On Sunday, the second day of this year's Finger Lakes Land Trust Spring Bird Quest (SBQ), I started my morning of birding at 7 AM on the west side of the Lindsay-Parsons Biodiversity Preserve, by the West Danby Fire Station on Sylvan Drive. I had very fine views of some species that aren't always easy to find on the SBQ, including HOODED WARBLER (along steep road to water tower), BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER (pair along old railroad bed), and four WILD TURKEYS in the grassy field along the road. GREAT BLUE HERONS have at least one nest in the dead trees in the swamp. I also heard many other species, including two BLUE-HEADED VIREOS, CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER, BLUE-WINGED WARBLER, and HOUSE WREN (another good SBQ find).
Then starting at 8 AM, I led a group walk on the east side. About 16 people attended, including very gratifying number of repeat customers, as well as some first-timers. My young baseball all-star friend Dylan joined us despite having had 4 hours of sleep at a friend's house last night! It was very windy and therefore more difficult than usual to spot birds, but we had more than our share of excellent viewing, including long looks at PRAIRIE WARBLER, MAGNOLIA WARBLER, BLUE-WINGED WARBLER, RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD, INDIGO BUNTING, GREEN HERON, and WOOD DUCK. We also heard a HOODED WARBLER and a ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK in the first patch of woods by the parking lot, then another Hooded Warbler, BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER, and BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER between the railroad track and Celia's Cup. At Celia's Cup we heard a bird singing a very fast dry trill a few times. I named it as a Chipping Sparrow, until I retrieved some deep memory and realized in an electrifying moment that it really sounded more like a Worm-eating Warbler, which is equally or more expected given the location. Alas, we didn't see this bird and get a conclusive ID. (For all I know, it could well have been a junco - but I don't think so.) On our way back, we found more exciting birds - a BROWN THRASHER seen by me only, a CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER, an ALDER FLYCATCHER, a rather unexpected NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH by the northern pond, and a singing BOBOLINK in weedier habitat than I usually associate with this species. My current tally for the weekend so far is 71 species - modest compared to previous years, but not bad given the weather. The quality of the birding has been really pretty good! I look forward to seeing many of you at tomorrow's walks at the Goetchius Wetland Preserve in Caroline (6:30 AM) and the Park Nature Preserve in Dryden (8:30 AM). Mark Chao -- 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/ --
