Re: [cayugabirds-l] Montezuma NWR Snowy Egret - RFI
The snowy egret hung around until dusk last night, then flew to the north. With today’s nice weather, perhaps it will stick around. It has been seen down by the spillway, across the river and the gull tree across from the main pool. I understand it has been quite active. When I was there later yesterday it flew around three areas. If you go and don’t see it, check on the rocks by the spillway or across the river. -LaurieSent from my iPhoneOn Nov 15, 2023, at 3:49 PM, Jay McGowan wrote:The SNOWY EGRET was present early this morning in the same area, along the rocky shore of the river just at the mouth of the main pool outflow/spillway ("carp spot") along the drive. It was reported this afternoon from the same area on eBird as well. Other highlights from a quick morning trip were 50 Dunlin and two White-rumped Sandpipers in the flooded (and mostly frozen) fields on Armitage Road, and a single HUDSONIAN GODWIT on the ice at Knox-Marsellus.JayOn Wed, Nov 15, 2023 at 3:41 PM John Gregoire wrote:We went up today and the Snowy was a no-show as we checked the expected areas. Lots if birders. A terrific selection of waterfowl made the trip worthwhile.John and SueOn Wed, Nov 15, 2023 at 10:57 AM Suan Hsi Yong wrote:Photos were posted to the Facebook group "Birds of Montezuma National
Wildlife Refuge" by Bob and Diane Slater on Monday, November 13, at
6:30pm. A comment says "it flew in front of us around 4:30 pm, in the
dead tree near the Eagle tree".
The post URL is
https://www.facebook.com/groups/172217523476266/posts/1688992451798758/
but I think it's only visible to members of that group.
Suan
On Tue, Nov 14, 2023 at 9:16 PM Dave Nutter wrote:
>
> Today I learned of - and eventually saw - a regionally rare Snowy Egret along the Wildlife Drive at Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge.
>
> I first learned of it from a text rare bird alert from Mark Miller at 10:25am that it was “last seen at Seneca Flats,” but I wondered about Mark’s use of passive voice and the lack of any picture from this avid photographer. As I prepared to look for the bird there was not yet any eBird report from Mark either.
>
> But there was an eBird report from earlier this morning by David Kennedy, who takes gorgeous photos and seems to either find, re-find, or document most of the rarities around Montezuma. He included 5 pictures with the comment that it was “Feeding along east shore of Seneca Flats,” and in this case it was a re-find because he said it was “seen and photographed by Bob S. yesterday.”
>
> This appears to be the first documented record of Snowy Egret in the Cayuga Lake Basin this year, and as I try to maintain First Records records list, I’m looking for some help. Who is Bob S? Can I find the photo and record of his sighting? Where did he see it? At this point I’m not trying to verify the ID, I’m just looking for the standard information and credit that I include on the list.
>
> Today, thanks to text rare bird alert messages, several additional people saw this small, active egret at various places along the Wildlife Drive’s first straightaway, and the adjacent Seneca River. Generally it progressed north from Seneca Flats. It’s hard to say where it will be tomorrow, but I hope that, if it sticks around in publicly accessible places, folks continue to share its whereabouts so others can see this beautiful bird.
>
> - - Dave Nutter
> --
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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Montezuma NWR Snowy Egret - RFI
The SNOWY EGRET was present early this morning in the same area, along the
rocky shore of the river just at the mouth of the main pool
outflow/spillway ("carp spot") along the drive. It was reported this
afternoon from the same area on eBird as well. Other highlights from a
quick morning trip were 50 Dunlin and two White-rumped Sandpipers in the
flooded (and mostly frozen) fields on Armitage Road, and a single HUDSONIAN
GODWIT on the ice at Knox-Marsellus.
Jay
On Wed, Nov 15, 2023 at 3:41 PM John Gregoire
wrote:
> We went up today and the Snowy was a no-show as we checked the expected
> areas. Lots if birders. A terrific selection of waterfowl made the trip
> worthwhile.
> John and Sue
>
> On Wed, Nov 15, 2023 at 10:57 AM Suan Hsi Yong
> wrote:
>
>> Photos were posted to the Facebook group "Birds of Montezuma National
>> Wildlife Refuge" by Bob and Diane Slater on Monday, November 13, at
>> 6:30pm. A comment says "it flew in front of us around 4:30 pm, in the
>> dead tree near the Eagle tree".
>>
>> The post URL is
>> https://www.facebook.com/groups/172217523476266/posts/1688992451798758/
>> but I think it's only visible to members of that group.
>>
>> Suan
>>
>>
>> On Tue, Nov 14, 2023 at 9:16 PM Dave Nutter wrote:
>> >
>> > Today I learned of - and eventually saw - a regionally rare Snowy Egret
>> along the Wildlife Drive at Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge.
>> >
>> > I first learned of it from a text rare bird alert from Mark Miller at
>> 10:25am that it was “last seen at Seneca Flats,” but I wondered about
>> Mark’s use of passive voice and the lack of any picture from this avid
>> photographer. As I prepared to look for the bird there was not yet any
>> eBird report from Mark either.
>> >
>> > But there was an eBird report from earlier this morning by David
>> Kennedy, who takes gorgeous photos and seems to either find, re-find, or
>> document most of the rarities around Montezuma. He included 5 pictures with
>> the comment that it was “Feeding along east shore of Seneca Flats,” and in
>> this case it was a re-find because he said it was “seen and photographed by
>> Bob S. yesterday.”
>> >
>> > This appears to be the first documented record of Snowy Egret in the
>> Cayuga Lake Basin this year, and as I try to maintain First Records records
>> list, I’m looking for some help. Who is Bob S? Can I find the photo and
>> record of his sighting? Where did he see it? At this point I’m not trying
>> to verify the ID, I’m just looking for the standard information and credit
>> that I include on the list.
>> >
>> > Today, thanks to text rare bird alert messages, several additional
>> people saw this small, active egret at various places along the Wildlife
>> Drive’s first straightaway, and the adjacent Seneca River. Generally it
>> progressed north from Seneca Flats. It’s hard to say where it will be
>> tomorrow, but I hope that, if it sticks around in publicly accessible
>> places, folks continue to share its whereabouts so others can see this
>> beautiful bird.
>> >
>> > - - Dave Nutter
>> > --
>> > Cayugabirds-L List Info:
>> > Welcome and Basics
>> > Rules and Information
>> > Subscribe, Configuration and Leave
>> > Archives:
>> > The Mail Archive
>> > Surfbirds
>> > ABA
>> > Please submit your observations to eBird!
>> > --
>>
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>>
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>>
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>>
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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Montezuma NWR Snowy Egret - RFI
We went up today and the Snowy was a no-show as we checked the expected areas. Lots if birders. A terrific selection of waterfowl made the trip worthwhile. John and Sue On Wed, Nov 15, 2023 at 10:57 AM Suan Hsi Yong wrote: > Photos were posted to the Facebook group "Birds of Montezuma National > Wildlife Refuge" by Bob and Diane Slater on Monday, November 13, at > 6:30pm. A comment says "it flew in front of us around 4:30 pm, in the > dead tree near the Eagle tree". > > The post URL is > https://www.facebook.com/groups/172217523476266/posts/1688992451798758/ > but I think it's only visible to members of that group. > > Suan > > > On Tue, Nov 14, 2023 at 9:16 PM Dave Nutter wrote: > > > > Today I learned of - and eventually saw - a regionally rare Snowy Egret > along the Wildlife Drive at Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge. > > > > I first learned of it from a text rare bird alert from Mark Miller at > 10:25am that it was “last seen at Seneca Flats,” but I wondered about > Mark’s use of passive voice and the lack of any picture from this avid > photographer. As I prepared to look for the bird there was not yet any > eBird report from Mark either. > > > > But there was an eBird report from earlier this morning by David > Kennedy, who takes gorgeous photos and seems to either find, re-find, or > document most of the rarities around Montezuma. He included 5 pictures with > the comment that it was “Feeding along east shore of Seneca Flats,” and in > this case it was a re-find because he said it was “seen and photographed by > Bob S. yesterday.” > > > > This appears to be the first documented record of Snowy Egret in the > Cayuga Lake Basin this year, and as I try to maintain First Records records > list, I’m looking for some help. Who is Bob S? Can I find the photo and > record of his sighting? Where did he see it? At this point I’m not trying > to verify the ID, I’m just looking for the standard information and credit > that I include on the list. > > > > Today, thanks to text rare bird alert messages, several additional > people saw this small, active egret at various places along the Wildlife > Drive’s first straightaway, and the adjacent Seneca River. Generally it > progressed north from Seneca Flats. It’s hard to say where it will be > tomorrow, but I hope that, if it sticks around in publicly accessible > places, folks continue to share its whereabouts so others can see this > beautiful bird. > > > > - - Dave Nutter > > -- > > Cayugabirds-L List Info: > > Welcome and Basics > > Rules and Information > > Subscribe, Configuration and Leave > > Archives: > > The Mail Archive > > Surfbirds > > ABA > > Please submit your observations to eBird! > > -- > > -- > > (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") > > Cayugabirds-L List Info: > NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm > NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsRULES_DOT_htm > NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave_DOT_htm > > ARCHIVES: > 1) mail-archive_DOT_com/cayugabirds-l@cornell_DOT_edu/maillist_DOT_html > 2) surfbirds_DOT_com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds > 3) aba_DOT_org/birding-news/ > > Please submit your observations to eBird: > ebird_DOT_org/content/ebird/ > > -- > > -- (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") Cayugabirds-L List Info: NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsRULES_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave_DOT_htm ARCHIVES: 1) mail-archive_DOT_com/cayugabirds-l@cornell_DOT_edu/maillist_DOT_html 2) surfbirds_DOT_com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) aba_DOT_org/birding-news/ Please submit your observations to eBird: ebird_DOT_org/content/ebird/ --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Montezuma NWR Snowy Egret - RFI
I should follow up and say that that Facebook group has become immensely popular, currently with 11.4K members, and may well have the broadest reach of any electronic group related to birds in the basin (though they still lose out to "Bald Eagles of Onondaga Lake" with 18.8K members), and may well be "required reading" (or viewing) for those wanting to keep tabs on sightings at the MNWR. Suan On Wed, Nov 15, 2023 at 10:57 AM Suan Hsi Yong wrote: > > Photos were posted to the Facebook group "Birds of Montezuma National > Wildlife Refuge" by Bob and Diane Slater on Monday, November 13, at > 6:30pm. A comment says "it flew in front of us around 4:30 pm, in the > dead tree near the Eagle tree". > > The post URL is > https://www.facebook.com/groups/172217523476266/posts/1688992451798758/ > but I think it's only visible to members of that group. > > Suan > > -- (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") Cayugabirds-L List Info: NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsRULES_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave_DOT_htm ARCHIVES: 1) mail-archive_DOT_com/cayugabirds-l@cornell_DOT_edu/maillist_DOT_html 2) surfbirds_DOT_com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) aba_DOT_org/birding-news/ Please submit your observations to eBird: ebird_DOT_org/content/ebird/ --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Montezuma NWR Snowy Egret - RFI
Photos were posted to the Facebook group "Birds of Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge" by Bob and Diane Slater on Monday, November 13, at 6:30pm. A comment says "it flew in front of us around 4:30 pm, in the dead tree near the Eagle tree". The post URL is https://www.facebook.com/groups/172217523476266/posts/1688992451798758/ but I think it's only visible to members of that group. Suan On Tue, Nov 14, 2023 at 9:16 PM Dave Nutter wrote: > > Today I learned of - and eventually saw - a regionally rare Snowy Egret along > the Wildlife Drive at Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge. > > I first learned of it from a text rare bird alert from Mark Miller at 10:25am > that it was “last seen at Seneca Flats,” but I wondered about Mark’s use of > passive voice and the lack of any picture from this avid photographer. As I > prepared to look for the bird there was not yet any eBird report from Mark > either. > > But there was an eBird report from earlier this morning by David Kennedy, who > takes gorgeous photos and seems to either find, re-find, or document most of > the rarities around Montezuma. He included 5 pictures with the comment that > it was “Feeding along east shore of Seneca Flats,” and in this case it was a > re-find because he said it was “seen and photographed by Bob S. yesterday.” > > This appears to be the first documented record of Snowy Egret in the Cayuga > Lake Basin this year, and as I try to maintain First Records records list, > I’m looking for some help. Who is Bob S? Can I find the photo and record of > his sighting? Where did he see it? At this point I’m not trying to verify the > ID, I’m just looking for the standard information and credit that I include > on the list. > > Today, thanks to text rare bird alert messages, several additional people saw > this small, active egret at various places along the Wildlife Drive’s first > straightaway, and the adjacent Seneca River. Generally it progressed north > from Seneca Flats. It’s hard to say where it will be tomorrow, but I hope > that, if it sticks around in publicly accessible places, folks continue to > share its whereabouts so others can see this beautiful bird. > > - - Dave Nutter > -- > Cayugabirds-L List Info: > Welcome and Basics > Rules and Information > Subscribe, Configuration and Leave > Archives: > The Mail Archive > Surfbirds > ABA > Please submit your observations to eBird! > -- -- (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") Cayugabirds-L List Info: NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsRULES_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave_DOT_htm ARCHIVES: 1) mail-archive_DOT_com/cayugabirds-l@cornell_DOT_edu/maillist_DOT_html 2) surfbirds_DOT_com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) aba_DOT_org/birding-news/ Please submit your observations to eBird: ebird_DOT_org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Montezuma NWR Snowy Egret - RFI
