[nysbirds-l] California, Thayer's, "Nelson's" Gulls on Niagara River - 8 Feb
A return trip to Devil's Hole State Park on the lower Niagara River in Niagara Co. this morning turned up the continuing adult California and "Nelson's" (Herring x Glaucous) Gulls from last Sunday, along with a returning (after comparing photos) adult Thayer's Gull that was photographed at the same location back on 16 December 2011. Photos of the "Nelson's" Gull are at the beginning of the photo set here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jmpawli10 A few features to note on the Nelson's, compared to adjacent ad Herring Gulls are the generally large size, short primary projection past the tertials, (marginally) paler gray mantle and upperwings, and reduced black markings on the outer primaries, all suggesting Glaucous Gull influence. Thayer's Gull taken on 16 December can be found here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jmpawli10/6527359489/in/photostream Jim Pawlicki Amherst, NY -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] California, Thayer's, Nelson's Gulls on Niagara River - 8 Feb
A return trip to Devil's Hole State Park on the lower Niagara River in Niagara Co. this morning turned up the continuing adult California and Nelson's (Herring x Glaucous) Gulls from last Sunday, along with a returning (after comparing photos) adult Thayer's Gull that was photographed at the same location back on 16 December 2011. Photos of the Nelson's Gull are at the beginning of the photo set here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jmpawli10 A few features to note on the Nelson's, compared to adjacent ad Herring Gulls are the generally large size, short primary projection past the tertials, (marginally) paler gray mantle and upperwings, and reduced black markings on the outer primaries, all suggesting Glaucous Gull influence. Thayer's Gull taken on 16 December can be found here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jmpawli10/6527359489/in/photostream Jim Pawlicki Amherst, NY -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] California Gull, 5,700 Snow Geese in Niagara/Orleans Co - 5 Feb
Late morning, an adult California Gull was present amongst a few hundred Herring and Ring-billed Gulls on the rocks below Devil's Hole State Park on the lower Niagara River. Sometime around noon it flew upstream presumably to forage amongst other gulls at the Robert Moses/Sir Adam Beck power plants. Also present were 3 adult "Kumlien's" Iceland Gulls and an adult "Nelson's" Gull (hybrid Herring x Glaucous Gull). Later in the afternoon, Bill Watson and I spent some time following a large roving flock of a few thousand Snow Geese around Route 18 and Lower Lake Rd. in the towns of Somerset, Yates, and Carlton near the Niagara-Orleans County line. After nearly an hour of flying in circles (the birds are clearly not familiar with the area), they finally joined an existing mass of Snow Geese already sitting out on Lake Ontario near Shadigee (terminus of Rt. 63). The total flock count came to 5,700 Snows (21 Blue) and 1 Cackling Goose. Several scans of the flock did not turn up any Ross's Geese, but not surprising since the flock appeared close to a mile out. As others reported, about a half dozen Red-throated Loons and a few dozen Horned Grebes were on the lake here as well. Around 4:00 the juv. male Snowy Owl was sitting on the barn at the cow farm along Marshall Rd. in the town of Yates. Photos: www.flickr.com/photos/jmpawli10 Jim Pawlicki Amherst, NY -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] California Gull, 5,700 Snow Geese in Niagara/Orleans Co - 5 Feb
Late morning, an adult California Gull was present amongst a few hundred Herring and Ring-billed Gulls on the rocks below Devil's Hole State Park on the lower Niagara River. Sometime around noon it flew upstream presumably to forage amongst other gulls at the Robert Moses/Sir Adam Beck power plants. Also present were 3 adult Kumlien's Iceland Gulls and an adult Nelson's Gull (hybrid Herring x Glaucous Gull). Later in the afternoon, Bill Watson and I spent some time following a large roving flock of a few thousand Snow Geese around Route 18 and Lower Lake Rd. in the towns of Somerset, Yates, and Carlton near the Niagara-Orleans County line. After nearly an hour of flying in circles (the birds are clearly not familiar with the area), they finally joined an existing mass of Snow Geese already sitting out on Lake Ontario near Shadigee (terminus of Rt. 63). The total flock count came to 5,700 Snows (21 Blue) and 1 Cackling Goose. Several scans of the flock did not turn up any Ross's Geese, but not surprising since the flock appeared close to a mile out. As others reported, about a half dozen Red-throated Loons and a few dozen Horned Grebes were on the lake here as well. Around 4:00 the juv. male Snowy Owl was sitting on the barn at the cow farm along Marshall Rd. in the town of Yates. Photos: www.flickr.com/photos/jmpawli10 Jim Pawlicki Amherst, NY -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Orange-crowned Warbler at Goat Island (Niagara Co) - 20 Jan
Joe Mitchell and I headed up to Goat Island in Niagara Falls late this morning and were later joined by Bill Watson. The three of us spent some time searching for the Orange-crowned Warbler, and after nearly an hour we found it foraging by itself in two small spruce trees that are located at the edge of the large brushy island that runs NE from the Three Sisters parking area. We had nice looks at it for about 10 mins before it flew through the brush and in the general direction of the short pines that are located near the restroom building. Joe then picked it up again as it was working its way towards the restrooms, after which it flew across the main road towards the state park maintenance buildings (these are the buildings one encounters on your right almost immediately after crossing the driving bridge onto Goat Island). It then spent the next 45 mins methodically foraging (almost crawling) amongst the bows of the large (50+ ft), sprawling Norway Spruce located near the large electrical generator box at the SE corner of the maintenance buildings. During this time a few other birders showed up and we had nice (but brief) glimpses of the bird as it slowly moved in and out of view amongst the bows 30-40 ft up. On our way back south, we stopped along the Niagara River at Rich Marine in Buffalo, and almost immediately after pulling into the lot, Joe spotted a juvenile female Snowy Owl sitting across the canal on the pier at the north end of Squaw Island. Both the 1st-winter Little Gull (in-flight near end of pier) and juvenile Black-legged Kittiwake (on water amongst Bonaparte's) put in appearances here as well. Photos: www.flickr.com/photos/jmpawli10 AND www.flickr.com/photos/jmitchell81 Jim Pawlicki Amherst, NY -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Orange-crowned Warbler at Goat Island (Niagara Co) - 20 Jan
