[cayugabirds-l] King eider at Oswego .... OOB

[John and Fritzie Blizzard]

Daughter, Becky, & I were at Oswego yesterday (Sat.) afternoon & again 
saw the King eider, red-throated loon, dozens of white-winged scoters & 
long-tailed ducks, as well as the usual ducks & gulls. Also being seen 
in winter plumage was the male horned grebe which Kathy Strickland & I 
saw on 4 Feb.. On that date she & I also saw the male red-necked grebe 
in the river so close it was almost under our feet!


The eider has been seen since before we first saw it on 4 Feb.. I've 
seen it 3 times. (Worth the trip from Union Springs!)  It's a 
magnificent bird & yesterday was in the channel between Breitbeck Park 
at the west end of Lake St. & the breakwall. With the storm it could be 
most anywhere between there & the lighthouse & Marine Museum where there 
is more likelihood of not having to dive deeply for food or fight the 
high waves on the lake.


Hopefully the heavy snow & a "blizzard" forecast for that area eastward 
in the next couple days won't make it leave! Local birders said they 
have to look in various spots throughout the day to find the rarities 
but always below (north of) the Bridge St. bridge (Rte.104) & westward 
along & to the west end of the breakwall at Breitbeck park.


Becky & I also went to Sodus yesterday & saw the female Barrow's 
goldeneye hanging out with a large flotilla of white-winged scoters & a 
pr. of common goldeneye at the bay end of the channel. It was pointed 
out to us by a couple who were taking photos of it. With the wind it was 
bitterly cold, even in the sunshine, so without their guidance, we 
wouldn't have stayed to find it. Sorry, I didn't get their names.


We saw 2 turkey vultures just north of the Audubon Center/Savannah along 
Rte. 89 & 2 male harriers also flew over us moments later on Rte. 89.


Had a good view of a bald eagle sitting on the nest about 2 mi. west 
along Rte. 104 from where it joins Rte. 38 (Martville?). Mate was on a 
limb next to the nest.


Fritzie



--

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/

--

Re: [cayugabirds-l] OOB -burrowing owls

[Maureen Cowen]

Thanks for the update on the little burrowing owls. I saw those in Cape Coral, 
Fl.
We are looking forward to the Fl. birding too. We leave here on March 2nd.
We can compare notes when we return.
Maureen

Sent from my iPhone

On Feb 24, 2019, at 9:47 AM, Donna Lee Scott 
mailto:d...@cornell.edu>> wrote:

Cape Coral Florida just had its annual burrowing owl festival with over 4000 
attending. It is an owl-friendly city and burrowing owls have their dens all 
over in peoples' yards and in public grounds.
Maps help people find den sites.

Last year at one of the sites I went to, there were not only burrowing owls 
standing right next to me, but also monk parakeets and a loggerhead shrike 
higher up.

Donna Scott
Lansing, but now being serenaded by Fish Crows & Ospreys at Captiva I. FL as 
300 Black Skimmers loaf on beach w their Royal, Common & Sandwich Tern pals.

Sent from my iPhone
--
Cayugabirds-L List Info:
Welcome and Basics
Rules and Information
Subscribe, Configuration and 
Leave
Archives:
The Mail 
Archive
Surfbirds
BirdingOnThe.Net
Please submit your observations to eBird!
--

--

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/

--

Re: [cayugabirds-l] odd Bufflehead

[AB Clark]

Just a thought, and an inference based on passerines (Red winged blackbirds):  
Late fledged males were also likely to turn up in spring with more juvenile 
plumage—orange-y epaulet, small epaulet, lots of light edging to the feathers 
or some downright brown.  Naturally my sample is small because we always got 
few returns of banded males.  BUT if climate change makes breeding seasons 
longer, by extending the dates by which late nesters or renesters have to have 
fledged their young in order for them to migrate successfully, maybe we will 
also see a wider range of plumage transitions to adult/breeding because some of 
the transitioners are really younger.  

A theory supported by very little data...



