[cayugabirds-l] Eurasian Wigeon & other stuff at Montezuma Wetlands Complex
Ann Mitchell & I went to Montezuma today seeking various marsh birds. We were among several people who looked carefully in the S part of the Carncross impoundment where it was seen yesterday evening but did not see the Marbled Godwit this morning. However it was in a couple of eBird reports in the mid-afternoon with frustratingly few details for a rare bird report as to where it was observed, what it was doing, and how it was distinguished from other shorebirds with long a upturned bill such as Greater Yellowlegs or Hudsonian Godwit. We found a Pectoral Sandpiper, but it was very difficult to see in the very SW corner of the Carncross impoundment, viewed from the W end of the S dike. Sora was whinnying from several locations, including Carncross and Deep Muck. American Bittern was singing “unk-a-lunk” from Van Dyne Spoor Rd. A treat that I feared we had missed for the year was the breeding plumage male Eurasian Wigeon scoped south from the turnaround at the end of Van Dyne Spoor Rd in open water between muskrat mounds near a group of resting Double-crested Cormorants. High over Tschache Pool we scoped several Black Terns pretty far away. Pied-billed Grebes and American Coots and Common Gallinules and Marsh Wrens and Swamp Sparrows are all singing. Lots of Caspian Terns are flying about. Enjoy Spring! - - Dave Nutter -- (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") Cayugabirds-L List Info: NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsRULES_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave_DOT_htm ARCHIVES: 1) mail-archive_DOT_com/cayugabirds-l@cornell_DOT_edu/maillist_DOT_html 2) surfbirds_DOT_com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) aba_DOT_org/birding-news/ Please submit your observations to eBird: ebird_DOT_org/content/ebird/ --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Taughannock Peregrine Outreach
Showing people scope views of the incubating Peregrine and talking to people about the history during the celebrations would be good too. Last year I was at Taughannnock the day the young were fledging. It was also the day that the Park chose to have worker rappel on the S cliffs to knock off loose rocks so they wouldn’t fall on people on the trail below. It seemed to me like there must be a better time to do that in terms of stress & success of fledging, and I wonder if there can be discussions with Park staff beforehand this year. They did have a biologist on hand on the trail by the pull-off on Gorge Rd which is where I usually scope, and they were diverting people onto the road instead of a section of trail, perhaps because one of the fledglings was nearby, which is good. And they were talking to people about Peregrines, also good, but the biologist was too young to personally know about DDT wiping out Peregrines or the local efforts through the Lab and falconers to restore them at this site, and did not mention these things. I added this info as I also showed scope views. The biologist was also supposedly able to shut down the rappel work if it became too stressful for the birds, but I’m not sure how that would have been determined. Maybe better to do that work a week before or after fledging? Others on this list may know better. - - Dave Nutter > On Apr 16, 2024, at 7:25 AM, Peter Saracino wrote: > > Great idea Suan. > And perhaps make an educational handout - both for visitors and educators- > brief history of previous Hacking efforts, natural history of peregrines and > overall nationwide success of efforts to restore their populations...very > teachable moment. > Pete Saracino/ NY State Master Naturalist Volunteer > >> On Mon, Apr 15, 2024, 10:56 PM Suan Hsi Yong wrote: >> Hello birders, >> >> I was thinking it might be a good outreach opportunity to educate the >> public park-goers about the Taughannock Peregrines by scheduling some >> viewings, say on weekends when the fledglings are most likely to be >> active, which I believe would be May 18-19, May 25-26, June 1-2 >> (please correct me if you think other dates are better). The idea >> would be to have one or two people with scopes pointed at the nest to >> show passers by and share information about the bird, the history, and >> a bit of "here's why we thought lighting the falls was a bad idea in >> late April". >> >> If you would like to volunteer, please let me know. Maybe say which of >> the above weekends you would be willing to be present, and approximate >> time of day. If there are enough volunteers, we could work out a >> schedule of 1-2 hour shifts or something. We could then talk to the >> parks and chamber of commerce people to publicize it. I know that >> whenever I was there with my scope, the few passers-by on that lightly >> used trail were always appreciative when we shared scope views and >> information. And I believe that by now the birds are used to us >> distant scopers from across the gorge that this should not be a >> disturbance to them - but do let me know if you think this is a bad >> idea. >> >> Suan >> >> -- >> >> (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") >> >> Cayugabirds-L List Info: >> NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm >> NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsRULES_DOT_htm >> NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave_DOT_htm >> >> ARCHIVES: >> 1) mail-archive_DOT_com/cayugabirds-l@cornell_DOT_edu/maillist_DOT_html >> 2) surfbirds_DOT_com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds >> 3) aba_DOT_org/birding-news/ >> >> Please submit your observations to eBird: >> ebird_DOT_org/content/ebird/ >> >> -- > > -- > Cayugabirds-L List Info: > Welcome and Basics > Rules and Information > Subscribe, Configuration and Leave > Archives: > The Mail Archive > Surfbirds > ABA > Please submit your observations to eBird! > -- -- (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") Cayugabirds-L List Info: NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsRULES_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave_DOT_htm ARCHIVES: 1) mail-archive_DOT_com/cayugabirds-l@cornell_DOT_edu/maillist_DOT_html 2) surfbirds_DOT_com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) aba_DOT_org/birding-news/ Please submit your observations to eBird: ebird_DOT_org/content/ebird/ --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Taughannock Falls light show?
I went to the websites for State Parks (NYSOPRHP), Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce, and Visit Ithaca, used the Contact Us feature of each, and briefly asked them to please not do a light show in the gorge due to potential disturbance of the Peregrines and Ravens nesting there. - - Dave Nutter > On Apr 14, 2024, at 12:06 PM, Geo Kloppel wrote: > > Below is the press release for the evening light shows at the great falls in > Taughannock Falls State Park later this week, which have potential to disturb > the Peregrine Falcons and Ravens that are currently on nests there). > > Note that the event is jointly hosted by NYS Parks, Visit Ithaca, and also > the Tompkins Chamber, which is handling online registration for after-dark > hikes up the gorge trail to the lighted falls. > > > Go for a hike and view the lights to celebrate 100 years of NYS Parks at > Taughannock Falls > mytwintiers.com > > >> On Apr 14, 2024, at 10:16 AM, Tim Gallagher wrote: >> >> I heard some disturbing news last night. Apparently Taughannock Falls will >> be brightly illuminated from 8:30 to 10:00 this coming Thursday, Friday, and >> Saturday night (April 18, 19, and 20). I guess it’s some kind of PR stunt to >> celebrate the 100th anniversary of the New York State Park Service, but it >> couldn’t possibly come at a worse time, with the eggs just about to hatch in >> the Peregrine Falcon eyrie and a pair of Ravens nesting right beside the >> falls—not mention all the other wildlife in the park. There certainly should >> be other, less potentially harmful, ways to celebrate the Park Service. You >> can contact the Taughannock Park office at (607) 387-7041. (Photo by Arthur >> A. Allen) >> > -- > Cayugabirds-L List Info: > Welcome and Basics > Rules and Information > Subscribe, Configuration and Leave > Archives: > The Mail Archive > Surfbirds > ABA > Please submit your observations to eBird! > -- -- (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") Cayugabirds-L List Info: NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsRULES_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave_DOT_htm ARCHIVES: 1) mail-archive_DOT_com/cayugabirds-l@cornell_DOT_edu/maillist_DOT_html 2) surfbirds_DOT_com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) aba_DOT_org/birding-news/ Please submit your observations to eBird: ebird_DOT_org/content/ebird/ --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Chipping Sparrow
FOY yard Chipping Sparrow for me this morning as well, in Ithaca at the base of W Hill at the S end of Cass Park. Very handsome bird, it didn’t use feeders that I saw, but appeared to be singing (inaudible inside our tight house) then flew toward our neighbors’ yard with conifers and lawn such as I think Chipping Sparrows like (I think of them as Cemetery Birds). - - Dave Nutter > On Apr 13, 2024, at 1:28 PM, Sigrid Connors wrote: > > Just saw our first FOY Chipping Sparrow in NE Groton! > > Sigrid > > Sigrid Larsen Connors > > >> On Sat, Apr 13, 2024 at 11:26 AM Ann Mitchell >> wrote: >> I had my first Chipping Sparrrow yesterday. >> Ann >> Sent from my iPhone >> >>> On Apr 13, 2024, at 10:29 AM, Donna Lee Scott wrote: >>> >>> I just saw my 2 FOY Chipping Sparrows under feeder here at Kendal. >>> >>> Been seeing Cedar Waxwings around here on walks. >>> >>> A friend/resident who was here at Kendal for the eclipse celebration >>> outside (I was up at Sodus Bay for it) , said she used Merlin while sitting >>> there, and it reported a Woodcock nearby. >>> Could be the one we had on Mt Kendal last year. If Merlin was correct. >>> I forgot to ask her if it was during the dark time of the eclipse, which >>> might make sense. >>> >>> Donna Scott >>> Kendal at Ithaca-377 >>> Sent from my iPhone >>> >>>> On Apr 13, 2024, at 10:04 AM, Laura J. Heisey wrote: >>>> >>>> >>>> I just saw my first in Newfield! >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> From: bounce-128144786-68441...@list.cornell.edu >>>> On Behalf Of Carol Cedarholm >>>> Sent: Saturday, April 13, 2024 9:50 AM >>>> To: CAYUGABIRDS-L >>>> Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Chipping Sparrow >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> FOY Chipping Sparrow downtown! >>>> >>>> -- >>>> >>>> Cayugabirds-L List Info: >>>> >>>> Welcome and Basics >>>> >>>> Rules and Information >>>> >>>> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave >>>> >>>> Archives: >>>> >>>> The Mail Archive >>>> >>>> Surfbirds >>>> >>>> ABA >>>> >>>> Please submit your observations to eBird! >>>> >>>> -- >>>> >>>> -- >>>> Cayugabirds-L List Info: >>>> Welcome and Basics >>>> Rules and Information >>>> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave >>>> Archives: >>>> The Mail Archive >>>> Surfbirds >>>> ABA >>>> Please submit your observations to eBird! >>>> -- >>> >>> -- >>> Cayugabirds-L List Info: >>> Welcome and Basics >>> Rules and Information >>> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave >>> Archives: >>> The Mail Archive >>> Surfbirds >>> ABA >>> Please submit your observations to eBird! >>> -- >> >> -- >> Cayugabirds-L List Info: >> Welcome and Basics >> Rules and Information >> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave >> Archives: >> The Mail Archive >> Surfbirds >> ABA >> Please submit your observations to eBird! >> -- > > -- > Cayugabirds-L List Info: > Welcome and Basics > Rules and Information > Subscribe, Configuration and Leave > Archives: > The Mail Archive > Surfbirds > ABA > Please submit your observations to eBird! > -- -- (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") Cayugabirds-L List Info: NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsRULES_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave_DOT_htm ARCHIVES: 1) mail-archive_DOT_com/cayugabirds-l@cornell_DOT_edu/maillist_DOT_html 2) surfbirds_DOT_com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) aba_DOT_org/birding-news/ Please submit your observations to eBird: ebird_DOT_org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] early Common Gallinule in Montezuma Wetlands Complex
Yesterday afternoon (1 April) I was with Ann Mitchell at the DEC’s Deep Muck and Mitigation Marsh in Savannah when she found a Common Gallinule hiding in reeds. I wasn’t surprised that eBird said it was rare. They will soon be common enough throughout the Montezuma marshes, but this is early for them, and I suspected this was the first reported this year in the Cayuga Lake Basin. I remember on one of the Montezuma overnight trips with Spring Field Ornithology years ago, always the first weekend of April, Susan Danskin found one along the Wildlife Drive which was the first of that year. I was also not surprised that a Common Gallinule was here this early, since we had such a mild winter and there were a couple recent times that would encourage migration. But I’m glad that when this bird came out in the open I managed to get a recognizable photo through my scope, because it’s rarer than I thought. According to eBird there has only been one other Common Gallinule reported so far in NYS, one that spent the winter on Long Island. The view we had was distant, requiring a scope, and the name of the place may sound intimidating, but the Deep Muck and Mitigation Marsh is a sweet little spot that’s easy to get to and has a nice viewing platform with a bench in the shade in case the weather ever gets warm. It’s about a hundred yards south of Savannah-Spring Lake Road on a gravel road marked by a small sign mid-way between 39 Rd and Taylor Rd. It’s a great place for marsh birds and water birds even if you don’t have a scope. We stopped there because Wade & Melissa Rowley had reported a Eurasian Green-winged Teal among the typical American subspecies. We weren’t aware, but Les Preston also reported a Eurasian Wigeon among the American Wigeon. We didn’t find either of the Eurasian strays among the many ducks, which included Northern Pintails, Gadwalls, and displaying Northern Shovelers. I assume it’s a display when a pair of Shovelers swims cheek-to-cheek in the the tightest possible circles. Context: “Deep Muck” is among a whole series of wetlands in the sediment-filled northward continuation of the glacial valley containing Cayuga Lake. >From the lake, first there are off-limits bottomland forests owned by >Montezuma NWR. Then, north of NYS-5/US-20 is the familiar series of impoundments around the Wildlife Drive. Then, north of the Clyde River and the Barge Canal there are Knox-Marsellus & Puddler Marshes, then some still-farmed-but-seasonally-flooded fields in the Mucklands along NYS-31 west of the village of Montezuma. Then there’s the Refuge’s expansive “Sandhill Crane Unit” south of Van Dyne Spoor Rd. (Since it was named, Sandhill Crane pairs have staked out territories on many marshes in the area.) Then, between the nearby West Shore Trail (named for the West Shore Railroad which formerly ran there) and Wright Road near the existing active railroad, there are a couple more farmed-but-seasonally flooded fields. North of the active railroad is Railroad Road, with a couple DEC impoundments once famous for rails. North of Crusoe Creek are more impoundments around Morgan Road where DEC has its offices. These adjoin the impoundment south of Carncross Road, which is also the west entrance across the Seneca River to Howland Island. Deep Muck is tucked to the west between the Morgan and Carncross impoundments. On the north side of Carncross Road, The Nature Conservancy owns some marsh said to be saltwater from natural seeps. Then there’s the Martens Tract with more DEC impoundments. And there are more DEC places farther north unfamiliar to me. And this list was only on the west side of the Seneca River. Plus there are other areas among the drumlins a bit outside this wide path. My point is that there are many places to take in the birds of the marshes, and Deep Muck should be on the list. Sorry, I don’t know how it got the odd name. - - Dave Nutter Begin forwarded message: > From: ebird-al...@birds.cornell.edu > Date: April 1, 2024 at 5:18:02 PM EDT > To: nutter.d...@mac.com > Subject: [eBird Alert] Wayne County Rare Bird Alert > > *** Species Summary: > > - Common Gallinule (2 reports) > > - > Thank you for subscribing to the Wayne County Rare Bird Alert. The > report below shows observations of rare birds in Wayne County. View or > unsubscribe to this alert at https://ebird.org/alert/summary?sid=SN35788 > NOTE: all sightings are UNCONFIRMED unless indicated. > > eBird encourages our users to bird safely, responsibly, and mindfully. Please > follow the recommendations of your local health authorities and respect any > active travel restrictions in your area. For more information visit: > https://ebird.org/news/please-bird-mindfully > > Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata) (1) > - Reported Apr 01, 2024 16:1
Re: [cayugabirds-l] NYTimes.com: When I Became a Birder, Almost Everything Else Fell Into Place
Thank-you for sharing this! So many times, after seeing an article about a topic with which I’m familiar, I have been frustrated by how they got it wrong. Not this time. This writer gets, and conveys it beautifully. - - Dave Nutter > On Mar 30, 2024, at 8:22 AM, Barbara Chase wrote: > > Explore this gift article from The New York Times. You can read it for free > without a subscription. > > When I Became a Birder, Almost Everything Else Fell Into Place > > To find the birds, you have to know them. > > https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/30/opinion/birding-spring-merlin-ebird.html?unlocked_article_code=1.gk0._HRB.riSbqjkPLopC=em-share > -- > > (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") > > Cayugabirds-L List Info: > NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm > NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsRULES_DOT_htm > NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave_DOT_htm > > ARCHIVES: > 1) mail-archive_DOT_com/cayugabirds-l@cornell_DOT_edu/maillist_DOT_html > 2) surfbirds_DOT_com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds > 3) aba_DOT_org/birding-news/ > > Please submit your observations to eBird: > ebird_DOT_org/content/ebird/ > > -- > -- (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") Cayugabirds-L List Info: NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsRULES_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave_DOT_htm ARCHIVES: 1) mail-archive_DOT_com/cayugabirds-l@cornell_DOT_edu/maillist_DOT_html 2) surfbirds_DOT_com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) aba_DOT_org/birding-news/ Please submit your observations to eBird: ebird_DOT_org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Cass Park & Newman Golf Course Ospreys
Yesterday I visited Lighthouse Point Natural Area, aka Jetty Woods. As I walked past Newman Golf Course I noticed one possible reason I had not any Osprey at the nest platform at the NW corner of the golf course as I viewed it from across Cayuga Inlet near the boat ramp at Allan H Treman State Marine Park. An Osprey was standing on the east side of the platform, and the tall pile of sticks forming the nest might have blocked the view! The maximum number of Ospreys I saw at once, looking across Cayuga Inlet toward the marina was 3 in the air. Looking from the golf course I didn’t see anyone at the nest along Fall Creek near the green suspension bridges. But that was just a brief observation. Maybe that’s not enough this early in the season. Awhile ago I said how the nest at Union Field in Cass Park was occupied by a pair of Ospreys. Then, every time I’ve gone past since, no one has been on the nest, including this afternoon as I walked past going north along the Cayuga Waterfront Trail in Cass Park. But just north of Linderman Creek I saw an Osprey to the north hovering above Cayuga Inlet. This Osprey turned and began flying toward Union Field as another Osprey flew south over the Inlet to join the first. They circled close over the Union Field nest and alit there, one on the nest and the other on the perch. It was a quiet statement. We are still here, in this together. I turned around and could see the NW golf course nest in the distance. Binoculars did not reveal any Osprey on that nest or platform, but then an Osprey flew into view and alit higher in an adjacent tree. Again that’s 3 at the same time, in places where I expected them, and it suggests to me that those Ospreys are claiming those nests, not simply flying around and trying out different nests. - - Dave Nutter -- (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") Cayugabirds-L List Info: NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsRULES_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave_DOT_htm ARCHIVES: 1) mail-archive_DOT_com/cayugabirds-l@cornell_DOT_edu/maillist_DOT_html 2) surfbirds_DOT_com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) aba_DOT_org/birding-news/ Please submit your observations to eBird: ebird_DOT_org/content/ebird/ --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Fish crows/Osprey nest
My money is on the Ospreys for a couple of reasons. I think it was last year I saw a similar thing happen at the Union Fields nest: a couple of Fish Crows were poking around the Osprey nest before the Ospreys had settled in. I don’t know what the Fish Crows were doing, but they weren’t serious about using it as a nest, and the Ospreys took it back and nested. Also, this morning (26 March) about 9am as I crossed the boardwalk on the Cayuga Waterfront Trail to enter Stewart Park, I saw 2 Ospreys at the nest across Fall Creek, one was on the nest itself (presumably the female), while the other was atop the attached perch (presumably the male). So to me that nest looked claimed by Ospreys at that point. Later in the morning I walked around Renwick Wildwood and saw that the same nest at times had 1 Osprey on its perch and another in a tree with a clear view of it. It’s true that the last time I looked around 12:30pm there was no Osprey at the nest and a Fish Crow on the outside edge of the nest instead, so we’ll have to see. I did not notice any Ospreys near the nest at the east end of Stewart Park when I was in the vicinity around 10:15. I saw 3 Ospreys flying over Union Field as I biked along the opposite side of Cayuga Inlet about 8:45am and none on the Union Field nest. - - Dave Nutter > On Mar 25, 2024, at 4:06 PM, Marie P. Read wrote: > > A pair of Fish Crows also seems to have taken up residence on the Osprey nest > pole at the west side of Stewart Park, next to Fall Creek. It will be > interesting to see what happens once the Osprey pair arrives! I did see one > Osprey along the creek this morning, but none at the nest sites yet. > Marie > > Marie Read Wildlife Photography > 452 Ringwood Road > Freeville NY 13068 USA > > e-mail m...@cornell.edu > Website: http://www.marieread.com > AUTHOR of: > Mastering Bird Photography: The Art, Craft, and Technique of Photographing > Birds and Their Behavior > > https://rockynook.com/shop/photography/mastering-bird-photography/?REF=101/ > > From: bounce-128109432-5851...@list.cornell.edu > on behalf of Laurie Rubin > > Sent: Monday, March 25, 2024 3:32 PM > To: CAYUGABIRDS-L > Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Fish crow > > On top of utility pole at Island Fitness. > -- > Cayugabirds-L List Info: > Welcome and Basics > Rules and Information > Subscribe, Configuration and Leave > Archives: > The Mail Archive > Surfbirds > ABA > Please submit your observations to eBird! > -- > -- > Cayugabirds-L List Info: > Welcome and Basics > Rules and Information > Subscribe, Configuration and Leave > Archives: > The Mail Archive > Surfbirds > ABA > Please submit your observations to eBird! > -- -- (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") Cayugabirds-L List Info: NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsRULES_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave_DOT_htm ARCHIVES: 1) mail-archive_DOT_com/cayugabirds-l@cornell_DOT_edu/maillist_DOT_html 2) surfbirds_DOT_com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) aba_DOT_org/birding-news/ Please submit your observations to eBird: ebird_DOT_org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Osprey pair at nest, Cass Park Union Field, 3/25 sunset
This afternoon (25 March) about 4:45pm as I walked north past Union Field in Cass Park, I saw a pair of Ospreys flying around overhead, close together and quietly. The male carried a small fish. At one point the female briefly alit on the nest on the platform atop one of the poles for floodlights for the fields. On my return trip around sunset, I saw them settling in, one on the nest (the female) and one on the adjacent perch (the male). My photo is with the eBird report below. In between, I walked around Allan Treman. Initially I saw an Osprey perched in the snag near NYS-89 west of the nest near the SW corner of the park, N of the maintenance building and Hangar Theater. Shortly after that, I saw perhaps the same Osprey flying E over the marina. I never saw a bird on that nest. However, later in my walk I saw an Osprey at first on the nest NW of the marina and then on its adjacent perch. Meanwhile I could see another Osprey hunting over Cayuga Lake. They did not interact. The Osprey soon left that platform and I did not see anyone at it afterward, but I did see an Osprey fly SE nearby that platform carrying a small fish. I did not check the nest at the NW corner of the golf course today. Yesterday (24 March) from the S end of the Black Diamond Trail I saw an Osprey flying south overhead, then turning left, passing over the small patch of woods, and perching atop one of the sets of floodlights for Union Fields, but not the set with the nest platform. Immediately a pair of American Crows perched on the same set and yelled a New York greeting. The Osprey ignored them, and they quickly went away. I was only at Allan Treman briefly yesterday. No Osprey was on or near the nest north of the maintenance building, and none was on the nest NW of the marina, but an Osprey arrived from the SE and circled over the marina awhile, looking down for fish. And as I went south again I saw an Osprey perched on another of the sets of lights at Union Field. - - Dave Nutter Begin forwarded message: > From: do-not-re...@ebird.org > Date: March 25, 2024 at 10:28:08 PM EDT > To: nutter.d...@mac.com > Subject: eBird Report - NY:TOM:Ithaca: Cass Pk, Union Fields Osprey nest, Mar > 25, 2024 > > NY:TOM:Ithaca: Cass Pk, Union Fields Osprey nest, Tompkins, New York, US > Mar 25, 2024 7:08 PM > Protocol: Incidental > Checklist Comments: Walking SB on CWTW, noticed Ospreys at/ on nest, not > surprising given earlier activity, paused to take photo. > 1 species > > Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) 2 1 presumed female on nest & 1 presumed male > on perch of platform; one of them called briefly, I suspect the male. About 2 > hours & 20 minutes earlier, as I walked NB past Union Fields, 1 saw > presumably the same 2 Ospreys flying closely together over & around the > field. The presumed male, who was a bit smaller and had a plainer white > breast, carried a small fish. The female did a touch & go at the nest. It’s > nice to see them settling in. This afternoon was the first time this year I > had seen 2 Ospreys at once, and they were even interacting. This evening is > the first I’ve seen a nest occupied by a pair. > > View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S165998626 > > This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home) -- (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") Cayugabirds-L List Info: NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsRULES_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave_DOT_htm ARCHIVES: 1) mail-archive_DOT_com/cayugabirds-l@cornell_DOT_edu/maillist_DOT_html 2) surfbirds_DOT_com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) aba_DOT_org/birding-news/ Please submit your observations to eBird: ebird_DOT_org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Ithaca Osprey(s)
On the morning of March 18, Josh Snodgrass & Mark Syvertson saw an Osprey by the marina at Allan H Treman State Marine Park at the southwest corner of Cayuga Lake in Ithaca. Mark took a fantastic photo, which you can see using the links below, of the Osprey carrying a large fish. They said an immature Bald Eagle harassed the Osprey but did not mention the outcome. I walked around the park that afternoon, and did not see any Osprey. Maybe it moved on, or maybe it was still somewhere around the south end of the lake out of my view. On the 22nd I walked around Allan Treman Park and only as I was leaving did I notice an Osprey. It was perched in a favored snag near NYS-89, to the west of the platform in the SW part of the park north of the maintenance building. I took an identifiable but otherwise unremarkable photo, which I added to my eBird report. I didn’t see the Osprey move or associate otherwise with that or any other nest. Yesterday (the 23rd) I walked around Allan Treman Park again, and did not see any Osprey. The nests had snow on them. This morning (the 24th), a few minutes ago, I glanced out the window and saw a familiar large bird with long, narrow, angled, round-tipped wings. Raising binoculars, I saw the chocolate brown top of wings, back and tail, the white head with well-defined dark mask, and the white breast, belly, and wing linings. Aside from its different shape, it was also a far cleaner-colored bird than the unkempt, motley immature Bald Eagles. My first-of-year yard-bird Osprey was flying slowly north against the light wind and looking down, hunting for fish in the Flood Control Channel. I don’t know whether this is a new arrival or if these 3 observations are all of the same bird, but to me this is a more encouraging behavior than the bird I saw merely perching out of the weather within sight of a nest. Maybe I witnessed a homecoming for this bird. Or maybe I just overlooked it hunting for almost a week, and this river/canal is an obvious place to hunt. Regardless, I’m happy, and I’m going out for a walk now to see if there’s an Osprey around, and if so, whether it’s associated with any of the 4 nests I’ll see. - - Dave Nutter Begin forwarded message: > > Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) (1) > - Reported Mar 18, 2024 08:31 by Mark Syvertson > - Hog Hole (Allan H. Treman State Marine Park), Tompkins, New York > - Map: > http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8=p=13=42.4618954,-76.5190244=42.4618954,-76.5190244 > - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S165292688 > - Comments: "Foy for me, perched in tree over marina" > > Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) (1) > - Reported Mar 18, 2024 08:31 by Joshua Snodgrass > - Hog Hole (Allan H. Treman State Marine Park), Tompkins, New York > - Map: > http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8=p=13=42.4618954,-76.5190244=42.4618954,-76.5190244 > - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S165292685 > - Comments: "Foy for me, perched in tree over marina" > -- (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") Cayugabirds-L List Info: NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsRULES_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave_DOT_htm ARCHIVES: 1) mail-archive_DOT_com/cayugabirds-l@cornell_DOT_edu/maillist_DOT_html 2) surfbirds_DOT_com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) aba_DOT_org/birding-news/ Please submit your observations to eBird: ebird_DOT_org/content/ebird/ --
Re:[cayugabirds-l] Return of Ospreys
Links to photos: Dave Kennedy’s eBird report & photo of 5&20 Osprey: https://ebird.org/checklist/S164885403 My eBird report & photos of Union Springs Osprey: https://ebird.org/checklist/S164927513 Photos with phone through binoculars & car windshield & window. Ann Mitchell & I also found another Osprey nest with 2 birds in it at Mud Lock, but a bit of a surprise. Photo also with my phone through my binoculars & the car window: https://ebird.org/checklist/S164970845 - - Dave Nutter > On Mar 15, 2024, at 10:26 PM, Dave Nutter wrote: > > For a few weeks now, folks at Allan H Treman State Marine Park at the SW > corner of Cayuga Lake, where I often walk and go birding, have been asking > me, “When will the Ospreys come back?” I say I expect them around the last > week of March, but it depends on when they decide to leave the Caribbean. Now > it seems more likely they may arrive there sooner, because they have been > arriving at other locations in the Cayuga Lake Basin. > > This morning Dave Kennedy reported an Osprey to eBird from NYS-5/US-20 a half > mile or more southwest of the entrance to the Montezuma NWR, and as should be > done with all rare bird reports he included either a description of what he > observed or a photo. Dave is a good photographer who spends a lot of time > around the Montezuma Wetlands Complex, and he finds many first of year > records for the Cayuga Lake Basin. His lovely photo clearly shows the Osprey > on a nest. (However even an ugly photo can be good enough to ID & document a > bird, so if you see something odd or new for the year or rare, I encourage > you to pull out your phone and try to get a photo.) It’s good to have > documentation of early arrivals because it may demonstrate that birds are > changing their migration timing due to climate change. This winter has been > almost nonexistent. > > Ann Mitchell wanted to see this early Osprey, and she invited me along. We > didn’t check all the Ithaca or Lansing platforms, but as we went north on > NYS-90 we noticed that all the Osprey platforms were unoccupied. We stopped > in Union Springs to look for Bonaparte’s Gulls from Frontenac Park, because > even though the lake was rough, the air temperature might make little > shimmer, so maybe flying birds could be seen. She was looking for where to > park so as not to use Town Office parking or block the boat ramp, and that > had us facing south. Before we got out to look at the lake Ann noticed an > Osprey ahead of us through the trees. It was carrying a stick, and it alit on > the nest platform in the marina which used to be called Frontenac Harbor and > apparently is now called FLX Marine. We drove around to get a photo to > document this apparently equally early Osprey. And we talked to a guy who > works there who said the Osprey arrived 2 days ago. And the workers there are > well aware of the Ospreys. So that’s now the earliest documented arrival of > which I’m aware. We reported it to eBird. > > We also saw the Osprey that Dave Kennedy photographed. Plus, from the East > Road overlook above Knox-Marsellus marsh looking SSE over the forest Ann > picked out a third Osprey with long narrow wings that were dark above but > bright white on the wing linings and belly and flapping faster than a nearby > immature Bald Eagle. > > - - Dave Nutter -- (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") Cayugabirds-L List Info: NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsRULES_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave_DOT_htm ARCHIVES: 1) mail-archive_DOT_com/cayugabirds-l@cornell_DOT_edu/maillist_DOT_html 2) surfbirds_DOT_com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) aba_DOT_org/birding-news/ Please submit your observations to eBird: ebird_DOT_org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Return of Ospreys
For a few weeks now, folks at Allan H Treman State Marine Park at the SW corner of Cayuga Lake, where I often walk and go birding, have been asking me, “When will the Ospreys come back?” I say I expect them around the last week of March, but it depends on when they decide to leave the Caribbean. Now it seems more likely they may arrive there sooner, because they have been arriving at other locations in the Cayuga Lake Basin. This morning Dave Kennedy reported an Osprey to eBird from NYS-5/US-20 a half mile or more southwest of the entrance to the Montezuma NWR, and as should be done with all rare bird reports he included either a description of what he observed or a photo. Dave is a good photographer who spends a lot of time around the Montezuma Wetlands Complex, and he finds many first of year records for the Cayuga Lake Basin. His lovely photo clearly shows the Osprey on a nest. (However even an ugly photo can be good enough to ID & document a bird, so if you see something odd or new for the year or rare, I encourage you to pull out your phone and try to get a photo.) It’s good to have documentation of early arrivals because it may demonstrate that birds are changing their migration timing due to climate change. This winter has been almost nonexistent. Ann Mitchell wanted to see this early Osprey, and she invited me along. We didn’t check all the Ithaca or Lansing platforms, but as we went north on NYS-90 we noticed that all the Osprey platforms were unoccupied. We stopped in Union Springs to look for Bonaparte’s Gulls from Frontenac Park, because even though the lake was rough, the air temperature might make little shimmer, so maybe flying birds could be seen. She was looking for where to park so as not to use Town Office parking or block the boat ramp, and that had us facing south. Before we got out to look at the lake Ann noticed an Osprey ahead of us through the trees. It was carrying a stick, and it alit on the nest platform in the marina which used to be called Frontenac Harbor and apparently is now called FLX Marine. We drove around to get a photo to document this apparently equally early Osprey. And we talked to a guy who works there who said the Osprey arrived 2 days ago. And the workers there are well aware of the Ospreys. So that’s now the earliest documented arrival of which I’m aware. We reported it to eBird. We also saw the Osprey that Dave Kennedy photographed. Plus, from the East Road overlook above Knox-Marsellus marsh looking SSE over the forest Ann picked out a third Osprey with long narrow wings that were dark above but bright white on the wing linings and belly and flapping faster than a nearby immature Bald Eagle. - - Dave Nutter -- (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") Cayugabirds-L List Info: NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsRULES_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave_DOT_htm ARCHIVES: 1) mail-archive_DOT_com/cayugabirds-l@cornell_DOT_edu/maillist_DOT_html 2) surfbirds_DOT_com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) aba_DOT_org/birding-news/ Please submit your observations to eBird: ebird_DOT_org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Re: [cayugabirds-l] “Our” Catbird returned!
