Twelve birders joined me for two bird walks on Saturday morning on the eastern slope of Skaneateles Lake, to launch this year’s Finger Lakes Land Trust Spring Bird Quest.
We started at 8 AM at the High Vista Preserve on Vincent Hill Road. We heard at least four HOODED WARBLERS. I got only one sight confirmation, fortuitously when the bird switched to its rising alternate song. Others missed seeing that one, but some in our group (not I) later saw two Hooded Warblers together. We found many other expected species of the moist hardwood forest. Most illuminating for me was a view of a VEERY issuing some harsh parrot-like “craahkk” calls. This learning experience enabled us to identify an unseen Veery uttering the same sound not long afterward. We finished that walk at about 9:45, at which point a mix of repeat customers and newcomers joined me for the next outing at the nearby Hinchcliff Family Preserve, at the end of Covey Road. It was our honor to be joined by John and Robin Hinchcliff of the eponymous family whose generosity made the acquisition of this large and stunning property possible. Here we had the morning’s two biggest surprises – a very late LINCOLN’S SPARROW in a hedgerow near the parking lot and an ACADIAN FLYCATCHER singing across the deep ravine from the trail, in the northern part of the preserve. eBird gave me two coveted “complete” prompts for these observations. See the full list below for details and poor but diagnostic photos of the sparrow. At this preserve too, we found four Hooded Warblers. This time we all saw one singing male. I saw another briefly myself. (Today’s eight must to be a personal high count for me for Hooded Warblers for one morning!!) We also heard a singing CANADA WARBLER and saw several CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLERS, most of which were singing their rambling, unemphatic alternate songs. Thanks to all who joined the walks in the rising heat! And I look forward to seeing many of you in Candor for tomorrow’s walk at Logan Hill! Mark Chao High Vista list http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S29953103 Hinchcliff list, including Lincoln’s Sparrow photos http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S29953032 -- 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/ --
