[nysbirds-l] Limpkin - Niagara County
The Limpkin in Lewiston, along the Niagara River, was seen throughout the day today. It is sticking to a very small area - a linear strip about 50 yards long. If you don't see it, just carefully check the weeds at the base of the slope for any movement. It can really hide in there! Early this morning it was about 50 yards directly south of the small patch of weeds that it stayed in yesterday but later it moved back into that patch, which is next to the blue-gray harbor master building and a shed. There shouldn't be much more than a few flurries in Lewiston tomorrow and getting there shouldn't be a problem if you are coming from the east. Those coming in on the Thruway from Pennsylvania may have slick roads from tonight's snow but the weather conditions should not be that bad during the day tomorrow. The coordinates are 43.173805, -79.049374 Mapped pin: https://goo.gl/maps/CyuEbPmWpmwBt1DL8 This is below the cliff, down at river level. You must park above at street level and take the stairs down. For those who have difficulty walking, you can be driven down and let off at water level. Look for the blue-gray building that says "harbor master" over one of the doors. Next to it is a blue-gray shed. The weeds that it was hanging out in all afternoon on Tuesday are between those two buildings, which are only 15 feet apart. The bird sometimes moves behind one of the buildings but you can usually find it by moving around. It is close, only 30 feet or so away, though usually obscured or made invisible by weeds, and does not seem particularly concerned about people. However, please do not surround it, as it does sometimes like to come out into the open. I suggest that people stay off the grass in order to give it some space. You will still get great views. PLEASE NOTE: If anyone notices the bird showing concerning behavior, such as lethargy, noticeable limping, or dragging a wing, could you please contact me ASAP. At this point the bird looks perfectly healthy, is finding lots of snails, and was even seen to fly when startled by a loud noise today. Good birding! Willie ------ Willie D'Anna Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunnerDOTcom -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Limpkin - Niagara County
The Limpkin in Lewiston, along the Niagara River, was seen throughout the day yesterday and was there again this morning. It is sticking to a very small area - a linear strip about 50 yards long. If you don't see it, just carefully check the weeds at the base of the slope for any movement. It can really hide in there! If you have not seen the bird by now, unfortunately, your opportunity may soon be over. I know this will be disappointing/upsetting to those who have had no chance to chase it during the week and were waiting for the weekend. Although there may be disagreement on whether or not humans should intervene, there is strong consensus among people that I have talked with that the health of this bird should be the primary consideration. A rehabilitator has been alerted who is willing to transport the bird to Florida. Although the bird seems fine now, we know how quickly things can change. We are fairly certain from past experience (the Anhinga near Rochester), that this bird will not simply leave when things get really bad for it. Therefore, its capture may come sooner rather than later. Capturing a healthy bird often results in a better outcome than capturing one that is already unwell. Please don't ask me exactly when this will occur because I don't know. It could be today. We will continue to monitor the Limpkin and try to assess its condition, as well as watch what the weather is or will be doing. The snowstorm in Buffalo is horrendous right now and there is a driving ban in parts of Buffalo and the suburbs. Nobody should be driving into or close to the city to see this bird. If you are coming from the east, go through Rochester and come along Lake Ontario, then back south to Lewiston. The coordinates are 43.173805, -79.049374 Mapped pin: https://goo.gl/maps/CyuEbPmWpmwBt1DL8 This is below the cliff, down at river level. You must park above at street level and take the stairs down. For those who have difficulty walking, you can be driven down and let off at water level. Look for the blue-gray building that says "harbor master" over one of the doors. Next to it is a blue-gray shed. The weeds that it was hanging out in all afternoon on Tuesday are between those two buildings, which are only 15 feet apart. The bird sometimes moves behind one of the buildings but you can usually find it by moving around. It is close, only 30 feet or so away, though usually obscured or made invisible by weeds, and does not seem particularly concerned about people. However, please do not surround it, as it does sometimes like to come out into the open. I suggest that people stay off the grass in order to give it some space. You will still get great views. PLEASE NOTE: If anyone notices the bird showing concerning behavior, such as lethargy, noticeable limping, or dragging a wing, could you please contact me ASAP. Thanks and good birding! Willie ------ Willie D'Anna Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunnerDOTcom -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
RE:[nysbirds-l] [GeneseeBirds-L] Limpkin - Niagara County
I just wanted to give a heads up that there is a plan to capture the Limpkin as soon as possible, with people currently on site. I am sorry for people who might be on their way now but this turned out to be the best time for the rehabbers and, with the weather, probably for the bird as well. When I hear more, I will post what I know. Willie From: geneseebird...@geneseo.edu [mailto:geneseebird...@geneseo.edu] On Behalf Of Willie D'Anna Sent: Friday, November 18, 2022 9:58 AM To: 'geneseebirds'; 'Geneseebirds'; 'NYSBirds' Subject: [GeneseeBirds-L] Limpkin - Niagara County The Limpkin in Lewiston, along the Niagara River, was seen throughout the day yesterday and was there again this morning. It is sticking to a very small area – a linear strip about 50 yards long. If you don’t see it, just carefully check the weeds at the base of the slope for any movement. It can really hide in there! If you have not seen the bird by now, unfortunately, your opportunity may soon be over. I know this will be disappointing/upsetting to those who have had no chance to chase it during the week and were waiting for the weekend. Although there may be disagreement on whether or not humans should intervene, there is strong consensus among people that I have talked with that the health of this bird should be the primary consideration. A rehabilitator has been alerted who is willing to transport the bird to Florida. Although the bird seems fine now, we know how quickly things can change. We are fairly certain from past experience (the Anhinga near Rochester), that this bird will not simply leave when things get really bad for it. Therefore, its capture may come sooner rather than later. Capturing a healthy bird often results in a better outcome than capturing one that is already unwell. Please don’t ask me exactly when this will occur because I don’t know. It could be today. We will continue to monitor the Limpkin and try to assess its condition, as well as watch what the weather is or will be doing. The snowstorm in Buffalo is horrendous right now and there is a driving ban in parts of Buffalo and the suburbs. Nobody should be driving into or close to the city to see this bird. If you are coming from the east, go through Rochester and come along Lake Ontario, then back south to Lewiston. The coordinates are 43.173805, -79.049374 Mapped pin: https://goo.gl/maps/CyuEbPmWpmwBt1DL8 This is below the cliff, down at river level. You must park above at street level and take the stairs down. For those who have difficulty walking, you can be driven down and let off at water level. Look for the blue-gray building that says “harbor master” over one of the doors. Next to it is a blue-gray shed. The weeds that it was hanging out in all afternoon on Tuesday are between those two buildings, which are only 15 feet apart. The bird sometimes moves behind one of the buildings but you can usually find it by moving around. It is close, only 30 feet or so away, though usually obscured or made invisible by weeds, and does not seem particularly concerned about people. However, please do not surround it, as it does sometimes like to come out into the open. I suggest that people stay off the grass in order to give it some space. You will still get great views. PLEASE NOTE: If anyone notices the bird showing concerning behavior, such as lethargy, noticeable limping, or dragging a wing, could you please contact me ASAP. Thanks and good birding! Willie -- Willie D'Anna Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunnerDOTcom -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Geneseebirds" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to geneseebirds-l+unsubscr...@geneseo.edu. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/a/geneseo.edu/d/msgid/geneseebirds-l/002c01d8fb5e%242e10f330%248a32d990%24%40com <https://groups.google.com/a/geneseo.edu/d/msgid/geneseebirds-l/002c01d8fb5e%242e10f330%248a32d990%24%40com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> . -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Niagara County Limpkin has been captured
The Limpkin was captured late today by a team using a large net. The bird was slowly pushed toward and into the net, then captured. The bird weighed in at 815 g, average is 900-1270, so a little underweight but otherwise seems healthy. What happens next isn't exactly known, at least by me, but we should get word of that within the next couple of days. The bird will likely find its way south after receiving the necessary care to prepare it for the trip. I've been told that, compared to some birds, Limpkins are not difficult to care for in captivity. The sentiment expressed by a few people to make a donation to these rehab groups is heartwarming. They certainly deserve it, with all the time and, often, their own finances that they use. I hope to receive more information regarding that in a day or so and will update then. Thanks, everyone, who came and respectfully viewed the Limpkin and to those who expressed an interest in its well-being. It was great to reconnect with many birding friends and to make new ones. Good birding! Willie ------ Willie D'Anna Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunnerDOTcom -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Lewiston Limpkin
Karen Slote wrote the following note for me to pass on to the birding lists. I would like to publicly thank Karen and all the folks at Wild Care and Wild Kritters for the care and passion to protect birds that they quietly and consistently show. Good birding! Willie Lewiston Limpkin What a special bird. I was alerted that there was a bird that didn't belong in the area that might need help, so I went up to lewiston to see him on 4 occasions. It was incredible to be able to share a space with the limpkin as he looked up at me with no fear in his eyes, just going about his business and peeling snails from their shells. He would come very close and I was hoping when the time came that he could be caught so he didn't have to endure the cold winter and slowly starve to death in a place far from home. Our first attempt at rescue failed. We got close but couldn't get close enough before he found an alternate route and scooted away. From what we learned that first time, a friend from Wild Kritters returned with some helpers and under the darkness provided by Frank Campbell [finder of the Limpkin, who had the public lights turned off], they were able to slowly walk the limpkin into a large net and get him to safety before the storm arrived. I will care for him until arrangements can be made to get him back to Florida. It is heartwarming how much this limpkin has touched everyone who has met him and how people want to give back by helping this lost visitor get back home. You can make a donation to WildCare of Western New York either online at wildcarewny.com or with a check sent to 4310 Beach Ridge Road, North Tonawanda, NY 14120. Make a note that this is for the limpkin and i will use the money for his travel expenses. If you want to make a donation to the expert rescue team at Wild Kritters of Niagara County, send a check to 3300 Saunders Settlement Road, Sanborn, NY 14132 or donate online at wildkritters.com Thank you so much!!! Karen p.s. I don't know that this is a male. I just randomly picked a gender! ------ Willie D'Anna Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunnerDOTcom -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Limpkin Update
