Rockland Rare Bird Alert

Rockland Rare Bird Alert

Rockland County and Vicinity

Mar 18, 2008. Cackling Goose. Apparent first record of Cackling Goose from Rockland County. Seen at Rockland Lake by Carol Weiss and others. Based on the relatively light breast, this is probably a Richardson's Cackling Goose (Branta hutchinsii hutchinsii) (see Ocean Wanderers.com).

Cackling Goose (center) with Canada Goose at Rockland Lake on 3/18/08. (Photo by Carol Weiss).

Cackling Goose (left foreground) with Canada Goose at Rockland Lake on 3/18/08. (Photo by Carol Weiss).

Jan 27, 2008. Scott's Oriole. "Scotty" the famous oriole of Union Square Park, New York City. Present for about a month before being recognized as a Scott's Oriole. A first occurrence in New York State. Photographed by Alan Wells on 01/05/08.

Scott's Oriole at Union Square Park, NYC on 1/27/08. (Photo by Alan Wells).

Jan 05, 2008. Pine Grosbeak. An invasion of winter finches this season brought numerous reports of Pine Grosbeak from southern NY. These were found in Sullivan Co. near Grahamsville. Gene Herskovics reported hearing one from Harriman State Park. Photographed by Alan Wells on 01/05/08.

Adult male Pine Grosbeak feeding on Crab Apple near Grahams NY 01/05/08. (Photo by Alan Wells).

Jan 01, 2008. Glaucous Gull. First winter Glaucous Gull. Acting on a tip from Michael Bochnik, RAS members Alan Wells, Della Wells, and Dan Albantides observed this gull at close range during the annual New Year's Day Sunrise at Jones Beach Birding Event. Seen at Field #6 at Jones Beach State Park, Nassau Co., NY. Photographed by Alan Wells on 01/01/08.

First winter Glaucous Gull, Jones Beach NY 01/01/08. (Photo by Alan Wells).

Dec 22, 2007. Redhead. Three males and two females seen at the south end of Rockland Lake. Reported by Jim Previdi as part of CBC. Seen by other observers during following days. Photographed by Alan Wells on 12/25/07.

Male and Female Redhead, Rockland Lake State Park, NY 12/25/07. (Photo by Alan Wells).

Dec 22, 2007. Glaucous Gull. First cycle individual seen over Haverstraw Landfill by Alan Wells, Della Wells, Phil Faurot during Christmas Bird Count.

Dec 22, 2007. Horned Lark. Flock of about 40 individuals seen at Haverstraw Landfill by Alan Wells, Della Wells, Phil Faurot during Christmas Bird Count. This species was once common in Rockland; now rarely seen.

Dec 22, 2007. Short-eared Owl. Single individuals seen at Haverstraw Landfill by Alan Wells, Della Wells, Phil Faurot during Christmas Bird Count.

Nov 25, 2007. Montauk and Deep Hollow Ranch.

Nov 16, 2007. Evening Grosbeak. One male and one (maybe two) female Evening Grosbeak seen at backyard feeder of Alan and Della Wells, Tomkins Cove, NY (Rockland). Seen several times throughout the day.

Female and Male Evening Grosbeak, Tomkins Cove, NY 11/16/07. (Photo by Alan Wells).

Male Evening Grosbeak, Tomkins Cove, NY 11/16/07. (Photo by Alan Wells).

Nov 06, 2007. Eurasian Wigeon. Male Eurasian Wigeon observed by Carol Weiss at Rockland Lake. Confirmed by Gene Brown, Tom Rowe, and Danny Albantides. Male seen consorting with female American Wigeon (see below) and photographed on 11/16/07 by Alan Wells. Present to at least 12/25/07.

Male Eurasian Wigeon, Rockland Lake, NY 11/16/07. (Photo by Alan Wells).

Female American Wigeon, Rockland Lake, NY 11/16/07. (Photo by Alan Wells).

Nov 02, 2007. Brant. Six Brant at Piermont Pier. Reported by Carol Weiss. Seen by RAS field trip group on 11/4 and photographed on 11/10. At the time of the photograph, only four (1 adult + 3 juveniles) were observed north side of Piermont Pier, about 2 PM, ebbing tide.

Juvenile Brant, Piermont Pier, NY 11/6/07. (Photo by Alan Wells).

Nov 02, 2007. Pine Siskin. At least two individuals seen throughout the afternoon by Alan Wells at backyard feeder in Tomkins Cove.

