[nysbirds-l] Red & White-winged Crossbills/Evening Grosbeaks/etc.
February 17-20, 2012 St. Lawrence Valley & Adirondacks (St. Lawrence, Hamilton, Franklin, and Essex Counties) The record warm winter this year is truly alarming. Some of the unusual results in northern NY: a lot of open water; lack of snow; intermittent rain nearly every week, springtails (snow fleas) have been observed since January (usually it is late March); Black Bear tracks in the snow; huge Amer. Crow flocks returned in January and they have been battling Common Ravens (normally this behavior begins in March); most of my feeder species are birds that normally leave the mountains in Oct.; Brown Creepers have been singing each day since 2/11; Anthony Collerton and I observed a Golden Eagle soaring over Big Brook in Long Lake on 2/16; and in the past two days, Brenda Inskeep and I observed 2 Red-tailed Hawks in the mountains (Lake Clear area, and Blue Mountain Lake). It doesn't feel like "February" at all in the Adirondacks. Finches: The Pine Siskin irruption is HUGE and I think there is a siskin (maybe several) in every bush of the Adirondacks! There is a good irruption of White-winged Crossbills and they have been actively singing for several weeks now. Red Crossbills are also singing (first singing heard on 2/8), but are not as widespread as White-winged Crossbills. The Red Crossbills can be found along the Route 28-Route 28N corridor including Inlet/Raquette Lake, Blue Mountain Lake, Long Lake, and Minerva. They nested last summer and now appear to be doing a winter nesting in the same areas. Several days ago, I observed a male Red Crossbill gritting on Route 28 between Blue Mountain Lake and Raquette Lake along with 2 juvenile Red Crossbills. Evening Grosbeaks showed up in Long Lake on February 4 and have been observed every day since (not sure where they were before 2/4!). Purple Finches and Amer. Goldfinches never left the mountains this year and Purple Finches are vocalizing as if it was already spring. 2/17/12 St. Lawrence Co. I had an early morning appointment in Potsdam, so I spent a few hours birding in the area. I traveled the "magic rectangle" (the St. Lawrence Valley's equivalent of the "magic triangle" in the Lake Champlain Valley!) - Regan Rd. to May Rd. to Pleasant Valley Rd. to Stockholm Rd. to Route 11 back to Regan Rd. (where I go to see Bohemian Waxwings, Northern Shrikes, and Rough-legged Hawks). Bohemian Waxwings are very reliable in this location every winter because of the vast invasive buckthorn vegetation. This year, the waxwings have competitors with record numbers of Amer. Robins staying north. Some of the species found: Rough-legged Hawk - dark morph (Route 11 Potsdam) Northern Shrike - Robinson Bay Rd. in Massena Bohemian Waxwing - 135; (110 on May Rd. and 25 on Pleasant Valley Rd. in Potsdam) I only counted the birds perched high - there were many more down in the buckthorn vegetation out of sight. 2/18/12 Hamilton & Essex Counties Sean O'Brien, Ted Mack, and I spent several hours birding in Long Lake, Ferd's Bog, and the Newcomb-Minerva area. Some of the species found: Gray Jay - 2 at Ferd's Bog Purple Finch Red Crossbill - by Long Lake White-winged Crossbill - many singing at Ferd's Bog and along Route 28N in Newcomb Pine Siskin - countless Evening Grosbeak - ~ 50 in Long Lake 2/19/12 & 2/20/12 Hamilton, St. Lawrence, Franklin, and Essex Counties Brenda Inskeep and I birded in Hannawa Falls/Potsdam/Stockholm in St. Lawrence Co., and then traveled to the Paul Smith's/Bloomingdale area in Franklin Co. on Sunday. This morning, we birded in Long Lake and Raquette Lake (Ferd's Bog) in Hamilton Co. Some of the 34 species found: Ruffed Grouse - 5 flushed on Bigelow Rd. Bald Eagle - soaring over May Rd. in Potsdam Rough-legged Hawk - 3; (2 in Hannawa Falls and 1 in Potsdam) Northern Flicker - 1 (early? Or did it ever leave?!) on Regan Rd. in Potsdam Pileated Woodpecker Northern Shrike - 3 (1 at the Sweeney - Back Hannawa Rd. intersection; 1 on Regan Rd. which we watched stab a mole/shrew, then pick it up in its bill and transfer to toes as it flew into the bushes; 1 at the Pleasant Valley Rd. - Stockholm Rd. intersection) Gray Jay - 1 in Bloomingdale and 2 at Ferd's Bog Boreal Chickadee - 5 at Bigelow Rd. (2 flocks) Brown Creeper - singing Golden-crowned Kinglet Bohemian Waxwing - 81 (30 in Hannawa Falls (Route 56), 40 on May Rd. in Potsdam, and 11 on Fletcher Farm Rd. in Bloomingdale) Purple Finch Red Crossbill - singing in Long Lake White-winged Crossbill - many singing in Bloomingdale, Ferd's Bog, and Route 28N in Newcomb Pine Siskin Evening Grosbeak - ~50 in Long Lake and at least one on the Keese Mills Rd. in Paul Smith's We observed a perplexing behavior - a battle between a male Evening Grosbeak and a male Red Crossbill in Long Lake (near where the Red Crossbills are singing/nesting). The grosbeak aggressively chased the crossbill back and forth for several minutes. I suspect the
