Sapsucker Woods, Sat 8/29
Along Sapsucker Woods Road on Saturday morning (~8:00 AM), I found a songbird flock that included MAGNOLIA, CHESTNUT-SIDED (2+), BLACKBURNIAN, BLACK-THROATED GREEN, BLACK-AND-WHITE, NASHVILLE (2+), and WILSON'S WARBLER, plus a Red-eyed Vireo, and some chickadees, titmice, and woodpeckers. Before this encounter, I found very few birds along the Wilson Trail (most notably, one OVENBIRD singing and one VEERY calling in the woods). Mark Chao -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
Sapsucker Woods, Wed 9/9/09
I found some migrants around Sapsucker Woods on Wednesday morning, mostly on the east side of the road. Highlights include one BAY-BREASTED WARBLER (spur from visitor parking to power line cut), one HOODED WARBLER (Woodleton Boardwalk), and two PHILADELPHIA VIREOS (aforementioned spur and Wilson Trail North). I also saw a WILD TURKEY and probably the most PURPLE FINCHES I've ever seen in the sanctuary in a single outing. See below for the full eBird list. Mark Chao Location: Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology Observation date: 9/9/09 Number of species: 42 Canada Goose 10 Wild Turkey 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 Mourning Dove 2 Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1 Belted Kingfisher 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker 2 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 3 Downy Woodpecker 5 Northern Flicker 1 Pileated Woodpecker 1 Eastern Wood-Pewee 3 Eastern Phoebe 2 Warbling Vireo 2 Philadelphia Vireo 2 Red-eyed Vireo 4 Blue Jay 4 Black-capped Chickadee 14 Tufted Titmouse 6 White-breasted Nuthatch 6 Carolina Wren 1 American Robin 3 Gray Catbird 4 European Starling 20 Cedar Waxwing 20 Yellow Warbler 1 Chestnut-sided Warbler 2 Magnolia Warbler 9 Black-throated Blue Warbler 1 Black-throated Green Warbler 2 Blackburnian Warbler 1 Bay-breasted Warbler 1 Common Yellowthroat 2 Hooded Warbler 1 Chipping Sparrow 1 Song Sparrow 2 Swamp Sparrow 3 Northern Cardinal 4 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 2 Purple Finch 22 House Finch 4 American Goldfinch 14 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Savannah Mucklands, Fri 9/18
Bob McGuire just called again (12:45 PM). He has found five AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS just south of the intersection of Routes 31 and 89 in the Savannah Mucklands, close to the road in a newly-harvested potato field. Mark Chao -- 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 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Freese Road (buffy Spizella), Th 9/24
I had an interesting and challenging hour of birding at the Freese Road gardens at midday on Thursday. Among the usual abundance of Song Sparrows in various plumages, I saw one LINCOLN'S SPARROW (north-central section), two SWAMP SPARROWS (I freed one from a narrow weedy gap between fences), several bright SAVANNAH SPARROWS, a few FIELD SPARROWS, and a CHIPPING SPARROW, plus a western PALM WARBLER and a COOPER'S HAWK. The Palm Warbler had a short forecrown stripe, a mark I hadn't ever noticed on Palm Warblers before. South of the parking area, I had a long look at another Spizella, which had striking bright orange-buff underparts (like a rufous Field Sparrow), very bold lateral throat stripes, and somewhat less bold and incomplete lower frame of the auriculars. Alas, I forgot to take note of the lores, and failed to get a look at the bird's rump. Nevertheless, as I've observed many fall Chipping Sparrows but none as buffy and boldly marked as this one, I think it's quite possible that this was a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW. I also saw another sparrow that seemed to have white outer tail feathers, but didn't get enough of a look to confirm ID. Mark Chao -- 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 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Laughing Gull, red lighthouse jetty, Sat 10/24 11 AM
Bob McGuire and company have found a non-breeding adult LAUGHING GULL on the red lighthouse jetty at the south end of Cayuga Lake in Ithaca (probably best viewed from Allan Treman State Marine Park or Stewart Park). Mark Chao -- 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 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] NE Ithaca and Lansing raptors, Tues 1/5
On Tuesday morning, I had three expected but still very uplifting raptor sightings around northeast Ithaca and south Lansing: -- a dark-morph ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK foraging over the field at the southwest corner of Warren and Cherry Roads (thanks to Alberto Lopez for finding this fine bird); -- an adult RED-SHOULDERED HAWK perched on a low branch between Kip's Barn and Route 13, along Sapsucker Woods Road; and -- a gray-morph EASTERN SCREECH-OWL at the hole of the nest box in our yard on Simsbury Drive (daily dawn and dusk appearances almost without exception since mid-October, with occasional brief perching sessions at other times). I also drove behind the airport in search of shrikes. I found none, but did see a PILEATED WOODPECKER at rest (surprisingly, in the slim outer branches of a small tree) at the intersection of Mohawk and Neimi Roads. Mark Chao -- 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 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Myers (American Pipit), Mon 1/18
My kids and I visited Myers Park on Monday afternoon (1:45-2:45). One AMERICAN PIPIT was foraging in the piles of debris on the beach. From the private marina, I saw what I took to be a leucistic female Mallard, which had a subtly pale head and strikingly cream-orange wings and body. Miyoko and the kids and I hiked the Flat Rock loop in Cornell Plantations on Sunday morning, with a short detour first to Tower Road. We had several entertaining bird sightings. * The pair of Red-tailed Hawks building their nest on the Dodson Field light tower, as Marty reported earlier. We watched both birds carrying long sticks to the nest, arriving and departing together. * an American Crow holding a twitching vole (Caldwell Road) * five Mallards facing the current in Fall Creek, paddling vigorously in place as if on a treadmill, and dipping their heads to feed on something beneath the surface * 1+ Golden-crowned Kinglet and a Pileated Woodpecker along the trail Through Sunday, the Eastern Screech-Owl has continued to appear daily in our yard in northeast Ithaca. Mark Chao -- 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] Sapsucker Woods, Fri 4/23
I heard one NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH on Friday morning east of the Woodleton Boardwalk in Sapsucker Woods. This waterthrush sounded like a typical Northern Waterthrush -- not one with the Woodleton accent (dip in pitch in the middle, then emphatic at the end -- very distinctive in 2001-2003, less so in recent years). I've never noticed any different-sounding Northern Waterthrushes anywhere else. On a full circuit of the East Trail, I found no Hermit Thrushes. Mark - Original Message - From: Meena Haribal m...@cornell.edu To: cayugabirdlist cayugabirds-L@cornell.edu Sent: Friday, April 23, 2010 9:16 AM Subject: RE: [cayugabirds-l] Louisiana Waterthrush About three or four years ago I found similar differences in songs of Northern Waterthrushes. All in the same location, that is Sapsucker Woods on the Dryden side of the trails. Initially, I distinguished them by sound, then I recorded them and looked at the sonograms. I was surprised that my ears, which in the previous years could not distinguish between Northern Lousiana, but now could tell the difference between the individual Northerns was amazing to me. Definitely listening to more individuals helps! Meena -- 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] Hawthorn Orchard, Th 4/29 afternoon
On Thursday afternoon, I had a free hour in the East Hill area. I spent this time on the East Ithaca Recreation Way (Honness Lane to Mitchell Street) and in the Hawthorn Orchard. I found two House Wrens, a Cooper's Hawk terrorizing a flock of starlings, and numerous members of more common species, but nothing new or unusual. I'm posting to report that the hawthorns in the northern half are already copiously blooming. I'd say that about one-third of the blossoms were already wide open, and the other two-thirds are big and white and ready to pop. Mark Chao -- 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, Fri 4/30
My wife Miyoko Chu took the morning off and gave me the wonderful surprise gift of her birding company on this fine morning. We spent two hours at the Lindsay-Parsons Biodiversity Preserve, first scanning the swamp by the fire station and then walking the trails. It was Miyoko's first visit here in our nine years of life in Ithaca. Highlights include one NASHVILLE WARBLER (hedgerow by fire station), 3 BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLERS (one on territory near first trail fork, one on territory near Celia's Cup), 4+ YELLOW WARBLERS, one GREEN HERON (fire station swamp), 5+ BROWN THRASHERS, a BLUE-HEADED VIREO in the woods above Celia's Cup, a calling COMMON RAVEN, and many FIELD SPARROWS everywhere. Mark Chao -- 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] Sapsucker Woods, Sun 5/2/10
Many birds and birders were out in Sapsucker Woods on Sunday morning. Birds were numerous and diverse, but weren't always easy to detect. Everyone seems to be finding a different mix this morning. Here are some highlights, shared mostly with Sydney Penner. * WINTER WREN (singing deep in woods east of Woodleton Boardwalk -- incessant at 6:40 but hard to hear because of distance and loud nearby waterthrush song; wren heard much closer from here yesterday) * BROWN THRASHER (one by Rte. 13, one by visitor parking lot) * WOOD THRUSH, VEERY (heard calling once), and HERMIT THRUSH (heard calling once; Sydney saw it) * EASTERN BLUEBIRD (nest box on knoll by second staff parking lot) * ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK * BALTIMORE ORIOLE * RUSTY BLACKBIRD (2+ singing, mostly from south edge of main pond) * BOBOLINK (flying over, singing full song) * GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER (several throughout), LEAST FLYCATCHER, and EASTERN KINGBIRD * NASHVILLE WARBLER, MAGNOLIA WARBLER (heard singing a couple of times; not seen), BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER, YELLOW WARBLER, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH (two on territory by Woodleton; one probable passage migrant by Wilson Trail lone bench), and OVENBIRD * WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW (two in feeder garden) * PILEATED WOODPECKER on the ground (I love how male Pileated Woodpeckers become obsessively focused on foraging, and therefore much less wary, in May). My full eBird list is below. In addition, I heard second-hand reports of BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, BLUE-WINGED WARBLER, AMERICAN REDSTART, and others. Mark Chao Location: Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology Observation date: 5/2/10 Number of species: 53 Canada Goose 6 Wood Duck 2 Mallard 3 Great Blue Heron 2 Mourning Dove 2 Belted Kingfisher 1 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1 Northern Flicker 2 Pileated Woodpecker 1 Least Flycatcher 1 Eastern Phoebe 1 Great Crested Flycatcher 4 Eastern Kingbird 1 Warbling Vireo 3 Blue Jay 39 Tree Swallow 2 Black-capped Chickadee 6 Tufted Titmouse 3 Brown Creeper 1 House Wren 3 Winter Wren 1 Eastern Bluebird 1 Veery 1 Hermit Thrush 1 Wood Thrush 2 American Robin 8 Gray Catbird 5 Brown Thrasher 2 European Starling 11 Cedar Waxwing 9 Nashville Warbler 1 Yellow Warbler 5 Magnolia Warbler 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler 22 Black-throated Green Warbler 1 Black-and-white Warbler 1 Ovenbird 2 Northern Waterthrush 3 Common Yellowthroat 1 Eastern Towhee 3 Song Sparrow 1 Swamp Sparrow 1 White-throated Sparrow 4 White-crowned Sparrow 2 Northern Cardinal 5 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1 Bobolink 1 Red-winged Blackbird 12 Rusty Blackbird 2 Common Grackle 4 Brown-headed Cowbird 4 Baltimore Oriole 1 American Goldfinch 9 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) -- 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] MISSISSIPPI KITE southbound along Fall Creek Sun 5/2 PM
Chris Wood and Jessie Barry just saw a MISSISSIPPI KITE flying south along Fall Creek near the Dryden/Ithaca border (Sun 2:58 PM). Tom Johnson and Chris and Jessie are now off to Stewart Park to try to refind it. Mark Chao -- 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] Franklin's Gull at Myers, Mon 5/3
Tom Johnson has just informed me that Tim Lenz and Jeff Gerbracht have found a FRANKLIN'S GULL at Myers Park in Lansing (Monday, 1 PM). Mark Chao -- 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] FLLT Spring Bird Quest -- May 29-31, 2010
The fifth annual Finger Lakes Land Trust Spring Bird Quest (SBQ) will take place over Memorial Day weekend, May 29-31, 2010. The purpose of the SBQ is to celebrate our local breeding birds and the Land Trust's role in preserving their vital habitats. During the weekend, I'll be birding Finger Lakes Land Trust preserves, keeping a count of species I observe, and collecting pledges per species. All proceeds benefit the Land Trust. In this way, other birders and I have found over 115 species (including 22+ warbler species) and have raised over $17,000 on past SBQ weekends to support the Land Trust's work in protecting some of the most scenic and biologically important lands in our region. Please contact me off list if you would like to make a pledge toward my tally this year, or if you are interested in birding and raising pledges yourself. In addition to counting species and raising funds, I'll also be leading bird walks at four Land Trust preserves over the weekend. Saturday, May 29 8:00 AM McIlroy Bird Sanctuary Summerhill (Cayuga County) Sunday, May 30 8:00 AM Lindsay-Parsons Biodiversity Preserve West Danby Monday, May 31 6:30 AM Goetchius Wetland Preserve Caroline Monday, May 31 8:30 AM Park Nature Preserve Dryden All walks will depart promptly from the parking areas of the respective preserves. For directions, see http://fllt.org/protected_lands/index.php. All walks will last approximately two hours, except the one at Goetchius, which will be shorter. The bird walks are free, but donations to the Land Trust are encouraged. Whether you decide to make a donation or not, I would be delighted if some of you would consider attending one or more of these walks. I think that there is no better birding in our region than at these preserves in late May. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions. Thanks for your consideration! Mark Chao Ithaca -- 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] Roy H. Park Preserve (FLLT), Tues 5/11
Elementary school is out for many grades in Ithaca today because teachers are busy correcting state exams. Therefore I decided to orchestrate a morning birding outing to the Roy H. Park Preserve in Dryden for my kids and three of their friends. One parent of each friend joined us. En route to the preserve, we all saw a female WILD TURKEY crossing Freese Road and a BOBOLINK and some Savannah Sparrows near the intersection of Mineah and Mt. Pleasant Roads. At the Park Preserve, we found at least four PRAIRIE WARBLERS, including an apparent breeding pair that offered easy and dazzling views (maybe life-altering for one mom), a second conspicuous male, and a third singing male that we didn't see. We found a subset of the preserve's other breeding species -- MAGNOLIA WARBLER (probably my son's life sighting), CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER, BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER, YELLOW WARBLER, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, NASHVILLE WARBLER, CANADA WARBLER, OVENBIRD, BLUE-HEADED VIREO, a singing WINTER WREN in the ravine, and two SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS (one circled high while the other marauded through the treetops, to the considerable alarm of nearby songbirds). Mark Chao -- 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] nocturnal migrants, Mon 5/17 into Tues 5/18
Birds are moving steadily, if not in huge numbers, northbound over Ithaca tonight. In about ten minutes of listening, I've heard about a dozen SWAINSON'S THRUSHES, a couple of GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSHES, some VEERIES, and quite a few other diverse sounds I can't identify. Mark Chao -- 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] Sapsucker Woods, Fri 5/21
Robert Busby, Jill Vaughan, Alicia Plotkin, Stuart Krasnoff, Anne Marie and Tim Johnson, and I spent much of Friday morning together in Sapsucker Woods. My main goal was to help Robert, who is visiting from Ireland, to see some life birds. By the time we parted, we had found four, which is something to celebrate, but I must say that our repeated long and fruitless efforts to see incessantly singing target birds proved to be a little frustrating. Robert's life birds today were HOUSE WREN, MAGNOLIA WARBLER (Wilson Trail North; also heard along Woodleton Boardwalk and Hoyt-Pileated Trail), WILSON'S WARBLER (2 along Wilson Trail North), and VEERY (seen along Wilson Trail in woods; also heard several other places). We also had fine views of Baltimore Orioles, including two at an active nest, at least 2 male and 2 female SCARLET TANAGERS, American Redstarts, and others. Many other interesting species revealed their presence, often quite immediately, by sound only. These species included OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER (near Woodleton), ALDER FLYCATCHER (main pond), YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO (Woodleton/Hoyt-Pileated), PILEATED WOODPECKER, YELLOW-THROATED VIREO (3+), BAY-BREASTED WARBLER (very probable, Hoyt-Pileated Trail high in treetops, but unseen despite much waiting and searching), BLACKPOLL WARBLER (Wilson North), BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER (Hoyt-Pileated), CANADA WARBLER (Woodleton area, probably along road), and NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH (3 on territories by Woodleton -- again we tried and tried to spot one, but failed). Alicia saw a lot of birds before we met up with her, including three Bay-breasted Warblers, a BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER, and a PHILADELPHIA VIREO. I also found CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER on the east side, making for a collective total of 14+ warbler species around today. Mark Chao -- 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] Sapsucker Woods, Sat 5/22