Joe Mitchell and I headed up to Goat Island in Niagara Falls late this morning and were later joined by Bill Watson. The three of us spent some time searching for the Orange-crowned Warbler, and after nearly an hour we found it foraging by itself in two small spruce trees that are located at the edge of the large brushy island that runs NE from the Three Sisters parking area. We had nice looks at it for about 10 mins before it flew through the brush and in the general direction of the short pines that are located near the restroom building. Joe then picked it up again as it was working its way towards the restrooms, after which it flew across the main road towards the state park maintenance buildings (these are the buildings one encounters on your right almost immediately after crossing the driving bridge onto Goat Island). It then spent the next 45 mins methodically foraging (almost crawling) amongst the bows of the large (50+ ft), sprawling Norway Spruce located near the large electrical generator box at the SE corner of the maintenance buildings. During this time a few other birders showed up and we had nice (but brief) glimpses of the bird as it slowly moved in and out of view amongst the bows 30-40 ft up. On our way back south, we stopped along the Niagara River at Rich Marine in Buffalo, and almost immediately after pulling into the lot, Joe spotted a juvenile female Snowy Owl sitting across the canal on the pier at the north end of Squaw Island. Both the 1st-winter Little Gull (in-flight near end of pier) and juvenile Black-legged Kittiwake (on water amongst Bonaparte's) put in appearances here as well. Photos: www.flickr.com/photos/jmpawli10 AND www.flickr.com/photos/jmitchell81 Jim Pawlicki Amherst, NY -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Niagara, Erie, Chautauqua Co. misc. sightings - 16-18 Jan
A trip to Erie shore in Chautauqua Co today (18 January) with Bill Watson was highlighted by 2 ad. Little Gulls amongst 450 Bonaparte's at Barcelona Harbor on Lake Erie. One bird spent a large amount of time foraging point blank off of the west side of the main parking lot/pier, while the second individual was mostly out in front of the large rock piles at the base of the west breakwall. Dunkirk Harbor earlier in the day during the high NW winds was rather quiet, although large numbers (but relatively low diversity) of waterfowl were all throughout the harbor, along with 2+ Bald Eagles that were patrolling around. Yesterday (17 January) Kyle Horton and Corey Callaghan re-located the continuing Orange-crowned Warbler around Three Sisters Islands at Goat Island, Niagara Falls (Niagara Co). The bird was in the small island of shrubbery that is between the walking path and trolley path on the river side of the road, and directly across the road from the Three Sisters parking area on Goat Island proper. Back on 16 January, David Gordon, Corey Callaghan, Kim Hartquist and I had nice looks at the continuing ad. Black-headed Gull and juv. Black-legged Kittiwake along the Niagara River at Rich Marine in Buffalo (Erie Co). Both picked out by David, the Black-headed Gull spent most of its time feeding in-close amongst Bonies in the small boat slip between the boat docks and main building/boat storage area, while the Kittiwake was sitting out on the water at the edge of the Bonaparte's flock near the very north end of the pier on Squaw Island. Some photos can be found here: www.flickr.com/photos/jmpawli10 Jim Pawlicki Amherst, NY -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] NYSOA Region 1 Big Day highlights - 4 Jan
Yesterday Joe Mitchell and I traversed the northern counties (Niagara, Orleans, Erie, Genesee) in NYSOA Region 1 for a January Big Day, and came up with a total of 78 species. Highlights included: Cackling Goose - 7+ on ice amongst 1,200 Canadas at Gypsum Pond, town of Oakfield (Genesee) Snow Goose - white morph amongst Canadas on Lake Ontario at Point Breeze (Orleans) Northern Shoveler - 8 lingering at Batavia WWTP, along with single on ice with Mallards at Gypsum Pond, town of Oakfield (Genesee) Northern Pintail - with Mallards on Niagara River at upstream end of Goat Island (Niagara) BARROW'S GOLDENEYE - continuing ad drake on Lake Ontario just east of piers at Point Breeze (Orleans) BLACK VULTURE - 3 with 2 Turkey Vultures at corner of 5th and Mohawk St. in village of Lewiston (Niagara) Merlin - on telephone pole along Drake St. in village of Oakfield (Genesee) THAYER'S GULL - adult on Niagara River at rock shelf above 3 Sister's Islands, Goat Island (Niagara) Red-headed Woodpecker - adult on west side of Lakeside Beach State Park, town of Carlton (Orleans) COMMON YELLOWTHROAT - continuing on Meadville Rd. at Tonawanda WMA (Genesee) ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER - continuing around 3 Sisters Islands, Goat Island (Niagara); after scoping the gulls on the rock shelf, by chance we happened to spot the bird as it was foraging low in the small weedy "islands" in the stream on the west (downstream) side of the first bridge onto the 3 Sisters Islands Other notable species seen on the day included Ring-necked Duck, Red-throated Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Rough-legged Hawk, Little Gull, Short-eared Owl, Northern Shrike, Northern Mockingbird, White-crowned Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, and Brown-headed Cowbird. Jim Pawlicki Amherst, NY -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] NYSOA Region 1 Big Day highlights - 4 Jan