[nysbirds-l] Erie Basin Marina, Buffalo NY 2/20/12
A quick stop at the Erie Basin Marina at 5:20 pm yielded: 1 Black-legged Kittiwake - seen yesterday by Jim Pawlicki, the bird was on one of the docks across from the condos on the marina. The small size, dark smudge behind the eye and dark collar were easily seen. 100+ Ring-billed Gulls There were some gulls and ducks out towards the breakwalls, but the glare from the sun made viewing difficult. Joe Fell Buffalo, NY -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES 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://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Iceland Gull, #4 Dune Road Southamton
2nd winter Iceland Gull along roadside north of Dune Rd., several DCCO. @ Shinnecock Inlet , 2 Red-throat loons, 4 C. Eiders about noon today. -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES 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://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Inshore pelagic / NY harbor tour - belated report for 2-19-12
I took a group out on a boat through Rockaway inlet yesterday and into NY Harbor and Jamaica Bay to see what's been around. We saw most expected species and had a great time enhanced by the nice weather. species of note seen Razorbill, Gannet Great Cormorant Common Merganser Purple Sandpiper Iceland Gull Red-necked Grebe Surf Scoter Barrows Goldeneye more detailed report will be posted [ by tomorrow ] on my blog link below if you are interested in participating on an inshore or offshore trip please contact me off list Arie Gilbert No. Babylon, NY www.Powerbirder.blogspot.com www.qcbirdclub.org -- NYSbirds-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] Barrow's GoldeneyeYES, and Brooklyn Palm Warbler
The stiff NNE wind was an impediment to my President's Day attempts at seeing the various continuing rarities in Queens and Kings counties. But the day did get off to a good start with the drake BARROW'S GOLDENEYE in position on the West Pond at Jamaica Bay when I arrived ~6:55. I spent 10 minutes observing the bird before the scope-shaking and eye-watering wind sent me packing. I next tried for the Barn Owl at Big John's Pond, but it was not visible through the nest box hole, if it was present at all. There were whitecaps on the East Pond (!) and no dabbling ducks at all, so I obviously dipped on the Eurasian Wigeon. Next it was over to Floyd Bennet Field. The N. Shrike was typically elusive, evading me during the entire 2.5 hours I searched for it. The Lapland Longspur was also MIA. I did find a flock of 20 Horned Larks on one of the closed runways (but not at the cricket field, which I checked twice), but the LALO was not among them. I found 12 American Wigeon along the beach among Brant, but there was no Eurasian among them. There were 2 RED-NECKED GREBE well out on Jamaica Bay. 3 Peregrine Falcons put on a show above the bay and a female KESTREL hunted one of the fields. I finished up at Owl's Head Park/pier in Bay Ridge. I spent most of my time on the pier, scoping gulls on the water, seawalls and flying above the waster water treatment plant. The sporadically reported Black-headed Gull did not make an appearance. But later, on my way over to the park I came across a western PALM WARBLER which was feeding on the embankment between the bike path and Shore Parkway. A photo and short video can be viewed here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jgluth_brb/with/6912712955/ -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES 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://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Syracuse RBA