> On Feb 24, 2019, at 8:25 PM, Dave Nutter  wrote:
> 
> Thanks, Bob, for leading a fine field trip, including timing our stop at 
> Sheldrake Point just when the front came through, which was fun to see, and 
> only a little wet. 
> 
> While  the species we saw on the ponds at Union Springs were expected, they 
> included an individual which I found interesting. On the Factory Street pond, 
> a pair of Buffleheads were moving together, with the male following the 
> female, yet trying to stay ahead of her and in her view while also mimicking 
> her movements - classic courtship/pursuit. 
> 
> But the behavioral male did not have the the typical male Bufflehead breeding 
> plumage with the huge circle of white encompassing the back of the head, and 
> the bright white neck, breast and sides. 
> 
> Instead, he looked a lot like the female, with an oblong white mark behind 
> the eye that was only a little broader than usual on an otherwise dark head, 
> and gray sides that, instead of being plain, faded to white toward the top 
> and faded to a paler whitish breast and even whiter toward the top of the 
> neck. Sibley shows this plumage for non-breeding males from June through 
> September, when Buffleheads are much less commonly reported around Cayuga 
> Lake, so I don’t recall seeing it well before. 
> 
> But why would he wear it now in late February? I have 2 guesses.
> 
> Perhaps this is an adult male who for some reason has not molted out the 
> non-breeding plumage on time. In other words, this individual bird and Sibley 
> disagree on the timing of this molt. 
> 
> My other guess is that perhaps the reason we saw it in late February was that 
> this was a young male. Sibley shows first winter males (“Nov-Jul, variable”) 
> as extremely similar to females: The only difference I see is that the male’s 
> head is more black while the female’s is very dark gray, but each has 
> essentially the same oblong white mark behind the eye, and plain gray on 
> sides, breast & neck. 
> 
> But at some point the young male must transition to typical male breeding 
> plumage. Do they go through an intermediate stage in late winter which looks 
> like the non-breeding male in summer? 
> 
> If anyone else knows better why this June-to-September plumage would be 
> evident in late February, I am very curious. By the way, his feet and legs 
> were also dull in color rather than the bright pink that breeding-plumage 
> males show. 
> 
> - - Dave Nutter
> 
> On Feb 24, 2019, at 5:14 PM, bob mcguire  > wrote:
> 
>> In spite of the dire weather prediction for today, four folks showed up to 
>> join me for a drive around the lake. I will save a full report for the CBC 
>> March newsletter, but want to share the highlights now. A FOY 
>> (first-of-year) KILLDEER greeted us as we got out of the cars at Myers, 
>> foraging on the gravel bar along side the creek. We also had a variety of 
>> ducks, including 3 Long-tailed Ducks and 3 White-winged Scoters (birds that 
>> have been there for the past few weeks). 
>> 
>> We received the RBA message of a BOHEMIAN WAXWING in Groton, which would 
>> have been a life bird for several of us, and decided to chase it. By the 
>> time we got there the flock of 35 waxwings (as reported) had dwindled to 32, 
>> and the Bohemian was missing!
>> 
>> Somewhat disappointed, we continued north and encountered a large flock of 
>> Snow Buntings (approx 500) along Davis Road. They were far back in the corn 
>> stubble, constantly in flight and, try as we might, we were unable to pick 
>> out any Lapland Longspurs.
>> 
>> Aurora Bay was empty of grebes; there was no sign of Friday’s Gyrfalcon in 
>> the vicinity of Great Gully (didn’t really expect it to be that 
>> cooperative). 
>> 
>> We found a few Green-winged Teal along the shore to the north of Frontenac 
>> Park. There was nothing out of the ordinary on the ponds in Union Springs 
>> nor on the water at Mud Lock. 
>> 
>> Next we checked the Finger Lakes airport for Snowy Owls (none) and the area 
>> of the quarry for Gyrfalcon (nothing). 
>> 
>> The view from Sheldarake Park was unremarkable. And from there we ran ahead 
>> of the cold front (wind and rain) all the way home.
>> 
>> Bob McGuire
>> --
>> 

[cayugabirds-l] odd Bufflehead

[Dave Nutter]

Thanks, Bob, for leading a fine field trip, including timing our stop at 
Sheldrake Point just when the front came through, which was fun to see, and 
only a little wet. 

While  the species we saw on the ponds at Union Springs were expected, they 
included an individual which I found interesting. On the Factory Street pond, a 
pair of Buffleheads were moving together, with the male following the female, 
yet trying to stay ahead of her and in her view while also mimicking her 
movements - classic courtship/pursuit. 

But the behavioral male did not have the the typical male Bufflehead breeding 
plumage with the huge circle of white encompassing the back of the head, and 
the bright white neck, breast and sides. 

Instead, he looked a lot like the female, with an oblong white mark behind the 
eye that was only a little broader than usual on an otherwise dark head, and 
gray sides that, instead of being plain, faded to white toward the top and 
faded to a paler whitish breast and even whiter toward the top of the neck. 
Sibley shows this plumage for non-breeding males from June through September, 
when Buffleheads are much less commonly reported around Cayuga Lake, so I don’t 
recall seeing it well before. 

