On Sunday morning, I visited two of the sites where I’ll lead walks next weekend for the Finger Lakes Land Trust Spring Bird Quest (SBQ). Here are some highlights.
1. Lindsay-Parsons Biodiversity Preserve (7:55-9:45 AM): http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S37037806 * A subset of the expected breeding warblers of the preserve -- several PRAIRIE and CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLERS, and a couple each of HOODED, BLUE-WINGED, and BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLERS – plus one WILSON’S WARBLER (singing and confirmed by sight along western edge of small triangular meadow) and one BLACKPOLL WARBLER. * At least 31 WOOD DUCKS, including 30 males (!!) in the southern section of Coleman Lake, plus a female flying into the deadwood swamp to the north. This count elicited the coveted eBird confirm prompt. * The usual fine views of INDIGO BUNTINGS, FIELD SPARROWS, and EASTERN KINGBIRDS in the first meadow, plus a surprising PILEATED WOODPECKER flying across. (I looked and listened for a long time for the Yellow-breasted Chat that Annie and Tony found the other day. I heard some random notes from the southeastern hedgerow along the same small triangular meadow north of Coleman Lake, but nothing strongly indicative. To my knowledge, one person had a similar, maybe more suggestive encounter the other day, but also didn’t see the bird. Otherwise, I have no new reports.) 2. Bock-Harvey Forest Preserve (10:25-11:50 AM): http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S37038077 * Dazzling eye-level views of three HOODED WARBLERS – two singing males and one female. One male sang a typical song with an emphatic ending. The other sang with faster initial syllables than usual, alternating endings between an explosive squeak and a descending flourish. I thought at first that this bird was an anomalous Louisiana Waterthrush because the first song type ended so high and so explosively. The female collected moss from a tree trunk, hovering and fanning her tail, and then descended to the ground. Collectively, all this was maybe the most satisfying Hooded Warbler viewing I’ve ever had (though my amateurish photos don’t really show it). * A MOURNING WARBLER singing right by the parking area, along with some AMERICAN REDSTARTS, a very cooperative CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER, and a YELLOW-THROATED VIREO. * A silent SWAINSON’S THRUSH along the white-blazed trail at the preserve’s southern border – the only one of the season for me so far. I hope to see many of you next weekend as I lead SBQ walks at these and three other Finger Lakes Land Trust preserves. I can’t promise views of three Hooded Warblers – but I guarantee that we will give it a really good try! And it’s still not too late to pledge a donation to the Land Trust in association with my weekend bird species tally on Land Trust preserves. See below for details. Thank you. Mark Chao ________________________________ Finger Lakes Land Trust Spring Bird Quest Scheduled Walks 2017 Saturday, May 27 Lindsay-Parsons Biodiversity Preserve Routes 34 and 96, West Danby Meet in the main parking lot at 8:00 AM Sunday, May 28 Bock-Harvey Forest Preserve (owned by the Finger Lakes Trail Conference, subject a conservation easement held by the Land Trust) Rockwell Road, Enfield Meet in the main parking lot at 8:00 AM Stevenson Forest Preserve Trumbull Corners Road, Enfield Meet along the road at the preserve at 10:00 AM Monday, May 29 Goetchius Wetland Preserve Flatiron Road, Caroline Meet in the parking area at 6:30 AM Roy H. Park Preserve Irish Settlement Road, Dryden Meet in the south parking area between Goodband Road and Midline Road (not the lot north of Goodband) at 8:30 AM For more information, see http://www.fllt.org/spring-bird-quest/. All of the walks are free, but as usual I will count all the bird species that I find on the preserves throughout the weekend, and will raise money for the Land Trust from pledges. Since 2006 I think we have raised at least $65,000 for the Land Trust in this way. If you’d like to make a pledge, please contact me or visit http://www.fllt.org/donate/. (If you do donate online, please check the box to mark the gift “in honor of someone” and type in “Spring Bird Quest.”) -- 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/ --