Today I learned of - and eventually saw - a regionally rare Snowy Egret along the Wildlife Drive at Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge. I first learned of it from a text rare bird alert from Mark Miller at 10:25am that it was “last seen at Seneca Flats,” but I wondered about Mark’s use of passive voice and the lack of any picture from this avid photographer. As I prepared to look for the bird there was not yet any eBird report from Mark either. But there was an eBird report from earlier this morning by David Kennedy, who takes gorgeous photos and seems to either find, re-find, or document most of the rarities around Montezuma. He included 5 pictures with the comment that it was “Feeding along east shore of Seneca Flats,” and in this case it was a re-find because he said it was “seen and photographed by Bob S. yesterday.” This appears to be the first documented record of Snowy Egret in the Cayuga Lake Basin this year, and as I try to maintain First Records records list, I’m looking for some help. Who is Bob S? Can I find the photo and record of his sighting? Where did he see it? At this point I’m not trying to verify the ID, I’m just looking for the standard information and credit that I include on the list. Today, thanks to text rare bird alert messages, several additional people saw this small, active egret at various places along the Wildlife Drive’s first straightaway, and the adjacent Seneca River. Generally it progressed north from Seneca Flats. It’s hard to say where it will be tomorrow, but I hope that, if it sticks around in publicly accessible places, folks continue to share its whereabouts so others can see this beautiful bird. - - Dave Nutter -- (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") Cayugabirds-L List Info: NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsRULES_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave_DOT_htm ARCHIVES: 1) mail-archive_DOT_com/cayugabirds-l@cornell_DOT_edu/maillist_DOT_html 2) surfbirds_DOT_com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) aba_DOT_org/birding-news/ Please submit your observations to eBird: ebird_DOT_org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Montezuma NWR shorebird walks: next year
I asked about walks at Knox-Marsellus the next 2 Saturdays, which may have been too short of a lead time. Refuge staff replied that instead of having any more walks this year, they are instead going to plan for a better program next year. I suggested that an expanded time frame would be good, because the southbound shorebird migration in Seneca County is from early July through October with a varying mix of species. However, I think we must all understand that the refuge has several big challenges: first, creating bare mud and shallow water habitat; second, maintaining habitat during that time frame as vegetation takes over, or re-creating habitat in separate places; third, figuring out whether and how the public might be allowed to view those places given concerns of birds breeding, banding activity, the need to mow or cut viewing gaps, among other refuge concerns. - - Dave Nutter Begin forwarded message: > From: "Van Beusichem, Andrea" > Date: August 21, 2023 at 9:50:02 AM EDT > To: Dave Nutter > Subject: Re: [EXTERNAL] May I lead walks at Knox-Marsellus & Puddler 8/26 & > 9/2? > > Hi Dave, > > Thank you for your help getting the word out and getting the attendees lists > to Reuben for the the guided shorebird walks this year. We agree that these > walks are a great opportunity for people! However, we feel the need to > reevaluate how we are managing this opportunity, so we will not be providing > more walks this year. We will pick it up again next year. > > Take care, > Andrea > > Andrea Van Beusichem > Visitor Services Manager > Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge > 3395 US-20 East > Seneca Falls, NY 13148 > Cell: 315-237-9862 > Desk: 315-568-5987 x4228 > -- 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/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/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] Montezuma NWR 8/19 shorebird walk @ Tschache Pool dike
Tomorrow starting at 7:15am from the parking lot by the Tschache Pool Tower (NYS-89 just north of the Thruway) there will be a rare opportunity for members of the public onto the dike as part of a walk led by volunteer Reuben Stoltzfus to look for shorebirds who are migrating south now and stopping where there is shallow water or mudflats. Please bring binoculars, plus a scope if you have one. I plan to bring my scope and try to share views of any shorebirds with people who don’t have scopes, and I encourage others folks to do the same. Today Reuben helped with a shorebird count for the refuge from the Tschache dike, and they observed these shorebirds: a Black-bellied Plover “a bunch of Semipalmated Plovers” “a bunch of Killdeer” “lots of Least Sandpipers” “lots of Semipalmated Sandpipers” - minus 1 caught by a Merlin 2 Stilt Sandpipers 1 Baird’s Sandpiper (first of year for Cayuga Lake Basin, I believe) 5 Pectoral Sandpipers Spotted Sandpiper Solitary Sandpiper “lots of Greater Yellowlegs” “lots of Lesser Yellowlegs 1 Wilson’s Phalarope and dowitcher sp in flight Where there are lots of shorebirds, there are often falcons (beautiful in their own right) trying to eat them, which makes shorebird watching challenging. Today 3 Peregrines were present, one of which was chased by a Merlin. Of course what is there tomorrow may be different. Also there are several other caveats: The 5 viewing cuts in the cattails generally aim at stubble where it can be hard to see shorebirds. The cuts are not very wide, so only a few people can look any one direction through any one cut. We expect there to be a barricade this tomorrow which was not there last week, such that we will not be allowed to reach the best vantage for the best mudflat, which also involved looking through the tops of cattails. Tschache Pool is now set up to retain water, so the water level is higher than last week, and shorebird habitat at the south end of Tschache will probably disappear in the coming week. Meanwhile, at Knox-Marsellus Marsh, where we have had shorebird walks in past years, refuge staff say that the water level is being drawn down. So shorebird habitat should be created there, and maybe there can be guided walks there the next 2 Saturdays, August 26 & September 2, if anyone volunteers to lead them. - - Dave Nutter -- 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/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/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/ --
Re:[cayugabirds-l] Montezuma NWR guided shorebird walks
I just got word from Reuben Stoltzfus: There will NOT be a shorebird walk this Saturday, August 5th. Refuge staff will work on cutting some openings in the vegetation along the Tschache Pool dike over the next few days. There WILL BE shorebird walks led by Reuben on August 12th & August 19th. Reuben says that Andrea VanBeusichem, who is Visitor Services Manager for Montezuma NWR, will post a notice on Eventbrite (with which I am unfamiliar), and if you reply to that, it will help Reuben gauge how many people to expect. Meet Reuben at the Tschache Pool Tower parking lot at 7am to start the walks. Bring a scope if you have one, and please share what you find and assist others in seeing, hearing, and identifying shorebirds or asking questions. That’s what makes these walks work so well, in my opinion. That means staying close together enough to communicate and let the most people observe birds in case the birds do fly off, even though shorebirds are less skittish than many other birds. The refuge plans to place a barricade on the dike road, beyond which we visitors will not be allowed. Please respect this. If you would like to lead a shorebird walk on either August 26th or September 2, please call Reuben Stoltzfus at 607-869-9466. This number is for his roofing and construction business, but you should leave a message for him with option 3, which is for messages for Reuben’s family. I hope to see many of you, and some shorebirds as well, on August 12th & 19th! - - Dave Nutter > On Aug 2, 2023, at 4:55 AM, Dave Nutter wrote: > > For a number of years the management at Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge > has allowed a limited number of the public into normally restricted areas on > a few days in summer to observe migrant shorebirds on guided walks. > > Reuben Stoltzfus has been talking to staff to see what can be arranged this > year, hoping for a series of morning walks through August into the beginning > of September. They would happen on Saturdays, which would allow Amish and > Mennonite birders to participate. Reuben asked me to write to CayugaBirds-L > to let you know what’s happening. Anyone is welcome to forward this info to > other regional list-serves. > > The shorebird habitat is best at Tschache Pool, so that’s where he > anticipates walks to occur, but the vegetation is currently too tall > alongside the dike road to view it except by standing on the bed of a pick-up > truck. That’s how Jay McGowan, helping the folks who regularly census the > birds for the refuge, was able to amass a very respectable list of shorebird > species a couple days ago. Public vehicles would not be allowed on walks, so > staff will have to cut some gaps in the roadside vegetation before walks are > practical, and there will be a limit as to how far along the > several-mile-long dike that walks will be allowed to go. > > If staff are able to do this work in the next few days, then the first walk > might be this Saturday, August 5th, and Reuben is willing to lead a trip that > morning. That would be very short notice, so keep an eye out for a sign-up > notice. Reuben also plans to lead walks on the 12th and the 19th, when it is > more likely that the habitat will be viewable. If there are folks willing to > lead walks on August 26th and September 2nd, when Reuben cannot, that would > be great, so please think about helping that way. When word goes out how to > sign up to go on the early walks, that may also be the chance to sign up to > lead a later walk. > > If and when walks are permitted, Reuben anticipates starting at 7am at the > parking lot by the Tschache Pool tower off NYS-89 just north its I-90 > overpass. Numbers of participants should not be as limited as they were > during COVID. I hope to have more information for you soon. > > - - Dave Nutter -- 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/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/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] Montezuma NWR guided shorebird walks
For a number of years the management at Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge has allowed a limited number of the public into normally restricted areas on a few days in summer to observe migrant shorebirds on guided walks. Reuben Stoltzfus has been talking to staff to see what can be arranged this year, hoping for a series of morning walks through August into the beginning of September. They would happen on Saturdays, which would allow Amish and Mennonite birders to participate. Reuben asked me to write to CayugaBirds-L to let you know what’s happening. Anyone is welcome to forward this info to other regional list-serves. The shorebird habitat is best at Tschache Pool, so that’s where he anticipates walks to occur, but the vegetation is currently too tall alongside the dike road to view it except by standing on the bed of a pick-up truck. That’s how Jay McGowan, helping the folks who regularly census the birds for the refuge, was able to amass a very respectable list of shorebird species a couple days ago. Public vehicles would not be allowed on walks, so staff will have to cut some gaps in the roadside vegetation before walks are practical, and there will be a limit as to how far along the several-mile-long dike that walks will be allowed to go. If staff are able to do this work in the next few days, then the first walk might be this Saturday, August 5th, and Reuben is willing to lead a trip that morning. That would be very short notice, so keep an eye out for a sign-up notice. Reuben also plans to lead walks on the 12th and the 19th, when it is more likely that the habitat will be viewable. If there are folks willing to lead walks on August 26th and September 2nd, when Reuben cannot, that would be great, so please think about helping that way. When word goes out how to sign up to go on the early walks, that may also be the chance to sign up to lead a later walk. If and when walks are permitted, Reuben anticipates starting at 7am at the parking lot by the Tschache Pool tower off NYS-89 just north its I-90 overpass. Numbers of participants should not be as limited as they were during COVID. I hope to have more information for you soon. - - Dave Nutter -- 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/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/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] Montezuma NWR Shorebird Walk This Morning Sun August 11th - 71 species, 12 species of shorebirds
All, We had nice group of birders this morning Sunday August 11th for the first of several shorebird walks at Montezuma along the dike between Knox-Marsellus and Puddler's Marsh. We had between 20 and 25 people. The weather was perfect: low humidity, a light breeze and few insect issues. The habitat is improving for shorebirds near the dike but farther out there is a lot of low vegetation and shallow water with only a few muddy areas within low vegetation. Water levels are still a bit high but continue to slowly fall. I suspect the next 2-3 weeks there were be even more habitat which times nice with peak shorebird migration for our area. My ebird list is here: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S58911735 If you want me to share this list with you, send me your email. Also if you have photos and accept this list, feel free to upload them. I have quite a few species on this list that I heard in the woods by Towpath and also in the woods by the beginning. This list likely is not all inclusive either. More details are below. Right off the bat we got lucky as a whole flock of shorebirds landed right in front of us on the muddy areas at the very beginning of the canal. Among this flock were 7 WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS, PECTORAL, LEAST, SEMIPALMATED, SPOTTED and SOLITARY SANDPIPERS. Both species of yellowlegs were present along with KILLDEER and SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS. A WILSON'S SNIPE was also nearby making 11 species! Many with close views. These birds lasted long enough for most to get on but then took off. Later the group was re-found farther out within muddy areas in the vegetation. I saw them in flight and was more certain on the number of white-rumps I also had a flyover DOWITCHER that I couldn't ID to the species level. This bird flew toward Puddler's Marsh and dropped out of sight. That made 12 species of shorebirds. But there was many other birds which made the trip special today. The shear number of waders was impressive. Over 100 GREAT BLUE HERONS and over 100 GREAT EGRETS were counted. We also had at least 10 GREEN HERONS. There were 2 LEAST BITTERNS seen, and 2 AMERICAN BITTERNS as well as many BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS. One of the LEAST BITTERNs was in a lone patch of reeds not far from the dike giving many excellent views. Also impressive was the number and diversity of waterfowl. MALLARDS, BLACK DUCK, NORTHERN PINTAIL, GADWALL, WOOD DUCK, AMERICAN WIGEON, BLUE and GREEN WINGED TEAL, RUDDY DUCK, REDHEADS, CANVASBACK, HOODED MERGANSERS, CANADA GEESE and TRUMPETER SWANS rounds out the waterfowl. SANDHILL CRANES also put on a show flying by and croaking several times. We had 12 of this species. We had a close encounter with a NORTHERN HARRIER which was coarsing very low over the dike close to us. There were brief views of a VIRGINIA RAIL. We also had impressive numbers of PIED BILLED GREBES with 117 counted! I would like to thank all who participated this morning and for sharing your scopes and expertise with everyone. Also thanks to Andrea Van Beusichem and Linda Ziemba at the Montezuma Wildlife Refuge for allowing these walks. As the other Dave N just emailed, the next shorebird walk will be this coming Saturday August 17th. Dave Nutter and Bob McGuire will be leading. Meeting time is 7 am at the Montezuma Visitors center. See Dave Nutter's email for more details. Best, Dave Nicosia -- 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/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/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] Montezuma NWR shorebird walk Saturday 17 August
This morning I joined Dave Nicosia for a guided walk onto the dikes around Knox-Marsellus marsh seeking shorebirds. I don’t want to steal his thunder, so suffice it to say the trip was successful. I expect he will send out the impressive list shortly, if he hasn’t already. He will be leading 2 more walks, also on Sundays, at 2-week intervals. I would like to announce that on the alternate weekends there will be similar walks on Saturdays: This coming Saturday, 17 August, Bob McGuire and I will lead another shorebird walk. We will again meet at 7am at the Montezuma NWR Visitor Center, which is on NYS-5/US-50 between NYS-89 and NYS-90 east of Seneca Falls. From there we will drive to the overlook on East Road and spend the rest of the morning walking a couple unprotected shadeless miles to see what birds we can find, concentrating on the several species of shorebirds which have been pausing at the refuge during their southbound migration from their far northern breeding grounds. This walk into a normally closed area of the refuge is free and open to the public. Dress for the weather and bring binoculars, a field guide, drinking water, and a snack. If you have a spotting scope, please bring it, and if you are willing to share scope views and expertise, as Bob and I will be doing, that will be welcome. This can be a chance to see and learn about some distant and subtle birds. There will also be a similar trip on Saturday, 31 August, led by Josh Snodgrass and myself. - - Dave Nutter -- 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/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/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] Montezuma NWR Shorebird Walk This Saturday 25 August 7 am
This coming Saturday morning, 25 August, there will be another shorebird walk into normally restricted areas at the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge. At 7am we will caravan from the Montezuma NWR Visitor Center to the East Rd overlook. Folks can meet us at the East Road overlook at 715 am if they want. Directions: The Montezuma NWR Visitor Center address is 3395 U.S. Route 20 East, Seneca Falls, a road also known as NY-5/US-20 or simply “5 & 20”. The refuge entrance is between intersections with NY-90 and with NY-89 and located just west of the bridge over the Seneca River which forms the border between the Cayuga County Town of Montezuma in and the Seneca County Town of Tyre. >From that driveway: Turn right/west on NY-5/US-20, and go 1.6 miles to the traffic light, Turn right/north on NY-89, and go 3.9 miles, Just after crossing the big bridge over the Clyde River and Erie Canal, turn right/east onto North Mays Point Rd, and go 1/10 mile, Turn left/north onto unmarked East Rd, and go 7/10 mile to the gravel parking area for the Knox-Marsellus Marsh overlook. Assemble about 7:15am at the parking area overlook on East Rd, joining people who have gone there directly. After a brief introduction & scan of the marsh from the overlook, we will walk down to the north dike of Knox-Marsellus Marsh, probably continuing to the northeast dike of Puddler Marsh, and possibly along the dike in between the two impoundments as well. Our primary goal is to observe shorebirds on their southbound migration who stop here to feed and rest in the shallow water, on the mud, and in the nearby short vegetation within the impoundments. Other birds and wildlife are also of interest. Bring binoculars and a field guide. If you have a spotting scope, please bring it. The trip is open to the public and there is no fee, but I ask that people participate in these ways: If you have ID expertise, please share it. If you have ID questions, please ask them. If you notice birds or behaviors that other folks seem not to have yet noticed, please point them out. Although shorebirds are fairly tolerant of people, other birds may move away from us, such as herons, ducks, and songbirds. Please try to stay with the group enough that we can communicate and enable the most people to observe any birds before or when they flush. I will be compiling a list of the birds we observe to share with CayugaBirds-L and refuge staff, so please tell me what you find. These trips are a great opportunity to learn about shorebirds, and with luck we will see and compare several species. This will be a slow walk with much stopping and standing on grass & weeds which have been mowed awhile back and also driven upon by refuge vehicles. Most of it is level, but East Rd is atop a drumlin above the impoundments, so there is a substantial hill at the beginning and the end of the walk. The round trip distance is only a couple miles, but we could be out until noon, although certainly anyone can leave early. Dress for the weather, as there is no shelter. Bring water & a snack. Insects have not been much of a problem, but you should probably make some effort to deter ticks and check for them afterward. Thank-you to the refuge staff for maintaining the habitat for shorebirds. It’s actually not easy to have expanses of mud and shallow fresh water on demand for several months in a place where vegetation can quickly overgrow it, or evaporation can dry it out, or rains can flood it. Thanks particularly to Biologist Linda Ziemba and Visitor Services Manager Andrea Van Beusichem for arranging these trips to happen. Dave Nicosia P.S Thanks to Dave Nutter for leading last week and providing such a nice template email for me to use!! -- 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/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/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] Montezuma NWR Shorebird Walk Saturday 18 August
This coming Saturday morning, 18 August, there will be another shorebird walk into normally restricted areas at the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge. I will be leading it, substituting for Dave Nicosia, but the plans remain the same: At 7am we will caravan from the Montezuma NWR Visitor Center to the East Rd overlook. Directions: The Montezuma NWR Visitor Center address is 3395 U.S. Route 20 East, Seneca Falls, a road also known as NY-5/US-20 or simply “5 & 20”. The refuge entrance is between intersections with NY-90 and with NY-89 and located just west of the bridge over the Seneca River which forms the border between the Cayuga County Town of Montezuma in and the Seneca County Town of Tyre. >From that driveway: Turn right/west on NY-5/US-20, and go 1.6 miles to the traffic light, Turn right/north on NY-89, and go 3.9 miles, Just after crossing the big bridge over the Clyde River and Erie Canal, turn right/east onto North Mays Point Rd, and go 1/10 mile, Turn left/north onto unmarked East Rd, and go 7/10 mile to the gravel parking area for the Knox-Marsellus Marsh overlook. Assemble about 7:15am at the parking area overlook on East Rd, joining people who have gone there directly. After a brief introduction & scan of the marsh from the overlook, we will walk down to the north dike of Knox-Marsellus Marsh, probably continuing to the northeast dike of Puddler Marsh, and possibly along the dike in between the two impoundments as well. Our primary goal is to observe shorebirds on their southbound migration who stop here to feed and rest in the shallow water, on the mud, and in the nearby short vegetation within the impoundments. Other birds and wildlife are also of interest. Bring binoculars and a field guide. If you have a spotting scope, please bring it. The trip is open to the public and there is no fee, but I ask that people participate in these ways: If you have ID expertise, please share it. If you have ID questions, please ask them. If you notice birds or behaviors that other folks seem not to have yet noticed, please point them out. Although shorebirds are fairly tolerant of people, other birds may move away from us, such as herons, ducks, and songbirds. Please try to stay with the group enough that we can communicate and enable the most people to observe any birds before or when they flush. I will be compiling a list of the birds we observe to share with CayugaBirds-L and refuge staff, so please tell me what you find. These trips are a great opportunity to learn about shorebirds, and with luck we will see and compare several species. This will be a slow walk with much stopping and standing on grass & weeds which have been mowed awhile back and also driven upon by refuge vehicles. Most of it is level, but East Rd is atop a drumlin above the impoundments, so there is a substantial hill at the beginning and the end of the walk. The round trip distance is only a couple miles, but we could be out until noon, although certainly anyone can leave early. Dress for the weather, as there is no shelter. Bring water & a snack. Insects have not been much of a problem, but you should probably make some effort to deter ticks and check for them afterward. Thank-you to the refuge staff for maintaining the habitat for shorebirds. It’s actually not easy to have expanses of mud and shallow fresh water on demand for several months in a place where vegetation can quickly overgrow it, or evaporation can dry it out, or rains can flood it. Thanks particularly to Biologist Linda Ziemba and Visitor Services Manager Andrea Van Beusichem for arranging these trips to happen. - - Dave Nutter -- 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/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/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/ --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Montezuma NWR Tschache Pool Spring Shorebird Walk May 26th, 2018
Thanks to YOU Dave for taking the time and energy and talent to set this up. Great experience with lots of good, knowledgeable people. I've definitely grown in my confidence with shorebird identification.See you again in late summer!Pete Sar Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone Original message From: David Nicosia <daven102...@gmail.com> Date: 5/27/18 9:59 AM (GMT-05:00) To: NY Birds <nysbird...@cornell.edu>, Cayuga birds <CAYUGABIRDS-L@cornell.edu>, broomebi...@googlegroups.com Cc: "Van Beusichem, Andrea" <andrea_vanbeusic...@fws.gov>, "Ziemba, Linda" <linda_zie...@fws.gov> Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Montezuma NWR Tschache Pool Spring Shorebird Walk May 26th, 2018 All, We had an awesome turnout for the second spring shorebird walk along part of the restricted area of Tschache Pool. I estimated at least 45 people as some came later and others left earlier. There were 27 cars parked at the parking area by the tower at Tschache at one point! This was the second walk for the spring shorebird season at Tschache allowed by the Montezuma Refuge staff. Much thanks to Andrea VanBeusichem for organizing these walks. The weather was very warm and humid and after a string of warm days and south winds we did't have the numbers of shorebirds as last week as many have moved on. However, we still had 9 species of shorebirds which offered excellent looks including close views of BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, DUNLIN (breeding plumage), WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER (breeding plumage), SEMIPALMATED and LEAST SANDPIPERS. There was also a nice adult breeding EURASIAN WIGEON. We had many top-notch birders along which made a big difference in finding birds and teaching people about shorebirds for such a large group. I couldn't have done this alone. A BIG thanks to these folks. I would also like to thank Mike DeWispelaere who came up with me all the way from Norwich and took some nice photos and kept the checklist. We totaled 72 species many of which we heard in the woods adjacent to Tschache. Our ebird list can be found here with photoshttps://ebird.org/view/checklist/S46038624 Best,Dave Nicosia -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: Welcome and Basics Rules and Information Subscribe, Configuration and Leave Archives: The Mail Archive Surfbirds BirdingOnThe.Net Please submit your observations to 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/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/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/ --
