[nysbirds-l] Great Gray Owl & more!
3/30/13 Hamilton, Franklin, Essex, Clinton Counties Two Barred Owls are hooting back and forth outside our Long Lake house tonight as I write this post! It looks like we'll have nesting Barred Owls in our yard again this year. While returning to Long Lake after an all day birding tour, a Great Gray Owl was observed in southern Franklin County. A birder from NJ spotted the bird as I was driving 60 miles per hour! (I've birded with her before and she has "raptor eyes"!) She said, "Stop the car, I think I just saw a Great Gray Owl"! I 180-ed with the car, and looked into the beautiful face of a Great Gray Owl! We continued to watch the bird perch and actively hunt. Larry Master made it to our location from Lake Placid in record time! He took some wonderful photos which he plans to post. I didn't keep track of the time, but I suspect we observed the bird for about an hour and a half. The NJ birder stopped at our home yesterday at dawn to observe our Common and Hoary Redpoll feeder birds and then we spent the whole day birding today. Here are some of the 40 species found: Snow Goose - hundreds migrating north Ring-necked Ducks - filling in on open water Bufflehead Hooded Merganser Ruffed Grouse Turkey Vulture Cooper's Hawk - Bloomingdale American Kestrel Peregrine Falcon - Plattsburgh Barred Owl - Sabattis Bog Great Gray Owl - southern Franklin Co. Black-backed Woodpecker - at least 5 (probably 7 since we heard two more drumming that would have been a long bushwhack); two pairs and a solo bird in the Bloomingdale area. We spent a lot of time watching one pair communicating back and forth through tapping. Pileated Woodpecker - 2 today (1 yesterday at my home) Boreal Chickadee - 6 (groups of 1, 3, and 2 in Bloomingdale) Brown Creeper - singing Golden-crowned Kinglet American Robin - Bloomingdale area Pine Grosbeak - 2 in Plattsburgh feeding on crab apples along Montcalm Rd. near the intersection with Ash Road. 3/29/13 Long Lake, Hamilton Co. Sharp-shinned Hawk - preying on the redpolls at our feeders Northern Saw-whet Owl - 1 vocalizing outside our home (dinner time) Hoary Redpoll - 3 (1 male and 2 females); For the first time ever, I had two female Hoary Redpolls in one scope view sitting near each other! 3/28/13 Long Lake, Hamilton Co., and Plattsburgh and Chazy in Clinton Co. A Barred Owl was vocalizing outside our home at dawn. I found two flocks of Bohemian Waxwings: ~60 at Lake Alice Wildlife Management Area and 5 outside Hawkins Hall at SUNY Plattsburgh. The Bohemian Waxwings at Lake Alice were fly-catching at the wetland near the intersection of Ridge and Macadam Roads (it was over 50 degrees at the time). A Peregrine Falcon tried to catch a Rock Pigeon as I watched the Bohemian Waxwings at Hawkins Hall - the same location where a Peregrine was observed today. 3/26/13 St. Lawrence County Waterfowl (Snow & Canada Geese, Amer. Black Duck, Mallard, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Hooded, Common, and Red-breasted Mergansers), 2 Bald Eagles, and 2 Pine Grosbeaks outside Pizza Hut in Massena! 3/25/13 Long Lake, Hamilton Co. Black-backed Woodpecker at Sabattis Bog 3/24/13 Long Lake, Hamilton Co. Barred Owl - 2 hooting back and forth at Sabattis Bog (late afternoon) Black-backed Woodpecker - 1 at the boreal forest by the Round Lake outlet into Little Tupper Lake We still have ~2 feet of snow on the ground in Long Lake (lots of lake effect snow). There is very little snow in Saranac Lake and Lake Placid, and no snow in Plattsburgh. The temperature difference between Plattsburgh and Long Lake has been about 10 to 15 degrees. It doesn't feel like spring in Long Lake yet. Joan Collins Long Lake, 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] Snowy Egret in East Quogue
Although not rare, two FOS Snowy Egrets were seen late this afternoon at the new Southampton Town boat basin at Pine Neck in East Quogue. They were in the company of two Great Egrets and all four birds flew off together, heading west. Eileen Schwinn Sent from my iPhone -- 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] Van Cortlandt Park Walk highlights...