I received the following update written by Karen Slote, the rehabilitator who has been caring for the Lewiston Limpkin since it was rescued last Friday. The Limpkin is now in Delaware. Read on for more details. Willie D'Anna Wilson, NY Limpkin Update from Karen Slote of WildCare of WNY Although he was calm and accepting of human presence when he was wild and free, the Limpkin's behavior changed quickly after his rescue on November 18. I needed to do everything possible to make him comfortable. I filled his enclosure with willow branches, grasses and artificial plants so that it resembled the natural area he had been living in. Normally, Limpkin eat snails; unfortunately, the apple snails they eat are invasive and not allowed in NYS - so I needed to find him an alternate food source. I offered him a variety of options, including mealworms, waxworms, earthworms, krill, and small fish like smelt and minnows. Presentation was important too. Limpkin forage in the mud and shallow water for their food, so in order for him to recognize these foods, I hid them in shallow plastic bowls filled with water or mulch. I was so relieved when he ate! His favorite was the fish, with a close second being the waxworms. One day, he ate almost 70 smelt - that is equivalent to 450 grams, or half his body weight! I could tell he was very hungry and needed to put on weight. He initially dropped a little weight before he settled down and started eating, but had gained about 100 grams over his intake weight by Tuesday morning, November 22. Each extra day in rehabilitation is a day that something can go wrong; I needed to figure out the fastest and least stressful way to get him home. My first thought was to try shipping him to a Florida rehabilitation center on an airplane. Unfortunately, there were many requirements that made this impossible. The airline would not allow the Limpkin to be sedated, and they would not accept an animal that was trying to escape their travel crate. But the Limpkin is wild, and all he wanted to do was to escape. Keeping him quiet was not possible. Additionally, the required travel crates are made of hard plastic walls, and transporting the limpkin in this type of carrier would risk painful injury. Lastly - along with many other technical requirements that would necessitate weeks to finalize - wild birds are not allowed to be shipped into Florida. Ironically, that meant air travel was out of the question. I did consider driving him to a suitable area down South in one day, but this trip would take at least 20 hours. Overall, It would be too much for him. He'd essentially be trapped for long hours in a vehicle, and he would have to endure a long period of time unable to escape from unfamiliar sounds and movements that would quickly worsen his stress. This, in turn, would make him less likely to eat, and weaken him. I decided to transfer him to Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research, one of the premier wildlife rehabilitation centers in the United States. It is in Newark, DE, a midway point between here and the South. They agreed to help him reach his destination, and will feed him and care for him, before getting him further south. Driving the Limpkin to Tri-State would benefit another bird, too. As it turns out, the Limpkin wasn't the only bird in the wrong place at the right time. A Virginia Rail was grounded during the snowstorm, and was rescued by the Erie County SPCA. She also needed to be released further south, and driving down to Tri-State would help her, too. Tuesday morning started early. I fed the Limpkin at 4 AM so he could eat and rest a little before we had to get moving. I gave him a medication similar to valium in order to calm him for the trip, moved him to a smaller soft-sided carrier lined with willow branches, and headed over to the SPCA on Harlem Road in West Seneca, by 5:30 AM. Meghan, the wildlife technician who helped rescue the Virginia Rail, was there to meet me. After we fed the rail, gave her anti-anxiety medication, and got her all tucked in, we departed for Newark. The trip took seven hours one way. We arrived at Tri-State Bird Rescue around 1 PM, and unloaded our passengers at their facility. It was beautiful. We toured buildings and outdoor enclosures, and learned about their experiences with an incredible diversity of birds. The staff was very knowledgeable about the husbandry requirements and treatments of their avian patients, and willing to help out in any way they could. I felt very comfortable that the Limpkin would be well cared for. The rail was released at a nearby marsh. The Limpkin will continue his journey south to South Carolina to a marsh there that has overwintering Limpkins on November 24th. Thank you all for your generous support with your words, and donations. It was used to pay for gas and food along the drive to Delaware and food for the Limpkin, and the surplus will be put towa
[nysbirds-l] Razorbills at the mouth of the Niagara River
Looking from the Ontario side of the Niagara River mouth, Alessandra Wilcox reports seeing two RAZORBILLS this morning. This is the same location where up to four Razorbills were seen last fall and winter. There are two main vantage points on the NY side for viewing the Razorbills. One is from inside the grounds of the Old Fort Niagara - a fee is required, which I believe is currently $17 (not open every day - check the website: https://www.oldfortniagara.org/hours-of-operations). You can also try to view the lake from just east of the Old Fort for free - try looking from the northwest corner of the large parking lot on the lake. Scope in the vicinity of the buoy off toward the left. Last year the birds were often seen from this location but not always. If you go into the old fort, you may have better odds of spotting a bird. Note that the birds are often far out when looking from the parking lot. That can be the case from the Old Fort as well, though sometimes, they are quite close from there. Good birding! Willie -- Willie D'Anna Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunnerDOTcom -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Lewiston Limpkin
Hello birders! Just a quick update about the Limpkin that was found in Lewiston in November, which was rescued and transported to Delaware after receiving care from wildlife rehabilitator, Karen Slote. On Thanksgiving Day, the Limpkin was released at Francis Marion National Forest in South Carolina. As soon as the carrier door was opened, the Limpkin flew strongly out and into the swamp. Let's hope it finds good feeding areas and connects with a mate in the spring. Here is a brief video that Karen posted: https://youtu.be/mlOKQT0q9fI Good birding! Willie ------ Willie D'Anna Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunnerDOTcom -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] The species of snail that the Limpkin was eating in Lewiston
Hello birders! Almost everyone who was able to watch the Limpkin this November in Lewiston, noted that it was eating a prodigious number of snails. You usually only had to wait a few seconds before you would see it probing into the ground, pulling out a snail, cracking it open, peeling off the shell, then throwing it down the hatch. I was told that this was not a native species of snail but unfortunately, after seeing so many people, I don't remember who told me that. It is well known that Limpkins are expanding their breeding range in the southeastern US, due to the presence of an invasive species of apple snail. However, that apple snail has not made it anywhere close to NYS, as far as I am aware. It is also much larger than the snails that the Limpkin was feeding on in Lewiston. If anyone knows anything about the snails that the Lewiston Limpkin was feeding on, I would appreciate hearing from you. If you can provide a published reference or let me know where your information is from, that would be great. This could be used in an article I am currently writing. There are several photos of the bird with a snail. You can look through all of the photos of this bird on eBird: https://media.ebird.org/catalog?taxonCode=limpki <https://media.ebird.org/catalog?taxonCode=limpki®ionCode=US-NY-063> ®ionCode=US-NY-063 Some nice ones with a snail are in this checklist from Karen Lee Lewis: https://ebird.org/checklist/S122604545 Here is another from Brian Morse: https://ebird.org/checklist/S122609092 There is a nice close-up of the snail in this checklist from Alan Bloom: https://ebird.org/checklist/S122570469 Another close-up here, from Tim Healy: https://ebird.org/checklist/S122510990 One from Kyle Gage: https://ebird.org/checklist/S122518905 From Joel Farwell: https://ebird.org/checklist/S122507081 Thanks, and good birding! Willie ------ Willie D'Anna Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunnerDOTcom -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
RE:[nysbirds-l] [GeneseeBirds-L] The species of snail that the Limpkin was eating in Lewiston
Thank-you to everyone who responded to my request for information about the species of snail that the Lewiston Limpkin was feeding upon. I had numerous private responses, in addition to those that were posted to these email lists. The confirmation on iNaturalist, as well as responses from others, including two highly regarded experts, show a strong consensus for Cepaea nemoralis, the brown-lipped snail, or grove snail. This is a non-native species of land snail that is native to Western Europe. Thanks again for the informative responses, as well as the great suggestions for how to obtain answers to my question. Good birding! Willie From: geneseebird...@geneseo.edu [mailto:geneseebird...@geneseo.edu] On Behalf Of Willie D'Anna Sent: Tuesday, December 06, 2022 9:33 AM To: 'geneseebirds'; 'Geneseebirds'; 'NYSBirds' Subject: [GeneseeBirds-L] The species of snail that the Limpkin was eating in Lewiston Hello birders! Almost everyone who was able to watch the Limpkin this November in Lewiston, noted that it was eating a prodigious number of snails. You usually only had to wait a few seconds before you would see it probing into the ground, pulling out a snail, cracking it open, peeling off the shell, then throwing it down the hatch. I was told that this was not a native species of snail but unfortunately, after seeing so many people, I don’t remember who told me that. It is well known that Limpkins are expanding their breeding range in the southeastern US, due to the presence of an invasive species of apple snail. However, that apple snail has not made it anywhere close to NYS, as far as I am aware. It is also much larger than the snails that the Limpkin was feeding on in Lewiston. If anyone knows anything about the snails that the Lewiston Limpkin was feeding on, I would appreciate hearing from you. If you can provide a published reference or let me know where your information is from, that would be great. This could be used in an article I am currently writing. There are several photos of the bird with a snail. You can look through all of the photos of this bird on eBird: https://media.ebird.org/catalog?taxonCode=limpki <https://media.ebird.org/catalog?taxonCode=limpki®ionCode=US-NY-063> ®ionCode=US-NY-063 Some nice ones with a snail are in this checklist from Karen Lee Lewis: https://ebird.org/checklist/S122604545 Here is another from Brian Morse: https://ebird.org/checklist/S122609092 There is a nice close-up of the snail in this checklist from Alan Bloom: https://ebird.org/checklist/S122570469 Another close-up here, from Tim Healy: https://ebird.org/checklist/S122510990 One from Kyle Gage: https://ebird.org/checklist/S122518905 From Joel Farwell: https://ebird.org/checklist/S122507081 Thanks, and good birding! Willie -- Willie D'Anna Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunnerDOTcom -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Geneseebirds" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to geneseebirds-l+unsubscr...@geneseo.edu. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/a/geneseo.edu/d/msgid/geneseebirds-l/000c01d9097f%24a7c1e8e0%24f745baa0%24%40com <https://groups.google.com/a/geneseo.edu/d/msgid/geneseebirds-l/000c01d9097f%24a7c1e8e0%24f745baa0%24%40com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> . -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Common Gull - Niagara County
This morning I had the good fortune to find an adult COMMON GULL on Lake Ontario at Olcott Beach. The bird was on the west side of the main piers on Lake Ontario with many other gulls, mostly Ring-billeds. As far as I am aware nobody saw the bird feed at all today, although it was not found until 8:45. So, it may not be so cooperative tomorrow - today it stayed all day in the same area. The gull was fairly close, giving good scope views. Good photos have been obtained, including nice shots of the spread wings, though not by me. This is near the same date that Jim Pawlicki found a Short-billed Gull at this same location in 2009. A week later, another Short-billed/Common Gull was found here by David Wheeler. Not bad for one spot on Lake Ontario! You can see some of my mediocre photos in this checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S128210469 Good birding! Willie -- Willie D'Anna Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunnerDOTcom -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
RE:[nysbirds-l] Common Shelduck from Jamaica Bay several years ago
