2002 & Prior Year Summaries

2002 and Prior Year Summaries

Contains:

Old RIOC records for which we have Information.

Some pre-2002 records that RIOC did not review.

The Rhode Island Ornithological Club (RIOC) collected and evaluated records through 2002. After that, there was an informal method of gathering and collecting records. In 2008 the Rhode Island Avian Records Committee (RIARC) was formed to once again gather and record documentation of rare birds occurring in Rhode Island. In that process of gathering records, RIARC has found photos and documentation of a few old RIOC records, along with a few 2002 and prior records that RIOC did not record.

On this page are listed all of the old RIOC records for which we have documentation. Also included are a few 2002 and prior records for which we have documentation, but that RIOC did not review.

SPECIES ( )

RIARC Number Vote (Accepted-Not Accepted-Natural Status Uncertain; RIOC=evaluated by RIOC): # of birds reported; location; date(s); reporters (I = initial observer, R = report submitted, P = photograph submitted).

2002

ANHINGA (Anhinga anhinga)

2002-1 (RIOC): Swan Point, Providence; 12-May-2002; Dan Finizia (I,R), Sue Talbot (I,R)

Late in the morning of 12-May-2002 an Anhinga was observed flying over Swan Point Cemetery in Providence. A detailed written description along with a sketch was provided by each of the two observers who reported.

RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD (Selasphorus rufus)

2002-5 (RIOC): One; Little Compton; 23-28-Oct-2002; Geoff Dennis (I,R,P)

WESTERN TANAGER (Piranga ludoviciana)

2002-3 (RIOC): One; Ninigret Park, Charlestown; 26-Dec-2002 to 18-Jan-2003 Carlos Pedro (I)

An uncommon western vagrant from the 2002-2003 winter season was a Western Tanager found at Ninigret Park in Charlestown. It stayed for a few weeks, and was seen by many observers. Interestingly, a Western Tanager (2002-2) was recorded in November on Block Island only fifteen miles or so away from the location of this bird.

2001

Jan St. Jean was doing a winter waterfowl survey for Fish and Wildlife at Trustom Pond National Wildlife Refuge. From across the pond she observed a white goose. When she went over to the other side of the pond she was able to get much closer to the bird, and quickly identified it at the first Ross's Goose recorded in Rhode Island.

BARNACLE GOOSE (Branta leucopsis)

2001-4 (RIOC): One; Portsmouth; 15-Dec-2001; Dick Ferren (I,R)

During the Newport-Westport Xmas Bird Count of 2001, a Barnacle Goose was spotted in a large flock of Canada Geese east of Middle Road in Portsmouth. It was estimated that this group of geese was part of the 800 to 1000 Canada Geese that were spending the winter in St. Mary's Pond. Snow Geese are frequently seen among these geese, and on this day 47 Snow Geese were counted. No photographs were taken, but a detailed written description was submitted.

LARK BUNTING (Calamospiza melanocorys)

2001-5 (RIOC): One; Middletown; 15-Dec-2001; Chris Raithel (I,R)

Three observers found this bird in a brush pile in a shrub nursery while they were doing the Newport/Westport CBC. The bird was observed for 15 minute or so at close range. A detailed report was written describing this Lark Bunting very well. Lark Bunting is extremely rare in Rhode Island, with this record being only the fifth for the state.

2000

SWALLOW-TAILED KITE (Elanoides forficatus)

2000-4 (RIOC): One; Turf Fields, North Kingstown; 4-5-May-2000; Peter Paton (I,R), Corrie Heinz (I)

Two birders in the car noticed this Swallow-tailed Kite flying over turf fields in North Kingstown. The bird flapped and soared and eventually flew directly overhead providing the observers excellent views of the shape and pattern of this bird.

FORK-TAILED FLYCATCHER (Tyrannus savana)

2000-3 (RIOC): One; North End, Block Island; 9-May-2000; Michael Wagner (I,R), Scott Cummings (R)

Two birders who were experienced with Fork-tailed Flycatcher in the neotropics observed this bird in the pines at the North End of Block Island. The bird was observed and compared with a few Eastern Kingbirds nearby, and was described in a written report.

PAINTED BUNTING (Passerina ciris)

2000-2 (RIOC): One; Lincoln Feeder; 26-May-2000; Susan DiMasso (I,R)

The written report for this bird described a bird a little larger than a goldfinch, with a blue head, a red breast, and lime green wings. It was on a feeder about 65 feet from the house, where it fed with some House Sparrows.

ARCTIC TERN (Sterna paradisaea)

2000-1 (RIOC): One; Charlestown Breachway; 4-Jul-2000; Chris Raithel (I,R)

A detailed written report with sketches described this first-year portlandica Arctic Tern from the Charlestown Breachway.