Re:[nysbirds-l] [cayugabirds-l] Montezuma NWR Guided Spring Shorebird Walk around Tschache Pool This Morning May 19th
corrected typo. ugh. All, I had the good fortune of leading a shorebird walk around Tschache Pool between 7 am and noon this morning, Saturday May 19th. This is part of Montezuma's Guided Shorebird Walk program of which they are allowing access to the trail along Tschache Pool. This allowed for close views of migrating shorebirds. It was windy and pouring rain at times but I still had 7 people including some top-notch birders who were a big help in finding many shorebird species. We had the following shorebirds collectively as a group... LEAST SANDPIPER estimated at least 1000 DUNLIN (most in breeding plumage) estimated around 150 SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER estimated around 50WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER 4-6 birds. SPOTTED SANDPIPER several SOLITARY SANDPIPER 1 seen by Jay McGowan. GREATER YELLOWLEGS 1LESSER YELLOWLEGS estimated up to 20. KILLDEER several SEMIPALMATED PLOVER estimated up to 20. AMERICAN AVOCET!! The bird flew into Tschache briefly and then flew out (presumably back to Benning)BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER- about 12-14 birds.AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER 2 birds seen distant by Jay McGowan and Tim LenzSTILT SANDPIPER- 1 bird seen by Jay / Tim again.Possible SANDERLING seen by Tim Lenz. That's 14 species of shorebirds and we estimated up to 2000 birds and possibly more. Many of the birds were fairly close and made for good comparisons of least vs semipalmated sandpipers, and white-rumped sandpipers vs the other peeps. It was a great learning experience. Here is Jay McGowan's and Tim Lenz's ebird checklist which captures all of what many of us saw and/or heard collectively. https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S45830396 As a reminder, next Saturday May 26th at 7 am we are going to do this again. Meet at the Montezuma Visitor's Center 7 am and we may quickly do wildlife drive and then walk the trail around part of Tschache Pool like today. Given that shorebird migration is picking up next weekend could have even more. Let's hope so! I would like to extend much thanks to Andrea Van Beusichem and all the fine folks at Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge for allowing this excellent opportunity to see our migrating spring shorebirds! Hope to see many of you next weekend! Best,Dave Nicosia -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: Welcome and Basics Rules and Information Subscribe, Configuration and Leave Archives: The Mail Archive Surfbirds BirdingOnThe.Net Please submit your observations to eBird! -- -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Montezuma NWR 30Sep2017
Kevin and I headed up the lake this afternoon to see if any new shorebirds had dropped in at Montezuma. We didn't find anything incredible, but a nice variety of shorebirds remained up there. The highlight of the drive up was a juvenile COMMON GALLINULE walking around amid Mallards on the algae mats at the Mill Pond in Union Springs. The Visitor Center at Montezuma continues to have good habitat, but picking out small shorebirds is challenging amid the clods of mud. An adult BAIRD'S SANDPIPER–a rare plumage here–continued from last weekend, but the Wilson's Phalarope did not. Also present were a flock of PECTORAL SANDPIPERS with a single DUNLIN, as well as a STILT SANDPIPER that was chased by a Tundra Peregrine Falcon. http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S39481464 Duck numbers are increasing on the main pool, and an eclipse EURASIAN WIGEON was among the dabblers in the back, along with Ring-necked Ducks, Redhead, and one group of Lesser Scaup. A flock of 5000+ NORTHERN PINTAIL has accumulated along the northern end of the pool. Benning Marsh had even more shorebirds, including LEAST, SEMIPALMATED, WHITE-RUMPED, PECTORAL, and STILT SANDPIPERS, DUNLIN, both YELLOWLEGS, WILSON'S SNIPE, Killdeer, SEMIPALMATED, 3 BLACK-BELLIED and 1 AMERICAN GOLDEN- PLOVERS, and two LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, with another 16 Long-billed Dowitchers at Eaton. http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S39481460 Overall shorebird numbers were far from impressive, but 15 species isn't bad for the final day of September. Cheers, Jay -- Jay McGowan Macaulay Library Cornell Lab of Ornithology jw...@cornell.edu -- 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/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/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] Montezuma NWR shorebird walk this Sunday, 17 July
The southbound shorebird migration is underway, and many of them are gathering at Montezuma NWR. In recent days there have been Solitary Sandpipers, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Short-billed Dowitchers and at least one Long-billed Dowitcher, Pectoral Sandpiper, Least and Semipalmated Sandpipers, in addition to the locally breeding Spotted Sandpipers and Killdeer, plus more species are on their way. Recent finds which have not been reported in awhile include Wilson's Phalarope and Black-necked Stilt. I've gotten permission to lead a shorebird walk on Sunday 17 July onto the dikes around Knox-Marsellus and Puddler Marshes of Montezuma NWR, areas which the refuge usually keeps closed to the public. This is a great opportunity to see and compare a variety of shorebirds, plus there are many other great birds in these marshes. For folks who have gone on these walks in previous summers the guidelines will be familiar: The walks are open to the public. There is no fee. We will meet at the Montezuma NWR Visitor Center on NY-5/US-20. This trip will be leaving the Visitor Center promptly at 7am, driving directly to the overlook on East Road (located here: 43.0115,-76.7588) arriving about 7:15am. Although it's okay to arrive late or leave early, please do not jump the gun and go onto the dikes before the main group. I'd like to stay together, at least initially, so that we can share what we find. I hope we don't flush many birds but if we do I'd at least like everyone to have a chance to see them. If you have a spotting scope, please bring it and be willing to share views and expertise. The terrain will be easy, level except for the descent from and climb back up to East Road. We will be where refuge vehicles drive, so it will have been mowed sometime recently. Mud and standing water should not be an issue where we walk, but dew may be. There will be a mile or two of walking, depending on how far you want to go, plus a lot of standing around. Plan on at least a couple hours, although I generally stay longer. Insects have surprisingly not been a problem in the past, but if you want to use repellent, especially against ticks, I wouldn't blame you. There is no shade, and the weather will get hot, even though we are starting fairly early, so you may want to bring water and a sun hat. Please do not bring dogs. I hope to see many of you - and many more birds - there. --Dave Nutter -- 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/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/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] Montezuma NWR 12 Sept: 17 shorebird species
I joined Mike & Joanne Tetlow today for the last shorebirding field trip this season onto the dikes by Knox-Marsellus and Puddler marshes at Montezuma NWR. These dikes will be open one final time next Saturday, 19 September, during the Montezuma Muckrace, but it won't be a field trip situation. Competitive teams may be in a hurry and reluctant to share information, nor are they even allowed to ask for information. However there will also be non-competitive teams, and they might share information. I don't know if the dikes will be open during the Friday evening hours of the Muckrace, which is a 24-hour bird-a-thon starting at 7pm. Today about 20 of us walked down from the East Road overlook at about 10:40 under heavy clouds and light rain. Shorebirds were not numerous, and we didn't have high expectations because Peregrine Falcons have been working the area lately, but there were some treats. Before we set out Mike pointed out 3 transitional plumage adult AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS on the far side of K-M. Then a flock of 11 of them flew over us. I don't know if they circled back, but later we saw about that many on the mud of in the east part of Puddler, including one in nearly complete breeding plumage. Several KILLDEER, one or two SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS on the far part of Puddler, and a juvenile BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER along the shore of Puddler closer to K-M completed our sweep of the usual plover species. The latter bird obligingly flew a bit, showing off black axillaries and a white rump. A similar but much more distant bird did not get as much attention and did not raise its wings to show plain gray wing-bits and rump, but I think it was a juvenile American Golden-Plover because it showed a bit more of a dark cap and light brow. In the northeast corner of K-M near the water's edge of an expanse of mud I noticed a BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER, which eventually allowed wonderfully close scope views as we approached on the dike. Such a lovely and delicate bird! As I was trying to direct people to it I noticed a non-breeding plumage RUDDY TURNSTONE, which also stayed the entire time we were there. We also had excellent views of a flock of 9 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, and there were a few cooperative LEAST SANDPIPERS and LESSER YELLOWLEGS as well, but the only GREATER YELLOWLEGS waded in the far northeast corner of Puddler, and we did not get very close. At K-M I also scoped a distant WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER along the muddy south east shore: a long pale gray peep with a small darker gray head and that gray extending down onto the breast, and a slightly downcurved bill. It was picking delicately at the mud. Unfortunately by the time we got closer it had disappeared, nor did I see it on Puddler's mud. Such are the mysteries of birding which make me doubt birds' permanent physical existance. At any rate, I tallied 11 shorebird species on the walk. Also exciting were the SANDHILL CRANE family trio, several BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS, which were life birds for some of us, and a briefly cooperative AMERICAN BITTERN. The northern part of K-M was teeming with swallows, including scores of TREE SWALLOWS which rested on the mud. In the air not far from the northern dike we saw several TREE, many NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED, several BANK, some BARN, and a single CLIFF SWALLOW. In the shrubs along the dike some of the party toward the front saw a couple YELLOW WARBLERS, some of us toward the back saw a PALM WARBLER, and I think most of us heard or saw COMMON YELLOWTHROAT. Both SONG and SAVANNAH SPARROWS were along the dikes. There were 2 CASPIAN TERNS among dozens of resting RING-BILLED GULLS and a handful of HERRING GULLS. DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS kept their distance from us, as did a GREAT BLUE HERON. Waterfowl included CANADA GEESE, WOOD DUCKS, an AMERICAN BLACK DUCK seen flying away, and several each of AMERICAN WIGEON, MALLARD, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, and NORTHERN SHOVELER. Over the adjacent fields we saw a NORTHERN HARRIER, a few BOBOLINKS, and several flocks of hundreds of RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS, most of the latter lacking tails. After the walk, the field trip returned to the Wildlife Drive where we also tallied 11 shorebird species, but many were different. From the Visitor Center before we originally left I saw 5 SOLITARY SANDPIPERS, and later I also saw 2 of them along the right side of the start of the Wildlife Drive in the slough to the Seneca River. Eaton Marsh was a real shorebird hot spot. It hosted juvenile SHORT-BILLED and LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS with a WILSON's SNIPE feedling alongside them in open water. There was also a winter-plumage dowitcher which I suspect was Long-billed, and another dowitcher which was in some strange plumage, sort of like a juvenile on the head, neck, breast, and below, but above it lacked the expected light feather edges, instead being solidly dark brown as if soaking wet, and its tertials were plain. This bird looked scruffy and it
[cayugabirds-l] Montezuma NWR 9/12 Shorebird walk