After checking with NYSARC secretary, Gary Chapin, I can say that no one ever submitted documentation to NYSARC for a Common Shelduck at Jamaica Bay. However, there was a submission to NYSARC for a Common Shelduck at the Fresh Kills Landfill on Staten Island in the winters of 1998 and 1999, which does not yet show in the online database. (Gary Chapin is currently going through the database with a fine-toothed comb, correcting numerous errors and omissions, a long-term project.) The photos submitted with the Staten Island report are diagnostic for Common Shelduck but the record was not accepted due to concerns about the origins of the bird. Another Common Shelduck was photographed in Clinton County in 2017 - this submission was also not accepted, mainly due to concerns about origins, although the photos were not ideal. This duck is increasing in Europe and Iceland and is definitely a candidate for vagrancy to North America, and like Barnacle Goose and Pink-footed Goose before it, may in time find its way onto the NY State checklist. The ideal situation would be for a wild banded bird to be found here so that its origin could be definitively determined. Good birding! Willie D'Anna, NYSARC Chair Subject: Common Shelduck from Jamaica Bay several years ago From: Andrew Block Date: Mon, 31 Jan 2022 20:14:56 + (UTC) X-Message-Number: 1 Hi all. Does anyone know if the Common Shelduck from Jamaica Bay was accepted or not? It was seen in the early 2000's I think. Just wondering. Andrew Andrew v. F. Block Consulting Naturalist 20 Hancock Avenue, Apt. 3 Yonkers, Westchester Co., New York 10705-4780 www.flickr.com/photos/conuropsis/albums -- Subject: RE: Common Shelduck from Jamaica Bay several years ago From: "Kevin J. McGowan" Date: Mon, 31 Jan 2022 20:36:53 + X-Message-Number: 2 That record does not come up on the NYSARC reports database page. https://nybirds.org/NYSARC/RecordsSummary.htm I saw it 8 Sep 1995. I thought everyone agreed it was of captive origin, so perhaps no one submitted a NYSARC report? Kevin Kevin J. McGowan, Ph.D. Senior Course Developer and Instructor Bird Academy Cornell Lab of Ornithology 159 Sapsucker Woods Road Ithaca, NY 14850 k...@cornell.edu<mailto:k...@cornell.edu> 607-254-2452 Do you know about our other distance-learning opportunities? Visit Bird Academy<https://academy.allaboutbirds.org/courses/>, https://academy.allaboutbirds.org/courses/ to see our list of courses. From: bounce-126273346-85339...@list.cornell.edu On Behalf Of Andrew Block Sent: Monday, January 31, 2022 3:15 PM To: NYSBIRDS-L Subject: [nysbirds-l] Common Shelduck from Jamaica Bay several years ago Hi all. Does anyone know if the Common Shelduck from Jamaica Bay was accepted or not? It was seen in the early 2000's I think. Just wondering. Andrew Andrew v. F. Block Consulting Naturalist 20 Hancock Avenue, Apt. 3 Yonkers, Westchester Co., New York 10705-4780 www.flickr.com/photos/conuropsis/albums<http://www.flickr.com/photos/conurop sis/albums> -- NYSbirds-L List Info: Welcome and Basics<http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm> Rules and Information<http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave<http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.ht m> Archives: The Mail Archive<http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html> Surfbirds<http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L> ABA<http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01> Please submit your observations to eBird<http://ebird.org/content/ebird/>! -- -- Subject: Syracuse area RBA From: Joseph Brin Date: Mon, 31 Jan 2022 21:21:38 + (UTC) X-Message-Number: 3 RBA  * New York * Syracuse * January 31, 2022 * NYSY 01. 31. 22  Hotline: Syracuse Rare bird Alert Dates(s): January 24, 2022 to January 31, 2022 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: January 31 AT 3:30 p.m. (DST) compiler: Joseph Brin Onondaga Audubon Homepage: www.onondagaaudubon.org   #789: Monday January 31, 2022  Greetings. This is the Syracuse Area Rare Bird Alert for the week of January 31, 2022  Highlights: --- GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE NORTHERN GOSHAWK PEREGRINE FALCON SNOWY OWL LONG-EARED OWL LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL ICELAND GULL GRAY CATBIRD HERMIT THRUSH YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER EASTERN TOWHEE WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW LAPLAND LONGSPUR RED CROSSBILL WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge (MNWR) and Montezuma Wetlan
[nysbirds-l] Cinnamon Teal, Laughing Gull, Livingston County - Monday
The Groveland flats CINNAMON TEAL was seen yesterday by a few birders but only in flight. The flooded field on the south side of Flats Road is the favored area but the water has receded markedly such that many ducks are now completely hidden by corn stubble. You need to wait for ducks to fly up and hope to spot it. It was with three Northern Shovelers when we saw it yesterday. In three hours, we only had two brief views and some of us only got on it once. The second cycle LAUGHING GULL continues at the north end of Conesus Lake, viewed from Vitale Park. We saw it around 6:30 - 7:00 last evening in the bay to the east of the park, as well as perching on one of the docks there. Two Red-throated Loons also continue on the lake, as well as an excellent diversity of other waterbirds. Good birding! Willie -- Willie D'Anna Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunnerDOTcom -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Ruff, Shorebird Locations - Niagara County
The spectacular breeding plumaged RUFF, found by Joel Strong on Saturday, continues today. The location is on Townline Rd, between Hosmer and Hartland Rds, in the Town of Somerset. There are lots of other shorebirds here as well. Mostly yellowlegs (things have just switched with Lesser now more numerous than Greater) and some Solitary Sandpipers and Dunlin. Today, I had a Pectoral Sandpiper and a Spotted Sandpiper. There are a few other places in the county to look for shorebird enthusiasts: -North side of Drake Settlement Rd, between Fuller and Hess Rds, Town of Newfane. Today, there were both yellowlegs, Solitarys, and Dunlin. -West side of Quaker Rd (State Route 148), between Rt 104 and Chapman Rd. Today, there were both yellowlegs, Solitarys, Green-winged and Blue-winged Teal, Pintail, and Mallard. -East side of Niagara-Orleans Countyline Rd (S.R. 269), ¼ mile south of Yates Center Rd, Town of Yates, Orleans Co. Today, this spot held the most individuals, with 94 Lesser Yellowlegs and 9 Greaters. There were also Solitarys, Dunlin, and Spotted. A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE (another of Joels finds) continues with the Canada Geese here. Shorebird locations are worth checking often, with changeover evident almost every day. Good birding! Willie -- Willie D'Anna Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunnerDOTcom -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Limpkin - Lewiston, along the Niagara River
A Limpkin was found by a local fishing guide, Frank Campbell, last Wednesday. This is the first NYS record, if accepted by the NYSARC. Frank has seen the bird several times since, including today, when he took of a photo of it and sent it to Connie Adams of the NYSDEC. Connie sent it to me to ask for an ID. I and three others converged on Lewiston Landing [eBird hotspot is called Niagara-Lewiston (NY)] and looked for over an hour with no luck. I asked Connie Adams if she could find out exactly where it was seen. She got back to me pretty soon and said that it had been there a week! She also said that it likes to hide in the bushes next to the harbor master building. Pretty strange behavior for a Limpkin! As she was telling me this, I was stopped right in front of the harbor master building. I looked at the weeds there and almost immediately I noticed some movement. It's probably a squirrel, I thought. No way is that a Limpkin. As you probably guessed by now, it was indeed the Limpkin! The Limpkin stayed in this patch of weeds all afternoon, except for brief forays onto the grass nearby. There are loads of snails here and it was having a feast. It looks quite healthy to me. Frank Campbell told me that he has not seen it fly but I think that's only because it doesn't need to, not because it is injured. Still, we will be keeping a close eye on it and will not hesitate to call a wildlife rehabilitator, if it seems to be having difficulty. WHERE IT IS AND TIPS FOR SEEING IT: This bird should be easy to see if it stays in the same spot. If you don't know the exact spot, it is very easy to miss, however, as we did this morning. The coordinates are 43.173805, -79.049374 Mapped pin: https://goo.gl/maps/CyuEbPmWpmwBt1DL8 This is below the cliff, down at river level. You must park above at street level and take the stairs down. For those who have difficulty walking, you can be driven down and let off at water level. Look for the blue-gray building that says "harbor master" over one of the doors. Next to it is a blue-gray shed. The weeds that it was hanging out in all day today are between those two buildings, which are only 15 feet apart. The bird sometimes moves behind one of the buildings but you can usually find it by moving around. It is close, only 30 feet or so away, though usually obscured or made invisible by weeds, and does not seem particularly concerned about people. However, please do not surround it, as it does sometimes like to come out into the open. Now for the tricky part - the weather. A major lake-effect snowstorm is being forecast for Buffalo and points north for Friday through Sunday. Often when this happens, Lewiston may not get that much snow. However, if you take the NYS Thruway all the way to Buffalo, you could run into some major snow on those days. One option would be to take I-490 through Rochester and come along Lake Ontario. It's a few more miles but could save you a lot of time and aggravation. So, check the radar on your weather app before you get to the Rochester exits. For Wednesday and Thursday, the snow around Lewiston should be pretty minor, though not zero. At some point Thursday evening the snow will start to move northward. Good luck if you try to see this amazing bird! Willie -- Willie D'Anna Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunnerDOTcom -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
RE:[nysbirds-l] Bonaparte's Gulls
I have enjoyed the recent posts about Bonaparte's Gulls. Some of the highest concentrations of Bonaparte's Gulls in the world occur along the Niagara River, with estimates of 50,000 to 100,000 on some days. It is a spectacle to witness this blizzard of gulls on the Niagara but it seems that numbers have declined, particularly in the last ten to 20 years. It is unfortunate that the only evidence that I can offer for this are my own subjective observations. Counts of gulls on the Niagara have been done sporadically and it is only in recent years that organized counts have been conducted on a yearly basis, with three counts per season (late fall/winter), by the Canadian Wildlife Service. Numbers of Bonies, as they are affectionately called here, month to month along the Niagara, are highly interesting. Twenty to fifty years ago, numbers would begin to build on the Niagara in late July with most of these birds consisting of one-year-olds. By mid August, there would be a significant influx of adults, only just finished with their breeding activities in Canada. Hundreds of individuals could be seen at the source of the river (Buffalo/Fort Erie) and below the falls or in the Lewiston/Queenston area. At times there would be well over a thousand, particularly when there was a good southwesterly blow that would push more of them to the eastern end of Lake Erie. These numbers more or less continued, perhaps with a slight decrease, into October, although whenever there was a southwesterly blow numbers would spike considerably. The big numbers would arrive in late October/early November and reach their highest levels later in November. Numbers would then slowly decrease into January when at some point, ice formation would cause most of them to depart. During some milder winters, several hundred would remain through the season. In a typical winter, only a handful would remain. Starting in February, numbers would slowly start to increase and by late March they would be abundant again. Numbers would dwindle during April and they would be completely gone by about the third week of May, save for a variable number of non-breeding birds. June and July have been the nadir of the Bonies occurrence on the Niagara, although there were usually some immatures around, particularly on Lake Erie. To me, the most dramatic change with the Bonies here has been the numbers during spring. Whereas their spring numbers used to be very comparable to those during late fall, there have been some springs recently where peak numbers were barely into the hundreds, as opposed to the multi-thousands we were accustomed to. August through October numbers are also much lower these days, with counts of over 100 usually only occurring now when there is a bog blow off of Lake Erie. Peak numbers now seem to occur later than in the past, in December rather than November. One change that birders have enjoyed is that numbers of wintering birds are seen more consistently now, likely due to our warming climate. The Bonies are one reason that the Niagara River has been designated an important bird area (IBA). It is obvious that the Niagara River has played an important part in the life cycle of a significant proportion of the species numbers since the 1960s. Whether or not that will continue remains to be seen. Good birding! Willie -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
RE:[nysbirds-l] American Golden-Plover - another NYS migrant to worry about?