This is about a month early for a migrant Catbird. EBird shows them historically (the last 20 years when there has been eBird) starting to return to Tompkins the last week of April and here in full force the first week of May. But during this balmy winter, quite a few Catbirds didn’t bother to migrate, so maybe this is one of those birds who gambled on an inconsequential winter and won. Even so, this could be “your” Catbird. Did it sing? Either way, I agree you are fortunate, and I’m sure your excellent yard habitat is part of the reason it’s there. - - Dave Nutter > On Mar 12, 2024, at 12:05 PM, Regi Teasley wrote: > > Lucky us. Our Catbird just arrived in our yard. > > Regi > 201 Cliff Park Rd > Ithaca > > Creativity is the heart of adaptive evolution. > Terry Tempest Williams > > > > -- > > (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") > > Cayugabirds-L List Info: > NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm > NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsRULES_DOT_htm > NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave_DOT_htm > > ARCHIVES: > 1) mail-archive_DOT_com/cayugabirds-l@cornell_DOT_edu/maillist_DOT_html > 2) surfbirds_DOT_com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds > 3) aba_DOT_org/birding-news/ > > Please submit your observations to eBird: > ebird_DOT_org/content/ebird/ > > -- -- (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") Cayugabirds-L List Info: NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsRULES_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave_DOT_htm ARCHIVES: 1) mail-archive_DOT_com/cayugabirds-l@cornell_DOT_edu/maillist_DOT_html 2) surfbirds_DOT_com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) aba_DOT_org/birding-news/ Please submit your observations to eBird: ebird_DOT_org/content/ebird/ --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Black vultures
I just spent a little over an hour watching a pair of Black Vultures atop the concrete smokestack low on South Hill in the City of Ithaca. That’s at the old Morse Chain / Emerson Power Transmission factory. I can scope it from my house, and it’s probably visible from numerous locations around the City. I use the term “pair” intentionally, because they seemed very comfortable and friendly with each other, each almost touching the other with its bill on several occasions, although most of the time there was very little happening. I don’t know what constitutes courtship among Black Vultures, but this seemed to be more than the coincidental convenience of a place to rest. When they took flight, they flew together, mostly staying within the same scope view. Unlike last fall when I often saw Black Vultures fly well above downtown on their way NE toward trees in Collegetown, today they glided N, descending slowly, in front of the taller buildings near the Commons (i.e. lower than them) and down toward treetop level. When I lost view of them due to closer obstructions, they were due E of me, which is the latitude of Cascadilla St & Farm St. I don’t know whether there is some food source or nest site in the N half of downtown Ithaca, but that would be my guess, unless they have some other destination and it’s worth flying so low just to avoid fighting today’s 10mph NW wind. Anyway, for those interested in where the Black Vultures nest this year, I think we have a pair in the City of Ithaca, it wouldn’t surprise me if they nest here, and it wouldn’t surprise me if their courtship is carried out on top of that smokestack. - - Dave Nutter > On Mar 6, 2024, at 9:53 AM, Dave Nutter wrote: > > The barn is between Freeville & McLean, more specifically along the SE side > of Fall Creek Rd between Red Mill Rd & Malloryville Rd. Google maps shows a > building complex associated with a closed farm stand. Below is the eBird rare > bird report which I saved. The record doesn’t show up in the eBird database > if you search Black Vulture, but I am still able to access it from this link, > so it hasn’t been deleted, revised, or hidden, I guess just not confirmed. > >> >> Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) (2) >> - Reported Feb 16, 2024 11:34 by Paul Rodewald >> - 340–350 Fall Creek Rd, Freeville US-NY (42.5289,-76.3158), Tompkins, New >> York >> - Map: >> http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8=p=13=42.528927,-76.315839=42.528927,-76.315839 >> - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S162563609 >> - Comments: "Two BLVUs flying from barn at this location. Seems early for >> northern limit of breeding range, but appeared to be inspecting a potential >> or prior nest location." >> > - - Dave Nutter > >> On Mar 5, 2024, at 10:53 PM, anneb.cl...@gmail.com wrote: >> >> Seems to me unlikely that many black vultures are nesting north of us. We >> should see more incl juveniles in fall. Maybe I haven’t been on top of the >> observations, but doesn’t match my memory. So migrating through >> >> Where’s this barn? Near McLean or Lime Hollow? >> >> I will say that I haven’t seen them overhead here just outside of Freeville >> but I am completely capable of missing birds, even big black ones I should >> be noticing. >> >> Anne >> >> Sent from my iPhone >> >>> On Mar 5, 2024, at 12:14 AM, Dave Nutter wrote: >>> >>> Paul Rodewald said a pair of Black Vultures seemed to be prospecting a >>> barn recently between Freeville & Cortland. >>> >>> Last year the number of sightings over downtown Ithaca & lower S Hill, & >>> near Titus Flats/ Wegmans/ the Elmira Rd strip seemed like some affinity - >>> maybe nesting nearby? Or is it just that there are lots of potential >>> observers, and they are conspicuous so they get reported more here even >>> though they travel widely? Anyway it seems to be continuing. Is there a >>> food source for them in the neighborhood? Or did they nest here? >>> >>> I wonder how many pairs we are dealing with, how many birds are local, and >>> how many of the birds seen recently have been migrating through. >>> >>> - - Dave Nutter >>> >>>> On Mar 4, 2024, at 5:07 PM, anneb.cl...@gmail.com wrote: >>>> >>>> Let’s try to figure out where they nest this year!! >>>> >>>> Sent from my iPhone >>>> >>>>> On Mar 4, 2024, at 12:04 PM, Laura Stenzler wrote: >>>>> >>>>> A new yard bird this morning over Hunt Hill Road. Two black vultures >>>>> circli
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Black vultures
The barn is between Freeville & McLean, more specifically along the SE side of Fall Creek Rd between Red Mill Rd & Malloryville Rd. Google maps shows a building complex associated with a closed farm stand. Below is the eBird rare bird report which I saved. The record doesn’t show up in the eBird database if you search Black Vulture, but I am still able to access it from this link, so it hasn’t been deleted, revised, or hidden, I guess just not confirmed. > > Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) (2) > - Reported Feb 16, 2024 11:34 by Paul Rodewald > - 340–350 Fall Creek Rd, Freeville US-NY (42.5289,-76.3158), Tompkins, New > York > - Map: > http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8=p=13=42.528927,-76.315839=42.528927,-76.315839 > - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S162563609 > - Comments: "Two BLVUs flying from barn at this location. Seems early for > northern limit of breeding range, but appeared to be inspecting a potential > or prior nest location." > - - Dave Nutter > On Mar 5, 2024, at 10:53 PM, anneb.cl...@gmail.com wrote: > > Seems to me unlikely that many black vultures are nesting north of us. We > should see more incl juveniles in fall. Maybe I haven’t been on top of the > observations, but doesn’t match my memory. So migrating through > > Where’s this barn? Near McLean or Lime Hollow? > > I will say that I haven’t seen them overhead here just outside of Freeville > but I am completely capable of missing birds, even big black ones I should be > noticing. > > Anne > > Sent from my iPhone > >> On Mar 5, 2024, at 12:14 AM, Dave Nutter wrote: >> >> Paul Rodewald said a pair of Black Vultures seemed to be prospecting a barn >> recently between Freeville & Cortland. >> >> Last year the number of sightings over downtown Ithaca & lower S Hill, & >> near Titus Flats/ Wegmans/ the Elmira Rd strip seemed like some affinity - >> maybe nesting nearby? Or is it just that there are lots of potential >> observers, and they are conspicuous so they get reported more here even >> though they travel widely? Anyway it seems to be continuing. Is there a food >> source for them in the neighborhood? Or did they nest here? >> >> I wonder how many pairs we are dealing with, how many birds are local, and >> how many of the birds seen recently have been migrating through. >> >> - - Dave Nutter >> >>> On Mar 4, 2024, at 5:07 PM, anneb.cl...@gmail.com wrote: >>> >>> Let’s try to figure out where they nest this year!! >>> >>> Sent from my iPhone >>> >>>> On Mar 4, 2024, at 12:04 PM, Laura Stenzler wrote: >>>> >>>> A new yard bird this morning over Hunt Hill Road. Two black vultures >>>> circling each other just flew over. >>>> Laura >>>> >>>> Laura Stenzler >>>> l...@cornell.edu >>>> -- >>>> >>>> (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") >>>> >>>> Cayugabirds-L List Info: >>>> NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm >>>> NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsRULES_DOT_htm >>>> NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave_DOT_htm >>>> >>>> ARCHIVES: >>>> 1) mail-archive_DOT_com/cayugabirds-l@cornell_DOT_edu/maillist_DOT_html >>>> 2) surfbirds_DOT_com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds >>>> 3) aba_DOT_org/birding-news/ >>>> >>>> Please submit your observations to eBird: >>>> ebird_DOT_org/content/ebird/ >>>> >>>> -- >>> >>> -- >>> >>> (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") >>> >>> Cayugabirds-L List Info: >>> NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm >>> NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsRULES_DOT_htm >>> NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave_DOT_htm >>> >>> ARCHIVES: >>> 1) mail-archive_DOT_com/cayugabirds-l@cornell_DOT_edu/maillist_DOT_html >>> 2) surfbirds_DOT_com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds >>> 3) aba_DOT_org/birding-news/ >>> >>> Please submit your observations to eBird: >>> ebird_DOT_org/content/ebird/ >>> >>> -- >> >> -- >> Cayugabirds-L List Info: >> Welcome and Basics >> Rules and Information >> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave >> Archives: >> The Mail Archive >> Surfbirds >> ABA >> Please submit your observations to eBird! >> -- -- (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") Cayugabirds-L List Info: NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsRULES_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave_DOT_htm ARCHIVES: 1) mail-archive_DOT_com/cayugabirds-l@cornell_DOT_edu/maillist_DOT_html 2) surfbirds_DOT_com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) aba_DOT_org/birding-news/ Please submit your observations to eBird: ebird_DOT_org/content/ebird/ --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Black vultures
Paul Rodewald said a pair of Black Vultures seemed to be prospecting a barn recently between Freeville & Cortland. Last year the number of sightings over downtown Ithaca & lower S Hill, & near Titus Flats/ Wegmans/ the Elmira Rd strip seemed like some affinity - maybe nesting nearby? Or is it just that there are lots of potential observers, and they are conspicuous so they get reported more here even though they travel widely? Anyway it seems to be continuing. Is there a food source for them in the neighborhood? Or did they nest here? I wonder how many pairs we are dealing with, how many birds are local, and how many of the birds seen recently have been migrating through. - - Dave Nutter > On Mar 4, 2024, at 5:07 PM, anneb.cl...@gmail.com wrote: > > Let’s try to figure out where they nest this year!! > > Sent from my iPhone > >> On Mar 4, 2024, at 12:04 PM, Laura Stenzler wrote: >> >> A new yard bird this morning over Hunt Hill Road. Two black vultures >> circling each other just flew over. >> Laura >> >> Laura Stenzler >> l...@cornell.edu >> -- >> >> (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") >> >> Cayugabirds-L List Info: >> NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm >> NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsRULES_DOT_htm >> NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave_DOT_htm >> >> ARCHIVES: >> 1) mail-archive_DOT_com/cayugabirds-l@cornell_DOT_edu/maillist_DOT_html >> 2) surfbirds_DOT_com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds >> 3) aba_DOT_org/birding-news/ >> >> Please submit your observations to eBird: >> ebird_DOT_org/content/ebird/ >> >> -- >> > > -- > > (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") > > Cayugabirds-L List Info: > NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm > NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsRULES_DOT_htm > NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave_DOT_htm > > ARCHIVES: > 1) mail-archive_DOT_com/cayugabirds-l@cornell_DOT_edu/maillist_DOT_html > 2) surfbirds_DOT_com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds > 3) aba_DOT_org/birding-news/ > > Please submit your observations to eBird: > ebird_DOT_org/content/ebird/ > > -- > -- (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") Cayugabirds-L List Info: NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsRULES_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave_DOT_htm ARCHIVES: 1) mail-archive_DOT_com/cayugabirds-l@cornell_DOT_edu/maillist_DOT_html 2) surfbirds_DOT_com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) aba_DOT_org/birding-news/ Please submit your observations to eBird: ebird_DOT_org/content/ebird/ --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Pine Siskins in Brooktondale
I have yet to see Pine Siskins at my feeders, although I can’t swear they aren’t among the birds who empty them daily when I’m not looking, and I’m impressed by how well the winter-plumaged Goldfinches blend in with the dead Goldenrod. So I followed up on yesterday’s eBird report (below) by Caleb Centanni at Comstock Knoll, east of Beebe Lake on Cornell Campus. Although the Pine Siskins were not evident in the particular tree which Caleb described, I saw about the same number as he did feeding on cones in the tops of other tall White Pines immediately to the west of the Nevin Welcome Center and elsewhere around the short paved loop of former road. This is the first time I have actually associated this species with Pines. Previously I had thought they deserved a name change. If you want to get closer to their elevation you can climb a few stairs on gravel paths to the summit of Comstock Knoll. For better lighting in case it’s sunny you may be able to scope them from the paid parking lot near the west end of Arboretum Rd. I walked in from the free parking lot for the Wildflower Garden off of Forest Home Drive just south of the upstream one-lane bridge over Fall Creek near where Caldwell Rd ends. The gravel paths from there were free of snow and the wooden stairs up out of the flood plain were nearly free of snow and quite passable. > Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus) (40) > - Reported Jan 30, 2024 12:25 by Caleb Centanni > - Cornell Botanic Gardens--Nevin Welcome Center and Young Flower Garden, > Tompkins, New York > - Map: > http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8=p=13=42.44955,-76.472208=42.44955,-76.472208 > - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S160221270 > - Comments: "seen well foraging actively ongoing for over half an hour in > white pine cones of large white pine tree at least (prob more) 3 ft DBH. > “Easily 40 siskins” in it foraging ongoing, voraciously. (42.4500,-76.4720)— > 25 fly off 12:58p to land atop deciduous tree." - - Dave Nutter > On Jan 31, 2024, at 10:42 AM, Marty Schlabach wrote: > > My niger seed feeders have been refilled. Please encourage several to head > our way. > --Marty > Interlaken, NY > > -Original Message- > From: bounce-128003013-3494...@list.cornell.edu > On Behalf Of Sandy Podulka > Sent: Wednesday, January 31, 2024 9:36 AM > To: CAYUGABIRDS-L > Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Pine Siskins in Brooktondale > > Following in Larry Hymes' footsteps, we have 11 Pine Siskins with the > Goldfinches at our feeders in Brooktondale this morning! > > I'm excited--haven't seen them all winter. > > Sandy Podulka > > > -- > > (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") > > Cayugabirds-L List Info: > NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm > NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsRULES_DOT_htm > NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave_DOT_htm > > ARCHIVES: > 1) mail-archive_DOT_com/cayugabirds-l@cornell_DOT_edu/maillist_DOT_html > 2) surfbirds_DOT_com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds > 3) aba_DOT_org/birding-news/ > > Please submit your observations to eBird: > ebird_DOT_org/content/ebird/ > > -- > > -- > > (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") > > Cayugabirds-L List Info: > NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm > NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsRULES_DOT_htm > NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave_DOT_htm > > ARCHIVES: > 1) mail-archive_DOT_com/cayugabirds-l@cornell_DOT_edu/maillist_DOT_html > 2) surfbirds_DOT_com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds > 3) aba_DOT_org/birding-news/ > > Please submit your observations to eBird: > ebird_DOT_org/content/ebird/ > > -- > -- (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") Cayugabirds-L List Info: NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsRULES_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave_DOT_htm ARCHIVES: 1) mail-archive_DOT_com/cayugabirds-l@cornell_DOT_edu/maillist_DOT_html 2) surfbirds_DOT_com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) aba_DOT_org/birding-news/ Please submit your observations to eBird: ebird_DOT_org/content/ebird/ --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Redhead raft
Hi Eveline & All, I am often at Allan H Treman State Marine Park, the park which includes the large marina and the shore of Cayuga Lake. It is immediately north of Cass Park, which belongs to the City of Ithaca and mostly has playing fields alongside Cayuga Inlet. The border is easily overlooked. I particularly like days such as today when the water is calm and the air temperature is close to the water temperature, because the lack of wind vibration, waves, and mirages or “shimmer” make conditions best for viewing birds. Late autumn through early spring is the season when there is the greatest diversity of birds on the lake. Today I was there from about 9:30am until 2pm. I am happy to share my telescope and knowledge with you or other bird-interested passersby, as long as your dog is leashed and under control. I’m the guy with the long white beard and the olive and yellow windbreaker. Today I shared with 7 people, several of whom saw species they had never seen before. Yes, the dense rafts of thousands of ducks which you saw were mainly Redheads, as well as 4 other species in the same genus, Aythya: Greater Scaups, Lesser Scaups, Canvasbacks, and Ring-necked Ducks, as well as a few Gadwalls, American Wigeons, Ruddy Ducks, Buffleheads, and a couple dozen American Coots. I heard rumors that today an additional Aythya species was seen in the rafts at the south end of Cayuga Lake, a male Tufted Duck, which is a rarity from Europe that has been seen for a couple weeks in these rafts. Also nearby, but not part of the rafts, were Canada Geese, a family of Tundra Swans, Mallards, American Black Ducks, a Common Goldeneye, Hooded Mergansers, Common Mergansers, Ring-billed Gulls, Herring Gulls, Great Black-backed Gulls, and Double-crested Cormorants. Farther away on the lake were a small flock of a dozen Long-tailed Ducks, 4 Red-breasted Mergansers, a Pied-billed Grebe, a Horned Grebe, 3 Common Loons. >From Stewart Park today a Green-winged Teal, an Iceland Gull, and a Glaucous >Gull were also reported. A couple days ago I was fortunate to see a Northern >Shoveler from Allan Treman. And the diversity of water birds at the south end >of Cayuga Lake is likely to increase through March! - - Dave Nutter > On Jan 27, 2024, at 2:48 PM, Eveline V. Ferretti wrote: > > Hello! Am at cass park for a Saturday walk w/ my dog and am seeing a what I > believe is a raft of Redheads, with a few other waterfowl mixed in. Wishing I > had a scope with and not just my mediocre binoculars! > > Eveline Ferretti > (she/her) > Public Programs & Communication Administrator > Albert R. Mann Library > Cornell University Library > 237 Mann Drive > Ithaca, NY 14853 > Tel: (607) 254-4993 > > Please note: I am sending this email at a time in which I am engaged with > Cornell University Library business but which may fall outside of normal > workday hours. Please respond at your own convenience. Thank you. > > Cornell University is located on the traditional homelands of the > Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫ' (the Cayuga Nation). Learn more. > > -- > Cayugabirds-L List Info: > Welcome and Basics > Rules and Information > Subscribe, Configuration and Leave > Archives: > The Mail Archive > Surfbirds > ABA > Please submit your observations to eBird! > -- -- (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") Cayugabirds-L List Info: NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsRULES_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave_DOT_htm ARCHIVES: 1) mail-archive_DOT_com/cayugabirds-l@cornell_DOT_edu/maillist_DOT_html 2) surfbirds_DOT_com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) aba_DOT_org/birding-news/ Please submit your observations to eBird: ebird_DOT_org/content/ebird/ --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Yellow-headed Blackbird, Seneca Falls
The location where David Suggs found the Yellow-headed Blackbird is south of NYS-318 and north of the mountains of garbage landfill and other operations by the company called Seneca Meadows. Never having seen a Yellow-headed Blackbird in the Cayuga Lake Basin, I decided to chase this first-basin-record-of-2024 bird. Shortly after 4pm, Dennis Anderson and Tim Wing sent out text alerts that they had refound the large mixed-blackbird flock, including the Yellow-headed Blackbird, at the Seneca Meadows Wetland Preserve, the amazing large area of prairie, pond, and marsh land which the landfill operators constructed next to some existing woods on former cornfields to the east of their holdings on both sides of NYS-414. Daytime access to the extensive trail system is from a parking lot on Black Brook Rd nearly opposite King Rd. Mark Miller and I converged on that parking lot and met Dennis & Tim as they were walking out. The location of the flock was along the north border of the Preserve. Waves of blackbirds - largely Common Grackles with Red-winged Blackbirds - were alternately feeding just out of sight in a cornfield just north of the Preserve, and flying up to rest briefly in a hedgerow of bare deciduous trees along the border near a small shack along the trail for people to rest or take shelter from rainstorms. This is southeast of where David Suggs saw them. Mark & I both scanned the birds flying and in the trees for several minutes, but we did not see the Yellow-headed Blackbird, and at 4:35pm the large flock took off and flew ENE, presumably to roost, in the direction of Montezuma NWR. Mark, being an avid photographer with a good camera, also took a bazillion photos, and the Yellow-headed Blackbird was perched in one set. I will have to try again &/or be lucky to see a Yellow-headed Blackbird locally, and I will appreciate any further reports of this bird. Good birding! - - Dave Nutter (607)229-2158 > On Jan 27, 2024, at 1:18 PM, David Suggs > wrote: > > Saturday, Jan 27. Rt 414 & Worden Rd. Male yellow-headed blackbird in flock > of 2000 grackles, red-wings, cowbirds and starlings. Noon, at intersection. 1 > pm, first cornfield, south side of Worden Rd. > > David & Debbie Suggs > -- > Cayugabirds-L List Info: > Welcome and Basics > Rules and Information > Subscribe, Configuration and Leave > Archives: > The Mail Archive > Surfbirds > ABA > Please submit your observations to eBird! > -- -- (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") Cayugabirds-L List Info: NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsRULES_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave_DOT_htm ARCHIVES: 1) mail-archive_DOT_com/cayugabirds-l@cornell_DOT_edu/maillist_DOT_html 2) surfbirds_DOT_com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) aba_DOT_org/birding-news/ Please submit your observations to eBird: ebird_DOT_org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Eagle in Cayuga Lake
