[nysbirds-l] Snow Buntings (+++) Coxsackie; +

[Richard Guthrie]

I came across an enormous flock of SNOW BUNTINGS on River Road (Co. Rt 61)
just north of the Village of Coxsackie, Greene County. Getting a number on
the size of this swarm was difficult because they were so flighty. But I'd
put a conservative estimate at around 600. They just kept flowing onto the
road surface and shoulders until the next vehicle went by. Then they'd flow
out as a black and white ribbon cloud rising and dipping across the fields.
There were a few HORNED LARKS mixed in, but no Lapland Longspurs that I
could pick out.

 

There were, however, several LAPLAND LONGSPURS on Flint Mine Road again
today (behind the prison). 

 

The very dark SAVANNAH SPARROWS were there as well. Doing a little research
on that species leaves me to believe these birds might be from the
north-eastern Canada population - or from the Hudson Bay/Manitoba
populations, known respectively as "Labrador" Savannah Sparrow and
"Churchill" Savannah Sparrow. I'll post a representative photo of them on
the HM Birds Yahoo site. Please understand that the pictures were taken
against a strong backlit snowy setting and through a car windshield. I'll
also put up a photo of a "typical" Savannah Sparrow taken at the nearby
Coxsackie Grasslands during the nesting season. 

 

Rich Guthrie

New Baltimore

The Greene County

gael...@capital.net

 


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[nysbirds-l] LI and Bronx Birding highlights...

[Andrew Baksh]

*Huntington - TUFTED DUCK* (see post earlier from the field),

At Heckscher State Park LI, Tom Burke, Gail Benson and I caught up with the
continuing *LAPLAND LONGSPUR *that was in the same area where it was
initially reported on the 31st, (field 6).  Thanks to Michael McBrien and
his mom who had the bird all lined up for us.  Later on, we all got
excellent looks at both Red and White-winged Crossbills thanks to some
intel sharing from John Gluth and Ken Thompson.

Highlights on the way to Jones Beach West End II included an adult *BALD
EAGLE *flying over the Robert Moses Causeway (spotted by Tom) ,  *AMERICAN
PIPIT* along Ocean Parkway *(I had a few more on my out of Jones)*, about
1400-15000 *DUNLINS *on the Oceanside not far from Gilgo Beach (very likely
the same flock from the Southern Nassau CBC).  At Jones Beach the West End
II parking lot had a very spiffy looking adult *ICELAND GULL*.  Other
notables at Jones Beach that I did not see included a *TREE SWALLOW* and *PALM
WARBLER*.

Later on in the Bronx, I spent some time unsuccessfully looking for
the *BARNACLE
GOOSE* at Van Cortlandt Park.  The Parade Ground Field was devoid of Geese
and I only found 6 Canada's on the Lake.  It remains to be seen if the
large flock of Canada's with the Barnacle was elsewhere and will return
during the week.

Despite not finding the BRNG (Barnacle Goose), I managed two very good
birds for the Bronx, in *HORNED LARKS* a flock of 21 and a single *LAPLAND
LONGSPUR *(LALO).  eBird does not show any record of LALO in the Bronx, but
it could be that I mucked up the query or no entries means old records have
yet to make their way into the database.  In any case, the birds were on
the Parade Grounds and I only came upon them because I was scratching
around trying to dig up a *PIPIT* or any sparrow that might be
sheltering/feeding in the grass.  The field has many dips, so if you go
looking for them, you might have to put in some time to look unless they
flush.

I'll have some photos of today's highlights for viewing on my blog
including the Lapland Longspur from Van Cortlandt Park.


Andrew Baksh
Queens, NY
www.birdingdude.blogspot.com

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[nysbirds-l] Heckscher STPK e. LI birds 1-1-13

[Arie Gilbert]

Did some new years birding with Jean Loscalzo at Heckscher stpk.