Like Angus, I also have noticed fewer reports and smaller numbers of American Golden-Plover in Western New York. I live on Lake Ontario in Niagara County where most autumns I could see this species without any special effort. That is, I'm not one to hunt down a species for my year list, unless I am doing a big year, but I still would find them. A few years ago, I noticed that newer birders were chasing after reports of this species for their year list and I assumed that they simply did not understand their habitat preferences or else they could find their own. However, two years ago, I did a big year in Niagara County and I had to actively search for Golden-Plover on two dozen occasions before I finally found a single bird. Two weeks later, I had two birds for a grand total of three in the county for the year, a year in which I was exceptionally active. Of course, my difficulty might simply be attributed to Golden-Plovers having a poor breeding season but I never had any adults and I was active through the summer when they would have passed through. The Buffalo Ornithological Society (BOS) maintains a database of noteworthy bird sightings in the BOS Region, which includes all of Kingbird Region One plus the Niagara peninsula of Ontario. I don't have the skills to generate a graph of high yearly counts from this database but from looking it over, it seems that high yearly counts have decreased considerably. For example, there are fewer triple-digit counts in the Niagara peninsula of Ontario which is the best area in the region to find this species. Western NY would occasionally get triple-digit counts as well but there have been none since 1997. And even double-digit counts are fewer than before 2000. This year, I managed to see one Golden-Plover in Niagara County, a bird found by someone else, and it was on a pier on Lake Ontario, not in a field. I spent considerable time looking in fields for this species this fall but found none. Willie D'Anna Wilson, NY Subject: American Golden-Plover - another NYS migrant to worry about? From: Angus Wilson Date: Wed, 14 Oct 2020 16:18:10 -0400 X-Message-Number: 6 I am glad to see an informed discussion about the apparent decline in Bonaparte's Gulls both in western and coastal New York State. Birding forms tend to focus on the positive such as new sightings, influxes, and weather-related events, with much less attention given to species that might be disappearing before our eyes. The human brain is not very good at accessing the absence of something and birding record systems are seemingly not much better either. Aside from Bonaparte's Gull, I have wondered about the status of America Golden-Plover in the state. In the past several years I've noted few if any reports of larger flocks that would draw birders to sod fields and other grassy habitats in the fall, especially in eastern Long Island. In recent years only a scattering of Golden-Plovers have been reported in the fall (principally from late August to late October), rarely more than two together. Many people may have successfully ticked their 'year bird' and not given much more thought to it but the reality is that we probably are all ticking the SAME few birds. Looking at the tallies for some of the hotspots for southbound plovers it was not long ago that flocks of 60-100+ were frequent in and around Riverhead (Suffolk NY). 2016 seems to have been the last good season (many reports of 60+), with 2012 and 2013 similarly featuring some larger flocks (counts of 102, 105, etc). Is something going on? Is the apparent decline in birds staging on eastern Long Island echoed elsewhere? American Golden-Plover is an arctic and subarctic tundra nesting species that makes a long oceanic flight (a minimum of 2,400 miles nonstop) to wintering grounds in the Pampas and Campos regions of southern South America. It is possible that weather conditions have allowed birds to launch from further north and simply bypass our area. Scrutiny of trends in the Canadian Maritime Provinces and New England or the Mississippi/Missouri/Ohio flyway (if the southbound route has shifted towards the center of the continent) might shed light on this. Changes in pesticide use might also render the Long Island sod fields less attractive such that birds arriving at night leave soon after. It's worth noting that aside from a possible shift in the migration route, many high latitude breeding species undergo cycles of abundance that reflect cycles in breeding success - these may relate to lemming cycles, late snowmelt, and so on. It could be we are in the trough of one of these cycles. Careful monitoring of the relative numbers of juveniles/1st basic and adults (estimating the ratio from year to year) can give warnings of these changes. This could also be done fairly easily with Bonaparte's Gulls because these two age classes are easy to distinguish. Unfortunately, relatively few birders keep
[nysbirds-l] Common Gull - Olcott, Niagara County - Not Seen Today
The adult COMMON GULL that was at Olcott yesterday was not found today. There are still quite a few gulls in the area so it could show up again. Good birding! Willie -- Willie D'Anna Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunnerDOTcom -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Wood Storks - Braddock Bay, Monroe County
Steve Bremner found five Wood Storks at the Braddock Bay west spit this morning. Andy Guthrie was able to refind the birds, which were standing in the parking lot for the west spit trail, and he sent out an alert to Discord at 10:36. The birds stayed there for another hour and a half as birders stopped non-birders, alerting them to the presence of the storks, and they chose not to disturb them by turning around rather than driving into the parking lot. Eventually, the Wood Storks flew off of their own accord and eventually headed east and presumably out of the area. This was a state bird for my friend and a county bird for me. A few photos are here: https://ebird.org/checklist/S191937902 Good birding! Willie -- Willie D'Anna Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunnerDOTcom -- (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") NYSbirds-L List Info: NortheastBirding_DOT_com/NYSbirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/NYSbirdsRULES_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave_DOT_htm ARCHIVES: 1) mail-archive_DOT_com/nysbirds-l@cornell_DOT_edu/maillist_DOT_html 2) surfbirds_DOT_com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) birding_DOT_aba_DOT_org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: ebird_DOT_org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Ruff at Tonawanda WMA, Niagara County
A female-type Ruff was found yesterday by Brad Carlson at Mud Creek Marsh, which is on the east side of Griswold St, a quarter mile north of Rt 77. Unfortunately, this discovery has coincided with long-planned and organized retriever training at the marsh. When that is going on, there is a fair chance the shorebirds will go elsewhere but after yesterday's trials, the Ruff and others returned later in the day. I arrived shortly after 6 pm yesterday and the trainers were packing up and moving out. They were no longer in the pool but the shorebirds were, including the Ruff. Someone reported this morning that the trials have resumed and that the Ruff was not there. Let's hope it returns! Willie ------ Willie D'Anna Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunnerDOTcom -- (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") NYSbirds-L List Info: NortheastBirding_DOT_com/NYSbirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/NYSbirdsRULES_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave_DOT_htm ARCHIVES: 1) mail-archive_DOT_com/nysbirds-l@cornell_DOT_edu/maillist_DOT_html 2) surfbirds_DOT_com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) birding_DOT_aba_DOT_org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: ebird_DOT_org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Possible Purple Gallinule in Cattaraugus County
There is an unconfirmed report of a PURPLE GALLINULE in the Town of Allegany in Cattaraugus County, seen yesterday (Thursday). The location, according to the eBird map location, is by Interstate-86, just east of Five Mile Road. You can see the eBird report here: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S55397648 Although it is not the most confidence-inspiring note, this is a distinctive species and the observer has since indicated to me that he and his brother are now 100% certain of the identification. Good birding! Willie -- Willie D'Anna Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunnerDOTcom -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Spotted Towhee - Tifft Nature Preserve, Buffalo
An apparent SPOTTED TOWHEE was photographed at Tifft Nature Preserve Sunday by Brad Felton. I just found out about this (11:30 am, Monday) and I don't know if people have been looking for it yet. It was posted to the Buffalo-Niagara Facebook group about an hour ago. Good birding! Willie ------ Willie D'Anna Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunnerDOTcom -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
RE:[nysbirds-l] [geneseebirds-googlegroup] Spotted Towhee - Tifft Nature Preserve, Buffalo
Several birders were out looking for the Spotted Towhee all of this afternoon. Two Eastern Towhees were found but the Spotted was not seen. Perhaps a one-day wonder… Good birding! Willie From: Willie D'Anna [mailto:dannapot...@roadrunner.com] Sent: Monday, November 18, 2019 11:33 AM To: geneseebird...@geneseo.edu; geneseebirds-googlegr...@geneseo.edu; 'David Suggs'; 'nysbirds-l' Subject: [geneseebirds-googlegroup] Spotted Towhee - Tifft Nature Preserve, Buffalo An apparent SPOTTED TOWHEE was photographed at Tifft Nature Preserve Sunday by Brad Felton. I just found out about this (11:30 am, Monday) and I don’t know if people have been looking for it yet. It was posted to the Buffalo-Niagara Facebook group about an hour ago. Good birding! Willie ------ Willie D'Anna Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunnerDOTcom -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Geneseebirds" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to geneseebirds-googlegroup+unsubscr...@geneseo.edu. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/a/geneseo.edu/d/msgid/geneseebirds-googlegroup/003e01d59e2d%24c6431660%2452c94320%24%40com <https://groups.google.com/a/geneseo.edu/d/msgid/geneseebirds-googlegroup/003e01d59e2d%24c6431660%2452c94320%24%40com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> . -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Niagara River - Sunday - Kittiwake, Black-headed, others
The gulls on the Niagara River continue to impress. It is the best that I have seen it in a few years. The adult BLACK-HEADED GULL continues at the Whirlpool and, although the BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKEs were not seen there when we were there in the morning, Tom Kerr reported one there at 4:00, quite late! We also did the flypast at Nelson Park at Niagara-on-the-Lake and had the KITTIWAKE at 4:30 and the BLACK-HEADED GULL some time before that. We also had an impressive 16 LITTLE GULLS at the flypast and about 5300 Bonaparte's Gulls. Interestingly, the Little Gulls all came early, before 4:00. One was in first-winter plumage, the rest adults. The lighting at the flypast from 3:30 to 4:45 or so was ideal - bright overcast. Plus, the Bonaparte's Gulls came early enough that there was still plenty of light to appreciate their beauty and pick out the rarities. Most also came through low over the water, which is the ideal way to see them. Certainly, one of the nicest flypasts that I have ever experienced, though I have had much higher numbers. I wish I could say it was always like this but it is quite changeable, due to unknown factors. Large gull-watching on the river has also been a lot of fun lately with numerous ICELAND GULLS at several spots, four GLAUCOUS GULLS above the falls, and a handful of LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS above the falls, including two in first-winter plumage (perhaps still with a juvenile scapular or two). We also had the Thayer's form of Iceland Gull above the falls. Ten species of gulls plus Thayer's - not bad! There were few Bonaparte's Gulls above the falls and we did not make it to the gorge below the falls but the Whirlpool and lower Lewiston-Queenston were absolutely loaded with Bonies. We were unsure of how many Little Gulls we had at Queenston and recorded what we felt was a fairly accurate and perhaps slightly conservative seven. We did not see any Little Gulls at the Whirlpool. We did not see the Harlequin Duck today. Our group of eight were Jean Iron, Ron Pittaway, Kevin McLaughlin, Declan Troy, Ross Harris, Celeste Morien, Betsy Potter, and myself. Good birding! Willie ------ Willie D'Anna Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunnerDOTcom -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Amazing Cayuga Pool in Genesee County and other rarities