A few notes and observations from Sapsucker Woods on Saturday: * Today is International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD). From 10 AM to 3 PM, the Lab of Ornithology will be hosting its annual IMBD celebration. This big event, to which many Lab staff and volunteers devote remarkable effort, offers bird walks, nest monitoring walks, and exhibits. As if that were not enough, I believe that the Cayuga Lake Creamery's mobile operations sales cart will be present too. This event is well worth a visit, especially for families. * On a pass on the Wilson Trail North this morning, several others and I found a BLUE-WINGED WARBLER, a couple of BLACKPOLL WARBLERS, and a NORTHERN PARULA, plus the usual breeding species. The parula, which was at the south edge of the main pond, was singing only its alternate multisyllabic song for a while, which set off some discussion about its identity. After our group split up, I stood on the Podell Boardwalk and heard the usual single-syllable parula song a few times from the same edge. * The Northern Waterthrushes that have been present around the main pond for the past three weeks were conspicuously silent (quite possibly absent) today. * Kwang Kim and I saw a singing YELLOW-THROATED VIREO along the Podell Boardwalk. I forgot to mention yesterday that Alicia, Jill, and I heard a BLUE-HEADED VIREO along the Hoyt-Pileated Trail yesterday. This means that yesterday we had a sweep of our common vireo species in the sanctuary (Red-eyed, Warbling, Yellow-throated, Blue-headed, Philadelphia). * The larger of the two Great Blue Heron nests has four big chicks in it. Viewing by scope is excellent from the Wilson Trail North. Mark Chao -- 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] FLLT Spring Bird Quest -- carpooling
A birder who lives in the Belle Sherman area of Ithaca is seeking a carpool out to this Saturday's bird walk at the McIlroy Bird Sanctuary in Summerhill, which is part of the annual Finger Lakes Land Trust Spring Bird Quest (SBQ). This person prefers to be a passenger, but could drive if needed. Would you please contact me off list if you are interested? (In fact, I will gladly try to serve as a ride-sharing clearinghouse for the whole weekend. Please see below again for the dates and sites of the weekend's walks.) Mark Chao Ithaca PS. Thanks to all who have pledged so far in support of my SBQ fundraising effort, especially Wild Birds Unlimited of Ithaca. If you're interested in pledging too, it's not too late. __ FINGER LAKES LAND TRUST SPRING BIRD QUEST 2010 Saturday, May 29 8:00 AM McIlroy Bird Sanctuary Summerhill (Cayuga County) Sunday, May 30 8:00 AM Lindsay-Parsons Biodiversity Preserve West Danby Monday, May 31 6:30 AM Goetchius Wetland Preserve Caroline Monday, May 31 8:30 AM Park Nature Preserve Dryden All walks will depart promptly from the parking areas of the respective preserves. For directions, see http://fllt.org/protected_lands/index.php. All walks will last approximately two hours, except the one at Goetchius, which will be shorter. -- 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] Etna, Genung, McIlroy (FLLT SBQ), Sat 5/29
On Saturday morning, eleven birders joined me for a walk at the Dorothy McIlroy Bird Sanctuary in Summerhill. As Karen kindly mentioned earlier, this was the first of four free public walks over the weekend as part of the Finger Lakes Land Trust Spring Bird Quest (SBQ). Including stops at the Land Trust's Etna Nature Preserve and the Genung Nature Preserve in Freeville, as well as the group walk, Bob McGuire and I found 60 species in a morning of pretty relaxed birding. See below for highlights from all three sites. Mark Chao ___ 1. Etna Nature Preserve Route 366 near Route 13, Etna 6:35-6:45 AM and 11:20 AM 19 species, including YELLOW-THROATED VIREO The Yellow-throated Vireo was quite a nice surprise, singing from somewhere across Fall Creek. Almost equally gratifying were easy encounters with House Wren, House Finch, and Downy Woodpecker, which, despite their ubiquity around town, have been very difficult to find during past SBQs. 2. Genung Nature Preserve Route 38, Freeville 6:50-7:05 AM and 11:15 AM 27 species, including PINE WARBLER, CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER, and BLUE-WINGED WARBLER Last year I missed Pine Warbler here, but today, Bob and I found it smoothly trilling right along the road, just where I had found it in May in past years. We did not walk the trail loop. 3. Dorothy McIlroy Bird Sanctuary Lake Como Road, Summerhill 7:30-10:30 AM 48+ species, including NORTHERN GOSHAWK, RUFFED GROUSE, YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO, RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD, ALDER FLYCATCHER, WILLOW FLYCATCHER, EASTERN KINGBIRD, WINTER WREN, EASTERN BLUEBIRD, BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, OVENBIRD, NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH, and PURPLE FINCH. Before our group walk began, Bob and I heard a rather distant warbler singing up the slope and across the road from the beginning of Lane A by the road. The song consisted of four or five straight high notes, with no emphatic ending. I thought that this might be a very late boreal warbler (it sounded more like Cape May than Bay-breasted), but we couldn't confirm it by sight. In the sanctuary itself, we missed a lot of the songbirds that I would have expected, including Hermit Thrush, Blue-headed Vireo, Magnolia Warbler, and Canada Warbler. Still, I thought that the birding was nonetheless quite excellent. The greatest highlight was surely the Northern Goshawk. As we were just gathering in the parking lot, it rose up above the treetops and offered a brief but electrifying view of its steely gray underside and broad-winged shape. The bird then descended into the very center of the preserve and sounded several call notes. It was the first time I've ever heard the famed nesting call of this species -- pure and proud as a clarion but so penetrating as to be a little unsettling. Now I understand why many field guides say that the call sounds wild. Also around the parking lot, we had scope views of a pair of Eastern Bluebirds tending a nest box and glimpses of two Yellow-billed Cuckoos (one flying across, one briefly perched in a gap in the foliage). In the woods, viewing was difficult as expected, but the Winter Wren's repeated singing kept us plenty entertained. Right by the platform, we saw five chickadees fledging one by one from a nest. They looked like adults except for their slightly shorter tails, yellow gapes, labored flight, and generally clueless demeanor. We also saw an active kingbird nest about 25 meters in front of us. We couldn't see much of the young in the cavity, except the rounded tops of their little heads. -- 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] Goetchius and Park/Baldwin (FLLT SBQ), Mon 5/31
On Monday, I led two more walks for the Finger Lakes Land Trust Spring Bird Quest (SBQ), one at the Goetchius Wetland Preserve in Caroline and one at the Park Nature Preserve (Baldwin Tract) in Dryden. See below for details. My probable final count of species found on Land Trust properties over the weekend stands at 94, plus two additional species that I think were there but couldn't confirm. My most egregious misses were Chimney Swift, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Least Flycatcher, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, and American Kestrel. I've heard directly from others about at least eight more species found on FLLT land this weekend, bringing the collective total comfortably over 100. Not bad for a late, hot Memorial Day weekend! Mark Chao ___ 1. Goetchius Wetland Preserve Flatiron Road, Caroline 5:45 - 8:05 AM 36 species, including SAVANNAH SPARROW, possible GRASSHOPPER SPARROW, BOBOLINK, EASTERN MEADOWLARK, ALDER FLYCATCHER, WILLOW FLYCATCHER, EASTERN KINGBIRD, and SPOTTED SANDPIPER A dozen intrepid spirits, including friends from as far away as Union Springs and Ovid, joined me at 6:30 AM for the first early-bird special walk I've ever offered on the SBQ. I hope that all would agree with me that the sacrifice of sleep was amply compensated by some high-quality birding and company. The grassy field at the north end of this preserve by the parking lot is, in my view, the single best place in the area for watching Bobolinks. With the rising sun at our backs, we saw at least 10 Bobolinks of both sexes at rest and in hormone-charged action. Most often, the female Bobolinks we saw were fleeing tirelessly randy males, but a couple of times, we saw pairs side by side. With one pair in particular, I was sure that copulation was imminent as the birds ritually preened. But then another male flew in, and then another. The four Bobolinks perched close together and eyed each other, while we held our breaths. Then, predictably, the female fled and the males gave chase again. We also got excellent scope views of Savannah Sparrow and Eastern Meadowlark in this field. Several times, I heard two countersinging sparrows whose long held note seemed less musical than that of Savannah Sparrow, without the little note resolving the phrase at the end. These songs seemed to me to be squarely consistent with Grasshopper Sparrow. I didn't approach closely enough, however, to rule out the possibility of distance-attenuated Savannah Sparrow song. The species therefore remains uncounted for the weekend, along with Saturday's ostensible Cape May or Bay-breasted Warbler at McIlroy. I welcome further information, positive or negative, from others who visit the site. And in any case, given widely noted concerns about the fate of Bobolinks in other area hayfields, I'm happy to note that the Land Trust has arranged for the former owner of this field to mow it only in late summer, after the next generation of field birds has presumably fledged. The wetland portion of the preserve is, well, not so wet, given this month of relentlessly dry weather. I had taken note that the redoubtable Chris Wood and Jessie Barry had found a Sora here on Friday, just as I did on last year's SBQ. Today, however, we found no Sora and indeed not really a lot of wetland birds at all -- some flyover herons, a couple of Spotted Sandpipers at the edge of a muddy channel, common swallows, Willow and Alder Flycatcher, and not a lot more. I was greatly relieved, therefore, that Tom Hoebbel and Sydney Penner found me a few Mallards flying by, sparing me the embarrassment of whiffing on this species for the weekend. 2. Park Nature Preserve (Baldwin Tract) Irish Settlement Road, Dryden 8:20 - 10:50 AM 45 species, including BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO, YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO, PRAIRIE WARBLER, MAGNOLIA WARBLER, CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER, BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER, BLUE-WINGED WARBLER, LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH, CANADA WARBLER, BLUE-HEADED VIREO, and WINTER WREN Seventeen people joined me on the day's second group walk, at the Park Nature Preserve. We had fine birding indeed along the first straightaway, with very long scope views of Indigo Bunting, Blue-winged Warbler, and Alder Flycatcher. Some of us also got a very close albeit obscured view of a Black-billed Cuckoo (maybe the best look I've ever had of this species, before I yielded the scope). From the parking lot to the far reaches of the open area, we almost continually heard the songs of Prairie Warblers, but the singers were never close enough to try to view. At one point, we saw a rather distant kettle of five Turkey Vultures, which dwarfed a buteo circling with them. I first identified the latter bird as a Red-tailed Hawk based on its shape, but Bob McGuire, seeing something more, urged me to take a better look. I eventually got this bird in the scope and saw bright windows in the spread wings
[cayugabirds-l] Parke-Dabes Natural Area (FLLT SBQ), Sun 5/31
Restoked by the prospect of an easy Yellow-throated Warbler chase, I went out to Varna this afternoon. First I saw the warbler, just where Sydney reported it. Then I beat the FLLT SBQ buzzer with a visit to the Parke-Dabes Natural Area, just east of Monkey Run and the Antlers along Route 366. I was hoping for Black-throated Blue Warbler and Hooded Warbler, which have bred here in recent years. I didn't find them. I did, however, find an unexpected BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER, some American Redstarts, an Ovenbird, and many Red-eyed Vireos. Mark Chao -- 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] Around the lake, Sun 6/6
On Sunday morning, I took a detour on the way to a midday family gathering in Trumansburg, in hopes of finding the Hudsonian Godwit and other birds. Many others and I failed to find the godwit by the visitor center between 10:00 and 10:45 AM. Here are some birds of interest found en route: Myers Park (9:00 AM): 2 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS on spit, 1 Osprey foraging above mouth of Salmon Creek Lake Road, Ledyard: 2 or 3 GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS singing in mowed field to south Montezuma NWR: 2 singing CERULEAN WARBLERS on their usual territories near visitor center (one above picnic area, one between start of Wildlife Drive and Seneca River) Cayuga Lake near Varick: one COMMON LOON in non-breeding plumage Mark Chao -- 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] MNWR visitor center, Wed 6/9
I drove up alone to the MNWR visitor center on Wednesday morning. Despite searching thoroughly from the platform and the road, a few others and I didn't see the Hudsonian Godwit between 9:00 and 9:45 AM. Chuck Gibson was saying that no one found the godwit all yesterday afternoon or evening either, to his knowledge. We did see one SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER and one WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER together on the hummocky flats. I heard a report a little later in the morning from the same site with the same shorebird results. Mark Chao -- 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] MNWR (Hudsonian Godwit report), Fri 6/11
The eBird Google Gadget shows a report of a Hudsonian Godwit at Knox-Marsellus Marsh at MNWR today (Friday, June 11). The observation is attributed not to a specific person, but to IBA Monitoring. Mark Chao -- 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] Charadrius on a hot tin roof
On Wednesday evening, three kids and I watched five Killdeer on the gabled roof of the building housing the Armstrong School of Dance and other businesses on Catherwood Drive in Lansing. The birds were calling incessantly and walking freely around, despite the steep pitch and apparently smooth metal surface. They showed no interest in joining the Ring-billed Gulls on the apex. I know that Killdeer like flat gravel roofs, but before tonight I'd never seen any on an angled roof, let alone five together. It seemed likely that they'd stay there overnight. Mark Chao -- 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] Charadrius on a hot tin roof
On Wednesday evening, three kids and I watched five Killdeer on the gabled roof of the building housing the Armstrong School of Dance and other businesses on Catherwood Drive in Lansing. The birds were calling incessantly and walking freely around, despite the steep pitch and apparently smooth metal surface. They showed no interest in joining the Ring-billed Gulls on the apex. I know that Killdeer like flat gravel roofs, but I doubt I've ever seen any on an angled roof before tonight, let alone five together. It seemed likely that they'd stay there overnight. Mark Chao -- 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] Empire Farm Days Fairgrounds contact info
People wishing to follow up on Ken's remarkable Upland Sandpiper report might take note of the info below, which Bill Roberts posted a couple of months ago. Thanks to Ken, Bill, and of course to Mr. Lott too. I appreciate everyone's patience if my reposting is redundant with your saved copies of the original message. Mark Chao - Original Message - From: wroberts wrobe...@wells.edu To: cayugabirds-L cayugabirds-L@cornell.edu Cc: bluehorsestu...@hotmail.com; wrobe...@wells.edu Sent: Monday, April 19, 2010 12:28 AM Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Rodman Lott Sons Farms - Seneca Falls Ralph Lott of Rodman Lott Sons Farms requested that birders please ask for permission before entering the Empire Days Fairgrounds on Rt. 414 south of Seneca Falls. Apparently birders have been unknowingly entering the Fairgrounds unaware that the property is private. Mr. Lott is amenable to birders searching the grounds but he would be most appreciative if the birders would kindly check in at the Rodman Lott Sons Farms office or call the following number for permission: 315-568-9501. Under the assumption that I was on county or town property, I mistakingly entered the Fairgrounds, looking for the Upland Sandpipers recently reported. After eventually meeting up with Mr. Lott I assured him that birders are respectful and genteel with only an avid interest in the sounds and sightings of birds. In order to keep our privilege I would urge everyone to comply with Mr. Lott's wish that we call or stop at the office before entering the Fairgrounds. Many thanks. Bill Roberts Aurora -- 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 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] Sapsucker Woods and Freese Road, Sun 9/5
