A few years ago I too had done the same trip. We reached Bicknell's spot by about 4.30 am. But they sang till 9.00 am. I don't know if they sang after that too, because we left to go elsewhere. I was wondering why is this fuss all about early song. It was a nice clear day. One individual sat some 15 feet away from us and sang. It is a great place to go. I would love to do it again sometime!
Cheers Meena Meena Haribal Ithaca NY 14850 http://haribal.org/ http://meenaharibal.blogspot.com/ ________________________________________ From: [email protected] [[email protected]] on behalf of bob mcguire [[email protected]] Sent: Friday, June 15, 2012 8:06 PM To: CAYUGABIRDS-L Subject: [cayugabirds-l] OOB Bicknell's Thrushes I drove to Slide Mountain in the Catskills yesterday afternoon with the goal of being on top as dawn broke in order to record Bicknell's Thrush. I "camped" in the trailhead parking lot and set the alarm for 3 AM. It was a long, dark climb without mishap. I arrived at a spot about .2 miles from the summit where many of the spruce and firs had been blown down in some storm a few years ago. Just as I arrived the first bird of the day began to sing: a White-throated Sparrow . And right after him, the first Bicknell's. First a few calls, then full- blown song. For the next three quarters of an hour I bounced up and down the trail, getting one set of song & calls then another before they all fell quiet again. The sun was by then up, a giant orange ball on the horizon trying to peek through the trees. Other birds had begun to sing: Magnolia and Black-and-white Warblers, Winter Wrens, a Purple Finch, Juncoes and Red-breasted Nuthatches. Heading back down the trail I passed through zones of Wood and Hermit Thrushes, Black- throated Blue and Black-throated Green Warblers, Ovenbirds, and Yellow-rumped Warblers. Back at the trailhead, the early morning chorus consisted mainly of Red-eyed Vireos, Least Flycatchers, a Scarlet Tanager and a Rose-breasted Grosbeak. After a good nap, I headed home. Bob McGuire -- 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/[email protected]/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/[email protected]/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/ --
