[cayugabirds-l] Tundra Swans over Ithaca

[Kenneth Victor Rosenberg]

At about 9:50 this evening, while it was still overcast, a flock of TUNDRA 
SWANS flew over my house in Northeast Ithaca, calling loudly. Very cool.


Ken Rosenberg
Conservation Science Program
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
607-254-2412
607-342-4594 (cell)
k...@cornell.edu


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[cayugabirds-l] Blackbirds and Blackbirds and blackbirds and others this past week at MNWR

[Meena Haribal]

Last week, I visited MNWR in search of blackbird black clouds. On Thursday 
morning I was there on the auto drive at civil light and spent time till about 
15 minutes after sunrise as I had to head back to work.  I had spectacular 
views of blackbirds rising from the marsh and heading out to feed in the 
morning.



So on Saturday, I was not quite sure if there would be yet black birds or not, 
deiced to give another try. So again I arrived at MNWR at the break of civil 
light and watched the mind boggling view.



So here I have uploaded a small clip on you tube with the following description.



On a foggy morning just before sunrise on March 17 2012, millions of 
blackbirds, mixture of Red-winged Blackbirds and Grackles were starting to form 
groups to take off of foraging. Sometimes, they formed waves like tornado 
clouds, at other time they were more like PCR plots or DA plots with several 
clusters of clouds. Some clouds overlapped, while others kept to themselves. It 
was difficult to predict from where they will rise. But between civil light, at 
least that is when I arrived and by sunrise most of the birds had left the 
marsh and most returned only just about fifteen minutes before sunset. Then 
marsh seemed empty except for a few local resident blackbirds by now that have 
taken up residence.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wir8JFXWkvk



After that view, I felt greedy and wanted to get the blackbirds returning to 
marsh in the evening with sunset background. So deiced to spend rest of the day 
at MNWR as I did not want to come back to Ithaca and go back again. I visited 
various other locations in the northern Montezuma nothing much so very 
spectacular.

At Carncross road, I heard two SANDHILL CRANES, several TREE SWALLOWS , SONG 
SPARROWS and five BLUE BIRDS were claiming territories. I listened to each and 
every song sparrow's songs and iedto distinguish them by song to kill time.



At Marten's tract some one seemed to be camping in car, so I did not feel 
comfortable spending time there alone. But I did watch two Swallows on two nest 
boxes and chattering excitedly and there was no sign of bluebirds anywhere near 
by.



Other locations I came up empty.



Then I returned to Tschache and scanned all the ducks and scanned widgeons for 
a Eurasian and did not find it. An hour later Nutter and party arrived and 
Nutter finds EURASIAN WIDGEON in the pool far end. When I had scanned there 
were not so many Widgeons in that location :-(



As I had not planned on spending full day at MNWR, I ran out of water and it 
was hot. So I headed to nice and easy gas station and returned with one gallon 
of water jug and there still another six to seven hours to kill before the 
blackbirds returned. Luckily I had two books in my car, one by Dennis Paulson 
on Eastern Odonates and then Barbara Kingsolver's Homeland.  So I sat in the 
shade of the corral near visitor center and listened to and watched birds while 
I read the books.



There were three song sparrows around the corral and listened to their song, 
now I feel confident that I may be able to recognize them if I heard them 
anywhere as they sang so many times. I also watched what Red-winged Blackbird 
males did when they were not claiming their property.  They were pulling 
insects (I think) out of cattail cotton. While at the corral several SNOW GEESE 
flocks flew overhead. In one small group there was a very small goose, which I 
believe was a ROSS's GOOSE.  In past few days I had scanned many snow geese 
flocks with thousands of birds and did not find a Ross's goose, but here in a 
small group there is one!



 I also saw a lone DOUBLE CRESTED CORMORANT flying north. Still I had an hour 
and half to kill before the birds came back. Breeze was lovely and fresh air, 
so it was just relaxing to sit and enjoy the surroundings.



