[nysbirds-l] Gulls, Redpoll, etc. Central Pk., NYC 2/19
Tuesday, 19 February, 2013 - Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City On a later in day look at the Central Park reservoir, the Black-headed Gull was not re-found by 2 of us scanning a while, nor did I come up with it again on a 4-4:30 p.m. attempt, by which hour many gulls had exited the reservoir & park - the Black-headed was present at about noon thru 12:45 or so. As noted by several astute readers this is quite likely an individual that had been seen at the same location just 3 weeks prior, and was also then photographed, by Karen Fung & perhaps by others. I had not been aware (nor was I that the uncommon-in-Central Park Common Merganser, at the Meer in that park, had been at that location for some time this mid-winter. Ah, the wonders of not being on all of the varied lists and services that presently offer bird reports to those with portable electronics, and in general on this medium... and more to the point, I also went thru the flu-like bug so many others also have dealt with this season & have been otherwise not up to speed on all the latest in NY area birding... but with a little help from one's friends!) In any event, a look at the Lake did not provide Iceland Gull in the light afternoon rain, but the young Iceland did show at the reservoir as of about 4:15 pm, settling down with the other gulls that remained. I also went by the Ramble feeders, and on a second pass there, was able to see the Common Redpoll which I'd just been told had been again about, and with a modest wait there it was again at about 3:45 pm, amongst the many American Goldfinch. Also appearing briefly by the feeders was the Baltimore Oriole which has successfully been wintering in Central. I will likely try again for the Black-headed Gull on Wed. & report if it is seen then. - - - - On a completely different topic, a list-member very recently inquired about someone else's New Hampshire query on whether an E. Phoebe could possibly have been heard, or been present recently, in that state - and while I tentatively agree that the sounds uttered by Black-capped Chickadees are occasionally confused for the typical vocalization of E. Phoebe by some listeners, it is also very possible (if not very likely) that the phoebe could be in the northeast in the midst of winter, albeit maybe less likely this particular winter as it's been in NH. -From the book "Bull's Birds of NY State" published in 1998 (and thus not including many more recent records) by Cornell Univ. Press (E. Levine, editor) and the E. Phoebe species account by Stephen W. Eaton: "Nonbreeding" ... "It is difficult to separate late Feb. arrivals from possible overwintering birds." and, under the header, "Spring Maxima" ... Virtually every Region [TF - a reference to the 10 regions of NY state as used by The Kingbird, the journal of reference of the NY State Ornithological Association, and which take in all portions of NY state] has Dec., Jan., and Feb. records in mild winters; these birds switch to berry and backyard feeder diets in the insect-free months, but they most likely become victims of late-winter storms. A record of particular of particular note took place on LI, with a total of five birds recorded on 3 CBC's 16-29 Dec. 1980." I'll add that "Birds of Massachusetts" by Richard R. Veit & Wayne R. Petersen (1993, Mass. Audubon) includes the following in that book's E. Phoebe account: "Nonbreeding" ... There are more than 30 reports since 1955 of E. Phoebes lingering into Jan. and Feb., and it is difficult to determine to what extent these birds move about during these months. ... "7, in Mass. west to Athol, 1-27 Feb. 1956" thus, not strictly a very recent phenomenon! However - this is not to be taken as a report of the species for this February 2013. The question, posed to this list, may have been answered to the original questioner's satisfaction, in any event. Good birding, Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- 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] Queens County Bird Club Inc. - Upcoming Meeting Info-
The Queens County Bird Club Inc. will be meeting
at the Alley Pond Environmental Center http://www.alleypond.com/
at 8pm on Wednesday February
20, 2013
{ the third Wednesday of the month}
Our Speaker will be Seth Ausubel doing a
presentation on
Rarities Through The Ages
Seth Ausubel has been an avid birder for more than 20
years. He has accumulated a respectable number of
photos of rare birds. Each has a story. Come reminisce
about the ones you saw and lament the ones you didn't..
Non members and guests are invited to join us
for our meetings featuring noted guest speakers
and to join us on our renowned field trips.
QCBC is a tax exempt, charitable organization {501c3}.
Trips and Meetings are free!