Highlights from our walk at Van Cortlandt Park include the following: Brown Creeper (1), Golden-crowned Kinglet (2), Green-winged Teal, another male joined the 2 from last week bringing the number to 3, Ring-necked Duck, now two females. Both the teal and Ring-necked Duck are unusual for the park. In addition, we were treated to a singing Yellow-rumped Warbler and Dark-eyed Junco. Good Birding! Sent from somewhere in the field using my mobile device! Andrew Baksh www.birdingdude.blogspot.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] The New York Botanical Garden
Spring is finally here! There were 36 birders on the Saturday morning bird walk. Highlights include: American Kestrel, Merlin, Black Vultures, Ring Necked ducks. Also observed: Brown Creeper-1 Eastern Phoebe-4 Ruby crowned Kinglet-1 Cormorant-1 Canada Goose-flock Wood Duck-6 American Coot-1 Mallard-4 Northern Mockingbird-2 Northern Cardinal-1 Tufted Titmouse-1 Chickadee-4 White breasted nuthatch-5 Song Sparrow-2 House Sparrow-6 Red bellied woodpecker -4 Downy woodpecker -1 Yellow bellied sapsucker-2 Winter wren - singing Turkey Vulture-1 Red tailed hawk-3 Red winged Blackbird-2 Grackle-6 Blue Jay-3 American Robin-15+ Mourning Dove-1 Mourning Cloak -2 Snapping Turtle-1 Red eared sliders-22 Muskrat-1 Two birders observed the beaver during the week. Good Birding, Debbie Becker BirdingAroundNYC.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/ --
RE:[nysbirds-l] White or Albino Hawk near Hudson
It is likely the albino red-tailed hawk that has been hanging around that area for years. I have a fuzzy photo of the bird that I took in 2009, but Steve Sachs has better shots on his website, http://www.stevesachsphotography.com/. Look under the slideshow for buteos, about halfway down. -- Betsy Wiesendanger, Cortlandt Manor -- 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] NFP/Arshamomaque Preserve
Bob Adamo and I had a relatively slow half day of birding this morning. We started at the east pond of the North Fork Preserve where we saw about 6 pair of Green-winged Teal and a pair of Northern Shovelers doing the circle thing. We then went to Arshamomaque Preserve were we spotted the previously reported flock of Rusty Blackbirds, which included the three plumages: breeding male, female and juvenile. We also had an Osprey. Twice during the day I saw crows mobbing a bird of prey. First, on Middle Rd near Mattituck, Bob and I saw a crow mobbing a Cooper's Hawk. Later at EPCAL I saw two crows mobbing a Red-Tailed Hawk. Another sign of spring nesting season!? Tom Moran Shoreham -- 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] Shu Swamp - Am. Bittern, E. Phoebes, Rusty Blackbirds
I visited Shu Swamp Preserve (Oyster Bay, Nassau Co.) today (9:15-12:15) for the first time in quite a while and had a good day of birding overall. But the highlight of the visit was certainly the AMERICAN BITTERN found stalking the edge of the small woodland pond near the Preserve's north end. While the habitat was aquatic, it seemed atypical for the species what with the towering oaks and tulip poplars looming overhead and no reeds nearby. Checking eBird when I got home I found that this bird was also seen on 3/26, so it's been there for at least 4 days. Other nice finds were 2 EASTERN PHOEBES and 4 WOOD DUCKS (both personal FOY), 12 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS, 6 WINTER WRENS (most singing), and 1 HERMIT THRUSH, also singing. The thrush was observed to vigorously defend its stage by chasing a Hairy Woodpecker that dared land too close to it. An Osprey was seen carrying nesting material (a stick). Full eBird checklist with photo of the Bittern at: http://ebird.org/ebird/ny/view/checklist?subID=S13573250 -- 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] East End Birding
To update some of our more reliable "rarities" from out east on Long Island; as of Thursday, the Captree Marina Red-necked Grebe continues in his favorite spot inside the docks at Captree State Park and Larry the Lesser Black-backed Gull continues at the harbour entrance in Napeaque. Birds are thin at Montauk Point though all three scoters are present. Also, we had one Razorbill flying by without landing. Woodcocks were "peenting" and displaying at dusk in and around the Camp Hero parking lot. Rob Bate and Tracy Meade -- 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] 3/30- Brooklyn: Black Vultures
Earlier today (~12:15 PM), there were 6 Black Vultures kettling together a mile and a half or so SSW of Prospect Park, as viewed from the Ditmas Park section of Flatbush, looking west. They stayed in view for several minutes, allowing Bob Gochfeld and me some satisfactory scope views, though they were quite distant. They were, as one might expect, drifting north. This species, though expanding, is still fairly rare on Long Island at any time of the year, and this is the highest count for Black Vulture that I can find in eBird for Long Island or Manhattan (the previous highest in the system being 3, I think). Good Birding -Doug Gochfeld. Brooklyn, 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] EPCAL(Calverton Grasslands)- E. Meadowlarks
Good news, in spite of the large number of "Sandy"-totaled cars still present, at least five Eastern Meadowlark were seen this morning at the former Grumman facility. Also over the same grasslands, were Northern Harrier and American Kestrel. Eastern Bluebirds and Tree Swallows were found in the southern portion of the property, and at least 50 Horned Lark nearby, in the eastern field of Hulse Landing Road. An adult Bald Eagle was seen flying to the west, following the Peconic River, observed from the NYS Police barracks near downtown Riverhead. A delightful way to end an enjoyable Springtime morning! Eileen Schwinn East Quogue Sent from my iPhone -- 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] Pelicans!