Yesterday (14 Jan) at midday Ann Mitchell & I were at Cayuga Lake State Park, near the northeast corner of the lake. We were there especially to visit the rare overwintering Red-headed Woodpeckers (most people are thrilled to see one adult, but Jay McGowan and a few other folks assure everyone that there are actually 2!), and we quickly saw one high in a tree across Lower Lake Road from the park office. Wanting to submit a complete eBird list, we scanned the lake. To get out of the fierce west wind, we set up our scopes on the landing partway down the stone stairs between the road and the fishing pier (whose railing hosted a Belted Kingfisher). In the middle of the lake was a substantial dense raft of Redheads. Ann said she only saw 1 Scaup among... how many thousand? This assessment was cut short when the entire flock took flight. We soon figured the probable reason: I noticed that nearby was an immature Bald Eagle. It was flying toward us, chasing a single duck, and as the eagle reached out its talons the duck flew down directly into water. The eagle spend a couple minutes flying over that part of the lake, kiting in the wind and at least once dipping down to put its feet in, but coming up empty. Figuring the duck had escaped, we turned our attention elsewhere, but apparently the eagle did not. When I next glanced that way, the immature Bald Eagle was still over the middle of the lake, but flying very low toward the west shore and carrying what we determined to be a male Redhead, apparently dead, with its head and neck, one wing, and one leg dangling. An adult Great Black-backed Gull followed with interest. The eagle was making slow progress, and when the prey touched the surface, the eagle dropped down into the water. I am accustomed to seeing Bald Eagles perched vertically. Seeing a female lying in a nest to incubate or brood, looks odd to me, but obviously they have done this as long as there have been birds. Similarly, the eagle floating low in the water was a new and strange sight, like the pictures I’ve seen of penguins on the ocean surface. Plenty of times I’ve watched a long-winged Osprey, after a plunge, immediately rise to the surface, lift its wings high, and power itself into the air, even while clasping a substantial fish, then shake off water as soon as it was a few feet high. This was different. After resting in the water the better part of a minute, the eagle struggled to become airborne. Again it flew very low, carrying the duck, toward the still-distant west shore. And after a short time the eagle again dropped into the water and rested before barely flying with the duck. It was either the 3rd or 4th time that the immature Bald Eagle lay in the water that it took off a bit more easily having left its prey behind, and flew alone to our side of the lake. Ann noticed that a pair of adult Bald Eagles had approached the scene from the opposite shore, but they were higher above the lake, and we did not see them go down to the surface. That young Bald Eagle had separated a single bird out of the huge busy Redhead flock, pursued it, stayed aloft above it a long time when it dove, succeeded in catching and killing it, then struggled multiple times to fly with it, but failed to bring its prey to shore or get anything to eat. I felt sorry for the eagle. (Okay, I felt a bit sorry for the duck, too, but it was dead, and there were thousands more of them.) My guess is that the strong headwind hampered the eagle’s ability to fly while burdened to the west shore. It may have chosen that more difficult direction because it knew the adult pair lived on the east shore. And when the team of adult Bald Eagles showed up, the young bird knew it stood no chance of keeping that meal. - - Dave Nutter -- (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") Cayugabirds-L List Info: NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsRULES_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave_DOT_htm ARCHIVES: 1) mail-archive_DOT_com/cayugabirds-l@cornell_DOT_edu/maillist_DOT_html 2) surfbirds_DOT_com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) aba_DOT_org/birding-news/ Please submit your observations to eBird: ebird_DOT_org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Wood Duck at Mud Lock
This afternoon (13 Jan) I found a gorgeous breeding plumage male Wood Duck, apparently the first reported this year in the Cayuga Lake Basin. It was at Mud Lock, which is the outlet of Cayuga Lake, which is a short distance southwest of where NYS-90 crosses US-5 & NYS-20 by the Circle K gas & convenience store close to the Montezuma NWR Visitor Center. The Wood Duck was being very inconspicuous, feeding with a few Mallards among bits of floating debris right next to the upstream end of the lock, and visible from a gravel pull-off along River Road just north of the boat ramp. However, when the ducks saw me fussing with my window-mounted telescope to take a digi-scope photo, they swam out into the river, and the Wood Duck went all the way to the other side, where it was actually more visible. - - Dave Nutter -- (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") Cayugabirds-L List Info: NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsRULES_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave_DOT_htm ARCHIVES: 1) mail-archive_DOT_com/cayugabirds-l@cornell_DOT_edu/maillist_DOT_html 2) surfbirds_DOT_com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) aba_DOT_org/birding-news/ Please submit your observations to eBird: ebird_DOT_org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Bald Eagle carrying nesting material in Lansing
This morning (13 Jan) I was on Blackchin Blvd, a sidestreet off East Shore Drive above the Bolton Point water intake, when I saw an adult Bald Eagle flying over with what at first looked like a really long, ragged, wedge-shaped tail, which momentarily raised my Adrenalin level. Binoculars revealed that it in its feet which were against the base of its tail, it was carrying a big sheaf of grass, which I assume is destined to be the lining of a nest. I’ve never seen this before, so that was pretty neat. The eagle was flying more-or-less south when I saw it go overhead, and I don’t know how far it continued that direction, which would quickly bring it to the shore of Cayuga Lake still in the Town of Lansing. Does anyone know of any Eagle nest around there? If the eagle had turned west, maybe after continuing south more to overcome the south wind when crossing the lake, it would have arrived at the existing nest in the gorge along Maplewood Rd in the Town of Ulysses. - - Dave Nutter -- (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") Cayugabirds-L List Info: NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsRULES_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave_DOT_htm ARCHIVES: 1) mail-archive_DOT_com/cayugabirds-l@cornell_DOT_edu/maillist_DOT_html 2) surfbirds_DOT_com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) aba_DOT_org/birding-news/ Please submit your observations to eBird: ebird_DOT_org/content/ebird/ --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Audubon's Yellow-rumped Warbler (intergrade?), Ithaca
until I saw John’s Christmas Eve photos that I realized I had not been using all the criteria to pick out Audubon’s Warblers. If I had studied my Sibley guide I would have seen the picture, remarkably like what John photographed, of a first year female whose throat was not at all yellow. I had been checking Yellow-rumped Warblers for yellow throats, which would catch adult Audubon’s, and none of the 4 Yellow-rumps I saw from the boardwalk last December 9 had yellow throats, so I called them all Myrtles. But I only recall of them 3 being otherwise boldly marked, and after seeing those photos I wondered about the 4th. It turns out that an even more diagnostic field mark is the shape of the throat patch. Audubon’s is a simple triangle, but the lower corners of Myrtle’s throat patch extend in a curve to the rear below the the cheek or “auriculars”. I hope this helps you find this bird, and want to do so. Plus it’s cute. - - Dave Nutter > On Jan 11, 2024, at 3:48 PM, Jay McGowan wrote: > > Hi all, > John Garrett found an apparent Audubon's Yellow-rumped Warbler at the Ithaca > Farmers Market on Christmas Eve (checklist), a bird which eluded observers > for some time until Dave Nutter refound it near the bridge to Renwick Woods > and Stewart Park late this morning. I caught up with it a little later today > and got some more photos, as well as a recording of the chip calls. I was > struck by John's initial photos that it was quite a dull individual, but it > was clearly not a pure Myrtle either. Seeing (and especially hearing) it in > person today, I suspect it's probably a Myrtle x Audubon's intergrade. The > chip calls were somewhat intermediate between the two but tending more > towards Myrtle, and some of the other characteristics seemed intermediate as > well. My checklist with photos and the recording is here, and I'll add more > details once I have a chance to study some more intergrades. A very > interesting bird either way, so kudos to John and now Dave for picking up on > a subtle individual. > > Also, a bird that looks good to me for a Tufted Duck x scaup sp. hybrid was > sleeping in the Aythya flock not far from the continuing adult male Tufted > Duck off the east end of Stewart Park around the same time (checklist). > > Jay > > -- > Jay McGowan > jw...@cornell.edu > -- > Cayugabirds-L List Info: > Welcome and Basics > Rules and Information > Subscribe, Configuration and Leave > Archives: > The Mail Archive > Surfbirds > ABA > Please submit your observations to eBird! > -- -- (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") Cayugabirds-L List Info: NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsRULES_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave_DOT_htm ARCHIVES: 1) mail-archive_DOT_com/cayugabirds-l@cornell_DOT_edu/maillist_DOT_html 2) surfbirds_DOT_com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) aba_DOT_org/birding-news/ Please submit your observations to eBird: ebird_DOT_org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Young eagles over Cayuga Lake
Yesterday (10 Jan) I was scanning Cayuga Lake from Allan Treman State Marine Park. Viewing conditions to the north showed such detail of buildings at Myers that I hoped to see the Trumpeter Swans somewhere along the shore, but no luck. Either they were obscured by whitecaps or they were elsewhere. The most intriguing thing I saw was over the lake. First, an immature Bald Eagle flew low over the water, reached down, grabbed what might have been a small and skinny fish, then flew toward the trees on the west shore, with feet extended to the rear against its tail. I thought that showed me it was carrying something, but I couldn’t make out exactly what. Some time later (I spent a long time there) I saw a different immature Bald Eagle, with more extensive white on the underside of the flight feathers of its wings, carrying a large long fish. The fish dangled straight down and seemed not to be held very well. An adult Great Black-backed Gull followed close behind but did not seem to be a major irritant. Yet the eagle dropped the fish, I suspect just losing grip, and it fell to the water. The gull dropped down but simply sat on the water. That fish was far too large for the gull to carry, and maybe the time to tear off bites of it, if it remained at the surface, was not when a hungry eagle was overhead. I looked back at the eagle, wondering if it would try to pick up the fish again, but it didn’t. Next thing I saw, a darker eagle, perhaps the first one, flew across my view, carrying what could have been the same large fish that the whiter eagle had dropped. Again, the fish dangled straight down, but less tenuously I thought. The whiter eagle followed, and I noticed she was larger than the dark one. (Female Bald Eagles, like most birds of prey, are larger than males. The additional white may have been individual variation, or if the white included the belly it would mean she is a year older. I’ll have to take more note of plumage details next time!) She followed, gaining, and rising up toward him. It did not seem to me like an attack, yet he dropped the fish. And she immediately grabbed it in mid-air just a few feet below him, before it had gained much speed. She carried it to a large tree on West Hill and settled in to eat. I lost track of the male, who did not fly or perch close to her. Why did he drop the fish? Did he lose his grip, as she apparently had? Was he cowed by the larger and perhaps older eagle approaching? That seems very possible. Was it a matter of cooperation, perhaps among siblings, since he had just eaten anyway? That seems doubtful to me. Or was it a deliberate gift to a potential mate, even though both birds are nowhere near adult plumage? I hope to see them again and find out. - - Dave Nutter -- (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") Cayugabirds-L List Info: NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsRULES_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave_DOT_htm ARCHIVES: 1) mail-archive_DOT_com/cayugabirds-l@cornell_DOT_edu/maillist_DOT_html 2) surfbirds_DOT_com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) aba_DOT_org/birding-news/ Please submit your observations to eBird: ebird_DOT_org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] 2024 Cayuga Basin First Records available
Thanks to Paul Anderson quickly setting up the tables, and to the magic of eBird, I have been able to start filling them in. You can check it out on the Cayuga Bird Club website Resources page here: https://sites.google.com/site/cbc14850/resources/cayuga-lake-basin-first-records-and-arrival-information Please let me know of omissions, corrections, questions, etc. Common species found by multiple parties on the Ithaca Christmas Bird Count are presumed to be generally present and are credited to Ithaca CBC both as observers and as locations. In other cases I try to credit all observers of the species on the first day it is found. The list is uses eBird’s names and taxonomic sequence, which gets revised annually. My main source is eBird reports, although CayugaBirds & personal communications also help. Reports of rare birds, as categorized by eBird, should include a description of the observed features of the bird which prompted the ID. Photos - even unaesthetic photos - can also be very helpful. I try to credit the person who finds &/or tells the birding community about the bird, even if that finder does not know what the bird is and the ID is only determined later by someone else. The Cayuga Basin was adopted as a working area by Cornell Lab of Ornithology founder Arthur Allen. It was the subject of a 1926 botany textbook by Wiegand & Eames, and it encompasses lots of interesting ecological areas, from the forested hills in the south, to the Montezuma Marshes, various ponds, and drumlins in the north. “Wait a minute!” I hear you cry, “Montezuma doesn’t drain into Cayuga Lake!” And you are right. They defined the basin to include lands which drain directly into Cayuga Lake, which are pretty easy to figure out, plus a few streams which, like the lake, flow north into the Seneca River & Erie Canal system, but also lands farther north which drain south into the Clyde River and Erie Canal system. I am also interested in birds which occur nearby, even if they aren’t within the basin and won’t end up in this table. To me it’s fascinating how many notable birds occur just on the far side of a saddle such as Hile School Road, Goetchius, Shindagin Hollow, or Willseyville Valley. For instance, an eBird report on the 5th included a photo of an American Goshawk (renamed last year!) which had just killed somebody’s rooster. The location was on Bull Hill Road in Newfield close to Mazourek Road and NYS-13. The eBird pin is barely but clearly outside the basin as shown by a nearby south-flowing stream on a topographic map. So, if you aren’t sure whether a bird was in or out, let me know, and I’ll try to figure it out, while enjoying the sighting either way. - - Dave Nutter -- (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") Cayugabirds-L List Info: NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsRULES_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave_DOT_htm ARCHIVES: 1) mail-archive_DOT_com/cayugabirds-l@cornell_DOT_edu/maillist_DOT_html 2) surfbirds_DOT_com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) aba_DOT_org/birding-news/ Please submit your observations to eBird: ebird_DOT_org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] A few more Count Week birds
Hi Paul (& All), My review of Tompkins County eBird reports shows these additional Count Week species: WHITE-WINGED SCOTER on January 2, seen from Stewart Park by Kevin Packard, Tom Auer, and Lukas Levine. HORNED LARK on January 3 on Mt Pleasant, observed by Tom Auer. SNOW BUNTING on January 2 on Mt Pleasant, observed by Glenn Seeholzer. You already have the reports of CANVASBACK on January 4 in SW Cayuga L, observed by me, in case the report from Stewart Park on Count Day is retracted. TUFTED DUCK on January 2 in SW Cayuga L, observed by Conor Higgins (rarity as yet unconfirmed) BUFFLEHEAD on January 2 in SW & SE Cayuga L, many observers. COMMON YELLOWTHROAT on January 3 SW of the Rink in Cass Park, on January 3 observed by Jay McGowan and Tom Schulenberg. If there were additional count week species, the information will have to come from sources that I don’t monitor. - - Dave Nutter -- (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") Cayugabirds-L List Info: NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsRULES_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave_DOT_htm ARCHIVES: 1) mail-archive_DOT_com/cayugabirds-l@cornell_DOT_edu/maillist_DOT_html 2) surfbirds_DOT_com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) aba_DOT_org/birding-news/ Please submit your observations to eBird: ebird_DOT_org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Canvasback on SW Cayuga Lake 4 January
This afternoon (4 Jan) I walked to Allan H Treman State Marine Park to have a look at waterfowl on Cayuga Lake. On my way I noticed that Cayuga Inlet was devoid of waterfowl, and arriving a few minutes after 3pm I saw that Treman marina had zero gulls on the docks and but a single Common Merganser on its completely ice-free water. I think the temperature was still above freezing, although the wind chill said otherwise. As I approached the lake I saw many gulls in the air. There was a stiff northwest wind coming up the lake at me, and the water was churning with waves which turned it brown. I could understand that diving ducks might not be able to see underwater there, and might not find it a restful place if they had to work to keep from being washed ashore. There were no birds to be seen in the southwest corner. I did find the two Ruddy Ducks offshore, but they were a bit separate from each other, and it appeared that they were swimming obliviously past one another because waves blocked their view. There was a small raft of Aythya ducks, 3 or 4 hundred would be my guess, a considerable distance north on the west half of the lake, but well offshore. I was able to keep my scope steady enough against the wind, and the shimmer effects were still tolerable at that distance, but rows of ducks in the raft went in and out of view as waves passed under them. Male Redheads were easy to distinguish. Male and female Greater and Lesser Scaup were possible for me to ID, but it was more of a challenge. I did not see any Ring-necked Duck, nor did I see the Tufted Duck which was reported (on the 2nd, if I recall correctly) probably from a property along the shore very close to this raft, but I also can’t be sure they were not in this flock today. What I am sure of, though, is that there was at least one male Canvasback in this raft. He held his long neck vertically (most Aythya don’t stretch their neck up much), making it easy to see his distinctive profile: a bit of an angle where the nape meets the crown, then a mildly S-shaped downward slope with only a slight bulge for the forehead and a slight concavity to the top of the long bill. Canvasbacks’ heads and bills look, to me, as though they are carved from a single piece of wood using long graceful carving strokes, whereas many other ducks, including Redheads, look like a bill and head of different shapes have been attached to each other. This bird’s head and neck color was a bit darker than Redheads’, becoming blackish nearer the black bill. The back and sides were bright white, and they tapered down and inward at the rear to nearly hide the black rear end. Mostly this bird faced away from me into the wind as it topped the waves, but I did glimpse the black breast. I enjoyed multiple views as he and his neighbors rode up and over the swells then to be hidden by ducks closer to me rising up as they followed him. Maybe this is the bird that Dan Watkins saw on the January 1st, if his was a male, helping support that record. If there is doubt about whether he saw a Canvasback (on my old computer his Canvasback seems not to show up on the eBird map although his Cormorants do), then I hope my observation qualifies this species as a Count Week bird. There was an additional another larger raft of Aythya this afternoon on the southeast part of the lake between Stewart Park and East Shore Park, and doubtless their members go back and forth. The eastern flock was too far from Treman for me to ID anything but male Redheads in todays shimmer, and they were fuzzy blobs. If there had been a male Canvasback in the closer part of that flock, maybe it would have stood out. Sorting Scaups or other Aythya species was out of the question for me in that eastern raft today. - - Dave Nutter -- (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") Cayugabirds-L List Info: NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsRULES_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave_DOT_htm ARCHIVES: 1) mail-archive_DOT_com/cayugabirds-l@cornell_DOT_edu/maillist_DOT_html 2) surfbirds_DOT_com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) aba_DOT_org/birding-news/ Please submit your observations to eBird: ebird_DOT_org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Canvasback on count day
row (thus the similar species ratio). When a male Redhead preens, he leans way over to the side, briefly showing a red head and a gleaming white underside, much like a right-side-up Canvasback, instead of the Redhead’s gray upperparts we usually see. It’s possible that, bobbing in waves in a row farther back, that’s what Dan saw. Since Canvasback is not rare in Tompkins County this time of year, eBird does not request any details or description. It’s up to folks in charge of the count to decide whether to include Dan’s report. - - Dave Nutter -- (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") Cayugabirds-L List Info: NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsRULES_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave_DOT_htm ARCHIVES: 1) mail-archive_DOT_com/cayugabirds-l@cornell_DOT_edu/maillist_DOT_html 2) surfbirds_DOT_com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) aba_DOT_org/birding-news/ Please submit your observations to eBird: ebird_DOT_org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] More December 2023 Count Week birds
To continue the insurance policy of listing some bird species which have been observed within the Ithaca Count circle during the 3 days before the count, in hope that they will be found on January 1, but, in case they are not, to ensure they are included on the official Count Week list: On December 29 from Allan Treman State Marine Park I saw male & female HOODED MERGANSERS, which I did not see from there this morning (the 31st) despite excellent viewing conditions. On December 30 from Stewart Park I saw a male RING-NECKED DUCK in the small remnant Aythya flock, but I did not see it among them or anywhere on the lake this morning from Allan Treman. There was plenty of gunfire, so the above 2 species may have departed in one way or the other. There were 21 AMERICAN COOTS near the SE corner of Cayuga Lake this morning, although I did not see them yesterday or the day before. Only a handful of COMMON MERGANSERS were present this morning: 3 very distant in the middle of the lake and 2 flying over land, but I hope this species will show up tomorrow on creeks or ponds. (In a similar disturbance-related but non-Count Week note, CANADA GEESE were only flyovers, apparently not using Cayuga Lake to rest or forage at all. I do not doubt that they will be present on the count, but it may be challenging to determine their numbers as they fly around or forage in ag fields. Look carefully among them for CACKLING GEESE with their ridiculously tiny bills.) Today Stephanie Herrick heard a GRAY CATBIRD giving “meow” calls in Jetty Woods from a Privet thicket near native tree planting plot M30 and approximately opposite the mouth of Treman Marina. Yesterday Suan Yong reported 2 PINE SISKINS at feeders at (if I interpreted his message correctly) the Lab of O. Today I saw a BROWN CREEPER in the patch of woods north of the marina at Allan Treman SMP. I realize that this is not as much at risk of being missed on the count, but I don’t see them every day, so I’m ending on that personal high note (no pun intended, as I probably miss many due to difficulty hearing them). Have a great day tomorrow! - - Dave Nutter -- (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") Cayugabirds-L List Info: NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsRULES_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave_DOT_htm ARCHIVES: 1) mail-archive_DOT_com/cayugabirds-l@cornell_DOT_edu/maillist_DOT_html 2) surfbirds_DOT_com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) aba_DOT_org/birding-news/ Please submit your observations to eBird: ebird_DOT_org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Count Week Black Vultures
Late this morning from my home near the south end of Cass Park I scoped 2 large black birds atop the tall concrete smokestack low on South Hill in Ithaca. Suspecting them to be BLACK VULTURES, I sent a tentative text rare bird alert just before one of them raised its wings to fend off a diving crow and revealed the diagnostic white markings only below the outer primaries. Shortly thereafter they took flight and soared together nearby on flat, very short & broad wings and showing their tiny sharp-cornered tails. I think my alert enabled Ken Rosenberg to see them from Elmira Road (He did not waste time to proofread his reply). I put a description and a couple bad photos in my ongoing Daily Yard List on eBird. https://ebird.org/checklist/S157475632 Black Vulture is considered rare in Tompkins County, but a pattern of sightings this year suggests they bred here. Perhaps these 2 are part of the possible family of 4 seen several times this autumn, and there’s a chance they will be seen on the Count on New Year’s Day. If you are within sight of that old Morse Chain factory smokestack, glance at it every now and then. - - Dave Nutter -- (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") Cayugabirds-L List Info: NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsRULES_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave_DOT_htm ARCHIVES: 1) mail-archive_DOT_com/cayugabirds-l@cornell_DOT_edu/maillist_DOT_html 2) surfbirds_DOT_com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) aba_DOT_org/birding-news/ Please submit your observations to eBird: ebird_DOT_org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Count Week Tundra Swans
A few minutes ago a flock of 26 TUNDRA SWANS circled over downtown Ithaca, last seen heading south. Caleb Centanni (whom I just met) and I saw them first from near the Children’s Garden and then I hustled home to add them to my daily yard list. I think this is an unusual species for the count, and being flyovers, I suspect they will not stick around until January 1, even though they were not very high. - - Dave Nutter -- (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") Cayugabirds-L List Info: NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsRULES_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave_DOT_htm ARCHIVES: 1) mail-archive_DOT_com/cayugabirds-l@cornell_DOT_edu/maillist_DOT_html 2) surfbirds_DOT_com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) aba_DOT_org/birding-news/ Please submit your observations to eBird: ebird_DOT_org/content/ebird/ --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Count Week!!!
