Ann Mitchell & I spent most of today birding on the west side of Cayuga Lake
where we thought there would be less wind. There was still snow in the air and
heat shimmer over the water, so visibility was limited, and we have no new or
unusual waterbirds to report. The ice edge in the north is inconveniently by
Canoga Marsh where I think there is no public road access. The best waterbird
spot we found was in the southwest corner of the lake, in dear old Ithaca, the
only place we encountered large numbers of anything but Canada Geese, although
there was some variety spread around the lake.
On our way inland to check various feeders, we were surprised at a brief
encounter with a large gray raptor which we identified as a NORTHERN GOSHAWK.
Here's my description from eBird:
"Shortly after we turned west from NYS-89 onto E Covert Rd we saw a large
raptor perched in profile fairly high in a medium-sized tree along the north
side of the road. We stopped before we got to it, but it immediately flew south
across the road in front of us, continuing high among the mature conifers on
the south side of the road and quickly out of sight. Our view was brief and we
did not get binoculars on it. Perched, viewed against a dark background of
other trees, it appeared generally gray (no brown), darker above, but with
extensive bold white undertail coverts in a long triangle. The silhouette was
wrong for the very familiar Red-tailed Hawk. This bird was more vertical,
cylindrical and big-headed. Flying, it was somewhat Buteo-like, having broad
wings, but it also had a tail too long compared to a Red-tailed Hawk, which
made it seem Accipiter-like, but not as long as Sharp-shinned or Cooper's Hawk.
The tail was only seen from above and was dark with no white markings, it was
even in length, not graduated or bulging out at the end like a Cooper's
Hawk.There were no bold markings above or below the wings that I saw, although
there was little opportunity to view. It appeared very clean-edged in outline
(not scruffy like Red-tailed) and flew level and fast with strong wingbeats,
but not rapid flutters like a smaller Accipiter. The body was much more stocky
than Cooper's (another familar bird), and the wings were also too broad front
to back for Cooper's. Sharp-shinned would be far too tiny. It was neither
narrow-winged, nor slim-bodied, nor as long-tailed as Northern Harrier (also
very familiar, with several seen today) for which this is the wrong habitat. It
lacked the broad, bold belly band of a Rough-legged Hawk and lacked bold
markings on the upper tail, as well as being in the wrong habitat and having
the wrong perching style - not on twigs at tip of tree. Too large for
Broad-winged Hawk. Neither streaked brown nor reddish/pinkish below, pointing
against Broad-winged, Red-shouldered, and other Accipiters. I have only seen a
few Northern Goshawks, and this was not a great view. For instance, I did not
see the head markings. However, its shape both perched and in flight, size,
basic pattern (prominent undertail coverts but no other bold marks), color
(gray, no obvious brown nor red on perched bird), behavior (fleeing immediately
with strong flight), and habitat (woodland with many conifers) all point to
adult Northern Goshawk. We did not refind it although we looked south into
trees from the car, then turned left at the first opportunity and looked east
from that road. FOY, first 2016 CLB record."
I neglected to mention that the wings were not at all pointed. This was not a
Gyrfalcon. You would have heard about that sooner!
At the time I had forgotten that Northern Goshawk had not been reported yet for
the basin, and it didn't seem very chase-able, having disappeared on us so
quickly, so we neglected to report it to the listserv or the rare bird alert.
Back home in the evening I discovered that Northern Goshawk wasn't even on
eBird's rare bird list for that area. I had to add it. So, it's rarer than I
realized. I thought it was just me not finding the species some years. Anyway,
sorry for not reporting it immediately.
We looked for the Snowy Owl on Seybolt Road on our way north and south, but did
not find it. Maybe it's gone, or maybe we're just not lucky, and it likes to
hide. One bird we did successfully seek was a RING-NECKED PHEASANT along Farron
Road in the vicinity of the Finglerlakes Regional Airport south of Seneca
Falls. Not only was this a gorgeous male bird with his long tail fluttering in
the wind, but he wasn't alongside the game farm, so he seemed more wild. It's
possible he grew up in the game farm, but we've seen pheasants in this area
last year and this past fall, so maybe they breed there. Or maybe someone
releases them there every year.
--Dave Nutter
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Cayugabirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES
