I've finally sorted through all my records, references, and notes regarding
what species showed up when. I've added what showed up since 8 May, and amended
a few items from earlier as well. My Cliff-notes version is appended below, but
the page on the Cayuga Bird Club website may be more intelligible:
http://www.cayugabirdclub.org/Resources/cayuga-lake-basin-first-records
I generally try to credit all members of the party or parties which
independently find a potentially different bird/flock on the first day a
species is found. This info gives an idea of whom to contact about an
observation and when a species arrives en masse. Plus it's less trouble than
figuring out what time each bird was found. In that vein, I added additional
observations of SANDHILL CRANE on 18 March, BARN SWALLOW on 2 April, and LEAST
FLYCATCHER on 27 April. Please let me know of observers I left out anywhere on
the table.
If there are additional species, earlier dates, or additional independent
observations on the same date in the basin which I overlooked, please let me
know. Also, please let me know if I generally screwed up somehow, other than
the obvious matter being a month behind.
I have included a few reports even though eBird reviewers have not (yet)
accepted them (if anyone knows that they have been rejected and why, please let
me know):
Chris T-H's report of a BARN OWL over his house, even though the recording is
truly horrible.
Wade Melissa Rowley's report of a PINE GROSBEAK they photographed at a feeder
near the edge of the basin in Savannah, even though I haven't seen the photo.
James Osborn's 8 May report of PHILADELPHIA VIREO at Esker Brook Trail,
Montezuma NWR, even though his report from the same location 2 days later is
the official first eBird report for Seneca County.
Sheila Hernandez' 27 April report of BOBOLINK at Caroline Elementary School,
even though eBird's first county record is a from a guy a couple days later a
few hundred yards north.
Note that Goetchius FLLT Preserve, Michigan Hollow, and Steve Kelling's place
are outside the basin.
As far as I know these species have NOT yet been observed in the basin in 2015:
Greater White-fronted Goose
Long-eared Owl
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Golden-winged Warbler - despite an intriguing heard-only report south of Dryden
lake
Dickcissel
Red Crossbill
There are also a bunch of missing species more apt to be found on their
southward migration.
Okay, I've spent enough time indoors at a computer. I hope you are reading this
in the evening after a lovely day out birding.
--Dave Nutter
GLOIBI 0508 Jay McGowan, Livia Santana Carncross Rd, Savannah
BKBPLO 0508 Jay McGowan, Livia Santana Carncross Rd, Savannah
SEMPLO 0508 Jay McGowan, Livia Santana Visitor Ctr Wildlife Dr,
Montezuma NWR, Tyre
REHWOO 0508 Bob McGuire, John Confer S Mays Pt Rd, Tyre
EAWPEW 0508 Gustave Axelson, Brooke Keeney; Joseph Brin Sapsucker
Woods, Ithaca/Lansing/Dryden; Howland Island, Conquest
WILFLY 0508 Rhea Garen; James Osborn; Jay McGowan, Livia Santana
Hopkins Rd, Ithaca; Esker Brook Trail, Montezuma NWR, Tyre; Wildlife Dr,
Montezuma NWR, Tyre
PHIVIR 0508 James Osborn Esker Brook Trails, Montezuma NWR, Tyre
MOUWAR 0508 Joe Brin Howland I, Conquest
BABWAR 0508 Joe Brin Howland I, Conquest
WLSWAR 0508 Matt Medler, Dan Lane Sapsucker Woods, Lansing
GRASPA 0508 Bob McGuire, John Confer Lake Rd, Ledyard
SWTKIT 0509 Kevin McGuire, Rachel Dickinson Ithaca/Tompkins
airport, NYS-13, Lansing/Dryden
BKBCUC 0509 Ken Rosenberg Hollister Rd, Dryden
GYCTHR 0509 Jay McGowan, Livia Santana; John Fitzpatrick NFC
Arrowwood Trail, Lansing/Ithaca; Ellis Hollow Rd, Dryden
SWATHR 0509 Jay McGowan NFC Tareyton Dr, Ithaca
ALDFLY 0510 Brad Walker, Scott Haber Lindsay-Parsons Biodiversity
Preserve, Danby
BKPWAR 0510 James Osborn; Lee Ann van Leer Wildlife Dr, Montezuma
NWR, Tyre; Hawthorn Orchard, Ithaca
BRANT 0512 Stuart Krasnoff Besemer Ln, Brooktondale, Caroline
YEBCUC 0512 Doug Daniels Van Dyne Spoor Rd, Savannah
COMNIG 0512 John Molly Fitzpatrick Ellis Hollow Rd, Dryden
EWPWIL 0512 John Fitzpatrick Ellis Hollow Rd, Dryden
YEBFLY 0512 Jay McGowan Hawthorn Orchard, Ithaca
SEDWRE 0513 Alan Belford Carncross Rd, Savannah
SEMSAN 0515 Larry Draper Main Pool mud, Montezuma NWR, Tyre
SHBDOW 0515 Dave Kennedy Wildlife Dr, Montezuma NWR, Tyre
WHRSAN 0516 Jay McGowan Wildlife Dr, Montezuma NWR, Tyre
BRNOWL 0519 Chris T-H NFC, Etna, Dryden
ACAFLY 0521 Chris Wood Ford Hill, Lansing
RUDTUR 0524 Stuart Krasnoff Visitor Ctr/Wildlife Dr, Montezuma NWR,
Tyre
WILPHA 0524 Ann Mitchell, Dave Nutter; Sandy