What are some Count Week analogies? Doing stretches before a Marathon. Tailgating before a football game. A 3-day end-of-year party before the ball drops, plus, after the 24-hour Count itself, another 3-day effort to get the New Year going. Anyway, thanks for the reminder. Everyone: please post here on CayugaBirds-L as well as to eBird any unusual birds within or alongside the Ithaca Count Circle https://sites.google.com/site/cbc14850/resources/christmas-bird-count found December 29, 39, & 31 with a description of exactly where it was, so that everyone who is going to be looking for them on the count can know where to make an extra-special effort. On January 2, 3, & 4 there may be other species missed on the Count to seek and report. For myself, I saw a SONG SPARROW today below the weeds along the paved trail on the north side of Treman Marina. I hope others will find this species this mild winter, but it’s the first I’ve encountered in awhile, so I’m putting it out there. RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS have been reported so much around the south end of Cayuga Lake recently that I predict this seasonal rarity will have a record high on the Count, but just in case, note that Diane Morton & Ken Kemphues reported it today in trees along the trails at Allan Treman State Marine Park. As Ken noted, a seasonally rare NORTHERN PARULA was reported to eBird this afternoon by Eric Mueller, complete with an excellent description of field marks seen and a promise of photos, in berry bushes in the Ithaca Farmers’ Market parking lot. Today John Garrett heard and saw an EASTERN TOWHEE in the NW corner of the Pleasant Grove Cemetery near the Carriage House Apartments which is near Community Corners. Today Adriaan Dokter and Jillian Ditner, on a stationary count from Ladoga Park (the pin was at the rough gravel boat launch) saw the continuing TRUMPETER SWAN duo “foraging at the docks of Ladoga” so they are close to the circle. As of Christmas Day there was a TUFTED DUCK in an Aythya raft off Stewart Park and CACKLING GEESE among a large Canada Goose flock. I didn’t check on the 26th, BUT both those rafts were cleared out on the 27th & 28th, and as of this afternoon only about a hundred Aythya had returned. If hunters are as vigorous on New Year’s Day as I have sometimes seen them, deliberately using boats to flush the rafts toward hunting blinds, then not just the above rarities but ANY DIVING DUCK SPECIES might be missed on the count. The 50 or so AMERICAN COOTS also seem to have vacated. For the record, scoping eastward today from Allan Treman, I saw REDHEAD, GREATER SCAUP, and LESSER SCAUP; I saw a pair of RUDDY DUCKS off the Treman lakeshore; and Diane & Ken reported a single COMMON GOLDENEYE from Treman. I also saw typical numbers of some species which are less disturbed by hunters, including DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS, COMMON LOONS, and (in a tree crown in Jetty Woods) GREAT BLUE HERONS. I expect BALD EAGLE to be on the count, but just in case, I saw an adult over Cayuga Lake near the west shore, plus a MERLIN in a tree along the east side of the marina. Have a great time birding, and share your news! - - Dave Nutter > On Dec 29, 2023, at 6:34 PM, Kenneth V. Rosenberg wrote: > > Thanks for this reminder, Kevin. Perhaps the most extraordinary count-week > find has just come in on the Tompkins County eBird alert – a Northern Parula > seen today at the Ithaca Farmers Market! > > As others have noted, there are many late-lingering birds around this year, > as well as an unprecedented number of western vagrants scattered across the > Northeast, including a Townsend’s Warbler in Elmira, “Audubon’s” > Yellow-rumped Warbler also at the Farmers Market, Say’s Phoebe near Cortland, > not to mention the continuing Red-flanked Bluetail in the middle of nowhere > in central New Jersey. So nearly anything is possible! > > Finding these rarities and strays may require a shift in Christmas counting > strategy, as these birds will be hiding in patches of remaining greenery, > fruiting shrubs or trees, and wet thickets, and possibly more likely around > town in urban and suburban neighborhoods than in the forested hinterlands > (but not necessarily around feeders). Paying close attention to any chickadee > or sparrow/junco flock that might have attending small birds, and liberal use > of owl-mobbing playback to get close looks at every bird, should yield some > interesting finds – as well as large numbers of common species. > > Good luck out there! > > Ken > > Ken Rosenberg (he/him/his) > Applied Conservation Scientist, Retired > Cornell Lab of Ornithology > k...@cornell.edu > Cell: 607-342-4594 > > > From: bounce-127957289-3493...@list.cornell.edu > on behalf of Kevin J. McGowan > > Date: Friday, December 29, 2023 at 6:12 P
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Red headed Woodpecker reported
Red-headed Woodpeckers bred at Cayuga Lake State Park this year. I think they used a tree south of the boat ramp. In mid-September Ann Mitchell & I saw both an adult and a juvenile in trees on the opposite/west side Lower Lake Road near a lodge and north of the parking lot & office. There have been persistent reports lately of an adult in the area (with references to the playground), including caching acorns, so it seems to be planning to stay the winter. - - Dave Nutter > On Dec 16, 2023, at 7:20 PM, Donna Lee Scott wrote: > > After I watched the Snow geese for a while at Dean’s Cove, then by the road > in Varick, I drove north on Rt. 89 to the Knox Marcellus marsh to look at the > sandhill cranes ( & swans & ducks). > > I think there were 3-400 cranes & many of them were calling & flying out of > the marsh , across East Road, & several seemed to land in a corn field just > over the hill to the west. > > Just as I was about to leave, a guy in an olive-ish-green Subaru Forester > pulled up to chat, and we talked about the snow geese which he thinks flew > out of the main pool of Montezuma visitors center in the morning & over to > the lake. > As he was about to leave, he said, “and don’t forget about the Redheaded > woodpecker over at Cayuga Lake State Park!” > > I said that I didn’t know about that bird and he said it was across from one > of the offices & a parking lot of the state park people, and on the lake side > of the road. > > I did not have time to go look for it & the sun was setting, so I thought > chances were slim that I could find it, anyway. > > Donna Scott > Kendal at Ithaca-377 > Sent from my iPhone > -- > Cayugabirds-L List Info: > Welcome and Basics > Rules and Information > Subscribe, Configuration and Leave > Archives: > The Mail Archive > Surfbirds > ABA > Please submit your observations to eBird! > -- -- (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") Cayugabirds-L List Info: NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsRULES_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave_DOT_htm ARCHIVES: 1) mail-archive_DOT_com/cayugabirds-l@cornell_DOT_edu/maillist_DOT_html 2) surfbirds_DOT_com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) aba_DOT_org/birding-news/ Please submit your observations to eBird: ebird_DOT_org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] White bird reports & rumors
Yesterday I talked to Reuben Stoltzfus. If anyone wants to see lots of Snow Geese, he recommends looking out at Cayuga Lake from Vineyard Road, just south of Dean’s Cove State Marine Park along NYS 89 in the Town of Romulus. If his estimates of the dimensions and density of the raft which he has seen there for several days, there could by over a hundred thousand Snow Geese there. Given that I get overwhelmed by numbers over, say 5, it’s hard for me to dispute that, but I’m sure it’s quite a sight. I also had a question from a passerby in Allan Treman State Marine Park, who noticed my binoculars, scope, and interest in birds. She asked whether it’s possible that a friend was correct in claiming to have recently seen a Snowy Owl in Speedsville, which is at the southeast corner of Tompkins County. I said it’s not where I would expect one, but then again I didn’t expect the Snowy Owl that many of us saw a few years ago in a tree in a largely forested upland along East Miller Road in Danby. As I recall there is some open flattish land along the West Branch of Owego Creek around Speedsville. Anyway, the prime trait of birds is their mobility, and the thing that often surprises us is where they go. Keep your eyes open in that area. - - Dave Nutter -- (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") Cayugabirds-L List Info: NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsRULES_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave_DOT_htm ARCHIVES: 1) mail-archive_DOT_com/cayugabirds-l@cornell_DOT_edu/maillist_DOT_html 2) surfbirds_DOT_com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) aba_DOT_org/birding-news/ Please submit your observations to eBird: ebird_DOT_org/content/ebird/ --
Re:[cayugabirds-l] Black Vultures perched in Ithaca
They flew north over downtown around 11:15am. But it’s worth checking that smokestack for them regularly. - - Dave Nutter > On Dec 11, 2023, at 10:22 AM, Dave Nutter wrote: > > The frequently seen group of 4 Black Vultures have been perched atop the > large, old, concrete Morse Chain smokestack low on South Hill in Ithaca this > morning. I believe they are a family who bred in the area this year. > > - - Dave Nutter -- (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") Cayugabirds-L List Info: NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsRULES_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave_DOT_htm ARCHIVES: 1) mail-archive_DOT_com/cayugabirds-l@cornell_DOT_edu/maillist_DOT_html 2) surfbirds_DOT_com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) aba_DOT_org/birding-news/ Please submit your observations to eBird: ebird_DOT_org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Black Vultures perched in Ithaca
The frequently seen group of 4 Black Vultures have been perched atop the large, old, concrete Morse Chain smokestack low on South Hill in Ithaca this morning. I believe they are a family who bred in the area this year. - - Dave Nutter -- (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") Cayugabirds-L List Info: NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsRULES_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave_DOT_htm ARCHIVES: 1) mail-archive_DOT_com/cayugabirds-l@cornell_DOT_edu/maillist_DOT_html 2) surfbirds_DOT_com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) aba_DOT_org/birding-news/ Please submit your observations to eBird: ebird_DOT_org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Re: Seeking 1998 Bull’s Birds of New York
Thank-you everyone for your prompt replies with ideas and sources. This was so effective that Reuben was able to obtain a copy this very afternoon from Joe Brin. - - Dave Nutter > On Nov 28, 2023, at 1:13 PM, Dave Nutter wrote: > > Hi All, > I’m writing on behalf of Reuben Stoltzfus. As he researches the historical > records of birds in New York, he is seeking to purchase a copy of the 1998 > edition of Birds of New York State by John Bull. If you can help, please call > him at (607) 869-9466 and leave a message on extension 3. Thanks! > > In case this helps, the 1985 edition which I have is copyright by the > American Museum of Natural History and it was published by Comstock > Publishing Associates, a division of Cornell University Press. > > - - Dave Nutter -- (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") Cayugabirds-L List Info: NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsRULES_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave_DOT_htm ARCHIVES: 1) mail-archive_DOT_com/cayugabirds-l@cornell_DOT_edu/maillist_DOT_html 2) surfbirds_DOT_com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) aba_DOT_org/birding-news/ Please submit your observations to eBird: ebird_DOT_org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Seeking 1998 Bull’s Birds of New York
Hi All, I’m writing on behalf of Reuben Stoltzfus. As he researches the historical records of birds in New York, he is seeking to purchase a copy of the 1998 edition of Birds of New York State by John Bull. If you can help, please call him at (607) 869-9466 and leave a message on extension 3. Thanks! In case this helps, the 1985 edition which I have is copyright by the American Museum of Natural History and it was published by Comstock Publishing Associates, a division of Cornell University Press. - - Dave Nutter -- (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") Cayugabirds-L List Info: NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsRULES_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave_DOT_htm ARCHIVES: 1) mail-archive_DOT_com/cayugabirds-l@cornell_DOT_edu/maillist_DOT_html 2) surfbirds_DOT_com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) aba_DOT_org/birding-news/ Please submit your observations to eBird: ebird_DOT_org/content/ebird/ --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Involving the public to rename birds
I think the idea is to give birds names which help us think of the birds rather than giving them names of people which can get the birds tangled in human affairs. The question becomes what attributes of the bird are unique, helpful, and concise enough to be a useful name for a species. For example, the first time I encountered a LeConte’s Sparrow, I had never heard of LeConte, nor the bird which was named after him. In fact, I knew very little about sparrows. It was late December 1974, and I was a high schooler on a Christmas Bird Count near Ocean City, Maryland, hours away from my home, on a several-day youth birding field trip through a nature center. The bird flushed from a dry weedy field where I was walking with my birding partner that day, another teenager named Paul Burdick. It perched atop a stalk several yards away and sat there while we stared perplexed through binoculars then got out our field guides. My Peterson Eastern US guide showed 14 tiny profiles of stripy-breasted sparrows on one page and 16 tiny profiles of plainer breasted sparrows on the next. They were hard for me to distinguish, and names like Lincoln’s, Henslow’s, Baird’s, LeConte’s, Nelson’s, and Harris’s gave no clues about habitat or field marks but instead mixed me up further. So I had never studied those pages, and in this crucial moment my eyes glazed over and my mind went blank. I looked over Paul’s shoulder at his open Golden Guide to Birds of North America. It had a 2-page spread of larger bust portraits, which was better, of 12 stripy-breasted sparrows opposite 20 plain-breasted sparrows, but including 3 additional people-names. Nine pages followed with larger portraits facing descriptions and maps. Again, this was better, but it took awhile to rule out enough to arrive at the most likely page (which depicted nothing familiar to me). Our bird had a distinctly yellow face and a dark cap. I pointed to the picture at the top. “It’s that one with the white line in the middle of the crown.“ Amazingly, the bird was still atop the weed for us to double-check and agree: LeConte’s Sparrow. The map was so small and vague that we couldn’t tell that Maryland was a bit outside its range. At the compilation that evening our bird was not on the list, but at the conclusion the compiler, Chandler Robbins, primary author of the Golden Guide, asked if there were any additional species. Paul and I raised our hands. “LeConte’s Sparrow”. The crowded room was quiet. There were no dismissive comments. The compiler handed each of us a pen and a piece of blank paper and asked us to describe and draw our observations. Sparrows are so small and complicated and stripy, and I had never tried to draw one (as I had some larger birds) nor considered the various feather tracts and what to call them. The bird had been alone, so size was hard to say, although it was small. I had never compared the length or shape of sparrows’ tails. My description was basically “a sparrow with no wing bars, that was yellow especially on the face, and that had a dark crown with a narrow white stripe down the middle.” We told the compiler where the field was, and it turns out the habitat was appropriate. Although our observation was not immediately added to the count, our descriptions prompted a return expedition a week later from Washington, DC, and I was invited as was another teenager, Peter Pyle, a budding bander (who later wrote the banders’ Identification Guide to North American Passerines.) There were 2 or 3 carloads of us. We set up mist nets in front of a hedge at one end of the field, then most of us circled around to the far end, spread out, and slowly walked toward the nets, driving the birds ahead of us. Peter was among a few who stayed near the nets. As the birds arrived he saw the little yellowish one approaching, but it flew between a pole and the adjacent net to settle on the ground just beyond. Peter clapped a hand down over it and caught the first Maryland record of LeConte’s Sparrow. Several people took photographs. A couple feathers were plucked, I think to add to the Smithsonian collections, then I was very relieved that the bird was released rather than turned entirely into a museum specimen. Someone went to a pay phone to make a collect phone call from “Lee Conte” as a coded message that our ID was good. Paul and I could not have identified the bird if it had not stayed perched long enough for us to flip through the field guides. Our process might have been a lot faster if the bird was named “Yellow-faced Sparrow,” so that’s my suggestion. - - Dave Nutter > On Nov 26, 2023, at 9:37 AM, Donna Lee Scott wrote: > > Horrors. No bird deserves a name like that! > > Donna Scott > Kendal at Ithaca-377 > Sent from my iPhone > >> On Nov 26, 2023, at 8:58 AM, billebersbach wrote: >> >> I think they should change the name of the Wilson Snipe to
[cayugabirds-l] Involving the public to rename birds
What would be better names for birds? The American Ornithologist Society says the public will be involved. It’s going to be interesting. What are your suggestions? https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/interactive/2023/bird-names-racism-audobon-satire/?wpisrc=nl_ideas - - Dave Nutter -- (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") Cayugabirds-L List Info: NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsRULES_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave_DOT_htm ARCHIVES: 1) mail-archive_DOT_com/cayugabirds-l@cornell_DOT_edu/maillist_DOT_html 2) surfbirds_DOT_com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) aba_DOT_org/birding-news/ Please submit your observations to eBird: ebird_DOT_org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Montezuma NWR Snowy Egret - RFI
Today I learned of - and eventually saw - a regionally rare Snowy Egret along the Wildlife Drive at Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge. I first learned of it from a text rare bird alert from Mark Miller at 10:25am that it was “last seen at Seneca Flats,” but I wondered about Mark’s use of passive voice and the lack of any picture from this avid photographer. As I prepared to look for the bird there was not yet any eBird report from Mark either. But there was an eBird report from earlier this morning by David Kennedy, who takes gorgeous photos and seems to either find, re-find, or document most of the rarities around Montezuma. He included 5 pictures with the comment that it was “Feeding along east shore of Seneca Flats,” and in this case it was a re-find because he said it was “seen and photographed by Bob S. yesterday.” This appears to be the first documented record of Snowy Egret in the Cayuga Lake Basin this year, and as I try to maintain First Records records list, I’m looking for some help. Who is Bob S? Can I find the photo and record of his sighting? Where did he see it? At this point I’m not trying to verify the ID, I’m just looking for the standard information and credit that I include on the list. Today, thanks to text rare bird alert messages, several additional people saw this small, active egret at various places along the Wildlife Drive’s first straightaway, and the adjacent Seneca River. Generally it progressed north from Seneca Flats. It’s hard to say where it will be tomorrow, but I hope that, if it sticks around in publicly accessible places, folks continue to share its whereabouts so others can see this beautiful bird. - - Dave Nutter -- (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") Cayugabirds-L List Info: NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsRULES_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave_DOT_htm ARCHIVES: 1) mail-archive_DOT_com/cayugabirds-l@cornell_DOT_edu/maillist_DOT_html 2) surfbirds_DOT_com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) aba_DOT_org/birding-news/ Please submit your observations to eBird: ebird_DOT_org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Fwd: [The Washington Post] Dozens of bird names honoring enslavers and racists will be changed
Bird names for birds. Cool concept. The article includes many good reasons. We will have to learn some new names for old birds. I look forward to this. In many cases, the person who first described a species for science decided to name it after someone who had nothing to do with the bird, making the people-name even more irrelevant to the bird. I hope one of the benefits of the new names will be that they relate better to the birds’ appearance, behavior, or habitat. This will make the species and their field marks easier to learn and remember, which I think will be more welcoming to all new birders as well as to any birders traveling to unfamiliar areas. I struggle with many western North American species named for people. Also, Kenn Kaufmann’s story is classic. - - Dave Nutter Begin forwarded message: > Subject: [The Washington Post] Dozens of bird names honoring enslavers and > racists will be changed > > The American Ornithological Society says it will alter all human names of > North American birds, starting with up to 80 species. > https://wapo.st/3Mr8fDw > -- (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") Cayugabirds-L List Info: NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsRULES_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave_DOT_htm ARCHIVES: 1) mail-archive_DOT_com/cayugabirds-l@cornell_DOT_edu/maillist_DOT_html 2) surfbirds_DOT_com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) aba_DOT_org/birding-news/ Please submit your observations to eBird: ebird_DOT_org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Limpkin seen 10/31 & 11/1
There are eBird reports of the Limpkin in Elmira continuing on October 31st, when it was on the ballfields and road within Pirozzolo Park, and on November 1st when it was also photographed in the open. There are no eBird reports as yet that I have seen for yesterday (November 2nd) or today. Perhaps it’s a coincidence that there was a cold snap. Maybe people have quit looking. If you have searched for it since, please report whether or not you have found it. Thanks. - - Dave Nutter -- (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") Cayugabirds-L List Info: NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsRULES_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave_DOT_htm ARCHIVES: 1) mail-archive_DOT_com/cayugabirds-l@cornell_DOT_edu/maillist_DOT_html 2) surfbirds_DOT_com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) aba_DOT_org/birding-news/ Please submit your observations to eBird: ebird_DOT_org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Limpkin continues, Monday morning
Yesterday, Sunday 29 October, the Limpkin was reported flying E & S from near the boat ramp across the Chemung river around sunrise to flee a Red Fox. But by early afternoon it was photographed by several people within Pirozzolo Park foraging for worms on lawns including baseball fields. This morning, Monday 30 October, it has been reported a bit SE of Pirozzolo Park and SW of Durland Ave, in woods closer to the river than to the levee. That was shortly after 8am. - - Dave Nutter -- 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] Possible Trumpeter Swan at Myers Point, 10:15 am
Reuben Stoltzfus just called. He’s at Myers Point looking at a swan near the sandbar. Although Tundra Swan was reported there earlier today, it looks more like a Trumpeter to Reuben due to to bill shape, head shape, and back shape. He invites others to take a look. - - Dave Nutter -- 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] Limpkin continues
Chris Wood’s eBird report includes lots of good info: Around sunrise he saw it at the river near the boat ramp, but it was soon flushed by a Red Fox. The Limpkin called & flew to the east, across the river, into trees, & out of sight. Chris walked along the river in that direction and back but did not see it again. Flying, calling, & potentially using trees are all new notes about this bird. It’s good news that the bird recognizes danger, can fly, & escape. But it’s a bummer for birders if the Limpkin decides to live on the other side of the river, instead of by a convenient public park. - - Dave Nutter > On Oct 28, 2023, at 9:52 AM, emartin...@earthlink.net wrote: > > Chris Wood had the bird at sunRISE this morning even though his report says > sunset. Just confirmed it with him. > Pat Martin > > Sent from my iPhone > >> On Oct 28, 2023, at 8:55 AM, Dave Nutter wrote: >> >> Anytime during the day would work, I think. It can take awhile to find, and >> when you do see it, you’re going to want to spend some time watching, so >> it’s good to start early. The only advantage to starting late is that >> someone else may find it first, and you may find out from them. >> >> Some folks think it may roost by the river due south of the corner of the >> levee. I don’t know if anyone has figured out its schedule of resting, >> feeding, bathing, or preening. I suspect that the times it just stands still >> are its method of assessing possible danger from people. >> >> So, look for other birders & check their behavior, check all lawns as you >> head to the river, look along the river edge everywhere you can within a >> block of the little concrete boat ramp (waterproof boots helpful), watch >> carefully ahead on trails, scrutinize the forest floor in Japanese Knotweed >> or clearings. Check eBird and other text alert systems. I have not seen any >> reports yet today. If there is an Elmira alert system, I don’t know it. I >> suspect you will have company looking on a weekend like today. >> >> Just at I have not seen reports of it flying, I have not seen reports of it >> calling. Limpkins give a raucous scream which that rises then falls in >> pitch. It has been used as a jungle sound effect for Tarzan movies and was >> the voice of Harry Potter’s Hippogriff. If you hear that, resist the urge to >> flee, but move slowly toward it. >> >> Good luck! >> >> - - Dave Nutter >> >>> On Oct 28, 2023, at 8:30 AM, Nancy Cusumano >>> wrote: >>> >>> Is there a better time to find this bird, or does that not really matter? >>> we are going to give it a try today. >>> >>> Thanks so much for the ongoing posts! >>> >>> Nancy >>> >>>> On Fri, Oct 27, 2023 at 11:43 AM Dave Nutter wrote: >>>> The Limpkin continues to re-found daily in Elmira between Pirozzolo Park >>>> and the Chemung River and a block or 2 east or west of there. It has >>>> sometimes been wading along the north edge of the river near the bank >>>> (where it was reported eating snails) in the vicinity of a small concrete >>>> boat ramp, but is also often seen walking on the ground eating earthworms >>>> in thickets of Japanese Knotweed, or in forest clearings, or on lawn areas >>>> even adjacent to park fences or yards and on both sides of the levee. >>>> >>>> Reports in eBird include many photos because this bird is calm near >>>> people. These reports are valuable documentation of the time and place but >>>> also its appearance and behavior, so please contribute your notes and >>>> photos. Also please help maintain the bird’s trust by not approaching it >>>> closely but instead let it approach you. >>>> >>>> I have not seen any reports of it flying, but it holds its folded wings >>>> normally, and I’ve seen one photo of it stretching an apparently normal >>>> wing. Clearly it did not walk here from Florida, but it’s possible that it >>>> came here in a storm and may be the worse for wear. I’m curious about its >>>> ability to fly, but wouldn’t want anyone to deliberately flush it. So far >>>> it seems to be doing well, from what I’ve read. >>>> >>>> - - Dave Nutter >>>> -- >>>> Cayugabirds-L List Info: >>>> Welcome and Basics >>>> Rules and Information >>>> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave >>>> Archives: >>>> The Mail Archive >>&g
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Limpkin continues