But why would he wear it now in late February? I have 2 guesses.

Perhaps this is an adult male who for some reason has not molted out the 
non-breeding plumage on time. In other words, this individual bird and Sibley 
disagree on the timing of this molt. 

My other guess is that perhaps the reason we saw it in late February was that 
this was a young male. Sibley shows first winter males (“Nov-Jul, variable”) as 
extremely similar to females: The only difference I see is that the male’s head 
is more black while the female’s is very dark gray, but each has essentially 
the same oblong white mark behind the eye, and plain gray on sides, breast & 
neck. 

But at some point the young male must transition to typical male breeding 
plumage. Do they go through an intermediate stage in late winter which looks 
like the non-breeding male in summer? 

If anyone else knows better why this June-to-September plumage would be evident 
in late February, I am very curious. By the way, his feet and legs were also 
dull in color rather than the bright pink that breeding-plumage males show. 

- - Dave Nutter

> On Feb 24, 2019, at 5:14 PM, bob mcguire  wrote:
> 
> In spite of the dire weather prediction for today, four folks showed up to 
> join me for a drive around the lake. I will save a full report for the CBC 
> March newsletter, but want to share the highlights now. A FOY (first-of-year) 
> KILLDEER greeted us as we got out of the cars at Myers, foraging on the 
> gravel bar along side the creek. We also had a variety of ducks, including 3 
> Long-tailed Ducks and 3 White-winged Scoters (birds that have been there for 
> the past few weeks). 
> 
> We received the RBA message of a BOHEMIAN WAXWING in Groton, which would have 
> been a life bird for several of us, and decided to chase it. By the time we 
> got there the flock of 35 waxwings (as reported) had dwindled to 32, and the 
> Bohemian was missing!
> 
> Somewhat disappointed, we continued north and encountered a large flock of 
> Snow Buntings (approx 500) along Davis Road. They were far back in the corn 
> stubble, constantly in flight and, try as we might, we were unable to pick 
> out any Lapland Longspurs.
> 
> Aurora Bay was empty of grebes; there was no sign of Friday’s Gyrfalcon in 
> the vicinity of Great Gully (didn’t really expect it to be that cooperative). 
> 
> We found a few Green-winged Teal along the shore to the north of Frontenac 
> Park. There was nothing out of the ordinary on the ponds in Union Springs nor 
> on the water at Mud Lock. 
> 
> Next we checked the Finger Lakes airport for Snowy Owls (none) and the area 
> of the quarry for Gyrfalcon (nothing). 
> 
> The view from Sheldarake Park was unremarkable. And from there we ran ahead 
> of the cold front (wind and rain) all the way home.
> 
> Bob McGuire
> --
> 
> 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/
> 
> --
> 

--

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:

[cayugabirds-l] CBC Field Trip Today

[bob mcguire]

In spite of the dire weather prediction for today, four folks showed up to join 
me for a drive around the lake. I will save a full report for the CBC March 
newsletter, but want to share the highlights now. A FOY (first-of-year) 
KILLDEER greeted us as we got out of the cars at Myers, foraging on the gravel 
bar along side the creek. We also had a variety of ducks, including 3 
Long-tailed Ducks and 3 White-winged Scoters (birds that have been there for 
the past few weeks). 

We received the RBA message of a BOHEMIAN WAXWING in Groton, which would have 
been a life bird for several of us, and decided to chase it. By the time we got 
there the flock of 35 waxwings (as reported) had dwindled to 32, and the 
Bohemian was missing!

Somewhat disappointed, we continued north and encountered a large flock of Snow 
Buntings (approx 500) along Davis Road. They were far back in the corn stubble, 
constantly in flight and, try as we might, we were unable to pick out any 
Lapland Longspurs.

Aurora Bay was empty of grebes; there was no sign of Friday’s Gyrfalcon in the 
vicinity of Great Gully (didn’t really expect it to be that cooperative). 

We found a few Green-winged Teal along the shore to the north of Frontenac 
Park. There was nothing out of the ordinary on the ponds in Union Springs nor 
on the water at Mud Lock. 

Next we checked the Finger Lakes airport for Snowy Owls (none) and the area of 
the quarry for Gyrfalcon (nothing). 

The view from Sheldarake Park was unremarkable. And from there we ran ahead of 
the cold front (wind and rain) all the way home.

