[cayugabirds-l] Dryden Lake 9Apr10
Just now, Dryden Lake hosted 18 Ruddy Ducks, 2 Long-tailed Ducks, 2 Bufflehead, 2 American Wigeon, and 1 Bonaparte's Gull. Jay McGowan Dryden, NY -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Little Gull, Myers Point
Adult LITTLE GULL with Bonaparte's north of spit at Myers. Jay McGowan -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] NestWatch Workshop, Sat. April 17
Anyone wishing to learn how to monitor nesting birds is invited to attend a free workshop Saturday, April 17, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. The workshop will focus on how to collect important information for the Cornell Lab’s NestWatch project. Participants get a free nest box to help welcome a springtime bird family into their yard (supplies limited). Workshop participants will receive an overview of bird-breeding biology and get hands-on instruction in identifying nests and monitoring nest boxes during a hike in the Sapsucker Woods Sanctuary. The session will also include information about how to enter data typically collected for the NestWatch project, such as which kinds of birds are nesting, the number of eggs laid, dates eggs were laid, and the numbers of chicks hatched and fledged. NestWatch is fun, free, and open to all. It's a great way to connect with nature and helps scientists gather important information about nesting birds. *Register to attend the nest-monitoring workshop by calling (607) 254-BIRD* The NestWatch project was developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in collaboration with the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center and is funded by the National Science Foundation. ** Charles Eldermire Public Education Outreach Associate Manager, Sapsucker Woods Johnson Visitors' Center Cornell Lab of Ornithology 159 Sapsucker Woods Rd. Ithaca, NY 14850 (607) 254-1131 (607) 254-2111 [fax] birds.cornell.edu twitter.com/sapsuckerwoods -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Ospreys (re)claim Portland Point nest, Lansing
This morning I saw a pair of OSPREYS atop the nest on the power pole inside the mining compound visible from Portland Point Road, Lansing. The birds were copulating, then the male went to the ground and brought back a stick to add to the nest. This nest was fully made when I first saw it this winter, well before Ospreys returned, and I suspect it was built and probably used by Ospreys last year, but the question is: Did anybody notice the nest or birds at it during the 2009 nesting season? If successful it would be the first success in Tompkins County in my limited memory and knowledge. --Dave Nutter -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Red-shouldered Hawk is back!
Hi all, After feeling sad about the non-return of the Red Shouldered Hawk that has fished (salamandered?) our pond for so many years, I am now feeling happy because he has returned! And, i just watched as he caught a salamander, then flew off with it in his talons. Pretty sure it's the same one - lots of white on the face. Yay! The neighbors have seen this hawk for a week or so already, and watched it and it's mate copulating - so the nest is not too far away. Laura p.s. It's snowing on Hunt Hill Rd.! Laura Stenzler l...@cornell.edu -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Today around the Lake
Susan Danskin, Drew Fulton, and I met at Stewart Park at dawn and were soon joined by Dave Nutter (in his office). Susan spotted a tern-like bird out past the Pile Cluster. Try as we might, we were ultimately unable to pin down the ID before the bird was lost: likely a Common Tern, but not for sure. The three of us then headed up the west side of the lake for the day. Around Cayuga Lake SP: several martin houses with starlings, but no Purple Martins. MNWR Visitor's Center pool: Green-winged teal, gadwall, Mallards, several each of GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS, 4 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, DUNLIN. Several hundred TREE SWALLOWS around the marten houses, no Purple Martins. Wildlife Drive: relatively few birds (teal, shoveler at LaRue's, Main Pool nearly empty of birds, new shorebird area empty, Bennings, a few ducks) Tschache Pool: 200 AMERICAN WIGEON, shoveler, gadwall, teal, several BALD EAGLES, Ring-billed Gulls Mays Pool: a pair of TRUMPETER SWANS, a few ducks East Road: 4 SNOW GEESE, numerous DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS, no night- herons or egrets Howland Island: We walked a three-mile loop, encountering 2 EASTERN PHOEBES, 2 YELLOW-RUMPER WARBLERS, 6 DOWNEY WOODPECKERS, 2 RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS, 2 NORTHERN FLICKERS, 5 WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, 3 GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS, 1 RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, 2 BROWN CREEPERS, chickadees, titmice, cardinals, Bluejays, Tree Swallows, a flock of mixed blackbirds including several RUSTY BLACKBIRDS, and a fair number of ducks (teal, pintails, Gadwall, wigeon, ring-necked) Marten's Tract: 2 TRUMPETER SWANS, 3 VIRGINIA RAILS, SONG, SWAMP, CHIPPING SPARROWS Morgan Road: AMERICAN KESTREL around the nest box, otherwise most of the fields were dry and devoid of ducks and shorebirds. MAC: newly-excavated marsh on the east side of Rt 89: 4 WILSON'S SNIPE Van Dyne Spoor Rd: 2 AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVERS that gave us fits trying to ID (until Jay came along) Showing no signs of breeding plumage, they seemed to fall between golden and black-bellied plover, with darkish (but not too dark) cap, light (but not too light) belly, and an over-all golden color. We never did see them fly or raise a wing so could not assess the armpit color. Jay, apparently, heard one of them call. There also was a single DUNLIN and a couple of yellowlegs. As well as hundreds of ducks: mainly teal and pintail. Railroad Road: Calling VIRGINIA RAIL and AMERICAN BITTERN. It was a cold, windy day, but luckily no rain. Good luck to the SFO groups heading up that way tomorrow. Bob McGuire -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Myers Point, Montezuma