RBA * New York * Syracuse * February 20, 2012 * NYSY 02.20.12 Hotline: Syracuse Rare bird Alert Dates(s): February 13, 2012 - February 20, 2012 to report by e-mail: brinjoseph AT yahoo.com covering upstate NY counties: Cayuga, Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge and Montezuma Wetlands Complex (MWC) (just outside Cayuga County), Onondaga, Oswego, Lewis, Jefferson, Oneida, Herkimer, Madison & Cortland compiled:February 20 AT 6:30 p.m. (EST) compiler: Joseph Brin Onondaga Audubon Homepage: www.onondagaaudubon.org #293 -Monday February 20, 2012 Greetings! This is the Syracuse Area Rare Bird Alert for the week of February 13 , 2012 Highlights: --- WESTERN GREBE (Extralimital) SNOW GOOSE GOLDEN EAGLE LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL SNOWY OWL NORTHERN SHRIKE WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge (MNWR) and Montezuma Wetlands Complex (MWC) No reports this week. Extralimital One WESTERN GREBE continues to be seen at the south end of Cayuga Lake from the East Shore Park. It was reported today. Onondaga County 2/14: A NORTHERN SHRIKE was found at Green Lakes State Park on the Rolling Hills Trail. A (the) Shrike was seen again of 2/18. 2/18: An immature GOLDEN EAGLE was seen south of Lynden Corners in Manlius. 2/19: A kettle of 20 TURKEY VULTURES was seen in Fayetteville, possibly migrants and not the overwintering birds from Jamesville. 2 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were seen on an ice shelf near the outlet of Onondaga Lake. A single SNOWY OWL was reported from Hancock Airport on 2/14 and 2/18. Oswego County 2/17: 200 SNOW GEESE were seen flying in the vicinity of Sunset Bay Park in Scriba. 2/18: 5 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS were found on Bargy Road north of North Church Road in Boylston. 2/19: A NORTHERN SHRIKE and a BALD EAGLE were seen from County Route 39 south of Redfield. End Transcript -- Joseph Brin Region 5 Baldwinsville, N.Y. 13027 U.S.A. -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES 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://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Goshawk- Kingston Bridge
I had a Goshawk today at 3:00PM on the Dutchess County side just north of 199, right where the bridge starts. Jim Clinton Jr. -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES 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://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
Re:[nysbirds-l]
Hey, thanks for your wishes! http://mrgorilla.com/httphappilyhomebas83201.php?uhoginID=23 Mon, 20 Feb 2012 15:48:31 __ "Im glad youve come." (c) Keymon webchin -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES 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://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
Re:[nysbirds-l]
Hey, thanks for your wishes! http://mrgorilla.com/httphappilyhomebas83201.php?uhoginID=23 Mon, 20 Feb 2012 15:48:31 __ Im glad youve come. (c) Keymon webchin -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES 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://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Goshawk- Kingston Bridge
I had a Goshawk today at 3:00PM on the Dutchess County side just north of 199, right where the bridge starts. Jim Clinton Jr. -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES 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://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Syracuse RBA
RBA * New York * Syracuse * February 20, 2012 * NYSY 02.20.12 Hotline: Syracuse Rare bird Alert Dates(s): February 13, 2012 - February 20, 2012 to report by e-mail: brinjoseph AT yahoo.com covering upstate NY counties: Cayuga, Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge and Montezuma Wetlands Complex (MWC) (just outside Cayuga County), Onondaga, Oswego, Lewis, Jefferson, Oneida, Herkimer, Madison Cortland compiled:February 20 AT 6:30 p.m. (EST) compiler: Joseph Brin Onondaga Audubon Homepage: www.onondagaaudubon.org #293 -Monday February 20, 2012 Greetings! This is the Syracuse Area Rare Bird Alert for the week of February 13 , 2012 Highlights: --- WESTERN GREBE (Extralimital) SNOW GOOSE GOLDEN EAGLE LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL SNOWY OWL NORTHERN SHRIKE WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge (MNWR) and Montezuma Wetlands Complex (MWC) No reports this week. Extralimital One WESTERN GREBE continues to be seen at the south end of Cayuga Lake from the East Shore Park. It was reported today. Onondaga County 2/14: A NORTHERN SHRIKE was found at Green Lakes State Park on the Rolling Hills Trail. A (the) Shrike was seen again of 2/18. 2/18: An immature GOLDEN EAGLE was seen south of Lynden Corners in Manlius. 2/19: A kettle of 20 TURKEY VULTURES was seen in Fayetteville, possibly migrants and not the overwintering birds from Jamesville. 