Pine Siskin, Tomkins Cove, NY 11/2/07. (Photo by Alan Wells).

Oct 28, 2007. Evening Grosbeak. Two female Evening Grosbeak along with four Pine Siskin, and two Red-breasted Nuthatch at the feeder of Tom and Elyse Fuller, Tuxedo, NY (Orange Co.).

Oct 28, 2007. Surf Scoter. Four juvenile Surf Scoter were seen on the south side of Piermont Pier during a RAS field trip (Della and Alan Wells, Carol Weiss, Zenon Bachir, and Danny Albantides). Observed again on 11/4/07 by another RAS field trip.

Oct 06, 2007. Black-bellied Plover. At least three individuals seen by Alan and Della Wells, north side of Piermont Pier, about 1 PM, low tide.

Non-breeding Black-bellied Plover, Piermont Pier, NY 9/27/07. (Photo by Alan Wells).

Sep 27, 2007. Northern Pintail. Seen by Alan Wells at Piermont Pier, about 4 PM, low tide. Seen on the north side of the pier in company of a single Green-winged Teal and a single Northern Shoveler. The trio was subsequently joined by a single mallard.

Non-breeding Northern Pintail, Piermont Pier, NY 9/27/07. (Photo by Alan Wells).

Aug 30, 2007. Sanderling Seen by Alan Wells, north side of Piermont Pier. Present from at least 3 PM to 4:30 PM. While a common bird along the coast, it is only a casual visitor to Rockland County. Most sightings of this species in Rockland are from Piermont Pier.

Juvenile Sanderling, Piermont Pier, NY 8/30/07. (Photo by Alan Wells).

Jul 31, 2007. Black-headed Gull. An uncorroborated sighting by Tom Dow, north side of Piermont Pier. Seen at approximately 5 PM. Tom returned at 7 PM but the bird was not seen. Searches the following day by Alan Wells, Della Wells, and Veronika Krause did not relocate the bird. Tom described the gull as having a chocolate colored head, red legs and feet, and reddish bill.

June 25, 2007. Snow Bunting, adult female in breeding plumage at Piermont Pier. First observed by Tom Dow on June 20; reported to RAS on June 24 by Susan Dow. Frequents the beach on the south shore just before the discharge pipe. Also seen at the rocky shore on the north side just past the condominiums about 50 yards further along the road (at the point where the road bends; across from fireman's monument).

Snow Bunting, Piermont Pier, NY 6/25/07. (Photo by Alan Wells).

May 01, 2007. Prothonotary Warbler at Rockland Lake State Park. First observed by Carol Weiss at approximately 8 AM. It was actively feeding along the shore near Comfort Station #3 (south east side of lake). Alan Wells, Della Wells and Carol Weiss relocated the bird in the same location at approximately 6 PM that evening. It was generally feeding near the ground and occasionally singing.

Prothonotary Warbler, Rockland Lake, NY 5/1/07. (Photo by Alan Wells).

April 21, 2007. Yellow-crowned Night Heron, adult. Spotted by Joseph and Regina O'Keeffe on a neighbors deck while canoeing Sparkill Creek, Piermont, NY.

Yellow-crowned Night Heron, Sparkill Creek, NY 4/21/07. (Photo by Joseph O'Keeffee).

April 19, 2007. Red-headed Woodpecker, adult. Seen frequenting the backyard feeders of Alan and Della Wells in Tomkins Cove. Caching corn kernels and other bits of food in the surrounding trees.

Red-headed Woodpecker, Tomkins Cove 4/19/07. (Photo by Alan Wells).

March 26, 2007. Bullock's Oriole. (NON ROCKLAND) This Bullock's Oriole, a western NA native, was first reported on February 6, 2007 from Phonenicia, NY (Ulster Co.) by Richard Guthrie (NYSBIRDS-L). Local residents indicate, however, that it may have been present as early as October. An unidentified immature oriole photographed last season may be the same bird. It can usually be seen from behind the Fire Station as it frequents the backyard feeders on Tremper Ave. The local residents are generously keeping it supplied with oranges. The location is a relatively short drive from Rockland Co. and the bird is well worth the look.

Bullock's Oriole, Phonenicia, NY 3/26/07. (Photo by Alan Wells).

