Notable Sightings: July 1 to October 25, 2023

By Anthony Macchiarola

This section of time encompassed most of the fall migration period and saw many great birds come through Putnam County. Back in July, a very rare Franklin’s Gull was observed on the Hudson River in Cold Spring. Unfortunately, it did not linger, but was observed by a few folks while here. Only a couple of days later, a county first American Avocet was spotted in the same location! Glynwood Farm produced a handful of excellent birds including a Yellow-breasted Chat and county first Clay-colored Sparrow. Shorebirds are always at a premium in Putnam, but Barrett Pond hosted yet another county first White-rumped Sandpiper seen by many. Finally, two excellent warblers made an appearance this fall. A scare migrant Orange-crowned warbler at North Highland Park and a rare (and declining) Golden-winged Warbler at Foundry Preserve. 

Some phenomenal birds in surrounding counties would be undoubtedly highlighted by two Northern Wheatears at Croton Point Park! Northern Wheatears typically migrate from northeastern Canada to Greenland, across to Europe, and south to their wintering grounds Africa; making continental US records pretty rare (It is worth noting that it is possible the same bird went unnoticed for weeks.) Surprisingly, two July records of Rufous Hummingbirds were noted (including one in Sullivan that stayed for a week or so and was seen by many). Dutchess had a both a lingering Trumpeter Swan and a one-day-wonder Roseate Spoonbill along the Hudson River.

Putnam County:

July 12: Least Bittern, Great Swamp, Patterson

July 19: Franklins Gull, Cold Spring

July 21: American Avocet, Cold Spring

July 22 Caspian Tern, Cold Spring

Aug. 3: Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Glynwood Farm

Sept. 3: White-rumped Sandpiper, Barrett Pond

Sept. 9: Yellow-breasted Chat, Glynwood Farm

Sept. 15: Golden-winged Warbler, West Point Foundry Preserve

Sept. 16: Philadelphia Vireo (2 each locale), West Point Foundry/Hubbard Lodge

Sept. 16: Clay-colored Sparrow, Glynwood Farm

Sept. 27: Orange-crowned Warbler, North Highland Park

Sept. 30 Dickcissel, Glynwood Farm

Oct. 11: Sora, Constitution Marsh Audubon Sanctuary

Oct. 12: Mourning Warbler, Carmel High School

Oct. 12: Eastern Meadowlark, Carmel High School

Oct. 14: Gray-cheeked Thrush, West Point Foundry Preserve

Oct. 21: White-winged Scoter, West Branch Reservoirw

Oct. 23: Black Scoter (16) Croton Falls Reservoir and (2) West Branch Reservoir

Oct. 23: Red-breasted Merganser (2), West Branch Reservoir

Oct. 24: Eastern Meadowlark (2), Croton Falls Reservoir

Dutchess County

Continuing: Neotropic Cormorant

Aug. 5: Upland Sandpiper, Links at Union Vale

Oct. 12: Trumpeter Swan, Tivoli Bays

Oct. 19: Sedge Wren, Southlands Farm, Rhinebeck

Oct. 22: Roseate Spoonbill, Beacon Waterfront Park

Sept. 25: White-rumped Sandpiper, Overlook Park

Oct. 7: Laughing Gull, Hudson River, Beacon

Westchester County 

July 19: Western Kingbird, O’Hara Nature Center

Aug. 29: Lark Sparrow, Croton Point Park

Sept. 13: Northern Wheatear Croton Point

Sept. 14: Upland Sandpiper Criton Point

Sept. 25: American Golden Plover, Croton Point

Oct. 6: Blue Grosbeak, Westchester County Airport

Sullivan County

July 22: Rufous Hummingbird, Private Residence 

Oct. 2: Red Phalarope

Ulster County

July 23: Rufous Hummingbird, Private Residence

Rockland County:

July 22: Whimbrel, Piermont Pier

Orange County

Continuing Neotropic Comrmorant

Aug. 7: Upland Sandpipers (4) Black Dirt

Oct. 23: Long-billed Dowitcher, Liberty Loop

All of the notable sightings listed here were compiled using eBird.org. eBird is a fantastic website that allows to you to find birds and places to go birding (both locally and while travelling somewhere new), as well as a way to keep track of your bird lists and photos. All of the data you input into eBird contributes to science and to the conservation of birds and their habitat. We encourage everyone to join eBird (it is free, you just need to create an account) and record all of your bird sightings there. And remember, eBird is not just for notable sightings! Please visit ebird.org/about to learn more and to sign up. And visit https://ebird.org/region/US-NY-079?yr=all to see Putnam County’s eBird page.

If you are not registered on eBird yet and you have a notable or interesting bird sighting in Putnam County, we would love to hear about it! Please let us know about your notable sightings, and include any documentation (such as photos, which are strongly encouraged to confirm a rare bird sighting) by emailing us at: PHASbirds@gmail.com