Annual Report - 1995

REPORT OF THE NEW YORK STATE AVIAN RECORDS COMMITTEE FOR 1995

The Committee made decisions on a total of 70 sightings of birds involving 93 reports. These included 65 reports from 1995, one from 1992, 25 (including 10 second round reports) from 1994, and two additional reports for records which had previously been accepted. Five reports remain to be resolved. It important to be as specific as possible about locations of sightings in reports. The initial observer's telephone number can be helpful should questions arise about a report. Reports and any other correspondence for the Committee should be sent to the Secretary.

Jim Lowe, Secretary
New York State Avian Records Committee,
c/o Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology,
159 Sapsucker Woods Road, Ithaca NY 14850

SPECIES TO BE REPORTED TO NYSARC

Following is a list of species which should be reported to the NYSARC:

1. Any species new to New York State. A checklist was published in The Kingbird 1998 March; 48(l): 2-15.

2. Any addition to the list of species proven to breed in New York State.

3. Any of the following species found anywhere within New York State.

Pacific Loon, Yellow-billed Loon, Western Grebe, Yellow-nosed Albatross, Herald Petrel, Mottled Petrel, Black-capped Petrel, Audubon's Shearwater, White-faced Storm-Petrel, Leach's Storm Petrel, White-tailed Tropicbird, Red-billed Tropicbird, Brown Booby, American White Pelican, Brown Pelican, Anhinga, Magnificent Frigatebird, Reddish Egret, White Ibis, White-faced Ibis, Roseate Spoonbill, Wood Stork, Fulvous Whistling-Duck, Ross's Goose, "Black" Brant, Barnacle Goose, Trumpeter Swan, Cinnamon Teal, Smew, Swallow-tailed Kite, White-tailed Kite, Mississippi Kite, Swainson's Hawk, Gyrfalcon, Yellow Rail, Corn Crake, King Rail, Purple Gallinule, Azure Gallinule, Sandhill Crane, Northern Lapwing, Wilson's Plover, Spotted Redshank, Wood Sandpiper, Eskimo Curlew, Whimbrel (white-rumped subspecies only), Eurasian Curlew, Long-billed Curlew, Bar-tailed Godwit, Red-necked Stint, Little Stint, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Broad-billed Sandpiper, Great Skua, South Polar Skua, Long-tailed Jaeger, Mew Gull, California Gull, Thayer's Gull, Slaty-backed Gull, Ross's Gull, Ivory Gull, Sandwich Tern, Arctic Term, Bridled Tern, Sooty Tern, White-winged Tem, Common Murre, Long-billed Murrelet, Ancient Murrelet, Atlantic Puffin, White-winged Dove, Northern Hawk Owl, Burrowing Owl, Great Gray Owl, Boreal Owl, Anna's Hummingbird, Rufous Hummingbird, Lewis's Woodpecker, Say's Phoebe, Vermilion Flycatcher, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Gray Kingbird, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Fork-tailed Flycatcher, Loggerhead Shrike, Bell's Vireo, Black-billed Magpie, Cave Swallow, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Rock Wren, Bewick's Wren, Northern Wheatear, Mountain Bluebird, Townsend's Solitaire, Bicknell's Thrush (outside of known breeding areas), Fieldfare, Redwing, Sage Thrasher, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Townsend's Warbler, Swainson's Warbler, Painted Redstart, Western Tanager, Green-tailed Towhee, Spotted Towhee, Bachman's Sparrow, Lark Bunting, Baird's Sparrow, Le Conte's Sparrow, Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow, Harris's Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Smith's Longspur, Chestnut-collared Longspur, Black-headed Grosbeak, Lazuli Bunting, Painted Bunting, Brewer's Blackbird, Bullock's Oriole, Brambling, Hoary Redpoll.

4. The following species from upstate New York only: any species of shearwater or storm-petrel, Northern Gannet, Great Cormorant (except Hudson River), Tricolored Heron, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, Black Vulture, Tufted Duck, Common Eider, Black Rail, Clapper Rail, Piping Plover, American Oystercatcher, Black-necked Stilt, American Avocet, Marbled Godwit, Curlew Sandpiper, Gull-billed Tem, Royal Tem, Roseate Tem, Black Skimmer, any species of alcid, Chuck-Will's Widow, Western Kingbird, Yellow-throated Warbler, Summer Tanager, Lark Sparrow, Savannah "Ipswich" Sparrow, Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow, Seaside Sparrow, Blue Grosbeak, Boat-tailed Grackle.