:-)
And please consider joining or making a contribution if you attend
or participate.
Please check our website for more information
Arie Gilbert
President: Queens County Bird Club Inc.
See http://www.qcbirdclub.org for
more information on trips, speakers, and other events
--
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] Bl.-h. Gull, CP res., NYC 2/19
Tuesday, 19 Feb., 2013 Central Park (reservoir), Manhattan, N.Y. City On Central Park's reservoir this mid-day were at least several thousand gulls, and scanning thru them I found & photographed a 1st-winter-plumaged Black-headed Gull, which was mostly sitting (as were 98% of all the gulls) at or near the median divider of the reservoir, & the Black-headed much closer to the north end of that dike than otherwise - it was seen & photographed in flight as well as on the dike, & seen moving about just a few dozen yards, generally within the few dozen other gulls at/near the northern portion of the dike, at ~12:30 to 12:45 pm today. I am returning, despite less than lovely (wet) weather arriving, to scan all the other gulls & also see if the Black-headed can be re-found in fairly quick time, or not... more to follow if/when further sightings have occurred... I'd add that with so many gulls present, chances of any other uncommon or rarer species increase a bit, at any location gulls gather. I can't predict whether this concentration at the C.P. reservoir will continue in the weather that is coming in, or after it. good gulling, Tom Fiore Manhattan -- 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] Hoary Redpolls & other Northern NY birds
I have been absent from email for several weeks due to 5 different family emergencies. Someone on NYS Birds asked about a Hoary Redpoll location. We continue to have large numbers of redpolls - hundreds of Commons and at least 4 Hoary Redpolls (1 male and 3 females) at our Long Lake feeders. Birders are welcome to view our feeders if they can let us know the date/time ahead. So far, everyone who has visited has had success in viewing a Hoary Redpoll. Here are some recent sightings from northern NY locations: 2/10/13 Long Lake (Hamilton County) Bohemian Waxwing - a flock of 60 to 70 birds perched at the edge of our lawn in Long Lake. Bohemian Waxwings occasionally show up in Long Lake during the winter, but this was the first time we have had this species on our property. Hoary Redpoll - I observed 4 on our front porch among hundreds of Common Redpolls. 2/14/13 Bloomingdale area (Franklin/Essex Counties), Tupper Lake (Franklin Co.), Long Lake (Hamilton Co.) Ruffed Grouse - Bloomingdale Bald Eagle - 2 adults flying together over Route 3 by the intersection with Coreys Rd. Barred Owl - Long Lake Black-backed Woodpecker - 2 females (1 along Bigelow Rd. in Bloomingdale & 1 at Sabattis Bog in Long Lake) Gray Jay - 11 (3 at Sabattis Bog, 6 at Bloomingdale Bog, and 2 along Bigelow Rd.) Bohemian Waxwing - ~20 in a crab apple tree by the Tupper Lake school entrance on Stetson Rd. 2/15/13 Various St. Lawrence Co. locations Rough-legged Hawk - 2 (1 light morph on Route 30 in Madrid, and 1 light morph at the intersection of Routes 30 & 27 in Lisbon) Horned Lark - 11 (Lisbon & Madrid) Bohemian Waxwing - 10 in Ogdensburg Snow Bunting - Lisbon Pine Grosbeak - 11 (1 in Canton, groups of 6 and 4 in Ogdensburg) On a tour with 3 birders from the NYC area over the weekend, we found 45 species. We spent Saturday in boreal habitat and Sunday in the St. Lawrence Valley. Here are some of the species found: 2/16/13 Bloomingdale area (Franklin/Essex Counties) & Sabattis Bog (Hamilton Co.) Black-backed Woodpecker - 2 (1 male on Oregon Plains Rd. in Bloomingdale & 1 female at Sabattis Bog in Long Lake) Boreal Chickadee - 13 (groups of 1,1,1,5, & 5 along Oregon Plains and Bigelow Rds.) Brown Creeper - singing on Oregon Plains Rd. Golden-crowned Kinglet - Oregon Plains Rd. Gray Jay - 8 at Bloomingdale Bog White-winged Crossbill - 8 (only 2 females) on Oregon Plains Rd. They were in the area for a long time and spent time foraging on spruce cones and gritting in the road. Common