Eighteen people ignored the forecast today and joined Joann and I for the last shorebird walk of the season accessing the dikes at Knox-marcellus and Puddler's marshes. The first highlight for me was the youngest birder ever to attend one of our field trips-a bundled up 2 month old! Carried and kept warm and dry over a wet 2 mile walk by very motivated parents. We were discouraged by the report from the previous day of NO shorebirds but hoped the rain would ground migrants and not just soak us. >From the East Road overlook we started with the 3 Sandhill Cranes and 3 Am. Golden plovers on the mudflat followed by a flock of 11 Am. Golden plovers flying out overhead to the west. There was an unusually large number of swallows either feeding or sitting on all the mudflats and as we reached the bottom of the hill we were able to pick out Bank, Barn,Rough-winged,Tree and a single Cliff Swallow, all at eye level or lower. Looking past the blur of swallows we found another Golden Plover plus a Ruddy Turnstone followed by a beautiful Buff-breasted Sandpiper; all three of which never left the NE corner of Knox and gave us great views. Also there: 2 Greater and 4 Lesser yellowlegs, 6 Least,8 Pectoral Sandpipers and 1 distant White-rumped Sandpiper. That bird was seen briefly on Puddler's where we picked up a juvenile Black-bellied Plover and a group of 6 Semi-palmated Plovers. We had at least 8 Black-crowned Night herons around the traditional large roost trees on the north edge of the marsh. The surprise there was a cooperative American Bittern spotted in the culvert along the dike. Very few shorebirds compared to past years but a great mix! The Northern Shoveler and Green-wingedTteal numbers are creeping up a bit there but no Wigeon for us. The next stop was back to the Visitor Center. They have disked the majority of the meadow there and water was collecting but only a couple Lesser Yellowlegs and several Solitary Sandpipers stopped in briefly then flew on. Starting the wildlife drive, the first puddle held the usual 2 Solitary Sandpipers and Lesser Yellowlegs. Larue lagoon was occupied by Wood ducks and a couple Mallards. The main pool is now being filled and a flock of 13 No. Pintail circled it. Onward to Eaton marsh (previously Shorebird Flats) where all the birds were close and good studies. These included 8 Stilt,6 Pectoral, 8 least and 6 Semi-palmated sandpipers, great looks at both Yellowlegs and at least 10 Short-billed and 4 Long-billed dowitchers. A surprise to me was a winter plumage adult Long-billed(already). A Snipe feeding out in the middle of the pond was a surprise but 2 found hidden in the reeds were the ones we worked for. Sharp ears picked out the call of the first of 3 Snipe to fly out. There was only a single Great Egret there and the 2 Trumpeter Swans seen earlier by others had moved on. Cold and wet, we scanned Benning Marsh quickly and didn't count the good numbers of Lesser Yellowlegs(20 plus) or Pectoral sandpipers(about a dozen). The thruway ponds only produced a couple Great Egrets. The last stop was the weigh station along route 89 where a look behind the buildings produced 16 Great Egrets on a pretty good mudflat. Unfortunately the lead car missed the Peregrine Falcon sitting treetop along the road-better there than chasing our shorebirds on the mudflats. Thanks for all who attended and stuck it out helping us find a great mix totaling 58 species. Mike Tetlow -- 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/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/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] Montezuma NWR shorebird walk 2 August
As in the past couple years, Montezuma NWR's dikes around Knox-Marsellus Marsh, which are ordinarily closed to the public, will be open to birders on foot for several field trips in the summer to look for shorebirds on the mud flats where the water has been drawn down. I am leading the first such trip of which I am aware. Meet at the Montezuma NWR Visitor Center off NYS-5/US-20 between NYS-89 and NYS-90. I plan to leave there at *8am*. Because the NYS-89 bridge over the Eire Canal and Clyde river is closed, I suggest driving east on NYS-5/US-20, north (and north again) on NYS-90, west on NYS-31, west on NYS-89, and south on East Road to the overlook. Because Towpath Road is in such terrible shape with huge ponds gouged out by inconsiderate drivers of 4-wheelers and pick-up trucks, I plan to walk down starting at *8:20am* from the overlook and along the north side of K-M marsh to the dike between K-M and Puddler where viewing in the morning light will be best for the mud flats on K-M. Although you may leave whenever you like, I would like the group to start out together so we can share our observations and learn from one another. Bring field guides, binoculars, telescopes if you have them (and please be willing to share views with those who don't). Dress for the weather (sun, wind, /or rain), for the vegetation (grass which may be mowed by then but may be wet), and for the wildlife (bring mosquito repellent!). There is no fee or membership required. I believe there will be another field trip led by Steve Benedict on 15 August, but I don't know when, exactly where, or any details. When I learn more about that or other such trips, I will pass the info along. --Dave Nutter -- 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/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/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] Montezuma NWR
Hi all, We took a trip up the lake from Ithaca today to Montezuma. There were more ducks then I thought there would be along the wildlife drive, and we were lucky enough to see the two American avocets at Knox-Marcellus marsh. Here is what we saw: Union Springs pond - 1 redhead Long Point road - kestrel MNWR Wildlife Drive (main pool) - mallard wigeon pintail - many in eclipse plumage, feeding with bottoms up close to the road wood duck - 2 in eclipse plumage greenwing teal - 1 female tundra swans double crested cormorant common gallinule - many juvenile and adults coot - lots gadwall great egret-2 great blue heron-many greater yellowlegs - 5 bald eagle - 2 peregrine falcon - one perched on the tall dead tree just at the curve where the road turns left and parallels Benning Marsh Knox-Marcellus Marsh American avocet - 2, actively feeding and flying around, always staying together sandhill crane - 5 great egrets - 10 numerous small waders, flying in 3-4 groups, way too far for us to identify but really nice to watch Canada geese, cormorants, gulls, tree swallows, great blue herons, mallards It was really nice day out! Laura Laura Stenzler l...@cornell.edu -- 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/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/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] Montezuma NWR--Knox-Marsellus Marsh, Sep 1. Pat Martin
Sadly, circumstances prevented me from attending yesterday's dike walk, but today's list of 15-16 shorebirds was still a great haul, considering only 2 pairs of eyes and not 30. Most significantly, we missed the flock (!) of White-rumped Sandpipers mentioned in yesterday's report. After leaving Towpath Road, we spent a few minutes on East Road, hoping to pick up what we had missed, but it was still too early in the day for the light to be right. Pat Martin emartin...@earthlink.net Montezuma NWR--Knox-Marsellus Marsh, Seneca, US-NY Sep 1, 2014 8:50 AM - 11:32 AM Protocol: Stationary Comments: joined by Micky Salingo 38 species (+1 other taxa) Canada Goose 162 Mallard 18 Blue-winged Teal 4 Green-winged Teal 4 dabbling duck sp. 30 estimate of those too far to ID Hooded Merganser 21 Double-crested Cormorant 92 Great Blue Heron 27 Great Egret 51 Northern Harrier 1 multiple passes of presumably a single bird Black-bellied Plover 5 American Golden-Plover 4 Semipalmated Plover 9 Killdeer 30 estimate Greater Yellowlegs 5 Lesser Yellowlegs 40 estimate Hudsonian Godwit 2 foraging together, continuing birds Ruddy Turnstone 1 Stilt Sandpiper 2 Micky only Sanderling 2 Baird's Sandpiper 2 in a flock of peeps that ventured close enough for ID Least Sandpiper 200 estimate, probably low Pectoral Sandpiper 2 Semipalmated Sandpiper 200 estimate, probably low Short-billed Dowitcher 40 exact count, two passes Wilson's Phalarope 1 Ring-billed Gull 131 Herring Gull 9 Caspian Tern 18 Peregrine Falcon 1 Red-eyed Vireo 1 along Towpath Road American Crow 2 along Towpath rd Barn Swallow 10 estimate Black-capped Chickadee 2 on Towpath Rd American Robin 2 on Towpath Rd Gray Catbird 1 Cedar Waxwing 2 Northern Cardinal 1 on Towpath Rd American Goldfinch 7 View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S19642653 This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org) -- 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/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/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] Montezuma NWR--Knox-Marsellus Marsh, Jul 27, 2014
Today was the first of several opportunities offered by the Montezuma National Wildlife staff to walk along the dike separating Knox-Marcellus and Puddler Marshes to get closer views of the shorebirds congregating there. Multiple pairs of eyes failed to turn up any rarities, but we had wonderful comparison looks at Short and Long-billed Dowitchers and certainly enjoyed the huge White Pelican. Pat Martin Montezuma NWR--Knox-Marsellus Marsh, Seneca, US-NY Jul 27, 2014 8:30 AM - 11:30 AM Protocol: Traveling 0.3 mile(s) Comments: with Dave Nutter, Jay McGowan, 20ish others on dike walk across Knox-Marcellus 36 species Canada Goose 40 Wood Duck 3 American Black Duck 1 Mallard 30 Hooded Merganser 6 Great White Pelican 1 huge white bird with yellow-orange bill and legs; bill with knob on upper mandible, continuing Great Blue Heron 37 Great Egret 8 Green Heron 2 Northern Harrier 1 Sandhill Crane 2 Semipalmated Plover 30 partial count, then estimate Killdeer 3 many heard, but surprisingly few visible out on the mudflats Spotted Sandpiper 1 seen by Jay McGowan Solitary Sandpiper 1 calling bird flying over, which landed in Puddler's marsh and disappeared Greater Yellowlegs 3 Lesser Yellowlegs 100 partial count, then estimate Stilt Sandpiper 3 Least Sandpiper 20 MANY fewer than semipalmated Pectoral Sandpiper 20 estimate Semipalmated Sandpiper 400 partial count, then estimate, confirmed with others Short-billed Dowitcher 2 Long-billed Dowitcher 4 Bonaparte's Gull 2 Ring-billed Gull 34 Caspian Tern 12 Black Tern 4 perhaps more; flying back and forth Purple Martin 1 Tree Swallow X Bank Swallow X Barn Swallow X Marsh Wren 2 Cedar Waxwing X fly overs Yellow Warbler 1 Swamp Sparrow 2 Red-winged Blackbird 10 View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S19235716 This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org) -- 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/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/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] Montezuma NWR Friday am - large swallow roost
I was excited to find a large swallow roost (mostly Trees, but a few Barns and Banks) a short way along the wildlife drive at Montezuma NWR this morning. Thousands of swallows were perched among the cattails and the pink flowers of swamp rose-mallows, they were there when I arrived about 7am. They mostly stayed put, flying up a couple of times when eagles flew over or something else spooked them before settling down again, allowing me to observe and photograph them for over two hours before they finally flew en masse out of the roost to forage. A couple of photos are here: http://marieread.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/Tree-Swallow/GYOpvGGFa3n8/IZRcNxn0V7qs/CJGA3u3.D1t8 http://marieread.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/Tree-Swallow/GYOpvGGFa3n8/I2zBp95hsqyw/CJGA3u3.D1t8 Elsewhere along the drive were families of Moorhens (one pair with 6 chicks!) and Pied-billed Grebes (young almost adult-sized still being fed by parents). Also 6 or more Bald Eagle immatures, several Black Terns, Osprey etc. (Sorry, no I didn't go chasing shorebirds…;-)) ) Ithaca birders, if you go to Montezuma this weekend be aware that from Aurora northward is the (annual?) Rt 90 community yard sale…I must have passed 40+ yard sales, with some seriously commercial-looking ventures, with cars parked both sides of the road. It made the traffic pretty snarled up and this was only Friday! The village of Cayuga was particularly busy, and is likely to be worse Saturday. Marie Marie Read Wildlife Photography 452 Ringwood Road Freeville NY 13068 USA Phone 607-539-6608 e-mail m...@cornell.edu http://www.marieread.com Author of Sierra Wings: Birds of the Mono Lake BasinAvailable here: http://marieread.photoshelter.com/gallery/Sierra-Wings-Birds-of-the-Mono-Lake-Basin/GNlCxX37uTzE/CBPFGij6nLfE -- 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/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/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] Montezuma NWR Wildlife Drive and Knox-Marsellus Jul 18, 2014
Dominic Sherony and I had a nice Bittern show at the beginning of the wildlife drive plus 1 bonus American on the edge of the new habitat along the thruway. Nice increase in Short-billed Dowitchers(35) and Stilt Sandpipers(8) at Knox. Only 1 Great Egret though! Puddler's has some mudflats already but Towpath is the worst I have ever driven on. Mike Tetlow Montezuma NWR--Knox-Marsellus and Puddler Marshes, Seneca, US-NY Jul 18, 2014 2:15 PM - 3:30 PM Protocol: Stationary 35 species Canada Goose 100 Mallard 5 Green-winged Teal 40 Hooded Merganser 4 Great Blue Heron 38 Great Egret 1 Osprey 1 Northern Harrier 1 Bald Eagle 1 Sandhill Crane 2 Semipalmated Plover 5 Killdeer 3 Spotted Sandpiper 1 Greater Yellowlegs 25 Lesser Yellowlegs 140 Stilt Sandpiper 8 Least Sandpiper 60 Semipalmated Sandpiper 6 Short-billed Dowitcher 35 Ring-billed Gull X Caspian Tern 28 Black Tern 6(3 juvenile) Mourning Dove 2 Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1 Blue Jay 1 Northern Rough-winged Swallow 1 Tree Swallow 2 Barn Swallow 2 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1 American Robin 5 Gray Catbird 4 Song Sparrow 6 Swamp Sparrow 1 Northern Cardinal 2 Red-winged Blackbird 10 Montezuma NWR--Main Pool, Seneca, US-NY Jul 18, 2014 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM 29 species Canada Goose X Wood Duck 10 Mallard 15 Pied-billed Grebe 4 American Bittern 4 Least Bittern 4 WE counted a minimum of 4 Least Bitterns, there could have been up to 2 more. Counts based on locations of these birds. Great Blue Heron 15 Turkey Vulture 3 Osprey 4 Northern Harrier 1 Bald Eagle 3 Common Gallinule 12 American Coot 10 Killdeer 4 Spotted Sandpiper 1 Solitary Sandpiper 3 Lesser Yellowlegs 5 Least Sandpiper 6 Ring-billed Gull X Caspian Tern 1 Black Tern 12 Willow Flycatcher 3 Eastern Kingbird 2 Purple Martin 5 Barn Swallow 3 Common Yellowthroat 3 Yellow Warbler 1 Song Sparrow 3 Red-winged Blackbird X View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S19141360 This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)his report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org) Mike Tetlow -- I am using the free version of SPAMfighter. SPAMfighter has removed 730 of my spam emails to date. Get the free SPAMfighter here: http://www.spamfighter.com/len Do you have a slow PC? Try a Free scan http://www.spamfighter.com/SLOW-PCfighter?cid=sigen -- 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/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/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] Montezuma NWR field trips