Highlights include

Snow Goose,  Horned Lark, Lapland Longspur at field 6

Am. Tree Sparrow, Red + WW Crossbills at fields 7 & 8

of note were numerous rb nuthatches.

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=loc:40.701619,-73.169313



Arie Gilbert
North Babylon, NY

WWW.Powerbirder.blogspot.com
 WWW.qcbirdclub.org


-

Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 2013.0.2805 / Virus Database: 2637/5976 - Release Date: 12/21/12
Internal Virus Database is out of date.


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[nysbirds-l] A Second Slaty-backed Gull at Niagara Falls on the Niagara River!

[Willie D'Anna and Betsy Potter]

While looking for the SLATY-BACKED GULL that we co-found on Sunday, Betsy
and I discovered a different adult SLATY-BACKED GULL.  We had excellent
views of it in flight as it fed about 200 yards from us.  This bird differed
from Sunday's bird by totally lacking black on the bill and also by lacking
a mirror on p9 (that is, the second outermost primary).  It was similar in
its Herring Gull size, broad tertial crescent, rich reddish pink legs and
feet, and very noticeable subapical white spots on p8, p7, and p6.  Betsy
also noted that it did not have the same concentration of streaks around the
eye as Sunday's bird.

 

We found the SLATY-BACKED GULL sitting among the many gulls about a quarter
mile above the falls mid river, looking from the Canadian side near the
barge.  Shortly after finding it, it flew upriver (thus, much closer to us)
and began to feed with many other gulls, out from the gatehouse.  The
gatehouse is about 150 yards above (upriver from) the creek outlet from the
Dufferin Islands Nature Area.

 

There were tremendous numbers of large gulls both at the power plants and
above the falls today.  We saw multiple Iceland, Glaucous, Thayer's, and
Lesser Black-backed Gulls.  We did not see any Purple Sandpipers nor any
Harlequin Ducks.

 

Good birding!

Willie

--

Willie D'Anna

Betsy Potter

Wilson, NY

dannapotterATroadrunner.com

http://www.betsypottersart.com  

 


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[nysbirds-l] FW: [VTBIRD] Fwd: Common Pochard at Champlain Bridge- ID

[Richard Guthrie]

More on the Pochard report from Vermont & near NYS

Rich Guthrie

Begin:

-Original Message-
From: Vermont Birds [mailto:vtb...@list.uvm.edu] On Behalf Of Kyle
Kittelberger
Sent: Tuesday, January 01, 2013 4:09 PM
To: vtb...@list.uvm.edu
Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Fwd: Common Pochard at Champlain Bridge- ID

Hey everyone,
 
I'm going to try to take a stab at delving further into the id of this
Aythya duck. I have never seen Common Pochard before, so I'll use this as a
learning experience too!
 
Looking at the Stokes and Nat Geo Field Guides, it would seem that the best
way to describe a male Common Pochard would be a cross between a Redhead and
Canvasback. The big field mark in my opinion that shows the bird Ron Payne
and Ian Worley saw is a Common Pochard is the head. Male pochards have a
peaked head that slopes forward, rather than the head of a Canvasback which
slopes towards the back. Redheads have rounded heads. Stokes goes further in
saying that, to separate from the rare Canvasback x Redhead hybrids, one
must look at the bill- a male Pochard has a three toned bill, with a dark
gray base, pale gray middle, and black tip. Taking a look at Ron's picture,
the three toned bill is evident. In addition, a male Pochard has dark red
eyes while a Redhead has yellowish eyes- the picture might be too blurry to
see this trait. 
 
So in conclusion, based on the characteristics listed above, I agree the
bird Ron and Ian found is a Common Pochard. Awesome find, and thank you
Jeremiah and Allan for getting the word out! I hope the Pochard, as well as
the Tufted Duck, stick around for a little while- it would appear that this
Pochard might be the first record for the eastern U.S.! (I do see a record
for Quebec several years ago).
 
