Re: [nysbirds-l] Bohemian Waxwings/Evening Grosbeaks/Red Crossbills, and more
HI all, Type 3s are on the move eastward and I suspect some are type 3 for sure. I did just received a Paul Smith's recording that sounded like type 1 or 2, but I have to take a closer look in the studio. As for pair formation with different crossed bills, nothing noting this has ever been found in Red Crossbills, however, Red Crossbill populations are generally in a 1:1 ratio with directionality of bill crossing and whereas with WW Crossbill it's 3:1 right to left I believe. The difference in directionality has to do with WW Crossbill being primarily a spruce specialist and Red Crossbill being more of a generalist comparatively speaking. cheers, Matt From: bounce-119982847-44102...@list.cornell.edu on behalf of Joan Collins Sent: Sunday, December 13, 2015 6:19 PM To: NYSBIRDS-L; northern_ny_bi...@yahoogroups.com Subject: [nysbirds-l] Bohemian Waxwings/Evening Grosbeaks/Red Crossbills, and more Red Crossbills are widespread from Long Lake to Minerva (northern Hamilton Co. to western Essex Co.). David Buckley and I also found many in Santa Clara (Franklin Co.) near the St. Regis River several days ago. Pine Siskins continue to be everywhere. Purple Finches and Amer. Goldfinches are still here – unusual since both species usually leave the central Adirondacks by now. Blue Jays are also still around (unusual). I’ve heard White-winged Crossbills only twice during the past few weeks – both times fly-over birds. I’ve had several Evening Grosbeak sightings – including a huge flock near the Newcomb/Minerva town line. Still no snow cover (our house is at 2,000’). There was a major movement of Canada Geese today. Most lakes are still wide open and Amer. Black Ducks and Hooded Mergansers are still being observed. Gray Jays: I continue to find large numbers. I suspect this species is experiencing a likely short-term advantage in much warmer late winter/early springs (when they nest). Instead of seeing one or two juveniles, I often see three or four now. I mention “short-term” since climate change will likely have a negative impact on boreal habitat over time. I recently found 14 Gray Jays driving along the dirt road at the Spring Pond Bog complex – and 11 along Sabattis Circle Road (and there are many other locations for this species along trails in that area), plus locations along Route 30 in Long Lake. I am also regularly finding this species in new areas in Newcomb-Minerva. From just my personal experience, I am seeing a lot more Gray Jays. Red Crossbills: I was showing my husband some of my Red Crossbill photos and pointing out how some of the upper mandibles cross to the right and equal numbers cross to the left. He asked if pairs form based on having differently crossed bills – which is a great question! I looked back over years of photographs and all the pairs appear to have differently crossed bills except for one pair – I can’t be absolutely sure from the photos, but it appears their bills cross in the same direction. So this question is my new obsession! I photographed a pair at Sabattis Bog on 12/12, but the photos weren’t good enough to tell bill cross direction. A recent pair photographed in Minerva showed differently crossed bills. There is nothing in the BNA on this possible factor in pair formation. I recently read that the crossed bill allows a bird to access half a cone’s seeds, so pairs with differently crossed bills may offer a feeding advantage. I would love to hear from other birders this winter if bill direction in Red Crossbill pairs can be observed. Here are some recent and older sightings: 12/13/15 Sabattis Circle Road, Long Lake (Hamilton Co.) Black-backed Woodpecker – 3 at Sabattis Bog (Photos of a male and female on my Facebook page below) Gray Jay – at least 6 at Sabattis Bog Boreal Chickadee – at least 3 at Sabattis Bog Bohemian Waxwing – 7 at the Little Tupper Lake inlet (over 40 found here on 12/7) (Photo on Facebook) Purple Finch Pine Siskin – many Amer. Goldfinch Red Crossbill – heard at the Little Tupper Lake inlet and Sabattis Bog 12/12/15 Long Lake village & Sabattis Circle Road Sharp-shinned Hawk – flying over Sabattis Bog Gray Jay – 8 at Sabattis Bog Red Crossbill – heard flying over a friend’s house in the village of Long Lake and a pair found (& badly photographed!) at Sabattis Bog. Doug Blodgett reported he has been seeing them in the trees around his home in Long Lake on Rice Road (this is one of their usual winter nesting locations). Amer. Tree Sparrow – 1 at the Little Tupper Lake inlet 12/11/15 Sabattis Bog & a marsh in Newcomb (near the Minerva town line) Gray Jay – 4 at Sabattis Bog At the marsh in Newcomb: Boreal Chickadee – at least 3 Purple Finch Red Crossbill – heard flying over Pine Siskin - many Amer. Goldfinch Evening Grosbeak ~ 50 - A huge, loud flock! (at the marsh) This is t