I found a small mixed flock of migrants at the Sherwood Platform in Sapsucker Woods during a brief spell of sunshine on Sunday morning. I saw BAY-BREASTED WARBLER, BLACKPOLL WARBLER, CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER, BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER, WILSON'S WARBLER, and AMERICAN REDSTART, plus a SCARLET TANAGER, Red-eyed Vireo, Eastern Wood-Pewee, and some chickadees and woodpeckers. I saw one individual of each warbler species. All appeared to be hatch-year and/or female birds, except for the redstart, which was an adult male. I also saw a juvenile NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD by the Owens Platform. In my experience, this species is not common in Sapsucker Woods. I then paid a 20-minute visit to the northern half of the Freese Road gardens. As expected, the place is teeming with Song Sparrows of various ages and plumages (many finely streaked or even nearly unstreaked). I also saw one Savannah Sparrow, a Field Sparrow, a few brown Indigo Buntings, and a House Wren. Mark Chao -- 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] Sapsucker Woods, Th 9/9
On Thursday morning, the birding in Sapsucker Woods seemed to me to be on the quiet side of typical for this time of year. South of the Sherwood Platform, I found two WILSON'S WARBLERS, a MAGNOLIA WARBLER, a CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER, and intermediate-plumage AMERICAN REDSTART in a tight low assemblage of agitated chickadees. I searched for the trigger for their annoyance, but didn't find anything. Between the Podell Boardwalk and the Lab, I found a couple more Magnolia Warblers, a YELLOW WARBLER, and a family group of Eastern Wood-Pewees. To anyone who stayed up -- how was flight-call monitoring last night? Mark Chao -- 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] Sapsucker Woods, Sat 9/11
I paid a couple of visits to Sapsucker Woods on Saturday morning, first alone from 7:10 to 8:20 AM, and then again with my family from 11:30 to 12:45. Migrant diversity was very good but not extraordinary for this time of the season. I found MAGNOLIA, CHESTNUT-SIDED, BLACKBURNIAN, BLACK-THROATED BLUE, BLACK-THROATED GREEN (5+), BLACKPOLL, YELLOW-RUMPED, BLACK-AND WHITE, and WILSON'S WARBLER, plus a NORTHERN PARULA, PHILADELPHIA VIREO, and other more common species. The biggest mixed flocks were along the road at 7:40 AM and along the lower branch of the Wilson Trail North at noon. On a brief visit at midday on Friday, I saw a female HOODED WARBLER and a YELLOW WARBLER on the Wilson Trail North. My wife Miyoko says that she saw a male Hooded Warbler at around the same time from her office window overlooking the north feeders. Mark Chao -- 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] Sapsucker Woods, Mon 9/13
I didn't detect appreciably greater numbers or diversity than on other recent visits, but somehow I found that birding in Sapsucker Woods on Monday morning (10:30-11:20 AM) felt unusually satisfying. On the Wilson Trail North, I saw MAGNOLIA, BLACK-THROATED BLUE, BLACK-THROATED GREEN, BAY-BREASTED, BLACKPOLL, and WILSON'S WARBLER, plus ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, WOOD THRUSH, and a BROAD-WINGED HAWK migrating high above. Many views were unusually long and close, in ideal light. Particularly special was my time with the Bay-breasted Warbler, which showed a striking yellow-green head, sharp black-and-white wings, a neatly streaked back, and sides suffused subtly with pink. I think that this could have been an adult male, which I've seen before in fall but have always identified based on stronger reddish color on the sides. Conveniently, this bird and one Blackpoll Warbler were right near each other for a couple of minutes. From under the power lines on the Dryden side, I saw another Broad-winged Hawk, much lower. In the broadest patch of goldenrod south of the trail and west of the little pond, I tracked an apparent bird as it moved silently through the goldenrod. This location and behavior are consistent with Connecticut Warbler, I'm told, but I didn't see any more. (Of course one can expect Song Sparrows, catbirds, yellowthroats, House Wrens, and other species here too.) Unexpectedly, it is also a very good day for showy butterflies. I saw a Monarch, Viceroy, Question Mark, and two Red Admirals, as well as a Pearl Crescent, Cabbage White, and many other smaller butterflies that I didn't identify. Mark Chao -- 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] MNWR, Tues 9/14
Sydney Penner and I made a morning foray to Montezuma NWR on Tuesday morning. Sydney found two BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS in the new shorebird habitat past the photo blind on the Wildlife Drive. These birds were mostly pretty difficult to see at the far edge, often walking behind hummocks. It was much easier to find them when they took flight, looking distinctively patternless. Once, one bird alighted much closer to the road, offering very good views. We also saw two AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS within a few meters of the road just past the photo-blind turnoff. We also stopped East Road and Towpath Road. Pressed for time, we gave up after only about 15 minutes at each spot, without finding any rarities. As others have mentioned, it's hard to identify and enjoy birds here because they are so far away from viewing spots. Mark Chao -- 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] Sapsucker Woods, Sun 9/19/10
I found an unexpectedly rich variety of bird species, including many highlights and a few surprises, in Sapsucker Woods on Sunday morning. * At the start of my walk, a strange loose flock of birds around the overgrown pool right next to the service driveway and the Lab building. This group included two BLUE-HEADED VIREOS, a ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, a FIELD SPARROW, an EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE, and a HOUSE WREN, all preferring the cattails and low shrubs instead of the trees. * My first SCARLET TANAGER sighting in the past couple of weeks (and, I expect, my last for several months), at the bend in the Wilson Trail North. BLACKPOLL WARBLER, MAGNOLIA WARBLER, and BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER were here too. * Two SWAINSON'S THRUSHES and two WOOD THRUSHES all together in a fruiting shrub by the Podell Boardwalk. * COMMON RAVEN calling several times from the woods near the road. * YELLOW-THROATED VIREO heard singing a single phrase a couple of times along the East Trail near 91 Sapsucker Woods Road. I think I've never found Yellow-throated Vireo so late in the season before. I tried to think what else it could be, but the song seemed really quite typical. * A big mixed flock of songbirds, including BAY-BREASTED, Blackpoll, Magnolia, Black-throated Green, BLACK-AND-WHITE, and NASHVILLE warblers, amid very many chickadees and titmice. Again I got lucky with very good views of both Bay-breasted and Blackpoll within one minute and a few meters of each other. I also visited the Freese Road gardens. I found only two sparrow species (Song and Swamp), plus some Indigo Buntings. In the trees above the ravine, I found a little songbird flock that included Black-throated Green Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Blue-headed Vireo, and Red-eyed Vireo. Mark Chao Location: Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology Observation date: 9/19/10 Number of species: 45 Mallard 6 Great Blue Heron 1 Mourning Dove 16 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 3 Downy Woodpecker 2 Hairy Woodpecker 1 Pileated Woodpecker 1 Eastern Wood-Pewee 3 Eastern Phoebe 2 Yellow-throated Vireo 1 Blue-headed Vireo 2 Red-eyed Vireo 2 Blue Jay 21 American Crow 8 Common Raven 1 Black-capped Chickadee 14 Tufted Titmouse 6 White-breasted Nuthatch 2 House Wren 2 Veery 1 Swainson's Thrush 2 Wood Thrush 2 American Robin 7 Gray Catbird 4 European Starling 8 Cedar Waxwing 3 Nashville Warbler 1 Magnolia Warbler 2 Black-throated Blue Warbler 2 Yellow-rumped Warbler 4 Black-throated Green Warbler 3 Bay-breasted Warbler 1 Blackpoll Warbler 2 Black-and-white Warbler 1 Common Yellowthroat 4 Eastern Towhee 1 Field Sparrow 1 Song Sparrow 3 White-throated Sparrow 1 Scarlet Tanager 1 Northern Cardinal 4 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 2 Common Grackle 1 House Finch 2 American Goldfinch 35 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) -- 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] Freese Road gardens, Sat 10/2
At midday on Saturday at the Freese Road gardens, my family and I walked north from the parking area next to the line of trees, then back through the middle of the plots. I devoted much less time, attention, and spatial coverage to birding than usual, yet saw the full roster of expected birds, including LINCOLN'S (maybe 2 individuals), SONG, SWAMP, SAVANNAH, CHIPPING, FIELD, WHITE-CROWNED, and WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS. Peak sparrow season is here! Mark Chao -- 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] Myers, Wed 11/24 10:30 AM (King Eider)
The adult male KING EIDER was still present on Cayuga Lake just north of the spit at Myers Park in Lansing at 10:30 AM on Wednesday. Congratulations to Bob McGuire on a fantastic find, and many thanks to Bob and Chris Wood for getting the word out. Also present were a flock of about 15 SNOW BUNTINGS, which flew north toward Salt Point, and at least one LONG-TAILED DUCK. An EASTERN SCREECH-OWL has roosted in our nest box on Simsbury Drive in northeast Ithaca probably daily since November 6. Mark Chao -- 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] Sapsucker Woods, Tues 12/21
Shortly before noon on Tuesday, Miyoko Chu and I saw a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK above the Wilson Trail North in Sapsucker Woods, near the Sherwood Platform. The very presence of the hawk was a nice surprise given the somewhat atypical location. What's more, the bird graced us for more than thirty seconds with a sequence of circles and rapid glides, directly overhead. I would call this bird a dark morph because of the solidity of color of its head, body, and wing linings, but against the gray sky these parts appeared notably warm brown, except for the round black carpal patches, like an Old World buzzard or kite. The tail had a white base and fine alternating white and black bars above the dark terminal band. Seeing this rufous buteo made me wonder whether the Red-shouldered Hawk is back in Sapsucker Woods this winter. I looked in eBird and found a credible report from December 17, 2010. Welcome back, hawk! Also, I heard from Mary Winston that one Pine Siskin visited the feeder garden this morning. (The most recent Sapsucker Woods siskin report in eBird is from November 10.) The EASTERN SCREECH-OWL continues to roost regularly in our nest box on Simsbury Drive. In past years, the owl has reliably appeared the hole of the box every day for an hour or more before dusk, and also somewhat often at other times throughout the day in all weather. In contrast, this year the owl tends to appear only for a few minutes at first light, bask by day only in very sunny weather, and otherwise rest in the box unseen past nightfall. The owl also sometimes has an unfamiliar demeanor when it does appear. Most notably, the owl tends to bask, asleep, with its head bowed far forward, like an overworked student resting his forehead on an open textbook. Given all this, I speculate that that this owl is different from the one here in 2007-09, or if the same, it has become more retiring with age. Comparison of photos is inconclusive. Mark Chao -- 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] NE Ithaca, Sun 2/6
An EASTERN SCREECH-OWL exited the nest box in our yard in northeast Ithaca at 5:48 PM on Sunday evening. The owl buzzed with rapid wingbeats straight to a bare willow bough, then perched, completely exposed, for a couple of minutes. This must have been my first decent look at the back and tail of this species. Then the owl flew into a nearby pine tree and disappeared in the shadows. This owl has roosted in the yard every day since Wednesday, but before then, I hadn't seen any owl for about three weeks.During this current string of roosting days, the owl has been in view quite a lot (not only for us who live here, but also for my mom, sister, and brother - life bird for him). This ready visibility stands in contrast to our December string of near-daily but momentary sightings only right at dawn. My brother and I also saw some SNOW BUNTINGS and Horned Larks along Lake Ridge Road in King Ferry on Saturday afternoon. Mark Chao -- 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] Sapsucker Woods, Wed 4/20
Highlights from Sapsucker Woods on Wednesday morning: . One silent HERMIT THRUSH by the Woodleton Boardwalk . 22+ RUSTY BLACKBIRDS along the Wilson Trail North . One PURPLE FINCH seen south of the feeder garden, plus several others heard singing . Two male WOOD DUCKS on the main pond I missed the Great Blue Heron drama that Chris Pelkie witnessed. When I passed by the pond at 8:40, I saw just one heron, her head sticking up from the nest on the tallest snag. Mark Chao -- 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] Sapsucker Woods and Monkey Run North, Sun 4/24
Sapsucker Woods continues to host various birds that exemplify this brief window of late mid-April, and also one surprising early arrival. Here are some highlights, mostly shared with Bill Baker's SFO group. * 1 silent VEERY just north of the Sherwood Platform. Several others and I plainly saw light tawny-rufous upperparts, reddest around the head, with faint breast spots. Recognizing the variability of Hermit Thrushes and their greater abundance at this time in our area, I am still certain about the ID. (According to data on the Cayuga Bird Club website, the average first-arrival date of Veery in our area is around May 1, with a standard deviation of about four days.) * 20+ RUSTY BLACKBIRDS, including a few small flocks flying over and alighting in trees, plus nine foraging on the ground by the Podell Boardwalk * 3 HERMIT THRUSHES, including two countersinging, at the Hermit Thrush spot just east of the north end of the Woodleton Boardwalk * 2 NORTHERN WATERTHRUSHES countersinging by the Woodleton Boardwalk * 2 AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS lingering in the feeder garden * 1 SPOTTED SANDPIPER first spotted by Chris Pelkie in the SFO group, in the back of the main pond plus Purple Finches, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Swamp Sparrows, Wood Ducks, a flyover Common Merganser, a Pied-billed Grebe, a distant southbound Sharp-shinned Hawk, and others. I also spent part of the morning with Linda Orkin. We decided spontaneously to visit the initial straightaway of Monkey Run North in search of Pine Warblers. We heard only one, which sang just once, but we did get nice views of three Hermit Thrushes together. Mark Chao -- 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] Sapsucker Woods, Wed 4/27
The abundance of early-arriving birds in Sapsucker Woods on Wednesday was satisfying, to be sure, but unusual to the point of being a bit disorienting. While numbers never tell the full story, in this case they offer a clear and striking outline of the birding morning: 90 minutes, 52 bird species, 10 warbler species, at least 5 species that I think must be earliest spring records in Sapsucker Woods for me, 2 ceBcps (coveted eBird confirm prompts), 1 new acquaintance made with a person previously known only from list postings, and 2 more trail encounters with regular springtime fellow watchers. Here are some highlights. * adult male CAPE MAY WARBLER heard singing and then plainly seen along East Trail near green Lucente service building. Nate Williams got an intelligible photo of this bird. * NASHVILLE WARBLER and BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER near this Cape May Warbler * singing NORTHERN PARULA at the Hermit Thrush spot to the east of the north end of the Woodleton Boardwalk * BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER between Sherwood Platform and lone bench to the south along Wilson Trail (I am thinking that this place needs to be dubbed officially as the Black-throated Blue Warbler spot -- they love it here), and also along Wilson Trail near shelter at Severinghaus intersection * NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH, OVENBIRD, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, YELLOW WARBLER, and COMMON YELLOWTHROAT rounding out the double-digit warbler total * HERMIT THRUSHES and RUSTY BLACKBIRDS still numerous, conspicuous, and thoroughly fun to watch at Hermit Thrush spot * at least one singing WOOD THRUSH along the East Trail * one singing ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK along the Wilson Trail North Thanks to Dave Nutter for posting alerts earlier. Mark Chao PS. I just tried to send this, but I think I used the wrong email account. If this comes through twice, please excuse the mailbox clutter. Thank you! -- 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] Sapsucker Woods, Th 4/28 (quieter)
Sapsucker Woods seems to have quieted down overnight. Birding largely with Bob McGuire and Paul Anderson, I found very few passage migrants (continuing Yellow-rumped Warblers, a NASHVILLE WARBLER, and some Blue-headed Vireos), and nothing rare, new, or unusually early. Early-arriving Ovenbirds, Great Crested Flycatchers, and Wood Thrushes seem to be establishing breeding territories in the woods. Maybe the least expected bird was a GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET on the trail spur connecting the visitor parking lot with the Dryden power line. Yesterday afternoon I saw a MERLIN flying southwest against the wind over Simsbury Drive in northeast Ithaca. This bird's trajectory was taking it straight to Cayuga Heights, where this species has bred in recent years. I also saw a COMMON LOON flying high toward the lake. Mark Chao -- 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] Dodge Road, Th 5/5