Cheers and Happy New Year,
 
Kyle Kittelberger
Raleigh, NC (soon back at Dartmouth, NH)
  


 From: Miriam Lawrence 
To: vtb...@list.uvm.edu 
Sent: Tuesday, January 1, 2013 3:09 PM
Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Fwd: Common Pochard at Champlain Bridge
  
Hi Allan,

As a learning exercise for us more novice birders, couldvJeremiah (or you)
explain the characteristics and field marks that enable this ID, especially
from such a fuzzy image? 

Thanks!!

Miriam Lawrence

Sent from my iPad

On Jan 1, 2013, at 2:43 PM, Allan Strong  wrote:

> I just got this email from Jeremiah Trimble who ID'ed Ian and Ron's
red-headed duck as a Common Pochard.
> 
> Allan
> 
> 
>  Original Message 
> Subject:    Common Pochard at Champlain Bridge
> Date:    Tue, 1 Jan 2013 14:28:55 -0500
> From:    Jeremiah Trimble 
> To:    Kent McFarland 
> CC:    Allan Strong , Chris Rimmer

> 
> 
> 
> Hi all,
> Happy New Year!
> 
> I need to follow up on the storm-petrel specimen but in an immediate
matter, a redhead was reported today on Vermont birds along with a Redhead.
The "Redhead" in the image is a Common Pochard! I'm not sure how to get the
word out better than email you guys!!
> 
> Good luck,
> Jeremiah
> 
> On Thursday, October 13, 2011, Kent McFarland wrote:
> 
>   Hi Jeremiah,
>   I have the storm-petrel specimen now in our freezer. Allan said I
>   should just send it down to you. Can you give me address and days of
>   week you are definetly there so I can send overnight frozen? In the
>   hand it does look good (not that I'd know really, but according to
>   this page with some of your photos:
>   http://www.neseabirds.com/Birdsstormpetrelsseperating.htm). It has
>   black feet and webbing. The only thing that is on the small end is
>   total length. I think it will barely hit 7.5" when in thawed state.
>   Apparently on the short end. But the legs don't come even close to
>   extending past the tail. Anyhow, it does seem to fit band-rumped
> 
>   Thanks
>   Kent
> 
>   Kent McFarland
> 
>   Conservation Biologist
> 
>   Vermont Center for Ecostudies
> 
>   PO Box 420
> 
>   Norwich, Vermont 05055
> 
>   VCE Logo
> 
>   Visit Our Pages: Facebook
> 

>   YouTube  Blogger
>   
> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> Jeremiah Trimble
> Curatorial Associate - Ornithology
> Museum of Comparative Zoology
> Harvard University
> 26 Oxford Street
> Cambridge, MA 02138
> phone: 617-495-2471
> fax: 617-495-5667
> email: jtrim...@oeb.harvard.edu 


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[nysbirds-l] Report of Common Pochard on Lake Champlain, Vermont

[Richard Guthrie]

This should be of interest to NY birders:

The following report is in response to a photo of a "Redhead" taken on the
Vermont side of the Champlain Bridge in Vermont. The lake is narrow at this
location and the bird might be seen in either Vermont or New York:

Start thread:

I just got this email from Jeremiah Trimble who ID'ed Ian and Ron's
red-headed duck as a Common Pochard.

Allan


 Original Message 
Subject:Common Pochard at Champlain Bridge
Date:   Tue, 1 Jan 2013 14:28:55 -0500
From:   Jeremiah Trimble 
To: Kent McFarland 
CC: Allan Strong , Chris Rimmer 




Hi all,
Happy New Year!

I need to follow up on the storm-petrel specimen but in an immediate matter,
a redhead was reported today on Vermont birds along with a Redhead. The
"Redhead" in the image is a Common Pochard! I'm not sure how to get the word
out better than email you guys!!