February 25, 2007. Ivory Gull, Piermont Pier, Rockland Co. Apparently the first record from Rockland Co., NY. Likely present from at least 2/23/07. On that date photographer Steve Sisti reported an unusual white gull at the Pier to Carol Weiss. Carol spent a short time on Saturday searching unsuccessfully for what she expected to be an Iceland Gull. On Sunday 2/25/07, at approximately 2 PM, Drew Ciganek located and identified an Ivory Gull. He immediately notified Carol and other RAS members. The bird was observed from 4:30 PM to 5:15 PM by 20-30 people at distance of approximately 150 ft at Fly Wheel Park (at the base of the Pier). During this time, it was loafing on the ice with a group of Ring-billed Gulls. It then flew north toward the Tappan Zee Bridge where it appeared to join a group of Ring-bills floating far out into the Hudson River. (Click photos to Enlarge. Photos were taken under very low light conditions.) The gull was last seen at the at the Pier Monday afternoon (2/26/07) flying north toward the Tappan Zee Bridge. There was a sketchy report of a sighting on 2/28/07 of the gull on the river ice near the Peekskill train station.

Ivory Gull, Piermont Pier 2/25/07. (Photo by Alan Wells).

January 7, 2007. Snowy Owl reported at Piermont Pier. First recognized by Paul Oehrlein at about 10 AM on 1/7/07. A number of RAS members viewed the bird that evening about 4:30 PM. It spent the entire day on the end of the sewer discharge pipe, about 50 ft from shore. After heavy rain on Sunday night, the bird relocated to the barge/ferry slip area. Has been seen almost daily from 1/7/07 and 3/10/07 (at least) at various locations around the pier. After a nearly 19 day absence, the owl reappeared briefly on March 29 and 30, only to disappear again. Then, after about a week, it reappeared on April 6. (Click on the photos to enlarge.) It was last reported April 8.

Snowy Owl, Piermont Pier 4/7/07. (Photo by Alan Wells).

Snowy Owl, Piermont Pier 1/28/07. (Photo by Alan Wells).

Snowy Owl, Piermont Pier 1/7/07. (Photo by Alan Wells).

December 17, 2006. During the 2006 Christmas Bird Count, the team of Vince Plogar, Frank Bonanno, Tom Harten, Drew Ciganek, Karl Knoecklein, Tom Dow, Susan Dow, and Chris Healy, counting in the East Orangetown region located a Yellow-breasted Chat and a Greater White-fronted Goose. This was the second occurrence for both during the 60 year history of Rockland's count. During this period, a Greater White-fronted Goose was being reported from Ramapo College in Mahwah, NJ area. Possibly the same bird? (Click on the photos to enlarge.)

Greater White-fronted Goose, Mahwah, NJ 1/7/07. (Photo by Alan Wells).

October 22, 2006. During an RAS field trip to Croton Point Park, Della Wells found two Lapland Longspur on the capped landfill. The birds were seen well by the ten other members of the party. Although Croton Point Park is in Westchester Co., it is directly across the river from Rockland. (Click on the photos to enlarge.)

Lapland Longspur, Croton Point 10/22/0. (Photo by Alan Wells).

September 4, 2005. Willet (2) seen at Piermont Pier by Alan Wells, Della Wells, Carol Weiss and RAS group. One along north side of Piermont Pier; the second on discharge pipe on south side of pier. May be the first fall records for this species in Rockland County.

Willet, Piermont Pier 9/4/05. (Photo by Alan Wells).

December 13, 2003. Purple Sandpiper (2) seen at Piermont Pier by Alan Wells, Della Wells and Carol Weiss. Up to two individuals seen several times since 12/7/03. Located at very end of pier.

Purple Sandpiper, Piermont Pier 12/13/03. (Photo by Alan Wells).

December 7, 2003. Snow bunting (8), Horned Lark (1), American Pipit (1), and Purple Sandpiper (1) at end of Piermont Pier. Seen by Alan & Della Wells + RAS group.

Snow Bunting, Piermont Pier 12/7/03. (Photo by Alan Wells).

November 22, 2003. Single Greater Yellowlegs seen on Piermont Pier mudflats bt Carol Weiss. Up to three individuals seen from September through November.

November 17, 2003. Long-tailed Duck (1) seen in flock of Ruddy Duck at Piermont Pier by Mike Dolan.

September 2, 2003. Caspian Tern and Common at Piermont Pier; seen by Carol Weiss.

September 1, 2003. Caspian Tern. Two seen in freshwater pond in Piermont Marsh by Drew Ciganik.

May 31, 2003. Adult male Mourning Warbler in breeding plumage seen by Alan & Della Wells at Hi Tor State Park, along Transmission Right-of-Way.

