Yeah, gypsy moth caterpillars stripped the slopes around West Danby pretty
bare. New leaves are popping now, but I guess any effect the defoliation may
have had on this year’s breeding is a done deal.
Still, this has happened before. Whatever the effect, I’m counting on the
resilience of West
After hiking up to the Pinnacles above the LP Preserve Monday we were a bit
shocked by the more or less complete defoliation by caterpillars on the red
oaks and the other oak trees whose name I forgot on the steep slope.
It looked like March up there and moths and pupae were everywhere on
the
Right now I have two Worm-eating Warblers exchanging songs near West Danby’s
north pinnacle (Danby State Forest / L-P Preserve). Very nice looks at one of
them from about 20’ distance.
This is the first day it has been dry and windless enough that I thought I
could find them. A bit cold up
Worm-eating Watblers are back on their breeding territory (Danby State Forest /
L-P BioD Preserve) this morning. I had 3 counter-singing near the northernmost
of Thatcher’s triple Pinnacles at about 9:30 AM.
-Geo
--
Cayugabirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME
Right now at the north pinnacle (traditional nesting area) I have at least two
singing Worm-eating Warblers, 100 yards apart, so I presume the whole "colony"
has returned. Last time I checked was on Friday. There were none. I had
Yellow-throated Vireos up here that morning (used to surprise me,
Near the eastern edge of the Lindsay-Parsons Preserve / Danby State Forest,
multiple Worm-eating Warblers began countersinging at 8:50 AM. Probably just
arrived this morning. Also Blue-headed Vireos, Blackburnians, Black-throated
Greens, Hermit Thrushes, Wood Thrush, Great-crested Flycatcher,
I found 3 - 4 singing Worm-eating Warblers this morning in the usual location.
They were silent until about 8:00 AM, then began countersinging, but gave Iit
up after 45 minutes as the clouds darkened and the showers increased.
Geo Kloppel
Bowmaker Restorer
227 Tupper Rd
Spencer NY 14883
607
Seeing that we might get a well-timed break of morning sunshine, at 8:15 I
drove across the valley to visit Worm-eating Warbler habitat below West Danby's
north pinnacle. On the walk through the forest I flushed a couple of Wood Ducks
from a tiny vernal pool where frogs and salamanders breed.
Well, the Alpine terrain may be a deterrent to observation for some more
daunted than our good Geo, but thanks to him, I will be on the way shortly.
Still looking for my first Worm-eater. (Now, where is that static rope?)
Asher
On Mon, May 3, 2010 at 9:23 AM, Geo Kloppel geoklop...@gmail.com