On Thursday morning, having found nothing at all unusual on a quick circuit of the Wilson Trail in Sapsucker Woods, I decided to visit the Dodge Road spruce plantation. Today's birding confirmed my sense that this is the best place in the area for sojourning migrants waiting out headwinds. Along the east-facing edge, I found Tom and Ruth Nix, as well as a prodigious mixed flock. * 1 silent male BAY-BREASTED WARBLER seen momentarily but clearly and conclusively * 1 male CAPE MAY WARBLER, incessantly singing for the first five minutes after my arrival, confirmed by sight, but not heard or seen afterward * 1 PRAIRIE WARBLER that I heard singing dozens of times but failed to see, despite much effort * 3+ PALM WARBLERS * 1 singing BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER, just barely seen * 50+ YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS -- very conspicuous, unlike all the other warbler species * 2+ YELLOW WARBLERS * 3+ NASHVILLE WARBLERS * 1 silent male BLUE-WINGED WARBLER * 1 female or subadult AMERICAN REDSTART Tom and Ruth also found a BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER that I failed to detect conclusively. Viewing was very difficult because of the steep sight angles and the dense spruce branches. Many other birds were also here along the edge, including an EASTERN KINGBIRD, a few RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, and a WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW singing across the road in the brush. Mark Chao -- 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] Sapsucker Woods, Fri 5/6
Miyoko Chu and I walked through Sapsucker Woods together on Friday morning (7:55-8:50 AM). Migrants were widely and rather sparsely scattered. We found BLACK-THROATED GREEN , BLACK-THROATED BLUE, YELLOW, YELLOW-RUMPED, and NASHVILLE WARBLERS, a COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, OVENBIRDS, and NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH, plus a YELLOW-THROATED VIREO, two BALTIMORE ORIOLES, and others. Most of the warblers were on the Dryden side near the long pool with the shelter. The Yellow-throated Vireo was near the intersection of the Wilson and West Trails. Around noon, I saw a untagged but banded crow (pink over aluminum, left leg) fly into our yard, carrying what appeared to be two pizza crusts. The crow dropped them into a birdbath, let them soak for a couple of seconds, then removed them and turned them on the grass for a few moments. It repeated this dipping and draining procedure, cawed twice (somehow as if quite pleased), and then flew off to serve or consume its meal. Q: How does a corvid warm up cold pizza? A: In the mi-crow-ave. Mark Chao -- 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] Sapsucker Woods, Sun 5/8
The excellent birding in Sapsucker Woods continues on Sunday morning. Early highlights (6:25-8:45 AM, many shared with Michelle Farnham and Laura Stenzler): * 14+ warbler species, including CAPE MAY, Yellow, Yellow-rumped, MAGNOLIA, BLACKBURNIAN, BLACK-THROATED GREEN, BLACK-AND-WHITE, NASHVILLE, and WILSON'S WARBLER, plus AMERICAN REDSTART, NORTHERN PARULA, OVENBIRD, NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH, and COMMON YELLOWTHROAT. Michelle and I independently had fantastic views of the Cape May Warbler at the first split of the Wilson Trail North. I watched it feeding on catkins and singing for 10+ minutes, three meters from the ground and five meters from me. It was a rare chance to enjoy the bird's black crown as well as its other better-known striking markings. Note that this bird was singing only a rather unusual fast, almost chattery song -- maybe 6-8 notes per second instead of the usual 2-3. All warblers except Blackburnian were along the Wilson Trail; Blackburnian was along the East Trail between the Woodleton Boardwalk and the small long pond with the shelter. * LINCOLN'S SPARROW in the exact spot where Jay found it yesterday, in brush along the pond, near the lone feeder on the Wilson Trail North. I saw the bird well, then got the same cryptic view of the bird's russet flanks that yesterday left uncertainty in my mind about whether I was seeing a Swamp Sparrow. (Not that I ever doubted Jay in the least...) * YELLOW-THROATED VIREO and RED-EYED VIREO singing at the intersection of the Wilson and West Trails. * one lingering RUSTY BLACKBIRD heard singing. * Many other fine songbirds, including WOOD THRUSH, VEERY, many male and female BALTIMORE ORIOLES, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, SCARLET TANAGER, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS, and others. Mark Chao -- 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] Sapsucker Woods, Tues 5/10
On Tuesday at about 8:05 AM, high drama played out before an audience of at least seven breathless birders and photographers on the Wilson Trail in Sapsucker Woods. Against a blue sky and thin clouds, an OSPREY circled close over the tallest snag in the main pond and descended, talons flashing, on the Great Blue Heron nest there. One adult heron remained seated on the nest, head up, while the other stood staunch on the highest branch. This latter heron raised its wings, cocked its neck, and issued a mighty roaring squawk. The Osprey rose again, banked, and made another perilous pass, then several more, narrowly repelled each time. For several minutes, the lives of at least four birds, including a hidden hatchling, seemed in the balance. In the end, however, the Osprey fled to the northwest, and, hearts still racing, we watchers returned our attention to the songbirds. People have found at least 14 species of warblers around the Wilson Trail this morning, including CANADA (heard singing once between the second footbridge and the Sherwood Platform), WILSON'S, PRAIRIE (much singing and some excellent views by Sherwood Platform, then along southern edge of pond), BLACKBURNIAN, BLACK-THROATED BLUE, PALM, NORTHERN PARULA (3+), and other expected species. A female RUSTY BLACKBIRD and a singing YELLOW-THROATED VIREO continue where the Wilson Trail enters the woods near the West Trail. The final birding joy of the morning for me was the sight of an EASTERN BLUEBIRD along the parking lot of Northeast Elementary School. Though I've heard this bird in the neighborhood before, it was the first time I've seen one on the school grounds. Mark Chao -- 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] Finger Lakes Land Trust Spring Bird Quest -- Memorial Day weekend
Over Memorial Day weekend, for the sixth consecutive year, I'll visit several Finger Lakes Land Trust preserves with the goal of building awareness and support for the Land Trust's efforts to preserve vital habitat in our region. As part of this effort, called the Finger Lakes Land Trust Spring Bird Quest (FLLT SBQ), I'll be leading at least three walks. Birders of all ages and skill levels, including children, are welcome. Sunday, May 29 8:00-11:00 AM Lindsay-Parsons Biodiversity Preserve West Danby Meet in the preserve parking lot along Routes 34 and 96. Monday, May 30 6:30-8:00 AM Goetchius Wetland Preserve Caroline Meet along Flatiron Road near the southern end of the preserve. 8:30 AM-11:00 AM Park Nature Preserve (Baldwin Tract) Dryden Meet in the parking lot along Irish Settlement Road. Please stay tuned for a possible Saturday group outing too. As in past years, I'll also be tallying bird species found on Land Trust preserves and raising pledge money. Past such fundraising efforts by me and others have raised more than $20,000 for the Land Trust. Please contact me off list if you would like to make a pledge. I also welcome any inquiries about your joining me in counting species and raising pledges from others. Thank you for your consideration. Mark Chao -- 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] Sapsucker Woods, Wed 5/11
As expected at this peak time, many birders were out in Sapsucker Woods today, each finding a slightly different mix of species. The cumulative warbler tally for the day is 18+ species, several of which I missed. YELLOW WARBLER MAGNOLIA WARBLER (1 by lone bench south of Sherwood Platform) BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER (several throughout, including one female) CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER (one on Wilson North, one south of Podell Boardwalk) CAPE MAY WARBLER (two at bend in Wilson Trail North after second footbridge, found by Chris Wood, Tom Schulenberg, Steve Kelling, and a fourth gentleman) BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER (3+ all around Wilson Trail) YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER PALM WARBLER (1 south of feeder garden, seen by Mary Winston) BAY-BREASTED WARBLER (as Kevin Ripka reported) BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER (also found by Kevin) AMERICAN REDSTART NASHVILLE WARBLER (1 by lone bench) NORTHERN PARULA (4+ all around Wilson Trail) OVENBIRD (several throughout) NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH (1+ migrant by green pool west of Wilson Trail near Sherwood, plus birds on territory along Woodleton Boardwalk) WILSON'S WARBLER (lone feeder and also lone bench along Wilson Trail) CANADA WARBLER (between Sherwood Platform and lone bench) COMMON YELLOWTHROAT YELLOW-THROATED VIREO and RUSTY BLACKBIRD both continue to sing at intersection of Wilson and West Trails. It is also an unusually good day to watch EASTERN KINGBIRDS (7+), which put on quite a show brawling with each other in the treetops. Mark Chao -- 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] Sapsucker Woods, Fri 5/13
Today seems to rival Wednesday as the best day of the season so far for birding in Sapsucker Woods. The collective warbler tally is 17, plus Ovenbird, which somehow I missed today but I assume must be present. As expected, people's finds vary, as luck and coverage have a lot to do each person's results. Here's the running warbler list from the Wilson Trail: Yellow Yellow-rumped MAGNOLIA (7+) BLACK-THROATED BLUE (found by Laurie Ray, missed by me) CHESTNUT-SIDED (3+) BLACKBURNIAN (2+) PRAIRIE (also found by Laurie, missed by me) BAY-BREASTED (2 males together in pine tree at bend in trail between second footbridge and Sherwood Platform; first found by Chris Pelkie) BLACKPOLL (3+, including both Wilson North and small pondside spruces south of feeder garden) BLACK-AND-WHITE (found by Martha Fischer, missed by me) American Redstart (6+) TENNESSEE (probably heard and then later clearly seen near aforementioned bend in Wilson Trail North) NASHVILLE (again Laurie yes, me no) NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH (audible both west and east of Podell Boardwalk; latter bird is territorial around Woodleton) WILSON'S (3+, especially lower branch of Wilson North) CANADA (2+, lower branch of Wilson North) Common Yellowthroat David Gaspari and I also saw a SWAINSON'S THRUSH (probable second passasge-migrant Catharus seen with this bird) and heard countersinging YELLOW-THROATED VIREOS by the shelter at the Severinghaus/Wilson intersection. Mark Chao -- 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] Sapsucker Woods, Sat 5/14
Dave Nutter and I found a very impressive variety of warblers on the Wilson Trail North in Sapsucker Woods early Saturday morning (6:15-6:50 AM). The willow tree that towers over the Sherwood Platform held at least seven warbler species all at once, including two BAY-BREASTED, one BLACKPOLL, a BLACKBURNIAN, YELLOW-RUMPED, BLACK-THROATED GREEN, TENNESSEE, and AMERICAN REDSTART. We also found a female CAPE MAY WARBLER in the big flowering tree by the second footbridge (this species loves this tree), a singing Tennessee Warbler between this footbridge and the platform, and a couple of singing NORTHERN WATERTHRUSHES that seem clearly to be migrants. To top it all, we saw a pair of ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS copulating for about seven seconds at our eye level, about 10 meters away. Best wishes to all today, especially volunteers and attendees at the Lab's celebration of International Migratory Bird Day. Mark Chao -- 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] Sapsucker Woods, Sun 5/15
The boon of boreal birds continues in Sapsucker Woods on Sunday morning, apparently with a slightly different species mix from yesterday. I birded first with Jane Graves (6:30-7:00 AM), then John Greenly's SFO group and Laurie Ray, then the Lab's public morning bird walk led by Jill Vaughan and Tom Cowing. Though I had intended also to go into the woods to find Swainson's and Gray-cheeked Thrushes (I feel nearly certain that they're in there today), I ended up never leaving the Wilson Trail North. Rain was posing a bit of a challenge by the time I left at 8:30. The collective warbler species count just on this trail is at least 16, including the following. MOURNING WARBLER (1 singing and chipping rather frequently around second footbridge; eventual excellent views with John's group) MAGNOLIA WARBLER (5+) CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER (5+, including one singing mostly alternate song by second footbridge) BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER (5+; hard to find any spots on trail where song wasn't nearby) BAY-BREASTED WARBLER (1 M and 1 F together at first split in trail; eventual excellent views) BLACKPOLL WARBLER (5+; song as ubiquitous as Blackburnian's) BLUE-WINGED WARBLER (between second footbridge and Sherwood Platform) TENNESSEE WARBLER (1 seen; surprisingly, none heard) NASHVILLE WARBLER (1 heard in Fuller Wetlands by John's group and me) OVENBIRD (brief but dazzling close view shared with Jane at bend in trail after second footbridge; I think this bird was a passage migrant) NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH (north edge of pond; also a probable passage migrant) CANADA WARBLER (1+ heard singing at aforementioned bend in trail; it was very close, but Jane and I somehow managed to miss seeing it) plus the usual abundant Yellow Warblers, Yellow-rumped Warblers (now down in numbers to about 6), American Redstarts, and Common Yellowthroats. Yellow-throated Vireo continues to sing along the south edge of the pond. (Congratulations to Greg Lawrence on his vireo sweep yesterday in Sapsucker Woods, as well as his other impressive finds!) Finally, to add to yesterday's prodigious Tennessee Warbler totals from the Hawthorn Orchard and other locations, I'll note that I also heard this species on Saturday at Tutelo Park and Cass Park in Ithaca. I imagine that one could find them all over town even today. Mark Chao -- 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] Sapsucker Woods, Mon 5/16
Two pesky TENNESSEE WARBLERS singing in our neighbors' yards foiled my honest but admittedly vulnerable intentions to stay behind my desk all Monday morning. So I went to Sapsucker Woods, of course. Practically the first bird I saw was an exquisite YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER at eye level right where the Wilson Trail South enters the woods on the way to the Podell Boardwalk. This bird eventually crossed over to the roadside hedgerow of the last house on the street. Then I wandered through the woods. I was surprised almost to miss seeing SWAINSON'S THRUSH, but the trusty stretch I call the Catharus corridor, between the East Trail gate and the green building to the south, came through with one near the ground. This bird seemed to be tipping its bill at an unusual upward angle, maybe to reduce exposure to raindrops as with some shorebirds. It seems that essentially all of yesterday's warblers remain on the Wilson Trail North, including MOURNING (second footbridge again), BAY-BREASTED, BLACKBURNIAN, MAGNOLIA, BLACKPOLL, CHESTNUT-SIDED, YELLOW-RUMPED, TENNESSEE, CANADA, WILSON'S, migrant NORTHERN WATERTHRUSHES, and other common expected species. The tree of the day for me was the largest spruce of the lower branch of the trail, where I had dazzling views of male Blackburnian, male and female Magnolia, female Bay-breasted, male Blackpoll (with legs as yellow as a rain slicker), and female Yellow-rumped all at once, with Canada, Chestnut-sided, Yellow, and American Redstart also available for outstanding looks nearby with a mere turn of the head. BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER along the Woodleton Boardwalk brings the day's warbler tally to at least 16 species. Mark Chao -- 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] Sapsucker Woods, Tues 5/17
Miyoko Chu and I made a full circuit of the Wilson Trail in Sapsucker Woods on Tuesday morning. We missed several of the more exciting species that Kevin Ripka found, but we did plainly hear a MOURNING WARBLER singing several times between the second footbridge and the pond. In the woods, we saw the pair of Scarlet Tanagers up close, as well as a few brown birds following each other across the bend in the trail between the Wilson/Severinghaus and Wilson/West intersections. We confirmed one SWAINSON'S THRUSH and an Ovenbird by sight here. I saw Miyoko off to work and then decided to go to the East Trail quickly to look for more Swainson's Thrushes. I found at least two together along the small pond with the shelter; I saw a few other birds here that I think were also probably Swainson's Thrushes. Right around the shelter itself, I found a fine mixed flock of Blackburnian, Black-throated Green, Magnolia, Chestnut-sided and Yellow-rumped warblers, plus Common Yellowthroat and others. Then came the bird of the morning - another Mourning Warbler, in the honeysuckle under the towering pines between the shelter and the Lucente service building. This bird perched up near the top of a shrub right next to the trail for thirty thrilling seconds, singing and chipping, turning often for fine views from multiple angles. It may have been the most surprising and satisfying warbler sighting I've ever had on the Dryden side of Sapsucker Woods. Mark Chao -- 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] Sapsucker Woods, Wed 5/18
