Notable Sightings: October 25, 2023 to February 26, 2024

By Anthony Macchiarola

This section covers a long stretch of time that began in late fall and extended nearly to the beginning of spring, providing quite a bit of variety. The fall period saw many of the less common, but reasonably expected species passing through Putnam such as Eastern Meadowlarks and Horned Larks at Glynwood, and Long-tailed Ducks and Red-throated Loons on the reservoirs. A couple of uncommon migrants including Orange-crowned Warbler and Dickcissel passed through during the fall migration period as well. However, the two best birds of the year in Putnam County showed up at the very end of the calendar year; a Barnacle Goose on Lake Gleneida and a Western Tanager at a private residence in Patterson! Both birds were accommodating and seen by many observers. As winter progressed, additional good birds arrived including Northern Shrike that took up residence at the Indian Hill Section of Donald Trump State Park, and an Iceland Gull along the Hudson in Cold Spring. The top bird of the winter period goes to the male Barrow’s Goldeneye photographed at West Point Foundry Preserve!

As always, some exceptional birds showed up in the greater Hudson Valley Region during this time as well. Among the more notable birds were a Hammond’s Flycatcher that spent a little time at Rockland Lake State Park, a Common Eider found along the Hudson River in Newburgh, and TWO Purple Gallinules found in Rockland and Westchester Counties. However, the most notable bird would have to be the Glaucous-winged Gull first seen along the Newburgh/Beacon waterfronts, then in Ulster county, and finally 9 days later in Western NY…145 miles away! This was the second record of this species in NYS, and very likely the same individual recorded in the Bronx last year.

Putnam County:

Oct. 26: Rusty Blackbirds, Croton Falls Reservoir

Oct. 28: Pine Siskins, Glynwood Farm

Oct. 28: Eastern Meadowlark (5), Glynwood Farm 

Oct. 31: Dickcissel, Carmel High School

Nov. 1: Red-throated Loon, Croton Falls Reservoir

Nov. 2: Orange-crowned Warbler, Carmel High School

Nov. 2: Red-necked Grebe, Croton Falls Reservoir

Nov. 3: Long-tailed Duck, West Branch Reservoir

Nov. 4: Eastern Meadowlark (2), Glynwood Farm

Nov. 6: Brant, Dockside Park

Nov. 7: Bonaparte’s Gull, Lake Carmel

Nov. 12: Virginia Rail (2), Manitou Point Preserve

Nov. 16: Wilson’s Warbler, West Point Foundry

Nov. 21: Red-breasted Merganser, Lake Carmel

Nov. 24: Snow Bunting (2), Dockside Park

Nov. 30: Horned Lark, Glynwood Farm

Dec. 1: Northern Pintail (3), Barrett Pond

Dec. 1: Greater Yellowlegs Constitution Marsh

Dec. 2: Eastern Meadowlark, Glynwood Farm

Dec. 8: American Pipit, Glynwood Farm

Dec. 29: Western Tanager, Private Residence, Patterson

Dec. 31: Barnacle Goose, Lake Gleneida, Carmel

Jan. 1: White-crowned Sparrow, West Point Foundry Preserve

Jan. 2: Northern Shrike, DJT State Park Indian Hill

Jan. 2: Canvasback, Middle Branch Reservoir

Jan. 2: Horned Lark, Centennial Golf Club

Jan. 2: Virginia Rail, Manitou Point Preserve

Jan. 2: Long-tailed Duck, Hudson River, Cold Spring

Jan. 2: Snow Goose, Boscobel House and Garden

Jan. 2: Baltimore Oriole, West Point Foundry Preserve

Jan. 5: Wilson’s Warbler, West Point Foundry Preserve 

Jan. 5: Red Breasted Merganser, West Branch Reservoir

Jan. 11: Rusty Blackbird, DJT State Park, Indian Hill

Jan. 17: Horned Grebe, West Branch Reservoir

Jan. 20: Eastern Meadowlark, Glynwood Farm

Feb. 7: Iceland Gull, West Point Foundry Preserve

Feb. 9: Barrow’s Goldeneye, West Point Foundry Preserve 

Feb. 10: Pine Siskins, Private Residence, Mahopac

Feb. 24: Northern Shoveler, Dockside Park, Cold Spring

Feb. 24: Great Cormorant, Dockside Park, Cold Spring

Rockland County:

Oct. 26: Purple Gallinule, Rockland Lake

Nov. 13: Purple Sandpiper, Piermont Pier

Nov. 25: Hammonds Flycatcher, Rockland Lake SP

Jan. 2024: Trumpeter Swan, Rockland Psychiatric Institute

Feb. 1: Western Tanager, Private Residence, Sloatsburg

Westchester County:

Nov. 3: Clay-colored Sparrow, Croton Point Park

Nov. 13: Rough-legged Hawk, Croton Point

Nov. 13: Purple Gallinule, Gate of Heaven Cemetery 

Nov. 13: American Goshawk, Chestnut Ridge Hawkwatch

Jan. 14 - Harris’s Sparrow, Private Location, Mamaroneck

Ongoing - Red-headed Woodpeckers, Croton Point Park

Orange County:

Nov. 1: Common Eider, Hudson River, Newburgh 

Dec. 23 to Jan. 24: Yellow-throated Warbler, Newburgh Waterfront

Jan. 25: Glaucous-winged Gull, Hudson River, Newburgh

Feb. 12: Ross’s Goose, Black Dirt Region

Dutchess County:

Nov. 11: Dunlin, Overlook Park

Nov. 13: Red Crossbills (2), Dover 

Jan. 10: Yellow-throated Warbler, Private Residence, Beacon

Jan. 20: Clay-colored Sparrow, Private Residence, Millbrook

Ulster County:

Dec. 23: Little Gull, Hudson River, Kingston

Jan. 2024: Loggerhead Shrike, Shawangunk Grasslands/Galeville Town Park

Feb. 2024: Barrow’s Goldeneye, Hudson River, Kingston