2010 Year Summary SPECIES ( ) RIARC Number Vote (Accepted-Not Accepted-Natural Status Uncertain): # of birds reported; location; date(s); reporters (I = initial observer, R = report submitted, P = photograph submitted).
JANUARYIVORY GULL (Pagophila eburnea) 2010-1A,B (7-0): One; A: Quicksand Pond, Little Compton; 23-Jan-2010; Geoff Dennis (I,R,P). B: Easton’s Pond, Newport; 26-27-Jan-2010; Matt Grimes (I), Bob Weaver (P), Rey Larsen (P).
Geoff Dennis found this adult IVORY GULL at Quicksand Pond in Little Compton late in the
afternoon near sunset. The gull
spent much of its time on the Massachusetts side of the pond, but moved to the
Rhode Island side to feed on a dead duck. Geoff was able to take photographs in
the fading light. At sunset, the
Ivory Gull flew off to roost with the local gulls, all flying to the southwest and
out of viewing distance.
What was probably the
same bird was found on Easton’s Pond three days later by Matt Grimes. The next day several birders observed the bird as it fed on a gull carcass.
FEBRUARY
MARCH
APRIL
SANDHILL CRANE (Grus
canadensis) 2010-2
(7-0): Two; Block Island; 2-Apr-2010; Kim Gaffett (I,R,P).
These 2 Sandhill
Cranes were seen on the northeast side of the island, just south of the Clay
Head Trail and Clay Head Swamp.
These birds were seen by several islanders, but at about 4 pm,
they were startled off by Canada Geese and flew west. Kim Gaffett provided the report and photographs
of these birds.
SWALLOW-TAILED KITE (Elanoides
forficatus) 2010-3
(7-0): One; Succotash Marsh, South Kingstown; 7-Apr-2010; Bob Weaver (I,R,P).After scanning for shorebirds near
the DEM building at Succotash Marsh, Robert Weaver looked up just in time to
see this Swallow-tailed Kite flying towards him overhead. He was quickly able to get photographs
of the bird as it continued flying in a northerly direction.
MAY
CHUCK-WILL'S-WIDOW (Antrostomus carolinensis) 2010-4
(6-0): One; Little Compton; 11-May-2010; Kirsten Fletcher (R,P).This bird was found at the base of
a chain-linked fence on Old Stone Church Road in Little Compton. It was brought in to Kirsten Fletcher
for rehabilitation. Probable
causes of the injury were either a strike to the fence or a possible hit by a
car. Kirsten photographed the bird
while it was in her care.
JUNE
AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN (Pelecanus
erythrorhynchos) 2010-5
(7-0): One; Pawcatuck River, Westerly; 16-Jun-2010; Kate Pisano
(I,P), David Prescott (R).
While testing water quality for
Save The Bay, Kate Pisano and others found this bird at about 8:30 AM. The bird was on a rock on the Westerly side of the
Pawcatuck River adjacent to the northern side of the River Bend Cemetery.
MISSISSIPPI KITE (Ictinia
mississippiensis) 2010-13
(7-0): One; Kent County; 2009 and 2010; Homeowner (R,P).
A homeowner in Kent County
observed two Mississippi Kites in his neighborhood and yard in both the summer
of 2009 and 2010. In 2010 he
reported seeing young in his yard, and he then photographed one adult. Curious as to the identity of the bird,
his questions eventually reached the Audubon Society of Rhode Island. The report was investigated by ASRI,
but the homeowner requested that the location of the sighting remain
private. The homeowner reported
that he was afraid that
an influx of birders might be somewhat disruptive to the pair if they return. He also was worried that an influx of
birders roaming the streets with binoculars might make his neighbors upset.
JULY AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN (Pelecanus
erythrorhynchos) 2010-6
(7-0): One; Trustom Pond, South Kingstown; 24-Jul-2010; Bob
Dewire (I,R,P), [Alan Brush, Cam Bertsche, Ruth Waller, Sylvia Fournier] (I).Bob Dewire with others reported
viewing this bird from Osprey Point at Trustom Pond NWR at around 11:30
AM. After about 15 minutes the
bird took off flying northwest and flew out of sight beyond the tree line.
