-----Original Message----- From: Mike Morgante [mailto:mo...@roadrunner.com] Sent: Tue 9/13/2011 11:27 PM To: 'geneseebirds-l' Cc: Jane Graves Subject: Montezuma Muckrace - E&E Eagles, "Low Carbon" division (long) It was a pleasure to participate in the Montezuma Muckrace again for the first time since 2005. Joe Carlo and Carly Lapin, colleagues at Ecology and Environment, Inc. (our employer and sponsor), and Chris Newton joined me as the "E & E Eagles" team. It was first time in the muckrace for Chris, Carly, and Joe. We decided to enter the Low Carbon division and do the race strictly by biking and hiking and with no motor vehicle assistance during the race period. We really weren't sure how much exercise effort we were signing up for, but we were excited to bike and bird, and even more excited when we saw that the weather forecast didn't include any rain. I had participated eight times previously and I knew that a planned route was important. In going on bikes, I had to plan it for reducing the mileage and time we spent on bikes. We rode just over 33 miles and hiked another 3 miles or so. I didn't know how much we would (or could) ride, but I expected to be in the 30 to 40 mile range. Joe, Carly, and I arrived from Buffalo area in late afternoon and met Chris at the Montezuma sub-HQ where we set up camp. Chris came in from New Hampshire and was able to spend a few hours scouting, which really entailed finding some spots we weren't familiar with. In doing so, he found the Glossy Ibis at Railroad Rd at mid-afternoon and managed to get a sudden bike stem problem fixed just hours before the race. (crisis #1 averted). We signed in at the Montezuma Audubon Center and were delighted in the many Purple Martins flying around and then hearing and seeing a Sandhill Crane. We drove by car to East Road and the overlook to Knox-Marcellus Marsh and prepared our bikes and did some last minute scouting. We quickly realized we would be battling an army of mosquitoes. When the watch hit 7 p.m. (race start time) we started our lists. Our first species was Snow Goose (7), in similar spot to where Chris saw them in the afternoon. Only their heads were sticking up from the grass. Other highlights were 2 Sandhill Cranes that had flown in around 6:45 and picking out N. Rough-winged and Bank Swallow among the many Trees and Barns. Of course we had a Cliff Swallow prior to 7 pm and we didn't get one during the race. Hundreds of dabblers were roosting and flying into the tall grass but mostly too difficult to see. We dashed off to Mays Point pool and found several other teams and very few shorebirds. Two Sandhill Cranes were present here as well. We added a few expected species and Chris made nice spotting of an American Black Duck in flight with Mallards that was our only one for the race. One or two Wood Ducks eating wild grapes right in front of the corral was a strange sight. Tschache Pool added nothing but more mosquito bites. We rode back to camp. A quick walk to South Spring pool around 9 p.m. netted a hooting Great Horned Owl but no screeches responded to our whistles. We went to bed with a total of 34 species. It was a nice night to camp. I only slept about half the night but enjoyed hearing 2 Great Horned Owls hooting for what seemed like an hour around midnight. We were awake in our tent and listening to nocturnal flyovers around 5 a.m. Thruway noise makes it tough at this location but we had Swainson's Thrushes, Veerys, and two Gray-cheeked Thrushes. We probably had Wood Thrush too but didn't feel confident enough in our call ID's. (we did not add one during the day). An Eastern Screech-Owl made some whinny calls unsolicited by us. A nice treat! The bird highlight of the day came as we were getting dressed and bikes ready around 6:15 - 6:30 a.m. There were at least 1,000 Bobolinks that flew over to the west / northwest in a steady stream of large and small batches. We had never seen so many at one time. My estimate is likely conservative and there could have easily been 2,000. We left on bikes as some small batches were still flying over. We biked toward the Montezuma visitor center, adding Carolina Wren, Chipping Sparrow, House Sparrow, House Finch, Pileated Woodpecker on the way (all sometimes nemesis muckrace species). We added only a few shorebird species, some dabblers, and Trumpeter Swan (4) at the visitor center among others. >From the overlook at Main Pool we heard Marsh Wren. We were not allowed to bike on the Auto-loop (which was disappointing, and would have been more convenient for us too), so we hiked along Seneca Trail and found a cooperative Yellow-throated Vireo. Biking back to Rt 5/20 we finally had a warbler (other than C. Yellowthroat) and identified two Cape May Warblers in the conifers near the entrance. We biked down River Road to Mud Lock and added a few common species as well as Pied-billed Grebe and Common Merganser on Cayuga Lake. Two Cape May Warblers on River Road were either the same we just encountered or bizarre coincidence. The long ride back on Rt 5/20 was our first hill. At Montezuma Winery, a volunteer for a charity biking event taking place informed Joe that he had a flat tire. This resulted in 20 minute delay to patch the tire. (crisis #2 averted by bringing plenty of repair gear) and I spotted our only Chimney Swifts for the day while we had unexpected stop. Esker Brook Trail was quieter than hoped for. We added Bay-breasted Warbler and Magnolia Warbler; little did we know that they would be our last warbler species added for the day! Philadelphia Vireo and Peregrine Falcon (flyover) were nice pickups. A flock of Indigo Buntings across from the parking lot were a nice addition. After taking a break back at camp, we headed off to Mays Point where nothing new was added. We drove down Towpath Road (longer than expected on bikes) to get closer look at birds in the marsh. Unfortunately we added no new species, which was a downer and fatigue was setting in. Just as we were packing up to leave I looked up and was amazed to see 3 Common Loons flying very high to the north/northwest!!! All 4 of us got on them and it was an immediate lift to our team spirits which was much needed. I can only assume they were headed to Lake Ontario, but why flying north at 1 p.m. is puzzling (but thank you loons!). We then took a long break for lunch back at Knox-Marcellus overlook and decided where to head next after learning from two teams that the west entrance to Howland Island was flooded. Important that we learned that. (potential crisis avoided). It was now time for the longest ride of the day. We went north on Rt 89 and over to Railroad Road. At mid-day, mostly uphill, and into north wind, this was a physical challenge. We made it eventually but couldn't find the ibis (or Am. Bittern or Sora that Chris had yesterday). Chris's keen eyes picked up Merlin and we added two shorebird species and Ring-necked Duck. Short-billed Dowitchers were added at Muckrace Flats among the most shorebirds seen at any location on the day. We decided that was the last stop (~4:45pm) as we were tired. We rode over to Montezuma Audubon Center picking up a kestrel on the way. A walk around the MAC trails didn't add any new species. We ended at 6 pm and I counted up our list. We stood at 99 species (including two single observer sightings - Red-eyed Vireo by Chris and Ruby-throated Hummingbird by me [4 separate hummers!!!]). As the others went back to pack up, I stood outside in the parking lot hoping to add Purple Martin or cowbird. I thought I heard a martin but then couldn't hear it again or find it. 99 it was. That put us in first place in the Low Carbon division (admittedly for only two teams, the other doing a 'big sit') and I think was consistent with totals in previous years for Low Carbon winners. With only 4 warblers and 9 shorebirds, I expected we'd be way behind the competitive teams; however, we weren't. Bob Spahn's windbirders won with 118 (a recreational team had 120) and I think that there were only 2-3 other teams ahead of our total of 99. That topped off our fun day. I encourage others to participate in the Muckrace next year. It is a real challenge and fun day. Those looking for a bigger challenge - try the Low Carbon division! [Jane - please crosspost to Cayuga Birds and any other listserves) Mike Morgante E & E Eagles captain - www.ene.com -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