One hour before sunset, I drove on the auto drive and stationed near LaRue's 
Lagoon. As sun was getting low, shoveler's were getting their quota of food, 
all of a sudden a group of TREE SWALLOWS started skimming over water and 
catching insects. Then they all assembled on a tree, there were at least some 
300+. I was hoping to keep an eye to see if they roosted on the tree or on the 
marsh. But by then slowly blackbirds started trickling in and I totally forgot 
about swallows. Most of the early birds did not head off to marsh, but  stopped 
on tallest trees. They came down small groups, they landed on the banks of La 
Rue lagoon and had bath, but they were not clearly visible as there was tall 
grass or mud around them.  Soon thousands started pouring in.  They would land 
at one place and then the whole flock would rise and swirl around and land 
elsewhere. Again move from there and land elsewhere. This went on! After sunset 
from west incessant river of black birds poured in to the marsh. They went on 
and on till the Venus and Mars became visible and rest became darker. I decided 
it was time to call it a night!

[cayugabirds-l] Syracuse RBA

[Joseph Brin]

RBA
 
*  New York
*  Syracuse
*  March 19, 2012
*  NYSY 03.19.12 
Hotline: Syracuse Rare bird Alert
Dates(s):
March 12, 2012 - March 19, 2012
to report by e-mail: brinjoseph AT yahoo.com
covering upstate NY counties: Cayuga, Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge
and Montezuma Wetlands Complex (MWC) (just outside Cayuga County),
Onondaga, Oswego, Lewis, Jefferson, Oneida, Herkimer,  Madison & Cortland
compiled:March 19 AT 6:30 p.m. (EST)
compiler: Joseph Brin
Onondaga Audubon Homepage: www.onondagaaudubon.org
 
 
#297 -Monday March 19, 2012
 
 
Greetings! This is the Syracuse Area Rare Bird Alert for the week of 
March 12 , 2012
 
Highlights:
---

EURASIAN WIGEON
BLUE-WINGED TEAL
BLACK VULTURE
GOLDEN EAGLE
SANDHILL CRANE
COMMON GALLINULE
GREATER YELLOWLEGS
SNOWY OWL
SHORT-EARED OWL
NORTHERN SHRIKE
AMERICAN PIPIT
BOHEMIAN WAXWING
DICKCISSEL
SAVANNAH SPARROW
FOX SPARROW
WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL


Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge (MNWR) and Montezuma Wetlands Complex (MWC)


 3/13: A BLUE-WINGED TEAL was found at the Visitor’s Center. The number 
would grow to 4 by 3/18. 3 SANDHILL CRANES were seen at the DEC offices in 
Savannah.
 3/14: A NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen at Tsache Pool and at VanDyne Spoor road.
 3/15: 2 COMMON GALLINULES were found at Marten’s Tract.
 3/17: AN EURASIAN WIGEON was seen at Tschache Pool.
 3/19: FOS PIPIT and SAVANNAH SPARROW were found at East Road.
 For the week 19 species of waterfowl were reported at the complex. Oddly 
enough TUNDRA SWAN and SNOW GOOSE which had been in abudance earlier,were not 
reported.


Derby Hill Observatory


 A good week at Derby Hill with 2,498 Raptors being recorded. The big day 
was 3/17 with 1,318 birds being counted, the first thousand bird day of the 
season. 3/13 had the first PEREGRINE FALCON and 3/15 the first BLACK VULTURES 
(2). This is also the earliest date for Black Vulture at Derby Hill. Another 
BLACK VULTURE was seen on 3/17.
 Other highlights for the week: 
 3/12: 113 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS and 15 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS.
 3/13: 9 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS and 1 SANDHILL CRANE.
 3/16: 1 SHORT-EARED OWL and 9 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS.
 3/17: 23 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS.


Onondaga County


 3/13: A male DICKCISSEL was seen at a feeder in Camillus. It came again on 
3/15 but has not been reported since.
 3/14: A MERLIN was seen in Berry Park in Syracuse. A RAVEN was seen in the 
Tully area.
 3/15: An EURASIAN WIGEON was relocated at the Eagle Pool in Three Rivers 
WMA north of Baldwinsville. On 3/18 two EURASIAN WIGEONS were reported there.
 3/17: A GOLDEN EAGLE was seen soaring over Schiller Park in Syracuse.
 3/18: 2 SNOWY OWLS continue to be seen at Syracuse’s Hancock Airport. 


Madison County


 3/15: 3 FOS FOX SPARROWS were seen in Erieville.
 3/18: An EURASIAN WIGEON was seen at the Great Swamp Conservancy near 
Canastota.


Cayuga County


 3/15: A GREAT HORNED OWL has again nested in a Heron Rookery at Sterling 
Nature Center. 2 TRUMPETER SWANS were seen in one of the ponds there and at 
nearby McIntyre Bluffs a NORTHERN SHRIKE was spotted.