2 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were seen on an ice shelf near the outlet of Onondaga Lake. A single SNOWY OWL was reported from Hancock Airport on 2/14 and 2/18. Oswego County 2/17: 200 SNOW GEESE were seen flying in the vicinity of Sunset Bay Park in Scriba. 2/18: 5 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS were found on Bargy Road north of North Church Road in Boylston. 2/19: A NORTHERN SHRIKE and a BALD EAGLE were seen from County Route 39 south of Redfield. End Transcript -- Joseph Brin Region 5 Baldwinsville, N.Y. 13027 U.S.A. -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES 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://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Barrow's GoldeneyeYES, and Brooklyn Palm Warbler
The stiff NNE wind was an impediment to my President's Day attempts at seeing the various continuing rarities in Queens and Kings counties. But the day did get off to a good start with the drake BARROW'S GOLDENEYE in position on the West Pond at Jamaica Bay when I arrived ~6:55. I spent 10 minutes observing the bird before the scope-shaking and eye-watering wind sent me packing. I next tried for the Barn Owl at Big John's Pond, but it was not visible through the nest box hole, if it was present at all. There were whitecaps on the East Pond (!) and no dabbling ducks at all, so I obviously dipped on the Eurasian Wigeon. Next it was over to Floyd Bennet Field. The N. Shrike was typically elusive, evading me during the entire 2.5 hours I searched for it. The Lapland Longspur was also MIA. I did find a flock of 20 Horned Larks on one of the closed runways (but not at the cricket field, which I checked twice), but the LALO was not among them. I found 12 American Wigeon along the beach among Brant, but there was no Eurasian among them. There were 2 RED-NECKED GREBE well out on Jamaica Bay. 3 Peregrine Falcons put on a show above the bay and a female KESTREL hunted one of the fields. I finished up at Owl's Head Park/pier in Bay Ridge. I spent most of my time on the pier, scoping gulls on the water, seawalls and flying above the waster water treatment plant. The sporadically reported Black-headed Gull did not make an appearance. But later, on my way over to the park I came across a western PALM WARBLER which was feeding on the embankment between the bike path and Shore Parkway. A photo and short video can be viewed here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jgluth_brb/with/6912712955/ -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES 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://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Inshore pelagic / NY harbor tour - belated report for 2-19-12
I took a group out on a boat through Rockaway inlet yesterday and into NY Harbor and Jamaica Bay to see what's been around. We saw most expected species and had a great time enhanced by the nice weather. species of note seen Razorbill, Gannet Great Cormorant Common Merganser Purple Sandpiper Iceland Gull Red-necked Grebe Surf Scoter Barrows Goldeneye more detailed report will be posted [ by tomorrow ] on my blog link below if you are interested in participating on an inshore or offshore trip please contact me off list Arie Gilbert No. Babylon, NY www.Powerbirder.blogspot.com www.qcbirdclub.org -- NYSbirds-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] Iceland Gull, #4 Dune Road Southamton
2nd winter Iceland Gull along roadside north of Dune Rd., several DCCO. @ Shinnecock Inlet , 2 Red-throat loons, 4 C. Eiders about noon today. -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES 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://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Erie Basin Marina, Buffalo NY 2/20/12
A quick stop at the Erie Basin Marina at 5:20 pm yielded: 1 Black-legged Kittiwake - seen yesterday by Jim Pawlicki, the bird was on one of the docks across from the condos on the marina. The small size, dark smudge behind the eye and dark collar were easily seen. 100+ Ring-billed Gulls There were some gulls and ducks out towards the breakwalls, but the glare from the sun made viewing difficult. Joe Fell Buffalo, NY -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES 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://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Red White-winged Crossbills/Evening Grosbeaks/etc.