Yesterday Joe Mitchell and I traversed the northern counties (Niagara, Orleans, Erie, Genesee) in NYSOA Region 1 for a January Big Day, and came up with a total of 78 species. Highlights included: Cackling Goose - 7+ on ice amongst 1,200 Canadas at Gypsum Pond, town of Oakfield (Genesee) Snow Goose - white morph amongst Canadas on Lake Ontario at Point Breeze (Orleans) Northern Shoveler - 8 lingering at Batavia WWTP, along with single on ice with Mallards at Gypsum Pond, town of Oakfield (Genesee) Northern Pintail - with Mallards on Niagara River at upstream end of Goat Island (Niagara) BARROW'S GOLDENEYE - continuing ad drake on Lake Ontario just east of piers at Point Breeze (Orleans) BLACK VULTURE - 3 with 2 Turkey Vultures at corner of 5th and Mohawk St. in village of Lewiston (Niagara) Merlin - on telephone pole along Drake St. in village of Oakfield (Genesee) THAYER'S GULL - adult on Niagara River at rock shelf above 3 Sister's Islands, Goat Island (Niagara) Red-headed Woodpecker - adult on west side of Lakeside Beach State Park, town of Carlton (Orleans) COMMON YELLOWTHROAT - continuing on Meadville Rd. at Tonawanda WMA (Genesee) ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER - continuing around 3 Sisters Islands, Goat Island (Niagara); after scoping the gulls on the rock shelf, by chance we happened to spot the bird as it was foraging low in the small weedy islands in the stream on the west (downstream) side of the first bridge onto the 3 Sisters Islands Other notable species seen on the day included Ring-necked Duck, Red-throated Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Rough-legged Hawk, Little Gull, Short-eared Owl, Northern Shrike, Northern Mockingbird, White-crowned Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, and Brown-headed Cowbird. Jim Pawlicki Amherst, NY -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Niagara Slaty-backed Gull photos
Some photos of the adult Slaty-backed Gull seen today on the shelf above Goat Island in Niagara Falls, NY can be found here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jmpawli10 and here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/23318380@N04/ Jim Pawlicki Amherst, NY -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Lower Niagara River inc. Slaty-backed Gull - 8 Dec
Joe Mitchell, Bill Watson, and I met on the lower Niagara River today checking out Goat Island downriver to Lewiston. In Niagara Falls from the shore of Goat Island in the morning (just upstream from the Three Sisters Islands) we watched the continuing adult Slaty-backed Gull standing out on the large flat rock in the middle of the river. It was difficult to observe at this time as it was partially obscured behind other gulls and lighting conditions were less than ideal. Just before leaving around 10:30 we briefly looked for the bird again, but did not see it. From Goat Island and later from the third of the Three Sisters Islands we also had an adult male Harlequin Duck that was about mid-river in the pool just downstream from the first shelf drop near the "treed rock." At Whirlpool State Park in the late morning, the continuing juvenile Black-legged Kittiwake was foraging along the west shore of the inlet into the whirlpool. Later scanning the rocks below Devil's Hole State Park we did not see the 1st-winter Franklin's Gull here or while scoping the birds foraging downriver in front of the Robert Moses Power Dam. Out from the Lewiston docks was an adult Little Gull, while we also watched the now local green wing-tagged adult Bald Eagle in-flight and later bathing on the shore across the river in Queenston. From Artpark we observed at least a dozen Turkey Vultures flying along the escarpment and over the village of Lewiston, but did not encounter any Black Vultures. We also had an additional three Turkey Vultures earlier in the day between Whirlpool and Devil's Hole State Parks. Returning to Goat Island around 2:30 we scanned the birds on the shelf just upstream of the Three Sisters Islands and re-located the Slaty-backed Gull in-close and initially sleeping on the shelf just upstream from the third sister island (and in NY/US waters as previously mentioned by David Gordon). The bird remained here for at least the next hour and half as we watched it from the bridge between the second and third sister islands and later the third sister island. Around 4:15 it relocated over to the rocks along the shore of the Goat Island where we continued to have great looks at it from about 50 feet away. Around 4:45 with the light failing we watched it fly out towards the middle of river as the majority of the gulls were leaving the shelf area. Jim Pawlicki Amherst, NY -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Lower Niagara River inc. Slaty-backed Gull - 8 Dec
Joe Mitchell, Bill Watson, and I met on the lower Niagara River today checking out Goat Island downriver to Lewiston. In Niagara Falls from the shore of Goat Island in the morning (just upstream from the Three Sisters Islands) we watched the continuing adult Slaty-backed Gull standing out on the large flat rock in the middle of the river. It was difficult to observe at this time as it was partially obscured behind other gulls and lighting conditions were less than ideal. Just before leaving around 10:30 we briefly looked for the bird again, but did not see it. From Goat Island and later from the third of the Three Sisters Islands we also had an adult male Harlequin Duck that was about mid-river in the pool just downstream from the first shelf drop near the treed rock. At Whirlpool State Park in the late morning, the continuing juvenile Black-legged Kittiwake was foraging along the west shore of the inlet into the whirlpool. Later scanning the rocks below Devil's Hole State Park we did not see the 1st-winter Franklin's Gull here or while scoping the birds foraging downriver in front of the Robert Moses Power Dam. Out from the Lewiston docks was an adult Little Gull, while we also watched the now local green wing-tagged adult Bald Eagle in-flight and later bathing on the shore across the river in Queenston. From Artpark we observed at least a dozen Turkey Vultures flying along the escarpment and over the village of Lewiston, but did not encounter any Black Vultures. We also had an additional three Turkey Vultures earlier in the day between Whirlpool and Devil's Hole State Parks. Returning to Goat Island around 2:30 we scanned the birds on the shelf just upstream of the Three Sisters Islands and re-located the Slaty-backed Gull in-close and initially sleeping on the shelf just upstream from the third sister island (and in NY/US waters as previously mentioned by David Gordon). The bird remained here for at least the next hour and half as we watched it from the bridge between the second and third sister islands and later the third sister island. Around 4:15 it relocated over to the rocks along the shore of the Goat Island where we continued to have great looks at it from about 50 feet away. Around 4:45 with the light failing we watched it fly out towards the middle of river as the majority of the gulls were leaving the shelf area. Jim Pawlicki Amherst, NY -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Niagara Slaty-backed Gull photos