BROWN PELICAN (Pelecanus occidentalis)

2000-5 (RIOC): One; Block Island; 21-Dec-2000; Dan Finizia (P)

1999

BREWER'S BLACKBIRD (Euphagus cyanocephalus)

1999-1 (RIOC): One; Swan Point Cemetery; 13-Oct-1999; Rachel Farrell (I,R), Dan Finizia (I)

Two observers located this bird in an area of Swan Point Cemetery used as a leaf and vegetation dumping ground. Close observation from a distance of 25 feet for four minutes allowed the two observers to observe and discuss those field marks that confirmed this bird as a Brewer's Blackbird. A detailed description of the observation was submitted.

1998

PURPLE GALLINULE (Porphyrio martinicus)

1998-2 (6-0): One; Little Compton; 11-Jun-1998; Stephen Merriman (I), Geoff Dennis (P)

Stephen Merriman was a student at the Wilbur McMahon School in Little Compton when he found this bird at the school. It had a broken leg and made no attempt to fly. He and his friends corralled it into a stairwell where he captured it and brought it to his uncle, Geoff Dennis. Geoff took the bird to a rehabber who held it until it healed. Five weeks after its arrival, the Purple Gallinule was released back into the wild.

RUFOUS/ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRD (Selasphorus sp.)

1998-1 (RIOC): One; Little Compton; 26-Nov-1998+; Geoff Dennis (I,R,P)

1996

RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD (Selasphorus rufus)

1996-1 (RIOC): One; Little Compton; 8-11-Nov-1996; Geoff Dennis (I,R,P)

1995

MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD (Sialia currucoides)

1995-1 (RIOC): One; Southern RI Roads; 1994-1995; Chris Raithel (R,P)

A local birder was collecting road killed birds during the winter of 1994-1995, and brought the bag of specimen to Chris Raithel at RI Department of Fish and Wildlife the following spring. When the bags were examined, it was discovered that the bird in a bag marked as Tree Swallow was actually a female Mountain Bluebird. The specimen was preserved and sent to the American Museum of Natural History.During the winter of 1994 to1995 several Mountain Bluebirds were seen in the east, some of which over-wintered on Cape Cod in Massachusetts. This bird may have been part of that movement in 1994.RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD (Selasphorus rufus)

1995-2 (RIOC): One; 22-Oct to 3-Dec-1995; Little Compton; Geoff Dennis (I,R,P)

1994

1993

1992

1991

COMMON-RINGED PLOVER (Charadrius hiaticula)

1991-1 (RIOC): One; Ninigret Pond; 15 & 22-Sep-1991; Paul Buckley (I,R), Bob Conway (R)

Paul Buckley discovered this Common-ringed Plover on the Ninigret Pond mudflats on 15-Sep-1991. During his 3-hour continuous observation from as close as ten feet he was able to record fine details of the bird's appearance and behavior. Those details were recorded in his two and a half page written report of the encounter. The bird was identified as a juvenile bird with an injured right leg. The injury resulted in the bird hopping around on its left leg, with its right leg sticking out, toes splayed. He reported "it was evident that the right foot had not a trace of webbing between the inner and middle toes, but did have a tiny patch of webbing (that appeared more substantial than Calidris webbing) between the outer and middle toes".

"Knowing from the webbing pattern that I had to be watching a Ringed and not a Semi, I very much wanted to hear its call, as voice is

probably the quickest way to separate the two species. But despite flushing it 3-4 times (cautiously, because the very last thing I wanted was for it to leave), it refused to call. Finally after 3 hours without the bird making a sound, I left, leaving it still feeding with the Semis and hopping along on its left leg with its right still sticking out, toes splayed apart."

During the following week several birders searched for the bird with no success. Then, on 22-Sep, Bob Conway was studying a group of Semipalmated Plovers for about half-an-hour when he heard the Common-ringed Plover call as it flew in with a group of 5 other plovers. In Bob's 4-page report he described how when the bird landed it hopped on its left leg, keeping its right leg held out in plain view. With the sun behind him and the bird within 20 feet of him during the observation, Bob recorded the event in great detail.

1986

Curlew Sandpipers were not documented in Rhode Island until the 1970s, despite over 50 records in Massachusetts by that time. This bird, photographed by Dick Bowen in 1986, may be the fourth documented record for the state. This photograph comes from a scan of a book of Dick's photos.

1985

1979

TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE (Myadestes townsendi)

1978-1 (RIOC): One; Warren; 19-Nov-1978 to 11-Feb-1979; Dick Bowen (I,R,P)