Congratulations to Peter Yoerg on one of the best finds ever in Western NY (yesterday evening) - an adult in breeding plumage GULL-BILLED TERN. With little information to go on other than somewhere in Iroquois NWR, Josh Ketry was out at Cayuga Pool early this morning and he relocated, photographed, and confirmed the identification of the tern. Many birders have been able to see it so far today. The bird spends its time sitting in and flying over Cayuga Pool, as well as nearby Kumpf Marsh. At Cayuga Pool, it is usually off to the back left (not the extreme left) and can be difficult to see because of cattails when sitting. It is much easier to see in flight. A scope is highly recommended. Cayuga Pool is being drained, which we have learned over the years can be very productive for birds. Other birds at Cayuga Pool today were: the continuing SNOWY EGRET found by Josh Ketry and singing young male ORCHARD ORIOLE, a GLOSSY IBIS (found by Josh Ketry and identified by Chris Wood), two WILSON'S PHALAROPES found by Mike Morgante, a WHIMBREL found by Joe Mitchell, and about 300 shorebirds, mostly Semipalmated Sandpipers, with some Semi Plovers, Least Sandpipers, Dunlin, one Pectoral Sandpiper, and a few Short-billed Dowitchers. My thanks to Andy Guthrie for the shorebird report. At nearby Tonawanda WMA, the CATTLE EGRET found by Bev Seyler two days ago continues. It was seen from the north-south dike through Ruddy Marsh West (access from Rt 77) and also seen back where it was discovered, at Paddy 2 (access from Griswold St) and most recently, on the dike between Paddys 3 and 4. Maps of Tonawanda WMA may be found online at the DEC web site, here: https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/106378.html At about 1:15 today, Joe Mitchell had an adult SWAINSON'S HAWK fly over his home in Alden, Erie County, heading northeast. Perhaps someone will get lucky and see it at the swamps and hopefully, David Brown will get it at the Braddock Bay hawkwatch. Good birding! Willie ------ Willie D'Anna Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunnerDOTcom -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
RE:[nysbirds-l] A blast from the past
Ned is an excellent writer and that was a joyful read. It was nice to see the names of Long Island birding luminaires in "print", all but Tom Davis I have had the pleasure of birding with. One name that should have been in that list, one I think that Shai would have mentioned but for obvious reasons did not, is Pat Lindsay. So, I gladly do so and I thank Pat, Shai, Tom, and the others for all the great birds you have found. Even though I did not see most of them, it was great fun to hear about them! Good birding! Willie D'Anna Wilson (Niagara County), NY Subject: RE: A blast from the past From: Shaibal Mitra Date: Fri, 5 Jun 2020 15:16:54 + X-Message-Number: 3 Thanks for sharing, Hugh--very cool! Andy had spoken with me about that day, but I wasn't aware of Ned's blog post. Lots to think about there. Best, Shai From: bounce-124680470-3714...@list.cornell.edu [bounce-124680470-3714...@list.cornell.edu] on behalf of Hugh McGuinness [hdmcguinn...@gmail.com] Sent: Friday, June 5, 2020 8:56 AM To: NYSBIRDS-L Subject: [nysbirds-l] A blast from the past In case you missed this Ned Brinkley blog post, which is about the joy of migration, it features NY birders, especially one in particular whom many of you may have lost track of. https://birdcast.info/scientific-discussion/migration-story-23-may-2020-magi c-on-the-eastern-shore-of-virginia/ Hugh -- Hugh McGuinness Washington, D.C. -- NYSbirds-L List Info: Welcome and Basics<http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm> Rules and Information<http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave<http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.ht m> Archives: The Mail Archive<http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html> Surfbirds<http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L> ABA<http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01> Please submit your observations to eBird<http://ebird.org/content/ebird/>! -- -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] NYSARC and eBird
Hi folks, I just wanted everyone to know that NYSARC (NYS Avian Records Committee) is working with eBird, reviewing very rare bird sightings that have been submitted to eBird. Learn what this means to you as an eBirder, and why good documentation is so important: <https://nybirds.org/NYSARC/index.htm?fbclid=IwAR14MqLmPM2HFlpvoVQvfjBzqL4Bn 0k-2ORvmfxNuY_p5QHVa8480_mI48c> https://nybirds.org/NYSARC/index.htm. The Black-bellied Whistling-Duck is a species on the NYSARC review list. This one was at Wilson-Tuscarora SP, Niagara County, photo taken 4 Jun 2015. Since it was one of my nicer photos, I thought I would share it here: https://ebird.org/checklist/S24166290 Good birding! Willie -- Willie D'Anna Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunnerDOTcom -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] NYSARC and eBird
Sorry for the duplicate post but some people were having trouble with the link to the article. I hope this is better: Hi folks, I just wanted everyone to know that NYSARC (NYS Avian Records Committee) is working with eBird, reviewing very rare bird sightings that have been submitted to eBird. Learn what this means to you as an eBirder, and why good documentation is so important: <https://nybirds.org/NYSARC/index.htm?fbclid=IwAR14MqLmPM2HFlpvoVQvfjBzqL4Bn 0k-2ORvmfxNuY_p5QHVa8480_mI48c> https://nybirds.org/NYSARC/index.htm The Black-bellied Whistling-Duck is a species on the NYSARC review list. This one was at Wilson-Tuscarora SP, Niagara County, photo taken 4 Jun 2015. Since it was one of my nicer photos, I thought I would share it here: https://ebird.org/checklist/S24166290 Good birding! Willie -- Willie D'Anna Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunnerDOTcom -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Two Swallow-tailed Kites - Orleans and Monroe Counties
There have been two SWALLOW-TAILED KITES for over a week near the Village of Kendall in Orleans County. A local resident notified Braddock Bay Raptor Research, who alerted birders. The birds were best seen today from Rt 272, Monroe-Orleans Countyline Rd. There is a church at the southwest corner of Kendall Creek Rd and Rt 272 that birders used for parking and viewing the bird from the parking lot. The birds were sometimes seen as far as 1.5 miles south of this location from the shoulder of Rt 272. The birds were only seen in flight as far as I am aware but they sometimes came right over us at the church parking lot. The birds will disappear for several minutes at a time but will show up again at variable intervals. Sight lines in the area vary, as did the height of the birds during the day, but they were usually just a little over the treetops. Quite a spectacular bird for New York, much less two of them! Good birding! Willie -- Willie D'Anna Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunnerDOTcom -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
RE:[nysbirds-l] [GeneseeBirds-L] Two Swallow-tailed Kites - Orleans and Monroe Counties
Obviously, with tomorrow being a Sunday, parking at the church may not be a good idea during the morning. Play it by ear and be courteous of the church-goers. Willie From: geneseebirds-l-boun...@geneseo.edu [mailto:geneseebirds-l-boun...@geneseo.edu] On Behalf Of Bird observations from western New York Sent: Sunday, August 09, 2020 7:54 PM To: NYSBirds; geneseebird...@geneseo.edu; geneseebirds-googlegr...@geneseo.edu Subject: [GeneseeBirds-L] Two Swallow-tailed Kites - Orleans and Monroe Counties There have been two SWALLOW-TAILED KITES for over a week near the Village of Kendall in Orleans County. A local resident notified Braddock Bay Raptor Research, who alerted birders. The birds were best seen today from Rt 272, Monroe-Orleans Countyline Rd. There is a church at the southwest corner of Kendall Creek Rd and Rt 272 that birders used for parking and viewing the bird from the parking lot. The birds were sometimes seen as far as 1.5 miles south of this location from the shoulder of Rt 272. The birds were only seen in flight as far as I am aware but they sometimes came right over us at the church parking lot. The birds will disappear for several minutes at a time but will show up again at variable intervals. Sight lines in the area vary, as did the height of the birds during the day, but they were usually just a little over the treetops. Quite a spectacular bird for New York, much less two of them! Good birding! Willie -- Willie D'Anna Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunnerDOTcom -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
RE:[nysbirds-l] [geneseebirds-googlegroup] RE: [GeneseeBirds-L] Two Swallow-tailed Kites - Orleans and Monroe Counties
You can tell I’m retired! Parking at the church should not be a problem tomorrow! Cheers! Willie From: Willie D'Anna [mailto:dannapot...@roadrunner.com] Sent: Sunday, August 09, 2020 8:02 PM To: geneseebird...@geneseo.edu; 'NYSBirds'; geneseebirds-googlegr...@geneseo.edu Subject: [geneseebirds-googlegroup] RE: [GeneseeBirds-L] Two Swallow-tailed Kites - Orleans and Monroe Counties Obviously, with tomorrow being a Sunday, parking at the church may not be a good idea during the morning. Play it by ear and be courteous of the church-goers. Willie From: geneseebirds-l-boun...@geneseo.edu [mailto:geneseebirds-l-boun...@geneseo.edu] On Behalf Of Bird observations from western New York Sent: Sunday, August 09, 2020 7:54 PM To: NYSBirds; geneseebird...@geneseo.edu; geneseebirds-googlegr...@geneseo.edu Subject: [GeneseeBirds-L] Two Swallow-tailed Kites - Orleans and Monroe Counties There have been two SWALLOW-TAILED KITES for over a week near the Village of Kendall in Orleans County. A local resident notified Braddock Bay Raptor Research, who alerted birders. The birds were best seen today from Rt 272, Monroe-Orleans Countyline Rd. There is a church at the southwest corner of Kendall Creek Rd and Rt 272 that birders used for parking and viewing the bird from the parking lot. The birds were sometimes seen as far as 1.5 miles south of this location from the shoulder of Rt 272. The birds were only seen in flight as far as I am aware but they sometimes came right over us at the church parking lot. The birds will disappear for several minutes at a time but will show up again at variable intervals. Sight lines in the area vary, as did the height of the birds during the day, but they were usually just a little over the treetops. Quite a spectacular bird for New York, much less two of them! Good birding! Willie ------ Willie D'Anna Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunnerDOTcom -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Geneseebirds" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to geneseebirds-googlegroup+unsubscr...@geneseo.edu. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/a/geneseo.edu/d/msgid/geneseebirds-googlegroup/002701d66ea9%2487bfca30%24973f5e90%24%40com <https://groups.google.com/a/geneseo.edu/d/msgid/geneseebirds-googlegroup/002701d66ea9%2487bfca30%24973f5e90%24%40com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> . -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] FW: [Birdnews] NEW WINTER FINCH FORECASTER
So many birders eagerly anticipate Ron Pittaway's winter finch forecast every fall but unfortunately for all of us, Ron has decided to retire from the finch forecast. Below, Ron introduces the new finch forecaster. Good birding! Willie -Original Message- From: birdnews [mailto:birdnews-boun...@ontbirds.ca] On Behalf Of Ron Pittaway via birdnews Sent: Tuesday, August 11, 2020 7:34 PM To: birdn...@ontbirds.ca Subject: [Birdnews] NEW WINTER FINCH FORECASTER Dear Birders, Please welcome Tyler Hoar of Oshawa, Ontario as the new winter finch forecaster. Tyler was one of my main sources of tree seed crop information and insights on finches over the years. He authored the account of the Evening Grosbeak in the last Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas. We look forward with great anticipation to Tyler's first Winter Finch Forecast in September. Ron Pittaway Toronto ON -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] King Rail - Iroquois NWR, Genesee County
Since many people already know about this bird, I thought it best to publicize it more widely, along with the proper protocol for viewing it. The KING Rail was discovered Sunday evening and has been heard by many, and seen by some. The location is Kumpf Marsh along Feeder Road, only 200 yards or so north of Rt 77, on the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge. Feeder Road is a gated refuge road that appears on Google Maps. The easiest way to access the area is to park at the Kanyoo Nature Trail (also on Google Maps) parking lot and walk the 200 yard path to the northwest that goes to Feeder Rd. The bird has been heard at the junction of this trail and Feeder Rd, as well as a little bit further south on Feeder Rd, closer to Rt 77. Since this bird is on a NWR, you need to be aware that you are only allowed in designated areas and that playing any bird recordings is illegal. Therefore, when trying for this bird, you must stick to Feeder Rd (do not walk down to the marsh!). The refuge personnel are aware of the bird and are patrolling the area frequently. In addition, King Rail is a threatened species in NYS, so playing a recording would not only be illegal but also unethical. Therefore, you should be prepared to only hear the bird, though with luck, you may see it as well. Right now, it is calling a lot but that could easily change depending on the stage of its nesting cycle and whether or not it has attracted a mate. Currently, there is also a BLACK-NECKED STILT that has been seen in Kumpf Marsh, as well as on the other side of and further down Feeder Road (that is, going further away from Rt 77). Unless the stilt is in Kumpf Marsh, a scope is likely necessary. Good luck if you try for these birds! Willie -- Willie D'Anna Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunnerDOTcom -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Pink-sided Junco - Hamlin Beach SP - Thursday