Good luck,
Jeremiah


-Original Message-
From: Vermont Birds [mailto:vtb...@list.uvm.edu] On Behalf Of Kaye Danforth
Sent: Tuesday, January 01, 2013 3:07 PM
To: vtb...@list.uvm.edu
Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Tufted Duck, Glaucous Gull and Redhead, Champlain
Bridge

I'm sitting here closely comparing Ron's picture of the Redhead and a photo
of a common Pochard in the same viewing position, and it sure looks like the
head-shape is identical to that of a pochard- a Redhead's being more
rounded.  Of course, I'm birding vicariously, but can't contain my
excitement it could be one!
Kaye
Hinesburg

On Jan 1, 2013, at 1:25 PM, Ronald Payne wrote:

> This morning I took a pre-planned New Year's Day trip to the Champlain 
> Bridge in Addison had an added impetus with Ian Worley's sighting of a 
> Harlequin Duck yesterday. I never did find the Harlequin, but I got 
> different Life Bird almost right away when I spotted an immature 
> Glaucous Gull on a flow of ice south of the bridge. Its white 
> primaries really stood out, and it was alongside a Great Black-backed 
> Gull when I first saw it to give it scale. Not long after this, two 
> Red foxes came out onto the ice and approached some ducks along the 
> ice, which just casually swam away from them.
> The foxes then disappeared into shrub along the shore. At this point I 
> got busy counting the many Lesser and greater Scaup, Goldeneye, 
> Mallards, Black Ducks and Mergansers in the area, a task that was 
> rather unpleasant given the stiff cold breeze. Around this time Ian 
> Worley arrived and he was excited to hear about the Glaucous Gull, as 
> he had never seen one before. After a few minutes of searching from 
> the top of the bridge, he suggested we move below it to get out of the 
> wind, an extremely good idea! From beneath the bridge we searched the 
> mixed flock on the northwest end, I picked out a White- winged Scoter 
> and a female Barrow's Goldeneye, and Ian spotted a beautiful adult 
> male Redhead. Ian decided to go to a different position so he could 
> search for the Glaucous, but I quickly called him back when I saw that 
> one of the Scaup had a tuft on the back of its head, and was in fact 
> an adult male Tufted Duck, a life bird for him. As we looked at this 
> bird we spotted an adult male Barrow's Goldeneye, and a female 
> Redhead. Later Ian did find the Glaucous, so at the time I left to go 
> defrost myself, I had a one life-bird day and Ian had a two life-bird 
> day.
>
> Full checklist with blurry digiscoped pictures:
> http://ebird.org/ebird/vt/view/checklist?subID=S12435936
>
> Happy New Year's birding, everyone!
>
> --
> Ron Payne
> Middlebury, VT


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[nysbirds-l] Common Redpoll at feeder in Wappinger Falls

[bloobird]

We have 1 Common Redpoll at our feeders today.

Tammie Carey 
Wappinger Falls, NY

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[nysbirds-l] Tufted Duck, Huntington - YES

[Andrew Baksh]

Refound by Gail Benson at the Knutsen West Marina and is now back near
the police docks.  Best seen from the Harbor Club parking lot.

Sent from somewhere in the field using my mobile device!

Andrew Baksh
www.birdingdude.blogspot.com

On Jan 1, 2013, at 7:24 AM, Michael Yuan  wrote:

> Emerged from the police docks at 7:11am, then flew east and settled in the 
> water 200 yards north of marina.  Seen with Bob Washburn.
>
> Michael Yuan
> Brooklyn, NY
> --
>
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>
> Please submit your observations to eBird:
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>
> --
>

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[nysbirds-l] Tufted Duck, Huntington - YES

[Michael Yuan]

Emerged from the police docks at 7:11am, then flew east and settled in the 
water 200 yards north of marina.  Seen with Bob Washburn. 

Michael Yuan
Brooklyn, NY
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[nysbirds-l] Tufted Duck, Huntington - YES

[Michael Yuan]

Emerged from the police docks at 7:11am, then flew east and settled in the 
water 200 yards north of marina.  Seen with Bob Washburn. 

