Re: [nysbirds-l] Jones Beach/ Meadowbrook Parkway: Snowy Owl, ~100 unknown blackbirds - please help ID
Actually Rob, I think you're original identification was the correct one. In my view these are BOAT-TAILED GRACKLES, not Rusty Blackbirds. Icterids can be tricky at times and it's important to consider several criteria when making an identification: plumage, structure, vocalizations and habitat. The relatively uniform appearances and rather warm brown tones of the bulk of these birds fits female BT Grackle better than Rusty. A couple of males are present and seem to show grackle-like tails, although not as pronounced as breeding adult males. The first thing that caught my eye however was the birds' structure, especially that of the bills on birds with their heads turned to the side, appearing too long and heavy for Rusty Blackbird. Many of these may be young birds, but that's hard to tell. If I understand your directions, these blackbirds were in trees adjacent to the extensive saltmarshes separating the barrier beach from the mainland, perfect Boat-tail habitat but uncharacteristic for Rusty, which is closely tied to freshwater swamps except during active migration. Angus Wilson, New York City & The Springs, NY > On Feb 23, 2014, at 5:44 PM, Robert Taylor wrote: > > Update: with some help (thank you!) the blackbirds were identified as Rusty > Blackbirds - I counted at least 106 (there was one starling mixed in). I'll > reported to e-bird for the Rusty Blackbird outreach program. -- 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] Jones Beach/ Meadowbrook Parkway: Snowy Owl, ~100 unknown blackbirds - please help ID
Update: with some help (thank you!) the blackbirds were identified as Rusty Blackbirds - I counted at least 106 (there was one starling mixed in). I'll reported to e-bird for the Rusty Blackbird outreach program. On Sat, Feb 22, 2014 at 10:03 PM, Robert Taylor wrote: > Hi Everyone, > > I was at Massapequa Preserve around 2:30 but not much going on (only there > 30 minutes) I drove to Jones Beach West End around 4pm - the Coast Guard > Station marina had a female Bufflehead with 2 Horned Grebes as company, > also saw 2 Long Tailed Ducks in the distance. Nothing going along the road > or divider, but there was a Snowy Owl on top of one of the dunes. > > I drove North on Meadowbrook Parkway looking for the reported Rough Legged > Hawk, but only found a juvenile Red Tailed Hawk. I saw about 100 > blackbirds that for some reason I just can't ID - I'm guessing they're Boat > Tailed Grackles? > > I posted pics on my blog - if anyone can help me ID them, I'd appreciate > it. > > Thanks in advance and Good birding, > Rob in Massapequa > > http://longislandbirding.blogspot.com/ > -- 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] Jones Beach/ Meadowbrook Parkway: Snowy Owl, ~100 unknown blackbirds - please help ID
Actually Rob, I think you're original identification was the correct one. In my view these are BOAT-TAILED GRACKLES, not Rusty Blackbirds. Icterids can be tricky at times and it's important to consider several criteria when making an identification: plumage, structure, vocalizations and habitat. The relatively uniform appearances and rather warm brown tones of the bulk of these birds fits female BT Grackle better than Rusty. A couple of males are present and seem to show grackle-like tails, although not as pronounced as breeding adult males. The first thing that caught my eye however was the birds' structure, especially that of the bills on birds with their heads turned to the side, appearing too long and heavy for Rusty Blackbird. Many of these may be young birds, but that's hard to tell. If I understand your directions, these blackbirds were in trees adjacent to the extensive saltmarshes separating the barrier beach from the mainland, perfect Boat-tail habitat but uncharacteristic for Rusty, which is closely tied to freshwater swamps except during active migration. Angus Wilson, New York City The Springs, NY On Feb 23, 2014, at 5:44 PM, Robert Taylor rmtaylo...@gmail.com wrote: Update: with some help (thank you!) the blackbirds were identified as Rusty Blackbirds - I counted at least 106 (there was one starling mixed in). I'll reported to e-bird for the Rusty Blackbird outreach program. -- 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] Jones Beach/ Meadowbrook Parkway: Snowy Owl, ~100 unknown blackbirds - please help ID
Hi Everyone, I was at Massapequa Preserve around 2:30 but not much going on (only there 30 minutes) I drove to Jones Beach West End around 4pm - the Coast Guard Station marina had a female Bufflehead with 2 Horned Grebes as company, also saw 2 Long Tailed Ducks in the distance. Nothing going along the road or divider, but there was a Snowy Owl on top of one of the dunes. I drove North on Meadowbrook Parkway looking for the reported Rough Legged Hawk, but only found a juvenile Red Tailed Hawk. I saw about 100 blackbirds that for some reason I just can't ID - I'm guessing they're Boat Tailed Grackles? I posted pics on my blog - if anyone can help me ID them, I'd appreciate it. Thanks in advance and Good birding, Rob in Massapequa http://longislandbirding.blogspot.com/ -- 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/ --
