ratios were formerly 1.5 to 1. Still, on 7 October, 754 American Kestrels 
were counted, over half the total of that species for the season. 
The big story at the Fire Island Hawkwatch is the increase in Peregrine 
Falcons, which hit a new yearly high. Bald Eagles totaled five, down 
from last year's six, but still a significant improvement from the zero of 
the recent past. Cooper's Hawks have also increased substantially over 
the years, increasing from one to this year's several dozen. The peak for 
the season appeared to be 8 October, with 1100 hawks seen, including 
three Bald Eagles. 
The Central Park Hawkwatch to the west has a different mix. There, 
on light to moderate northwest winds on 18 September, they counted six 
Bald Eagles and 313 Broad-winged Hawks; on 25 September three Bald 
Eagles (two adults, one immature). 
On 14 November, two (possibly three) Greater White-fronted Geese 
were found: one on Marratooka Lake, Mattituck, and a second on Short's 
Pond, north side of Scuttlehole Road, Bridgehampton. There possibly 
was a third bird in the area. Andy Guthrie and Angus Wilson reported a 
Ross's Goose in a flock of 150 Snow Geese that flew by at Riis Park on 10 
October. 
Rallidae oddities of the season came from the concrete and steel of 
New York City! First, Andrew Gershon reported that a Virginia Rail 
spent the day of 7 October huddled on a window sill on the 26th floor of 
120 Broadway in Manhattan. Another one was seen foraging in City Hall 
Park along Center Street in lower Manhattan on 11 October. Then a third 
was found huddled against the side of the public library on Flatbush 
Avenue, at the intersection of Avenue P in Brooklyn. It fled into the 
Raleigh Camera store where it was captured. It was released in Gerritsen 
Creek. Finally, on 12 October, a slightly injured bird, running down a 
street in Long Island City, Queens, was captured and taken to a rehabili- 
tator where the bird was determined to be an immature Purple 
Gallinule. 
On 17 September an adult Franklin's Gull was found on a sandbar 
near the outflow to recently opened Mecox Bay. It stayed the next day, 
but was not seen thereafter. A bird similar to it, possibly the same one, 
was at the foot of Road I, East Hampton on 26 September. 
A first fall Lesser Black-backed Gull was found at Jones Beach Field #6 
on 1 September, the first day of the reporting season. This species, in all 
plumages up to and including adult, is widespread along the ocean shore 
areas of the Region everywhere gulls gather. It is no longer "rare" and 
will be considered "uncommon" in the future. 
The Kingbird 2000 March; 50(1) 
101 