On Wednesday morning in Sapsucker Woods, I found an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER on a tall dead tree near the lone bench south of the Sherwood Platform. I watched this bird for about 20 minutes, hoping for a front view, which I never really got. Presumably soaked from the downpour within the previous hour, this bird engaged in a few bouts of furious preening. At certain moments, the bird's white tufts were invisible. At others, they poked out along the bird's sides. Mostly, though, the tufts showed boldly above the folded wings on the bird's back. They looked like the eyes on Spider-Man's mask. Otherwise I found mostly the same species mix along the Wilson Trail as in recent days. The warbler-watching continues to be very good, with multiple MAGNOLIA, CHESTNUT-SIDED, BLACKBURNIAN, BLACKPOLL (nice views of both male and female), CANADA, and migrant NORTHERN WATERTHRUSHES, plus single MOURNING (probable, heard singing once then chipping), WILSON'S, and BLACK-THROATED GREEN. Tennessee Warblers are conspicuously absent, maybe because they're all joining the throngs at the Hawthorn Orchard. YELLOW-THROATED VIREO is still singing along the south edge of the pond. In the woods, I saw one SWAINSON'S THRUSH, as well as the breeding pair of SCARLET TANAGERS. The tanagers were together in a small tree near Sally Sutcliffe's memorial bench. In the early evening on Tuesday, my daughter Francesca and I made yet another circuit of the Wilson Trail. We saw rather few birds, but did see one Blackpoll Warbler from Ruth Davis's arbor and bench south of the building. This bird, a life sighting for Francesca, was perched completely still in a pine for several minutes. I thought that we might be able to watch this bird all the way until sleep or migration takeoff at sundown, but alas, a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK chose that moment to buzz the east shore of the pond, setting off a great multispecies chorus of alarm calls, led by ringing Red-winged Blackbirds everywhere. When we looked back at the pine, the Blackpoll was gone. Mark Chao -- 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] Sapsucker Woods, Fri 5/20
As Laura Stenzler and Scott Haber have noted, today's birding in Sapsucker Woods is quite astonishingly good. In terms of bird diversity, certain past days could perhaps match this one, or maybe not. But I have no doubt that overall, for the quality of viewing as well as the quantity of species, today stands alone as the best day I've ever had in the sanctuary. Miyoko Chu and I actually started late in Sapsucker Woods (~9:30 AM), having first enjoyed a fine visit to the Hawthorn Orchard. Still, we rather easily found all 21 warbler species on the Wilson Trail as reported by Scott and Laura, including views of females of 14+ species. Laura and Scott both mentioned seeing multiple boreal warbler species in the large spruce on the lower branch of the trail; I'll add that the small, tight pair of rather spindly spruce trees between the Fuller Wetlands and the first trail split had an incredible mix of birds all together in plain sight for at least 20 minutes around 11 AM, including two male and at least one female BAY-BREASTED WARBLER; one male and one female CAPE MAY WARBLER; male and female BLACKPOLL WARBLER; male and female MAGNOLIA WARBLER; and nearby TENNESSEE WARBLER, plus Purple Finches and others. We had a few other notable finds, including a vireo sweep (Red-eyed, Warbling, PHILADELPHIA, BLUE-HEADED, and YELLOW-THROATED), a singing ALDER FLYCATCHER (first of year for me), at least one Fish Crow flying over issuing typical double calls, some Chimney Swifts, and a SWAINSON'S THRUSH seen issuing some very unfamiliar burk.burk..jrreee calls. Yesterday Miyoko found a dead Swainson's Thrush on the ground outside our home in suburban northeast Ithaca. The cause of death was clearly a window strike; somewhat surprisingly, these windows face north. It was a sad duty and yet a great privilege to be able to recover this bird's body, to feel its softness and lightness in my hand, and to study its subtle colors and shining half-shut eyes up close. We brought the bird to the Lab, where we hope it will rest in peace in the collections, while also contributing to our human understanding of its surviving kin. Mark Chao -- 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] Sapsucker Woods, Sat 5/21
Early Saturday morning (6:00 - 7:15), I walked the northern portions of the Wilson Trail in Sapsucker Woods, from the service driveway to the lone bench by the pond. I saw at least one male and one female BAY-BREASTED WARBLER (one male holding, beating, and eventually subduing a probable Common Green Darner), a female CAPE MAY WARBLER, one male BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER, female BLACK-THROATED GREEN and BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLERS; many MAGNOLIA, BLACKPOLL, and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, and a female NORTHERN PARULA (to my knowledge, this species was not reported here yesterday). I also heard a few migrant NORTHERN WATERTHRUSHES, a NASHVILLE WARBLER, a BLUE-WINGED WARBLER, and probable CANADA WARBLER, WILSON'S WARBLER, BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER, and MOURNING WARBLER (all heard once but not reconfirmed). A few other birders found species I missed. Counting the once-heard birds, the warbler tally for today is again at least 21 species. Note, however, that at least for me, finding these birds was much more difficult than yesterday, requiring some rapid coverage to find flighty mixed flocks. Note also that birding in Sapsucker Woods throughout the spring, including yesterday, has been much, much more difficult in the afternoon and evening than in the morning. Mark Chao -- 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] Sapsucker Woods, Sun 5/22
The Wilson Trail in Sapsucker Woods today reminds me of Ithaca on the Monday after reunions. The vast majority of visiting revelers have moved on to resume their busy lives. A certain few travelers (female YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER and a couple of singing BLACKPOLL WARBLERS) have stayed behind because of flight delays or maybe just their preference to spend one more unrushed day here. Mostly, though, things have returned to normal - much quieter but still full of wonderful life and diversity among the longtime local citizens, including breeding warblers, thrushes, orioles, sparrows, flycatchers, tanagers, herons, an Eastern Bluebird, plus some new neighbors (YELLOW-THROATED VIREOS and maybe some west-side NORTHERN WATERTHRUSHES acting territorial). Or maybe there is a rocking after-party somewhere, but I just didn't find its secret location. Mark Chao -- 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] FLLT Spring Bird Quest -- guided walks over Memorial Day weekend
Just a reminder - the Finger Lakes Land Trust Spring Bird Quest (FLLT SBQ) will take place over Memorial Day weekend. I'll be visiting Land Trust preserves, tallying bird species, and raising money to support the Land Trust. Many thanks to those who have pledged so far. If you haven't pledged yet, but would like to, please contact me off-list. I'll also be offering four guided walks through Land Trust preserves near Ithaca. Please note the addition of a Saturday walk. All birders of all ages and skill levels are welcome, but please note that one walk will involve strenuous hiking on very steep trails. Saturday, May 28 8:00-10:00 AM (or possibly ending a bit later) Sweedler Preserve at Lick Brook Ithaca Park along Town Line Road, just off Sandbank Road. Meet at the trailhead along the road, just before the bridge over Lick Brook. THIS WALK WILL INVOLVE STRENUOUS HIKING ON VERY STEEP TRAILS. Sunday, May 29 8:00-11:00 AM Lindsay-Parsons Biodiversity Preserve West Danby Meet in the preserve parking lot along Routes 34 and 96. Monday, May 30 6:30-8:00 AM Goetchius Wetland Preserve Caroline Meet along Flatiron Road near the southern end of the preserve. 8:30 AM-11:00 AM Park Nature Preserve (Baldwin Tract) Dryden Meet in the parking lot along Irish Settlement Road. I hope to see many of you this weekend! Mark Chao -- 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] Sweedler Preserve at Lick Brook (FLLT SBQ), Sat 5/28
On Saturday morning, Paul Anderson and Betsy Darlington joined me for the first group outing of this year's Finger Lakes Land Trust Spring Bird Quest. We started at the big trailhead sign on Town Line Road. There we immediately we found two BLUE-HEADED VIREOS in a territorial standoff where the road crosses over Lick Brook. So intent were the birds on each other that they chased and perched quite close to us, affording some of the best views I've ever had of this species. They countersang with remarkably short pauses, sounding quite agitated compared to usual, though still smoother and more languid than other songbirds, including nearby Red-eyed Vireo. Down on the steep blue trail along the gorge, we saw silent LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSHES first above the upper falls and then again by the middle falls. Near the bottom, we saw a male and female SCARLET TANAGER together, pausing for extremely picturesque views in the shadowy hemlocks. Betsy departed at this point, while Paul and I continued to the inlet valley floor. We found a fine variety of birds, best seen along the railroad tracks, but all within earshot of the preserve and the nearby Babcock Tract also owned by the Land Trust. Highlights here included several YELLOW-THROATED VIREOS, BLUE-WINGED WARBLER, CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER, INDIGO BUNTINGS, BALTIMORE ORIOLES, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, and others. We looked and listened for chats, Cerulean Warblers, and Orchard Orioles, but did not find any. We climbed back to Town Line Road via the white-blazed trail along Spring Brook. Here we heard our first Louisiana Waterthrush song of the day, plus BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLERS and another Scarlet Tanager. We ended the morning having tallied 44 species in a little more than two hours. See below for the full list from eBird. Tomorrow Bob McGuire and I will lead a group walk at Lindsay-Parsons Biodiversity Preserve, starting from the parking lot along Routes 34 and 96 at 8:00 AM. Waterproof footwear and protection against ticks are recommended. The birding should be excellent. I hope to see some of you there! Mark Chao Location: Sweedler-Lick Brook FLLT Preserve Observation date: 5/28/11 Number of species: 44 Common Merganser 1 Turkey Vulture 1 Mourning Dove 1 Belted Kingfisher 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker 2 Downy Woodpecker 1 Hairy Woodpecker 1 Northern Flicker 1 Eastern Wood-Pewee 3 Least Flycatcher 1 Eastern Phoebe 1 Yellow-throated Vireo 4 Blue-headed Vireo 2 Warbling Vireo 1 Red-eyed Vireo 3 Blue Jay 3 American Crow 5 Black-capped Chickadee 2 Tufted Titmouse 4 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 2 Veery 3 Wood Thrush 1 American Robin 6 Gray Catbird 2 European Starling 1 Cedar Waxwing 5 Blue-winged Warbler 1 Yellow Warbler 2 Chestnut-sided Warbler 1 Black-throated Green Warbler 2 American Redstart 3 Louisiana Waterthrush 5 Common Yellowthroat 3 Field Sparrow 1 Song Sparrow 2 Dark-eyed Junco 1 Scarlet Tanager 2 Northern Cardinal 2 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1 Indigo Bunting 2 Red-winged Blackbird 6 Common Grackle 1 Brown-headed Cowbird 2 Baltimore Oriole 2 -- 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] Lindsay-Parsons Biodiversity Preserve (FLLT SBQ), Sun 5/29
On Sunday, I had a long, rich morning of birding with Bob McGuire and others at Lindsay-Parsons Biodiversity Preserve in West Danby. Bob, Dave Nutter, and I started right at dawn (5:15 AM) by the swampy pond next to the West Danby fire station. We found a couple of WOOD DUCKS, several singing SWAMP SPARROWS, BLUE-WINGED and CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER, TREE and NORTHERN-ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS, an EASTERN KINGBIRD, and a PILEATED WOODPECKER calling from the slope, among many others. From here, the three of us climbed the steep road to the water tower. The woods were filled with bird songs, including those of YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO, MOURNING WARBLER, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, AMERICAN REDSTART, OVENBIRD, WOOD THRUSH, HERMIT THRUSH, and BROWN CREEPER. Ann Mitchell was awaiting us by our cars at the fire station upon our return. Together we proceeded to Station Road, where we entered the hemlock woods of the preserve. Here we heard several BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLERS and at least one SCARLET TANAGER. By following a streambed upstream toward the state forest border, we rather easily found an ACADIAN FLYCATCHER singing his explosive song. Disappointingly, we failed to find any Blackburnian Warblers in the coniferous treetops. While Dave and Ann continued onward to explore the woods up on the eastern slope of the preserve, Bob and I returned to the main parking lot. We heard a singing ALDER FLYCATCHER just east of the parking area and saw three GREEN HERONS flying south past the house across the street. Then, on a quick walk to Coleman Lake and back, we found many birds, raising our hopes that we'd have a lot to share with others when they arrived. Our group walk, the second of four on this weekend's Finger Lakes Land Trust Spring Bird Quest (SBQ), started at 8 AM. About a dozen birders participated. Even before we hit the trail, we had a surpassing bird-watching moment, as a male YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER perched for a full half-minute facing us, offering a dazzling view of the contrast of his red throat, black breast, and yellow belly. We also saw a COOPER'S HAWK buzz by, much to the agitation of the neighborhood Barn Swallows. Then we set off. Our first stop was by the big pair of maple trees not far to the right of the first trail split. Here a few of us had a momentary view of a PRAIRIE WARBLER just a few feet away. Then we heard two BLACK-BILLED CUCKOOS exchanging vocalizations; with some patience and teamwork, eventually we all got fine views of one of these birds feeding silently and obscurely in the foliage. Several times this cuckoo flew across open space to a different tree, and ultimately, made a stunningly graceful aerial dash all the way to the island of brush near the third split of the blue trail, near Coleman Lake. We proceeded down to this area and found the Black-billed Cuckoo again, along with another. After a brief chase, one cuckoo perched at length in the lower branches of a very short lone round pine. This patch, as always, was one of the preserve's most productive areas for birding. Here we found Prairie Warblers, a pair of INDIGO BUNTINGS (female holding nest material), and a pair of FIELD SPARROWS (one bird twice seen holding a green caterpillar and staying perched, chipping, and finally diving into a shrub only after it felt our watching eyes turn away). Continuing on the blue trail, we saw several other L-P specialties, including two Chestnut-sided Warblers (quite a lot of both song types), two or more Blue-winged Warblers, EASTERN TOWHEE, and RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD. At Celia's Cup, we heard one HOODED WARBLER singing repeatedly at fairly close range, but we didn't manage to see him. Somehow we missed finding Black-and-White Warbler, even though Bob had found at least one on territory nearby within the last couple of weeks. At this point we headed back, following the same trails on which we had entered. Predictably, we found fewer birds as the heat of the day and maybe our own fatigue set in toward 10:30. We did, however, have the fine parting gift of a singing BOBOLINK passing several times right overhead, eventually pursuing a female with ardent high speed and disappearing with her. Our total species tally was 61, leaving me with 73 species found on Land Trust properties so far on this year's SBQ. Tomorrow I'll offer two FLLT SBQ walks - the first one at the Goetchius Wetland Preserve starting at 6:30 AM, and the second at the Park Nature Preserve starting at 8:30 AM. Waterproof shoes are likely to be very helpful. I look forward to seeing you! Mark Chao -- 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
[cayugabirds-l] Two or three Prothonotary Warblers, Armitage Road, Sun 5/29
Lyn Jacobs has reported on both the Eatonbirds listserv and eBird that she and a group of seven others from the Eaton Birding Society found two male PROTHONOTARY WARBLERS singing loudly and chasing each other around Armitage Road on Sunday, on both sides of the road just west of Route 89 near the Seneca/Wayne county line. She reports that they had another sighting of this species on the east side of the bridge. Here are the map coordinates from Lyn's eBird report: 43.0198351,-76.7782974 (2 birds) 43.0232236,-76.7764091 (3 birds) The group also found Cerulean Warblers at both Armitage Road and May's Point, and some Black-bellied Plovers, Semipalmated Plovers, and Semipalmated Sandpipers along the Wildlife Drive. Congratulations to Lyn and the EBS for these excellent finds!! Good luck to those who go looking for these birds! Mark Chao -- 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] clarification of Prothonotary location