Anytime during the day would work, I think. It can take awhile to find, and when you do see it, you’re going to want to spend some time watching, so it’s good to start early. The only advantage to starting late is that someone else may find it first, and you may find out from them. Some folks think it may roost by the river due south of the corner of the levee. I don’t know if anyone has figured out its schedule of resting, feeding, bathing, or preening. I suspect that the times it just stands still are its method of assessing possible danger from people. So, look for other birders & check their behavior, check all lawns as you head to the river, look along the river edge everywhere you can within a block of the little concrete boat ramp (waterproof boots helpful), watch carefully ahead on trails, scrutinize the forest floor in Japanese Knotweed or clearings. Check eBird and other text alert systems. I have not seen any reports yet today. If there is an Elmira alert system, I don’t know it. I suspect you will have company looking on a weekend like today. Just at I have not seen reports of it flying, I have not seen reports of it calling. Limpkins give a raucous scream which that rises then falls in pitch. It has been used as a jungle sound effect for Tarzan movies and was the voice of Harry Potter’s Hippogriff. If you hear that, resist the urge to flee, but move slowly toward it. Good luck! - - Dave Nutter > On Oct 28, 2023, at 8:30 AM, Nancy Cusumano wrote: > > Is there a better time to find this bird, or does that not really matter? > we are going to give it a try today. > > Thanks so much for the ongoing posts! > > Nancy > >> On Fri, Oct 27, 2023 at 11:43 AM Dave Nutter wrote: >> The Limpkin continues to re-found daily in Elmira between Pirozzolo Park and >> the Chemung River and a block or 2 east or west of there. It has sometimes >> been wading along the north edge of the river near the bank (where it was >> reported eating snails) in the vicinity of a small concrete boat ramp, but >> is also often seen walking on the ground eating earthworms in thickets of >> Japanese Knotweed, or in forest clearings, or on lawn areas even adjacent to >> park fences or yards and on both sides of the levee. >> >> Reports in eBird include many photos because this bird is calm near people. >> These reports are valuable documentation of the time and place but also its >> appearance and behavior, so please contribute your notes and photos. Also >> please help maintain the bird’s trust by not approaching it closely but >> instead let it approach you. >> >> I have not seen any reports of it flying, but it holds its folded wings >> normally, and I’ve seen one photo of it stretching an apparently normal >> wing. Clearly it did not walk here from Florida, but it’s possible that it >> came here in a storm and may be the worse for wear. I’m curious about its >> ability to fly, but wouldn’t want anyone to deliberately flush it. So far it >> seems to be doing well, from what I’ve read. >> >> - - Dave Nutter >> -- >> Cayugabirds-L List Info: >> Welcome and Basics >> Rules and Information >> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave >> Archives: >> The Mail Archive >> Surfbirds >> BirdingOnThe.Net >> Please submit your observations to eBird! >> -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Waxwings
Also add to the list of birds eating Pokeweed berries in my yard: Downy Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, European Starling, American Robin, and Eastern Bluebird. - - Dave Nutter > On Oct 17, 2023, at 9:26 AM, Dave Nutter wrote: > > Agreed, Pokeweed berries are great bird food, as well as being beautiful > colorful plants. I have also had Swainson’s Thrush, Gray Catbird, Scarlet > Tanager, Red-eyed Vireo, and Northern Cardinal eating them. > > - - Dave Nutter > >> On Oct 16, 2023, at 11:49 AM, Regi Teasley wrote: >> >> All >> If you need another reason to garden for wildlife, here’s one: >> We just had a flock of Waxwings, mostly juveniles, dining on Pokeweed >> berries. Humans can’t eat them but the birds really appreciate them. >> >> Regi >> >> West Hill in the City >> >> >> Creativity is the heart of adaptive evolution. >> Terry Tempest Williams >> >> >> >> -- >> >> Cayugabirds-L List Info: >> http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME >> http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES >> http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm >> >> ARCHIVES: >> 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html >> 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds >> 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html >> >> Please submit your observations to eBird: >> http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ >> >> -- >> -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Limpkin continues
The Limpkin continues to re-found daily in Elmira between Pirozzolo Park and the Chemung River and a block or 2 east or west of there. It has sometimes been wading along the north edge of the river near the bank (where it was reported eating snails) in the vicinity of a small concrete boat ramp, but is also often seen walking on the ground eating earthworms in thickets of Japanese Knotweed, or in forest clearings, or on lawn areas even adjacent to park fences or yards and on both sides of the levee. Reports in eBird include many photos because this bird is calm near people. These reports are valuable documentation of the time and place but also its appearance and behavior, so please contribute your notes and photos. Also please help maintain the bird’s trust by not approaching it closely but instead let it approach you. I have not seen any reports of it flying, but it holds its folded wings normally, and I’ve seen one photo of it stretching an apparently normal wing. Clearly it did not walk here from Florida, but it’s possible that it came here in a storm and may be the worse for wear. I’m curious about its ability to fly, but wouldn’t want anyone to deliberately flush it. So far it seems to be doing well, from what I’ve read. - - Dave Nutter -- 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] Fwd: Limpkin still in Elmira
FYI - - Dave Nutter Begin forwarded message: > From: > Date: October 23, 2023 at 12:57:53 PM EDT > To: > Subject: Limpkin still in Elmira > > Hi, Dave, > > Can you forward this to cayugabirds and nybirds. I’m not sure I remember how. > > Courtney Jett located the Limpkin west of the boat launch at Pirozzolo Park > this morning at about 11 am. The bird foraged in the Japanese Knotweed > between the small path near the river and the main path, then moved north of > the main trail. It was last seen at the edge of the knotweed and lawn between > the pickleball courts and the community gardens, turning south onto the trail > back to the main trail. > > Thanks, > Bill Ostrander -- 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] Elmira Limpkin, a true story of late October
Clouds poured overhead, propelled by a relentless northwest wind. Ann and I wandered the abandoned land below the levee alongside the Chemung River. We thought we were prepared for this quest, yet our equipment was now heavy and awkward, and the chill air sapped our heat. One of my boots seemed to be leaking. Somewhere very near here, Elmira Limpkin had been reported again. The first time, over a week ago, she was said to be walking a forest trail, and that’s certainly what the photos appeared to show. But the observer had been confused, seeing something so improbable and beyond her experience. The next day over a dozen searchers scoured the area. They came up with nothing. This morning Elmira Limpkin had been standing on a shingle beach. I saw this new photograph. Could it be true? We had to see for ourselves. All around, trees creaked and moaned. Dead leaves carpeted the mud. Our vision was blocked repeatedly by thickets of invasive Japanese Knotweed. Ann and I did not even know Jeremy was here, but suddenly he was signaling us to the edge of the floodplain. Adam had passed us earlier on a footpath, and he emerged from the forest along with Michael, to join us. Jeremy gestured at a curtain of head-high weeds. Beyond, at the far side of a clearing, a huge, strange bird gazed at us from the shadows. It stood on tall, dark, thick, stork-like legs. Its long bill was dull brown with yellowish tones around the mouth. The beak curved, but lacked the slender tapering grace of the bill of an ibis. This was a heavier weapon that hung down over the bird’s long folded neck. Its face was dusty gray with feathers that turned to stubby spikes on the back of its head. The rest of its plumage would have been dark chocolate but for the white flecks on its neck which became arrows down its breast then daggers on its wing coverts. We stared. This tropical creature did not belong here in Upstate New York. Long ago I had seen such a mollusk-eating bird and heard its wild screams in the darkness of a baldcypress swamp in Florida. As we tried to take pictures, the bird began walking... slowly... silently... toward us... becoming even harder to see. Now we knew it was only a few feet away, but it was hard to tell just how close. Our cameras quit working, showing only shadows and blurry forms. We dared not move. What was it doing? We wondered and whispered. Minutes seem to pass before we saw that the bird had turned aside. It kept a brown eye on us while strolling behind tree trunks and among rotten logs, heading toward the river. As it crossed the final opening I could see its lengthy webless toes with every step. Then it stopped and stood alongside the final patch of Knotweed atop the riverbank. We had been following at distance but we stopped, too. We finally got some sharp - and we hoped indisputable - photographs. Jeremy hurried away first, needing to get some sleep before working a hospital shift. Adam joined Ann & me as we climbed the levee toward the normal world, but Michael went back into the woods, wondering why his friend Phil never came out. >From the top of the levee Adam turned toward the dead end of a street where he >left his car, while Ann & I hiked to the end of the levee. Noisy kids on a >playground ignored us, but a guy at a fire station stared at our telescopes >and binoculars and cameras. Maybe he knew what it’s like beyond the levee by >the river. - - Dave Nutter > On Oct 23, 2023, at 7:09 AM, Robin Cisne wrote: > > Wasn't she the villain in an early 20th c. novel? > > > > >> On Sun, Oct 22, 2023 at 10:18 PM Dave Nutter wrote: >> On 12 October Barb Borelli found and photographed a Limpkin along the >> Chemung River in Elmira and reported it to eBird. This morning (22 October) >> Martin Cain refound & photographed it, also along the edge of the river. >> This afternoon Ann Mitchell & I went to look for it, and we were close by, >> as were Adam Farid & Mike Gullo, when Jeremy Collison discovered the Limpkin >> a hundred yards from the river standing and resting in the dead-leaf-strewn >> floodplain forest immediately southeast of Pirozzolo Park in an area which >> seemed to be associated with a culvert below the corner of the levee. The >> bird was standing almost under the Japanese Knotweed which covered the >> embankment above. We were surprised when it walked toward us, coming within >> a few yards behind a narrow screen of knotweed, then it turned and strolled >> toward the river, sometimes out in the open, and rested again at the top of >> the riverbank for several minutes, remaining there when we left at 4pm. >> During the 40 minutes we watched it, it was silent and neither flew nor fed >> but seemed relaxed & healthy. Later observers saw it catching worms in t
[cayugabirds-l] Elmira Limpkin
On 12 October Barb Borelli found and photographed a Limpkin along the Chemung River in Elmira and reported it to eBird. This morning (22 October) Martin Cain refound & photographed it, also along the edge of the river. This afternoon Ann Mitchell & I went to look for it, and we were close by, as were Adam Farid & Mike Gullo, when Jeremy Collison discovered the Limpkin a hundred yards from the river standing and resting in the dead-leaf-strewn floodplain forest immediately southeast of Pirozzolo Park in an area which seemed to be associated with a culvert below the corner of the levee. The bird was standing almost under the Japanese Knotweed which covered the embankment above. We were surprised when it walked toward us, coming within a few yards behind a narrow screen of knotweed, then it turned and strolled toward the river, sometimes out in the open, and rested again at the top of the riverbank for several minutes, remaining there when we left at 4pm. During the 40 minutes we watched it, it was silent and neither flew nor fed but seemed relaxed & healthy. Later observers saw it catching worms in the leaf litter. If you seek this bird, don’t just look at the edge of the river, look in the woods, too. Pirozzolo Park is near the West Elmira fire station on Water Street. This is the second NYS record for this species. The first record was just last autumn along the Niagara River. That bird was captured just before the deadly blizzard hit Buffalo, and I believe it was released in South Carolina. - - Dave Nutter -- 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] Waxwings
Agreed, Pokeweed berries are great bird food, as well as being beautiful colorful plants. I have also had Swainson’s Thrush, Gray Catbird, Scarlet Tanager, Red-eyed Vireo, and Northern Cardinal eating them. - - Dave Nutter > On Oct 16, 2023, at 11:49 AM, Regi Teasley wrote: > > All > If you need another reason to garden for wildlife, here’s one: > We just had a flock of Waxwings, mostly juveniles, dining on Pokeweed > berries. Humans can’t eat them but the birds really appreciate them. > > Regi > > West Hill in the City > > > Creativity is the heart of adaptive evolution. > Terry Tempest Williams > > > > -- > > Cayugabirds-L List Info: > http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME > http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES > http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm > > ARCHIVES: > 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html > 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds > 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html > > Please submit your observations to eBird: > http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ > > -- > -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Sedge Wren Redux
Here’s a few additional reasons for few reports of Sedge Wrens: 5) If you wade through Sedge Wren habitat of tall grass & forbs you risk tick bites leading to nasty long-term diseases. 6) It’s hard to see small brown birds in tall grass and forbs. They hide or fly away. Thin stems may not support them easily in view even if the birds do choose to show themselves. 7) Sedge Wrens often show up in summer, when the weather is uncomfortably hot, especially in fields, and birders are less tempted to go there, while birders may not be thinking about birds starting breeding. 8) Sedge Wrens’ song is unmusical, and at a distance it could blend in with insect noises, even though the pattern of 2 clicks then a rattle is distinctive and easy to learn. 9) In our moist climate Sedge Wrens’ prairie-like habitat typically gets taken over by shrubs & trees unless it is maintained by mowing. Mowing is typically done for hay, which is most profitably cut too often for grassland birds to breed. Between East Road and Montezuma NWR’s Knox-Marsellus Marsh, a Sedge Wren was heard singing in the tall field a few years ago. Refuge personnel were told of its presence, yet the field was mowed a couple days later. Maybe the refuge did not control this field, or maybe they did not consider that the bird was attempting to breed and therefore a portion should be left standing. But at the Montezuma Audubon Center this year, there was already a mowed path through the field allowing observers to easily get close enough to hear the wrens without smashing through the plants or risking tick bites. The wrens were observed and allowed to breed without MAC personnel taking additional action. The refuge may have lands not accessible to the public which can be monitored and managed for this NYSDEC Threatened Species, and similarly DEC lands may be more easily monitored by the public. Agreed, learn their song, and if you have access to their habitat, listen for it, even in summer. - - Dave Nutter > On Sep 21, 2023, at 1:45 PM, Randolph Little wrote: > > As the south pole prepares to greet the sun and many of "our" birds are > heading in that direction, I am again thinking of the August Sedge Wren > report from Montezuma. Why so few reports? Here are my thoughts: > 1) Sedge Wren habitat of tall grass is infrequently birded, perhaps because > it seldom offers many birds to be found. > 2) Sedge Wrens skulk in their habitat and are seldom where they can be seen. > 3) Sedge Wrens are ephemeral breeders and do not spend much time advertising > their presence. > 4) Sedge Wrens, like most wrens, seem to melt into the habitat upon fledging, > and are not often discovered. > > Your list may contain other reasons, but I submit that by far the best way to > discover Sedge Wrens is to become familiar with their vocalizations and then > visit appropriate habitats throughout the summer and at hours that you might > not normally bird. > > Yes, this is an unabashed plug for birding by ear. > > Good birding, > Randy > > -- > > Cayugabirds-L List Info: > http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME > http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES > http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm > > ARCHIVES: > 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html > 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds > 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html > > Please submit your observations to eBird: > http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ > > -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Jaegers
As many of us Upstate NY birders know, the south shore of Lake Ontario is a barrier to migrating birds which we find useful. In springtime, passerines and other northbound land birds who migrate at night pause at the shore to rest and fuel up before crossing the lake. Land birds who migrate during the day, such as Blue Jays, go around the lake, I think to stay near cover and places to stop and feed. Large birds such as raptors, who rely on updrafts for fuel-efficient migration, accumulate and move east around the lake, because the land provides updrafts from thermals, and from wind against hills and the shoreline itself, whereas the lake itself produces no updrafts. When I helped lead field trips for Steve Kress’ Spring Field Ornithology Class at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology a few years back, we went to Braddock Bay northwest of Rochester to see the banding of small birds and raptors and to watch raptors and flocks of Blue Jays migrating. Another big SFO field trip was to Derby Hill, a drumlin at the southeast corner of Lake Ontario. There, when southerly winds encouraged raptors to migrate and pushed them toward the lake, we could watch numerous raptors as they worked their way east before finally turning north again toward Canada. Well, that shore is also a bit of a southbound barrier in fall migration to some bird species with a strong preference for staying over water. Jaegers, for instance, are a small family related to gulls who breed in the arctic and spend the off-season over the ocean. In German jaeger means hunter, and as the name implies, they are aggressive birds. One of jaegers’ preferred ways of getting food is to chase and harass another bird, such as a gull, until the victim drops or regurgitates its own food. Three species of jaegers occur in our area the Parasitic, the rarer, smaller Long-tailed, and the rarest largest Pomarine, but they are all hardly ever seen in the Cayuga Lake Basin. It’s a big deal when one is found along Cayuga Lake, and I only recall one or two reports of a migrant jaeger noticed overhead away from the lake, most recently a couple years back over Bluegrass Lane, I believe by Tristan Herwood and a birding buddy who has since left town and independently seen by Jay McGowan who lives nearby. The two obvious ways to see jaegers are also the most difficult: go to the tundra where they breed or to the open ocean in winter. An easier way is to go to the Atlantic shore in fall, such as Cape May NJ, where I’ve stood on the beach to watch Parasitic Jaegers harass gulls over the ocean. But there’s also a more local opportunity, which I have not done myself but have read about in rare bird reports. In fall migration on days with a stiff northwest wind, observers who are equipped with good optics and warm clothes can go to the south shore of Lake Ontario. Yesterday was such a day, and eBird’s rare bird alerts for Wayne County noted jaegers observed from the Sodus Point lighthouse and for Oswego County from Derby Hill. I particularly want to share the latter because not only did Reuben Stoltzfus hit an astounding trifecta, but he provided detailed descriptions (as I wish all reporters of rare birds did and as I believe they should) but he also watched some of those jaegers as they started their trip from overland from the Great Lakes toward the ocean. - - Dave Nutter Begin forwarded message: > From: ebird-al...@birds.cornell.edu > Date: September 19, 2023 at 6:09:14 PM EDT > To: nutter.d...@mac.com > Subject: [eBird Alert] Oswego County Rare Bird Alert > > *** Species Summary: > > - Black Scoter (1 report) > - Pomarine Jaeger (1 report) > - Parasitic Jaeger (3 reports) > - Long-tailed Jaeger (1 report) > > - > Thank you for subscribing to the Oswego County Rare Bird Alert. The > report below shows observations of rare birds in Oswego County. View or > unsubscribe to this alert at https://ebird.org/alert/summary?sid=SN35780 > NOTE: all sightings are UNCONFIRMED unless indicated. > > eBird encourages our users to bird safely, responsibly, and mindfully. Please > follow the recommendations of your local health authorities and respect any > active travel restrictions in your area. For more information visit: > https://ebird.org/news/please-bird-mindfully > > Black Scoter (Melanitta americana) (1) > - Reported Sep 19, 2023 08:50 by Reuben Stoltzfus > - Derby Hill Hawk Watch--North Lookout, Oswego, New York > - Map: > http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8=p=13=43.527261,-76.2393397=43.527261,-76.2393397 > - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S150294939 > - Comments: "Significantly smaller than WWSC. No sign of any color other than > black. Not brown enough for SUSC." > > Pomarine Jaeger (Stercorarius pomarinus) (1) > - Reported Sep 19, 2023 08:50 by Reuben Stolt
[cayugabirds-l] Montezuma NWR shorebird walks: next year
I asked about walks at Knox-Marsellus the next 2 Saturdays, which may have been too short of a lead time. Refuge staff replied that instead of having any more walks this year, they are instead going to plan for a better program next year. I suggested that an expanded time frame would be good, because the southbound shorebird migration in Seneca County is from early July through October with a varying mix of species. However, I think we must all understand that the refuge has several big challenges: first, creating bare mud and shallow water habitat; second, maintaining habitat during that time frame as vegetation takes over, or re-creating habitat in separate places; third, figuring out whether and how the public might be allowed to view those places given concerns of birds breeding, banding activity, the need to mow or cut viewing gaps, among other refuge concerns. - - Dave Nutter Begin forwarded message: > From: "Van Beusichem, Andrea" > Date: August 21, 2023 at 9:50:02 AM EDT > To: Dave Nutter > Subject: Re: [EXTERNAL] May I lead walks at Knox-Marsellus & Puddler 8/26 & > 9/2? > > Hi Dave, > > Thank you for your help getting the word out and getting the attendees lists > to Reuben for the the guided shorebird walks this year. We agree that these > walks are a great opportunity for people! However, we feel the need to > reevaluate how we are managing this opportunity, so we will not be providing > more walks this year. We will pick it up again next year. > > Take care, > Andrea > > Andrea Van Beusichem > Visitor Services Manager > Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge > 3395 US-20 East > Seneca Falls, NY 13148 > Cell: 315-237-9862 > Desk: 315-568-5987 x4228 > -- 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] rare Sedge Wrens breeding at MAC
Recently I wrote how excited I was that there were not just 1 but 2 rare singing Sedge Wrens south of the Montezuma Audubon Center parking lot on NYS-89 north of Savannah, plus a 3rd bird, with behavior which I thought could be courtship by one of the males. I asked folks to keep an eye out for more evidence to confirm breeding. Today Jay McGowan saw it! - - Dave Nutter Begin forwarded message: > From: ebird-al...@birds.cornell.edu > Date: August 20, 2023 at 10:36:34 AM EDT > To: nutter.d...@mac.com > Subject: [eBird Alert] Wayne County Rare Bird Alert > > *** Species Summary: > > - Sedge Wren (1 report) > > - > Thank you for subscribing to the Wayne County Rare Bird Alert. The > report below shows observations of rare birds in Wayne County. View or > unsubscribe to this alert at https://ebird.org/alert/summary?sid=SN35788 > NOTE: all sightings are UNCONFIRMED unless indicated. > > eBird encourages our users to bird safely, responsibly, and mindfully. Please > follow the recommendations of your local health authorities and respect any > active travel restrictions in your area. For more information visit: > https://ebird.org/news/please-bird-mindfully > > Sedge Wren (Cistothorus stellaris) (3) > - Reported Aug 20, 2023 09:43 by Jay McGowan > - Montezuma Audubon Center, Wayne, New York > - Map: > http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8=p=13=43.091753,-76.7652052=43.091753,-76.7652052 > - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S147694081 > - Comments: "Continuing, two singing and a third bird near the singing bird > closest to the trail carrying food!" > > *** > > You received this message because you are subscribed to eBird's Wayne County > Rare Bird Alert > > Manage your eBird alert subscriptions: > https://ebird.org/alerts > > eBird Alerts provide recent reports of regionally or seasonally rare species > (Rarities Alerts) or species you have not yet observed (Needs Alerts) in your > region of interest; both Accepted and Unreviewed observations are included. > Some reports may be from private property or inaccessible to the general > public. It is the responsibility of every eBirder to be aware of and > respectful of access restrictions. For more information, see our Terms of > Use: https://www.birds.cornell.edu/home/terms-of-use/ -- 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] Montezuma NWR 8/19 shorebird walk @ Tschache Pool dike
Tomorrow starting at 7:15am from the parking lot by the Tschache Pool Tower (NYS-89 just north of the Thruway) there will be a rare opportunity for members of the public onto the dike as part of a walk led by volunteer Reuben Stoltzfus to look for shorebirds who are migrating south now and stopping where there is shallow water or mudflats. Please bring binoculars, plus a scope if you have one. I plan to bring my scope and try to share views of any shorebirds with people who don’t have scopes, and I encourage others folks to do the same. Today Reuben helped with a shorebird count for the refuge from the Tschache dike, and they observed these shorebirds: a Black-bellied Plover “a bunch of Semipalmated Plovers” “a bunch of Killdeer” “lots of Least Sandpipers” “lots of Semipalmated Sandpipers” - minus 1 caught by a Merlin 2 Stilt Sandpipers 1 Baird’s Sandpiper (first of year for Cayuga Lake Basin, I believe) 5 Pectoral Sandpipers Spotted Sandpiper Solitary Sandpiper “lots of Greater Yellowlegs” “lots of Lesser Yellowlegs 1 Wilson’s Phalarope and dowitcher sp in flight Where there are lots of shorebirds, there are often falcons (beautiful in their own right) trying to eat them, which makes shorebird watching challenging. Today 3 Peregrines were present, one of which was chased by a Merlin. Of course what is there tomorrow may be different. Also there are several other caveats: The 5 viewing cuts in the cattails generally aim at stubble where it can be hard to see shorebirds. The cuts are not very wide, so only a few people can look any one direction through any one cut. We expect there to be a barricade this tomorrow which was not there last week, such that we will not be allowed to reach the best vantage for the best mudflat, which also involved looking through the tops of cattails. Tschache Pool is now set up to retain water, so the water level is higher than last week, and shorebird habitat at the south end of Tschache will probably disappear in the coming week. Meanwhile, at Knox-Marsellus Marsh, where we have had shorebird walks in past years, refuge staff say that the water level is being drawn down. So shorebird habitat should be created there, and maybe there can be guided walks there the next 2 Saturdays, August 26 & September 2, if anyone volunteers to lead them. - - Dave Nutter -- 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] Fwd: [eBird Alert] Wayne County Rare Bird Alert