Bob McGuire
--

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/

--

[cayugabirds-l] Gyrfalcon near Union Springs on Friday

[Diane Morton]

New birder Barbara Clise reported to me and Bob McGuire that she
spotted a Gyrfalcon
on Friday (Feb 22) while she was out birding south of Union Springs. She
was able to watch the bird for some time and took multiple photos of the
bird as well as video. She was not sure at the time what the bird was, but
the Merlin app ID'd her bird as a Gyrfalcon from the photo. Yesterday she
brought her photos to share with people at the Cayuga Bird Club eBird
workshop - this bird was definitely a Gyrfalcon!

Barbara was near Great Gully Road when she first spotted the bird.

"I was headed north on Rte 90, and spotted the bird in the trees on the right
(east side of Rte 90), around noon.  I turned right onto Great Gully Road.
It was in the cluster of 3 or 4 bare trees on the right side of Great Gully
Road, before the top of the hill. Then he flew across Rte 90 (to the west
side) into the very top of an evergreen in the field (see photo attached)
and proceeded to harass the Canada Geese in the field. I lost him for a
bit, but watched and waited for the birds in the fields to be disturbed,
that's how I spotted him again. Then he flew back up to Rte 90 next to the
road, still on the west side, and I got the nicest photos. I spent close to
an hour start to finish, before he flew off to the north east over the hill
beyond Great Gully Road."

Barbara is not yet on the Cayugabirds Listserv, but said it was fine
if I shared
her sighting. I am attaching a small version of her photo, but not sure if
it will go through the listserv. If it does not, and you want to see the
image, let me know and I can give you Barbara's email address so that you
can see a photo of the Gyrfalcon.

Diane Morton

--

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/

--

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Redpoll flock in Caroline, briefly

[annemariejohn...@frontiernet.net]

 The redpolls may still be in the area but on the ground. I've seen a couple of 
brief swirls of small, light-colored birds in tall grasses near the trees where 
I first saw them. I'm not sure there are any good vantage points to view this 
area, and they aren't flushing much, but perhaps they will shift to some of the 
other fields in the area that are closer to roads.
Anne Marie

On Sunday, February 24, 2019, 8:09:30 AM EST, 
annemariejohn...@frontiernet.net  wrote:  
 
 A flock of about 100 redpolls flew into a row of deciduous trees in the middle 
of the farm between Creamery Rd and Central Chapel Rd in Caroline. They stayed 
long enough for me to get a rough count but not long enough for me to search 
for any Hoarys. They disappeared when I looked away, so I don't know which way 
they went, but my guess is north. They came in from the southwest. They didn't 
come down to the nearby feeders, so they may just be passing through.
Anne Marie Johnson

-- Cayugabirds-L List Info: Welcome and Basics Rules and Information Subscribe, 
Configuration and Leave Archives: The Mail Archive Surfbirds BirdingOnThe.Net 
Please submit your observations to eBird! --  
--

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/

--

[cayugabirds-l] OOB -burrowing owls

[Donna Lee Scott]

Cape Coral Florida just had its annual burrowing owl festival with over 4000 
attending. It is an owl-friendly city and burrowing owls have their dens all 
over in peoples' yards and in public grounds.
Maps help people find den sites.

Last year at one of the sites I went to, there were not only burrowing owls 
standing right next to me, but also monk parakeets and a loggerhead shrike 
higher up.

Donna Scott
Lansing, but now being serenaded by Fish Crows & Ospreys at Captiva I. FL as 
300 Black Skimmers loaf on beach w their Royal, Common & Sandwich Tern pals.

Sent from my iPhone

--

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/

--

[cayugabirds-l] Redpolls in Newfield yesterday

[Laura J. Heisey]

A flock of around 50 Common Redpolls visited my Newfield back yard yesterday 
around noon.  It may have been more than 50, but I was indoors and they were 
very close to the house, so I could only count them in small groups.  They 
stayed for just a few minutes, but what a treat those few minutes were!
I didn't see which direction they came from or went.

-Laura Heisey





--

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/

--

[cayugabirds-l] Redpoll flock in Caroline, briefly

[annemariejohn...@frontiernet.net]

A flock of about 100 redpolls flew into a row of deciduous trees in the middle 
of the farm between Creamery Rd and Central Chapel Rd in Caroline. They stayed 
long enough for me to get a rough count but not long enough for me to search 
for any Hoarys. They disappeared when I looked away, so I don't know which way 
they went, but my guess is north. They came in from the southwest. They didn't 
come down to the nearby feeders, so they may just be passing through.
Anne Marie Johnson


--

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/

--

[cayugabirds-l] Everybody is crazy about this

[Matthew Medler]

I couldn't expect more http://web.idlifeproducts.me 
 

 

 

Matthew Medler

 


--

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/

--