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
BAND-RUMPED STORM-PETREL (Oceanodroma castro) 2010-7 (7-0): One; Block Canyon Pelagic; 10-Sep-2010; Nick Bonomo (I,R), Paul L’Etoile (P), Frank Mantlik (P).
This first state record was found by observers on a pelagic trip out to the continental shelf. It was first seen by Nick Bonomo as it sat on the water in the vicinity of Block Canyon. As the boat slowly approached, this Band-rumped Storm-Petrel took flight and flew directly away from the observers. Nick studied it in detail, while Paul L’Etoile and Frank Mantlik took photos. Nick’s written description of the bird and its flight pattern complemented the still photos taken by Paul and Frank to produce thorough documentation for this report.
BLACK-CAPPED PETREL (Pterodroma
hasitata) 2010-8
(7-0): One; Block Canyon; 10-Sep-2010; Scott Tsagarakis (I,R),
Blair Nikula (I), Nick Bonomo (R), Tom Auer (R), Carlos Pedro (P).
This Black-capped Petrel was found
on a pelagic trip out to the Continental shelf. The boat was tracking a Long-tailed Jaeger when the jaeger
was seen chasing a bird of approximately the same size. Blair Nikula and Scott Tsagarakis
identified the bird being chased as a Black-capped Petrel. Scott, Nick Bonomo, and Tom Auer
provided written reports, and Carlos Pedro provided a distant photo.
LONG-TAILED JAEGER (Stercorarius
longicaudus) 2010-9 (7-0): One; 10-Sep-2010; Block Canyon Pelagic; [Nick Bonomo, Scott Tsagarakis, Tom Auer] (R), Carlos Pedro (P), Paul L’Etoile (P).
This Long-tailed Jaeger was found on the same
pelagic trip to the continental shelf that produced the Band-rumped
Storm-Petrel and Black-capped Petrel.
Unlike those birds, this jaeger was cooperative and came
close enough to the boat to allow for excellent photographs. As if that was not enough, as the boat
followed this bird it led them to the Black-capped Petrel.
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER WESTERN KINGBIRD (Tyrannus verticalis) 2010-10 (7-0): One; Weekapaug, Westerly; 3-Nov-2010; Dan Finizia (I,P), Sue Talbot (I).
Dan Finizia
and Sue Talbot observed and photographed this Western Kingbird along Weekapaug
Road in Westerly. The bird was just north of the marsh north of Chapman
Road. It was flycatching from the top of the only tree in the area for a
short time, and then flew out of sight.
NOT ACCEPTED: PHAINOPEPLA (Phainopepla nitens) 2010-12
(0-7): One; Wickford; 22-Nov-2010. This intriguing report was of a
bird seen eating berries from a Winterberry Holly near a driveway in
Saunderstown. The observer was not
familiar with the species, but made a mental checklist of the bird’s
features. It was almost two weeks
before the observation was known to local birders. At that time, the written report was prepared and sent
in. Due to the circumstances of
the write-up and the extreme rarity of the species, this report was not
accepted. It is important to note
though that there is nothing in this report that rules out Phainopepla. Readers of this report should
appreciate it for the candor of the observer, and the sharing of this report of
what may have been an extremely rare bird.
CAVE SWALLOW (Petrochelidon fulva) 2010-11 (7-0): Six to twelve; Black Point, Narragansett; 24-27-Nov-2010; Tom Auer (I,R), Carlos Pedro (P).

Tom Auer first saw these birds
while he was driving down Route 1A in Narragansett. After getting out of his car and identifying them as Cave
Swallows, he continued south on 1A and saw more Cave Swallows near Black Point,
Scarborough, and Aunt Carrie’s. He
estimated a total of twelve birds.
Over the next few days several birders reported varying numbers of Cave
Swallows in the area.
DECEMBER 
GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE (Pipilo
chlorurus) 2010-14
(7-0): One; N of Sachuest, 18-Dec-2010 to 31-Jan-2011; Paul
L’Etoile (I,R,P), Carlos Pedro (P), Dan Finizia (P).
This Green-tailed Towhee was found
by Paul L’Etoile at the Second Beach Campground in Middletown during the Newport-Westport
Christmas Bird Count. Paul’s group
was counting chickadees in the pines when the bird came in to pishing. The bird stayed in the area at least
until January 31, and was seen and photographed by many other birders during
that time.
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