[cayugabirds-l] Rough-legged Hawk-Slaterville
And more hawks A rough-legged hawk flew by the western edge of Slaterville Springs crossing Rt 79. John Confer -- 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/ --attachment: confer.vcf
[cayugabirds-l] Ithaca waterfowl
After a bit of a lull the past couple of weeks, we are now getting an influx of waterfowl at the south end of Cayuga Lake, probably due to Montezuma starting (and perhaps finishing?) to freeze over with the low temperatures the last couple of nights. I made a quick dusk trip to Stewart Park last night (Tuesday) after seeing Kevin report an unusually high number of shovelers. Sure enough, I found even more than he had reported, with three tight groups totaling 100 birds just offshore and at least one other group towards the jetties, for a total of at least *135* NORTHERN SHOVELERS. Numbers at Montezuma were still impressive last week, so I have little doubt these were birds pushed out by ice-over. Lots of birds were too far out in the dim light last night, so I went down to the lake again this morning to see what else was around. I found that during the night, an ice edge of several hundred feet had formed off Stewart Park, so although some large gull flocks were present (no interesting species amidst them), the dabblers that had lined the shore last night had moved on. I did have two BONAPARTE'S GULLS flying south over the ice, three TUNDRA SWANS flying north high over the lake, and a single NORTHERN SHOVELER offshore. Hog Hole had a greater number of birds. Highlights included at least eight CACKLING GEESE mixed in with large goose flock (interestingly, the sub-flock with the Cackling all appeared to be quite petite Canadas, so probably coming from a different area than our normal Canadas do); a high flyover migrant RED-THROATED LOON with lots of Common Loons; at least three female NORTHERN SHOVELERS (no sign of the huge flocks from last night); two transitional male NORTHERN PINTAIL; a few Gadwall; a pair of AMERICAN WIGEON (expected more with the numbers at Montezuma a week or two ago); a pair of GREEN-WINGED TEAL; ~72 REDHEAD; 50+ RING-NECKED DUCKS plus another 150 flying in from the north; a handful of both GREATER and LESSER SCAUP; five RUDDY DUCKS; two female COMMON GOLDENEYE; and close to 200 HOODED MERGANSERS. Yesterday we counted over 50 Hooded Mergansers on the pond at Sapsucker Woods, but today it is frozen over. Complete lists from this morning here: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S20604911 http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S20604897 http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S20604903 Good birding, 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/ --
[cayugabirds-l] NYSDEC seeks volunteers for winter raptor surveys
Dear Cayuga Area Birders, The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Region 8 Wildlife Office is looking for volunteers to assist with wintering raptor surveys. The species of greatest interest is the short-eared owl, a State endangered species, however all raptor observations are important and will be documented. The findings of this study will ultimately be applied toward developing a conservation plan for this species. Surveys will be conducted from ½ hour before sunset to ½ hour after. There are two meeting locations to coordinate efforts before and after each outing. 1. Region 8 NYS DEC Office, 6274 East Avon-Lima Road, Avon, NY 14414 2. Ulysses Philomathic Library, 74 East Main Street. Trumansburg, NY 14886 Our tentative survey schedule is as follows: Avon Area:December 2, 16, 30. January 13 27. February 10 24. March 10 24. April 7 21. Trumansburg Area:December 18. January 15, 29. February 12 26. March 12 26. April 9 23. Whether you can participate for the entire season or for only a single evening, we would greatly appreciate your assistance. If you are interested, please contact me for more information. Thank you, Michael Palermo Region 8 Bureau of Wildlife New York State Department of Environmental Conservation 6274 East Avon-Lima Road Avon, NY 14414-9519 (585) 226-5464 michael.pale...@dec.ny.gov -- 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] OT. scope suggestions?
I stopped by the Hog Hole earlier today and saw my first Northern Shovelers in Tompkins Co as well as a bunch of other great ducks including Hooded Mergansers, scaup, redhead, bufflehead, ring-necked duck. However, since I don't yet own a scope, I'm sure I missed many more great birds too distant to ID with bins, or my camera's zoo. Does anybody have a recommendation for a decent starter scope? I'm hoping not to break the bank, but I don't want to end up with something crappy either. Any input helps! Thanks in advance! Josh -- 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/ --