The Pink-sided Junco at Hamlin Beach SP, originally found by Andy Guthrie on November 24th, was seen again this Thursday morning at 11:15. I had it just off the westbound park road in the median, just before the first turnaround west of Parking Lot #2 (the lot with the gravel piles). It was with about a dozen Slate-colored Juncos, which flew up from just off the road as I drove up to them. I pulled over and waited for the juncos to return, which they did shortly. It has been seen at this spot several times previously. However, I did not see the bird from 8:30 until then, despite extensive searching, and I was actually leaving when I found it. This was my second attempt to see this junco. Photos of the junco can be seen in my eBird checklist: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S32807558 Good birding! Willie -- Willie D'Anna Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com Willie's photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/107683885@N07/ -- 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] Niagara River Report
Several people were birding the Niagara River from last Thursday through Sunday. The number of birders was well over 100 today. In fact there were nearly that many people just at the Adam Beck overlook on the Canadian side around 9:00 a.m. for the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) field trip, led by Jean Iron and Ron Tozer. Although numbers of gulls were decent these four days, they were especially good Sunday, presumably because the dumps do not operate on this day. In spite of the large numbers, the less common species have been difficult to come by. Even Iceland Gulls, which are typically rather easy to find by this time of year, were few and far between. However, despite this, birders turned up 11 species of gulls along the river. In addition there have been four adult male HARLEQUIN DUCKS at the usual spot slightly upriver from the stranded barge, which is above Niagara Falls. A male and a female have also been seen at the source of the Niagara River above the Peace Bridge in Buffalo recently. Also, in that same area was a juvenile BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE last Thursday (Shelley Seidman), which moved downriver to the foot of Hertel Avenue on Friday (Peter Yoerg). An adult BLACK-HEADED GULL was seen by Alex Wiebe Saturday afternoon at 3:45 as it flew downriver past the power plants with Bonaparte's Gulls. It was then spotted about 20 minutes later by Ed Poropat and Jim Hopkins as the gulls flew out the mouth of the river onto Lake Ontario to roost for the night. Figuring that this bird might be hanging out at the Whirlpool (where the Spanish Aero Car is) during the day, Jay McGowan and his group from Ithaca, NY went there Sunday morning and found the bird. With patience and group effort, most of the birders on the Niagara River were able to see this bird, despite the difficulties of distance and height above the water that birding at this location presents. An adult LITTLE GULL was seen by a couple of groups in the lower Lewiston, NY-Queenston, Ontario area. This species had not been reported on the river since November 19th. Other gulls: Herring, Ring-billed, Bonaparte's, Great Black-backed (low numbers only), Lesser Black-backed (at least a dozen seen today), Iceland (about five seen today after only two the past few days), Thayer's (two today), Glaucous Gull (have been two above the falls but only seen by a few people today). A PINE WARBLER, picked up by its call note by Betsy Potter and identified by Dean DiTommaso, who then found it, was in the pines in the median of the Niagara River Parkway in front of the Greenhouse (above the falls). Purple Sandpipers still have not appeared on the Niagara River yet this season. However, BLACK VULTURES continue to be seen in the lower Lewiston, NY - Queenston, Ontario area. They are often observed roosting on a church in the Village of Lewiston and can even be viewed at a distance from the Queenston overlook, part way down the escarpment. Good birding! Willie ------ Willie D'Anna Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com Willie's photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/107683885@N07/ -- 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] Niagara River - Saturday
Tons of gulls on the river today - 12 species were reported. Also two HARLEQUIN DUCKS at the usual spot above the barge. A possible PACIFIC LOON was reported at the mouth of the river by experienced observers, viewed from Niagara-on-the-Lake but only seen relatively briefly. SABINE'S GULL - viewed at the roosting rocks (upriver from the power plants) around noon by a few observers on the American side. BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE - Seen at the power plants in the afternoon. BLACK-HEADED GULL - Seen at the Whirlpool, where it has been found since last Sunday. LITTLE GULL - a first-winter bird at the Whirlpool. GLAUCOUS GULL - a juvenile on the breakwall on the upriver side of control gates. Others: Thayer's, Iceland, Lesser Black-backed, Great Black-backed, Herring, Ring-billed, Bonaparte's. Good birding! Willie ------ Willie D'Anna Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com Willie's photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/107683885@N07/ -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] 2016 Lake Ontario Piping Plover video
This past summer Piping Plovers nested on Lake Ontario east of Toronto, Ontario, representing the first successful nesting of the species along the Canadian shoreline of this lake in over 80 years. Winnie Poon made an interesting documentary about this, which can be viewed on your computer, iPad, or iPhone. Links below. Good birding! Willie D’Anna Wilson, NY dannapotter roadrunner.com From: winnie poon [mailto:winniep...@sympatico.ca] Sent: Wednesday, December 14, 2016 11:26 AM To: ONTBIRDS Subject: [Ontbirds] Ipad Iphone Link to 2016 Lake Ontario Piping Plover video I uploaded a version more suitable for viewing on ipad iPhone etc., as it would be more convenient for some. Link for using ipad iPhone: https://vimeo.com/195578986/651820942f Link for using computer: https://vimeo.com/195213709/757b118f92 Winnie Poon Richmond Hill, Ontario -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] White-crowned Sparrows; Lapland Longspurs
While driving home yesterday, I noticed a flock of juncos and sparrows that flushed from the opposite side of the road. I turned around and waited and they soon returned. With the juncos were 15 WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS. This was on Youngstown-Wilson Road in the Town of Porter, Niagara County, close to the Niagara Frontier Country Club. Along the middle of Hulbert Road in the Town of Wilson, there was a pure flock of seven LAPLAND LONGSPURS, also feeding on the road shoulder. Earlier I had what appeared to be a HERRING X GLAUCOUS GULL hybrid on the roosting rocks, visible from Devils Hole State Park. It was larger than the Herring Gulls with a vaguely paler mantle, slightly paler wingtips, and larger white primary apical spots. It slept for the entire time that I observed it. Good birding! Willie -- Willie D'Anna Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com Willie's photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/107683885@N07/ -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Niagara River - Wednesday
A group of eight ardent gull-watchers found ten species of gulls along the Niagara River today, viewing from the Canadian side. Finally, the LITTLE GULLS are in! We had seven - two from the Queenston boat ramp (look downriver, although one briefly came right in front of us), four (!) just above the falls, with great views from opposite the "greenhouse", and one more from the control gates in Chippewa. We had an adult THAYER'S GULL sitting and flying below the falls. ICELAND GULLS were seen across from the greenhouse, below the falls, and at the Adam Beck overlook (the power plants). One adult GLAUCOUS GULL was on the "island" out from the control gates. LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were out from the control gates and at Adam Beck. We did not check the roosting rocks above the power plants today. Numbers of large gulls were unimpressive today but that's not too surprising for a weekday when the dumps are open. The adult BLACK-HEADED GULL was seen briefly on the water at the Whirlpool (Spanish Aero Car). However, it and the many Bonaparte's Gulls resting on the water were then repeatedly flushed by the Niagara Jet Adventures boats, driving the boats directly through the raft of birds. Despite spending a considerable amount of time looking, we were unable to find the bird again and we are convinced that it moved to another area to rest. We only found one HARLEQUIN DUCK today, a female feeding in the rapids near the stranded barge (between the Ontario hydro building and the gatehouse). A HORNED GREBE was in the gorge below the falls, along with several CANVASBACK, AMERICAN WIGEON, COMMON MERGANSERS, and a smattering of other ducks. Our group consisted of Jean Iron, Ron Pittaway, Kevin McLaughlin, Declan Troy, Ross Harris, Marcie Jacklin, Betsy Potter, and myself. Good birding! Willie -- Willie D'Anna Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com Willie's photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/107683885@N07/ -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Slaty-backed and Black-headed Gulls - Niagara River
Eleven species of gulls were found along the Niagara River today, from the power plants to the control gates. The highlight was an adult SLATY-BACKED GULL, found by Chris Kundl in the shallows off of Goat Island, just above Three Sisters Islands. Some of us are lucky (my hand is up) but Chris works this patch hard and deserves all the great birds that he has found there. Way to go, Chris! The bird was well-studied and some of us managed to get the very important spread wing photos (which helps to rule out possible hybrids). This bird shows a very broad tertial crescent, a nice string of pearls but no mirror on p9, and a mantle shade just slightly darker than that of a Lesser Black-backed Gull. This gull stayed at Goat Island most of the day, enjoyed by many birders, but was never seen to feed as far as I am aware. It would not surprise me if it is not found during the week, when it probably heads for the dumps to feed. After seeing it at Goat Island, several of us returned to the Canadian side and tried to spot it across the river, looking from the control gates and from above the Ontario hydro building, but could only find one obscured dark-mantled gull, which could have been the bird or a Lesser Black-backed Gull. Distance and other gulls in the way makes identifying this bird from the other side an extreme challenge. The adult BLACK-HEADED GULL was seen for over half an hour this morning as it foraged continuously at the Whirlpool. When in the sunlight, this bird was a tough challenge to pick out, but it occasionally went into shaded areas where we had a better chance to find it. Jean Iron found an adult LITTLE GULL a little above Niagara Falls, nearer the Canadian shore. Other gulls today were Iceland, Thayer's, Glaucous, Lesser Black-backed, Great Black-backed, Bonaparte's, Ring-billed, and Herring. We also had the four adult male HARLEQUIN DUCKS out from the Ontario Hydro building above the falls, probably not visible from the American side. These birds seem to be a tight-knit group, usually staying right together, and they looked just gorgeous in the bright sun. Our group consisted of Betsy Potter, Jean Iron, Celeste Morien, Dominic Sherony, Bev Seyler, Marcie Jacklin, Linda Goodridge, Kayo Roy, Blayne and Jean Farnan, and myself. Good birding! Willie ------ Willie D'Anna Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com Willie's photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/107683885@N07/ -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Slaty-backed Gull - above Niagara Falls
