[cayugabirds-l] FW: Wild Snow Geese chase and RBA alert of Hoary Redpoll at Cayuga Lock
Hi all, I sent this but did not seem to have got posted. Also, an hour ago, Brad Walker posted seeing a Hoary Redpoll at Cayuga Lock (I am not sure which one is this) , one at north end is called Mud Lock and the one near Mays is called Lock 25. May be someone posted correct location but it is listserve which is slow today. Meena Meena Haribal Ithaca NY 14850 http://haribal.org/ http://meenaharibal.blogspot.com/ From: Meena Haribal Sent: Sunday, December 02, 2012 10:07 AM To: CAYUGABIRDS-L Subject: Wild Snow Geese chase Hi all, Yesterday evening i wanted to try a new (actually an old) lens, so I went out to try on some geese. Myer's point all I could see was a pair of Northern Flickers, that flew away at my approach and nothing much else. At Long Point State park I saw mostly white caps on the water and a few Black ducks and Mallards. From the bluffs on Long Point State Park road, a few thousand Canada Geese at the mouth of the creek in the bay, but I did not pick out anything different. I skipped Aurora boat club as it was very windy and parking lot was full. At Factory St pond in Union Springs no birds. Main pond had a few Redheads, Gadwalls, Buffleheads. I continued planning to go up to Mucklands to look for Snow Geese. But as I approached Connors Road past Levenna, I saw hundreds of Snow Geese heading east. So I decided to turn on Connors road and follow them. They were flying at 40 mph as I followed them in parallel couple of miles, after some distance I changed my direction as the road turned and twisted. I drove many roads such as Rt 326, Large Road, Bluefield Road, Powers road etc and I could see them still heading mostly east and southeast and at some point they disappeared. I never saw them come down to a field. But then when I looked at the fields, most of the fields were barren or had grass and no corn fields. May be the geese also were looking for a suitable field to feed. So probably they continued to Owasco and Skaneateles lake watershed. The distance they travelled from the Cayuga lake to east was more than 6 miles as crow flies. Last spring I had followed them for more than 11 miles west till I could find them no more. It was awesome to watch hundreds of them fly overhead, making me feel dizzy as if I am watching a fast flowing turbulent river like Alaknanda overhead as they continuously grouped and regrouped while honking. On the way back I came via Rafferty road. The grassland was cleared and lots of machinery parked in the field. I don't think any self respecting Short-eared Owl would want to spend the some time here on the way south. Cheers Meena Meena Haribal Ithaca NY 14850 http://haribal.org/ http://meenaharibal.blogspot.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/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Broome County Naturalist's Club Cayuga Lake Trip Saturday Dec 1st
Had the pleasure of leading the Broome County Naturalist's Club Field trip to Cayuga Lake today. We started at Stewart Park and saw mostly Canada Geese, Mallards, few Black Ducks, American wigeon, Bufflehead, many hooded mergansers, some displaying, 1 Ring-Necked Duck, 2 green-winged teal, a few Scaup sp (probably lesser), 1 ruddy duck, pied-billed grebe, distant Common Loon, all three common gull species. There was also a wood duck and three double-crested cormorants on the red lighthouse jetty. Nothing unusual but still nice to see our common birds out there. Next stop was Myer's point. The highlight here was a flock of BRANT heading south. Got great views of these guys. Very cool. This, along with the many flocks seen after Sandy, makes for the most I have ever seen of this species on Cayuga Lake in a season. Otherwise we had typical common birds from Myer's. Next stop was Long Point State Park and the big story was the wind. B. The best bird here was a very low flying adult Bald Eagle. The eagle was only 5 to 10 feet above the lake surface as it flew south. Never saw one flying so persistently low. The bird was not chasing ducks or gulls. It just flew low to south and out of sight. Otherwise, not much here. Just a few Canada Geese, mallards, black ducks, common loon etc. Stopped at the Aurora Boathouse next. Again mainly common species. Best birds here were 2 HORNED GREBES. We also began to see many many SNOW GEESE to the distant north. North Mill Pond had a nice variety of ducks that you can see close up. Great for groups. We got excellent views of many GADWALL, about a dozen REDHEAD, among other common ducks, like Mallard and Bufflehead. Then before we left here, it began. Flock after flock after flock of SNOW GEESE came from the east and were flying overhead toward Cayuga Lake. We estimated about 5000! They were still moving overhead when we left. Quick stop at Harris Park and again we could see flock after flock of SNOW GEESE this time heading south and lowering toward what it looked like to be Lower Lake road on the west side of the lake. After lunch, we went to lower lake road and hit the jackpot of SNOW GEESE. There were many thousands. We saw some blue form too. They also were continuing to stream in from the west and the north by the hundreds. It was very interesting to see an overhead flock descend from a couple hundred feet up. They were doing acrobatic moves, twisting and turning to lose height as they eventually made it to the lake surface. A boat eventually scared up the masses and it was a deafening roar as they took off. It was a true spectacle that never ceases to amaze me. We all enjoyed this immensely. Melissa Penta from our group took a few photos and some videos. You can see them here http://www.flickr.com/photos/mydigitalmind/ Here is