Redpoll - ~10 at Bloomingdale Bog 2/17/13 Various St. Lawrence Co. locations Bufflehead Common Goldeneye Common Merganser Wild Turkey Bald Eagle - 4 (1 Lisbon, 2 Madrid, and 1 Massena) Cooper's Hawk - Ogdensburg Red-tailed Hawk - 10 Rough-legged Hawk - 2 (1 light and 1 dark morph) Route 30 in Madrid Herring Gull Glaucous Gull - 1 (possibly 2 as I saw one on the water also - may have been the same perched bird later) at Hawkins Point in Massena. Interesting - the USA-Canada border runs right through the middle of the Moses-Saunders Dam! So, technically, the Glaucous Gull was perched in Canada - But, we did see it flying in the USA before it perched!!! Great Black-backed Gull - many at Hawkins Point in Massena Northern Shrike - Route 15 in Rensselaer Falls at Lower Lake (Town of Canton) Common Raven Horned Lark Tufted Titmouse Bohemian Waxwing - at least 80 in Canton feeding in fruit trees on Farmer St. American Tree Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Snow Bunting - several locations including scope views at Lisbon Beach Northern Cardinal Pine Grosbeak - ~10 in Canton feeding in a large spruce (eating the new vegetation) at St. Lawrence Univ. House Finch We stopped by Lisbon Beach and found birders from the Saranac Lake area who had not observed the Smew (& reported meeting other birders who did not find it on Sunday either). Jeff Bolsinger posted his Smew photographs, taken on Saturday, on the Northern NY Birds website. As Jeff posted, conditions were not ideal for viewing waterfowl on the river with bitter cold, wind, and heat shimmer. 2/18/13 Long Lake (Hamilton Co.) The three birders from NYC and I braved the bitter cold to watch our feeder redpolls through scopes at 8 a.m. We observed a brilliant female Hoary Redpoll feeding among the Common Redpolls. Joan Collins Long Lake, NY (315) 244-7127 cell (518) 624-5528 home http://www.adirondackavianexpeditions.com/ -- 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] Hoary Redpolls other Northern NY birds
I have been absent from email for several weeks due to 5 different family emergencies. Someone on NYS Birds asked about a Hoary Redpoll location. We continue to have large numbers of redpolls - hundreds of Commons and at least 4 Hoary Redpolls (1 male and 3 females) at our Long Lake feeders. Birders are welcome to view our feeders if they can let us know the date/time ahead. So far, everyone who has visited has had success in viewing a Hoary Redpoll. Here are some recent sightings from northern NY locations: 2/10/13 Long Lake (Hamilton County) Bohemian Waxwing - a flock of 60 to 70 birds perched at the edge of our lawn in Long Lake. Bohemian Waxwings occasionally show up in Long Lake during the winter, but this was the first time we have had this species on our property. Hoary Redpoll - I observed 4 on our front porch among hundreds of Common Redpolls. 2/14/13 Bloomingdale area (Franklin/Essex Counties), Tupper Lake (Franklin Co.), Long Lake (Hamilton Co.) Ruffed Grouse - Bloomingdale Bald Eagle - 2 adults flying together over Route 3 by the intersection with Coreys Rd. Barred Owl - Long Lake Black-backed Woodpecker - 2 females (1 along Bigelow Rd. in Bloomingdale 1 at Sabattis Bog in Long Lake) Gray Jay - 11 (3 at Sabattis Bog, 6 at Bloomingdale Bog, and 2 along Bigelow Rd.) Bohemian Waxwing - ~20 in a crab apple tree by the Tupper Lake school entrance on Stetson Rd. 2/15/13 Various St. Lawrence Co. locations Rough-legged Hawk - 2 (1 light morph on Route 30 in Madrid, and 1 light morph at the intersection of Routes 30 27 in Lisbon) Horned Lark - 11 (Lisbon Madrid) Bohemian Waxwing - 10 in Ogdensburg Snow Bunting - Lisbon Pine Grosbeak - 11 (1 in Canton, groups of 6 and 4 in Ogdensburg) On a tour with 3 birders from the NYC area over the weekend, we found 45 species. We spent Saturday in boreal habitat and Sunday in the St. Lawrence Valley. Here are some of the species found: 2/16/13 Bloomingdale area (Franklin/Essex Counties) Sabattis Bog (Hamilton Co.) Black-backed Woodpecker - 2 (1 male on Oregon Plains Rd. in Bloomingdale 1 female at Sabattis Bog in Long Lake) Boreal