Jefferson County


 3/18: An astounding 2,000 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS were found at Robert Wehle 
State Park in the Town of Henderson near Lake Ontario.


New Migrants reported this week.


3/13: BLUE-WINGED TEAL - Montezuma
3/13: GREATER YELLOWLEGS - Montezuma
3/15: COMMON GALLINULE - Montezuma
3/15: BLACK VULTURE - Derby Hill
3/15: FOX SPARROW - Erieville
3/19: AMERICAN PIPIT - Montezuma
3/19: SAVANNAH SPARROW - Montezuma



 
End Transcript

--

Joseph Brin
Region 5
Baldwinsville, N.Y.  13027  U.S.A.
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[cayugabirds-l] NYS Young Birders Field Trip (NYSOA) on April 22,2012: Braddock Bay and surrounding areas

[Lynn Bergmeyer]

For ages 10-19 years old. Please visit the NYSYBC website for further
details regarding the Young Birders Club, this field trip and others
field trips for Young Birders...

Here is the link to NYSYBC.  Please pass along to other potentially
interested birders ages 10 to 19 (or even younger to  give them
something to look forward to!)

http://www.nysyoungbirders.org/

Braddock Bay is a migration "hot spot" located on Lake Ontario just west
of Rochester, NY.  Millions of birds migrate through the area every
spring as they head north to their breeding grounds. Spectacular raptor
migrations occur each spring when the hawk counts conducted at Braddock
Bay number in the thousands.  Last year over 100,000 raptors were
tallied from March through May.  This area is also a focal point of
songbird activity, especially during migration season when it is
possible to see over 130 species of songbirds.
We plan to visit both Braddock Bay Raptor Research (BBRR) and the
Kaiser-Manitou Beach (songbird) banding stations along with a walk
through the nearby Owl Woods in hopes of finding Northern Saw-whet and
Long-eared Owls.  
We will visit the Hawk Watch platform and share the excitement of the
spectacular hawk migration along with hawk counter, Luke Tiller and
other observers.  The annual BBRR Birds of Prey Festival is this same
weekend (Friday-Sunday, see attachments) at the same location so that
the group can take in some of the festival exhibits/events.  
The NYSYBC group will also have an opportunity to visit other nearby
areas, like Island Cottage Woods, known for the occasional coveted
"fallout" which can produce an astounding variety of color and bird
song.
The field trip will start at 6am at the lot next to the lodge at
Braddock Bay (near the Hawk Watch) and head over to see birds banded as
they come off the mist nets.   We can either grab something light to eat
at the festival or stop at a nearby diner for a hot lunch.  The trip
will officially end at 2pm but I plan on birding until dusk for anyone
who wishes to continue.

Please contact me, Lynn, at l_berg...@frontiernet.net if you have further
questions and/or wish to sign up.   



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RE: [cayugabirds-l] Turkey Vultures

[Meena Haribal]

Hey Brad and all,

I did the same too. I scanned the flock three times for Black Vulture, but my 
flock was smaller than yours and had only 22 birds. I just got back from 
watching them. they seemed so care less (as opposed to careless) and 
effortlessly circled around and finally headed up Six Miles Creek, probably 
hoping to roost somewhere. Yesterday afternoon, while I was hanging out laundry 
in my yard, a Bald  Eagle circled over my head fairly close, I was thinking of 
heading inside to my camera, it floated south. But soon returned, but was 
little higher than previous time and circled and floated away to west.



Meena Haribal
Ithaca NY 14850
http://haribal.org/
http://meenaharibal.blogspot.com/


From: bounce-43528285-3493...@list.cornell.edu 
[bounce-43528285-3493...@list.cornell.edu] on behalf of Brad Walker 
[edgarallenhoo...@gmail.com]
Sent: Monday, March 19, 2012 5:55 PM
To: CAYUGABIRDS-L
Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Turkey Vultures

Hi all,

There is currently a kettle of about 100 TURKEY VULTURES over downtown Ithaca. 
I've gone through the group several times, but didn't see a Black Vulture.

--
Brad Walker

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[cayugabirds-l] Beam Hill Red-shouldered Hawks, Siskins

[Lois E. Chaplin]

The Red-shouldered Hawks have returned to Beam Hill (west) and are making their 
presence known with lots of vocalizations and aerial displays. There are at 
least two who have been making regular appearances. My neighbor saw one with 
nesting material this morning. I witnessed one land at my pond's edge and snag 
a frog. The hawk took off about a minute later, into the nearby woods.

