Hello all, Kathy Strickland & I birded at MNWR this afternoon.
A flash of white along Van Dyne Spoor where so many folks gathered to see a rare visitor last weekend made our hearts jump but instead of a lingering S-T Flycatcher we saw a MOCKINGBIRD. Also saw a couple E. MEADOW LARKS, several RT HAWKS & HARRIERS, an AM. KESTRAL, a PEREGRINE FALCON, a DOWNY, MOURNING DOVES, SONG SPARROWS &, coming in to roost .. countless "BLACKBIRDS, ie: Redwings, Common, Starlings, & Cowbirds. Can't recall seeing any Grackles. Main Pool: CANADAS, GW TEAL, MALLARD, PINTAIL (LOTS), N SHOVELER, GADWALL, AM. WIGEON, RING-NECKED DUCKS (LOTS), ? SCAUP, 2 high up juvie BALD EAGLES, 3 or more RT HAWKS, A. COOTS, RB GULLS & A. CROWS. Also saw 5 sleeping SWANS but couldn't ID them with "no heads." Tschache Pool: 6+- PB GREBES, GB HERONS, RB GULLS, CANADAS, a CORMORANT, & ... sleeping unknowns. The thrill as we crossed over the Thruway was seeing 2 GREAT EGRETS in the air on the Tschache Pool side. We drove out Towpath Rd., around & through the mudholes but saw no small birds ...... just 1 AM WIGEON, lots of CANADAS, SNOWS, GB HERONS & unknowns out on Knox Marcellus marsh. Rte 31/89 the Muck: CANADAS. The treat: a HORNED LARK, all but lost in all that flatland. As we drove back by the new pool at the Refuge Visitor's Center so Kathy could get her car, sitting on the ground at the west edge of the pool, barely able to be seen in the failing light, sat the majestic symbol of our great country, a mature BALD EAGLE! What a great way to end an enjoyable afternoon with a great birding buddy, someone who loves nature as do I. Here at home this a.m., I walked along the hedgerow accompanied by 4 BLUEBIRDS, 2 CHICKADEES, 6 or 8 JUNCOS, 1 DOWNY, 1 female HOUSE FINCH & 1 MOCKINGBIRD. Did they think I needed company? Or did they want my company? Of course, a jay & many crows & Canadas were flying about. The Canadas were not at all seduced by the 60+ decoys way back in the hayfield. Hope you all had a wonderful first day of November & are enjoying the almost full moon tonight. Our CO daughter called Thurs. evening to report that they had another foot of snow on top of the foot that fell the week before & that more was falling. Temp. was in the low 20s. Their mile long, steep driveway to the main road gets mighty long. I'll take NY. Have a good week! Fritzie -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Archives: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