Some photos of the adult Slaty-backed Gull seen today on the shelf above Goat Island in Niagara Falls, NY can be found here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jmpawli10 and here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/23318380@N04/ Jim Pawlicki Amherst, NY -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Fwd: Razorbill and Franklin's Gull in Niagara County - 10 Nov
Since no mention of this (to my knowledge) has made it to the state list: A Razorbill was found on 8 November by Josh Stiller at the mouth of the Niagara River at Lake Ontario and observed from waters within Fort Niagara State Park. The bird was observed again today (10 Nov) in the late morning and early afternoon. Fort Niagara State Park is located in the very NW corner of Niagara County in the town of Youngstown and can be accessed by either heading north or west on the Robert Moses Parkway. In order to sufficiently view the Niagara River outlet, a fee of $10 is needed to enter the historic "old fort" located at the very NW corner of the state park, although distant views of the river outlet may also be had from the large parking lot located directly east of the fort. Some may remember this was also the location of a long-staying Razorbill from November thru January 2006-07, in addition to records in November 1982 and January 1985. Jim Pawlicki Amherst, NY -- Forwarded message -- From: Joseph Mitchell Date: Thu, Nov 10, 2011 at 8:53 PM Subject: [GeneseeBirds-L] Franklin's Gull - Artpark To: Genesee Birds This morning I had the Franklin's Gull, first found by Willie D'Anna, at Artpark. The bird gave very nice views as it worked the U.S. shoreline (link to photos below). After seeing the Franklin's, I headed up to Fort Niagara S.P. to look for the Razorbill but came up empty (though others reported seeing it). If the bird was out in the junction of the river and the lake as described by Jerry Lazarczyk then it would have been difficult to see from inside the fort, given the waves today. The consolation for the day were two jaegers (1 Parasitic and 1 unknown). Other birds present included many Red-throated Loons, Long-tailed Duck, White-winged Scoter, 1 ad. Little Gull, Red-necked Grebe, and many Horned Grebes. Franklin's Gull photos: https://picasaweb.google.com/josephcmitchell/2011# Joe Mitchell ___ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - geneseebird...@geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Fwd: Razorbill and Franklin's Gull in Niagara County - 10 Nov
Since no mention of this (to my knowledge) has made it to the state list: A Razorbill was found on 8 November by Josh Stiller at the mouth of the Niagara River at Lake Ontario and observed from waters within Fort Niagara State Park. The bird was observed again today (10 Nov) in the late morning and early afternoon. Fort Niagara State Park is located in the very NW corner of Niagara County in the town of Youngstown and can be accessed by either heading north or west on the Robert Moses Parkway. In order to sufficiently view the Niagara River outlet, a fee of $10 is needed to enter the historic old fort located at the very NW corner of the state park, although distant views of the river outlet may also be had from the large parking lot located directly east of the fort. Some may remember this was also the location of a long-staying Razorbill from November thru January 2006-07, in addition to records in November 1982 and January 1985. Jim Pawlicki Amherst, NY -- Forwarded message -- From: Joseph Mitchell rhettbutle...@hotmail.com Date: Thu, Nov 10, 2011 at 8:53 PM Subject: [GeneseeBirds-L] Franklin's Gull - Artpark To: Genesee Birds geneseebird...@geneseo.edu This morning I had the Franklin's Gull, first found by Willie D'Anna, at Artpark. The bird gave very nice views as it worked the U.S. shoreline (link to photos below). After seeing the Franklin's, I headed up to Fort Niagara S.P. to look for the Razorbill but came up empty (though others reported seeing it). If the bird was out in the junction of the river and the lake as described by Jerry Lazarczyk then it would have been difficult to see from inside the fort, given the waves today. The consolation for the day were two jaegers (1 Parasitic and 1 unknown). Other birds present included many Red-throated Loons, Long-tailed Duck, White-winged Scoter, 1 ad. Little Gull, Red-necked Grebe, and many Horned Grebes. Franklin's Gull photos: https://picasaweb.google.com/josephcmitchell/2011# Joe Mitchell ___ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - geneseebird...@geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Kittiwake, Jaegers at Fort Niagara SP (Lake Ontario) - 3 Nov
A juvenile Black-legged Kittiwake, adult Little Gull, and 3+ juvenile Parasitic Jaegers were present this afternoon from at least 2:30 to 5 out over Lake Ontario at Fort Niagara State Park. The Kittiwake and Little Gull were loosely foraging amongst hundreds of Bonaparte's Gulls with the Little Gull spending most of its time in the river estuary and the Kittiwake further out in the lake. The Jaegers were often harassing Bonaparte's and were occasionally observed sitting on the water. Also present on the water were about a dozen Common Loons and 3 Red-throated Loons. Jim Pawlicki Amherst, NY -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Kittiwake, Jaegers at Fort Niagara SP (Lake Ontario) - 3 Nov
A juvenile Black-legged Kittiwake, adult Little Gull, and 3+ juvenile Parasitic Jaegers were present this afternoon from at least 2:30 to 5 out over Lake Ontario at Fort Niagara State Park. The Kittiwake and Little Gull were loosely foraging amongst hundreds of Bonaparte's Gulls with the Little Gull spending most of its time in the river estuary and the Kittiwake further out in the lake. The Jaegers were often harassing Bonaparte's and were occasionally observed sitting on the water. Also present on the water were about a dozen Common Loons and 3 Red-throated Loons. Jim Pawlicki Amherst, NY -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Black-headed Gull at Barcelona Harbor (Lake Erie), Chautauqua Co. - 31 Oct