Michael Yuan
Brooklyn, NY
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[nysbirds-l] Tufted Duck, Huntington - YES

[Andrew Baksh]

Refound by Gail Benson at the Knutsen West Marina and is now back near
the police docks.  Best seen from the Harbor Club parking lot.

Sent from somewhere in the field using my mobile device!

Andrew Baksh
www.birdingdude.blogspot.com

On Jan 1, 2013, at 7:24 AM, Michael Yuan mjy...@gmail.com wrote:

 Emerged from the police docks at 7:11am, then flew east and settled in the 
 water 200 yards north of marina.  Seen with Bob Washburn.

 Michael Yuan
 Brooklyn, NY
 --

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 --


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[nysbirds-l] Common Redpoll at feeder in Wappinger Falls

[bloobird]

We have 1 Common Redpoll at our feeders today.

Tammie Carey 
Wappinger Falls, NY

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[nysbirds-l] Report of Common Pochard on Lake Champlain, Vermont

[Richard Guthrie]

This should be of interest to NY birders:

The following report is in response to a photo of a Redhead taken on the
Vermont side of the Champlain Bridge in Vermont. The lake is narrow at this
location and the bird might be seen in either Vermont or New York:

Start thread:

I just got this email from Jeremiah Trimble who ID'ed Ian and Ron's
red-headed duck as a Common Pochard.

Allan


 Original Message 
Subject:Common Pochard at Champlain Bridge
Date:   Tue, 1 Jan 2013 14:28:55 -0500
From:   Jeremiah Trimble jtrim...@oeb.harvard.edu
To: Kent McFarland kmcfarl...@vtecostudies.org
CC: Allan Strong astr...@uvm.edu, Chris Rimmer 
crim...@vtecostudies.org



Hi all,
Happy New Year!

I need to follow up on the storm-petrel specimen but in an immediate matter,
a redhead was reported today on Vermont birds along with a Redhead. The
Redhead in the image is a Common Pochard! I'm not sure how to get the word
out better than email you guys!!

Good luck,
Jeremiah


-Original Message-
From: Vermont Birds [mailto:vtb...@list.uvm.edu] On Behalf Of Kaye Danforth
Sent: Tuesday, January 01, 2013 3:07 PM
To: vtb...@list.uvm.edu
Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Tufted Duck, Glaucous Gull and Redhead, Champlain
Bridge

I'm sitting here closely comparing Ron's picture of the Redhead and a photo
of a common Pochard in the same viewing position, and it sure looks like the
head-shape is identical to that of a pochard- a Redhead's being more
rounded.  Of course, I'm birding vicariously, but can't contain my
excitement it could be one!
Kaye
Hinesburg

On Jan 1, 2013, at 1:25 PM, Ronald Payne wrote:

 This morning I took a pre-planned New Year's Day trip to the Champlain 
 Bridge in Addison had an added impetus with Ian Worley's sighting of a 
 Harlequin Duck yesterday. I never did find the Harlequin, but I got 
 different Life Bird almost right away when I spotted an immature 
 Glaucous Gull on a flow of ice south of the bridge. Its white 
 primaries really stood out, and it was alongside a Great Black-backed 
 Gull when I first saw it to give it scale. Not long after this, two 
 Red foxes came out onto the ice and approached some ducks along the 
 ice, which just casually swam away from them.
 The foxes then disappeared into shrub along the shore. At this point I 
 got busy counting the many Lesser and greater Scaup, Goldeneye, 
 Mallards, Black Ducks and Mergansers in the area, a task that was 
 rather unpleasant given the stiff cold breeze. Around this time Ian 
 Worley arrived and he was excited to hear about the Glaucous Gull, as 
 he had never seen one before. After a few minutes of searching from 
 the top of the bridge, he suggested we move below it to get out of the 
 wind, an extremely good idea! From beneath the bridge we searched the 
 mixed flock on the northwest end, I picked out a White- winged Scoter 
 and a female Barrow's Goldeneye, and Ian spotted a beautiful adult 
 male Redhead. Ian decided to go to a different position so he could 
 search for the Glaucous, but I quickly called him back when I saw that 
 one of the Scaup had a tuft on the back of its head, and was in fact 
 an adult male Tufted Duck, a life bird for him. As we looked at this 
 bird we spotted an adult male Barrow's Goldeneye, and a female 
 Redhead. Later Ian did find the Glaucous, so at the time I left to go 
 defrost myself, I had a one life-bird day and Ian had a two life-bird 
 day.