Just had 2 Brown Pelicans flying northeast over the parking lot at Nickerson Beach. Ardith Bondi and Peter Post Sent from my iPhone -- 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] NYC Area RBA: 29 March 2013
- RBA * New York * New York City, Long Island, Westchester County * March 29, 2013 * NYNY1303.29 - Birds Mentioned: BARNACLE GOOSE+ VARIED THRUSH+ (+ Details requested by NYSARC) Cackling Goose Wood Duck EURASIAN WIGEON Blue-winged Teal GREEN-WINGED TEAL (Eurasian form "Common Teal") TUFTED DUCK Snowy Egret Tricolored Heron Black-crowned Night-Heron Glossy Ibis Black Vulture Osprey Clapper Rail Greater Yellowlegs Willet Laughing Gull Iceland Gull Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Eastern Phoebe Common Raven Tree Swallow Golden-crowned Kinglet Pine Warbler LAPLAND LONGSPUR Rusty Blackbird Red Crossbill White-winged Crossbill Common Redpoll Pine Siskin If followed by (+) please submit documentation of your report electronically and use the NYSARC online submission form found at http://www.nybirds.org/NYSARC/goodreport.htm You can also send reports and digital image files via email to nysa...@nybirds.org . If electronic submission is not possible, hardcopy reports and photos or sketches are welcome. Hardcopy documentation should be mailed to: Gary Chapin - Secretary NYS Avian Records Committee (NYSARC) 486 High Street Victor, NY 14564 ~ Transcript ~ Hotline: New York City Area Rare Bird Alert Weekly Recording: (212) 979-3070 To report sightings call: Tom Burke (212) 372-1483 (during the day except Sunday) Tony Lauro (631) 734-4126 (Long Island) Compilers: Tom Burke, Tony Lauro Coverage: New York City, Long Island, Westchester County Transcriber: Karen Fung [~BEGIN RBA TAPE~] Greetings. This is the New York Rare Bird Alert for Friday, March 29nd, at 7:00pm. The highlights of today's tape are VARIED THRUSH, BARNACLE GOOSE, TUFTED DUCK, EURASIAN WIGEON, Eurasian form of GREEN-WINGED TEAL, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, and Spring Migrants. A nicely plumaged male VARIED THRUSH remained a findable highlight in Brooklyn's Prospect Park through today. For well over a week now, the thrush has been found feeding on the southern slope of Quaker Hill, just east of Quaker Cemetery and west of the Nethermead Bridge. This area is best viewable from a bridle path running along the north side of Center Drive. Watch for the thrush kicking up the underbrush as it feeds. Some winter finches also continue in Prospect, including WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS, PINE SISKINS, and fewer COMMON REDPOLLS. The drake TUFTED DUCK was still on the pond at Heckscher Park, off Route 25A in Huntington, today. The Westchester County BARNACLE GOOSE was back on Larchmont Reservoir with a CACKLING GOOSE and some Canadas on Sunday. Also known as Sheldrake Lake, this site is off Weaver Street, south of the Hutchinson River Parkway, in Larchmont. The BARNACLE had also recently been at Twin Lakes Park in Eastchester. Two EURASIAN WIGEON, along with an apparent hybrid wigeon, were still at Massapequa Preserve Wednesday, and farther out on Long Island, at Terrell River County Park in Center Moriches, a nice collection of Eurasian GREEN-WINGED TEAL was still present with dozens of American GREEN-WINGED TEAL last Sunday. Of the four or more birds exhibiting the horizontal white wing stripe of the Eurasian form, a couple maybe have been hybrids, though none showed a notable vertical white stripe. These birds were along the Terrell River, south of the