Hi All, A couple weeks ago on July 26th Matthew Janson recognized the distinctive chatter of a singing Sedge Wren (“chit chit ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch”). Matt’s birding partner, Sam Heinrich, dutifully sent out a text rare bird alert. Moments later the message was amended: 2 were counter-singing! The location is a couple miles north of the Village of Savannah on NYS-89 at the Montezuma Audubon Center, about 100 yards south of the parking lot and just past an authorized-vehicles-only driveway. The habitat, a favorite of Sedge Wrens, is a tall grass field. There is a mowed path passing close to the birds, so you don’t need to bushwhack or disturb them. They are still there. Although the Sedge Wrens spend most of the time hidden in the vegetation, with patience you may see one perch atop a tall stem or in an isolated bush to sing. The birds sing a lot, maybe because they set each other off, so there’s no need to use playback. Playback should not be used anyway on a rare bird that may be breeding. Breeding in late July into August? Yes. As I understand it, Sedge Wrens who are moving south after breeding farther north will try their luck at breeding again. Sedge Wrens in the Cayuga Lake Basin are usually found by their songs, often in the late summer. As far as I know, Janson & Heinrich’s birds were the first reported this year. What I find really cool is that this time it’s not just a random male singing alone. Two frequently-counter-singing males surely are a stronger attractant to any passing female. And the latest report (below) suggests that they have been successful. A 3rd bird was chased by one of the singers, and the flight style may have been distinctive. I wasn’t there, and I am not an expert on Sedge Wren behavior, but I’m thinking maybe this was courtship. As always, I urge more knowledgeable folks to chime in with more info and if necessary to correct me. Meanwhile, if you are going to the MAC, please spend some quiet time on that mowed path watching for any more signs of Sedge Wrens breeding - courtship, mating, carrying nest material, a nest being built or used, carrying food, carrying fecal sacs, or baby birds! It would be so cool for breeding of rare Sedge Wrens to be confirmed here. - - Dave Nutter Begin forwarded message: > From: ebird-al...@birds.cornell.edu > Date: August 10, 2023 at 10:55:13 PM EDT > To: nutter.d...@mac.com > Subject: [eBird Alert] Wayne County Rare Bird Alert > > *** Species Summary: > > - Sedge Wren (1 report) > > - > Thank you for subscribing to the Wayne County Rare Bird Alert. The > report below shows observations of rare birds in Wayne County. View or > unsubscribe to this alert at https://ebird.org/alert/summary?sid=SN35788 > NOTE: all sightings are UNCONFIRMED unless indicated. > > eBird encourages our users to bird safely, responsibly, and mindfully. Please > follow the recommendations of your local health authorities and respect any > active travel restrictions in your area. For more information visit: > https://ebird.org/news/please-bird-mindfully > > Sedge Wren (Cistothorus stellaris) (3) > - Reported Aug 10, 2023 07:07 by Tyler Hodges > - Montezuma Audubon Center, Wayne, New York > - Map: > http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8=p=13=43.091753,-76.7652052=43.091753,-76.7652052 > - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S146948244 > - Media: 1 Photo > - Comments: "Lifer! Continuing. Two individuals counter-singing just beyond > the first trail intersection south of the parking lot. A third individual was > visible at the same time as one of the singing males, while the second > singing male remained concealed, indicating at least three individuals within > the vicinity. Hilarious, rapid, hummingbird-like wingbeats as the two visible > birds fluttered from one clump of vegetation to the next. Photo and audio." > > *** > > You received this message because you are subscribed to eBird's Wayne County > Rare Bird Alert > > Manage your eBird alert subscriptions: > https://ebird.org/alerts > > eBird Alerts provide recent reports of regionally or seasonally rare species > (Rarities Alerts) or species you have not yet observed (Needs Alerts) in your > region of interest; both Accepted and Unreviewed observations are included. > Some reports may be from private property or inaccessible to the general > public. It is the responsibility of every eBirder to be aware of and > respectful of access restrictions. For more information, see our Terms of > Use: https://www.birds.cornell.edu/home/terms-of-use/ -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCH
[cayugabirds-l] Fwd: Guided Shorebird Walks
Updated info for Montezuma NWR Shorebird Walks & sign-up link below - - Dave Nutter Begin forwarded message: > From: "Van Beusichem, Andrea" > Date: August 7, 2023 at 1:32:14 PM EDT > To: Dave Nutter > Subject: Guided Shorebird Walks > > Hi Dave, > > Thank you for posting about the guided shorebird walks on the listserv! > That's very helpful. To update you, Reuben and I have confirmed that he will > guide walks on August 12 and 19, meeting at the visitor center at 7:00 am or, > if one chooses, at Tschache Pool at 7:15 am. > > Here is the link for people to sign up for those dates: > https://www.eventbrite.com/e/montezumas-guided-shorebird-walk-tickets-694164985157?aff=oddtdtcreator > > Thank you! > Andrea > > Andrea Van Beusichem > Visitor Services Manager > Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge > 3395 US-20 East > Seneca Falls, NY 13148 > Cell: 315-237-9862 > Desk: 315-568-5987 x4228 > -- 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] Montezuma NWR guided shorebird walks
I just got word from Reuben Stoltzfus: There will NOT be a shorebird walk this Saturday, August 5th. Refuge staff will work on cutting some openings in the vegetation along the Tschache Pool dike over the next few days. There WILL BE shorebird walks led by Reuben on August 12th & August 19th. Reuben says that Andrea VanBeusichem, who is Visitor Services Manager for Montezuma NWR, will post a notice on Eventbrite (with which I am unfamiliar), and if you reply to that, it will help Reuben gauge how many people to expect. Meet Reuben at the Tschache Pool Tower parking lot at 7am to start the walks. Bring a scope if you have one, and please share what you find and assist others in seeing, hearing, and identifying shorebirds or asking questions. That’s what makes these walks work so well, in my opinion. That means staying close together enough to communicate and let the most people observe birds in case the birds do fly off, even though shorebirds are less skittish than many other birds. The refuge plans to place a barricade on the dike road, beyond which we visitors will not be allowed. Please respect this. If you would like to lead a shorebird walk on either August 26th or September 2, please call Reuben Stoltzfus at 607-869-9466. This number is for his roofing and construction business, but you should leave a message for him with option 3, which is for messages for Reuben’s family. I hope to see many of you, and some shorebirds as well, on August 12th & 19th! - - Dave Nutter > On Aug 2, 2023, at 4:55 AM, Dave Nutter wrote: > > For a number of years the management at Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge > has allowed a limited number of the public into normally restricted areas on > a few days in summer to observe migrant shorebirds on guided walks. > > Reuben Stoltzfus has been talking to staff to see what can be arranged this > year, hoping for a series of morning walks through August into the beginning > of September. They would happen on Saturdays, which would allow Amish and > Mennonite birders to participate. Reuben asked me to write to CayugaBirds-L > to let you know what’s happening. Anyone is welcome to forward this info to > other regional list-serves. > > The shorebird habitat is best at Tschache Pool, so that’s where he > anticipates walks to occur, but the vegetation is currently too tall > alongside the dike road to view it except by standing on the bed of a pick-up > truck. That’s how Jay McGowan, helping the folks who regularly census the > birds for the refuge, was able to amass a very respectable list of shorebird > species a couple days ago. Public vehicles would not be allowed on walks, so > staff will have to cut some gaps in the roadside vegetation before walks are > practical, and there will be a limit as to how far along the > several-mile-long dike that walks will be allowed to go. > > If staff are able to do this work in the next few days, then the first walk > might be this Saturday, August 5th, and Reuben is willing to lead a trip that > morning. That would be very short notice, so keep an eye out for a sign-up > notice. Reuben also plans to lead walks on the 12th and the 19th, when it is > more likely that the habitat will be viewable. If there are folks willing to > lead walks on August 26th and September 2nd, when Reuben cannot, that would > be great, so please think about helping that way. When word goes out how to > sign up to go on the early walks, that may also be the chance to sign up to > lead a later walk. > > If and when walks are permitted, Reuben anticipates starting at 7am at the > parking lot by the Tschache Pool tower off NYS-89 just north its I-90 > overpass. Numbers of participants should not be as limited as they were > during COVID. I hope to have more information for you soon. > > - - Dave Nutter -- 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] Montezuma NWR guided shorebird walks
For a number of years the management at Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge has allowed a limited number of the public into normally restricted areas on a few days in summer to observe migrant shorebirds on guided walks. Reuben Stoltzfus has been talking to staff to see what can be arranged this year, hoping for a series of morning walks through August into the beginning of September. They would happen on Saturdays, which would allow Amish and Mennonite birders to participate. Reuben asked me to write to CayugaBirds-L to let you know what’s happening. Anyone is welcome to forward this info to other regional list-serves. The shorebird habitat is best at Tschache Pool, so that’s where he anticipates walks to occur, but the vegetation is currently too tall alongside the dike road to view it except by standing on the bed of a pick-up truck. That’s how Jay McGowan, helping the folks who regularly census the birds for the refuge, was able to amass a very respectable list of shorebird species a couple days ago. Public vehicles would not be allowed on walks, so staff will have to cut some gaps in the roadside vegetation before walks are practical, and there will be a limit as to how far along the several-mile-long dike that walks will be allowed to go. If staff are able to do this work in the next few days, then the first walk might be this Saturday, August 5th, and Reuben is willing to lead a trip that morning. That would be very short notice, so keep an eye out for a sign-up notice. Reuben also plans to lead walks on the 12th and the 19th, when it is more likely that the habitat will be viewable. If there are folks willing to lead walks on August 26th and September 2nd, when Reuben cannot, that would be great, so please think about helping that way. When word goes out how to sign up to go on the early walks, that may also be the chance to sign up to lead a later walk. If and when walks are permitted, Reuben anticipates starting at 7am at the parking lot by the Tschache Pool tower off NYS-89 just north its I-90 overpass. Numbers of participants should not be as limited as they were during COVID. I hope to have more information for you soon. - - Dave Nutter -- 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] Red-headed Woodpeckers
Thanks for the info, Kevin. It was a bit frustrating to label all the photos “adult, sex unknown” when there were clearly (at least) 2 different birds, and it seemed a good bet that there was (at least) 1 of each sex. But so be it. - - Dave Nutter > On Jul 6, 2023, at 7:42 PM, Kevin J. McGowan wrote: > > No, and no. :^( > > The sexes in Red-headed Woodpeckers are not distinguishable by plumage. The > difference in staining could very well be the consequence of one bird being > in the nest cavity more than the other, but it is usually the male that does > more incubation and brooding than the female, as in most(?) woodpeckers. > > Described copulation displays, fide Birds of the World, do not indicate any > nape-grabbing like waterfowl or cats. Instead, there seems to be switching of > who’s on top, and back and forth, and other moves. So, I would say feather > loss on the back of the head is due to something else, like earlier onset of > molt than the other bird, or something. > > Best, > > Kevin > > > From: bounce-127549365-3493...@list.cornell.edu > On Behalf Of Dave Nutter > Sent: Thursday, July 6, 2023 4:51 PM > To: CAYUGABIRDS-L > Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Red-headed Woodpeckers > > This morning I biked up to the east edge of the Town of Ithaca on a > successful quest to see the Red-headed Woodpeckers whose nest with young was > located by Tom Schulenberg over 2 1/2 weeks ago. I was able to scope and > photograph through a small gap in foliage at a respectful enough distance > that: the adults came to the nest hole several times to feed one or more > unseen nestlings; one adult went entirely inside the cavity at least twice; > for awhile in between feedings a large nestling peered out of the cavity, > appearing well-feathered on its head and seeming large enough to be ready to > fledge soon. The feedings were frequent enough that I think the adults were > only feeding at the cavity, but once I located the cavity, I was not looking > around to see if they were also feeding any fledglings. Tom has noted plumage > differences between the two adults when they visit his feeders. I noticed > that one of the adults appeared immaculate, with bright white secondaries and > a solid crimson crown. The other adult had a slight rusty tinge on the > secondaries, several brown stains on the lower breast plumage, and a patch of > feathers apparently missing from the rear of its crown; this was the adult > who went inside the cavity each of the two times I was able to tell. > > My question, for those of you more knowledgeable or research-oriented, is > this: Does the difference in plumage I noticed indicate who is which sex? For > instance, does the female spend a lot more time in the nest cavity than the > male, thus become more likely to get stained? Does missing feathers on the > back of the head indicate a female? That is, do mating male woodpeckers grab > the back of the head of females, similar to mating ducks? Or is this patch of > apparent missing feathers due to something else? > > A link to my eBird checklist, with photos, is below. > > - - Dave Nutter > > - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S143727178 > -- > Cayugabirds-L List Info: > Welcome and Basics > Rules and Information > Subscribe, Configuration and Leave > Archives: > The Mail Archive > Surfbirds > BirdingOnThe.Net > Please submit your observations to eBird! > -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Red-headed Woodpeckers
This morning I biked up to the east edge of the Town of Ithaca on a successful quest to see the Red-headed Woodpeckers whose nest with young was located by Tom Schulenberg over 2 1/2 weeks ago. I was able to scope and photograph through a small gap in foliage at a respectful enough distance that: the adults came to the nest hole several times to feed one or more unseen nestlings; one adult went entirely inside the cavity at least twice; for awhile in between feedings a large nestling peered out of the cavity, appearing well-feathered on its head and seeming large enough to be ready to fledge soon. The feedings were frequent enough that I think the adults were only feeding at the cavity, but once I located the cavity, I was not looking around to see if they were also feeding any fledglings. Tom has noted plumage differences between the two adults when they visit his feeders. I noticed that one of the adults appeared immaculate, with bright white secondaries and a solid crimson crown. The other adult had a slight rusty tinge on the secondaries, several brown stains on the lower breast plumage, and a patch of feathers apparently missing from the rear of its crown; this was the adult who went inside the cavity each of the two times I was able to tell. My question, for those of you more knowledgeable or research-oriented, is this: Does the difference in plumage I noticed indicate who is which sex? For instance, does the female spend a lot more time in the nest cavity than the male, thus become more likely to get stained? Does missing feathers on the back of the head indicate a female? That is, do mating male woodpeckers grab the back of the head of females, similar to mating ducks? Or is this patch of apparent missing feathers due to something else? A link to my eBird checklist, with photos, is below. - - Dave Nutter > - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S143727178 -- 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] Osprey nesting at Game Farm soccer fields?
Recently I also saw an Osprey bringing a double fistful of grass to the nest in the field NW of Allan Treman marina, when there were young in the nest who are half grown. I think it’s normal. I don’t know the function, and maybe someone more knowledgeable can say whether it helps cool the nest, or make it more comfortable, or cover the remains of fish meals, or deter parasites, or some other benefit. Earlier in the season I have also seen an Osprey bring a double fistful of soggy brown (rotten?) vegetation from a nearby waterway, perhaps as nest lining before eggs are laid. Ospreys also continue to bring sticks to add to the nest even when there are eggs or young in the nest, which to me seems a bit awkward and risky, but that’s the perspective of someone who is no good at fishing or flying, so who am I to judge? - - Dave Nutter > On Jun 30, 2023, at 8:50 AM, Sandra Lynn Babcock wrote: > > On Sunday I was driving down Game Farm Road when I saw an Osprey flying low. > I pulled over in the turnout by the soccer field, and the Osprey swooped down > in front of the car, picked up two large talons-full of nesting material, and > flapped up to the nesting platform by the field. I was sure they wouldn't > nest there this year because of all the construction, even though they've > been there in years past. And isn't this quite late for them to be building > a nest? > > Happy birding, > Sandra > > Sandra Babcock > slb...@cornell.edu > > Sent from my Ipad > -- > Cayugabirds-L List Info: > Welcome and Basics > Rules and Information > Subscribe, Configuration and Leave > Archives: > The Mail Archive > Surfbirds > BirdingOnThe.Net > Please submit your observations to eBird! > -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Conservation vs Ecology
policies, to increase energy efficiency, and to reduce energy use. And because fossil fuels are driving climate change, we need to stop using them. So, yes, solar arrays are ugly, and I’d rather there be land that housed a diversity of birds. But all the other non-fossil-fuel options seemed worse, so I get my electricity from a local solar array. At least my energy use is solar on a net basis. And I conserve, with a well-insulated house that doesn’t even connect to gas. My car uses fossil fuel, but it is very efficient, and I rarely use it. I bicycle and walk for local trips. My birding by car is limited. I drove to Troyer’s to see the spectacular Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, rationalizing that I may never go to its home in Texas, despite how attractive Texas birds are to me. Otherwise most of my limited car-birding is also car-pooling. It’s good to get to know the local neighborhood birds well. And to appreciate that traveling longer distances is a luxury with costs to the things we would travel for. Keep checking and eventually a rare or novel bird will come to you, like that Little Gull I found by the Red Lighthouse, or a new year-yard bird like the Eastern Kingbird that distracted me while I was writing this. - - Dave Nutter -- 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] Scissor-tailed Flycatcher continues in Candor, Tioga County
Adam Troyer reports that the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher continues at his family’s dairy farm at the end of TOMAK (also spelled TOMACK) Road in the town of Candor in Tioga County. It’s a spectacular bird. Wear muck boots, it’s usually near the pastured cows. - - Dave Nutter -- 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] Taughannock Peregrines?
Yesterday afternoon (3 May) about 5:15pm, Ann Mitchell & I stopped on Gorge Rd and scoped across Taughannock gorge, and the Peregrines’ nest ledge appeared empty. Nor did we see or hear adults, although our visit was brief. I have not followed their progress closely, but isn’t this early for fledging? What has been happening? When was the last sighting of young on the ledge & what stage? Are the adults still in the area? - - Dave Nutter -- 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] Pelican
Ann Mitchell & I made a late start north from Ithaca hoping to see the American White Pelican. I had assumed we didn’t have to hurry because the north wind and rain showers made bird migration unappealing. We were north of Union Springs when I was surprised to get word that the Pelican actually had gotten up and flown north. We arrived at Harris Park in time to meet Gary, who had just packed up his scope. He showed us a recognizable photo of the distant swimming Pelican through more shimmer than I anticipated on such a cool day. Ann & I took a tour of Montezuma, but did not see the Pelican on any of the large pools, though we did find several Black Terns among the many Swallows over Tschache Pool. Ann wanted to look for Common & Forster’s Terns, so on our way home we stopped at the Cayuga Lake State Park boat ramp. Almost the first thing we noticed was a huge white blob on the lake in the shimmery distance. Its wings had black flight feathers when it occasionally flapped. Otherwise it looked like a Mute Swan, with a massive white body and long white neck, except it also had a straight orange bill so long that it nearly reached down to the water. Evidently the Pelican, having flown around a bit, decided that hanging out with feeding gulls and cormorants on the lake was the best option after all. Shimmer is worst when you look through the air close to the water’s surface, where the humidity and temperature of the water is changing the density of the air. We found that by moving up to the parking lot for the park and setting up our scopes at the top of the stairs above the playground and the concrete fishing pier we could look down through less murkiness and see the birds more clearly. Twenty feet of elevation made a big difference. Even so, we needed scopes, and my photos were horrendous. The Pelican was still on the lake when we left about 4:30pm. Perhaps it will remain tomorrow if the north wind and rain start up soon enough in the morning to deter its urge to soar in the early morning calm. - - Dave Nutter > On May 3, 2023, at 3:44 PM, Gary Kohlenberg wrote: > > Dave Nutter reports Pelican again visible far east of Cayuga Lake State Park, > swimming south near active flying gulls. 3:38 pm. > > This would be south of Harris Park in the village of Cayuga. > > Gary > > > On May 3, 2023, at 1:56 PM, Gary Kohlenberg wrote: > > > Pelican was still visible far south of Harris Park until about 1pm when it > picked up and flew NW, as per Kyle Gage. > It was still raining at the time so my feeling is it’s possible it could stop > somewhere in or near Montezuma. > Gary > > > On May 3, 2023, at 9:36 AM, Dave Nutter wrote: > > Tim Lenz sent out the alert and was looking south from Harris Park in the > Village of Cayuga, Town of Aurelius on the east side of the lake. > > However, when Dave Kennedy found the bird, Dave was looking east from Lake > Road in the Town of Seneca Falls on the west side of the lake. This is north > of Cayuga Lake State Park on Lower Lake Rd, one “block” north, but I bet a > bird that size is visible from the boat ramp or the shore of the park. > > Try whichever side of the lake is most convenient for you. > > - - Dave Nutter > > On May 3, 2023, at 8:50 AM, Laura Stenzler wrote: > >> >> Hi >> Just read this on the rare bird alert. >> “ Dave Kennedy found a White Pelican, swimming in middle of Cayuga Lake, >> visible now looking south from Harris Park” >> 8:30 am May 3 >> >> Laura >> >> Laura Stenzler >> l...@cornell.edu >> -- >> >> Cayugabirds-L List Info: >> http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME >> http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES >> http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm >> >> ARCHIVES: >> 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html >> 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds >> 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html >> >> Please submit your observations to eBird: >> http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ >> >> -- > > -- > Cayugabirds-L List Info: > Welcome and Basics > Rules and Information > Subscribe, Configuration and Leave > Archives: > The Mail Archive > Surfbirds > BirdingOnThe.Net > Please submit your observations to eBird! > -- > -- > Cayugabirds-L List Info: > Welcome and Basics > Rules and Information > Subscribe, Configuration and Leave > Archives: > The Mail Archive > Surfbirds > BirdingOnThe.Net > Please submit your observations to eBird! > -- > -- > Cayugabirds-L List Info: > Welcome and Basics > Rules and Information > Sub
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Yellow crowned night heron
Most of the eBird reports of Yellow-crowned Night Heron in the Cayuga Lake Basin have been of juveniles in the summer. There is one report of an adult in April 2009 seen on a single day next to the Clyde River at Mays point, Town of Tyre. There is also a report of one adult on private property in Waterloo from late March through the end of June 2006. Other than the Freeville sightings, that is all there is for springtime or for adult birds. To me, it seems likely that an adult would only stay for the spring (as 2006 in Waterloo) or show up repeatedly in spring and be seen various months (as in Freeville) if it was breeding. It would be very cool to verify breeding for the Atlas. But, it would only be cool if the bird(s) aren’t disrupted. I recall when a juvenile was found by the marina at Taughannock Falls State Park. It spent a long time up in a tree while satisfied birders stood nearby below, talking to each other and no longer even looking at the bird. It wasn’t until the people drifted away that the Yellow-crowned Night-Heron came back down to the grassy shore of the marina and resumed devouring Crayfish. Was the bird tolerant of people? Only kinda. It was hungry, and loath to leave a good food source, and keeping a safe distance. A bird that stays in a tree may just be waiting for the people to leave (as non-birders do) so it can get on with its business. Yellow-crowned Night-Heron is noted for being more nocturnal than the Black-crowned Night-Heron and for specializing in eating crabs. In MD I’ve seen adult Yellow-crowned Night-Heron in April wading in a creek in daytime. As Lea wrote, she has seen one in Fall Creek eating a Crayfish. Why would it leave the creek to eat worms on a field during daytime? Maybe high water made feeding in the creek difficult. Maybe to get enough food for breeding - egg laying, or feeding while taking a shift off from incubating, or feeding young. The satellite view of the area in Google Maps seems to show a lot of wild undeveloped land along & near Fall Creek, so a mate on a nest could be anywhere within half a mile, yet that playing field has been attractive to it lately. Please give it space. And if you prowl around looking for a mate or a nest, again please give them space. Please, if you find a nest, take the quick bad photo, don’t approach more, & leave promptly. If there is a way to watch a nest through a scope from a long distance, that would be way to do it. Also, if anyone wants to compare the markings & plumage in all the recent Freeville photos to see if it’s actually 2 birds, that would be cool. - - Dave Nutter > On Apr 26, 2023, at 9:11 PM, Dave Nutter wrote: > > Yellow-crowned Night-Heron is rarely reported in the Cayuga Lake Basin > generally and in Tompkins County specifically. However, there have been > several reports in recent years from Fall Creek in the Freeville area, two of > which were verified with photographs and accepted by eBird: In May 2021 an > adult was seen in Mill Dam Park very near to this location, and in June 2021 > an adult was seen along Fall Creek adjacent to Groton Avenue Park. It’s > possible the species is regular there and just hasn’t been noticed much. > > - - Dave Nutter > >> On Apr 26, 2023, at 7:31 PM, Fred Rimmel wrote: >> >> A yellow crowned night heron was seen about 7:00 pm at Groton Avenue Park in >> Freeville. I would appreciate knowing how common they are in this area? >> >> Fred Rimmel >> -- >> >> Cayugabirds-L List Info: >> http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME >> http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES >> http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm >> >> ARCHIVES: >> 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html >> 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds >> 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html >> >> Please submit your observations to eBird: >> http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ >> >> -- >> -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Pelican
Tim Lenz sent out the alert and was looking south from Harris Park in the Village of Cayuga, Town of Aurelius on the east side of the lake. However, when Dave Kennedy found the bird, Dave was looking east from Lake Road in the Town of Seneca Falls on the west side of the lake. This is north of Cayuga Lake State Park on Lower Lake Rd, one “block” north, but I bet a bird that size is visible from the boat ramp or the shore of the park. Try whichever side of the lake is most convenient for you. - - Dave Nutter > On May 3, 2023, at 8:50 AM, Laura Stenzler wrote: > > > Hi > Just read this on the rare bird alert. > “ Dave Kennedy found a White Pelican, swimming in middle of Cayuga Lake, > visible now looking south from Harris Park” > 8:30 am May 3 > > Laura > > Laura Stenzler > l...@cornell.edu > -- > > Cayugabirds-L List Info: > http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME > http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES > http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm > > ARCHIVES: > 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html > 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds > 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html > > Please submit your observations to eBird: > http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ > > -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Blue Jay migration