On light south winds, Bill Watson and I met along the south Erie shore in Chautauqua County today with the highlight being an adult Black-headed Gull at Barcelona Harbor in the late afternoon amongst 550+ Bonaparte's Gulls. Also present at Barcelona was an adult Little Gull, juvenile Long-tailed Duck, and Snow Bunting (on breakwall). Both the Black-headed and Little Gulls were present near the docks on the west side of the harbor across the from the main parking lot/pier with extremely close views had from the boat docks near the base of the west breakwall. Both birds stuck around fairly late, although the Black-headed was last seen leaving the harbor and flying out to into the lake proper around 5:30 pm. Conditions were ideal for catching the Horned Grebe migration along the lakeshore with grebes being by far the most common waterbird out on the lake next to Bonaparte's Gull. Diligently counting from public vantage points from Silver Creek south to Barcelona Harbor, the Horned Grebe total came out to 955. Dozens of Common Loons were also present much further out in the lake along with 2 Red-throated Loons. Highlights at Dunkirk Harbor included a flock of 15 Brant feeding on the algae covered rocks along the north/east end of the outer breakwall, along with 2 juv. Black-bellied Plovers present on the Main St. Beach. Watson's additional counts from Dunkirk included 455 Double-crested Cormorants, 18 Great Blue Herons, 46 American Coot, 4 Greater Scaup, and 2 Lesser Scaup. Black-headed Gull photo is here: www.flickr.com/photos/jmpawli10 Jim Pawlicki Amherst, NY -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Black-headed Gull at Barcelona Harbor (Lake Erie), Chautauqua Co. - 31 Oct
On light south winds, Bill Watson and I met along the south Erie shore in Chautauqua County today with the highlight being an adult Black-headed Gull at Barcelona Harbor in the late afternoon amongst 550+ Bonaparte's Gulls. Also present at Barcelona was an adult Little Gull, juvenile Long-tailed Duck, and Snow Bunting (on breakwall). Both the Black-headed and Little Gulls were present near the docks on the west side of the harbor across the from the main parking lot/pier with extremely close views had from the boat docks near the base of the west breakwall. Both birds stuck around fairly late, although the Black-headed was last seen leaving the harbor and flying out to into the lake proper around 5:30 pm. Conditions were ideal for catching the Horned Grebe migration along the lakeshore with grebes being by far the most common waterbird out on the lake next to Bonaparte's Gull. Diligently counting from public vantage points from Silver Creek south to Barcelona Harbor, the Horned Grebe total came out to 955. Dozens of Common Loons were also present much further out in the lake along with 2 Red-throated Loons. Highlights at Dunkirk Harbor included a flock of 15 Brant feeding on the algae covered rocks along the north/east end of the outer breakwall, along with 2 juv. Black-bellied Plovers present on the Main St. Beach. Watson's additional counts from Dunkirk included 455 Double-crested Cormorants, 18 Great Blue Herons, 46 American Coot, 4 Greater Scaup, and 2 Lesser Scaup. Black-headed Gull photo is here: www.flickr.com/photos/jmpawli10 Jim Pawlicki Amherst, NY -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Gannet, Jaegers, Dunlin on Lake Ontario (Niagara Co.) - 26 Oct
Lake-watching highlights during the NE winds and misty conditions this morning (26 October) along the Lake Ontario shore at Olcott and Fort Niagara State Park in Niagara County: Olcott (8:30 to 9:00): Northern Gannet - 1 juv. (about 150 yards out heading west at 8:50; I later caught up with the bird at Wilson Harbor at 9:05 and then again at Old Lake Rd. along Route 18 in the town of Porter at 9:15. Coincidentally enough at Old Lake Rd. it stalled and plunged dived in front of me only to surface next to what looked like an old white detergent bottle; it then sat on the water for about a minute and half before continuing west) Pomarine Jaeger - 1 dark/intermediate juv. (about 200 yards out sitting on the water and occasionally making short flights chasing a Ring-billed Gull) Dunlin - 60 (two flocks heading east) Fort Niagara State Park (9:35 to 12:30): Parasitic Jaeger - 2-3 intermediate to dark juvs. (at least six different sightings most which were out over the lake chasing Bonaparte's Gulls, but on two occasions birds were observed over land with at one point two birds were about 50 feet overhead and heading inland to the SW) Pomarine Jaeger – 2 intermediate and intermediate/dark juvs. (at least 4 different sightings with all birds out over the lake giving brief chases to Bonaparte's Gulls and once a Herring Gull) Dunlin - 635 (all heading east in about a dozen flocks ranging from 5 to 200 individuals) Sanderling - 3 (heading east with 65 Dunlin) Ruddy Turnstone - 1 (east with 200 Dunlin) Brant - 211 (all heading west in three flocks with the last two flocks putting down across the river on the lawn at Fort George in Niagara-on-the-Lake [Ontario]) In addition to the above, also moving were 1200+ DC Cormorants in numerous flocks heading west, along with upwards of 80 Common and 4-6 Red-throated Loons that were both on the water and in the air. Also seen were several each of Horned Grebe, White-winged Scoter, and Long-tailed Duck. On the way back south, a brief stop Goat Island in Niagara Falls turned up 75 N. Rough-winged, 2 Tree, and 2 Barn Swallows feeding over the rapids just out from Three Sister Islands. Across the river on the Ontario side were 27 Dunlin running around on the south end of the control structure breakwall, along with a Sanderling that was on rocks about mid-river. Also 2 late Blackpoll Warblers were in amongst a small flock of songbirds just downstream of Three Sisters. Jim Pawlicki Amherst, NY -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Gannet, Jaegers, Dunlin on Lake Ontario (Niagara Co.) - 26 Oct
Lake-watching highlights during the NE winds and misty conditions this morning (26 October) along the Lake Ontario shore at Olcott and Fort Niagara State Park in Niagara County: Olcott (8:30 to 9:00): Northern Gannet - 1 juv. (about 150 yards out heading west at 8:50; I later caught up with the bird at Wilson Harbor at 9:05 and then again at Old Lake Rd. along Route 18 in the town of Porter at 9:15. Coincidentally enough at Old Lake Rd. it stalled and plunged dived in front of me only to surface next to what looked like an old white detergent bottle; it then sat on the water for about a minute and half before continuing west) Pomarine Jaeger - 1 dark/intermediate juv. (about 200 yards out sitting on the water and occasionally making short flights chasing a Ring-billed Gull) Dunlin - 60 (two flocks heading east) Fort Niagara State Park (9:35 to 12:30): Parasitic Jaeger - 2-3 intermediate to dark juvs. (at least six different sightings most which were out over the lake chasing Bonaparte's Gulls, but on two occasions birds were observed over land