Late this afternoon, Garth Riley refound the SLATY-BACKED GULL on the rocks a little ways above the falls on the Niagara River. Several of us made it to Garth's location opposite the barge on the Canadian side and looked downriver at the bird. Eventually it woke up, stretched a wing, and then flapped a couple of times, revealing the nice "string of pearls", which along with other features (broad tertial crescent, pink legs, mantle shade close to a Lesser Black-backed Gull, slightly stockier than Herring Gull) allowed us to identify it with confidence. This bird would likely have been visible from Goat Island, if one walked down toward the falls and found a good opening in the trees. Unfortunately, fog ruined our Important Bird Area survey for the entire river today. And, wouldn't you know it, after it was cancelled, the sun came out in the afternoon! We made the most of the morning by going to the Dufferin Islands Nature Area in Niagara Falls, Ontario and seeing the continuing male and very drab female PINE WARBLERS that have been reported there for several weeks. They both came to different piles of seed thrown onto the ground by birders and photographers. Most of the IBA counters also enjoyed a nice pizza lunch together. Good birding! Willie D'Anna of Wilson, NY and Jean Iron of Toronto, Ontario ------ Willie D'Anna Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com My photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/107683885@N07/ -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Ross's Gull - Tupper Lake, NY
A first basic ROSS'S GULL has been found and photographed in Tupper Lake, NY. Birders have been viewing and photographing it today, Jan 26. I have seen the photos and certainly agree that it is a Ross's Gull!!! Thanks to Joan Collins for texting me some photos. The bird was discovered when it was found feeding on discarded fish eggs left on the ice of Lake Simond Pond by the construction workers on the property. It has been observed repeatedly returning to the eggs to feed, then disappearing for periods of time. I believe the bird was originally photographed by the homeowner, Jack Delehanty, son of well-known birders, Charlcie and Jack. The address is 363 Lake Simond Pond Road in the Town of Tupper Lake. This is 1.8 miles from NY Rt 30. This is the first house on the left that is after the second road on the left. PLEASE NOTE: NO MORE THAN 12 BIRDERS AT A TIME ARE PERMITTED ON THE PROPERTY SO, IF YOU HAVE SEEN THE BIRD, PLEASE MOVE ON AND GIVE OTHERS A CHANCE. Note that it may be a bit of a walk down the driveway to see the pond. The pond can also be seen from adjacent state land just beyond the house. Because this bird is attracted to fish eggs and there is no open water in the area, it will likely leave once its food source runs out. So, consider bringing fish eggs or another possible food source. I know that Ivory Gulls will eat meat but I have my doubts that will work for this bird. Still, it might be worth a shot. Good birding! Willie ------ Willie D'Anna Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com My photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/107683885@N07/ -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
RE:[nysbirds-l] Ross's Gull - Tupper Lake, NY
Just a brief addendum to my earlier post. I wanted to give a shout-out to Larry Master and Alan Belford for recognizing the bird in the original photo as a Ross's Gull and for getting the word out. Also, I don't have all the particulars but I ask that birders please be respectful of the private property. There may be concerns with construction going on there or there could be any number of reasons why the homeowner wants the crowds to be minimized. I realize that the bird may not stay long enough for this to become a problem but, if it does, please try to keep your visit short and the numbers down. Good luck if you go for it! Willie From: Willie D'Anna [mailto:dannapot...@roadrunner.com] Sent: Thursday, January 26, 2017 1:12 PM To: 'nysbirds-l'; 'Geneseebirds'; 'geneseebird...@geneseo.edu' Subject: Ross's Gull - Tupper Lake, NY A first basic ROSS'S GULL has been found and photographed in Tupper Lake, NY. Birders have been viewing and photographing it today, Jan 26. I have seen the photos and certainly agree that it is a Ross's Gull!!! Thanks to Joan Collins for texting me some photos. The bird was discovered when it was found feeding on discarded fish eggs left on the ice of Lake Simond Pond by the construction workers on the property. It has been observed repeatedly returning to the eggs to feed, then disappearing for periods of time. I believe the bird was originally photographed by the homeowner, Jack Delehanty, son of well-known birders, Charlcie and Jack. The address is 363 Lake Simond Pond Road in the Town of Tupper Lake. This is 1.8 miles from NY Rt 30. This is the first house on the left that is after the second road on the left. PLEASE NOTE: NO MORE THAN 12 BIRDERS AT A TIME ARE PERMITTED ON THE PROPERTY SO, IF YOU HAVE SEEN THE BIRD, PLEASE MOVE ON AND GIVE OTHERS A CHANCE. Note that it may be a bit of a walk down the driveway to see the pond. The pond can also be seen from adjacent state land just beyond the house. Because this bird is attracted to fish eggs and there is no open water in the area, it will likely leave once its food source runs out. So, consider bringing fish eggs or another possible food source. I know that Ivory Gulls will eat meat but I have my doubts that will work for this bird. Still, it might be worth a shot. Good birding! Willie -- Willie D'Anna Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com My photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/107683885@N07/ -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Ross's Gull - Tupper Lake, NY
After not showing at the usual spot on Lake Simond Road this morning, the first-winter Ross's Gull was relocated at the Tupper Lake boat launch. Here is Larry Master's post: Subject: Re: NNYBirds: Latest eBird info from Ross's Gull area Date: Sat Jan 28 2017 11:38 am From: Northern_NY_Birds AT yahoogroups.com The bird was found again late this morning - at the boat launch in Tupper Lake. It may move around and the edge of open water areas are likely the best places to look based on past records south of the Arctic. But it also may go back to the house where fish parts have been put out on the ice for the bird's nourishment. Larry Master Sent from my iPhone Good birding! Willie ------ Willie D'Anna Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com My photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/107683885@N07/ -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Black-headed - Ring-billed Gull hybrid at Goat Island
For the second straight day, a very rare BLACK-HEADED GULL - RING-BILLED GULL hybrid was seen at Goat Island on the Niagara River. The bird was found yesterday by Derek Lovitch from Maine and another birder but tentatively identified as a Laughing Gull - Ring-billed Gull hybrid. Both of these hybrid forms have been recorded before. Derek told Chris Kundl about the bird and Chris was able to obtain photographs yesterday and today. It was Chris who initially and correctly, I believe, identified the bird as a Black-headed X Ring-billed. Although most birders will not chase a hybrid, you are unlikely to see this form ever again, as it is extremely rare. Yesterday, the bird was in the parking lot on the upriver (east) end of the island. This is the end away from the falls. Today, it was in the shallows just off of Goat Island, on the rock shelf above Three Sisters islands - the usual place where the gulls roost. It was very close to shore today and although Chris was able to show me the bird today, I was not prepared to photograph it, as this was just an impromptu stop. The bird is in alternate plumage with a hood that is not solidly black. The bill is orangy-red with a black band. The legs are dull orange. The primaries and primary coverts show a weak representation of the typical white wedge on the upperwing that is seen on Bonaparte's and Black-headed Gulls. However, there were also some black marks in the white. The undersides of the primaries are not dusky, as on a Black-headed Gull. The folded wingtips look similar to those of the Ring-billed Gulls - black with white apical spots on each primary. The structure of this bird seems closer to a Ring-billed Gull than a Black-headed Gull to me, though slightly smaller and smaller-billed. Note that this bird frequently buried itself among the many Ring-billed Gulls here and could be very hard to pick out, despite it's obvious hood. It was the only hooded gull at Goat Island. Photos of this bird can be seen in Chris's eBird checklist, here: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S35078460 There are still lots of other less common gulls around Goat Island, especially Lesser Black-backed and Iceland Gulls, with a few Thayer's Gulls as well. Good birding! Willie ------ Willie D'Anna Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com My photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/107683885@N07/ -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
RE: [nysbirds-l] Black-headed - Ring-billed Gull hybrid at Goat Island
Kevin, your article is one of the references we used. I think the two birds look pretty similar aside from the hood. The Niagara bird seems a little larger and larger-billed and may have a bit less black in the primaries but otherwise, they seem comparable. Thanks for writing and posting your article. That and others on your web site are great references. Cheers, Willie From: Kevin J. McGowan [mailto:k...@cornell.edu] Sent: Friday, March 10, 2017 6:55 PM To: 'Geneseebirds'; geneseebird...@geneseo.edu; 'David Suggs'; NYSBIRDS-L; Willie D'Anna Subject: Re: [nysbirds-l] Black-headed - Ring-billed Gull hybrid at Goat Island Wow. What an odd bird. And what on earth is it doing with a hood at this time of year? We had an experience with a bird of the same presumed parental origin in Sullivan County 15 years ago, but it didn't look much like this one. http://www.birds.cornell.edu/crows/woodburne_gull.htm Very cool. Kevin Kevin J. McGowan Project Manager Distance Learning in Bird Biology Cornell Lab of Ornithology 159 Sapsucker Woods Road Ithaca, NY 14850 k...@cornell.edu 607-254-2452 _ From: bounce-121321009-3714...@list.cornell.edu on behalf of Willie D'Anna Sent: Friday, March 10, 2017 5:43 PM To: 'Geneseebirds'; geneseebird...@geneseo.edu; 'David Suggs'; NYSBIRDS-L Subject: [nysbirds-l] Black-headed - Ring-billed Gull hybrid at Goat Island For the second straight day, a very rare BLACK-HEADED GULL - RING-BILLED GULL hybrid was seen at Goat Island on the Niagara River. The bird was found yesterday by Derek Lovitch from Maine and another birder but tentatively identified as a Laughing Gull - Ring-billed Gull hybrid. Both of these hybrid forms have been recorded before. Derek told Chris Kundl about the bird and Chris was able to obtain photographs yesterday and today. It was Chris who initially and correctly, I believe, identified the bird as a Black-headed X Ring-billed. Although most birders will not chase a hybrid, you are unlikely to see this form ever again, as it is extremely rare. Yesterday, the bird was in the parking lot on the upriver (east) end of the island. This is the end away from the falls. Today, it was in the shallows just off of Goat Island, on the rock shelf above Three Sisters islands - the usual place where the gulls roost. It was very close to shore today and although Chris was able to show me the bird today, I was not prepared to photograph it, as this was just an impromptu stop. The bird is in alternate plumage with a hood that is not solidly black. The bill is orangy-red with a black band. The legs are dull orange. The primaries and primary coverts show a weak representation of the typical white wedge on the upperwing that is seen on Bonaparte's and Black-headed Gulls. However, there were also some black marks in the white. The undersides of the primaries are not dusky, as on a Black-headed Gull. The folded wingtips look similar to those of the Ring-billed Gulls - black with white apical spots on each primary. The structure of this bird seems closer to a Ring-billed Gull than a Black-headed Gull to me, though slightly smaller and smaller-billed. Note that this bird frequently buried itself among the many Ring-billed Gulls here and could be very hard to pick out, despite it's obvious hood. It was the only hooded gull at Goat Island. Photos of this bird can be seen in Chris's eBird checklist, here: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S35078460 There are still lots of other less common gulls around Goat Island, especially Lesser Black-backed and Iceland Gulls, with a few Thayer's Gulls as well. Good birding! Willie -- Willie D'Anna Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com My photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/107683885@N07/ <https://www.flickr.com/photos/107683885@N07/32691740236/> <https://www.flickr.com/photos/107683885@N07/32691740236/> <https://www.flickr.com/photos/107683885@N07/32608758241/> <https://www.flickr.com/photos/107683885@N07/32608758241/> <https://www.flickr.com/photos/107683885@N07/3129754/> <https://www.flickr.com/photos/107683885@N07/3129754/> <https://www.flickr.com/photos/107683885@N07/32732060095/> <https://www.flickr.com/photos/107683885@N07/32732060095/> <https://www.flickr.com/photos/107683885@N07/32732035265/> <https://www.flickr.com/photos/107683885@N07/32732035265/> <https://www.flickr.com/photos/107683885@N07/32691709466/> <https://www.flickr.com/photos/107683885@N07/32691709466/> <https://www.flickr.com/photos/107683885@N07/32732036405/> <https://www.flickr.com/photos/107683885@N07/32732036405/> <https://www.flickr.com/photos/107683885@N07/32608721701/> <https://www.flickr.com/photos/107683885@N07/32608721701/>
[nysbirds-l] Elba and Montezuma Mucklands