February 17-20, 2012 St. Lawrence Valley Adirondacks (St. Lawrence, Hamilton, Franklin, and Essex Counties) The record warm winter this year is truly alarming. Some of the unusual results in northern NY: a lot of open water; lack of snow; intermittent rain nearly every week, springtails (snow fleas) have been observed since January (usually it is late March); Black Bear tracks in the snow; huge Amer. Crow flocks returned in January and they have been battling Common Ravens (normally this behavior begins in March); most of my feeder species are birds that normally leave the mountains in Oct.; Brown Creepers have been singing each day since 2/11; Anthony Collerton and I observed a Golden Eagle soaring over Big Brook in Long Lake on 2/16; and in the past two days, Brenda Inskeep and I observed 2 Red-tailed Hawks in the mountains (Lake Clear area, and Blue Mountain Lake). It doesn't feel like February at all in the Adirondacks. Finches: The Pine Siskin irruption is HUGE and I think there is a siskin (maybe several) in every bush of the Adirondacks! There is a good irruption of White-winged Crossbills and they have been actively singing for several weeks now. Red Crossbills are also singing (first singing heard on 2/8), but are not as widespread as White-winged Crossbills. The Red Crossbills can be found along the Route 28-Route 28N corridor including Inlet/Raquette Lake, Blue Mountain Lake, Long Lake, and Minerva. They nested last summer and now appear to be doing a winter nesting in the same areas. Several days ago, I observed a male Red Crossbill gritting on Route 28 between Blue Mountain Lake and Raquette Lake along with 2 juvenile Red Crossbills. Evening Grosbeaks showed up in Long Lake on February 4 and have been observed every day since (not sure where they were before 2/4!). Purple Finches and Amer. Goldfinches never left the mountains this year and Purple Finches are vocalizing as if it was already spring. 2/17/12 St. Lawrence Co. I had an early morning appointment in Potsdam, so I spent a few hours birding in the area. I traveled the magic rectangle (the St. Lawrence Valley's equivalent of the magic triangle in the Lake Champlain Valley!) - Regan Rd. to May Rd. to Pleasant Valley Rd. to Stockholm Rd. to Route 11 back to Regan Rd. (where I go to see Bohemian Waxwings, Northern Shrikes, and Rough-legged Hawks). Bohemian Waxwings are very reliable in this location every winter because of the vast invasive buckthorn vegetation. This year, the waxwings have competitors with record numbers of Amer. Robins staying north. Some of the species found: Rough-legged Hawk - dark morph (Route 11 Potsdam) Northern Shrike - Robinson Bay Rd. in Massena Bohemian Waxwing - 135; (110 on May Rd. and 25 on Pleasant Valley Rd. in Potsdam) I only counted the birds perched high - there were many more down in the buckthorn vegetation out of sight. 2/18/12 Hamilton Essex Counties Sean O'Brien, Ted Mack, and I spent several hours birding in Long Lake, Ferd's Bog, and the Newcomb-Minerva area. Some of the species found: Gray Jay - 2 at Ferd's Bog Purple Finch Red Crossbill - by Long Lake White-winged Crossbill - many singing at Ferd's Bog and along Route 28N in Newcomb Pine Siskin - countless Evening Grosbeak - ~ 50 in Long Lake 2/19/12 2/20/12 Hamilton, St. Lawrence, Franklin, and Essex Counties Brenda Inskeep and I birded in Hannawa Falls/Potsdam/Stockholm in St. Lawrence Co., and then traveled to the Paul Smith's/Bloomingdale area in Franklin Co. on Sunday. This morning, we birded in Long Lake and Raquette Lake (Ferd's Bog) in Hamilton Co. Some of the 34 species found: Ruffed Grouse - 5 flushed on Bigelow Rd. Bald Eagle - soaring over May Rd. in Potsdam Rough-legged Hawk - 3; (2 in Hannawa Falls and 1 in Potsdam) Northern Flicker - 1 (early? Or did it ever leave?!) on Regan Rd. in Potsdam Pileated Woodpecker Northern Shrike - 3 (1 at the Sweeney - Back Hannawa Rd. intersection; 1 on Regan Rd. which we watched stab a mole/shrew, then pick it up in its bill and transfer to toes as it flew into the bushes; 1 at the Pleasant Valley Rd. - Stockholm Rd. intersection) Gray Jay - 1 in Bloomingdale and 2 at Ferd's Bog Boreal Chickadee - 5 at Bigelow Rd. (2 flocks) Brown Creeper - singing Golden-crowned Kinglet Bohemian Waxwing - 81 (30 in Hannawa Falls (Route 56), 40 on May Rd. in Potsdam, and 11 on Fletcher Farm Rd. in Bloomingdale) Purple Finch Red Crossbill - singing in Long Lake White-winged Crossbill - many singing in Bloomingdale, Ferd's Bog, and Route 28N in Newcomb Pine Siskin Evening Grosbeak - ~50 in Long Lake and at least one on the Keese Mills Rd. in Paul Smith's We observed a perplexing behavior - a battle between a male Evening Grosbeak and a male Red Crossbill in Long Lake (near where the Red Crossbills are singing/nesting). The grosbeak aggressively chased the crossbill back and forth for several minutes. I suspect the crossbill