This is the second year that the management of the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge is allowing a limited number of birding field trips onto dikes around Knox-Marsellus and Puddler Marshes, where the refuge otherwise prohibits public access. These are the scheduled trips and leaders of which I am aware: Sunday 27 July, 8am, Dave Nutter of Cayuga Bird Club Sunday 17 August, 8am, Eaton Birding Society Saturday 23 August, 11am, Mike Tetlow of Rochester Birding Association Sunday 31 August, 8am, Dave Nutter of Cayuga Bird Club Sunday 21 September, 830am, Paul Anderson of Cayuga Bird Club Saturday 27 September, 11am, Mike Tetlow of Rochester Birding Association The trips are hosted by members of various bird clubs, but all the trips are open to all birders, whether or not they are members of any bird club, and there is no fee. However everyone should pre-register with the Refuge staff by calling 315-568-5987. All field trips will meet at the given time at the Refuge Visitor Center on NY-5/US-20 then caravan to the site. This includes a .8 mile drive on a single lane dirt road with deep puddles, so consider car-pooling to reduce wear on the road and the number of muddy cars. After that we will be walking on the dikes. Be prepared for dewy vegetation and biting insects. Bring binoculars and, if you have one, a spotting scope as well. Even though we will be closer to the birds than the usual roadside viewpoints allow, the impoundments are huge, and many birds will still be distant enough that a scope will make a big difference for identification and enjoyment. Another great thing about a scope is that one can aim it at a distant bird, then let someone else have a look at that same bird, so please be willing to share views and ID skills, especially with folks who don't have a scope. Maintaining inland habitat for migrating shorebirds is a challenge which Montezuma NWR has taken on successfully for a number of years. As a result this is a great place for birds and a great opportunity for us. The southbound migration is already well underway for shorebirds which nested in boreal and tundra regions far to our north and west. Already in addition to the Killdeer and Spotted Sandpipers which nest here, there have been Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Solitary, Pectoral, Stilt, Least, and Semipalmated Sandpipers, Sanderling, and Short-billed and Long-billed Dowitchers. Some of these have been few or transient, and others numerous or growing in numbers. We expect several additional species of shorebirds to pass through or join the throng for awhile as the season progresses. Shorebirds will be our focus, yet we expect and welcome distraction by multiple species of gulls, terns, raptors, ducks in challenging eclipse plumage, herons, assorted other waterbirds such as cormorants, grebes, and rails, plus swallows, sparrows, icterids, warblers, and other songbirds along the way. That said, there are no guarantees as to what birds will be present and cooperative. You just have to be there to find out. Montezuma NWR is in the Seneca County Town of Tyre in the marsh lands north of Cayuga Lake. The Visitor Center is at 3395 E Auburn Rd (US-20), Seneca Falls, NY (42.967, -78.741). Directions from Ithaca on the east side of Cayuga Lake: Go north on East Shore Drive / NYS-34 for 5.6 miles to the traffic light and T at Rogues Harbor Inn. Turn left/west to go north on Ridge Road / NYS-34B for 11.8 miles to the all-way stop in King Ferry. Turn left/west to go north on NYS-90 for 23.8 miles to the traffic light (note gas station convenience store). Turn left/west on NYS-5/US-20 for .4 miles. Turn right/north at entrance to Montezuma NWR and go .3 miles. Visitor Center and parking lot on left, separate bathroom building on short path to north. Directions from Ithaca on the west side of Cayuga Lake: Go north on NYS-89 for 41.5 miles to the traffic light Turn right/east on NYS-5/US-20 and go 1.6 miles Turn left/north at entrance to Montezuma NWR and go .3 miles Visitor Center and parking lot on left, separate bathroom building on short path to north. --Dave Nutter -- 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/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/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/ --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Montezuma NWR field trips
This sounds great! Can anyone provide info about paddling around MNWR? Is it even allowed or perhaps just at certain times? I remember an organized trip last year. Thanks. On Thu, Jul 17, 2014 at 1:03 PM, Dave Nutter nutter.d...@me.com wrote: This is the second year that the management of the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge is allowing a limited number of birding field trips onto dikes around Knox-Marsellus and Puddler Marshes, where the refuge otherwise prohibits public access. These are the scheduled trips and leaders of which I am aware: Sunday 27 July, 8am, Dave Nutter of Cayuga Bird Club Sunday 17 August, 8am, Eaton Birding Society Saturday 23 August, 11am, Mike Tetlow of Rochester Birding Association Sunday 31 August, 8am, Dave Nutter of Cayuga Bird Club Sunday 21 September, 830am, Paul Anderson of Cayuga Bird Club Saturday 27 September, 11am, Mike Tetlow of Rochester Birding Association The trips are hosted by members of various bird clubs, but all the trips are open to all birders, whether or not they are members of any bird club, and there is no fee. However everyone should pre-register with the Refuge staff by calling 315-568-5987. All field trips will meet at the given time at the Refuge Visitor Center on NY-5/US-20 then caravan to the site. This includes a .8 mile drive on a single lane dirt road with deep puddles, so consider car-pooling to reduce wear on the road and the number of muddy cars. After that we will be walking on the dikes. Be prepared for dewy vegetation and biting insects. Bring binoculars and, if you have one, a spotting scope as well. Even though we will be closer to the birds than the usual roadside viewpoints allow, the impoundments are huge, and many birds will still be distant enough that a scope will make a big difference for identification and enjoyment. Another great thing about a scope is that one can aim it at a distant bird, then let someone else have a look at that same bird, so please be willing to share views and ID skills, especially with folks who don't have a scope. Maintaining inland habitat for migrating shorebirds is a challenge which Montezuma NWR has taken on successfully for a number of years. As a result this is a great place for birds and a great opportunity for us. The southbound migration is already well underway for shorebirds which nested in boreal and tundra regions far to our north and west. Already in addition to the Killdeer and Spotted Sandpipers which nest here, there have been Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Solitary, Pectoral, Stilt, Least, and Semipalmated Sandpipers, Sanderling, and Short-billed and Long-billed Dowitchers. Some of these have been few or transient, and others numerous or growing in numbers. We expect several additional species of shorebirds to pass through or join the throng for awhile as the season progresses. Shorebirds will be our focus, yet we expect and welcome distraction by multiple species of gulls, terns, raptors, ducks in challenging eclipse plumage, herons, assorted other waterbirds such as cormorants, grebes, and rails, plus swallows, sparrows, icterids, warblers, and other songbirds along the way. That said, there are no guarantees as to what birds will be present and cooperative. You just have to be there to find out. -- 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/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/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/ --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Montezuma NWR paddling
Last summer Paul Anderson of the Cayuga Bird Club organized a kayak paddle in the vicinity of Howland Island and into the Seneca River. A kayak rental company rented us the kayaks and provided a bus ride from cars to launch site. Then we paddled to where cars were. I am not aware of any allowed paddles in MNWR waters. Donna Scott Lansing - Original Message - From: Mo Barger Rooster Hill Farm To: cayugabirds Cornell Sent: Thursday, July 17, 2014 1:23 PM Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] Montezuma NWR field trips This sounds great! Can anyone provide info about paddling around MNWR? Is it even allowed or perhaps just at certain times? I remember an organized trip last year. Thanks. -- 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/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/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] Montezuma NWR behind the signs 24 Aug
Gary, Ann, Susan I were among several Ithacans who joined the field trip sponsored by the Rochester Birding Association behind the signs at Montezuma NWR on Saturday 24 Aug. We spent about 2 hours on the dike between Knox-Marsellus and Puddler marshes. Highlights included: * a PEREGRINE FALCON harassing an immature BALD EAGLE high overhead. Later the roles were reversed, but I wonder if it was the same 2 birds. A Peregrine also strafed the mud flats, flew overhead fairly low, and flew south with an apparent bulging crop. I don't know if that was 1 Peregrein or more. * BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS in an island of cattails in the middle of Puddler. At first I saw 3 immatures along the edge and one adult hiding within, but awhile later something prompted them all to vacate this shelter, and I think I recall that Jay counted 42 of them! It was like a circus clown car. The birds flew around briefly, then most appeared to return. * A BROAD-WINGED HAWK high overhead.* The continuing AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN which obligingly woke up and flew over the dike to swim feed in Puddler.* 4 adult and 1 immature SANDHILL CRANE striding together toward us in the distance on the mud flats. * Shorebirds including: BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, SEMIPAMLATED PLOVER, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, LESSER YELLOWLEGS, SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, STILT SANDPIPER, PECTORAL SANDPIPER, WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER, LEAST SANDPIPER, RED-NECKED PHALAROPE. (I did not see Jay's American Golden-Plover)After lunch and a tour of the Wildlife Drive, we walked a short distance on the dike past the sign at Tschache Pool. In addition to the novel perspective, the main benefit was a seeing 2 different EMPIDONAX SP. I hope to get a chance to walk farther on this dike soon. We saw many expected birds there, including dozens of PIED-BILLED GREBES and a couple of very noisy BELTED KINGFISHERS. After a visit to South Mays Point Road the field trip returned to Knox-Marsellus. We first viewed from East Road, then most of the group elected to return to Rochester, but several of us continued the field trip down from the overlook to the west dike, part of where I led previously. I was particularly happy that we could offer this opportunity to a group of very impressive birders of high school age visiting from around the US on a program with the Lab of O and led by Jessie Barry, Chris Wood, and Tim Lenz. * from East Road Jessie pointed out a WILSON'S PHALAROPE, but we did not re-find it below, perhaps because we did not walk far enough south* Chris Pointed out 4 COMMON NIGHTHAWKS flying west just north of us. * Chris heard the call of an unseen BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER. * A BAIRD'S SANDPIPER among a flock of flying peeps pointed out and photographed by students* Several people saw a flock of flying AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS headed north (but I was not among them). Tim pointed out a single of this species just before he had to leave. This provided us good entertainment trying unsuccessfully to get a better look on our own.* 2 PEREGRINE FALCONS flying around along with a MERLIN (which I missed)* 2 adult and 1 immature SANDHILL CRANE unperturbed at our presence, and all the other birds were calm as well except a single noisy GREAT BLUE HERON.It was a great day. Thank-you to Mike Tetlow and Donimic Sherony of Rochester Birding Association, Andrea Van Beusichem of MNWR, Jay, Jessie, Chris Tim of the Lab of O, and all the students other participants. I know I'm leaving out a bunch of birds, so feel free to chime in with your personal favorites.--Dave Nutter -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: Welcome and Basics Rules and Information Subscribe, Configuration and Leave Archives: The Mail Archive Surfbirds BirdingOnThe.Net Please submit your observations to eBird! --
[cayugabirds-l] Montezuma NWR (Benning Marsh) - Duck ID ?
Hello all, Fledging birder here looking for some expert identification support. Sorry for the late post; I just uploaded the video clip this morning. On Saturday, July 27th around 11:20am, at Benning Marsh (on Wildlife Drive) at MNWR, as I studied my shorebirds (from a bit closer than Knox-Marcellus), I sighted an odd duck amongst the locals. The following is a digiscoped iPhone video: http://www.flickr.com/photos/69504362@N03/9394946943/ . Is this possibly a Ring-necked Duck ??? According to eBird data, Ring-necked Ducks would be an uncommon sighting. Interestingly, I spied a similar duck in Anchorage, AK (Potters Marsh) several weeks back that a local eBird reviewer group identified for me as a molting male Ring-necked Duck (white bill band is not present). Here are the photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/69504362@N03/9208187511/in/set-72157634479221099 http://www.flickr.com/photos/69504362@N03/9211011708/in/set-72157634479221099/ Comments appreciated. Thanks! Fledging Cayuga Basin Birder, Jason Huck -- 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/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/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/ --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Montezuma NWR (Benning Marsh) - Duck ID ?