with at one point two birds were about 50 feet overhead and heading inland to the SW) Pomarine Jaeger – 2 intermediate and intermediate/dark juvs. (at least 4 different sightings with all birds out over the lake giving brief chases to Bonaparte's Gulls and once a Herring Gull) Dunlin - 635 (all heading east in about a dozen flocks ranging from 5 to 200 individuals) Sanderling - 3 (heading east with 65 Dunlin) Ruddy Turnstone - 1 (east with 200 Dunlin) Brant - 211 (all heading west in three flocks with the last two flocks putting down across the river on the lawn at Fort George in Niagara-on-the-Lake [Ontario]) In addition to the above, also moving were 1200+ DC Cormorants in numerous flocks heading west, along with upwards of 80 Common and 4-6 Red-throated Loons that were both on the water and in the air. Also seen were several each of Horned Grebe, White-winged Scoter, and Long-tailed Duck. On the way back south, a brief stop Goat Island in Niagara Falls turned up 75 N. Rough-winged, 2 Tree, and 2 Barn Swallows feeding over the rapids just out from Three Sister Islands. Across the river on the Ontario side were 27 Dunlin running around on the south end of the control structure breakwall, along with a Sanderling that was on rocks about mid-river. Also 2 late Blackpoll Warblers were in amongst a small flock of songbirds just downstream of Three Sisters. Jim Pawlicki Amherst, NY -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
Re:[nysbirds-l] Great Black-backed x Glaucous Gull at Woodlawn Beach SP - 21 Oct
The date of when the bird was initially observed at Dunkirk Harbor was on 2 October. Jim Pawlicki On Fri, Oct 21, 2011 at 9:54 PM, James Pawlicki wrote: > The highlight of a trip this afternoon to Woodlawn Beach State Park on the > south Lake Erie shore in Erie County was a near adult (4th-cycle) apparent > Great Black-backed x Glaucous Gull hybrid present amongst other gulls at the > north end of the beach. Interesting about this bird was that it was > initially found and photographed about 50 miles to the south at Dunkirk > Harbor in Chautauqua County by Willie D'Anna, only to turn up again briefly > on 15 October when Rick Thomas and I watched the bird (distantly and > in-flight) from Hamburg Town Park during strong WSW winds (with the ID at > the time only suspected). > > Two photos are here: www.flickr.com/photos/jmpawli10 > > Without getting into too much detail, a few other things to note in the > photos in addition to the intermediate mantle shade and extensive white in > the wing-tips are the subtle hints of Glaucous Gull influence in the > head/bill structure (as compared to pure Great Black-backed Gull), including > the proportionately longer, more paralled-sided [straighter] bill, less > "swollen" lores, and "flatter-face" with small appearing eye enhanced by > "GLGU-like" white eye arcs--all of these features would seem to eliminate a > leucistic Great Black-backed Gull. Additionally the bird is still > undergoing its pre-basic molt (into winter plumage) with the very last > primary feather (primary 10) on the wing-tips very thin, old, and worn, > while the next primary in (primary 9) is still in the process of growing in. > > Other birds of note on the beach included a flock of 300+ Bonaparte's Gulls > and 6 Sanderling, while several flocks of songbirds were present along the > (windless) east side of the beach, including dozens of Kinglets, Sparrows, > and Yellow-rumps, along with Blue-headed Vireo, Field Sparrow, Eastern > Towhee, two Hermit Thruhes, and a late Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. > > > Jim Pawlicki > Amherst, NY > -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Great Black-backed x Glaucous Gull at Woodlawn Beach SP - 21 Oct
The highlight of a trip this afternoon to Woodlawn Beach State Park on the south Lake Erie shore in Erie County was a near adult (4th-cycle) apparent Great Black-backed x Glaucous Gull hybrid present amongst other gulls at the north end of the beach. Interesting about this bird was that it was initially found and photographed about 50 miles to the south at Dunkirk Harbor in Chautauqua County by Willie D'Anna, only to turn up again briefly on 15 October when Rick Thomas and I watched the bird (distantly and in-flight) from Hamburg Town Park during strong WSW winds (with the ID at the time only suspected). Two photos are here: www.flickr.com/photos/jmpawli10 Without getting into too much detail, a few other things to note in the photos in addition to the intermediate mantle shade and extensive white in the wing-tips are the subtle hints of Glaucous Gull influence in the head/bill structure (as compared to pure Great Black-backed Gull), including the proportionately longer, more paralled-sided [straighter] bill, less "swollen" lores, and "flatter-face" with small appearing eye enhanced by "GLGU-like" white eye arcs--all of these features would seem to eliminate a leucistic Great Black-backed Gull. Additionally the bird is still undergoing its pre-basic molt (into winter plumage) with the very last primary feather (primary 10) on the wing-tips very thin, old, and worn, while the next primary in (primary 9) is still in the process of growing in. Other birds of note on the beach included a flock of 300+ Bonaparte's Gulls and 6 Sanderling, while several flocks of songbirds were present along the (windless) east side of the beach, including dozens of Kinglets, Sparrows, and Yellow-rumps, along with Blue-headed Vireo, Field Sparrow, Eastern Towhee, two Hermit Thruhes, and a late Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. Jim Pawlicki Amherst, NY -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Great Black-backed x Glaucous Gull at Woodlawn Beach SP - 21 Oct