 Full checklist with blurry digiscoped pictures:
 http://ebird.org/ebird/vt/view/checklist?subID=S12435936

 Happy New Year's birding, everyone!

 --
 Ron Payne
 Middlebury, VT


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[nysbirds-l] FW: [VTBIRD] Fwd: Common Pochard at Champlain Bridge- ID

[Richard Guthrie]

More on the Pochard report from Vermont  near NYS

Rich Guthrie

Begin:

-Original Message-
From: Vermont Birds [mailto:vtb...@list.uvm.edu] On Behalf Of Kyle
Kittelberger
Sent: Tuesday, January 01, 2013 4:09 PM
To: vtb...@list.uvm.edu
Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Fwd: Common Pochard at Champlain Bridge- ID

Hey everyone,
 
I'm going to try to take a stab at delving further into the id of this
Aythya duck. I have never seen Common Pochard before, so I'll use this as a
learning experience too!
 
Looking at the Stokes and Nat Geo Field Guides, it would seem that the best
way to describe a male Common Pochard would be a cross between a Redhead and
Canvasback. The big field mark in my opinion that shows the bird Ron Payne
and Ian Worley saw is a Common Pochard is the head. Male pochards have a
peaked head that slopes forward, rather than the head of a Canvasback which
slopes towards the back. Redheads have rounded heads. Stokes goes further in
saying that, to separate from the rare Canvasback x Redhead hybrids, one
must look at the bill- a male Pochard has a three toned bill, with a dark
gray base, pale gray middle, and black tip. Taking a look at Ron's picture,
the three toned bill is evident. In addition, a male Pochard has dark red
eyes while a Redhead has yellowish eyes- the picture might be too blurry to
see this trait. 
 
So in conclusion, based on the characteristics listed above, I agree the
bird Ron and Ian found is a Common Pochard. Awesome find, and thank you
Jeremiah and Allan for getting the word out! I hope the Pochard, as well as
the Tufted Duck, stick around for a little while- it would appear that this
Pochard might be the first record for the eastern U.S.! (I do see a record
for Quebec several years ago).
 
Cheers and Happy New Year,
 
Kyle Kittelberger
Raleigh, NC (soon back at Dartmouth, NH)
  


 From: Miriam Lawrence mirslamlawre...@gmail.com
To: vtb...@list.uvm.edu 
Sent: Tuesday, January 1, 2013 3:09 PM
Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Fwd: Common Pochard at Champlain Bridge
  
Hi Allan,

As a learning exercise for us more novice birders, couldvJeremiah (or you)
explain the characteristics and field marks that enable this ID, especially
from such a fuzzy image? 

Thanks!!

Miriam Lawrence

Sent from my iPad

On Jan 1, 2013, at 2:43 PM, Allan Strong astr...@uvm.edu wrote:

 I just got this email from Jeremiah Trimble who ID'ed Ian and Ron's
red-headed duck as a Common Pochard.
 
 Allan
 
 
  Original Message 
 Subject:    Common Pochard at Champlain Bridge
 Date:    Tue, 1 Jan 2013 14:28:55 -0500
 From:    Jeremiah Trimble jtrim...@oeb.harvard.edu
 To:    Kent McFarland kmcfarl...@vtecostudies.org
 CC:    Allan Strong astr...@uvm.edu, Chris Rimmer
crim...@vtecostudies.org
 
 
 
 Hi all,
 Happy New Year!
 