the one video of the huge takeoff... http://www.flickr.com/photos/mydigitalmind/8235338643/in/photostream/ I occasionally looked for Ross's Goose but kept get distracted by the overall spectacle of the numbers. We did not positively ID any of these but I am sure there probably were some in there given the shear numbers. There also were other species of ducks mixed in, including american wigeon, 1 ruddy duck, few lesser scaup, bufflehead. We also had a lone american coot. Sheldrake was very windy and we saw just a few common loons there. All in all, a nice day to be out by the lake despite the wind. We totaled 42 species. Not bad for not birding in the woods or fields. Dave Nicosia -- 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/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Broome County Naturalist's Club Cayuga Lake Trip Saturday Dec 1st
Had the pleasure of leading the Broome County Naturalist's Club Field trip to Cayuga Lake today. We started at Stewart Park and saw mostly Canada Geese, Mallards, few Black Ducks, American wigeon, Bufflehead, many hooded mergansers, some displaying, 1 Ring-Necked Duck, 2 green-winged teal, a few Scaup sp (probably lesser), 1 ruddy duck, pied-billed grebe, distant Common Loon, all three common gull species. There was also a wood duck and three double-crested cormorants on the red lighthouse jetty. Nothing unusual but still nice to see our common birds out there. Next stop was Myer's point. The highlight here was a flock of BRANT heading south. Got great views of these guys. Very cool. This, along with the many flocks seen after Sandy, makes for the most I have ever seen of this species on Cayuga Lake in a season. Otherwise we had typical common birds from Myer's. Next stop was Long Point State Park and the big story was the wind. B. The best bird here was a very low flying adult Bald Eagle. The eagle was only 5 to 10 feet above the lake surface as it flew south. Never saw one flying so persistently low. The bird was not chasing ducks or gulls. It just flew low to south and out of sight. Otherwise, not much here. Just a few Canada Geese, mallards, black ducks, common loon etc. Stopped at the Aurora Boathouse next. Again mainly common species. Best birds here were 2 HORNED GREBES. We also began to see many many SNOW GEESE to the distant north. North Mill Pond had a nice variety of ducks that you can see close up. Great for groups. We got excellent views of many GADWALL, about a dozen REDHEAD, among other common ducks, like Mallard and Bufflehead. Then before we left here, it began. Flock after flock after flock of SNOW GEESE came from the east and were flying overhead toward Cayuga Lake. We estimated about 5000! They were still moving overhead when we left. Quick stop at Harris Park and again we could see flock after flock of SNOW GEESE this time heading south and lowering toward what it looked like to be Lower Lake road on the west side of the lake. After lunch, we went to lower lake road and hit the jackpot of SNOW GEESE. There were many thousands. We saw some blue form too. They also were continuing to stream in from the west and the north by the hundreds. It was very interesting to see an overhead flock descend from a couple hundred feet up. They were doing acrobatic moves, twisting and turning to lose height as they eventually made it to the lake surface. A boat eventually scared up the masses and it was a deafening roar as they took off. It was a true spectacle that never ceases to amaze me. We all enjoyed this immensely. Melissa Penta from our group took a few photos and some videos. You can see them here http://www.flickr.com/photos/mydigitalmind/ Here is the one video of the huge takeoff... http://www.flickr.com/photos/mydigitalmind/8235338643/in/photostream/ I occasionally looked for Ross's Goose but kept get distracted by the overall spectacle of the numbers. We did not positively ID any of these but I am sure there probably were some in there given the shear numbers. There also were other species of ducks mixed in, including american wigeon, 1 ruddy duck, few lesser scaup, bufflehead. We also had a lone american coot. Sheldrake was very windy and we saw just a few common loons there. All in all, a nice day to be out by the lake despite the wind. We totaled 42 species. Not bad for not birding in the woods or fields. Dave Nicosia -- 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/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Black Scoter, Ruby-cr Kinglet Stewart Park
Highlight today at Stewart Park was a single adult male BLACK SCOTER fairly far off the center of the park, and a late RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET with chickadees at the swan pen. KEN Ken Rosenberg Conservation Science Program Cornell Lab of Ornithology 607-254-2412 607-342-4594 (cell) k...@cornell.edu -- 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/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Hooded mergansers Mud lock
In waterway north of lock. Big flock! Donna Scott Sent from my iPhone Donna Scott -- 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/ --
[cayugabirds-l] re Hooded mergansers at Mud lock
Viewing and counting the huge flock of HOODED MERGANSERS was difficult since many of them were diving, and many were not visible when they swam behind the little houses along the Seneca River, just past Mud Lock at the north end of Cayuga Lake. However, I conservatively estimate the number at 200 +, perhaps even nearly 300. Other birders in cars there (in the rain) and I all agreed it was the most H. Mergansers in one group we had ever seen! Beautiful! Donna Scott - Original Message - From: Donna Scott To: CAYUGABIRDS-L Sent: Sunday, December 02, 2012 2:29 PM Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Hooded mergansers Mud lock In waterway north of lock. Big flock! Donna Scott Sent from my iPhone Donna Scott -- 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/ -- -- 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/ --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] re Hooded mergansers at Mud lock