The highlight of a trip this afternoon to Woodlawn Beach State Park on the south Lake Erie shore in Erie County was a near adult (4th-cycle) apparent Great Black-backed x Glaucous Gull hybrid present amongst other gulls at the north end of the beach. Interesting about this bird was that it was initially found and photographed about 50 miles to the south at Dunkirk Harbor in Chautauqua County by Willie D'Anna, only to turn up again briefly on 15 October when Rick Thomas and I watched the bird (distantly and in-flight) from Hamburg Town Park during strong WSW winds (with the ID at the time only suspected). Two photos are here: www.flickr.com/photos/jmpawli10 Without getting into too much detail, a few other things to note in the photos in addition to the intermediate mantle shade and extensive white in the wing-tips are the subtle hints of Glaucous Gull influence in the head/bill structure (as compared to pure Great Black-backed Gull), including the proportionately longer, more paralled-sided [straighter] bill, less swollen lores, and flatter-face with small appearing eye enhanced by GLGU-like white eye arcs--all of these features would seem to eliminate a leucistic Great Black-backed Gull. Additionally the bird is still undergoing its pre-basic molt (into winter plumage) with the very last primary feather (primary 10) on the wing-tips very thin, old, and worn, while the next primary in (primary 9) is still in the process of growing in. Other birds of note on the beach included a flock of 300+ Bonaparte's Gulls and 6 Sanderling, while several flocks of songbirds were present along the (windless) east side of the beach, including dozens of Kinglets, Sparrows, and Yellow-rumps, along with Blue-headed Vireo, Field Sparrow, Eastern Towhee, two Hermit Thruhes, and a late Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. Jim Pawlicki Amherst, NY -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
Re:[nysbirds-l] Great Black-backed x Glaucous Gull at Woodlawn Beach SP - 21 Oct
The date of when the bird was initially observed at Dunkirk Harbor was on 2 October. Jim Pawlicki On Fri, Oct 21, 2011 at 9:54 PM, James Pawlicki jmpawl...@gmail.com wrote: The highlight of a trip this afternoon to Woodlawn Beach State Park on the south Lake Erie shore in Erie County was a near adult (4th-cycle) apparent Great Black-backed x Glaucous Gull hybrid present amongst other gulls at the north end of the beach. Interesting about this bird was that it was initially found and photographed about 50 miles to the south at Dunkirk Harbor in Chautauqua County by Willie D'Anna, only to turn up again briefly on 15 October when Rick Thomas and I watched the bird (distantly and in-flight) from Hamburg Town Park during strong WSW winds (with the ID at the time only suspected). Two photos are here: www.flickr.com/photos/jmpawli10 Without getting into too much detail, a few other things to note in the photos in addition to the intermediate mantle shade and extensive white in the wing-tips are the subtle hints of Glaucous Gull influence in the head/bill structure (as compared to pure Great Black-backed Gull), including the proportionately longer, more paralled-sided [straighter] bill, less swollen lores, and flatter-face with small appearing eye enhanced by GLGU-like white eye arcs--all of these features would seem to eliminate a leucistic Great Black-backed Gull. Additionally the bird is still undergoing its pre-basic molt (into winter plumage) with the very last primary feather (primary 10) on the wing-tips very thin, old, and worn, while the next primary in (primary 9) is still in the process of growing in. Other birds of note on the beach included a flock of 300+ Bonaparte's Gulls and 6 Sanderling, while several flocks of songbirds were present along the (windless) east side of the beach, including dozens of Kinglets, Sparrows, and Yellow-rumps, along with Blue-headed Vireo, Field Sparrow, Eastern Towhee, two Hermit Thruhes, and a late Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. Jim Pawlicki Amherst, NY -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
Re:[nysbirds-l] [GeneseeBirds-L] Pomarine Jaeger- Buffalo, LaSalle Park & Niagara River
A few details on the juvenile Pomarine Jaeger at Lasalle Park on the Buffalo waterfront this afternoon (17 Oct): The bird was initially observed flying in towards the small slip area just off the south end of the park and spent about 2 minutes heavily harassing a Ring-billed Gull before sitting on the water just off the railing. It then got up and was lost in-flight behind some trees along the shore, seemingly flying inland over the nearby apartments. After searching at Erie Basin to no avail and then returning back to Lasalle Park, it reappeared about an hour later just outside the south end of the inner breakwall attempting to chase a Herring Gull before flying north. We then followed the bird for about a 1/4 mile north along the breakwall, but eventually lost it as it dropped down behind the breakwall. A photo of the bird is here: www.flickr.com/photos/jmpawli10 On a belated note, Kyle Horton and I had brief views of a (mostly basic[winter]-plumaged) Red Phalarope in the rapids above Niagara Falls as viewed from the shore of Goat Island late yesterday (Sunday) morning. The bird was in-flight out over the rapids on the Canadian side before flying upriver towards the upstream end of Goat Island--a few times it appeared as if it was going to land on the water, but before watching it do so we lost it as it flew behind some trees along the shoreline. Searching the area over the next 45 minutes did not turn up the bird. Also of interest here over the rapids were 145 Chimney Swifts and 600+ Swallows, mostly N. Rough-winged with some Tree and one Barn, and a leucistic (nearly all white) Bonaparte's Gull. Additionally a quick stop at the beach/marina at Beaver Island State Park in the afternoon turned up a Spotted Sandpiper at the west end of the swimming beach and 5 Common Terns amongst 300+ Bonaparte's Gulls at the marina. Jim Pawlicki Amherst, NY On Mon, Oct 17, 2011 at 4:04 PM, wrote: > ** > October 17 - Jim Pawlicki and I saw a Pomarine Jaegar at LaSalle Park in > Buffalo at 1:48 PM and again at 3:05 PM. La Salle Park is about two mile > south of the Peace Bridge. There were also 300 Double-crested Cormorants, 2 > American Black Ducks, and a Common Tern. > > Near the north end of Squaw Island just south of the International Rail > Road Bridge there were 11 Chimney Swifts, three Little Gulls, 600 > Double-crested Cormorants, 200 Bonaparte's Gulls, and 6 Great Egrets. > > Best Wishes for Great Birding, > Bill Watson > Buffalo Ornithological Society > > ___ > GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - geneseebird...@geneseo.edu > http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l > -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
Re:[nysbirds-l] [GeneseeBirds-L] Pomarine Jaeger- Buffalo, LaSalle Park Niagara River