parking lot off Montauk Highway, Route 27A, on a rising tide. A hybrid-type Eurasian and American GREEN-WINGED TEAL was also at Hempstead Lake State Park on Sunday. Could this have been the same bird wintering just south of there on Smith Pond in Rockville Centre? Hempstead Lake State Park, a good site for early migrants, on Sunday also featured WOOD DUCK OSPREY, YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER, a few EASTERN PHOEBES, TREE SWALLOWS, GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET, PINE WARBLER, and some RUSTY BLACKBIRDS. BLUE-WINGED TEAL appeared there today, the first actually a male on the narrow river in Orient last Saturday, and many have appeared since. A CACKLING GOOSE was present at Inwood Hill Park in northern Manhattan Sunday to Wednesday, and two were also picked out in flight among some Canada flocks, moving over Randall's Island last Sunday morning. When watching Canada flocks though, remember that Canadas do come in various sizes, and small size alone may not indicate a Cackling Goose. A LAPLAND LONGSPUR was still around Jones Beach West End Monday, usually seen on the Coast Guard parking lot lawn by the gazebo. Some lingering winter finches have included a nice flock of COMMON REDPOLLS for several days along Route 25A in Calverton, with WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS still in a few locations such as at Marshlands Conservancy in Rye, and occasional RED CROSSBILLS on eastern Long Island. Birders should remember to look for nesting activity, a possibility with both crossbills locally. Four BLACK VULTURES were noted over the Bronx Zoo on Wednesday, and some new, recent arriving migrants have included BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON and GREATER YELLOWLEGS, with a LAUGHING GULL in Brooklyn Monday, and the Oceanside Marine Nature Study
[nysbirds-l] NYC Area RBA: 29 March 2013
- RBA * New York * New York City, Long Island, Westchester County * March 29, 2013 * NYNY1303.29 - Birds Mentioned: BARNACLE GOOSE+ VARIED THRUSH+ (+ Details requested by NYSARC) Cackling Goose Wood Duck EURASIAN WIGEON Blue-winged Teal GREEN-WINGED TEAL (Eurasian form Common Teal) TUFTED DUCK Snowy Egret Tricolored Heron Black-crowned Night-Heron Glossy Ibis Black Vulture Osprey Clapper Rail Greater Yellowlegs Willet Laughing Gull Iceland Gull Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Eastern Phoebe Common Raven Tree Swallow Golden-crowned Kinglet Pine Warbler LAPLAND LONGSPUR Rusty Blackbird Red Crossbill White-winged Crossbill Common Redpoll Pine Siskin If followed by (+) please submit documentation of your report electronically and use the NYSARC online submission form found at http://www.nybirds.org/NYSARC/goodreport.htm You can also send reports and digital image files via email to nysa...@nybirds.org . If electronic submission is not possible, hardcopy reports and photos or sketches are welcome. Hardcopy documentation should be mailed to: Gary Chapin - Secretary NYS Avian Records Committee (NYSARC) 486 High Street Victor, NY 14564 ~ Transcript ~ Hotline: New York City Area Rare Bird Alert Weekly Recording: (212) 979-3070 To report sightings call: Tom Burke (212) 372-1483 (during the day except Sunday) Tony Lauro (631) 734-4126 (Long Island) Compilers: Tom Burke, Tony Lauro Coverage: New York City, Long Island, Westchester County Transcriber: Karen Fung [~BEGIN RBA TAPE~] Greetings. This is the New York Rare Bird Alert for Friday, March 29nd, at 7:00pm. The highlights of today's tape are VARIED THRUSH, BARNACLE