2022 Notable Sightings June through August

Notable Sightings: June 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022

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

Summer is typically slow for notable sightings in the county, but many good birds were represented during the breeding months as such as Cerulean Warbler, Hermit Thrush, Barred and Great-horned Owls, Purple Martin’s, American Woodcock, and Eastern Whip-poor-wills. However, some very notable birds were present this summer in the surrounding Hudson Valley counties which are highlighted below.

 Putnam County:

7/30 Red-headed Woodpecker – Private Residence, Kent

8/14 Olive Sided - at both Hubbard Lodge and Glynwood Farm, Cold Spring

8/14 Alder Flycatcher - Glynwood Farm, Cold Spring

8/15 Caspian Terns (5) Little Stony Point, Cold Spring

8/24 Cape May Warbler – Glynwood Farm, Cold Spring

Westchester County:

6/17 and 8/2 - Loggerhead Shrike - Croton Point Park

Loggerhead Shrike historically had small breeding populations in the northeastern US (which is no longer the case) and still breed in small numbers north of Lake Ontario in Canada. Incredibly, a Loggerhead Shrike was found at Croton Point twice this summer (both times only present for one day)! I’m not sure which is a more likely scenario; that two different loggerhead shrikes visited the park, or a single bird went unnoticed for over a month!

Orange County:

5/28 – Present – Neotropic Cormorant – Hudson River, Newburgh Waterfront

The Neotropic Cormorant first found on 5/28 has summered over on the Hudson! It is still present as of this writing, mostly staying on the Newburgh side, although it has occasionally crossed over to the Dutchess side in Beacon as well. Neotropic Cormorants are typically found in Mexico and southward, as well as in some areas in the southwestern US.

Dutchess County:

6/9 - Scissor-tailed Flycatcher – Stony Kill Farm

Scissor-tailed Flycatchers are unmistakable, long-tailed flycatchers typically found in the south-central US. This one was found at Stony Kill Farm by one of the employees and seen by many over the two days it was present.

Also noteworthy in Dutchess County, two Black Terns were seen on the Hudson River from Beacon on 8/22.

Sullivan County:

8-16 - Red-necked Phalarope - Morningside Park

Red-necked Phalaropes will migrate over land in the west, but in the east they typically migrate well out over the ocean and are scarce inland. This was a juvenile bird hanging out along one of the islands in the lake, best seen via kayak or boat.

Rockland County: (The clear winner for notable species this summer!)

7/20 to Present - Anhinga - Lake Tappan

Anhinga are found in the extreme southeastern US into South America. They are known as the “snake bird” because as they swim and hunt for food their body is submerged and only their long neck above the water. This individual found in Rockland County is still present, allowing many birders from across the state to see it.

7/19 to Present - Great Blue Heron ssp. Great White -Piermont Marsh and Sparkill Creek

While Great Blue Herons are extremely common in the Hudson Valley, the Great White subspecies (which gets its name from being all white) is typically only found in the Florida Keys! Another long staying individual that that is still present and was seen by many along Piermont Pier and Sparkill Creek.

Piermont Pier also had an excellent variety of shorebirds this summer including Ruddy Turnstone, Piping Plover, White-Rumped Sandpiper, and Whimbrel…none of which are common along the Hudson River!

Notable Sightings January Though May