A few details on the juvenile Pomarine Jaeger at Lasalle Park on the Buffalo waterfront this afternoon (17 Oct): The bird was initially observed flying in towards the small slip area just off the south end of the park and spent about 2 minutes heavily harassing a Ring-billed Gull before sitting on the water just off the railing. It then got up and was lost in-flight behind some trees along the shore, seemingly flying inland over the nearby apartments. After searching at Erie Basin to no avail and then returning back to Lasalle Park, it reappeared about an hour later just outside the south end of the inner breakwall attempting to chase a Herring Gull before flying north. We then followed the bird for about a 1/4 mile north along the breakwall, but eventually lost it as it dropped down behind the breakwall. A photo of the bird is here: www.flickr.com/photos/jmpawli10 On a belated note, Kyle Horton and I had brief views of a (mostly basic[winter]-plumaged) Red Phalarope in the rapids above Niagara Falls as viewed from the shore of Goat Island late yesterday (Sunday) morning. The bird was in-flight out over the rapids on the Canadian side before flying upriver towards the upstream end of Goat Island--a few times it appeared as if it was going to land on the water, but before watching it do so we lost it as it flew behind some trees along the shoreline. Searching the area over the next 45 minutes did not turn up the bird. Also of interest here over the rapids were 145 Chimney Swifts and 600+ Swallows, mostly N. Rough-winged with some Tree and one Barn, and a leucistic (nearly all white) Bonaparte's Gull. Additionally a quick stop at the beach/marina at Beaver Island State Park in the afternoon turned up a Spotted Sandpiper at the west end of the swimming beach and 5 Common Terns amongst 300+ Bonaparte's Gulls at the marina. Jim Pawlicki Amherst, NY On Mon, Oct 17, 2011 at 4:04 PM, williamwatso...@aol.com wrote: ** October 17 - Jim Pawlicki and I saw a Pomarine Jaegar at LaSalle Park in Buffalo at 1:48 PM and again at 3:05 PM. La Salle Park is about two mile south of the Peace Bridge. There were also 300 Double-crested Cormorants, 2 American Black Ducks, and a Common Tern. Near the north end of Squaw Island just south of the International Rail Road Bridge there were 11 Chimney Swifts, three Little Gulls, 600 Double-crested Cormorants, 200 Bonaparte's Gulls, and 6 Great Egrets. Best Wishes for Great Birding, Bill Watson Buffalo Ornithological Society ___ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - geneseebird...@geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] California Gull, RN Phalarope at Dunkirk Harbor - 1 Oct
Highlights from Dunkirk Harbor on Lake Erie in Chautauqua County today (1 October): California Gull - adult basic (winter) on Wright Park beach amongst Herring and Ring-bills in the evening from at least 5:30 pm to when I last left it on the beach with Jerry Lazarczyk, Bill Watson, and Joe Gula around 6:45 pm Red-necked Phalarope - first-basic (winter) floating around in the surf initially at the north end of the Main St. beach and then later in the afternoon within the harbor just inside the east inner breakwall Sanderling - 3 juveniles on Main St. beach in early afternoon Ruddy Turnstone - 2 juveniles walking around the edges of the parking lot ON the Central Ave pier in the early afternoon; later put in a brief appearance there but were eventually flushed by traffic (foot and vehicles) later in the afternoon once the weather calmed a bit Semipalmated Plover - juvenile with Ruddy Turnstones on Central Ave pier usually sticking to the far west end Black-bellied Plover - juvenile on Main St. beach in early evening Brant - several flocks totaling at least 75 birds were coming and going from the harbor and occasionally spent some time on the water just inside the outer breakwall and directly out from the Central Ave. pier Snow Goose - adult blue-morph flying over with flock of 30+ Canadas Peregrine Falcon - 1 high overhead heading SW in early afternoon Bald Eagle - 2 overhead Osprey - 1 overhead A brief walk around the woodlot at the mouth of Canadaway Creek in the late afternoon just south of Point Gratiot turned up a nice group of warblers in the (calm) woods on south/east side of the creek that included Palm, 6 Magnolia, Hooded, N. Parula, 2 Nashville, Black-throated Blue, and 2 Blackpoll Warblers. Further south at Barcelona Harbor in Westfield turned up another Peregrine Falcon, while on the ride along Route 5 between Dunkirk and Barcelona were at least 2 Bald Eagles. Another adult Bald Eagle was also observed flying over the I-90 along the Buffalo River in West Seneca (Erie Co.) during the late morning. Photos: www.flickr.com/photos/jmpawli10 Jim Pawlicki Buffalo, NY -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] California Gull, RN Phalarope at Dunkirk Harbor - 1 Oct
Highlights from Dunkirk Harbor on Lake Erie in Chautauqua County today (1 October): California Gull - adult basic (winter) on Wright Park beach amongst Herring and Ring-bills in the evening from at least 5:30 pm to when I last left it on the beach with Jerry Lazarczyk, Bill Watson, and Joe Gula around 6:45 pm Red-necked Phalarope - first-basic (winter) floating around in the surf initially at the north end of the Main St. beach and then later in the afternoon within the harbor just inside the east inner breakwall Sanderling - 3 juveniles on Main St. beach in early afternoon Ruddy Turnstone - 2 juveniles walking around the edges of the parking lot ON the Central Ave pier in the early afternoon; later put in a brief appearance there but were eventually flushed by traffic (foot and vehicles) later in the afternoon once the weather calmed a bit Semipalmated Plover - juvenile with Ruddy Turnstones on Central Ave pier usually sticking to the far west end Black-bellied Plover - juvenile on Main St. beach in early evening Brant - several flocks totaling at least 75 birds were coming and going from the harbor and occasionally spent some time on the water just inside the outer breakwall and directly out from the Central Ave. pier Snow Goose - adult blue-morph flying over with flock of 30+ Canadas Peregrine Falcon - 1 high overhead heading SW in early afternoon Bald Eagle - 2 overhead Osprey - 1 overhead A brief walk around the woodlot at the mouth of Canadaway Creek in the late afternoon just south of Point Gratiot turned up a nice group of warblers in the (calm) woods on south/east side of the creek that included Palm, 6 Magnolia, Hooded, N. Parula, 2 Nashville, Black-throated Blue, and 2 Blackpoll Warblers. Further south at Barcelona Harbor in Westfield turned up another Peregrine Falcon, while on the ride along Route 5 between Dunkirk and Barcelona were at least 2 Bald Eagles. Another adult Bald Eagle was also observed flying over the I-90 along the Buffalo River in West Seneca (Erie Co.) during the late morning. Photos: www.flickr.com/photos/jmpawli10 Jim Pawlicki Buffalo, NY -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