It's been a couple days since I've heard or seen the flock of Pine Siskins who 
have been hanging out for the past few weeks. Their calls have only added to 
the oddness of the times. I enjoy gardening all the time keeping an ear to the 
bird song in the air. Siskins are typically long gone by the time I'm able to 
get into the garden.  A year ago, we were skiing to the Robin calls.

Lois Chaplin
Beam Hill

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[cayugabirds-l] Gray crowned rosy finch

[Lois E. Chaplin]

Front page news of my hometown newspaper- the Boonville Herald - features the 
adventures of the Gray Crowned Rosy Finch in Locust Grove. It even made mention 
in George Capron's column, excerpts from calls he receives at the local radio 
station. Am happy to share if anyone is interested in seeing the article.

Unfortunately, I didn't get to see the little visitor.

Lois Chaplin

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[cayugabirds-l] Turkey Vultures

[Brad Walker]

Hi all, 

There is currently a kettle of about 100 TURKEY VULTURES over downtown Ithaca. 
I've gone through the group several times, but didn't see a Black Vulture. 

-- 
Brad Walker


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[cayugabirds-l] Golden eagle heading towards lab of O

[Meena Haribal]

Hi all,
Just now a fairly low flying GOLDEN EAGLE flew northwards and I could watch it 
till it almost disappeared. It glided with slight wide opened view and beat 
wings a few times, then again glided with some more powerful wing beats and 
glide till it went out of my sight!

I also saw the Corpse flower. It was awesome. I was expecting the stink to rub 
to myself and smell like a dead person, but surprisingly by the time I was in 
the room, I hardly smelt it. May be my brain had already reached saturation and 
got habituated, it could no longer perceive the smell. Plus we were admiring 
the flowers beauty. Worth a visit. I highly recommend it!

Meena


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[cayugabirds-l] Sapsucker Woods

[Jay McGowan]

Hi all,
I saw a couple good birds in Sapsucker Woods this morning. In addition
to EASTERN PHOEBES and TREE SWALLOWS, both of which seem to be back in
force in the Ithaca area, at least two SWAMP SPARROWS were singing in
the marsh beyond the far parking lot. Tired of not seeing Fox
Sparrows, I went to the habitat they seem to favor, where brushy areas
meet the woods. Sure enough, I found two FOX SPARROWS along the
powerline cut on the east side of Sapsucker Woods just before the
trail goes into the woods heading south. While I was watching them, a
flock of goldfinches flew over with a vocal COMMON REDPOLL among them.
It was giving the somewhat siskin-like "kew" calls interspersed with
the dry "ch ch ch" calls. I'm amazed this bird is still sticking
around, and I wonder if it really is the same individual that others
have seen and heard in the northeast Ithaca area for several months
now.

The staff and visitors to the Lab have been enjoying the waterfowl
diversity on the pond, which today include Mallards, WOOD DUCKS, at
least 8 GADWALL (up to 13 or more last week), HOODED MERGANSERS,
COMMON MERGANSERS, a RING-NECKED DUCK (which I watched take off and
fly north), and a PIED-BILLED GREBE that has been here for several
days.

Yesterday I walked around the northeast Ithaca area, in my
neighborhood around Tareyton and Salem and also in the Bluegrass Lane,
Freese Road, and Hanshaw Road vicinity. I really saw very little of
note, but perhaps the most interesting bird was a FIELD SPARROW
foraging along the road on Salem Drive in the east-west segment north
of Hanshaw.

-- 
Jay McGowan
Macaulay Library
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
jw...@cornell.edu

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[cayugabirds-l] River Ride

[Kurt]

We took a kayak ride from Kanona to Campbell down the Cohocton River.  It
was about a 15 mile excursion and we saw the usual suspects.common
mergansers, hooded mergansers, wood ducks, mallards, geese, etc.

 

But the Bald Eagle nest with a sitting parent was by far the best part.  The
nest was in a deciduous tree in an open field, about 150 yards off the
river.  (Bath, NY)  It was quite a site.  

 


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[cayugabirds-l] FOY GBHs!

[Robin Cisne]

There were a pair of Great Blue Herons flying over the Brooktondale area
this morning, side by side.  Ah, romance!

Robin

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