[nysbirds-l] Bohemian Waxwings/Evening Grosbeaks/Red Crossbills, and more
Red Crossbills are widespread from Long Lake to Minerva (northern Hamilton Co. to western Essex Co.). David Buckley and I also found many in Santa Clara (Franklin Co.) near the St. Regis River several days ago. Pine Siskins continue to be everywhere. Purple Finches and Amer. Goldfinches are still here - unusual since both species usually leave the central Adirondacks by now. Blue Jays are also still around (unusual). I've heard White-winged Crossbills only twice during the past few weeks - both times fly-over birds. I've had several Evening Grosbeak sightings - including a huge flock near the Newcomb/Minerva town line. Still no snow cover (our house is at 2,000'). There was a major movement of Canada Geese today. Most lakes are still wide open and Amer. Black Ducks and Hooded Mergansers are still being observed. Gray Jays: I continue to find large numbers. I suspect this species is experiencing a likely short-term advantage in much warmer late winter/early springs (when they nest). Instead of seeing one or two juveniles, I often see three or four now. I mention "short-term" since climate change will likely have a negative impact on boreal habitat over time. I recently found 14 Gray Jays driving along the dirt road at the Spring Pond Bog complex - and 11 along Sabattis Circle Road (and there are many other locations for this species along trails in that area), plus locations along Route 30 in Long Lake. I am also regularly finding this species in new areas in Newcomb-Minerva. From just my personal experience, I am seeing a lot more Gray Jays. Red Crossbills: I was showing my husband some of my Red Crossbill photos and pointing out how some of the upper mandibles cross to the right and equal numbers cross to the left. He asked if pairs form based on having differently crossed bills - which is a great question! I looked back over years of photographs and all the pairs appear to have differently crossed bills except for one pair - I can't be absolutely sure from the photos, but it appears their bills cross in the same direction. So this question is my new obsession! I photographed a pair at Sabattis Bog on 12/12, but the photos weren't good enough to tell bill cross direction. A recent pair photographed in Minerva showed differently crossed bills. There is nothing in the BNA on this possible factor in pair formation. I recently read that the crossed bill allows a bird to access half a cone's seeds, so pairs with differently crossed bills may offer a feeding advantage. I would love to hear from other birders this winter if bill direction in Red Crossbill pairs can be observed. Here are some recent and older sightings: 12/13/15 Sabattis Circle Road, Long Lake (Hamilton Co.) Black-backed Woodpecker - 3 at Sabattis Bog (Photos of a male and female on my Facebook page below) Gray Jay - at least 6 at Sabattis Bog Boreal Chickadee - at least 3 at Sabattis Bog Bohemian Waxwing - 7 at the Little Tupper Lake inlet (over 40 found here on 12/7) (Photo on Facebook) Purple Finch Pine Siskin - many Amer. Goldfinch Red Crossbill - heard at the Little Tupper Lake inlet and Sabattis Bog 12/12/15 Long Lake village & Sabattis Circle Road Sharp-shinned Hawk - flying over Sabattis Bog Gray Jay - 8 at Sabattis Bog Red Crossbill - heard flying over a friend's house in the village of Long Lake and a pair found (& badly photographed!) at Sabattis Bog. Doug Blodgett reported he has been seeing them in the trees around his home in Long Lake on Rice Road (this is one of their usual winter nesting locations). Amer. Tree Sparrow - 1 at the Little Tupper Lake inlet 12/11/15 Sabattis Bog & a marsh in Newcomb (near the Minerva town line) Gray Jay - 4 at Sabattis Bog At the marsh in Newcomb: Boreal Chickadee - at least 3 Purple Finch Red Crossbill - heard flying over Pine Siskin - many Amer. Goldfinch Evening Grosbeak ~ 50 - A huge, loud flock! (at the marsh) This is the largest flock I've observed in a very long time (years). 12/10/15 Sabattis Circle Road Hooded Merganser - 2 Gray Jay - 4 Black-backed Woodpecker - female at Sabattis Bog 12/9/15 Route 30 and Sabattis Circle Road in Long Lake Hooded Merganser Ruffed Grouse Gray Jay - 9 (1 along Route 30 and 8 at Sabattis Bog) 12/8/15 Keese Mills Road and the southern end of Blue Mountain Road to Quebec Brook (Franklin Co.) in the town of Santa Clara David Buckley (Piercefield) and I had a terrific time birding on this perfectly still, but cold day! We birded Blue Mountain Road and hiked two different trails. We found many Moose tracks! Here are some of the 20 species found: Ruffed Grouse - 3 Black-backed Woodpecker - 4 (1 along the road, and then 3 near each other along the road) Pileated Woodpecker Gray Jay - 2 (two different seemingly solo birds) Common Raven Boreal Chickadee - 12 (groups of 4, 1, 3, & 4) Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Golden-crowned Kinglet Purpl