GOOSE, TUFTED DUCK, EURASIAN WIGEON, Eurasian form of GREEN-WINGED TEAL, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, and Spring Migrants. A nicely plumaged male VARIED THRUSH remained a findable highlight in Brooklyn's Prospect Park through today. For well over a week now, the thrush has been found feeding on the southern slope of Quaker Hill, just east of Quaker Cemetery and west of the Nethermead Bridge. This area is best viewable from a bridle path running along the north side of Center Drive. Watch for the thrush kicking up the underbrush as it feeds. Some winter finches also continue in Prospect, including WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS, PINE SISKINS, and fewer COMMON REDPOLLS. The drake TUFTED DUCK was still on the pond at Heckscher Park, off Route 25A in Huntington, today. The Westchester County BARNACLE GOOSE was back on Larchmont Reservoir with a CACKLING GOOSE and some Canadas on Sunday. Also known as Sheldrake Lake, this site is off Weaver Street, south of the Hutchinson River Parkway, in Larchmont. The BARNACLE had also recently been at Twin Lakes Park in Eastchester. Two EURASIAN WIGEON, along with an apparent hybrid wigeon, were still at Massapequa Preserve Wednesday, and farther out on Long Island, at Terrell River County Park in Center Moriches, a nice collection of Eurasian GREEN-WINGED TEAL was still present with dozens of American GREEN-WINGED TEAL last Sunday. Of the four or more birds exhibiting the horizontal white wing stripe of the Eurasian form, a couple maybe have been hybrids, though none showed a notable vertical white stripe. These birds were along the Terrell River, south of the parking lot off Montauk Highway, Route 27A, on a rising tide. A hybrid-type Eurasian and American GREEN-WINGED TEAL was also at Hempstead Lake State Park on Sunday. Could this have been the same bird wintering just south of there on Smith Pond in Rockville Centre? Hempstead Lake State Park, a good site for early migrants, on Sunday also featured WOOD DUCK OSPREY, YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER, a few EASTERN PHOEBES, TREE SWALLOWS, GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET, PINE WARBLER, and some RUSTY BLACKBIRDS. BLUE-WINGED TEAL appeared there today, the first actually a male on the narrow river in Orient last Saturday, and many have appeared since. A CACKLING GOOSE was present at Inwood Hill Park in northern Manhattan Sunday to Wednesday, and two were also picked out in flight among some Canada flocks, moving over Randall's Island last Sunday morning. When watching Canada flocks though, remember that Canadas do come in various sizes, and small size alone may not indicate a Cackling Goose. A LAPLAND LONGSPUR was still around Jones Beach West End Monday, usually seen on the Coast Guard parking lot lawn by the gazebo. Some lingering winter finches have included a nice flock of COMMON REDPOLLS for several days along Route 25A in Calverton, with WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS still in a few locations such as at Marshlands Conservancy in Rye, and occasional RED CROSSBILLS on eastern Long Island. Birders should remember to look for nesting activity, a possibility with both crossbills locally. Four BLACK VULTURES were noted over the Bronx Zoo on Wednesday, and some new, recent arriving migrants have included BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON and GREATER YELLOWLEGS, with a LAUGHING GULL in Brooklyn Monday, and the Oceanside Marine Nature Study
[nysbirds-l] Pelicans!