Lyn Jacobs and I just had an exchange about the Prothonotary Warblers on Armitage Road. See below for location information straight from her. Mark Hi Mark, I do not think my location balloons in ebird are in the exact location so, to clarify From Rt 89N and then west on Armitage, most of the Prothonotary activity was about 30 feet west of the fishing access parking on the west side of the first bridge. We did also hear them on the east side of the bridge. Lyn On Sun, May 29, 2011 at 7:18 PM, chao.mark markc...@imt.org wrote: Hi Lyn, I have taken the liberty of reporting your excellent finds to the Cayugabirds list. Please see below. Congratulations!! All the best, Mark Chao From: Mark Chao [mailto:markc...@imt.org] Sent: Sunday, May 29, 2011 7:12 PM To: 'CAYUGABIRDS-L@cornell.edu' Subject: Two or three Prothonotary Warblers, Armitage Road, Sun 5/29 Lyn Jacobs has reported on both the Eatonbirds listserv and eBird that she and a group of seven others from the Eaton Birding Society found two male PROTHONOTARY WARBLERS singing loudly and chasing each other around Armitage Road on Sunday, on both sides of the road just west of Route 89 near the Seneca/Wayne county line. She reports that they had another sighting of this species on the east side of the bridge. Here are the map coordinates from Lyn's eBird report: 43.0198351,-76.7782974 (2 birds) 43.0232236,-76.7764091 (3 birds) The group also found Cerulean Warblers at both Armitage Road and May's Point, and some Black-bellied Plovers, Semipalmated Plovers, and Semipalmated Sandpipers along the Wildlife Drive. Congratulations to Lyn and the EBS for these excellent finds!! Good luck to those who go looking for these birds! Mark Chao -- 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] Goetchius and Park/Baldwin (FLLT SBQ), Mon 5/30
On Monday morning, over two dozen birders joined Bob McGuire and me for bird walks celebrating the last day of this year's Finger Lakes Land Trust Spring Bird Quest (FLLT SBQ). The first stop of the morning was the Goetchius Wetland Preserve in Caroline. John Confer, who has been creating a breeding bird map and therefore knows the preserve and its birds better than anyone, joined us here in leading the walk. We all were very grateful for his assistance in finding birds throughout the morning. What's more, John provided much useful historical and geographic context for understanding this preserve, its creation, ongoing evolution, and the continued threats it faces as hydrofracking looms here and throughout the region. Bob and I met John at 5:15 AM for an early search in hopes of raising my SBQ species tally. By the time we convened for the full group walk a little more than an hour later, we had added at least a dozen species to my weekend total, including BARRED OWL (calling several times from the wooded slope to the east), BLACKPOLL WARBLER, NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH, KILLDEER (including a chick starting to acquire ringed plumage), SPOTTED SANDPIPER, and LEAST SANDPIPER. Then our whole group gathered and we set off on foot south along the road from the parking lot. I thought that we had very good luck finding birds perched for scope views, including BOBOLINK, EASTERN MEADOWLARK, SAVANNAH SPARROW, WILLOW FLYCATCHER, EASTERN KINGBIRD, CEDAR WAXWING, YELLOW WARBLER, BALTIMORE ORIOLE, GREEN HERON, TREE SWALLOW, and probably others I'm forgetting. Arguably, though, our birding highlight never appeared except as ripples in the water, as two grunting VIRGINIA RAILS approached our group closely but remained out of view for most of us. Bob Horn saw at least one actual rail. Our second group walk was at the Park Nature Preserve in Dryden. We found most of the birds that Dave Nutter reported yesterday, but viewing was mostly quite difficult. We heard several PRAIRIE WARBLERS, three CANADA WARBLERS, BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLERS, at least one HERMIT THRUSH, but didn't manage to see any of these birds. We did, however, get brief looks at a LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH at the bottom of the ravine near the shelter, and several fine scope views of singing male INDIGO BUNTINGS and MAGNOLIA WARBLER. Unquestionably the biggest surprise for me was a BROAD-WINGED HAWK flying high from west to east - the first of this species that I've ever found on the SBQ. My final species tally for the weekend is 92, which I consider quite acceptable given the heat and lateness of Memorial Day weekend this year. The event will again raise over $3,000 for the Land Trust. I extend my sincere thanks to Bob and John, as well as the Land Trust's Betsy Darlington, for their assistance with the walks. Many thanks to all who participated and pledged! Mark Chao -- 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] Cass Park Sun 6/5 Sapsucker Woods Mon 6/6
On Sunday morning, I saw an OSPREY twice carrying sticks to a light pole in the middle of the Union baseball fields at Cass Park. These fields are just north of the Children's Garden on the west side of Taughannock Boulevard; the light pole in question is closest to the northwestern field (Field 8). I never had the chance to get a magnified or close view. On Monday, I took my mom to Sapsucker Woods for a brief walk. We saw four hatchling GREAT BLUE HERONS in the nest on the largest snag in the main pond. They appear nearly ready to fledge. My mom and I also looked briefly for Orchard Orioles by Kip's Barn. We found none, but did enjoy some fine views of an EASTERN BLUEBIRD, which may have been a life bird for my mother. Mark Chao -- 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] NE Ithaca, Tues 8/2
On Tuesday evening at about 6:20 PM, I saw a MERLIN above the intersection of Simsbury and Winthrop Drives in suburban northeast Ithaca. I didn't have magnifying optics, but I got some long clinching views as the bird flew a couple of times right overhead. I plainly saw short pointed wings and a black tail with thin white bands. The bird's movements suggested that it was catching insects, but I didn't get sight confirmation of any prey. Mark Chao -- 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] Sapsucker Woods, Sat 9/10
Many migrant songbirds were active and conspicuous on the Wilson Trail North in Sapsucker Woods on Saturday morning, mostly along the west edge of the pond. Partly in the company of Paul Anderson and a group led by Suan Yong, I found 13 warbler species, including very many first-winter MAGNOLIA WARBLERS, 3+ subtly dazzling first-winter BAY-BREASTED WARBLERS, one male and one female WILSON'S WARBLER, and a TENNESSEE WARBLER, plus one or two PHILADELPHIA VIREOS. See below for the full list from eBird. Mark Chao -Original Message- Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Tompkins, US-NY Sep 10, 2011 7:45 AM - 9:20 AM Protocol: Traveling 0.5 mile(s) 40 species Canada Goose 12 Wood Duck 1 Great Blue Heron 2 Ring-billed Gull 1 Rock Pigeon 10 Belted Kingfisher 2 Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 2 Downy Woodpecker 4 Eastern Wood-Pewee 3 Eastern Phoebe 2 Warbling Vireo 3 Philadelphia Vireo 1 Red-eyed Vireo 6 Blue Jay 12 American Crow 2 Black-capped Chickadee 15 Tufted Titmouse 6 White-breasted Nuthatch 1 American Robin 1 Gray Catbird 5 European Starling 27 Cedar Waxwing 40 Ovenbird 1 Black-and-white Warbler 1 Tennessee Warbler 1 Nashville Warbler 5 Common Yellowthroat 3 American Redstart 1 Northern Parula 1 Magnolia Warbler 16 Bay-breasted Warbler 3 Blackburnian Warbler 2 Chestnut-sided Warbler 3 Black-throated Green Warbler 4 Wilson's Warbler 2 Song Sparrow 4 Northern Cardinal 9 Common Grackle 40 American Goldfinch 20 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2 (http://ebird.org) -- 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] Sapsucker Woods, Wed 9/14
On the Wilson Trail North on Wednesday, I missed the first four warbler species that Jay reports below from his Sapsucker Woods walk, but I found several others -- Hooded (1 M), Black-throated Blue (2 M together), Chestnut-sided, Blackburnian, and Ovenbird, plus a Wood Thrush and a probable Swainson's Thrush. Mark Chao From: bounce-38041162-3493...@list.cornell.edu [mailto:bounce-38041162-3493...@list.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of Jay McGowan Sent: Wednesday, September 14, 2011 10:42 AM To: Cayugabirds-L Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Dickcissel etc, Freese Road and Sapsucker Woods Livia and I walked around the garden plots on Freese Road this morning, as we have been doing most mornings. The highlight was a single buzzy call note from a DICKCISSEL, presumably flying over, to the NW of the NE corner of the garden plots. The bird was not seen. We also had a dull CAPE MAY WARBLER emerge from foraging low in the vegetation of one of the garden plots and immediately fly sheepishly into the tall oaks along the edge, no doubt ashamed to have been caught foraging in such an embarrassing habitat. We also had a little flock that included a bright PHILADELPHIA VIREO and a Red-eyed Vireo in the hedgerow across the street. Lots of activity at Sapsucker Woods this morning too. We had BAY-BREASTED, WILSON'S, Black-and-white, Nashville, Black-throated Green, Magnolia (many), American Redstart, and Common Yellowthroat on the walk in, as well as a PHILADELPHIA VIREO, several Warbling and Red-eyed vireos, Eastern Phoebes, and a heard-only YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER. Good birding! -- Jay McGowan Macaulay Library Cornell Lab of Ornithology jw...@cornell.edu -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME Welcome and Basics http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Rules and Information http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm Subscribe, Configuration and Leave Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html The Mail Archive http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds Surfbirds http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html BirdingOnThe.Net 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: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Sapsucker Woods, Fri 9/16
I visited Sapsucker Woods on Friday morning, entering via the Winston Court apartments and the West Trail. South of the Sherwood Platform, I met Sahas Barve, who has just come here from Bombay to pursue a Ph.D. in biology (bird population studies). Then, for the next 20 minutes, Sahas and I could hardly keep up with the frenetic bird activity, triggered by direct sunlight incident on the edge of the cold shadowy woods. We saw BAY-BREASTED, MAGNOLIA, BLACK-THROATED BLUE (1 M, 1 F), BLACK-THROATED GREEN (1 M, 1 F or subadult), and WILSON'S WARBLER, plus a couple of PHILADELPHIA VIREOS and a lot of Red-eyed Vireos and Eastern Wood-Pewees. I feel that we probably missed many other birds in this flock. I also visited the east side of the sanctuary alone. There I heard a few scattered birds that I think were warblers, but I saw only one AMERICAN REDSTART. On my way back out again, I saw a migrating COOPER'S HAWK and the morning's biggest surprise, a flock of at least 9 WILD TURKEYS crossing the road. Mark Chao -- 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] Sapsucker Woods, Tues 9/20
I found some migrants in Sapsucker Woods on Tuesday morning, mostly on the Wilson Trail North. These birds included HOODED (1 or 2 F), WILSON'S, MAGNOLIA (several), BLACKBURNIAN, BLACK-THROATED GREEN, BLACKPOLL, AMERICAN REDSTART, NORTHERN PARULA, and COMMON YELLOW THROAT, plus at least one PHILADELPHIA VIREO. Mark Chao -- 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] Freese Road gardens, Wed 9/21
It's starting to feel and look like fall at the Freese Road garden plots. At midday on Wednesday, I found a LINCOLN'S SPARROW, a SWAMP SPARROW, a few dozen SONG SPARROWS, six SAVANNAH SPARROWS, five FIELD SPARROWS, a few INDIGO BUNTINGS, some House Sparrows, and a western PALM WARBLER. Mark Chao -- 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] Freese Road and Sapsucker Woods, Fri 9/23
I had a couple of high-quality encounters with LINCOLN'S SPARROWS in the Freese Road gardens on Friday morning. In the tidiest of the southernmost plots, just where I saw one Lincoln's Sparrow the other day, I watched two simultaneously on adjacent posts this morning. It was the first of my many Lincoln's Sparrow quests ever rewarded with a sighting of two at once. One of these sparrows issued flight calls at least four times while perched. Another highly similar call came from further south, as if responding. Later, along the line of trees at the lip of the ravine, I had another lucky sighting of Lincoln's Sparrow. This one perched twenty feet away for several minutes, stretching occasionally but mostly just relaxing and looking blank. Then it flew into the deep grasses south of the gardens, where it seemed to stay perfectly still again, creating no movement in the vegetation. Otherwise, the variety of birds was about what one would expect - many Song Sparrows, several Field Sparrows, a few Savannah Sparrows, one Swamp Sparrow, several Indigo Buntings, and one western PALM WARBLER preening itself for a long time in the same plot as the Lincoln's Sparrows. Jay McGowan told me that he also saw a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW and a CHIPPING SPARROW; both are firsts of the season here for either of us. Then I paid a brief visit to the Dryden side of Sapsucker Woods. Despite last night's big wave of thrushes, I found only an honorary Catharus (an OVENBIRD) but no real ones south of the gated trailhead. I also found a two very bright BLACKPOLL WARBLERS under the power lines and a rather late BROAD-WINGED HAWK circling over the woods. Mark Chao -- 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] Sapsucker Woods, Sat 9/24
I visited the east side of Sapsucker Woods again on Saturday morning. Some highlights were the same as yesterday's - two BLACKPOLL WARBLERS under the power lines, a few MAGNOLIA WARBLERS throughout, and an OVENBIRD south of the gated trailhead. Today I also saw two SWAINSON'S THRUSHES (one along bend of road near big parking lot sign, one in the Catharus corridor with the Ovenbird), a SCARLET TANAGER under the power lines, and a ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK near 91 Sapsucker Woods Road. I think that there were probably at least two more boreal thrushes with the Ovenbird and the second Swainson's Thrush. I caught a short and distant look at one of these thrushes, which didn't have bold spectacles but also seemed to have upperpart colors more consistent with Hermit Thrush than Gray-cheeked. Mark Chao -- 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] Freese Rd. and Sapsucker Woods, Sat 10/1
I had an unusually quiet walk on Saturday morning through the garden plots on Freese Road (Song Sparrows, Field Sparrows, Indigo Buntings, no unusual songbirds). But then, as just as I was leaving, I saw a bird overhead, speeding south on powerful pointed wings. A minute later, Nate Senner arrived. Having just seen it attacking Killdeer in the flooded Hanshaw field, Nate confirmed my hopeful suspicion - the southbound bird was a PEREGRINE FALCON. Then, recalling Nick Sly's excellent finds from this week, I went to the Dryden side of Sapsucker Woods. Between 91 Sapsucker Woods Road and the middle of the Woodleton Boardwalk, I found a pulse-quickening, even doubly jaw-dropping flock of birds, including a GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH (brief but very close, stirring views from various angles), CAPE MAY WARBLER (1 M), BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER, MAGNOLIA WARBLER, BLUE-HEADED VIREO, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, and BROWN CREEPER (2+), plus chickadees, titmice, and woodpeckers. Mark Chao -- 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] Sapsucker Woods, Sun 10/2
My son Tilden and I walked around the East Trail in Sapsucker Woods on Sunday morning. We found a lot of birds, but didn't try too long to identify the uncooperative ones. I did manage to confirm one BLACKPOLL WARBLER (alone in dark woods at my eye level), one BAY-BREASTED WARBLER (40 feet overhead, showing a lot of red), a MAGNOLIA WARBLER, several GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS (together in pines above the shelter), and a ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK (heard only, but I'm pretty certain). I didn't see any thrushes. Mark Chao PS. Birding was but one of our goals for this walk. Another was counting steps with a pedometer (2,587, says Tilden). Above all, we continued a season-long project shared also with my daughter, building a photo gallery of the astonishingly beautiful and diverse fungi of Sapsucker Woods. Please follow the link below if you're interested; assistance with ID is most welcome. https://picasaweb.google.com/114049026073343451957/FungiOfSapsuckerWoodsFall 2011 -- 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] Sapsucker Woods, Tues 10/4
I had a vastly entertaining visit to Sapsucker Woods on Tuesday morning - maybe the most satisfying birding outing I've ever had here in any October. Here are some highlights. * GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH near entrance to Wilson Trail south of the Lab building. I had much the same experience that Kevin shared yesterday -- a 10-minute view from about 7 feet, just a few steps into the woods from the open garden area. I could see every rictal bristle and every barb of every feather. It could hardly have been a more immediate viewing experience had I held the bird in my hand. As I watched, the thrush coughed up three berries and also defecated three times. Then it flew into the hedgerow at the edge of the open area, where I saw it glean some shrubs in flight, then rest again. Wow!!! Thanks, Kevin! * Two SWAINSON'S THRUSHES near this Gray-cheeked Thrush. * A fine mixed flock of songbirds in the power line cut on the Dryden side, near the entrance to the woods. I saw SCARLET TANAGER (apparent male with nice black wings), PHILADELPHIA VIREO (plainly seen, cautiously identified), BLUE-HEADED VIREO, RED-EYED VIREO (my total count of 3 seen on both sides of the road triggered the coveted eBird confirm prompt, as did the Philadelphia), NORTHERN PARULA, BLACKPOLL WARBLER, MAGNOLIA WARBLER, NASHVILLE WARBLER, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, several EASTERN PHOEBES, and a lot of chickadees and titmice. * BROWN THRASHER, my first in the sanctuary for more than a year, between the far parking lot and the power line cut. * NORTHERN HARRIER migrating high overhead. * COMMON RAVEN over the main pond, confirmed by both sound and sight. I had another fortuitous bird encounter yesterday afternoon. At the intersection of Uptown and Warren Roads in northeast Ithaca, I saw three perfectly round flocks of starlings rising from the power line cut. As if at the flourish of a wand, the flocks stretched, instantaneously merged, and reformed into another flawless sphere. Then I saw the trigger for such animated collective aerobatics -- a MERLIN on the attack, speeding, diving, slicing through the flock like a triply-pointed blade, but ultimately emerging with nothing. Mark Chao -- 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] Sapsucker Woods, Wed 10/5 (Gray-cheeked Thrush still present)
The GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH is still present in Sapsucker Woods on Wednesday. The location is the same (southern Wilson Trail between the entrance to the woods and the north end of the Podell Boardwalk, especially up against the south side of the hedgerow that faces the building). The bird continues to offer extremely good views close to the trail, though initially finding it may be challenging because it tends to stay still for long stretches, digesting berries. Mark Chao -- 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] Sapsucker Woods, Sun 10/16
I had several very gratifying encounters with birds in Sapsucker Woods on Sunday morning. * TENNESSEE WARBLER wandering about the goldenrod, spruces, and hedgerow south of the feeder garden. This bird was quite yellow below, especially on the throat, with purely white undertail coverts and a distinct supercilium. Though it's a bit late, I'm sure of the ID. * BLACKPOLL WARBLER in the small island of vegetation surrounded by the drop-off circle right in front of the stone walkway leading to the building. The bird was basking in direct sunlight, all fluffed with black feather bases exposed, blissfully tolerating my approach within a few feet. Its legs and feet were yellow to the tips of the claws. * CAROLINA WREN under the power lines. I've heard Carolina Wrens only a few times ever in Sapsucker Woods; today's was the very first I've ever seen there. * FIELD SPARROW by Kip's Barn, the first I've seen in the sanctuary in more than a year. I also found EASTERN TOWHEE, some WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS, a singing SWAMP SPARROW, and some Song Sparrows at the northern edge of Sapsucker Woods. * Two BLUE-HEADED VIREOS under the power lines, one bearing much bright yellow and the other none at all. * Several GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS in the same loose flock as the vireos. I find that there are a few days per year in Sapsucker Woods when Golden-crowned Kinglets come out of the hemlocks for long, easy, low-angle views along open edges. This is evidently one of those days. I also heard some RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS chattering crossly throughout. * GRAY CATBIRD along the road, close by in a fruiting bush, eyes gleaming with reflected sunlight. I tried to enjoy these fine views as if they'd be my last looks at this species for a few months. * A huge mixed flock of icterids, including about 400 COMMON GRACKLES and at least 9 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS, their riotous cacophony readily audible from a couple hundred yards away. These birds rose and swirled a few times, allowing a reasonable basis for a rough eBird count. Then the flock fled to the west, and the woods were suddenly silent except for the pathetic peeping of a lone chipmunk. Only one bird now remained in the trees -- an adult COOPER'S HAWK with empty talons. Mark Chao -- 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] NE Ithaca screech-owl, Fri 3/18
An EASTERN SCREECH-OWL continues to roost daily in a nest box in our yard in northeast Ithaca. The owl seems clearly to have become more active with the onset of spring. For the past 4+ weeks, we have been able to see it often throughout every morning and afternoon, regardless of weather. We also hear it regularly, occasionally even by daylight. Two nights ago, I watched the owl vocalizing. This was only the second time I've had such luck; the previous time was almost six years ago to the day. As with the first time, the owl lifted its chin, narrowed its eyes as if in intense concentration, fluffed its throat feathers, intoned its long trill, then caught a few panting breaths to recover. At midday today, I heard a sustained commotion from at least four chickadees, a Downy Woodpecker, and a Red-breasted Nuthatch from a spruce tree in our yard. I peered under the tree and into the dense branches to try to find the trigger for such agitation. I saw nothing at all until, in a flash, a small bird flew powerfully all the way cross the yard and straight into the owl's nest box. A moment later, I saw an owl perched at the hole, first in cryptic and then in more relaxed posture. I also saw an owl in the box earlier this morning. I think that there are two possibilities. 1. There is one owl in our yard. This bird flew across from the box to the spruce at some time between 8 AM and noon, perhaps to escape some living threat or nuisance, or to find greater thermal comfort on this warm day. (Songbirds have often mobbed the owl in the box, but have never managed to roust it before, to my knowledge.) 2. There are two owls in our yard. One was in the box this morning, while the other was in the spruce. Flushed by me, the latter owl joined the other in the box. I feel that the second option is just as likely as the first, or even more so. If this is so, then it would seem highly likely that the two birds are mates. Photographs are inconclusive. I've posted some here. https://picasaweb.google.com/imtstroi/EasternScreechOwl# https://picasaweb.google.com/imtstroi/EasternScreechOwl I can see both similarities and differences in the crowns shown in today's pictures and those from previous shots. Mark Chao -- 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] Long-eared Owl, Simsbury Drive Mon 7:30 AM
We have a LONG-EARED OWL in our yard at 124 Simsbury Drive in northeast Ithaca. Visitors are welcome. Please park in the driveway if possible, for the safety of your own car and courtesy to our neighbors, but streetside is OK too. Come to the front door; we'll view from the back deck. I'll try to repost every hour or so. If you need an update sooner, please call 257-3348. Mark -- 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] Long-eared Owl -- still present, viewing limited
Hi everyone, The LONG-EARED OWL is still here at Simsbury Drive (8:40 AM). About a dozen people have come and enjoyed the bird so far. Viewing is from about 40 meters away. Most of the bird's front is quite visible, as are the ear tufts, but alas, there is a very inconvenient leaf blocking views of the owl's face and eyes most of the time. Viewing has been clearest and most exciting when the bird is being mobbed by songbirds or checked out by squirrels, twice face to face within an inch or two. In these latter instances, the owl has turned its head straight up, or even past vertical, and fluffed its body like a displaying tom turkey. Mostly, though, the view is of a resting shape in the shadows. I realize that despite my excitement, hourly is too frequent for me to post. I'll definitely post again if the owl leaves, but you can assume it's here and that the previously-posted viewing invitation still applies, unless I inform you otherwise. Mark Chao From: Mark Chao [mailto:markc...@imt.org] Sent: Monday, November 07, 2011 7:36 AM To: 'Cayugabirds-L' Subject: Long-eared Owl, Simsbury Drive Mon 7:30 AM We have a LONG-EARED OWL in our yard at 124 Simsbury Drive in northeast Ithaca. Visitors are welcome. Please park in the driveway if possible, for the safety of your own car and courtesy to our neighbors, but streetside is OK too. Come to the front door; we'll view from the back deck. I'll try to repost every hour or so. If you need an update sooner, please call 257-3348. Mark -- 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] Long-eared Owl -- OK at midday
The LONG-EARED OWL continues to roost in peace, as viewed from 124 Simsbury Drive in Ithaca as of midday on Monday. Let me clarify that the bird is technically just over the fence in our neighbors' yard. At one point, to my considerable alarm, a two-man yard-maintenance crew came and started to mow and weed-whack in the neighbors' yard. One of the guys passed right under the owl's tree on a stand-behind mower; the owl didn't flee, but was definitely a bit agitated. I took it upon myself to exercise some emergency lawnmower diplomacy; the guys were happy to view my photos, stop their work, and take me up on my promise to seek retroactive approval from the neighbors and finish grooming that half of the yard myself later. Here are some photos. Note the largely obscured views. As noted, views of facial disk and eyes are infrequent. https://picasaweb.google.com/114049026073343451957/LongEaredOwl Having actually entered the neighbors' yard too and sought angles around our house, I am convinced that viewing remains best from our back deck, accessed through our house when I'm here to let people in. Open house hours continue now through 1:45 PM, then again from 3 PM to 3:45. I'll post again after 4:30 PM if we are able to host viewers in the late afternoon. Mark Chao -- 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] Long-eared Owl -- OK at midday
The LONG-EARED OWL continues to roost in peace, as viewed from 124 Simsbury Drive in Ithaca as of midday on Monday. Let me clarify that the bird is technically just over the fence in our neighbors' yard. At one point, to my considerable alarm, a two-man yard-maintenance crew came and started to mow and weed-whack in the neighbors' yard. One of the guys passed right under the owl's tree on a stand-behind mower; the owl didn't flee, but was definitely a bit agitated. I took it upon myself to exercise some emergency lawnmower diplomacy; the guys were happy to view my photos, stop their work, and take me up on my promise to seek retroactive approval from the neighbors and finish grooming that half of the yard myself later. Here are some photos. Note the largely obscured views. As noted, views of facial disk and eyes are infrequent. https://picasaweb.google.com/114049026073343451957/LongEaredOwl Having actually entered the neighbors' yard too and sought angles around our house, I am convinced that viewing remains best from our back deck, accessed through our house when I'm here to let people in. Open house hours continue now through 1:45 PM, then again from 3 PM to 3:45. I'll post again after 4:30 PM if we are able to host viewers in the late afternoon. Mark Chao -- 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] Long-eared Owl -- last chance
Owl visiting hours at 124 Simsbury Drive have resumed. We'll welcome viewers until the end of daylight - let's say 5:15 or 5:20 PM. Already viewing is pretty tough under the overcast. Mark Chao -- 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] Long-eared Owl -- gone
In the waning daylight on Monday, I saw the LONG-EARED OWL remain on its perch as it had all day, its camouflage darkening with its surroundings until it was a subtle silhouette and, ultimately, an invisible part of a solid block of shadow. Then at 5:13 PM, I saw it jump off, evidently just to the next branch or tree. I cautiously repositioned myself and glimpsed the owl as it flew off altogether, south toward Simsbury Drive and then around the front of our neighbors' house and off to the west. In a thorough search this morning, I found no sign of the owl this morning at the same perch or anywhere else in this vicinity. The presence of an active but unperturbed flock of songbirds in the same cluster of trees further corroborates the apparent absence of the owl. Many thanks to all who came out yesterday and shared the excitement. Mark Chao -- 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] NE Ithaca, Fri 12/16
At about 7:45 on Friday morning I counted 20 TURKEY VULTURES kiting into the west wind over Simsbury Drive in Ithaca. The sighting was surprising, but not quite as exciting as getting the coveted eBird confirm prompt a few minutes later. Mark Chao -- 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] Myers, Th 1/5 (American Pipits)
At midday on Thursday, I found two AMERICAN PIPITS at Myers Point. I first saw the two birds flying north together across Salmon Creek. They showed plain brown plumage without white in the wings, plus dark tails with white outer feathers. At Salt Point, I confirmed the identity of one pipit as it foraged in the gravel and leaf litter, tail often bobbing. Applying modest effort, I found no unusual waterfowl, gulls, or raptors. Mark Chao -- 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] NE Ithaca, Sat 1/7
On Saturday morning, we saw two AMERICAN CROWS copulating for about eight seconds in a yard between Winthrop and Simsbury Drives in northeast Ithaca. The female continued to quiver, prone and with half-spread wings, for a few more seconds after the male dismounted. These two crows had no wing tags, but a tagged crow stood nearby the whole time. Mark Chao -- 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] Newman Arboretum, Mon 2/13
At midday on Monday, I decided to search for roosting owls in Cornell's Newman Arboretum. And I actually found one GREAT HORNED OWL - or I should say, a flock of highly peeved crows found it for me, high in a hemlock on the slope. This was the first owl I've ever found in many attempts at this site; somehow it simultaneously vindicated my expectations and delivered great surprise. Mark Chao -- 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] NE Ithaca, Mon 2/20
For the first time in 11 lonely months, we see an EASTERN SCREECH-OWL in our nest box in northeast Ithaca. I can't prove anything, of course, but this individual bird's unfamiliar posture and demeanor give me the strong impression that it is a first-time visitor, or if a returnee, one who has undergone some profound life changes while away. Also, this owl has some red at the base of the bill, which I've never seen before. Maybe it ate something good last night. Here is a photo. https://picasaweb.google.com/114049026073343451957/EasternScreechOwl#5711254 552328273666 Echoes of triumphant welcoming fanfare still resound through our house. I'm going to enter this owl into eBird and the GBBC (http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc/), then sweep up all the confetti. Mark Chao -- 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] NE Ithaca, Wed 3/7 (screech-owl love shack)
At midday today, I saw a gray-morph EASTERN SCREECH-OWL basking in our nest box on Simsbury Drive in northeast Ithaca. Although I hadn't seen any screech-owl in the box since my lone winter sighting on February 20, I wasn't too surprised to see one today; it was certainly a perfect day to bliss out in the sun. Later, I set up a scope for closer study. Now I saw flecks of red blood on the owl's bill. After a few minutes, the owl turned, looked down, and hopped into the box and out of sight. One second later, an owl again took its place at the opening. But this time the owl had no blood at all on the bill. I see only one reasonable conclusion -- there were TWO OWLS together in the box!!! I got a couple of comparison photos that poorly show the difference that I saw very clearly without the camera. https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/bpL9RlRnbmOQQwVU3Arr6dMTjNZETYmyPJy0li ipFm0?feat=directlink The second owl stayed out for much of the next couple of hours. It gagged and smacked its bill several times; I was sure I was going to get a live view of this bird casting a pellet, but alas, nothing came out. On March 18, 2011, I saw two screech-owls together in this box, but I saw no sign of them for the rest of the season or year. Therefore, though of course I feel abundantly blessed and very fired up, my hopes for a full-blown nesting attempt this time remain highly guarded. Mark Chao -- 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] Sapsucker Woods, Mon 4/2
On Monday morning, I found 3+ FOX SPARROWS behind the hedgerow under the power lines on the Dryden side of Sapsucker Woods, just at the entrance of the forest where the shrubs catch drifts of oak leaves. I saw the three in a single binocular field, including two perched within a body width of each other for a long time, but I feel that there could well have been more. I also found a lot of GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS and several PURPLE FINCHES throughout the sanctuary. There continues to be regular activity in our screech-owl box in northeast Ithaca, with a pair of birds alternately appearing somewhat often at the hole of the box, looking busy and mighty cute. And I'm very glad to see them, except maybe for one thing. They're not owls. They're White-breasted Nuthatches. After I last saw a pair of owls in the box and posted about them three weeks ago, I continued to see one owl throughout the next week, but almost exclusively at dawn and dusk. This pattern was consistent with documented roosting schedules of screech-owl females at the onset of incubation. On one very hot day, I saw an owl come to the hole of the box in mid-afternoon, with some fluffy contour feathers oddly fanned out behind the owl's head - also consistent with my wishful idea of a female thermoregulating for optimal incubation. Then, two weeks ago, I saw an owl exiting the box at dusk, flying all the way across our yard and off to the east. That was the end. No more owl sightings since. It's disappointing, yes, but I like to think that the pair is somewhere better, maybe not far from here, waiting for their eggs to hatch. And I'll be watching the nuthatches with interest. Mark Chao -- 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] Crow -- caching or cooking?