Hi all, I had a long day of birding today, apparently basking in the last of the wintery weather. I started at Dryden Lake, about which I already posted: 18 Ruddy Ducks, 2 Long-tailed Ducks (mf), 2 American Wigeon (mf), 1 Bonaparte's Gull, 2 Bufflehead, 4 Wood Ducks, and no swallows. Next George Road pond, where 4 Wilson's Snipe and a pair of Blue-winged Teal joined the Green-winged Teal and Ring-necked Ducks. The Pine Warbler was still singing from the pines west of George Road. Stewart Park was pretty quiet, but I saw a few distant Bonaparte's Gulls moving up the lake, so I headed up to Myers Point. I ended up spending a surprisingly entertaining three hours there. When I first arrived, two CASPIAN TERNS were right overhead but flew north. A pair of Ospreys were also flying over. A decent number of waterfowl were moving by, including a pair of WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, Red-breasted Mergansers, Long-tailed Duck, and Bufflehead. On the water were several Common Loons, 2 RED-NECKED GREBES, and at least one Horned Grebe. When I first arrived, Salmon Creek was full of swallows, including ~20 Northern Rough-winged Swallows, 5+ Barn Swallows, and lots of Tree Swallows, and later one BANK SWALLOW. BONAPARTE'S GULLS were flying low up the middle of the lake for most of the time I was there. I watched about 30 go by before I noticed some were congregating in the bay to the north of the spit. I scanned this flock only for a moment before I spotted an adult LITTLE GULL in the midst of them. The bird was easy to spot in flight (except for being quite distant), with the usual striking black underwings and rounded, white wingtips. On the water it appeared slightly smaller and shorter, the white wingtips still apparent. The bird spent a good deal of time on the water, occasionally taking flight for a minute or two. Gradually the flock moved farther out into the lake, and then dissipated to the north. I first sighted the bird at 9:07 and finally lost it around 9:37, during which time only Jessie Barry was able to get there in time to watch it. Here's the whole list: - Location: Myers Point Observation date: 4/9/10 8:45am-11:25am Number of species: 44 Canada Goose 30 American Wigeon 2 Mallard 6 White-winged Scoter 2 Long-tailed Duck 1 Bufflehead 12 Common Merganser 2 Red-breasted Merganser 5 Common Loon 6 Horned Grebe 1 Red-necked Grebe 2 Double-crested Cormorant 5 Turkey Vulture 6 Osprey 2 American Coot 160 Killdeer 2 Bonaparte's Gull 75 LITTLE GULL 1 Ring-billed Gull 35 Herring Gull 4 Great Black-backed Gull 4 Caspian Tern 2 Mourning Dove 5 Belted Kingfisher 2 Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 Northern Flicker 5 Eastern Phoebe 1 Blue Jay 2 Tree Swallow 55 Northern Rough-winged Swallow 25 Bank Swallow 1 Barn Swallow 9 Black-capped Chickadee 1 American Robin 35 European Starling 21 Chipping Sparrow 3 Song Sparrow 3 Northern Cardinal 9 Red-winged Blackbird 25 Common Grackle 18 Brown-headed Cowbird 1 House Finch 10 American Goldfinch 3 House Sparrow 8 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) --- Drunk with the exhilaration from finding a good bird, I decided to keep going up the lake to find more rarities. I had pretty limited success with this, but still lots of nice birds around. The visitor center pond at Montezuma has two Least Sandpipers and a Pectoral Sandpiper when I first stopped around midday, then one Greater Yellowlegs in the evening, as well as at least one BANK SWALLOW. The main pool was pretty shimmery, but a large flock of Canvasbacks and a very distant CASPIAN TERN were visible. Knox-Marcellus Marsh was pretty empty except for 165 Double-crested Cormorants. At Van Dyne Spoor Road I met Bob, Susan, and Drew, who showed me the plovers they had found. Although somewhat dull in coloration, the small bills and darker caps indicated AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS. When one flew briefly it had pale underwings (no dark axillaries), and both plovers called several times, distinctly different from Black-bellied vocalizations. Railroad Road had a calling VIRGINIA RAIL and AMERICAN BITTERN, as well as a bright male EURASIAN WIGEON with the American Wigeon flock in the pond. At Carncross Road I heard a SANDHILL CRANE calling loudly from the tall grass to the north, although I was never able to see it. A RING-NECKED PHEASANT called here as well. Finally, Muckrace Flats, the new pool near the Audubon Center in Savannah, had a horde of 28 Wilson's Snipe, Rusty Blackbird, Bank Swallow, and another Ring-necked Pheasant on the road. I ended with exactly 100 species for the day, not bad for a cold day in early April. Cheers. Jay McGowan Dryden, NY -- Cayugabirds-L List Info:
[cayugabirds-l] Bank Swallow - Lansing
Cayugabirders, In addition to Jay's Bank Swallow report from up north, I saw one at the Cornell ponds north of the Ithaca airport in Lansing today. It is interesting that a few showed up in different places in the Basin today, as we are still ~2 weeks before the average arrival date. Cheers, Tomo -- Thomas Brodie Johnson Ithaca, NY t...@cornell.edu mobile: 717.991.5727 -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