Yesterday in the late afternoon I saw a small quiet flock of 8 Blue Jays moving eastward into the treetops of the northeast part of Allan H Treman State Marine Park, a similar path to the migrating Black-capped Chickadees I reported recently going around the southeast end of Cayuga Lake. This morning around 9:25am I saw a quiet flock of 32 Blue Jays flying north over the south end of Cass Park, also clearly migrating. They were over a field approaching a woodlot just above treetop level. Blue Jays migrate in the daytime, and they fly quietly in rather spread-out flocks, each bird keeping a distance of a several feet to a few yards from all of its neighbors. They flap constantly in what looks to me like weak flight aimed at conserving energy. An interesting place to watch migrant Blue Jay flocks is around the Braddock Bay banding station, where they must turn generally east in order to get around Lake Ontario, but in that specific area must go southeast, leading so some apparently confused and circuitous travel. Migration is made when the wind is from a helpful direction, like today and the day I saw the Chickadee movement, generally from the south. In autumn I have watched Blue Jays fly south over the east end of Stewart Park, presumably having been gathered and guided by Cayuga Lake’s diagonal “east” shore, and over downtown Ithaca as well. To me, it’s a thrill to see the migration phenomenon played out. - - Dave Nutter -- 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] Yellow crowned night heron
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron is rarely reported in the Cayuga Lake Basin generally and in Tompkins County specifically. However, there have been several reports in recent years from Fall Creek in the Freeville area, two of which were verified with photographs and accepted by eBird: In May 2021 an adult was seen in Mill Dam Park very near to this location, and in June 2021 an adult was seen along Fall Creek adjacent to Groton Avenue Park. It’s possible the species is regular there and just hasn’t been noticed much. - - Dave Nutter > On Apr 26, 2023, at 7:31 PM, Fred Rimmel wrote: > > A yellow crowned night heron was seen about 7:00 pm at Groton Avenue Park in > Freeville. I would appreciate knowing how common they are in this area? > > Fred Rimmel > -- > > Cayugabirds-L List Info: > http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME > http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES > http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm > > ARCHIVES: > 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html > 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds > 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html > > Please submit your observations to eBird: > http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ > > -- > -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] distinctive Yellow Warbler at Swan Pond (& apology)
Yesterday at Stewart Park’s Swan Pond I saw a distinctive male Yellow Warbler. In addition to the normal rufous streaks on the breast, it had a rufous spot on the right side of its forehead. Have you seen this bird? I’m curious whether it is just passing through briefly or whether is staying longer term. - - Dave Nutter PS Apologies for misinformation about Salmon Creek I introduced into the notice of the Salt Point Prothonotary Warbler report yesterday. The Lat/Long I included from the texts was correct, and I hope some folks still were helped by hearing about the rarity on this listserve. -- 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] Prothonotary Warbler at Salt Point/Myers Point, Lansing
At 10:15am Elliott Ress reported a Prothonotary Warbler seen and heard singing while foraging with Yellow-rumped Warblers along the “south” side of the creek (probably means east side, as the creek flows south), but seen by him from [42.5394, -76.5480] on the Salt Point side. - - Dave Nutter -- 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] Taughannock Peregrine hatch (Friday 21 April)
Yesterday toward sunset (Friday 21 April), Ann Mitchell & I stopped for a brief scope view of the Peregrine Falcon who has been nesting on a ledge in the gorge. The bird seemed to be having difficulty getting or staying comfortable and kept shifting position slightly. At one point it stood up enough that we could see a small white fluffy nestling. We couldn’t tell how many, if any, more nestlings there were, nor could we see any eggs during that glimpse. - - Dave Nutter -- 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] Montezuma shorebirds & Glossy Ibis, Friday 21 April
Yesterday afternoon (Friday 21 April), Ann Mitchell & I went to Montezuma. Here are some highlights: At the Visitor Center pool, in the corner nearest the entrance road and NYS-5/US-20 we foundation Killdeer, 2 Pectoral Sandpipers, few each of Greater & Lesser Yellowlegs, and 1 Solitary Sandpiper. There were also lots of Green-winged Teal, several Northern Shovelers, and a pair of Blue-winged Teal. In the Seneca Flats Pool, which is the second pool on the right along the Wildlife Drive, we saw the breeding plumage Glossy Ibis, which has been reported there. When we arrived, it was at the north end (the farther end as one proceeds along the drive), but while we watched, it took a brief flight and resettled at the south end of the Seneca Flats Pool. We also had fine looks at a Wilson’s Snipe on the north dike and a Sandhill Crane walking on the east dike. Another good spot for shorebirds was the flooded field south of Carncross Road east of Savannah-Spring Lake Rd in the Town of Savannah. The west end of this marsh had a couple dozen Dunlin, as well as plenty of mainly Greater Yellowlegs and we were told, some Pectoral Sandpipers as well. We did not check the whole area thoroughly because it was getting late and a rainstorm hit, but we did note that in addition to 8 Caspian Terns in the air, there were several times that many resting on the ground partially hidden by vegetation. There were also lots of ducks, mainly Northern Shovelers, but others as well, including Northern Pintail. One could spend a long time birding here. - - Dave Nutter -- 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] Ithaca Little Gull, Friday 21 April
About 8am yesterday (Friday 21 April) I was at Allan Treman State Marine Park in Ithaca, hoping to see migrating terns, but I didn’t see any. Nor did I see anything unusual on the lake, where the already warm air over the chilly water caused shimmer which severely limited how far one could focus clearly. I was scanning the Red Lighthouse Breakwater, which is currently under a couple inches of water due to the summer lake level, and having dutifully counted the Double-crested Cormorants as I panned one direction, I was counting gulls (mostly Ring-billed) as I panned back the other way. Among them was a small gull who was pale gray & white below with an all-black head. I hadn’t noticed it on the previous pass moments earlier, and I initially assumed it was a breeding plumage Bonaparte’s Gull. But when it fluttered up to shift its position a few feet, the wings were wrong. Instead of there being a long contrasting triangle on top from the leading primaries being white, it was plain pale gray all the way across the back and top of the wings, without any contrast even at the wingtip. And the underside of the wing had a charcoal cast, darker than any shadow, although the edges graded to gray. Clearly, this was a breeding plumage Little Gull, which is rare enough that I hadn’t been thinking about it, and I noticed that the black on the head came farther down the back of the neck than it should on a Bonaparte’s. I shared my scope briefly with a passing acquaintance while I texted a brief rare bird alert that a breeding plumage Little Gull was on the Red Lighthouse Breakwater. When I looked back, the Little Gull was gone. A quick look around with binoculars and scope didn’t reveal it, so I sent a second text that it had flown but was probably still nearby. Indeed, Tom Auer had arrived quickly at Stewart Park, and just over 20 minutes later texted an alert that the Little Gull was flying far offshore with some Bonaparte’s Gulls. They would’ve been far easier to see and distinguish in flight than on the water given the viewing conditions. After Tom’s first text I saw my only Bonaparte’s Gull, which was flying north. And Tom sent a follow-up alert after 20 minutes that the Bonaparte’s & Little Gull appeared to have all headed north. I think we were both very fortunate to have seen the rarity as this all took place in less than 3/4 of an hour - - Dave Nutter -- 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] possible Chickadee migration near Allan Treman marina
First I’ll set the scene, then describe some odd behavior others saw, add my own observations, and speculate on what was going on. You can read a more succinct version in my eBird report if/when the unusually large number of Chickadees gets approved as part of the public data base. A couple mornings ago, while on one of my frequent walks at Allan H Treman State Marine Park, I met a couple of fellow birders, Leigh Stivers and a companion whose name do not recall (my apologies!). From a distance, I had seen them looking intently toward the tops of the big Cottonwood trees at the NE corner of the marina which are closest to the mouth of Cayuga Inlet. They were standing on the peninsula north of the mouth of Treman Marina. This location, as one looks across the Inlet, is about opposite the base of the White Lighthouse Jetty and the point of Jetty Woods (aka the Cornell Biological Field Station, aka the Lighthouse Point Natural Area). I asked what they had seen: a couple of Yellow-rumped Warblers foraging in the trees, which are to be expected now, and a small flock of Chickadees hovering above the trees, which we agreed was odd. Having not seen any warblers yet this year, but having seen various warbler species there in past springtimes, I vowed to study those trees more thoroughly. And I recalled that in previous years I had also seen groups of Black-capped Chickadees a bit farther to the south, in the trees near the park office in numbers bigger than a typical winter foraging flock and well into the time when Chickadees here are generally paired up, on territory, and probably nesting. This morning I stood where Leigh & friend stood, and I stared a couple minutes at those Cottonwoods, which currently are covered with their flowers but without leaves, and I saw only a few Common Grackles passing through on local business. So I took my usual post immediately north of and slightly shaded by those trees to scope past the White Lighthouse Jetty to check the waters along and off Stewart Park. Then I heard a couple of “tip” notes, which I traced to two male Myrtle Yellow-rumped Warblers overhead in a Cottonwood. (Success! I am into my personal Warbler season!). Then from somewhere a bit west in the canopy a Ruby-crowned Kinglet sang, so I stared for that. I never saw the Kinglet, but in addition to a local foraging Titmouse, I saw a couple Chickadees in and above the treetops working their way east, but more traveling rather than foraging. They accumulated in the easternmost large Cottonwood. A few flew up, a bit out over the water, and quickly came back to the tree. Then some flew away over the Inlet. But more arrived from the west. This was around 9am. I returned to that grassy peninsula toward the mouth of the marina, where Leigh & friend had been, so I could watch the top of that Cottonwood without staring at the sun. Over the course of a few minutes, Chickadees gathered in that half-dead tree crown. Each bird that I got a decent look at was a Black-capped Chickadee. Then a few would fly up and out over the Inlet, but return. More gathered, adding from above the trees to the west. Then a larger group of the tiny birds would fly up and out over the Inlet, and most or all would continue across the Inlet and out of sight. Several times I saw this happen. I saw flocks as few as 15 and as many as 50 head out diagonally (E or slightly ESE) across the Inlet. One flock I was able to follow with binoculars into a similar greening crown of a big tree (probably another Cottonwood) in Jetty Woods. I watched about a hundred birds do this, thus what eBird rightfully considers a surprising number of Chickadees on my list. I think these Chickadees are long-distance migrants returning to the northern part of their range. They want to go north, and like other migrants I have watched, they view Cayuga Lake, which is oriented NW-SE, as a barrier to their preferred direction, so when I saw them they were going east around the south end of the lake before they could continue going north. They are nervous about flying over open water with no cover, and they are right to be nervous because Merlins have been common here in past years. The Chickadees have some safety in numbers as they cross because a Merlin would only take 1 out of whatever group it attacked, but the raptor might be more distracted by many birds and thus get none. Perhaps the Chickadees try to stay low above trees and forests as they travel so they can quickly dive into the protection among the branches and twigs. I wonder if others have heard of or noticed these phenomena, and if this explanation sounds right. - - Dave Nutter -- 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@cor
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Foy B Thrasher
1 Brown Thrasher singing from a bare deciduous tree in the middle of Newman Golf Course and 1 singing at entrance to Jetty Woods/Lighthouse Point/Cornell Biological Field Station this morning. FOY for me as well, and always a treat. - - Dave Nutter > On Apr 15, 2023, at 1:08 PM, Barbara Bauer Sadovnic > wrote: > > Brown Thrasher singing on Tucker Rd. in Enfield, too! > > Barbara Sadovnic > >> On Apr 15, 2023, at 10:40 AM, Linda Orkin wrote: >> >> Brown Thrasher for me too on Muriel street. Love them. >> >> Linda Orkin >> Ithaca NY >> >>> On Apr 15, 2023, at 8:48 AM, Donna Lee Scott wrote: >>> >>> FOY Brown Thrasher under blue spruce trees on NW side of Kendal. >>> Along w/ female Red winged Blackbird. >>> >>> Donna Scott >>> Kendal at Ithaca-377 >>> Sent from my iPhone >>> -- >>> Cayugabirds-L List Info: >>> Welcome and Basics >>> Rules and Information >>> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave >>> Archives: >>> The Mail Archive >>> Surfbirds >>> BirdingOnThe.Net >>> Please submit your observations to eBird! >>> -- >> -- >> Cayugabirds-L List Info: >> Welcome and Basics >> Rules and Information >> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave >> Archives: >> The Mail Archive >> Surfbirds >> BirdingOnThe.Net >> Please submit your observations to eBird! >> -- > > -- > Cayugabirds-L List Info: > Welcome and Basics > Rules and Information > Subscribe, Configuration and Leave > Archives: > The Mail Archive > Surfbirds > BirdingOnThe.Net > Please submit your observations to eBird! > -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Shorebirds, etc, esp. along Wildlife Drive, Montezuma NWR
I just got a call from Reuben Stoltzfus taking his first trip of the year around the Wildlife Drive. If you are up that way, pay particular attention to Benning Marsh, because that’s where he saw Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, and Dunlin. Also keep an eye out along the Wildlife Drive for Eurasian Wigeon, which others have seen recently, and Great Egret, which Mike Gullo saw on April first. Both Yellowlegss had previously been reported by Wade & Melissa Rowley at Carncross Rd’s flooded field near the Seneca River in the Town of Savannah, so that can be another good place to study. Previous to that, Janet Akin heard Greater Yellowlegs near the intersection of Gravel & Lay Rds in Tyre. I had thought that Dunlin was new for the Basin for the year, but - sorry, Reuben - I just noticed from my Seneca County daily eBird “needs” report that Dave Kennedy found a Dunlin yesterday at the intersection of NYS-89 & NYS-31 at the west end of the mucklands, another great shorebird location. Bring a scope if you have one, as shorebirds are small and often distant. The only other shorebirds I’m aware of in the Basin are Killdeer, which first showed up ridiculously early, and American Woodcock and Wilson’s Snipe which were found as expected in late February and early March respectively. Reuben is keeping an eye out for Pectoral Sandpiper, another expected early shorebird. Another place I’ve had luck with shorebirds is the Guy Baldassarre marsh, by walking counter-clockwise around it and scoping inward while walking north along the east dike. Enjoy Shorebird Season! - - Dave Nutter -- 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] Snow Goose
e enough to get an angle to say exactly where, but not as far north as the finish line. No matter, the circus has moved on. You may know that waterfowl molt all their flight feathers at once. Among Canada Geese it coincides when the period when they are attending and protecting their flightless young, and the lawns are littered with feathers. Flotillas of geese swimming past on the Inlet is to be expected then. What you may not know is that sometimes in winter Canada Geese also commute in a slow swimming parade between overnight safety on the lake and daytime grazing atop the banks south of the Octopus. Could they fly? Sure, but the energy budget is tight then, and grass has low caloric value. I think they swim to save energy. Can this Snow Goose fly? I don’t know, but it certainly seems to be choosing to stay close enough to the water that it doesn’t have to. Will it regain the ability and impetus to fly, perhaps healing from whatever injury cut short this year’s migration? If it crosses Taughannock Boulevard that will denote a change in the equation. Either it will have become more confident in park patrons, or more confident in its ability to escape, or it will seek a bigger or fresher supply of food. I’d rather have geese than lawnmowers. Why the discussion of a single Snow Goose? It’s a great chance for lots of people to see this species up close; to see how it interacts with everyone along the narrow strip of lawn it has adopted; to compare with the lives of other geese here who are not so exotic; to consider why it didn’t complete its migration along with the hundreds of thousands of Snow Geese who sometimes pass through the Cayuga Lake Basin in March; to consider what of its behavior is normal; and particularly to answer whether this bird, which many people have noticed, is dangerously diseased and should be euthanized, or would benefit from human “rehabilitation” and should be removed, also I believe, with a high chance of being euthanized, and a low chance of completing its trip to the Canadian Arctic. As someone who lately does very little driving to see birds, I think this is the first Snow Goose this year that I have seen so close, and I am grateful that this bird, which I think has had a tough time, chose my neighborhood. - - Dave Nutter -- 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] Bonaparte's Gulls, Stewart Park
ess than half what I saw, and Gary Kohlenberg, an excellent and diligent birder, only found 6, and when I arrived at my original viewing location mid-morning I only saw 2. It would have been misleading to tell people to go to Stewart Park on the 31st for a great Bonaparte’s Gull show. Instead, my recommendation is to go to Stewart Park as regularly as ever because it’s a great park with great birding, but check the shoreline, lake, and the air above it diligently for Bonaparte’s Gulls for the next month. Walk out on the dock to look back at the shoreline, because a resting or walking Bonaparte’s Gull might not not be tall enough to be seen over the wrack. There were 2 things I didn’t figure on. First, my report of 104 Bonaparte’s Gull, including descriptions, and later photos, was not enough to convince the powers that be at eBird. It has been deemed not just incredible, but non-credible. It has been excluded from the public database. It was no help at all to the hard-core fraction of the birding public that I trusted would get that message. The only folks who can see my report are me and eBird reviewers like Jay, who said it was “apparent” that there had been over a hundred of them that day. Meanwhile, Jay’s less-detailed report of 45 birds the next morning stands. Maybe that’s below the “questionable” cut-off. Should I have lied about the large number and reduced it until eBird didn’t complain just to avoid the hassle? I’ve seen people do that, but it doesn’t promote science to give a false number, just as it doesn’t help science to throw out good data if it is apparently valid. I also didn’t count on being criticized personally on Cayugabirds-L in such a way that only the sender and I knew. But maybe it wasn’t personal. Stewart Park is a very popular birding spot. Probably other folks were there besides my photographer-friend. Maybe other birders also submitted eBird lists of over a hundred Bonaparte’s Gulls on that evening, and I don’t know because their reports also were blocked, and they’re all being admonished that they should’ve told people to look for something that wouldn’t be there anymore, and they feel like it’s a bit unfair. I hope the fact that my Bonaparte’s Gulls have been blocked from that list does not disqualify me from the challenge to submit a complete eBird list every day. Anyone who wants to know why I have written about a single Snow Goose that many people have seen and wondered about, you are welcome to follow the “Snow Goose” thread. It has stayed on that narrow topic, so if that’s not your style, you can skip it. - - Dave Nutter > On Mar 31, 2023, at 7:45 AM, Jay McGowan wrote: > > I'm not quite sure why we got 10 emails about a Snow Goose but no mention of > the over 100 Bonaparte's Gulls that were apparently at Stewart Park > yesterday, but at any rate, fewer than half of them remained this morning, > many very close to shore around the center of the park. A few scattered > waterfowl offshore but nothing noteworthy. > > Jay > -- > Cayugabirds-L List Info: > Welcome and Basics > Rules and Information > Subscribe, Configuration and Leave > Archives: > The Mail Archive > Surfbirds > BirdingOnThe.Net > Please submit your observations to eBird! > -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Snow Goose
As I was walking home at 7:52pm (well after sunset) from Allan Treman on the Cayuga Waterfront Trail next to Taughannock Boulevard past Cass Park I saw the Snow Goose, still on the lawn between the trail and Cayuga Inlet. It has worked its way farther north, opposite Union Fields, and at mid-day I had seen it next to a local pair of Canada Geese in that area, but the Canadas were gone by dusk. This evening I stopped a hundred yards away to look at the Snow Goose. The bird is alert and certainly knows the difference between a runner or walker who goes past without stopping and doesn’t care at all about a goose therefore is safe to ignore, and a person staring at it even from a distance. The goose immediately walked over to the edge of the lawn at the top of the embankment. So, it knows that people can be threatening and that the water is a safer place, which is appropriate. But I crossed the street and walked along the opposite shoulder to give it extra room, then returned later to the trail and glanced back. The goose stayed up on the lawn. I think going down & up the embankment must be extra effort for it, worth staying on land overnight. By the way, I think it’s normal for a grazing goose to rest occasionally during the day by sitting down to digest awhile. - - Dave Nutter > On Mar 30, 2023, at 9:25 AM, Dave Nutter wrote: > > As of 9:07am the Snow Goose is still/again grazing on the lawn between the > Cayuga Waterfront Trail and Cayuga Inlet next to the Children’s Garden and > Taughannock Boulevard (NYS-89). I did not get close, but through binoculars > it looked normal. Runners and walkers pass it without either being bothered. > > I should add that my explanation of summer Snow Geese around being disabled > veterans is an educated guess. If this bird has difficulty flying, it may > also be limited where it can climb from the water to & from the lawn, and it > may be reluctant to go up & down the embankment unnecessarily. > > - - Dave Nutter > >> On Mar 29, 2023, at 7:34 PM, Elaina M. McCartney >> wrote: >> >> I can walk over in the morning and see if it's still there. >> >> Elaina >> >>> On Mar 29, 2023, at 18:20, marsha kardon wrote: >>> >>> >>> I'm wondering whether the bird should be brought to a wildlife >>> rehabilitator or Perhaps it has avian influenza? Or an injury that >>> isn't visible when it's standing or walking? Marsha Kardon >>> >>>> On Wed, Mar 29, 2023 at 4:51 PM Lanie Wilmarth >>>> wrote: >>>> I too, saw this bird roughly an hour ago in the exact same location, this >>>> time just sitting. >>>> >>>>> On Wed, Mar 29, 2023 at 1:00 PM marsha kardon wrote: >>>>> I just got back from Cass Park and saw the lone snow goose about 10 >>>>> minutes ago (and 1 3/4 hours ago in a similar location) in the grass on >>>>> the inlet side not far past the Childrens' Garden. I agree that it looks >>>>> healthy and is walking in the grass nibbling, but it seems odd to see it >>>>> there alone. Marsha Kardon >>>>> >>>>>> On Wed, Mar 29, 2023 at 11:16 AM Elaina M. McCartney >>>>>> wrote: >>>>>> There was a lone Snow Goose strolling along the daffodil part of the >>>>>> Waterfront Trail just south of Cass Park Rink this morning. It seemed >>>>>> healthy although I didn't see it fly. I circled back around after a tour >>>>>> of three occupied Osprey nests and it was gone. >>>>>> >>>>>> Elaina >>>>>> -- >>>>>> >>>>>> Cayugabirds-L List Info: >>>>>> http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME >>>>>> http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES >>>>>> http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm >>>>>> >>>>>> ARCHIVES: >>>>>> 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html >>>>>> 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds >>>>>> 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html >>>>>> >>>>>> Please submit your observations to eBird: >>>>>> http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ >>>>>> >>>>>> -- >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> Cayugabirds-L List Info: >>>>> Welcome and Basics >>>>> Rules and Information >>>>> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave >>>>> Archives: >>>>> The Mail Archive >>>>> Surfbirds >>>>> BirdingOnThe.Net >>>>> Please submit your observations to eBird! >>>>> -- >> -- >> Cayugabirds-L List Info: >> Welcome and Basics >> Rules and Information >> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave >> Archives: >> The Mail Archive >> Surfbirds >> BirdingOnThe.Net >> Please submit your observations to eBird! >> -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Snow Goose
As of 9:07am the Snow Goose is still/again grazing on the lawn between the Cayuga Waterfront Trail and Cayuga Inlet next to the Children’s Garden and Taughannock Boulevard (NYS-89). I did not get close, but through binoculars it looked normal. Runners and walkers pass it without either being bothered. I should add that my explanation of summer Snow Geese around being disabled veterans is an educated guess. If this bird has difficulty flying, it may also be limited where it can climb from the water to & from the lawn, and it may be reluctant to go up & down the embankment unnecessarily. - - Dave Nutter > On Mar 29, 2023, at 7:34 PM, Elaina M. McCartney > wrote: > > I can walk over in the morning and see if it's still there. > > Elaina > >> On Mar 29, 2023, at 18:20, marsha kardon wrote: >> >> >> I'm wondering whether the bird should be brought to a wildlife rehabilitator >> or Perhaps it has avian influenza? Or an injury that isn't visible >> when it's standing or walking? Marsha Kardon >> >>> On Wed, Mar 29, 2023 at 4:51 PM Lanie Wilmarth >>> wrote: >>> I too, saw this bird roughly an hour ago in the exact same location, this >>> time just sitting. >>> >>>> On Wed, Mar 29, 2023 at 1:00 PM marsha kardon wrote: >>>> I just got back from Cass Park and saw the lone snow goose about 10 >>>> minutes ago (and 1 3/4 hours ago in a similar location) in the grass on >>>> the inlet side not far past the Childrens' Garden. I agree that it looks >>>> healthy and is walking in the grass nibbling, but it seems odd to see it >>>> there alone. Marsha Kardon >>>> >>>>> On Wed, Mar 29, 2023 at 11:16 AM Elaina M. McCartney >>>>> wrote: >>>>> There was a lone Snow Goose strolling along the daffodil part of the >>>>> Waterfront Trail just south of Cass Park Rink this morning. It seemed >>>>> healthy although I didn't see it fly. I circled back around after a tour >>>>> of three occupied Osprey nests and it was gone. >>>>> >>>>> Elaina >>>>> -- >>>>> >>>>> Cayugabirds-L List Info: >>>>> http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME >>>>> http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES >>>>> http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm >>>>> >>>>> ARCHIVES: >>>>> 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html >>>>> 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds >>>>> 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html >>>>> >>>>> Please submit your observations to eBird: >>>>> http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>>> Cayugabirds-L List Info: >>>> Welcome and Basics >>>> Rules and Information >>>> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave >>>> Archives: >>>> The Mail Archive >>>> Surfbirds >>>> BirdingOnThe.Net >>>> Please submit your observations to eBird! >>>> -- > -- > Cayugabirds-L List Info: > Welcome and Basics > Rules and Information > Subscribe, Configuration and Leave > Archives: > The Mail Archive > Surfbirds > BirdingOnThe.Net > Please submit your observations to eBird! > -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] All male Ospreys now?
