[cayugabirds-l] Hammond Hill -- Nice selection of warblers including Bay-breasted
Location: Hammond Hill SF (from parking lot up Yellow Trail 1 to Blue Trail 1 out to road and back to parking lot) Observation date: 5/30/10 (9:10am - 10:30am) Notes: WEATHER: Calm, Sunny, 65. Extremely nice. Lots of warblers and lots of bird activity in general. A great day to be out. OBSERVERS: Chris Wood and Jessie Barry. Number of species: 41 Ruffed Grouse 1 Heard drumming. Turkey Vulture 3 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 **Uncommon and local in summer. Heard calling. Gave three series of calls, each with 5 phrases. Broad-winged Hawk 2 Both seen flying overhead. One adult. One second-year. Red-tailed Hawk 1 juvenile seen in flight. Mourning Dove 1 Black-billed Cuckoo 1 Calling in distance. Heard once. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 3 Hairy Woodpecker 1 Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 2 Pileated Woodpecker 2 Eastern Wood-Pewee 5 Blue-headed Vireo 2 Red-eyed Vireo (Red-eyed) 15 Exact count. Blue Jay 5 American Crow 3 Black-capped Chickadee 5 Tufted Titmouse 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 Brown Creeper 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet 3 Veery 5 One singing; all others calling. Hermit Thrush 2 One singing; one calling. American Robin 3 Gray Catbird 2 Both singing. Cedar Waxwing 5 Chestnut-sided Warbler 3 Magnolia Warbler 3 Black-throated Blue Warbler 4 Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 1 Blackburnian Warbler 7 Bay-breasted Warbler 1 Singing male. Getting late. Just south of where the Yellow Trail 1 comes to the T intersection. Ovenbird 15 Exact count. All singing. Mourning Warbler 4 Common Yellowthroat 4 Hooded Warbler 2 Canada Warbler 5 Perhaps the highlight of the morning. At one point we were near the intersection of three different male territories. We saw two males very close to each other and very agitated. They each had their heads lowered, tail cocked and were singing and calling and chasing each other. Both were stunning with extensive bold black necklaces. Chipping Sparrow 1 Song Sparrow 2 White-throated Sparrow 1 *Uncommon here in early summer. First heard calling (chink call) and then seen briefly. Tan individual. Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 10 All adults (at least no young of the year). Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1 Indigo Bunting 2 Bobolink 1 One in the large field about 250 meters from the parking lot. Brown-headed Cowbird 1 Purple Finch (Eastern) 2 Both singing. This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) Chris Wood eBird Neotropical Birds Project Leader Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York http://ebird.org http://neotropical.birds.cornell.edu -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Lindsay-Parsons (FLLT SBQ), Sun 5/30
I spent all of Sunday morning looking for birds at the Lindsay-Parsons Biodiversity Preserve in West Danby. I spent the first couple of hours with Bob McGuire, Tom Hoebbel, and Sydney Penner, trying to find species and boost my weekend total for the Finger Lakes Land Trust Spring Bird Quest (SBQ). Then, starting at 8 AM, Bob and I led a group of at least 25 birders (!) around the preserve. By my count, including various parties separate from ours, people have collectively found at least 79 bird species in Lindsay-Parsons today. My own total was about 70, leaving me with a running weekend tally of 85 species found on Land Trust properties. This number is modest compared with previous second-day totals, but I don't feel even the slightest disappointment. The birding and the company have been as good as ever all weekend. See below for details. Mark Chao __ Lindsay-Parsons Biodiversity Preserve Routes 34/96, West Danby 6:00-11:00 AM 70+ species, including GREEN HERON, HOODED MERGANSER, COOPER'S HAWK, YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO, ACADIAN FLYCATCHER, ALDER FLYCATCHER, WILLOW FLYCATCHER, BLUE-HEADED VIREO, YELLOW-THROATED VIREO, WINTER WREN, BROWN THRASHER, BLUE-WINGED WARBLER, CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER, BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER, BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER, BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER, MOURNING WARBLER, HOODED WARBLER, and BOBOLINK Bob, Tom, Sydney, and I started by standing on the gravel piles by the West Danby Fire Station and scanning the swampy pond. We found the weekend's first Hooded Merganser (a female perched for a long time on a nest box), and uncannily, within a second or two of Bob's first mentioning the possibility, a Pileated Woodpecker calling from the slope. Then from the old railroad bed on the east side, we found Hooded, Mourning, and Magnolia Warbler, plus our first SBQ Blue-headed Vireo this year. Then we searched the hemlock woods along Station Road, a tract that the Land Trust acquired just a few years ago. Here, we found a couple of countersinging Acadian Flycatchers at their