Hi Jason, Yes, your bird is a molting Ring-necked Duck. There is a single Ring-neck, a bit further along in it's molt into eclipse plumage, at Stewart Park in Ithaca this week as well. KEN Ken Rosenberg Conservation Science Program Cornell Lab of Ornithology 607-254-2412 607-342-4594 (cell) k...@cornell.edumailto:k...@cornell.edu On Jul 29, 2013, at 8:05 PM, Jason Huck jasonrh...@gmail.commailto:jasonrh...@gmail.com wrote: Hello all, Fledging birder here looking for some expert identification support. Sorry for the late post; I just uploaded the video clip this morning. On Saturday, July 27th around 11:20am, at Benning Marsh (on Wildlife Drive) at MNWR, as I studied my shorebirds (from a bit closer than Knox-Marcellus), I sighted an odd duck amongst the locals. The following is a digiscoped iPhone video: http://www.flickr.com/photos/69504362@N03/9394946943/ . Is this possibly a Ring-necked Duck ??? According to eBird data, Ring-necked Ducks would be an uncommon sighting. Interestingly, I spied a similar duck in Anchorage, AK (Potters Marsh) several weeks back that a local eBird reviewer group identified for me as a molting male Ring-necked Duck (white bill band is not present). Here are the photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/69504362@N03/9208187511/in/set-72157634479221099 http://www.flickr.com/photos/69504362@N03/9211011708/in/set-72157634479221099/ Comments appreciated. Thanks! Fledging Cayuga Basin Birder, Jason Huck -- 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/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/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/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/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] Montezuma NWR, 11 July
The two adult RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS were still present on South Mays Point Rd this afternoon, enjoyed by several other people as well as myself, and in a hopeful development I saw them copulating. I also saw one of them continue to reach into and spit wood chops from the lowest of 3 holes on the northeast side and just above a big fork of a dead tree which is about in the middle of the stand. (Next to it is another dead tree with a TREE SWALLOW NEST near the top and a EUROPEAN STARLING nest a few feet down.) In addition, one of them flew to the north end of the bridge, where it used the top of a utility pole as a base for flycatching sallies.Tschache Pool had at least 47 PIED-BILLED GREBES, including many large juveniles, mainly in a large group. There was also one adult who sat and preened on an apparent nest platform along the edge of the cattails to the left as viewed from the tower, but when the bird left the large shallow bowl of sodden vegetation was devoid of eggs or young. There were also a couple sizable groups of adult and large juvenile AMERICAN COOTS and a close-by family of 2 adult and 2 downy chick COMMON GALLINULE. Those downy chicks resemble those of coots in that they have bald orange crowns, but the gallinules were otherwise downy black whereas coots are frosted with yellow on the down of the head and neck.As Tim Lenz reported to eBird recently, I found some shorebirds in the main pool: 7 LESSER YELLOWLEGS, 1 breeding plumage SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, 3 breeding plumage STILT SANDPIPERS, 2 SPOTTED SANDPIPERS, and at least 16 LEAST SANDPIPERS, but I did not see the Pectoral Sandpiper I still seek for my year list. Compensation was an AMERICAN BITTERN which flew low over my car and settled a few feet away in the ditch along the entrance road by the visitor center pond. It had a few stray gray hairlike strands sticking up from its crown which made me think it was a juvenile with a vestige of down. Also it seemed pretty dopey the way it decided to land so close to my car, but it afforded amazing close looks, and it's the first I've seen this year. The solo downy SORA also continued, foraging on the slimy water/mud among cattails on the left a hundred yards or so after the parking area for the photo blind. There were lots of other cool birds as well. Those are just a few of the highlights.--Dave Nutter -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: Welcome and Basics Rules and Information Subscribe, Configuration and Leave Archives: The Mail Archive Surfbirds BirdingOnThe.Net Please submit your observations to eBird! --
[cayugabirds-l] Montezuma NWR Wildlife Drive shorebirds 9 May
Shorebirds along the Wildlife Drive at Montezuma NWR this afternoon (9 May) included:Black-bellied Plover - 1 on mud at south end of Main PoolKilldeerSemipalmated Plover - 2 mainly in Larue'sGreater YellowlegsLesser YellowlegsSolitary Sandpiper - 4 = 2 in Larue's, 2 in slough between Larue's and Seneca Trail leading to Seneca RiverLeast Sandpiper - scores, mainly on mud at south end of Main PoolSHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER - 1 on mud at south end of Main Pool--Dave Nutter -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: Welcome and Basics Rules and Information Subscribe, Configuration and Leave Archives: The Mail Archive Surfbirds BirdingOnThe.Net Please submit your observations to eBird! --
[cayugabirds-l] Montezuma NWR, Oct 12, 2012
Hi all, I birded Montezuma NWR Friday afternoon, hitting all the main spots (see comments below). The AMERICAN AVOCET was still present at Puddler's , but did not see the Franklin's Gull. Also surprised to see 10 SANDHILL CRANES at Knox Marcellus and 1 AMERICAN BITTERN at Puddler's. Complete list below. Good birding, Evan Begin forwarded message: From: do-not-re...@ebird.org Date: October 13, 2012 12:06:11 AM EDT To: emb...@cornell.edu Subject: eBird Report - Montezuma NWR, Oct 12, 2012 Montezuma NWR, Seneca, US-NY Oct 12, 2012 2:35 PM - 5:00 PM Protocol: Traveling 10.0 mile(s) Comments: Birded Visitor Center, Wildlife Drive, Tsache Pool, May's Point, Topath Road 32 species (+1 other taxa) Snow Goose 13 Canada Goose 600 Wood Duck 1 American Black Duck 8 Mallard 135 Blue-winged Teal 2 Northern Shoveler 5 Northern Pintail 45 Green-winged Teal 35 Ruddy Duck 2 Double-crested Cormorant 50 American Bittern 1 Great Blue Heron 53 Northern Harrier 5 Bald Eagle 1 Red-tailed Hawk 1 Sandhill Crane 10 Killdeer 11 American Avocet 1 1 winter-plumaged bird in Puddler's Pond on Towpath Road. Lesser Yellowlegs 13 peep sp. 3 Pectoral Sandpiper 5 Ring-billed Gull X Herring Gull 2 Belted Kingfisher 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 Eastern Phoebe 1 Tree Swallow 30 American Pipit 2 Song Sparrow 2 White-throated Sparrow 4 White-crowned Sparrow 1 Dark-eyed Junco 1 This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org) -- 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/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/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/ --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Montezuma NWR Greater White-fronted Goose, etc
Also there were about a hundred AMERICAN COOTS close to NYS 89, I think just south of Lower Lake Rd.--Dave NutterOn Nov 06, 2011, at 06:46 PM, Dave Nutter nutter.d...@me.com wrote:Ann Mitchell I went to Montezuma NWR today. The biggest highlight for me (year bird) was the GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE which she picked out among the swimming CANADA GEESE at Knox-Marsellus. It later flew to Puddler's along with several hundred SNOW GEESE. We were not able to pick out any Ross's Geese. Also at K-M were ~60 swans - the few who were awake were TUNDRA SWANS. On the subject of geese, at the Visitor Center we saw 1 BRANT which flew to Larue's where we saw it again The hybrid SNOW x CANADA GOOSE flew in to the Visitor Center pond while we were there around 10am. At Puddler's around 12:40pm we saw another odd Snow Goose-type among the Snows: it was white all over except the mantle wings which were gray with the black and white striped plumes I associate with a "Blue" Goose. Ducks included all the usual 8 Anas (no Eurasian Wigeon for us) in small numbers at the Visitor Center and many of them again in huge numbers at other ponds. We saw all the usual 5 Aythya, although I was only able to pick out one female GREATER SCAUP among the many distant sleeping ducks on the main pool, and I only recall 3 CANVASBACK (first of the season for me) on K-M. There were also 4 HOODED MERGANSERS far to the left at Mays, including the first breeding male for the season for me. We didn't see any Ruddy Ducks, but they might have hidden at the back of the Main Pool among the many others sleeping.We saw ZERO Double-crested Cormorants or Great Egrets today, but there were a few GREAT BLUE HERONS at May's K-M. We saw 4 SANDHILL CRANES together in the tall brown vegetation at K-M, but other birders mentioned a group of 8 or 9 of them along the dike between K-M Puddler's. Shorebirds today included 5 KILLDEER at the Visitor Center, 16 DUNLIN at the Visitor Center and another 18 DUNLIN at Benning. There were also 5 shorebirds at May's point pool which were backlit, facing away, sleeping, and tucked in among some weed stubble. The only one which briefly woke up enough to preen momentarily was not a Dowitcher, because its bill was curved and not long enough. It may have been a Stilt Sandpiper or a Dunlin. All 5 were about the same size. The only gulls we saw were RING-BILLED, HERRING, and GREAT BLACK-BACKED.There were not many raptors. We saw one adult BALD EAGLE soaring over Tschache Pool as we drove past. A juvenile NORTHERN HARRIER coursed over K-M Puddler's. We saw 3 RED-TAILED HAWKS along the roads, 1 flying and 2 perched close together. We weren't concentrating on land birds, but we did see a few AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS foraging together alongside Towpath Rd and 6 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS in a tree along East Rd.On Cayuga Lake we saw a dozen PIED-BILLED GREBES close to Lower Lake Rd in Bridgeport, Seneca Falls. There were 3 distant HORNED GREBES from the Cayuga Lake State Park boat ramp. From Dean's Cove and from Sheldrake Point there were some very distant probable COMMON LOONS, but they were unsatisfying due to distance, chop, and the heat shimmer since the air had finally warmed up by the time we were returning.--Dave Nutter -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: Welcome and Basics Rules and Information Subscribe, Configuration and Leave Archives: The Mail Archive Surfbirds BirdingOnThe.Net Please submit your observations to eBird! -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: Welcome and Basics Rules and Information Subscribe, Configuration and Leave Archives: The Mail Archive Surfbirds BirdingOnThe.Net Please submit your observations to eBird! --
[cayugabirds-l] Montezuma NWR 26 July Vis
Montezuma NWR 26 July Vis Ctr: 1 ad 1 juv BONAPARTE'S GULL. Puddler's: 13 sp shorebird incl 1 juv WILSON'S PHALAROPE. --Dave Nutter -- 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/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/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] Montezuma NWR shorebirds, mid-morning, Sunday 24 July
Today (Sunday 24 July) I went around Cayuga Lake with Bob McGuire, Susan Danskin, Sylvia Mioc and her niece Flavia (sp?), observing 75 or more species. We found (at least) these shorebirds: Semipalmated Plover - 1 on mud at Puddler's Killdeer - Visitor Center; Seneca Slough; Shorebird Flats; Puddler's Spotted Sandpiper - Seneca Slough; Shorebird Flats; Puddler's Solitary Sandpiper - Seneca Slough Greater Yellowlegs - Shorebird Flats; several at Puddler's Lesser Yellowlegs - few at Visitor Center; Seneca Slough; Shorebird Flats; many at Puddler's Semipalmated Sandpiper - a few at Puddler's Least Sandpiper - many at Puddler's Baird's Sandpiper - 1 at Puddler's Pectoral Sandpiper - a few at Puddler's Dunlin - 1 breeding plumage at Puddler's Stilt Sandpiper - 7 breeding plumage at Puddler's (life bird for Sylvia) Short-billed Sandpiper - 1 at Puddler's Wilson's Snipe - 1 at Shorebird Flats (nice find, Susan!)Bob thought he saw a distant phalarope at Puddler's but was unable to confirm it and the rest of us missed it. Of course we wonder if that was the bird that Gary Chapin found later. --Dave Nutter -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: Welcome and Basics Rules and Information Subscribe, Configuration and Leave Archives: The Mail Archive Surfbirds BirdingOnThe.Net Please submit your observations to eBird! --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Montezuma NWR shorebirds, mid-morning, Sunday 24 July