It’s possible that the 2 Ospreys atop the Union Fields nest were males glowering at each other or enjoying social time until the females arrive. One Osprey was on that nest this afternoon. I couldn’t check all the possible perches among other light arrays for a second bird. Today at Allan Treman I saw a single Osprey for awhile atop the perch on the platform nearest the Hangar Theatre. I agree that’s likely a male, and I don’t know if he is just checking out sites or is trying to claim that site or actually used it last year and is very possessive. But he didn’t stay there a long time. Then there’s the nest which has been used for many years in the field NW of the marina and closer to the lake. For awhile today there were 2 Ospreys on it side by side close together. Were they chummy, or was a second one trying to evict the first? At one point I saw fluttering which suggested copulation, but I wasn’t quick enough with the binoculars to be sure. Meanwhile a 3rd Osprey was perched in a tree nearby. And a few minutes later all 3 had flown off. It’s possible that none of these nests are actually claimed yet. But I’m letting Candace know what I - who am not an Osprey expert - observe. And I urge everyone else to do the same. Additional observations at Allan Treman today include: A swooping display flight high over the south end of Allan Treman State Marine Park, although the Osprey was not carrying a fish or stick as they often do in displays. My guess is it’s the same bird who was on the Hangar nest. An Osprey eating a fish atop a tree in Jetty Woods near the north end along Cayuga Inlet while another Osprey perched atop another tree farther south but not close enough to the platform at the NW corner of Newman Golf Course to say to me that it was interested in that site. - - Dave Nutter > >> On Mar 29, 2023, at 4:40 PM, Gloria Sage wrote: >> >> I think that male Ospreys come north first and prepare a nest. The females >> come later. >> >> Gloria Sage -- 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] Snow Goose
I saw the Snow Goose a little before 2pm and a little after 6pm in the same area. It has been grazing and looks alert and healthy. I agree it is unusual to have a wild goose in such a busily populated place, but the rowing crews, the drivers, and most of the pedestrians ignore it, so the bird is tolerant. Many Snow Geese who don’t finish migration are not sick but have been wounded by hunters. Sometimes they gather into small flocks who swim around Cayuga Lake. I’d rather let it be. But if it is sick, then handling it would not be a smart idea for the people. - - Dave Nutter > On Mar 29, 2023, at 6:19 PM, marsha kardon wrote: > > I'm wondering whether the bird should be brought to a wildlife rehabilitator > or Perhaps it has avian influenza? Or an injury that isn't visible > when it's standing or walking? Marsha Kardon > >> On Wed, Mar 29, 2023 at 4:51 PM Lanie Wilmarth >> wrote: >> I too, saw this bird roughly an hour ago in the exact same location, this >> time just sitting. >> >>> On Wed, Mar 29, 2023 at 1:00 PM marsha kardon wrote: >>> I just got back from Cass Park and saw the lone snow goose about 10 minutes >>> ago (and 1 3/4 hours ago in a similar location) in the grass on the inlet >>> side not far past the Childrens' Garden. I agree that it looks healthy and >>> is walking in the grass nibbling, but it seems odd to see it there alone. >>> Marsha Kardon >>> >>>> On Wed, Mar 29, 2023 at 11:16 AM Elaina M. McCartney >>>> wrote: >>>> There was a lone Snow Goose strolling along the daffodil part of the >>>> Waterfront Trail just south of Cass Park Rink this morning. It seemed >>>> healthy although I didn't see it fly. I circled back around after a tour >>>> of three occupied Osprey nests and it was gone. >>>> >>>> Elaina >>>> -- >>>> >>>> Cayugabirds-L List Info: >>>> http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME >>>> http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES >>>> http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm >>>> >>>> ARCHIVES: >>>> 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html >>>> 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds >>>> 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html >>>> >>>> Please submit your observations to eBird: >>>> http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ >>>> >>>> -- >>>> >>> >>> -- >>> Cayugabirds-L List Info: >>> Welcome and Basics >>> Rules and Information >>> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave >>> Archives: >>> The Mail Archive >>> Surfbirds >>> BirdingOnThe.Net >>> Please submit your observations to eBird! >>> -- > > -- > Cayugabirds-L List Info: > Welcome and Basics > Rules and Information > Subscribe, Configuration and Leave > Archives: > The Mail Archive > Surfbirds > BirdingOnThe.Net > Please submit your observations to eBird! > -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] FOY Osprey
That nest on that platform over those lights over Union Fields in Cass Park had 2 Ospreys sitting on it this afternoon as I walked by on the Black Diamond Trail about 2:30pm. The birds were across from each other, not snuggling nor obviously ecstatic, but clearly they knew & accepted each other, so it looks like a mated pair has returned. Three hours later, when I walked south along the Cayuga Waterfront Trail, the nest was not occupied, but there was an Osprey perched in each of 2 separate arrays of lights over the fields. Maybe they aren’t quite used to being together yet. Or maybe they aren’t quite used to the little kids and their parents setting up to practice soccer at what looked to me like a respectful distance from the nest. I think the Ospreys will get used to the situation and get to business quickly. At least the Fish Crows were no longer playing on the nest. None of the nests around Allan Treman State Marine Park had any Ospreys nearby: not the platform in the middle of the field northwest of the marina near the lakeshore, not the platform closer to Taughannock Boulevard and the Hangar Theatre, not the platform at the northwest corner of Newman Golf Course across Cayuga Inlet from the Treman boat ramp. However, I did briefly see an Osprey over the marina as I arrived and much later I heard a couple of chirps. Of course these observations are from the guy who yesterday walked past the west side of the Children’s Garden about the same time Duane saw an Osprey flying across the road and water on the Garden’s east side, and later failed to notice an Osprey off of Stewart Park when Suan was there. Birds are mobile and sneaky. - - Dave Nutter > On Mar 28, 2023, at 4:31 PM, Colleen Richards wrote: > > There was definitely one, and possibly a second osprey on the field lights > platform over the baseball diamond at the base of the Black Diamond trail > this morning. > -- 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] FOY Osprey
This morning at 7:24am from our kitchen window I saw my first-of-year Osprey flying south over the Flood Control Channel past Inlet Island and the NYS-89 bridge, clearly hunting for fish despite the practicing rowing crews. Despite being out at Allan Treman State Marine Park yesterday morning for nearly 3 hours, and finding 47 species, I managed to miss the Osprey which Suan observed from Stewart Park. People walking at Treman have been asking for weeks whether the Ospreys are back and when I expect them. They are our Charismatic Megafauna, although Bald Eagles are also popular. I think March 26 was my previous early record, but I have been expecting a sighting any day for the past several. - - Dave Nutter -- 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] A few Spring birds
Yesterday I did some birding at Sapsucker Woods, including a midday raptor watch from Mount Sapsucker, where I scoped a distant Golden Eagle to the east circling up then gliding away to the northeast. At the airport I found Eastern Meadowlarks foraging on the lawn beyond the northwest end of the runway. I first heard “Spring-0’-the-Year” songs from the Warren Road side, but ultimately saw the most - 5 total - from the Snyder Road side. There were also fine looks at the male & female American Kestrel using low posts near the runway. >From Burdick Hill Road I saw another Eastern Meadowlark foraging where hay had >been mown. More surprising was that the pond was full of Ring-necked Ducks: I >counted 188, while there were likely a few more hidden behind tree trunks & >brush. A pair of Canada Geese were walking away, perhaps feeling overwhelmed. >But walking toward the pond were 2 male Wild Turkeys, who then changed course >and became hidden by a copse of trees. A minute later I looked back and saw >the same thing happen. Either the same Turkeys circled around, or 2 more males >followed the same path. When I got to the west end of the fields it made more >sense. Near the edge of the woods and an apparent stream there was a gathering >of 30 Wild Turkeys, mostly female, but at least 4 males, one of whom was >displaying. Maybe this is a regular late afternoon event, that the males made >sure to attend. This morning on my walk to Allan H Treman State Marine Park I encountered several more personal year firsts: swimming north with the Fall Creek outflow on the east side of the White Lighthouse Jetty was a single male Blue-winged Teal all alone out in the open. Eventually he appeared to be resting northeast of the Red Lighthouse. Maybe he just showed up, but it’s possible that I overlooked him during any number of diligent scope scans of the shores of Stewart Park and Treman during the past couple weeks. On the grass beside the gravel path along the lakeshore at Treman there were a dozen Song Sparrows visible at one time. Then, near the northwest corner of that gravel path, one sparrow was different: a Swamp Sparrow. The lake seemed mostly devoid of ducks but I made an extra scan of the southwest part of the lake and was surprised to have a flying bird come into view but dip down to the surface repeatedly: my first Tree Swallow finding food resting on the water. Later I saw what may have been the same bird perched to preen on a snag near the shore. Does pausing indicate that it had enough food or that the pickings were so slim as to not be worth flying for? It soon flew off, but moments later I saw more typical careening swallow flight by at least 5 birds, all of whom were Tree Swallows. When I got back home I found a Fox Sparrow foraging in the weeds alongside the deer fence at the edge of the yard. None of these species are new for the year for the Cayuga Lake Basin list, but many were firsts for me, prompting those special Spring smiles. - - Dave Nutter -- 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] Ross’s Goose, Stewart Park this evening
Hi All, This afternoon I went to Allan H Treman State Marine Park, as I often do. Viewing conditions were very good, with calm cold air. I had been scanning the lake from the NW corner of the field and gravel paths, and then walked S on the path along the edge of that field. Small flocks of Canada Geese were flying SE overhead, and I checked them all in case there was a stray Snow Goose among them. (I had seen a flock of Snow Geese recently along Hanshaw Rd, but that was from my car, and I wanted Snow Goose on my fossil-fuel-free list for the year.) At 4:59pm in one small flock there was a white goose with black primaries - success! - but it looked small. Most of the flocks headed S toward Cayuga Inlet near Dragonboat Cove and the mouth of Cascadilla Creek, but this flock dropped sooner, behind the woods N of the marina. I hustled across the AHTremanSMP to my favorite place to scope the SE part of the lake, on the paved path opposite the White Lighthouse Jetty. I found the small white goose among the Canadas, but they were so close to the Swan Pond that they were behind the shrubs & saplings at the S end of the Jetty. The light was fading and the scope view was frustrating. I climbed the weedy mound at the base of a giant Cottonwood tree to get above some of the obstruction. The white goose was dabbing at the surface of the water like a huge, very slow phalarope. It had a bright white head, with no yellow stains like Snow Geese often have, and the bill looked small, but with no other white birds behind it for contrast it was hard to be sure of the exact bill size. Discerning a grin patch in that low light was out of the question. Still, it looked more like Ross’s than Snow, so I put out a text alert. As I hoped, Jay McGowan was at Stewart Park in minutes with a camera, and verified the ID (Whew!). Maybe it’ll still be around in the morning. Sometimes Ross’s Goose doesn’t mind being with Canada Geese, which makes them easy to pick out, while a single Snow Goose is more likely to track down a flock of other Snow Geese it there are any around. - - Dave Nutter -- 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] First 2023 Cayuga Lake Basin Lapland Longspur
Yesterday (23 Jan) Reuben Stoltzfus found a Lapland Longspur among a flock of 80 Snow Buntings along Kings Corners Rd near McCulloch Rd in the Town of Varick. As far as I know, this is the first record of the species this year in the Cayuga Lake Basin. Most of the records I use to compile the list are from eBird, which is available to the public. Some are from CayugaBirds-L, to which many local birders subscribe. But Reuben reported this directly to me, so I’m sharing it here. - - Dave Nutter -- 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] [eatonbirdingsociety] "peter, peter, peter"
I’ve heard some Titmouse song already. Last year on New Year’s Day several were singing. Spring is a state of mind. - - Dave Nutter > On Jan 22, 2023, at 7:33 PM, Donna Lee Scott wrote: > > Tufted titmice stay here year round. > But they don’t sing “Peter, Peter, Peter“ in winter, usually. > > Donna Scott > Kendal at Ithaca > Sent from my iPhone > >> On Jan 22, 2023, at 7:27 PM, Jane Frances Bunker wrote: >> >> >> Is this odd? Am in Ellis Hollow and I don’t believe the titmice ever left. >> I’m not sure I realized they weren’t supposed to be here year round. >> >> From: bounce-127090315-90604...@list.cornell.edu >> On Behalf Of >> chuckgib...@verizon.net >> Sent: Sunday, January 22, 2023 7:24 PM >> To: eatonbirdingsoci...@groups.io; Peter Saracino ; >> CAYUGABIRDS-L >> Subject: Re:[cayugabirds-l] [eatonbirdingsociety] "peter, peter, peter" >> >> We also had a titmouse visit one of our feeders. >> >> Sent from the all new AOL app for Android >> >> On Sun, Jan 22, 2023 at 9:09 AM, Peter Saracino >> wrote: >> Out filling the feeders just now and, for the first time in a long time, I >> caught the sound of the titmouse's "peter, peter, peter"!!! >> >> "The trumpet of a prophecy! O Wind, >> If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind" >> - Percy Bysshe Shelley >> >> Sar >> _._,_._,_ >> Groups.io Links: >> You receive all messages sent to this group. >> >> View/Reply Online (#17600) | Reply To Group | Reply To Sender | Mute This >> Topic | New Topic >> Your Subscription | Contact Group Owner | Unsubscribe >> [chuckgib...@verizon.net] >> >> _._,_._,_ >> -- >> Cayugabirds-L List Info: >> Welcome and Basics >> Rules and Information >> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave >> Archives: >> The Mail Archive >> Surfbirds >> BirdingOnThe.Net >> Please submit your observations to eBird! >> -- >> -- >> Cayugabirds-L List Info: >> Welcome and Basics >> Rules and Information >> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave >> Archives: >> The Mail Archive >> Surfbirds >> BirdingOnThe.Net >> Please submit your observations to eBird! >> -- > > -- > Cayugabirds-L List Info: > Welcome and Basics > Rules and Information > Subscribe, Configuration and Leave > Archives: > The Mail Archive > Surfbirds > BirdingOnThe.Net > Please submit your observations to eBird! > -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Re: What’s been found in the Cayuga Lake Basin so far in 2023
Hello again, I left out a couple things that may be helpful. The First Records are posted in 2 forms. In the Taxonomic version it’s theoretically easier to look up a particular species to learn whether it has already been reported and if so, when. That table is in the current taxonomic sequence used by eBird. With scientific advances, this sequence has changed considerably over the years, but I have labeled each family to make it easier to orient oneself while scrolling through. The Chronological version starts with everything found on New Year’s Day of this year, all 106 species. Birds in the Chronological table are also in eBird’s current Taxonomic order within each day. Getting to the fewer species which were first reported in the most recent days requires scrolling to the bottom. Armed with this information, I hope everyone can more quickly and easily navigate the lists, and spend more time finding actual birds. I also want to thank Paul Anderson, who is the Club’s Webmaster and Compiler of the Ithaca “Christmas” Bird Count (actually taken on New Year’s Day). He programmed the tables to automatically fill in the Taxonomic version as I add species to the Chronological version, so I make fewer errors (and when I do, they are at least internally consistent!). - - Dave Nutter > On Jan 7, 2023, at 9:31 PM, Dave Nutter wrote: > > Hi All, > > The 2023 Cayuga Lake Basin First Records tables are up and (I hope) running > on the Cayuga Bird Club website’s Resources page. > > Species found multiple times on the Ithaca Christmas Bird Count on New Year’s > Day are presumed to be generally in the area, and say “Ithaca CBC” for both > the observer(s) and the location. Otherwise I try to include all observers > and locations (according to eBird anyway) on the first day the species was > reported. > > Let me know if it looks like I got something wrong or left something out. > > > - - Dave Nutter -- 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] What’s been found in the Cayuga Lake Basin so far in 2023
Hi All, The 2023 Cayuga Lake Basin First Records tables are up and (I hope) running on the Cayuga Bird Club website’s Resources page. Species found multiple times on the Ithaca Christmas Bird Count on New Year’s Day are presumed to be generally in the area, and say “Ithaca CBC” for both the observer(s) and the location. Otherwise I try to include all observers and locations (according to eBird anyway) on the first day the species was reported. Let me know if it looks like I got something wrong or left something out. - - Dave Nutter -- 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] Pochard?
On the basis of Ken’s thoughtful observation that this individual’s behavior - traveling with an active flock of migrants - supports it also being a wild migrant, and to ensure that this record is noted as perhaps the first such instance here, I’m going to add it to the Cayuga Lake Basin First Records List. - - Dave Nutter > On Dec 30, 2022, at 7:45 PM, Kenneth V. Rosenberg wrote: > > Just to stir the pot on this one, I’ll point out that (1) Red-crested Pochard > is a migratory species in Europe and a regular vagrant to Great Britain, (2) > This past couple of months we have seen a large influx of European vagrants > in northeastern North America (N. Lapwings, an immature Common Shelduck, even > a Eurasian Blackbird), and (3) I remember in the 1960s when Tufted Ducks in > the U.S. were thought to be escapes (before there were enough records to > establish a pattern of natural occurrence). > > I would speculate that the chances of a female Red-crested Pochard in a flock > of wild and highly mobile Redhead being an “escape” from captivity is close > to zero. > > Ken > > Ken Rosenberg (he/him/his) > Applied Conservation Scientist, Retired > Cornell Lab of Ornithology > k...@cornell.edu > Cell: 607-342-4594 > > > From: bounce-127060114-3493...@list.cornell.edu > on behalf of Kevin J. McGowan > > Date: Friday, December 30, 2022 at 5:56 PM > To: Dave Nutter , Laura Stenzler > Cc: CAYUGABIRDS-L > Subject: RE: Re:[cayugabirds-l] Pochard? > > The identity of the bird on Cayuga Lake is unquestioned; it was a female > Red-crested Pochard. It’s a subtle, but diagnostic ID (congrats to Nick Sly > for picking it out and identifying it). However, there are no accepted > records of this species as being wild in North America. It does not appear on > the AOS or ABA checklists for North American Birds. > > Kevin > From: bounce-127060071-3493...@list.cornell.edu > On Behalf Of Dave Nutter > Sent: Friday, December 30, 2022 3:50 PM > To: Laura Stenzler > Cc: CAYUGABIRDS-L > Subject: Re:[cayugabirds-l] Pochard? > > Hi Laura & All, > > If you look at the eBird range map for Red-crested Pochard, it’s pink across > most of Europe and Asia, meaning it’s native there. In the UK, however, it’s > yellow, meaning the species is introduced. In the US, there are only a few > scattered yellow rectangles, and if you click the option to “exclude escapes” > then the US goes blank, but the UK stays solid yellow. In other words, the > introduced Red-crested Pochards have become a naturalized self-sustaining > population, but in the US there’s no reason to believe the few isolated birds > arrived here on their own or are self-sustaining. Male Red-crested Pochards > are quite showy, so it’s a popular bird among fanciers, and that’s the > presumed source. As far as eBird is concerned, seeing this species in the US > gets treated the same as the pet Budgie that you saw fly out of your > neighbor’s window and added to your yard list. It doesn’t show up on rare > bird alerts. Perhaps because the East Shore sightings are so new, as of this > afternoon they did not even cause a yellow rectangle to appear. I had to > engage the “show points sooner” option, and zoom way in for these reports to > show up. I don’t know whether or how they get reviewed, but a bunch of us are > recorded as seeing it. > > For comparison, there are more rectangles in the US for Tufted Duck, and they > are all pink, so they are assumed to have arrived from the Old World on their > own. > > Ring-necked Pheasant is definitely not native, and we know a local source of > them is the DEC Game Farm, either as escapes or deliberate releases, yet the > yellow eBird map does not change - at least when zoomed out - when the > “exclude escapes” option is engaged. > > Northern Bobwhite is native to the US, and in NYS some of the eBird > rectangles are pink (native) and some are yellow (escaped/introduced). All > the yellow rectangles go blank when the “exclude escapes” option is engaged. > > European Goldfinch has many rectangles, all yellow, in the US, and most > disappear when “exclude escapes” is engaged. But there are self-sustaining > populations in NYC, from Chicago north through eastern WI, and in Detroit & > Ann Arbor. > > > - - Dave Nutter > > On Dec 29, 2022, at 3:51 PM, Laura Stenzler wrote: > > Hi David, > Was that red crested pochard ever confirmed? > > Laura > > Laura Stenzler > l...@cornell.edu > -- > Cayugabirds-L List Info: > Welcome and Basics > Rules and Information > Subscribe, Configuration and Leave > Archives: > The Mail Archive > Surfbirds > BirdingOnThe
Re:[cayugabirds-l] Pochard?
Hi Laura & All, If you look at the eBird range map for Red-crested Pochard, it’s pink across most of Europe and Asia, meaning it’s native there. In the UK, however, it’s yellow, meaning the species is introduced. In the US, there are only a few scattered yellow rectangles, and if you click the option to “exclude escapes” then the US goes blank, but the UK stays solid yellow. In other words, the introduced Red-crested Pochards have become a naturalized self-sustaining population, but in the US there’s no reason to believe the few isolated birds arrived here on their own or are self-sustaining. Male Red-crested Pochards are quite showy, so it’s a popular bird among fanciers, and that’s the presumed source. As far as eBird is concerned, seeing this species in the US gets treated the same as the pet Budgie that you saw fly out of your neighbor’s window and added to your yard list. It doesn’t show up on rare bird alerts. Perhaps because the East Shore sightings are so new, as of this afternoon they did not even cause a yellow rectangle to appear. I had to engage the “show points sooner” option, and zoom way in for these reports to show up. I don’t know whether or how they get reviewed, but a bunch of us are recorded as seeing it. For comparison, there are more rectangles in the US for Tufted Duck, and they are all pink, so they are assumed to have arrived from the Old World on their own. Ring-necked Pheasant is definitely not native, and we know a local source of them is the DEC Game Farm, either as escapes or deliberate releases, yet the yellow eBird map does not change - at least when zoomed out - when the “exclude escapes” option is engaged. Northern Bobwhite is native to the US, and in NYS some of the eBird rectangles are pink (native) and some are yellow (escaped/introduced). All the yellow rectangles go blank when the “exclude escapes” option is engaged. European Goldfinch has many rectangles, all yellow, in the US, and most disappear when “exclude escapes” is engaged. But there are self-sustaining populations in NYC, from Chicago north through eastern WI, and in Detroit & Ann Arbor. - - Dave Nutter > On Dec 29, 2022, at 3:51 PM, Laura Stenzler wrote: > > Hi David, > Was that red crested pochard ever confirmed? > > Laura > > Laura Stenzler > l...@cornell.edu -- 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] Count Week is on! Please note all unusual birds within circle
The “Christmas” Bird Count for the Ithaca area will again be, by long tradition from Lab founder Arthur Allen, on New Year’s Day. Any species which we miss on count day but which are observed within the count area during the week of the count - the 3 days before and the 3 days after - get noted as a sort of appendix. So, I encourage everyone to do some scouting and reporting. Benefits on December 29, 30, & 31 include helping folks find those birds on count day, and padding your own 2022 list. On January 2, 3, & 4 the benefits of finding new species include giving your 2023 list a boost, showing up all the great counters, and a chance to get your name on the list of first 2023 records for the Cayuga Lake Basin. Some unusual or unseasonal birds which may be around include: A bold black and white male Tufted Duck somewhere among the thousands of ducks on the southern part of Cayuga Lake, who are fun to stare at just for the phenomenon! (The very rare female Red-crested Pochard found yesterday within that raft seems to be treated by eBird the way it would treat a Budgie that just flew out your neighbor’s window, presumed to be an escapee rather than a wild bird, difficult to enter into eBird and doesn’t show up in the records if you do. But it’s a challenge to find, if that’s your thing.) The immature male Harlequin Duck that stayed near East Shore Park for 3 weeks may still be in the vicinity but its favored haunts were iced over during the cold snap. Will the ice there break up during this warm spell? Will the duck return? Will it be verified as being somewhere else? If you find it, please take notes on the ID or a photo! A Black Vulture seen over Ithaca’s West end 2 days in a row (unless it was 2, each migrating away). Gulls have been a good bet lately. Even though the Black-legged Kittiwake and Little Gull at Stewart Park probably moved on within minutes of being discovered, and the California Gull likely will stay at the north end of the Basin close to the mountains of garbage, there have also been Lesser Black-backed & Iceland Gull & a couple Bonaparte’s thereabouts lately, and ya never know who will join them. A Ruby-crowned Kinglet (or 2?) has been in the the Allan Treman / Cass Park area. White-crowned Sparrows have been in South Lansing. A Towhee has been in Caroline. Evening Grosbeaks have been various places in the area. Find your additions to the list. I believe a map of the count circle is on the Cayuga Bird Club web site. - - Dave Nutter -- 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] Ithaca Bonaparte’s Gulls yesterday, Northern Harrier today
addition to the Bonaparte’s Gulls, was a southbound male Northern Harrier, powering straight at about treetop level, evidently getting the hell out of Dodge, or at least past this unsuitable urban habitat. Enjoy the holiday. Stay warm. Keep an eye out for whatever comes by on - or in spite of - the wind. By the way, my guess is that the Bonaparte’s Gulls came from Lake Erie. Your thoughts are welcome. - - Dave Nutter PS Tip for writers: place your phone next to your keyboard on a windowsill so you can be alerted to birds passing overhead by the reflections on the phone. -- 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] Historical Harlequin Ducks -- Cayuga Lake
East Shore Park is a very small Town of Ithaca park located a half mile north of Stewart Park on East Shore Drive (NYS-34) opposite the large concrete building which houses the pumps for Cornell’s Lake Source Cooling system. The driveway for East Shore Park crosses the railroad tracks directly to a parking lot for about a dozen cars. South from that parking lot is another driveway for the Cornell Boating Center with a large orange building and a marina and a sign aimed at deterring non-Cornellians. The park has a small pavilion with a few picnic tables & grills, some lawn & shrubs, and rows of large boulders going down to the shore of Cayuga Lake. There are a few signs, including one which describes the lake and the view. Although swimming is prohibited, people swim here, including in December. For birding, East Shore Park gets you half a mile farther into the lake, where the water is deeper, and where ice usually ends in winter. - - Dave Nutter > On Dec 6, 2022, at 4:18 PM, madonna stallmann > wrote: > > Newby here. Where exactly is East Shore Park? > > Madonna Stallmann > >> On Tue, Dec 6, 2022, 3:59 PM Jay McGowan wrote: >> All set, Chris, these should show up in eBird now. >> >> And in the interest of keeping this relevant to current sightings, the East >> Shore Park Harlequin was still present as of early afternoon today, still >> hanging with Mallards and Buffleheads on the north side of the park, >> sometimes quite close to shore. >> >> Jay >> >>> On Tue, Dec 6, 2022 at 3:49 PM Christopher T. Tessaglia-Hymes >>> wrote: >>> Excellent find, Jane, thank you very much!! >>> >>> I’ve added a screen shot from that 1995 Kingbird page to the dropbox link >>> below. >>> >>> It would be great to figure out a way to enter these sightings into eBird >>> as historical Cayuga Lake Basin records…all original observers of both >>> historical sightings are (sadly) deceased (McIlroy, et. al., and Prentiss). >>> >>> Sincerely, >>> Chris T-H >>> >>> >>> On Dec 6, 2022, at 2:13 PM, Jane Graves wrote: >>> >>> "Kingbird,v45n3 1995 p193. Region 3 "Harlequin Duck: one Union Springs 24 >>> Mar (BP,NYSARC). >>> >>> Jane Graves >>> >>> Sent from my iPad >>> >>> On Dec 6, 2022, at 11:25 AM, Christopher T. Tessaglia-Hymes >>> wrote: >>> >>> I’m still digging, but here’s a historical Harlequin Duck sighting from >>> 1968, thanks to Matt Medler for this! >>> >>> https://www.dropbox.com/sh/n8jhxfva0peosb5/AAAFh4tEd1QTCI0ns7g4PkWka?dl=0 >>> >>> Dorothy McIlroy Sighting Notecard: >>> >>> “Harlequin Duck - Histrionicus histrionicus - Accidental - Female 5/7-9/68 >>> [May 7-9, 1968] Sheldrake, Cay L. [Cayuga Lake] (D. McIlroy, M. Shephard, >>> F. Scheider) Verification report on file.” >>> >>> 1968 Kingbird, Volume 18, Number 3, Region 3: >>> >>> “HARLEQUIN DUCK: female, May 7-9 Sheldrake Pt Cay L (DM and others; >>> verification report on file), first record for Region.” >>> >>> Still trying to locate information about Bard Prentiss’s sighting from the >>> Factory Street pond (aka “Harlequin Pond”) in Union Springs from sometime >>> in the mid-1990s. If anyone has the original email, please forward to me. >>> >>> Sincerely, >>> Chris T-H >>> >>> -- >>> Christopher T. Tessaglia-Hymes — Field Applications Engineer >>> K. Lisa Yang Center for Conservation Bioacoustics, Cornell Lab of >>> Ornithology >>> Cornell University, 159 Sapsucker Woods Road, Ithaca, New York 14850, USA >>> Work: +1 607-254-2418 Mobile: +1 607-351-5740 FAX: +1 607-254-1132 >>> https://bioacoustics.cornell.edu >>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> Cayugabirds-L List Info: >>> Welcome and Basics >>> Rules and Information >>> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave >>> Archives: >>> The Mail Archive >>> Surfbirds >>> BirdingOnThe.Net >>> Please submit your observations to eBird! >>> -- >>> >>> -- >>> Christopher T. Tessaglia-Hymes — Field Applications Engineer >>> K. Lisa Yang Center for Conservation Bioacoustics, Cornell Lab of >>> Ornithology >>> Cornell University, 159 Sapsucker Woods Road, Ithaca, New York 14850, USA >>> Work: +1 607-254-2418 Mobile: +1 607-351-5740 FAX: +1 607-254-1132 >>> https://bioacoustics.