5. The following species away from the Adirondacks: Spruce Grouse, Three-toed Woodpecker, Black-backed Woodpecker, Gray Jay.

6. The following species for spring reports only: Western Sandpiper (upstate-New York only), Baird's Sandpiper, Sabine's Gull.

Any reports of birds seen out of season at least four weeks before early arrivals or four weeks after late departures, as summarized in Birds of New York State (1974), the Supplement to Birds of New York State (1976), or Bull's Birds of New York State (1998).

1995 ACCEPTED REPORTS

Pacific/Arctic Loon (Gavia pacifica/arctica). 1995-28-A: one on Lake Ontario off Hamlin Beach State Park, Town of Hamlin, Monroe Co., 12 April (WSY).

Pacific Loon (Gavia pacifica). 1995-44-A: one at Niagara River gorge, Niagara Falls, Town of Niagara, Niagara Co., I I November (SK).

Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus). 1995-32-A: 1995-33-A: one flying over Lake Ontario off Hamblin Beach State Park, Town of Hamlin, Monroe Co., 30 October; 30 November (BE). 1995-41-A-B: one at Niagara River, Buffalo, Erie Co., 17 November (CM,BP).

American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos). 1995-19-A-C: two at Oneida Lake, Towns of Cicero and Constantia, Onondaga and Otsego cos,, IO to 27 July (CA,JH,MAK).

Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo). 1995-31-A: one on Lake Ontario off Braddock Bay Park, Town of Greece, Monroe Co., 5 September (BE). 1995-36-A: one on Hudson River at Green Island, Albany Co., 5 November (WE).

Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor). 1995-1 1-A-B: one at the mouth of Salmon Creek at Myers Point, Cayuga Lake, Town of Lansing, Tompkins Co., 13 May (KD,JL).

Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus). 1995-15-A: one about 4 miles southwest of Mecklenburg, Town of Hector, Schuyler Co., 14-15 June (JG,SG).

Barnacle Goose (Branta leucopsis). 1995-27-A: one off Curtis Road, Town of Parma, Monroe Co., 12 March (BM). 1995-45-A: one at Montauk County Park, Town of East Hampton, Long Island, Suffolk Co., 18 November (PW, LM). Since this species is often kept in captivity, the origin of these individuals is uncertain.

Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula). 1995-34-A: one on Genesee River, Rochester, Monroe Co., 24,26 December (RSp).

Common Eider (Somateria mollissima). 1995-51-A: one on Seneca Lake at Watkins Glen, Town of Dix, Schuyler Co., 29 December (JJO).

Swainson's Hawk (Buteo swainsoni). 1995-22-A-. one 1.5 miles north of Garratsville, Town of New Lisboz-4 Otsego Co., 8 June (TS).

Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus). 1995-1 -A: one at Woodlawn, Town of Hamburg, Erie Co., I January (RA). 1995-35-B: one in Childs Street area, Buffalo, Erie Co., 17 November (WD).

Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus). 1995-5-A-D: one at Mecox, Town of Southampton, Long Island, Suffolk Co., 28 January to 18 March (ES,CM BL,MG). Photographs on file. This is the fourth record for the state.

California Gull (Larus californicus). 1995-43-A: one at Niagara River, Town of Lewiston, Niagara Co., 25 November (WD). This is the fourth record for the state.

Thayer's Gull (Larus thayeri). 1995-26-A: one at Irondequoit Bay, Rochester, Monroe Co., 17 January (SS).

Ross's Gull (Rhodostethia rosea). 1995-4-A: one at Myers Point Marina, Village of Myers, Town of Lansing, and Stewart Park, City of Ithaca, Town of Ithaca, Tompkins Co., 12 January (CT-H). 1995-7-A: one at Point Lookout, Jones West, Town of Hempstead, Long Island, Nassau Co., 12 March (RK). 1995-42-A-B: one at Niagara River, Town of Lewiston, Niagara Co., 19 November (WD,BP). These are the third, fourth and fifth records for the state.

White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica). 1995-16-A: one at 170 Maple Boulevard, Long Beach, Town of Hempstead, Long Island, Nassau Co., 20-26 May (LE). Photographs on file.

Great Gray Owl (Strix nebulosa). 1995-21-A: one off Dater Hill Road near Eagle Mills, Town of Brunswick, Rensselaer Co., 23 December (FM).

Boreal Owl (Aegolius funereus). 1995-46-A: one road kill on Lake Road at Kintigh Station, Town of Somerset, Niagara Co., 23 November (PS). Photographs on file.