Chickadee - 13 (groups of 1,1,1,5, 5 along Oregon Plains and Bigelow Rds.) Brown Creeper - singing on Oregon Plains Rd. Golden-crowned Kinglet - Oregon Plains Rd. Gray Jay - 8 at Bloomingdale Bog White-winged Crossbill - 8 (only 2 females) on Oregon Plains Rd. They were in the area for a long time and spent time foraging on spruce cones and gritting in the road. Common Redpoll - ~10 at Bloomingdale Bog 2/17/13 Various St. Lawrence Co. locations Bufflehead Common Goldeneye Common Merganser Wild Turkey Bald Eagle - 4 (1 Lisbon, 2 Madrid, and 1 Massena) Cooper's Hawk - Ogdensburg Red-tailed Hawk - 10 Rough-legged Hawk - 2 (1 light and 1 dark morph) Route 30 in Madrid Herring Gull Glaucous Gull - 1 (possibly 2 as I saw one on the water also - may have been the same perched bird later) at Hawkins Point in Massena. Interesting - the USA-Canada border runs right through the middle of the Moses-Saunders Dam! So, technically, the Glaucous Gull was perched in Canada - But, we did see it flying in the USA before it perched!!! Great Black-backed Gull - many at Hawkins Point in Massena Northern Shrike - Route 15 in Rensselaer Falls at Lower Lake (Town of Canton) Common Raven Horned Lark Tufted Titmouse Bohemian Waxwing - at least 80 in Canton feeding in fruit trees on Farmer St. American Tree Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Snow Bunting - several locations including scope views at Lisbon Beach Northern Cardinal Pine Grosbeak - ~10 in Canton feeding in a large spruce (eating the new vegetation) at St. Lawrence Univ. House Finch We stopped by Lisbon Beach and found birders from the Saranac Lake area who had not observed the Smew ( reported meeting other birders who did not find it on Sunday either). Jeff Bolsinger posted his Smew photographs, taken on Saturday, on the Northern NY Birds website. As Jeff posted, conditions were not ideal for viewing waterfowl on the river with bitter cold, wind, and heat shimmer. 2/18/13 Long Lake (Hamilton Co.) The three birders from NYC and I braved the bitter cold to watch our feeder redpolls through scopes at 8 a.m. We observed a brilliant female Hoary Redpoll feeding among the Common Redpolls. Joan Collins Long Lake, NY (315) 244-7127 cell (518) 624-5528 home http://www.adirondackavianexpeditions.com/ -- 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] Bl.-h. Gull, CP res., NYC 2/19
Tuesday, 19 Feb., 2013 Central Park (reservoir), Manhattan, N.Y. City On Central Park's reservoir this mid-day were at least several thousand gulls, and scanning thru them I found photographed a 1st-winter-plumaged Black-headed Gull, which was mostly sitting (as were 98% of all the gulls) at or near the median divider of the reservoir, the Black-headed much closer to the north end of that dike than otherwise - it was seen photographed in flight as well as on the dike, seen moving about just a few dozen yards, generally within the few dozen other gulls at/near the northern portion of the dike, at ~12:30 to 12:45 pm today. I am returning, despite less than lovely (wet) weather arriving, to scan all the other gulls also see if the Black-headed can be re-found in fairly quick time, or not... more to follow if/when further sightings have occurred... I'd add that with so many gulls present, chances of any other uncommon or rarer species increase a bit, at any location gulls gather. I can't predict whether this concentration at the C.P. reservoir will continue in the weather that is coming in, or after it. good gulling, Tom Fiore Manhattan -- 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] Queens County Bird Club Inc. - Upcoming Meeting Info-
The Queens County Bird Club Inc. will be meeting
at the Alley Pond Environmental Center http://www.alleypond.com/
at 8pm on Wednesday February
20, 2013
{ the third Wednesday of the month}
Our Speaker will be Seth Ausubel doing a
presentation on
Rarities Through The Ages
Seth Ausubel has been an avid birder for more than 20
years. He has accumulated a respectable number of
photos of rare birds. Each has a story. Come reminisce
about the ones you saw and lament the ones you didn't..
