Started our day of investigating the nooks and cranies of the refuge by observing Dave Nicosia doing his best Jim Cantore imitation while simultaneously wind sheltering, hanging on to his tripod and counting peeps at the visitors center. That's peep dedication!
We'll add a few items to his observations. Highlights were watching the mating of a pair of Sandhills at Eaton and an interesting interaction between a dominant Canada and two TVs in the middle of the wildlife drive. Sadly, before that was resolved, one of those tour the refuge at 30mph cars came through and broke up the match. We wondered if the Sandhill mating might indicate an intent to nest around Eaton Marsh? The drive was loaded with Gallinules and PB Grebes. Counted 14 of the former there and more later on at Van Dyne Spoor Rd where many Anax junius were also flying. Great Egrets in several areas, a Green Heron at Carncross, 6 Trumpeters, GW Teal, Woodies and Shovelers as well. A Grey Ghost and a hen Harrier hunting the drive just before the construction block and a dark phase Red-tail at Carncross joined the myriad of eagles and Osprey. Always a highlight were three Black Terns on the drive. We had 2 snipe at Carncross and many Greater Yellowlegs all over as well as several Solitary Sanpipers bobbing through the marsh edges. As Dave reported there were many Caspians, especially at the mucklands and we had 6 Common Tern on the drive and at the other areas. Purple Martin pairs in residence at the visitors center condo as well as a single uppity House Sparrow. Thousands of Tree and Barn Swallows all the way up the west side of Cayuga as well as the refuge areas. Warblers were thin with Yellow, Chestnut-sided and Redstart predominating. Swamp Sparrows were in a couple of marshes. Ended the odyssey around 5 PM with 55 species. A visit to Bass Pro for new boots (the marshes were quite wet) completed the day. John and Sue -- John and Sue Gregoire Field Ornithologists Kestrel Haven Migration Observatory 5373 Fitzgerald Rd Burdett, NY 14818 42.443508000, -76.758202000 -- 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/ --