Just had 2 Brown Pelicans flying northeast over the parking lot at Nickerson Beach. Ardith Bondi and Peter Post Sent from my iPhone -- 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] EPCAL(Calverton Grasslands)- E. Meadowlarks
Good news, in spite of the large number of Sandy-totaled cars still present, at least five Eastern Meadowlark were seen this morning at the former Grumman facility. Also over the same grasslands, were Northern Harrier and American Kestrel. Eastern Bluebirds and Tree Swallows were found in the southern portion of the property, and at least 50 Horned Lark nearby, in the eastern field of Hulse Landing Road. An adult Bald Eagle was seen flying to the west, following the Peconic River, observed from the NYS Police barracks near downtown Riverhead. A delightful way to end an enjoyable Springtime morning! Eileen Schwinn East Quogue Sent from my iPhone -- 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] 3/30- Brooklyn: Black Vultures
Earlier today (~12:15 PM), there were 6 Black Vultures kettling together a mile and a half or so SSW of Prospect Park, as viewed from the Ditmas Park section of Flatbush, looking west. They stayed in view for several minutes, allowing Bob Gochfeld and me some satisfactory scope views, though they were quite distant. They were, as one might expect, drifting north. This species, though expanding, is still fairly rare on Long Island at any time of the year, and this is the highest count for Black Vulture that I can find in eBird for Long Island or Manhattan (the previous highest in the system being 3, I think). Good Birding -Doug Gochfeld. Brooklyn, 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] East End Birding
To update some of our more reliable rarities from out east on Long Island; as of Thursday, the Captree Marina Red-necked Grebe continues in his favorite spot inside the docks at Captree State Park and Larry the Lesser Black-backed Gull continues at the harbour entrance in Napeaque. Birds are thin at Montauk Point though all three scoters are present. Also, we had one Razorbill flying by without landing. Woodcocks were peenting and displaying at dusk in and around the Camp Hero parking lot. Rob Bate and Tracy Meade -- 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] Shu Swamp - Am. Bittern, E. Phoebes, Rusty Blackbirds
I visited Shu Swamp Preserve (Oyster Bay, Nassau Co.) today (9:15-12:15) for the first time in quite a while and had a good day of birding overall. But the highlight of the visit was certainly the AMERICAN BITTERN found stalking the edge of the small woodland pond near the Preserve's north end. While the habitat was aquatic, it seemed atypical for the species what with the towering oaks and tulip poplars looming overhead and no reeds nearby. Checking eBird when I got home I found that this bird was also seen on 3/26, so it's been there for at least 4 days. Other nice finds were 2 EASTERN PHOEBES and 4 WOOD DUCKS (both personal FOY), 12 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS, 6 WINTER WRENS (most singing), and 1 HERMIT THRUSH, also singing. The thrush was observed to vigorously defend its stage by chasing a Hairy Woodpecker that dared land too close to it. An Osprey was seen carrying nesting material (a stick). Full eBird checklist with photo of the Bittern at: http://ebird.org/ebird/ny/view/checklist?subID=S13573250 -- 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] NFP/Arshamomaque Preserve
Bob Adamo and I had a relatively slow half day of birding this morning. We started at the east pond of the North Fork Preserve where we saw about 6 pair of Green-winged Teal and a pair of Northern Shovelers doing the circle thing. We then went to Arshamomaque Preserve were we spotted the previously reported flock of Rusty Blackbirds, which included the three plumages: breeding male, female and juvenile. We also had an Osprey. Twice during the day I saw crows mobbing a bird of prey. First, on Middle Rd near Mattituck, Bob and I saw a crow mobbing a Cooper's Hawk. Later at EPCAL I saw two crows mobbing a Red-Tailed Hawk. Another sign of spring nesting season!? Tom Moran Shoreham -- 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] White or Albino Hawk near Hudson
It is likely the albino red-tailed hawk that has been hanging around that area for years. I have a fuzzy photo of the bird that I took in 2009, but Steve Sachs has better shots on his website, http://www.stevesachsphotography.com/. Look under the slideshow for buteos, about halfway down. -- Betsy Wiesendanger, Cortlandt Manor -- 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] The New York Botanical Garden
Spring is finally here! There were 36 birders on the Saturday morning bird walk. Highlights include: American Kestrel, Merlin, Black Vultures, Ring Necked ducks. Also observed: Brown Creeper-1 Eastern Phoebe-4 Ruby crowned Kinglet-1 Cormorant-1 Canada Goose-flock Wood Duck-6 American Coot-1 Mallard-4 Northern Mockingbird-2 Northern Cardinal-1 Tufted Titmouse-1 Chickadee-4 White breasted nuthatch-5 Song Sparrow-2 House Sparrow-6 Red bellied woodpecker -4 Downy woodpecker -1 Yellow bellied sapsucker-2 Winter wren - singing Turkey Vulture-1 Red tailed hawk-3 Red winged Blackbird-2 Grackle-6 Blue Jay-3 American Robin-15+ Mourning Dove-1 Mourning Cloak -2 Snapping Turtle-1 Red eared sliders-22 Muskrat-1 Two birders observed the beaver during the week. Good Birding, Debbie Becker BirdingAroundNYC.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] Van Cortlandt Park Walk highlights...
