAWK, PACIFIC LOON, TRUMPETER
SWAN, THICK-BILLED MURRE, AMERICAN GOSHAWK, EURASIAN WIGEON, KING EIDER,
BLACK-HEADED and GLAUCOUS GULLS, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, LAPLAND LONGSPUR
and more.
The adult SWAINSON'S HAWK currently wintering in Brooklyn was present at
least to Wednesday around the SIMS Municipal Recycling Center located
around 29th Street, west of Second Avenue - access to this facility is
restricted but the area can be viewed from outside the surrounding
fencing. Also watch for it flying around the local neighborhood, including
over Green-Wood Cemetery.
A PACIFIC LOON apparently still hanging around Jones Inlet was seen off
Jones Beach West End on Tuesday and reported there again today.
Causing quite a stir recently has been a TRUMPETER SWAN lingering in the
East River along the Brooklyn and Queens shorelines with an accompanying
MUTE SWAN. This pair has been moving up as far as Hunters Point in Queens
on the north end of their travels and then down river as far as Wallabout
Channel in Brooklyn, today spending some time around the Austin Nichols
House a little north of the Williamsburg Bridge.
A THICK-BILLED MURRE was photographed last Saturday as it fed along the
west side of Shinnecock Inlet, but more challenging has been a fairly
elusive immature AMERICAN GOSHAWK seen briefly several times over the last
week or so as it travels around the vegetation in the dunes at Jones Beach
West End.
Among the waterfowl, a EURASIAN WIGEON continues to be seen on Agawam Lake
in Southampton, a female KING EIDER was spotted Wednesday in Gardiners Bay
with a group of COMMON EIDERS, and 12 HARLEQUIN DUCKS were counted off
Point Lookout last Saturday.
A BLACK-HEADED GULL was photographed again Saturday at Plumb Beach in
Brooklyn, with another continuing in Jones Inlet, often seen at the Point
Lookout side.
A GLAUCOUS GULL was spotted Saturday in Gravesend Bay in Brooklyn, along
with a couple of ICELAND GULLS, and among several other ICELANDS were birds
noted at Great Kills Park, Floyd Bennett Field, Crab Meadow Beach, Robert
Moses State Park and Oldfield Point and Lighthouse. Some LESSER
BLACK-BACKED GULLS also continue locally at coastal sites where gulls
gather.
A couple of RED-NECKED GREBES were present Sunday and Wednesday off City
Island in the Bronx, and a single was viewed Wednesday and today off Floyd
Bennett Field.
An adult RED-HEADED WOODPECKER continues at Marshlands Conservancy in Rye,
and a LAPLAND LONGSPUR was seen Sunday to Wednesday at Smith Point County
Park.
Recent arrivals regionally, hopefully showing good judgment, included a few
AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHERS, a PIPING PLOVER at Jones Beach, a few vocalizing
AMERICAN WOODCOCK, and a TREE SWALLOW or two.
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.
Date: 3/2/26 1:14 pm From: Ben Cacace <bcacace...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] eBird.org Shared Location - North 5th Street Pier and Park
A marker, associated with the Trumpeter Swan, was created for '*North 5th
Street Pier and Park*' in Kings County. The hotspot should be available
within 12 hours.
[image: Screen Shot 2026-03-02 at 3.43.14 PM.jpg]
If you wish to merge your personal location with an existing hotspot here
are the steps:
— Sign into eBird.org
— Go to 'My eBird' & select 'Manage My... Locations' in the left panel
— To see all of your personal locations drop down on 'Type' and select
'Personal'
— ... or use the Search bar to find the personal location
— ... or select directly from the list which can be sorted using the 'Sort
by' drop down on the upper right
— ... Personal locations are missing the "people" icon to the right of the
location name
— Select the personal location and click the 'Merge' button and you'll see
all nearby hotspots as red icons with flames
— ... Keep the checkmark for 'Delete after merging' selected
— Click the Hotspot (red icon) where you want the green personal location
to be merged into
— ... you'll see the hotspot location name above the merge button showing
the # of checklists to be merged
— Click the 'Merge' button
— Answer Yes to the 'Are you sure?' query
All checklists for your personal location will be combined with the hotspot.