Non members and guests are invited to join us
for our meetings featuring noted guest speakers
and to join us on our renowned field trips.
QCBC is a tax exempt, charitable organization {501c3}.
Trips and Meetings are free!
:-)
And please consider joining or making a contribution if you attend
or participate.
Please check our website for more information
Arie Gilbert
President: Queens County Bird Club Inc.
See http://www.qcbirdclub.org for
more information on trips, speakers, and other events
--
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] Gulls, Redpoll, etc. Central Pk., NYC 2/19
Tuesday, 19 February, 2013 - Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City On a later in day look at the Central Park reservoir, the Black-headed Gull was not re-found by 2 of us scanning a while, nor did I come up with it again on a 4-4:30 p.m. attempt, by which hour many gulls had exited the reservoir park - the Black-headed was present at about noon thru 12:45 or so. As noted by several astute readers this is quite likely an individual that had been seen at the same location just 3 weeks prior, and was also then photographed, by Karen Fung perhaps by others. I had not been aware (nor was I that the uncommon-in-Central Park Common Merganser, at the Meer in that park, had been at that location for some time this mid-winter. Ah, the wonders of not being on all of the varied lists and services that presently offer bird reports to those with portable electronics, and in general on this medium... and more to the point, I also went thru the flu-like bug so many others also have dealt with this season have been otherwise not up to speed on all the latest in NY area birding... but with a little help from one's friends!) In any event, a look at the Lake did not provide Iceland Gull in the light afternoon rain, but the young Iceland did show at the reservoir as of about 4:15 pm, settling down with the other gulls that remained. I also went by the Ramble feeders, and on a second pass there, was able to see the Common Redpoll which I'd just been told had been again about, and with a modest wait there it was again at about 3:45 pm, amongst the many American Goldfinch. Also appearing briefly by the feeders was the Baltimore Oriole which has successfully been wintering in Central. I will likely try again for the Black-headed Gull on Wed. report if it is seen then. - - - - On a completely different topic, a list-member very recently inquired about someone else's New Hampshire query on whether an E. Phoebe could possibly have been heard, or been present recently, in that state - and while I tentatively agree that the sounds uttered by Black-capped Chickadees are occasionally confused for the typical vocalization of E. Phoebe by some listeners, it is also very possible (if not very likely) that the phoebe could be in the northeast in the midst of winter, albeit maybe less likely this particular winter as it's been in NH. -From the book Bull's Birds of NY State published in 1998 (and thus not including many more recent records) by Cornell Univ. Press (E. Levine, editor) and the E. Phoebe species account by Stephen W. Eaton: Nonbreeding ... It is difficult to separate late Feb. arrivals from possible overwintering birds. and, under the header, Spring Maxima ... Virtually every Region [TF - a reference to the 10 regions of NY state as used by The Kingbird, the journal of reference of the NY State Ornithological Association, and which take in all portions of NY state] has Dec., Jan., and Feb. records in mild winters; these birds switch to berry and backyard feeder diets in the insect-free months, but they most likely become victims of late-winter storms. A record of particular of particular note took place on LI, with a total of five birds recorded on 3 CBC's 16-29 Dec. 1980. I'll add that Birds of Massachusetts by Richard R. Veit Wayne R. Petersen (1993, Mass. Audubon) includes the following in that book's E. Phoebe account: Nonbreeding ... There are more than 30 reports since 1955 of E. Phoebes lingering into Jan. and Feb., and it is difficult to determine to what extent these birds move about during these months. ... 7, in Mass. west to Athol, 1-27 Feb. 1956 thus, not strictly a very recent phenomenon! However - this is not to be taken as a report of the species for this February 2013. The question, posed to this list, may have been answered to the original questioner's satisfaction, in any event. Good birding, Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- 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/ --