December 7, 2002. Short-eared owl seen by Della and Alan Wells at Piermont Pier, shortly after noon. Owl was perched in tree near end of pier. Took flight shortly after an American Crow began harassment. Last seen flying east over open river.

November 4, 2002. Three Buff-breasted Sandpiper seen by Gene Herskovics at Kennedy Dells Park soccer fields. Individuals were in a mixed shorebird flock, including three Pectoral Sandpipers. Flock was scattered by Cooper's Hawk. Not seen on subsequent dates.

Mid-October 2002. Red-headed woodpecker. Located at eastern most edge of parking lot at Silvermine Lake, Harriman State Park. The bird is very vocal and easily located in tall trees at edge of parking lot. Appears to have established a territory and has been reported from the same location for at least a month.

Red-headed Woodpecker, Silvermine Lake 11/2/02. (Photo by Alan Wells).

October 28, 2001. Lesser Black-backed Gull at Piermont Pier seen during RAS field trip. American Avocet still present. American Pipit (5) and Eastern bluebird (1) also seen. (Avocet seen to at least Nov. 4.)

October 7, 2001. American Avocet (winter plumage). Single individual sighted at Piermont Pier, Rockland Co., NY, 9:30 AM by Della Wells. Also seen by Alan Wells, Carol Weiss, Veronica Krause, Janet Cohen, and Leah Tomar. Bird was seen feeding and resting along shore and shallows of Hudson River at the south side of pier. Watched for approximately one hour, often seen at very close range (20 ft). Photos taken by AW.

American Avocet, Piermont Pier,11/4/01. (Photo by Alan Wells).

July 14, 2001. Yellow-crowned Night-Heron at Piermont Marsh along Crum Creek. Reported by Marsha Meyer and Carol Weiss.

June 20, 2001. European Goldfinch at corner of Cedar Hill and Franklin in Nyack. Linda Pistolesi.

May 27, 2001. Three willet at Piermont Pier, reported by Drew Ciganik.

May 25, 2001. American Oystercatcher. A second Rockland County record. North side of Piermont Pier. Reported by Carol Weiss and 5 days later by Drew Ciganik.

May-August 2001. Least Bittern, two adults and one young. At Piermont Marsh. Seen on several occasions, first reported by Leslie Stewart and Carol Weiss.

May 1, 2001. Nesting Common Ravens near Nyack. Vince Plogar and Frank Bonanno.

April 12, 2001. Glossy Ibis (6) flying overhead at Piermont Pier. Gene Herskovics.

May 20, 2000. Male Kentucky Warbler seen near the reservoir at Doodletown by Alan Wells.

May 20, 2000. An injured Black Skimmer was picked up by a rehabilitator at Piermont Pier. Also seen at the Pier were seven whimbrels. First reported by Pat Lutter and Jim Previdi.

May 16, 2000. Kentucky Warbler was seen along the Long Path above Rockland Lake by Gene Brown.

May 7, 2000. Kentucky Warbler seen at Kennedy Dells by Ruth Carlson.

February 20, 2000. Up to 36 bald eagles reported in the Hudson River Valley from about Stony Point to the Bear Mountain Bridge. Greatest concentration in the vicinity of "the anchors" (S of Bear Mountain Bridge on 9W).

February 18, 2000. Single male rusty blackbird reported at feeder in Tomkins Cove by Alan Wells.

Jan 16, 2000. Red-phase Eastern screech owl at Rockland Lake, near south parking lot. Follow trail toward the Fishing Station, first large tree on the left.

Dec 24, 1999. Black vulture (2) seen flying over the Grand Union parking lot in Stony Point by Alan Wells. Have been seen in the vicinity on several occasions.

Dec. 19, 1999. Greater white-fronted goose at Ascension Cemetery, Airmont. Seen by Jessie Traband on 12/19/99 and confirmed by Carol Weiss, Ed Tracey, and Bob Connor on 12/20/99. Seen again on 12/21/99 by Carol Weiss.

Oct. 11, 1999. Single Brant reported at Piermont Pier by Carol Weiss.

Sept. 30, 1999. Lesser Black-backed Gull and Forester's Tern at Piermont Pier. Reported by Carol Weiss.

Sept. 22, 1999. Franklin's gull at Piermont Pier. Reported by Carol Weiss and Gene Brown. This may be a first for Rockland County. Seen over several weeks, generally near breakwater (upriver side) during afternoon low tides.

Sept 17, 1999. Caspian tern and American oystercatcher at Piermont Pier. Reported by Marsha Meyer.