--
Ben Cacace
Manhattan, NYC
Date: 3/2/26 12:02 am From: Thomas Fiore <tomfi2...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] N.Y. County, NYC - to March 1st - Swansightings, Snow Geese, etc.
New York County -in N.Y. City- including Manhattan, Randalls, Governors, and Roosevelt Islands and the adjacent waters and skies above -
thru Sunday, March 1st -
On Saturday, Feb. 28th, a swan-alert -thanks to Caroline Quinn- went out locally, a report of Trumpeter Swan, associating with a Mute Swan on the East River - the latter a regular species in N.Y. County, while the former species appears to be a first-ever confirmed sighting for this county. The rarer swan with its non-rare associate swan were actually seen from Kings Co. -Brooklyn- NY as much as from Manhattan shores, but a fair number of observers on Sun. tried both approaches, and for county-list purposes the end of some piers in Brooklyn are considered to be in N.Y. County, as is the adjacent water of the East River thereabouts. Some movement by this odd-couple of swans was seen esp. on March 1st, and some observers were able to view from a variety of shore-side positions. Most viewers were, if on the Manhattan side, watching from E. 23rd St. or farther south. There might be some questions as to the origins of this Trumpeter, but no very-obvious indicators of a kept bird were seen, nor noted. Far more than 100 observers made it to the East River, one side or another, to view the rarer swan, along with its companion.
March 1st also brought sightings of 7 Snow Geese moving past northern Manhattan, along the Hudson River in the sunset-hour, with several observers present at Inwood Hill Park.
Various other waterfowl and waterbirds were ongoing in some locations where recently-regular, including some Long-tailed Ducks, Common Goldeneyes, Lesser and Greater Scaup, and in the county-entire, some of each species of merganser, with Common Merganser the least-commonly found, but ongoing at Central Park, while Hooded Mergansers continued in several county locations, and Red-breasted Mergansers were the most widespread as is typical for winter here. Sightings of American Wigeon, Ring-necked Duck, N. Pintail, Green-winged Teal, and some other duckage were ongoing to end of February. There were at least so-far unconfirmed reports of Iceland Gull, which should be watched for all thru this month, along with all other uncommon to rarer gull species.
American Woodcock were most-visible at a typical stranding-location, Bryant Park in mid-Manhattan, but others were also present to March 1st, including at Central Park. Small increases of Killdeer have been noted at some locations. The rest of migratory movement looked to be rather small locally, but American Robins are at least shuttling or shuffling around, and some songs at times are being heard, as well as from a relative paucity of Red-winged Blackbirds, some of which had been present already, as well as greater numbers of Common Grackles, also in the area from last month, while other species seen lately had been known overwinters, such as some Field Sparrows, including very sparse sightings of the latter from Central Park. American Tree Sparrows were also present for the winter in multiple locations to the end of Feb., and other regular sparrows included a modest no. of Red Fox, as well as a few Swamp, more Song, and great numbers of White-throated Sparrows, the latter typical in high numbers in almost any winter here, even through big snows. As all the piles and drifts of snow here recede, some further birds that lurked thru this fairly-cold-to-frigid-at-times winter may reveal themselves, among the survivors of the winter. At the same time we will likely be seeing more early-moving birds coming up and along, with the changes in weather ongoing for some time ahead.
A Wild Turkey was again in-position from its long-standing location in Battery Park, at the south end of Manhattan. A number of the birds of prey seen in this county were ongoing, which included both diurnally and nocturnally active species. Bald Eagles were still to be seen, but fewer and fewer with the ice floes on the Hudson River, as those floes were diminishing quickly by late-day on Sunday, March 1st - tidal and spring-flow currents can still wash ice down-stream from points north of Manhattan, however. The appearances of a very few-more Turkey Vultures were not unexpected, and many more of those are likely to be moving through this month, as will some of the raptors which migrate thru the county. A very few Red-shouldered Hawks were still in the county to the end of February, and sightings of Merlin have been scant but seen-regular, while American Kestrels which breed in the county, along with Peregrine Falcons, have been more often seen. Red-tailed Hawks and notably more Coopers Hawks have been seen overwintering, the former buteo species a very-common sight and breeding species in this county.
