a woodpecker phantom on the creek

The closest I could come to another sighting of the Black-backed Woodpecker was a medium-sized woodpecker hightailing it across the creek to Pine Neck. The light was bad and I am far from certain that this was the target bird (based on size, it could have been a Red-bellied). But it gave me hope that the bird might be still hanging around.

This was not the first Black-backed Woodpecker record for Long Island. "Bull's Birds of New York" reports that individuals were seen in 1887, 1936 and 1963 (thanks Harry Maas). Not sure exactly where these sightings were recorded but it seems that Black-backed Woodpecker is at least as likely around here as Pileated Woodpecker!

One new bird for the season: Brown Creeper. A few Yellow-rumped Warblers and at least one Blue-headed Vireo also seen but not a whole lot else.

Eric Salzman