customary location along the stream (salutations to Ryan Douglas from afar), and a couple of Blackburnian Warblers that sang obscured in the treetops and eventually chased each other right along the road. On our group outing, we had almost too many highlights to count. We had glimpses of Yellow-billed Cuckoo and Brown Thrasher; scope views of Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Indigo Bunting, Chestnut-sided Warbler, and Alder Flycatcher; repeated instructive looks at a circling Cooper's Hawk; a long encounter with a male Black-throated Green Warbler that sang on a low branch right over the trail, then flew off with food in his bill; and even apart from birding, sightings of two very obliging White Admirals, many Northern Bluets, and a Black Rat Snake in repose under a hot tin roof in an old shed. Maybe the most heartening and amazing thing part of our walk was the opportunity to witness the field skills of an eleven-year-old girl named Courtney, who was visiting from out of town. Throughout the morning, she was a step or two ahead of all of us in finding and identifying birds by sound and sight. She birded with no optics except a camera with a long lens, with which she snapped off photos of many birds, including the cuckoo. Apparently Courtney has photographed many cuckoos before, including FIVE IN ONE TREE TOGETHER (both species) in Sapsucker Woods a couple of weeks ago. Later she showed us more of her bird photos, which were beautiful and action-packed and sharp, despite the lack of an image stabilizer on her camera. In our community we are perennially blessed to have many young people with prodigious skill and great passion for birding, but I don't know if I've ever met anyone more capable at such an early age. Many thanks to all who turned out for the walk! -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Montezuma this morning
I had a good day solo birding, mostly to Montezuma. Below are the highlights. I started the day at 7am with a visit to Myers where there was a single Common Tern fishing off the point. Every time he caught something the local gulls bullied him to give it up, which was frustrating for him probably, but very entertaining for me to watch the gulls catch falling fish. Next stop was Lake Road in Ledyard where I heard a singing Grasshopper Sparrow, but failed to get visual. There were dozens of Bobolinks there too. At the pool by Montezuma visitor's center were Semipalmated Sandpipers and a pair of Spotted Sandpipers. On Wildlife Drive was little of interest except a single Graylag Goose in with the Canadas. From Tschache, I counted 135 Great Blue Herons and 8 Bald Eagles, all juveniles. A single Trumpeter Swan was there too. A couple of Black Terns showed up. At May's Pt Pool I was surprised to find a single Redhead. What I suspect was a Sora was calling. More Black Terns were seen here. The Knox-Marcellus overlook is the place to go to see shorebirds, but the distance and shimmer was challenging. There were between 20-30 peeps, about 6 Dunlin and one Semipalmated Plover. Railroad Road had several calling Soras (at least 3), which was a treat because it is now a confirmed life bird for me. Also calling was a single Virginia Rail. There are many calling Marsh Wrens there, but despite my patient efforts I never caught so much as a glimpse of one. Happy birding! Paul -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
RE: [cayugabirds-l] Lindsay-Parsons (FLLT SBQ), Sun 5/30
After a very nice walk with Mark's large birding group at Lindsay Parsons I decided to climb the ridge in Danby State Forest. Following in the footsteps of Dave, Susan and Ann I had hopes of hearing or seeing Worm-eating Warblers. I wasn't disappointed. Sitting, ( or more accurately bracing myself ), on the 75 degree ridge enjoying the view I had two Worm-eating Warblers feeding around me at very close distance. I had exceptional views as they caught spiders, caterpillars and other morsels. By far my best encounter for this species. I was able to hear their trilling song and call/chip notes. It's always fun to join Mark's FLLT bird walks as the birding is good, but more for the great diversity of birders. I'd like to second Mark's kind remarks about Courtney. This was my second time birding with Courtney and, as the first, it was delightful. In the future when I blame my lack of a correct ID on poor binocular views I will feel a twinge of consciousness. Happy Memorial Day, Gary From: bounce-5965928-3493...@list.cornell.edu [mailto:bounce-5965928-3493...@list.