Say's Phoebe (Sayornis saya). 1995-50-A: one at Albany Sewage Treatment Plant, Town of Colonie, Albany Co., 28 December (CF).

Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe). 1995-37-A: one on ballfields in Central Park, Manhattan, New York City, New York Co., 8 November (TF). 1995-39-A: one at Wet Pond Park, Greenport, Town of Southold, Suffolk Co., 29 October (BPr,TP).

Yellow-rumped ("Audubon's") Warbler (Dendroica coronata auduboni). 199510-A: one on Cornell University campus at Beebe Lake, Ithaca, Town of Ithaca, Tompkins Co., 4 May (SK).

Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana). 1995-47-A: one at Robert Moses State Park, Fire Island, Town of Babylon, Long Island, Suffolk Co., 19 November (MR).

Le Conte's Sparrow (Ammodramus leconteii). 1995-12-A: one near intersection of Day Hollow and Gaskill roads, Town of Owego, Tioga Co, 7 May (JB). 1995-18-A-C: one on Jones Road, Town of Lisbon, St, Lawrence Co., 2 July (BP,DC,DD). These are the seventh and eighth records for the state.

Golden-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia atricapilla). 1995-48-A: one at Jones Beach State Park, Town of Hempstead, Nassau Co., 25 November (CW,CWil). This is the third record for the state.

Blue Grosbeak (Guiraca caerulea). 1995-13-A: one at Derby Hill, Town of Mexico, Oswego Co., 21 May (BS). 1995-17-A-B: one at Besaw Road and New York State Route 264, Town of Palermo, Oswego Co., 20-21,24 June (CS,RS,GH).

1995 REPORTS NOT ACCEPTED

European Storm-Petrel (Hydrobates pelagicus). 1995-25-A: one, Atlantic Ocean, above the east wall of Hudson Canyon, 87 miles from New Jersey shore, Loran markings 26/135, 43/100,600, 28 August.

Band-rumped Storm-Petrel (Oceanodroma castro). 1995-24-A: one, Atlantic Ocean, above the east wall of Hudson Canyon, 87 miles from New Jersey shore, Loran markings 26/135, 43/100,600, 28 August.

Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus). 1995-38-A: 6 at Perch River Wildlife Management Area, Jefferson Co., 22 August.

Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula). 1995-8-A:one at Long Point State Park, Point Peninsula, Town of Lyme, Jefferson Co., 1 April.

Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus). 1995-35-A: one in Childs Street area, Buffalo, Erie Co., 24 November.

King Rail (Rallus elegans). 1995-30-A: one along Brush Creek off Parma Hamlin Townline Road, Towns of Hamlin and Parma, Monroe Co., 20 May.

Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis). 1995-2-A: one about 0.5 mile southeast of intersection at Atlantic Ocean Road and Bridge Lane, Town of Southampton, Suffolk Co., 2 January.

Red-necked Stint (Calidris ruficollis). 1995-23-A: one at Marshlands Conservancy, Rye, Town of Harrison, Westchester Co., 18 August.

Sabine's Gull (Xema sabini). 1995-9-A: one at Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, Town of Tyre, Seneca Co., 27 April.

Ross's Gull (Rhodostethia rosea). 1995-3-A: one at Point Peninsula, Town of Lyme, Jefferson Co., 4 January. 1995-29-A: one on Lake Ontario off Durand-Eastman Park, Rochester, Monroe Co., 23 April.

Bell's Vireo (Vireo bellii). 1995-20-A: one at Lookout Hill, Prospect Park, Brooklyn, New York City, Kings Co., 6 May.

Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus). 1995-6-A: one at Mecox, Town of Southampton, Long Island, Suffolk Co., 31 January to around end of February.

Sharp-tailed Sparrow (Ammodramus sp.). 1995-14-A: one at Indian Meadows Park, Town of Glenville, Schenectady Co., 3 June.

Hoary Redpoll (Carduelis hornemanni). 1995-52-A: one or two at Manitou, Town of Greece, Monroe Co., 23 November.

1994 ACCEPTED REPORTS

Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo). 1994-56-A: one or two on Lower Mohawk River from Colonie-Crescent Road to the dam between Cohoes and Waterford near Simmons Island, Towns of Colonie and Waterford, Albany and Saratoga cos., 17 September, 2,16 October, 19,30 November (WE).

Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus). 1994-51-C: one on Buffalo waterfront, Erie Co., 8 January 1995(WD). This is the same bird as 1994-51-A and B.