Highlights from our walk at Van Cortlandt Park include the following: Brown Creeper (1), Golden-crowned Kinglet (2), Green-winged Teal, another male joined the 2 from last week bringing the number to 3, Ring-necked Duck, now two females. Both the teal and Ring-necked Duck are unusual for the park. In addition, we were treated to a singing Yellow-rumped Warbler and Dark-eyed Junco. Good Birding! Sent from somewhere in the field using my mobile device! Andrew Baksh www.birdingdude.blogspot.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] Snowy Egret in East Quogue
Although not rare, two FOS Snowy Egrets were seen late this afternoon at the new Southampton Town boat basin at Pine Neck in East Quogue. They were in the company of two Great Egrets and all four birds flew off together, heading west. Eileen Schwinn Sent from my iPhone -- 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] Great Gray Owl more!
3/30/13 Hamilton, Franklin, Essex, Clinton Counties Two Barred Owls are hooting back and forth outside our Long Lake house tonight as I write this post! It looks like we'll have nesting Barred Owls in our yard again this year. While returning to Long Lake after an all day birding tour, a Great Gray Owl was observed in southern Franklin County. A birder from NJ spotted the bird as I was driving 60 miles per hour! (I've birded with her before and she has raptor eyes!) She said, Stop the car, I think I just saw a Great Gray Owl! I 180-ed with the car, and looked into the beautiful face of a Great Gray Owl! We continued to watch the bird perch and actively hunt. Larry Master made it to our location from Lake Placid in record time! He took some wonderful photos which he plans to post. I didn't keep track of the time, but I suspect we observed the bird for about an hour and a half. The NJ birder stopped at our home yesterday at dawn to observe our Common and Hoary Redpoll feeder birds and then we spent the whole day birding today. Here are some of the 40 species found: Snow Goose - hundreds migrating north Ring-necked Ducks - filling in on open water Bufflehead Hooded Merganser Ruffed Grouse Turkey Vulture Cooper's Hawk - Bloomingdale American Kestrel Peregrine Falcon - Plattsburgh Barred Owl - Sabattis Bog Great Gray Owl - southern Franklin Co. Black-backed Woodpecker - at least 5 (probably 7 since we heard two more drumming that would have been a long bushwhack); two pairs and a solo bird in the Bloomingdale area. We spent a lot of time watching one pair communicating back and forth through tapping. Pileated Woodpecker - 2 today (1 yesterday at my home) Boreal Chickadee - 6 (groups of 1, 3, and 2 in Bloomingdale) Brown Creeper - singing Golden-crowned Kinglet American Robin - Bloomingdale area Pine Grosbeak - 2 in Plattsburgh feeding on crab apples along Montcalm Rd. near the intersection with Ash Road. 3/29/13 Long Lake, Hamilton Co. Sharp-shinned Hawk - preying on the redpolls at our feeders Northern Saw-whet Owl - 1 vocalizing outside our home (dinner time) Hoary Redpoll - 3 (1 male and 2 females); For the first time ever, I had two female Hoary Redpolls in one scope view sitting near each other! 3/28/13 Long Lake, Hamilton Co., and Plattsburgh and Chazy in Clinton Co. A Barred Owl was vocalizing outside our home at dawn. I found two flocks of Bohemian Waxwings: ~60 at Lake Alice Wildlife Management Area and 5 outside Hawkins Hall at SUNY Plattsburgh. The Bohemian Waxwings at Lake Alice were fly-catching at the wetland near the intersection of Ridge and Macadam Roads (it was over 50 degrees at the time). A Peregrine Falcon tried to catch a Rock Pigeon as I watched the Bohemian Waxwings at Hawkins Hall - the same location where a Peregrine was observed today. 3/26/13 St. Lawrence County Waterfowl (Snow Canada Geese, Amer. Black Duck, Mallard, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Hooded, Common, and Red-breasted Mergansers), 2 Bald Eagles, and 2 Pine Grosbeaks outside Pizza Hut in Massena! 3/25/13 Long Lake, Hamilton Co. Black-backed Woodpecker at Sabattis Bog 3/24/13 Long Lake, Hamilton Co. Barred Owl - 2 hooting back and forth at Sabattis Bog (late afternoon) Black-backed Woodpecker - 1 at the boreal forest by the Round Lake outlet into Little Tupper Lake We still have ~2 feet of snow on the ground in Long Lake (lots of lake effect snow). There is very little snow in Saranac Lake and Lake Placid, and no snow in Plattsburgh. The temperature difference between Plattsburgh and Long Lake has been about 10 to 15 degrees. It doesn't feel like spring in Long Lake yet. Joan Collins Long Lake, 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/ --