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of Mark Chao Sent: Sunday, May 30, 2010 4:03 PM To: Cayugabirds-L Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Lindsay-Parsons (FLLT SBQ), Sun 5/30 I spent all of Sunday morning looking for birds at the Lindsay-Parsons Biodiversity Preserve in West Danby. I spent the first couple of hours with Bob McGuire, Tom Hoebbel, and Sydney Penner, trying to find species and boost my weekend total for the Finger Lakes Land Trust Spring Bird Quest (SBQ). Then, starting at 8 AM, Bob and I led a group of at least 25 birders (!) around the preserve. By my count, including various parties separate from ours, people have collectively found at least 79 bird species in Lindsay-Parsons today. My own total was about 70, leaving me with a running weekend tally of 85 species found on Land Trust properties. This number is modest compared with previous second-day totals, but I don't feel even the slightest disappointment. The birding and the company have been as good as ever all weekend. See below for details. Mark Chao __ Lindsay-Parsons Biodiversity Preserve Routes 34/96, West Danby 6:00-11:00 AM 70+ species, including GREEN HERON, HOODED MERGANSER, COOPER'S HAWK, YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO, ACADIAN FLYCATCHER, ALDER FLYCATCHER, WILLOW FLYCATCHER, BLUE-HEADED VIREO, YELLOW-THROATED VIREO, WINTER WREN, BROWN THRASHER, BLUE-WINGED WARBLER, CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER, BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER, BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER, BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER, MOURNING WARBLER, HOODED WARBLER, and BOBOLINK Bob, Tom, Sydney, and I started by standing on the gravel piles by the West Danby Fire Station and scanning the swampy pond. We found the weekend's first Hooded Merganser (a female perched for a long time on a nest box), and uncannily, within a second or two of Bob's first mentioning the possibility, a Pileated Woodpecker calling from the slope. Then from the old railroad bed on the east side, we found Hooded, Mourning, and Magnolia Warbler, plus our first SBQ Blue-headed Vireo this year. Then we searched the hemlock woods along Station Road, a tract that the Land Trust acquired just a few years ago. Here, we found a couple of countersinging Acadian Flycatchers at their customary location along the stream (salutations to Ryan Douglas from afar), and a couple of Blackburnian Warblers that sang obscured in the treetops and eventually chased each other right along the road. On our group outing, we had almost too many highlights to count. We had glimpses of Yellow-billed Cuckoo and Brown Thrasher; scope views of Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Indigo Bunting, Chestnut-sided Warbler, and Alder Flycatcher; repeated instructive looks at a circling Cooper's Hawk; a long encounter with a male Black-throated Green Warbler that sang on a low branch right over the trail, then flew off with food in his bill; and even apart from birding, sightings of two very obliging White Admirals, many Northern Bluets, and a Black Rat Snake in repose under a hot tin roof in an old shed. Maybe the most heartening and amazing thing part of our walk was the opportunity to witness the field skills of an eleven-year-old girl named Courtney, who was visiting from out of town. Throughout the morning, she was a step or two ahead of all of us in finding and identifying birds by sound and sight. She birded with no optics except a camera with a long lens, with which she snapped off photos of many birds, including the cuckoo. Apparently Courtney has photographed many cuckoos before, including FIVE IN ONE TREE TOGETHER (both species) in Sapsucker Woods a couple of weeks ago. Later she showed us more of her bird photos, which were beautiful and action-packed and sharp, despite the lack of an image stabilizer on her camera. In our community we are perennially blessed to have many young people with prodigious skill and great passion for
[cayugabirds-l] Sunday afternoon Montezuma area
Mary, a friend from Syracuse, and I met up at the Visitor Center and spent the afternoon birding. Some highlights: Wildlife Drive: A male Killdeer displaying to a female 4 Barn Swallows sprawled in the dust in various odd postures, debugging, we guessed. Tschache: The single Trumpeter Swan 2 Great Egrets to the far fr left Towpath: Female Trumpeter on nest (male nearby close to berm), then off into the water in company with 3 male Wood Ducks Marsh Wrens singing Knox-Marsellus overlook: Dunlin, Peeps--Semi-palms and Least Sandpipers. Hard to sort out the small ones. VanDyne Spoor: 2 Black Terns cruising the puddle at the end. Nice and close. Osprey doing really fancy flightwork to impress a female sitting on a nearly pole. Cerulean Warbler near east end of the woods Carncross: Sandhill Crane family (includes the 2 colts). Really painted. Martens Tract: Common Moorhen, 2 PB Grebes, Willow Flycatcher Mays Point: Coot Along the way--Bluebirds, Tree and Barn Swallows, a Scarlet Tanager (sing), Eagles, Ospreys, Kestrels, RT Hawks, TVs, Common Yellowthroats, Redstarts, Yellow Warblers (and others) Wish we knew Rail calls--heard some interesting ones but couldn't ID. Kathy Strickland _ Hotmail is redefining busy with tools for the New Busy. Get more from your inbox. http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?ocid=PID28326::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WM_HMP:042010_2 -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
