A previously reported Sandhill Crane spent the night of June 1 at the Bashakill in Sullivan County. A second report on June 19 was of a Sandhill Crane seen between the local hospital and airport at Ellenville (Ulster Co), about 13 miles northeast of the Bashakill location. A third sighting of what seems likely to be the same bird was on July 20. This bird was seen in a large field along Port Ben Rd between the villages of Napanoch and Wawarsing, about 3 miles northeast of the Ellenville site (and close to two NYS prisons). All of the sightings were close to Rt 209 within the long valley that parallels the Shawangunk Ridge. Since Sandhill Cranes may not breed until 3 or 4 (or more) years, this bird may be a wandering juvenile, but their recent upstate breeding alerts us to another possibility. Any searchers are required to stay on public roads in the Ulster Co sighting areas. Valerie Freer --
NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