Kathy and I conservatively estimated 200. eBird did not like this count. Glenn Wilson Endicott, NY Sent from my iPhone On Dec 2, 2012, at 8:28 PM, Donna Scott d...@cornell.edu wrote: Viewing and counting the huge flock of HOODED MERGANSERS was difficult since many of them were diving, and many were not visible when they swam behind the little houses along the Seneca River, just past Mud Lock at the north end of Cayuga Lake. However, I conservatively estimate the number at 200 +, perhaps even nearly 300. Other birders in cars there (in the rain) and I all agreed it was the most H. Mergansers in one group we had ever seen! Beautiful! Donna Scott - Original Message - From: Donna Scott To: CAYUGABIRDS-L Sent: Sunday, December 02, 2012 2:29 PM Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Hooded mergansers Mud lock In waterway north of lock. Big flock! Donna Scott Sent from my iPhone Donna Scott -- 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/ -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: Welcome and Basics Rules and Information Subscribe, Configuration and Leave Archives: The Mail Archive Surfbirds BirdingOnThe.Net Please submit your observations to eBird! -- -- 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/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Taughannock Loon Watch update
Hi all, As you have probably guessed, the long delay in updates have been due to minimal loon movement. Here's a breakdown for the last week: Nov 25th - A frustrating day to say at least. Bill Evans joined today and we counted 219 (south), but for some reason the majority (159) returned north. After the count was over, we headed into town and while having coffee at the Ithaca Bakery, Bill glanced out the window and noticed 16 heading south. Walking back to his office yielded another 20 or so. I can't really say what was up that day. Also of note for the count, a single Bonaparte's Gull - the first one I had during the loon counts. Nov 26th - A little more satisfying with 208 (south) and 11 (north). Other birds of interest include singles of Red-throated Loon and Long-tailed Duck. Nov 27th - One loon and it was sitting on the water. Other birds of note include a flyover Common Redpoll and my first Horned Grebe for the count. Nov 28th - 149 (south) and 4 (north). Also five Snow Buntings heading north. Nov 29th - Another slow day with 5 (south) and an additional six on the water. Nov 30th - Bill and I expected a decent push today with the strong northerly winds so he joined me again this morning. To our surprise, we only had 23 (south) and 12 (north). Dec 1st - 6 (south). Also two Merlins and an American Pipit that came in and foraged nearby. Dec 2nd - 1 (south) Over the past few days waterfowl have started congregating northwest of Taughannock Point including a couple thousand Canada Geese, several hundred scaup and lesser numbers of American Wigeon, Ring-necked Ducks, Common Goldeneye, Bufflehead, Common Hooded Mergansers, Mallards and American Black Ducks. The predicted NW winds on Wednesday could produce the next and possibly final push of Common Loons over Cayuga Lake. Friday is the last day of the count so if you haven't made it out yet, feel free to join us this week! Also, with the recent talk on Hooded Merganser numbers up at the north end of the lake, while walking out to the white lighthouse a few days ago, there were close to 100 in the inlet. Ethan -- 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/ --
Re:[cayugabirds-l] Hoary Redpoll
Sorry for the somewhat vague directions earlier. The location we were referring to was what we have generally called Mud Lock, called Cayuga Lock in eBird and perhaps elsewhere. Tim and company found the flock on the west shore, opposite River Road on the east side. We parking in the small lot just north of the main parking area to view the eagle nest, then crossed the lock on the small bridge (I didn't know you could do that!) The redpoll flock was working a variety of weeds between two dikes on this side, probably 120-150 birds all together, though the flock size would vary as some birds moved out of sight behind the dikes. One of the birds was a fairly obvious female HOARY, extremely pale (visible even in flight), with very limited streaking on the sides, only a very thin streak on the undertail, and a fluffy white rump. A second female was very likely another Hoary, but not quite as obvious. Dim light and distant birds made for difficult photography, but here is a shot of the more obvious bird: https://picasaweb.google.com/37855303614931880/Winter20122013?authkey=Gv1sRgCLfOr5y2mYH36QE#5817549408969593586 Andrew Van Norstrand and I had been working up the lake and continued after the redpolls. Generally it was very quiet today with the wind and the rain. The only other real birds of note were several hundred Snow Geese and a single juvenile ROSS'S GOOSE that flew into Knox-Marsellus Marsh while we were scanning the other birds there. On Sun, Dec 2, 2012 at 12:05 PM, Jay McGowan jw...@cornell.edu wrote: Brad tried to post earlier, but he, Tim, and Luke found a HOARY REDPOLL with 100+ Common Redpolls feeding in the weeds on the other side of the Cayuga Lock at the north end of the lake. Bird is still present. Jay -- Jay McGowan Macaulay Library Cornell Lab of Ornithology jw...@cornell.edu -- 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/ --