California Gull (Larus californicus). 1994-49-A-C: one at Niagara River, Town of Lewiston, Niagara Co., 3 December (RF,NF,WD,RS). This is the third record for the state.

Ancient Murrelet (Synthliboramphus antiquus). 1994-42-E: one flying off Hamlin Beach State Park, Town of Hamlin, Monroe Co., 8 November (BE).

1994 REPORTS NOT ACCEPTED

Swainson's Hawk (Buteo swainsoni). 1994-31-A: one 5 miles east-northeast of Burdett, Town of Hector, Schuyler Co., 3 June.

Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis calurus). 1994-54-A: one flying at Yates Carlton Townline Road, Towns of Yates and Carlton, Orleans Co., 9 April.

Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus). 1994-44-A: one at Grange Hall Road, Town of Davenport, Delaware Co., 7 November.

King Rail (Rallus elegans). 1994-29-A: one in Round Pond marsh behind Island Cottage Woods, Town of Greece, Monroe Co., 19 May.

Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis). 1994-17-A: one flying, Yates-Carlton Townline Road, Towns of Yates and Carlton, Orleans Co., 9 April. This report was accepted as Crane sp.

Long-billed Curlew (Numenius americanus). 1994-36-A: one flying west of East Gilgo Beach, Town of Babylon, Suffolk Co., 18 September.

dowitcher sp. 1994-60-A: one at Round Pond, Town of Greece, Monroe Co., 27 December.

Yellow-throated Warbler (Dendroica dominica). 1994-25-A: one at Derby Hill Bird Observatory, Town of Mexico, Oswego Co., 9 May.

Swainson's Warbler (Limnothlypis swainsonii). 1994-26-A: one at shoreline of Sage Creek Marsh, Town of Mexico, Oswego Co., 14 May.

1992 ACCEPTED REPORT

Gray Kingbird (Tyrannus dominicensis). 1992-63-A: one immature, Ford Hill Road, west side of Tomhannock Reservoir, Town of Pittstown, Rensselaer Co., 31 October (WE). This individual was reported from 28 October to 4 November. This is the eighth or ninth record for the state.

ADDITIONS TO NEW YORK STATE LIST

This report contains no additions to the New York State list, which now totals 451 species. However, in the list of species which should be reported to the NYSARC, 1998 reports of Broad-billed Sandpiper, Anna's Hummingbird, and Lazuli Bunting are included because they have been accepted by the Committee and will be published in a future report. Trumpeter Swan, although included for reporting and data gathering purposes in this list, will not be included in the New York list until such time as the species, which has evidently been introduced, becomes established as a breeder in the state.

New York State Avian Records Committee
Kenneth P. Able
Robert F. Andrle (Chairman)
Thomas W. Burke
Robert O. Paxton
Charles R. Smith

OBSERVERS SUBMITTING REPORTS CITED IN THIS REPORT

Connie Adams, Robert F. Andrle, Jeannette S. Baldwin, Alan Brady, Barbara Butler, Dorothy W. Crumb, Willie D'Anna, Karl David, Stan DeOrsey, Dean DiTommaso, Frank Dobson, Tom Dudones, Loretta L. Eaton, Walter G. Ellison, Brett M. Ewald, Thomas Fiore, Dorothy M. Fleury, Craig R. Fosdick, Nancy French, Rob French, Michael P. Gage, Robert Gochfeld, John Gregoire, Sue Gregoire, Kevin C. Griffith, Eric Haight, Thelma Haight, John Hanyak, Gene Huggins, Steve Kelling, Mary Alice Koeneke, Robert J. Kurtz, Cliff Lamere, Nick Leone, Manny Levine, Bob Lewis, Jim Lowe, Helen C. Manson, Curtis Marantz, Bob Marcotte, Lucy Miller, Cathy Mueller, Frank Murphy, R. O'Hara, J. J. O'Malley, Raymond W. Perry, Barbara Post, Betsy Potter, Beverly Prentice, Tony Prentice, Bill Purcell, Margaret S. Rusk, Dave Russell, Thomas E. Salo, Eric Salzman, Paul T. Schnell, Sharon Skelly, Cathie Slack, Roy Slack, Robert G. Spahn, Mildred Sturcken, Brian Sullivan, Robert Sundell, William Symonds, Chris Tessaglia-Hymes, Don Traver, Donna Traver, Edward D. Treacy, Michael Usai, Marion E. Van Wagner, Peter Whan, Christina Wilkinson, Charles A. Witek III