 I need to follow up on the storm-petrel specimen but in an immediate
matter, a redhead was reported today on Vermont birds along with a Redhead.
The Redhead in the image is a Common Pochard! I'm not sure how to get the
word out better than email you guys!!
 
 Good luck,
 Jeremiah
 
 On Thursday, October 13, 2011, Kent McFarland wrote:
 
   Hi Jeremiah,
   I have the storm-petrel specimen now in our freezer. Allan said I
   should just send it down to you. Can you give me address and days of
   week you are definetly there so I can send overnight frozen? In the
   hand it does look good (not that I'd know really, but according to
   this page with some of your photos:
   http://www.neseabirds.com/Birdsstormpetrelsseperating.htm). It has
   black feet and webbing. The only thing that is on the small end is
   total length. I think it will barely hit 7.5 when in thawed state.
   Apparently on the short end. But the legs don't come even close to
   extending past the tail. Anyhow, it does seem to fit band-rumped
 
   Thanks
   Kent
 
   Kent McFarland
 
   Conservation Biologist
 
   Vermont Center for Ecostudies
 
   PO Box 420
 
   Norwich, Vermont 05055
 
   VCE Logo
 
   Visit Our Pages: Facebook
 
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Vermont-Center-for-Ecostudies/56930912454
   YouTube http://www.youtube.com/user/VCE14 Blogger
   http://vtecostudies.blogspot.com
 
 
 
 -- 
 Jeremiah Trimble
 Curatorial Associate - Ornithology
 Museum of Comparative Zoology
 Harvard University
 26 Oxford Street
 Cambridge, MA 02138
 phone: 617-495-2471
 fax: 617-495-5667
 email: jtrim...@oeb.harvard.edu mailto:jtrim...@oeb.harvard.edu


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[nysbirds-l] A Second Slaty-backed Gull at Niagara Falls on the Niagara River!

[Willie D'Anna and Betsy Potter]

While looking for the SLATY-BACKED GULL that we co-found on Sunday, Betsy
and I discovered a different adult SLATY-BACKED GULL.  We had excellent
views of it in flight as it fed about 200 yards from us.  This bird differed
from Sunday's bird by totally lacking black on the bill and also by lacking
a mirror on p9 (that is, the second outermost primary).  It was similar in
its Herring Gull size, broad tertial crescent, rich reddish pink legs and
feet, and very noticeable subapical white spots on p8, p7, and p6.  Betsy
also noted that it did not have the same concentration of streaks around the
eye as Sunday's bird.

 

We found the SLATY-BACKED GULL sitting among the many gulls about a quarter
mile above the falls mid river, looking from the Canadian side near the
barge.  Shortly after finding it, it flew upriver (thus, much closer to us)
and began to feed with many other gulls, out from the gatehouse.  The
gatehouse is about 150 yards above (upriver from) the creek outlet from the
Dufferin Islands Nature Area.

 

There were tremendous numbers of large gulls both at the power plants and
above the falls today.  We saw multiple Iceland, Glaucous, Thayer's, and
Lesser Black-backed Gulls.  We did not see any Purple Sandpipers nor any
Harlequin Ducks.

 

Good birding!

Willie

--

Willie D'Anna

Betsy Potter

Wilson, NY

dannapotterATroadrunner.com

http://www.betsypottersart.com http://www.betsypottersart.com/ 

 


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[nysbirds-l] Heckscher STPK e. LI birds 1-1-13

[Arie Gilbert]

Did some new years birding with Jean Loscalzo at Heckscher stpk.

Highlights include

Snow Goose,  Horned Lark, Lapland Longspur at field 6

Am. Tree Sparrow, Red + WW Crossbills at fields 7  8

of note were numerous rb nuthatches.