The Short-billed Sandpiper would have been a life bird for me, and perhaps the others. Unfortunately, is was only a Short-billed Dowitcher Bob On Jul 24, 2011, at 6:41 PM, Dave Nutter wrote: Today (Sunday 24 July) I went around Cayuga Lake with Bob McGuire, Susan Danskin, Sylvia Mioc and her niece Flavia (sp?), observing 75 or more species. We found (at least) these shorebirds: Semipalmated Plover - 1 on mud at Puddler's Killdeer - Visitor Center; Seneca Slough; Shorebird Flats; Puddler's Spotted Sandpiper - Seneca Slough; Shorebird Flats; Puddler's Solitary Sandpiper - Seneca Slough Greater Yellowlegs - Shorebird Flats; several at Puddler's Lesser Yellowlegs - few at Visitor Center; Seneca Slough; Shorebird Flats; many at Puddler's Semipalmated Sandpiper - a few at Puddler's Least Sandpiper - many at Puddler's Baird's Sandpiper - 1 at Puddler's Pectoral Sandpiper - a few at Puddler's Dunlin - 1 breeding plumage at Puddler's Stilt Sandpiper - 7 breeding plumage at Puddler's (life bird for Sylvia) Short-billed Sandpiper - 1 at Puddler's Wilson's Snipe - 1 at Shorebird Flats (nice find, Susan!) Bob thought he saw a distant phalarope at Puddler's but was unable to confirm it and the rest of us missed it. Of course we wonder if that was the bird that Gary Chapin found later. --Dave Nutter -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: Welcome and Basics Rules and Information Subscribe, Configuration and Leave Archives: The Mail Archive Surfbirds BirdingOnThe.Net Please submit your observations to 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/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/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/ --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Montezuma NWR shorebirds, mid-morning, Sunday 24 July
Right. It was a "SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER". Perhaps I was subconsciously rebelling against one of the stupidest of all bird names, any difference in the absurdly long of dowitcher bills being hard to discern and harder to use as a field mark. (Is there any more ironic correct bird name than that? I'm accepting nominations.) Also of note on our trip, Bob found us at least one, possibly two, adult RED-HEADED WOODPECKER(S) between Poplar Ridge Road and Paine's Creek on both sides of NYS 90 in the Village of Aurora, Town of Ledyard. On Jul 24, 2011, at 03:51 PM, bob mcguire bmcgu...@clarityconnect.com wrote:The "Short-billed Sandpiper" would have been a life bird for me, and perhaps the others. Unfortunately, is was only a Short-billed DowitcherBobOn Jul 24, 2011, at 6:41 PM, Dave Nutter wrote:Today (Sunday 24 July) I went around Cayuga Lake with Bob McGuire, Susan Danskin, Sylvia Mioc and her niece Flavia (sp?), observing 75 or more species. We found (at least) these shorebirds: Semipalmated Plover - 1 on mud at Puddler's Killdeer - Visitor Center; Seneca Slough; Shorebird Flats; Puddler's Spotted Sandpiper - Seneca Slough; Shorebird Flats; Puddler's Solitary Sandpiper - Seneca Slough Greater Yellowlegs - Shorebird Flats; several at Puddler's Lesser Yellowlegs - few at Visitor Center; Seneca Slough; Shorebird Flats; many at Puddler's Semipalmated Sandpiper - a few at Puddler's Least Sandpiper - many at Puddler's Baird's Sandpiper - 1 at Puddler's Pectoral Sandpiper - a few at Puddler's Dunlin - 1 breeding plumage at Puddler's Stilt Sandpiper - 7 breeding plumage at Puddler's (life bird for Sylvia) Short-billed Sandpiper - 1 at Puddler's Wilson's Snipe - 1 at Shorebird Flats (nice find, Susan!)Bob thought he saw a distant phalarope at Puddler's but was unable to confirm it and the rest of us missed it. Of course we wonder if that was the bird that Gary Chapin found later. --Dave Nutter -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: Welcome and Basics Rules and Information Subscribe, Configuration and Leave Archives: The Mail Archive Surfbirds BirdingOnThe.Net Please submit your observations to eBird! --
[cayugabirds-l] Montezuma NWR shorebirds continue
Fall migration progresses: On my way north through Lansing this morning I saw a southbound flock of 150 SNOW GEESE (no "Blues"). My first stop at Montezuma NWR was the Visitor Center pond: Canada Goose Mallard American Wigeon Northern Pintail Green-winged Teal BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER - 20 Greater Yellowlegs Lesser Yellowlegs Pectoral Sandpiper DUNLIN - 4 or more LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER - 21 only on my second visit 16 adults, 5 juveniles; identified both by plumage and calls The Wildlife Drive was open past the Main Pool and the photo blind parking area such that one could drive close alongside the new shorebird area close all the way to the first bend in the road. It was worth driving to the end: Northern Shoveler - hiding in main pool Blue-winged Teal - hiding in main pool Ring-necked Duck - hiding in main pool Northern Harrier - 2 over marsh OSPREY - 1 standing in the new shorebird water, bathing Bald Eagle - 1 adult in tree east of Seneca River BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER - at least 2 AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER - 1 non-breeding Semipalmated Plover - several Killdeer - several Semipalmated Sandpiper - 1 Tree Swallow - many low over vegetation of main pool AMERICAN PIPIT - several Swamp Sparrow - 1 Red-winged Blackbird - 8 males At Knox-Marsellus Puddler's I drove Towpath, then viewed from East Rd, first from midway, then at the north end by the overlook: SNOW GOOSE - 250 Canada Goose - a couple thousand? Double-crested Cormorant Great Blue Heron GREAT EGRET - 3 Greater Yellowlegs Lesser Yellowlegs - plenty still HUDSONIAN GODWIT - 4 at least, first a single bird seen in a southern lagoon, later 4 flying together and landing out from the overlook Semipalmated Sandpiper - several Least Sandpiper - 1 White-rumped Sandpiper - 1 Pectoral Sandpiper - several Dowitcher sp - 1 adult winter, distant from Towpath flew further away CASPIAN TERN - 1 AMERICAN PIPIT - several A brief stop at May's Point Pool added: Gadwall - several pairs in breeding plumage Wood Duck - 1 eclipse male Pied-billed Grebe GREAT EGRET - 1 COMMON MOORHEN - 1 adult Tree Swallow - many over water Northern Rough-winged Swallow - many over cattails Barn Swallow - few --Dave Nutter
[cayugabirds-l] Montezuma NWR, Sunday Sept 5
Bob I went to Montezuma today. No sign of Jay Co's Little Blue Heron. (Excellent photos, Jay!)We did see the Plegadis sp at May's Point Pool, best viewed from the roof of Bob's car on NYS 89.Lots of shorebirds, with the best viewing from Towpath into Puddler's well past the dike. A scope affords excellent views of all Peeps. Here's the 17 species shorebird list: American Golden Plover - 8 at Puddlers, 10 at Knox-Marsellus from Towpath close in time but some overlap is possibleKilldeer - visitor center, Knox-Marsellus, Puddler'sSemipalmated Plover - lots at Puddler'sGreater Yellowlegs - few each at visitor center, May's Point Pool (more), Knox-MarsellusLesser Yellowlegs - plenty at visitor center, May's Point Pool, Knox-Marsellus, Puddlers, also at North Spring Pool Solitary Sandpiper - 1 at visitor centerDowitcher, sp - 15 at Knox-Marsellus, all juveniles, I think, probably Short-billed but too distant from TowpathSpotted Sandpiper - 5, Bob said, I think, in Puddlers at the far end of Towpath RdStilt Sandpiper - several at May's Point PoolSanderling - 2 each at Knox-Marsellus Puddlers, all quite white and pretty distant, possible redundancy Pectoral Sandpiper - plenty at visitor center, May's Point Pool, Knox-Marsellus, PuddlersBaird's Sandpiper - several at Knox-Marsellus and at Puddlers (phenomenal scope views!)White-rumped Sandpiper - several at Puddler's (excellent scope views), at least 1 at North Spring PoolSemipalmated Sandpiper - few at visitor center, North Spring Pool, lots at Knox-Marsellus (excellent at) PuddlersLeast Sandpiper - same places proportions as Semipalmated Sandpiper but perhaps fewerWilson's Snipe - 2 or more at the back of May's Point PoolRed-necked Phalarope - 5 at once at Knox-Marsellus; 1 Phalaropus sp from hunter station on NYS 89 north of Goose HavenThe Main Pool is full of water, with ducks flying in out but totally hidden by smartweed. A Little Blue Heron could be anywhere. There were several Northern Harriers cruising over the Main Pool, and at least 4 Savannah Sparrows by the photo blind parking area. There were at least 3 Osprey over Tschache, and 2 or more others at other locations. There were at least 2 adult and 4 immature Bald Eagles from Towpath.May's Point Pool had American Coot, Common Moorhen Pied-billed Grebe.Swallows included Barn, Bank, Northern Rough-winged, Tree, and a single female-type Purple Martin by the lock at May's Point.There were several Caspian Terns as well as the usual mainly Ring-billed, few Herring and individual Great Black-backed Gulls from Towpath.Great Egret tally included at least 11 at North Spring Pool, 22 at May's Point Pool, and 2 at Main PoolUntold numbers of Great Blue Herons and Double-crested Cormorants (sorry, eBird), mainly at Tschache, Knox-Marsellus Puddlers.Belted Kingfishers at various locations.Waterfowl included: Snow Goose - 1 maimed bird at Knox-Marsellus (why don't the Bald Eagles eat it?)Canada Goose domestic Greylag Goose - 1 at Larue's Trumpeter Swans - 4 at Tschache, 1 at May's Point Pool (I did not pick out the Tundra Swan today)MallardAmerican Black Duck American WigeonNorthern Pintail - May's Point PoolNorthern Shoveler Blue-winged TealGreen-winged TealWood Duck - 1 flying over Main Pool, 1 on log at TschacheRing-necked Duck - May's Point PoolAt Stewart Park we also found a few Common Mergansers. Lots of other stuff around, as expected, but we weren't concentrating on landbirds.--Dave Nutter
[cayugabirds-l] Montezuma NWR--Auto Loop, Wed 5/19/10
Hi, Chris Wiley and I made an early run up to Montezuma this morning. It was fun birding despite the Peregrine chasing away most of the shorebirds on the main pool. Location: Montezuma NWR--Auto Loop Observation date: 5/19/10, 0535-0645 Number of species: 55 Canada Goose 20 Gadwall 3 American Black Duck 2 Mallard 4 Double-crested Cormorant 19 Great Blue Heron 1 Osprey 1 Bald Eagle 17 Northern Harrier 1 Red-tailed Hawk 1 Peregrine Falcon 1 *Getting late--these birds should be gone by the end of the month. Virginia Rail 1 *Uncommon--no eBird May records on Auto Loop since 2002. Heard grunting. Sandhill Crane 1 Very rusty individual; heard calling and seen well from the tower. Killdeer 1 Spotted Sandpiper 5 Least Sandpiper 15 Ring-billed Gull 1 Mourning Dove 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 Northern Flicker 1 Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 1 Willow Flycatcher 4 Least Flycatcher 4 Eastern Kingbird 1 Yellow-throated Vireo 3 Warbling Vireo (Eastern) 1 American Crow 3 Purple Martin 10 Tree Swallow 30 Barn Swallow 4 Tufted Titmouse 1 White-breasted Nuthatch 1 Carolina Wren 1 House Wren 2 Marsh Wren 4 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1 Eastern Bluebird 1 American Robin 5 Gray Catbird 2 European Starling 5 Yellow Warbler 12 Blackpoll Warbler 1 singing Cerulean Warbler 2 Mourning Warbler 1 *Rare* Singing on the right side of the drive as you approach the path to the tower. First eBird record for Auto Loop and Seneca County bird #238 for Tim. Common Yellowthroat 7 Chipping Sparrow 1 Savannah Sparrow 9 Song Sparrow 15 Swamp Sparrow 12 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 2 Red-winged Blackbird 25 Common Grackle 7 Brown-headed Cowbird 1 Baltimore Oriole 2 American Goldfinch 2 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) -- Tim Lenz t...@cornell.edu Web Applications Developer Cornell Lab of Ornithology -- 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/ --