In our yard in northeast Ithaca just now, I watched an untagged American Crow fly to a birdbath with an edge slice of whole-wheat bread. The crow slid the bread into the water, left it there for a few seconds, then reached back in and gently pulled on the slice. A soggy mouthful broke away, whereupon the crow walked to the middle of the yard, put the bread down, and carefully buried it under some lawn clippings. The crow ambled back to the bath and repeated thrice with the remaining bread, walking purposefully twice to different spots in our yard, and finally flying with the last and largest piece over our fence to our neighbor's lawn and again methodically burying the bread under the green hay. Last spring I posted about one local crow who applied a dip-drain-dip procedure to pizza slices. That was like some Food Network dude twice-frying potatoes - pretty impressive. But today's demo seems like a big step up in sophistication, with more complex technique and possible control of not only moisture, but also temperature and maybe even seasoning. Rene Redzepi, anyone? If I determine how long the baking time is, I'll write it down and circulate the whole recipe for all the crows to read. Mark Chao -- 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] Sapsucker Woods, Sat 4/14
The AMERICAN BITTERN was still in the swampy patch of trees and brush among the three parking lots at the Lab of Ornithology at 5:45 on Saturday afternoon. I first saw this bird out in the open by the round pool right by the large sign marking the entrance to the visitor lot. A group of young women visiting from the University of Vermont came over and joined me in watching the bird. Then, as I borrowed one student's phone and called Dave Nutter, the bird disappeared. I slowly walked around the island of vegetation twice to no avail, but finally I saw it again very close to its original spot. Again it was out in the open, this time showing an exquisite gradient of contrast from the black malar stripe to yellow cheeks. When the bird turned, I also saw, for the first time on any bittern, a very blond head contrasting with the subtle and wonderfully complex brown feathers of the mantle and wings. It was amazing - for a few minutes, the head was against a background of dried yellow grasses, and the body against brown earth. The bird was quite invisible to the unaided human eye. Eventually, about a dozen other birders, including Dave, Jay McGowan, Livia Santana, Tom Schulenberg, and Raghu Ramanujan, came and saw the bittern. Some got fine photos. A few times, the bittern ran like a rail through the narrow channels to different parts of the island, but collectively we didn't ever lose sight the bird for too long. Seeing a bittern run was also a first for me today. Many thanks to Dave for getting the word out! Best wishes to those who look for the bittern tomorrow. Mark Chao -- 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] Sapsucker Woods, Sun 4/15
I looked pretty carefully but unsuccessfully for the American Bittern all around the parking lots and larger wetland areas in Sapsucker Woods on Sunday morning. Otherwise the birding was excellent. Here are some highlights, shared mostly with Stuart Krasnoff on the east side. * A loose mixed flock along the Woodleton Boardwalk that included a silent male PINE WARBLER, several singing male YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, a BLUE-HEADED VIREO, several GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS, several BROWN CREEPERS, plus breeding phoebes, chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, and woodpeckers. * At least four HERMIT THRUSHES, one seen along the Severinghaus Trail and the others heard north of the Woodleton Boardwalk (wheezy chord only). * Several RUSTY BLACKBIRDS heard throughout the sanctuary (yesterday, a flock of ~25 Rusty Blackbirds briefly stopped in a tree near the bittern). * Maybe a dozen YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS and 8+ NORTHERN FLICKERS, very vocal and conspicuous throughout. * A pair of WOOD DUCKS on the main pond and pairs seen twice more overhead. * At least five SWAMP SPARROWS along the mulched trail that connects the road with the power-line cut on the Dryden side. Mark Chao -- 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] Cass Park, Mon 4/23
On Monday morning, I stood in the rain on the pitcher's mound at Cass Park Union Fields F8, lamenting the imminent cancellation of our kids' opening game. Then I saw a flock of 30+ AMERICAN PIPITS wandering the nearly snowless outfield and second-base area, plus a pair of Mallards waddling by. Consolation? Mockery? Reason to laugh? Reason to cringe? Now I know how it feels to be Charlie Brown. * sigh * Mark Chao -- 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] Finger Lakes Land Trust Spring Bird Quest May 26-28, plus May 6 walk for kids
Hi everyone, Once again this year, I'll be visiting various preserves of the Finger Lakes Land Trust over Memorial Day weekend, leading public bird walks, and raising pledge money per species found on the various preserves. We call this effort the Finger Lakes Land Trust Spring Bird Quest (SBQ). Since its inception in 2006, the Spring Bird Quest has raised more than $20,000 in support of the Land Trust's efforts to preserve vital habitat for the birds we love. Please contact me if you'd like to pledge or if you'd like to count species and try to raise funds yourself. Thank you for your consideration! Also, this weekend, I'll be leading a special walk for kids at the Land Trust's Park Nature Preserve. This and all SBQ events are free. Please see below for details on all the walks. Many sincere thanks for your consideration. I hope to see many of you out on the trails this month! Mark Chao __ This weekend: Sunday, May 6 8:00 - 9:30 AM (or longer if we can't bring ourselves to rush or stop) Park Nature Preserve Irish Settlement Road, Dryden This walk will be specially oriented toward novice birders, especially kids of age 6 and up. Kids should be accompanied by a responsible adult. Please bring your own birding Memorial Day weekend (Spring Bird Quest): Saturday, May 26 8:00 - 10:30 AM Dorothy McIlroy Bird Sanctuary Lake Como Road, Summerhill Sunday, May 27 8:00 - 10:30 AM (or longer if we can't bring ourselves to rush or stop) Lindsay-Parsons Biodiversity Preserve Routes 34/96, West Danby Monday, May 28 6:30 - 8:00 AM Goetchius Wetland Preserve Flatiron Road, Caroline and 8:30 - 10:30 AM Park Nature Preserve Irish Settlement Road, Dryden -- 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] Sapsucker Woods, Fri 5/4
I walked throughout most of Sapsucker Woods on Friday morning. Migrants are impressively abundant and diverse throughout the sanctuary. The densest warbler flock was in the area of mostly dead trees west of the Wilson Trail North, between the Sherwood Platform and Charley Harper's tribute bench. My full eBird list is below. Highlights include: * 16 warbler species, including WILSON'S WARBLER (heard and tentatively identified with Matt Medler -- independently found and confirmed by sight by Laurie Ray), and notably abundant MAGNOLIA WARBLERS and NORTHERN PARULAS. I heard that Tom Schulenberg found 17 warbler species on his daily walk from Hanshaw Road to the Lab. Maybe he found American Redstart, which I was shocked to miss. * Two LINCOLN'S SPARROWS, one found by Matt among White-throated Sparrows by the green pool west of the trail north of the Sherwood Platform, and another among 11+ WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS right on the mulched trail under the power-line cut on the Dryden side. * One SWAINSON'S THRUSH along the East Trail between 91 Sapsucker Woods Road and the Lucente service building. I plainly saw a brown back and tail with no rufous tones, as well as buffy spectacles and lores. I know it's early, but I'm positive of the ID. * Two VEERIES, one HERMIT THRUSH, and an OVENBIRD (honorary thrush) all seen from one spot on the Hoyt-Pileated Trail, with a WOOD THRUSH singing close by. Mark Chao -Original Message- Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Tompkins, US-NY May 4, 2012 9:10 AM - 11:40 AM Protocol: Traveling 3.0 mile(s) 65 species Canada Goose 16 Wood Duck 2 Mallard 2 Great Blue Heron 1 Osprey 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker 2 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1 Downy Woodpecker 1 Hairy Woodpecker 2 Northern Flicker 3 Pileated Woodpecker 1 Least Flycatcher 2 Eastern Phoebe 3 Great Crested Flycatcher 10 Eastern Kingbird 2 Blue-headed Vireo 2 Warbling Vireo 1 Red-eyed Vireo 2 Blue Jay 5 American Crow 5 Tree Swallow 20 Black-capped Chickadee 5 Tufted Titmouse 4 White-breasted Nuthatch 2 Brown Creeper 4 House Wren 4 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 5 Veery 4 Swainson's Thrush 1 Brown back and tail with no rufous tones; buffy spectacles and lores. Plainly seen at 10X, 20 feet Hermit Thrush 1 Wood Thrush 3 American Robin 12 Gray Catbird 6 Cedar Waxwing 2 Ovenbird 5 Northern Waterthrush 7 Blue-winged Warbler 1 Black-and-white Warbler 3 Nashville Warbler 1 Common Yellowthroat 3 Northern Parula 7 Magnolia Warbler 8 Blackburnian Warbler 4 Yellow Warbler 3 Chestnut-sided Warbler 2 Black-throated Blue Warbler 3 Palm Warbler 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler 5 Black-throated Green Warbler 6 Wilson's Warbler 1 Eastern Towhee 1 Chipping Sparrow 1 Song Sparrow 2 Lincoln's Sparrow 2 Swamp Sparrow 4 White-throated Sparrow 40 White-crowned Sparrow 25 Northern Cardinal 7 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 5 Red-winged Blackbird 7 Common Grackle 9 Brown-headed Cowbird 2 Baltimore Oriole 6 House Finch 2 American Goldfinch 22 This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org) -- 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] Park Nature Preserve, Sun 5/6
Twenty people, including eight kids, joined me and the Finger Lakes Land Trust for a beginners' bird walk at the Park Nature Preserve in Dryden. We saw many birds, including scope views for most everyone of NASHVILLE WARBLER and OVENBIRD, as well as very good binocular views of BLUE-WINGED WARBLER, MAGNOLIA WARBLER, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, and BLUE-HEADED VIREO. We also had repeated close encounters with something along the first straightaway that sounded like either a territorial male PRAIRIE WARBLER or a spaceship lifting off nearby. We got no sight confirmation. Mark Chao -- 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] NE Ithaca, Wed 5/9
This morning, my short walk with my son from Simsbury Drive to Northeast Elementary School revealed more migrants than I've ever found before in hundreds of trips along this route. I had no optics (stupid of me), but I heard a CAPE MAY WARBLER, a few BLACKBURNIAN WARBLERS, a BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER, a YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, and a NORTHERN PARULA, plus an AMERICAN REDSTART in our yard (probably a first for us). My son and I also saw a singing SCARLET TANAGER in a lone tall tree in a lucky person's yard. Yesterday after the rains in Sapsucker Woods, I walked around a bit and found two SWAINSON'S THRUSHES (East Trail and Wilson/West intersection), eleven warbler species, and the BARRED OWL (south of map stand at T intersection of Wilson and Severinghaus Trails, directly south of Podell Boardwalk). I saw a Red-tailed Hawk flying high through the canopy, carrying what appeared to be a writhing muskrat. Imagine the terror for a creature that had previously known only wet earth, still water, and concealing cattails... I also had a two-second view of a gigantic first-year accipiter, brightly spangled above and heavily streaked below, barreling through the treetops. I didn't pick up any definitive field marks, and recognizing my past history of mistakes, I don't want to venture anything close to a conclusive ID. But I still have a strong sense that it was too different-looking and especially much too big to be a Cooper's Hawk. Mark Chao -- 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/ --