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=loc:40.701619,-73.169313



Arie Gilbert
North Babylon, NY

WWW.Powerbirder.blogspot.com
 WWW.qcbirdclub.org


-

Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 2013.0.2805 / Virus Database: 2637/5976 - Release Date: 12/21/12
Internal Virus Database is out of date.


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[nysbirds-l] LI and Bronx Birding highlights...

[Andrew Baksh]

*Huntington - TUFTED DUCK* (see post earlier from the field),

At Heckscher State Park LI, Tom Burke, Gail Benson and I caught up with the
continuing *LAPLAND LONGSPUR *that was in the same area where it was
initially reported on the 31st, (field 6).  Thanks to Michael McBrien and
his mom who had the bird all lined up for us.  Later on, we all got
excellent looks at both Red and White-winged Crossbills thanks to some
intel sharing from John Gluth and Ken Thompson.

Highlights on the way to Jones Beach West End II included an adult *BALD
EAGLE *flying over the Robert Moses Causeway (spotted by Tom) ,  *AMERICAN
PIPIT* along Ocean Parkway *(I had a few more on my out of Jones)*, about
1400-15000 *DUNLINS *on the Oceanside not far from Gilgo Beach (very likely
the same flock from the Southern Nassau CBC).  At Jones Beach the West End
II parking lot had a very spiffy looking adult *ICELAND GULL*.  Other
notables at Jones Beach that I did not see included a *TREE SWALLOW* and *PALM
WARBLER*.

Later on in the Bronx, I spent some time unsuccessfully looking for
the *BARNACLE
GOOSE* at Van Cortlandt Park.  The Parade Ground Field was devoid of Geese
and I only found 6 Canada's on the Lake.  It remains to be seen if the
large flock of Canada's with the Barnacle was elsewhere and will return
during the week.

Despite not finding the BRNG (Barnacle Goose), I managed two very good
birds for the Bronx, in *HORNED LARKS* a flock of 21 and a single *LAPLAND
LONGSPUR *(LALO).  eBird does not show any record of LALO in the Bronx, but
it could be that I mucked up the query or no entries means old records have
yet to make their way into the database.  In any case, the birds were on
the Parade Grounds and I only came upon them because I was scratching
around trying to dig up a *PIPIT* or any sparrow that might be
sheltering/feeding in the grass.  The field has many dips, so if you go
looking for them, you might have to put in some time to look unless they
flush.

I'll have some photos of today's highlights for viewing on my blog
including the Lapland Longspur from Van Cortlandt Park.


Andrew Baksh
Queens, NY
www.birdingdude.blogspot.com

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[nysbirds-l] Snow Buntings (+++) Coxsackie; +

[Richard Guthrie]

I came across an enormous flock of SNOW BUNTINGS on River Road (Co. Rt 61)
just north of the Village of Coxsackie, Greene County. Getting a number on
the size of this swarm was difficult because they were so flighty. But I'd
put a conservative estimate at around 600. They just kept flowing onto the
road surface and shoulders until the next vehicle went by. Then they'd flow
out as a black and white ribbon cloud rising and dipping across the fields.
There were a few HORNED LARKS mixed in, but no Lapland Longspurs that I
could pick out.

 

There were, however, several LAPLAND LONGSPURS on Flint Mine Road again
today (behind the prison). 

 

The very dark SAVANNAH SPARROWS were there as well. Doing a little research
on that species leaves me to believe these birds might be from the
north-eastern Canada population - or from the Hudson Bay/Manitoba
populations, known respectively as Labrador Savannah Sparrow and
Churchill Savannah Sparrow. I'll post a representative photo of them on
the HM Birds Yahoo site. Please understand that the pictures were taken
against a strong backlit snowy setting and through a car windshield. I'll
also put up a photo of a typical Savannah Sparrow taken at the nearby
Coxsackie Grasslands during the nesting season. 

 

Rich Guthrie

New Baltimore

The Greene County

gael...@capital.net

 


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