Betsy and I went back to the Elba Mucklands (Genesee County) this morning and again, it was really nice. There are several flooded fields here that are holding many ducks and shorebirds. As Steve Taylor has pointed out, the drive in to the area on West Muck Road is a dirt road that is presently very muddy in several spots. Four-wheel or all-wheel drive is strongly recommended if you are going to drive in. Note that I am referring to driving in on the west side of Rt 98 and on the north side of the big drainage ditch, which crosses Rt 98. Alternatively, one could park at the beginning of the road, next to Rt 98, and walk in. It's roughly a half mile to the first flooded fields and well over a mile to where the road/trail ends. Today, both species of yellowlegs and snipe were mostly on the north side in the big field that is just before the "Dead End" sign. (The Dead End sign is about a mile from Rt 98.) The Pectorals and Dunlin were on the south side in the very flooded field that is just after the Dead End sign. Specifically, there was a small area of mud and corn stubble sticking above the water that was tucked up against the north side of that field and which was difficult to see - that's where the Pecs and Dunlin were. The EURASIAN WIGEON was in the very flooded field on the north side that is just after the Dead End sign. The ducks were using these same fields plus others. A scope is necessary to see most of these birds. We also had our first SPOTTED SANDPIPER of the year here. Here is our eBird checklist: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S36164852 After checking the Elba Mucklands, we continued east to the Montezuma Mucklands (Seneca and Wayne Counties). Whereas the Elba Mucklands were really nice, the Montezuma Mucklands were a spectacle of nature, and well worth the trip! Thousands of ducks here and a great variety of other birds. The number of rarities that were found along a very short stretch of Rt 31, from Rt 89 on the west to the Seneca River on the east was amazing! Continuing birds today were two WHITE PELICANS, one BLACK-NECKED STILT, two adult LITTLE GULLS, and reported by others, two EURASIAN WIGEONS, a COMMON TEAL, and an AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER. To check out most of the area, park at the potatoes building on the north side of Rt 31. Look from there and also walk east along the road to check out other wetlands. A scope is essential. Here is our eBird checklist: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S36172279 About eight miles south of the Montezuma Mucklands at the NY Chiropractic College, a CATTLE EGRET continues. Good birding! Willie ------ Willie D'Anna Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Piping Plover - Town of Somerset, Niagara County
This afternoon, my streak of good luck continued when I found a PIPING PLOVER in a flooded field on the north side of Lower Lake Road, at the end of Burgess Road in the Town of Somerset, Niagara County. There were a lot of other shorebirds there, mainly Semipalmated Sandpipers, Dunlin, and Semipalmated Plovers. Here is my checklist, with photos of the Piper: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S37071724 This follows a breeding-plumaged HUDSONIAN GODWIT on Saturday in the Town of Wilson (seen only the one day) and a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT heard at Wilson-Tuscarora SP yesterday (not heard today). Good birding! Willie -- Willie D'Anna Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Franklin's Gull, shorebirds - Niagara and Orleans Counties
After the drenching rain this morning, Joel Strong and I got out to look over the fields to see what shorebirds, if any, had dropped in. On Youngstown-Wilson Road, just west of Fitch, there were: 75 Dunlin 11 Least Sandpipers 3 White-rumped Sandpipers 100 Semipalmated Sandpipers 18 Short-billed Dowitchers 2 Spotted Sandpipers On the Lower Lake Road - Burgess Road join, there were: 2 American Wigeon 1 Semipalmated Plover 56 Dunlin 1 Least Sandpiper 1 White-rumped Sandpiper 46 Semipalmated Sandpipers 9 Short-billed Dowitchers 2 dowitcher species (possibly Long-billed) The highlight here was a FRANKLIN'S GULL with a few hundred Ring-billed and Herring Gulls. Unfortunately, it did not stay long, as an immature Bald Eagle came over and all the gulls flew off. It was probably a second-cycle bird, though possibly an adult that had not yet molted in its hood. Poor photos were obtained: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S37144462 On the Orleans County side of Niagara-Orleans Countyline Road, there were: 4 Black-bellied Plovers 75 Dunlin 55 Semipalmated Sandpipers On Lower Lake Road, just east of Johnson Creek Road, there were: 10 Black-bellied Plovers 19 Dunlin 2 dowitcher species (seen very briefly) Good birding! Willie ------ Willie D'Anna Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Brown Pelican continues in Buffalo
The Brown Pelican was still at its usual haunts on the Niagara River in Buffalo this morning. It was observed on the green buoy number 5 today. It has also been seen on the more distant green buoy number 7, where a scope is helpful. If you have a little time, the bird makes rather frequent foraging flights that bring it much closer to the Ontario Street boat launch/Aqua Lane viewing site. It often feeds with or near the cormorants. DIRECTIONS: Heading southbound on I-190, exit at Ontario Street. Turn left at the end of the ramp, then make the first left onto Black Rock Harbor Road to access the waterfront, just before the on-ramp to get on the I-190 northbound. Black Rock Harbor Road takes you back under the I-190. Proceed to the right down Aqua Lane, park, and look for the bird. Heading northbound on I-190, exit at Austin Street. Turn right at the end of the ramp, then immediately turn left onto Niagara Street. Drive about ½ mile and turn left onto Black Rock Harbor Road to access the waterfront, just before the on-ramp to get on the I-190 northbound. Black Rock Harbor Road takes you back under the I-190. Proceed to the right down Aqua Lane, park, and look for the bird. Thanks to Canadian birder, Jeremy Bensette, looking from the Canadian side of the river, for the update. Good birding! Willie -- Willie D'Anna Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Brown Pelican - Buffalo on Friday - NOT Seen
The Niagara River Brown Pelican was not reported on Friday, as far as we are aware. If anyone has heard otherwise, please post or let me know. Thanks! Good birding! Willie -- Willie D'Anna Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
RE:[nysbirds-l] [geneseebirds-googlegroup] Brown Pelican - Buffalo on Friday - Seen but only early in the day; NOT seen Saturday
As it turns out, the Buffalo Brown Pelican was seen early on Friday but apparently not afterwards. In addition, there were no reports today, though several people looked. Thanks to those birders who provided updates. Good birding! Willie From: Willie D'Anna [mailto:dannapot...@roadrunner.com] Sent: Saturday, June 03, 2017 6:53 AM To: geneseebird...@geneseo.edu; 'Geneseebirds'; 'nysbirds-l'; 'David Suggs' Subject: [geneseebirds-googlegroup] Brown Pelican - Buffalo on Friday - NOT Seen The Niagara River Brown Pelican was not reported on Friday, as far as we are aware. If anyone has heard otherwise, please post or let me know. Thanks! Good birding! Willie -- Willie D'Anna Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Geneseebirds" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to geneseebirds-googlegroup+unsubscr...@geneseo.edu. To post to this group, send email to geneseebirds-googlegr...@geneseo.edu. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/a/geneseo.edu/d/msgid/geneseebirds-googlegroup/000c01d2dc57%24a0b270c0%24e2175240%24%40com <https://groups.google.com/a/geneseo.edu/d/msgid/geneseebirds-googlegroup/000c01d2dc57%24a0b270c0%24e2175240%24%40com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> . -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Brown Pelican - Buffalo
The Brown Pelican has returned to its usual haunts on the Niagara River today, being seen on one of the buoys by Alec Humann around 1:00 today. DIRECTIONS: Heading southbound on I-190, exit at Ontario Street. Turn left at the end of the ramp, then make the first left onto Black Rock Harbor Road to access the waterfront, just before the on-ramp to get on the I-190 northbound. Black Rock Harbor Road takes you back under the I-190. Proceed to the right down Aqua Lane, park, and look for the bird. Heading northbound on I-190, exit at Austin Street. Turn right at the end of the ramp, then immediately turn left onto Niagara Street. Drive about ½ mile and turn left onto Black Rock Harbor Road to access the waterfront, just before the on-ramp to get on the I-190 northbound. Black Rock Harbor Road takes you back under the I-190. Proceed to the right down Aqua Lane, park, and look for the bird. Good birding! Willie -- Willie D'Anna Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Black-necked Stilt - Iroquois NWR
The BLACK-NECKED STILT continues at Kumph Marsh, Iroquois NWR. The bird is extremely difficult to see because of all the vegetation. Betsy and I walked Feeder Road for the entire length of Kumph Marsh and did not see it. Then, on the way back, Betsy spotted it where the vegetation was slightly lower. The bird walked left and almost disappeared behind the vegetation before making a short flight and completely disappearing for the remainder of our time there. Another person looked after we left and did not see it. So, long story short, you will need some persistence and/or a bit of luck to see this bird. Good birding! Willie -- Willie D'Anna Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Wilson's Phalarope - Ellicott Rd, Town of Hartland, Niagara County
Joel Strong just texted a WILSON’S PHALAROPE on Ellicott Rd in the Town of Hartland, Niagara County. Ellicott Rd is a relatively short east-west road that runs from Rt 104 on the west to Checkered Tavern Road on the east. The field is a mile east of Day Road and a half mile west of Checkered Tavern Rd, on the south side of Ellicott Rd. Good birding! Willie -- Willie D'Anna Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com . -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
RE:[nysbirds-l] Wilson's Pharalope in Town of Hartland, Niagara County
Betsy and I went to Ellicott Road last evening after dinner in the hopes of refinding the juvenile WILSON'S PHALAROPE discovered by Joel Strong earlier in the day. Like TJ Mudd (see note below), we did not see it for the first 45 minutes. Then I found it inside of the long marsh vegetation into which it shortly completely disappeared, so it sure can hide! Eventually it came out into the open. We also had the STILT SANDPIPER and a WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER. There were also a few BOBOLINKS among a large flock of Red-wingeds, Starlings, and Grackles. Here is my eBird list: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S38450464 Good birding! Willie D'Anna Wilson, NY -Original Message- From: geneseebirds-l-boun...@geneseo.edu [mailto:geneseebirds-l-boun...@geneseo.edu] On Behalf Of Bird observations from western New York Sent: Thursday, August 03, 2017 6:35 AM To: geneseebird...@geneseo.edu Subject: [GeneseeBirds-L] Pharalope in Hartford The Pharalope was not present when I checked yesterday late afternoon, however a Stilt Sandpiper had shown up along with many Killdeer, Lesser Yellowlegs, Pectoral, Least, Semipalmated, and Solitary Sandpipers. Sent from my iPhone ___ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - geneseebird...@geneseo.edu https://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Long-billed Dowitcher, Baird's Sandpiper - Niagara County
Two shorebird spots in northern Niagara County continue to attract good numbers of shorebirds lately. Highlights this morning were a continuing adult LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER on Ellicott Road and a continuing juvenile BAIRD'S SANDPIPER on Lower Lake Rd X Burgess Rd. Both locations are eBird hotspots. There was also a juvenile Short-billed Dowitcher at Ellicott Rd and six at Lower Lake Rd. Good diversity of other shorebirds at both spots. Note that at Burgess and Lower Lake, the birds still feed in both puddles but the puddle on the north side of Lower Lake Rd has been more consistent of late in attracting birds. In addition, fields around both puddles have been recently plowed, enabling easier viewing than previously. Ellicott Road today: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S38698018 Ellicott Rd two days ago with photos of the LB Dowitcher: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S38668967 Lower Lake Rd X Burgess Rd today: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S38697078 Good birding! Willie ------ Willie D'Anna Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] NYSOA Conference in Niagara Falls Nov. 10-12
Hi folks, This is a heads up that the New York State Birders Conference/New York State Ornithological Association Annual Meeting will be hosted by the Buffalo Ornithological Society in Niagara Falls, New York on November 10, 11, and 12 this year. We have two outstanding speakers lined up, a great variety of field trips, a collection of vendors from optics to art, and what should be an entertaining and informative papers session. All activities are being held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel on the Niagara River rapids, just above the falls. Folks staying in the hotel receive a special conference rate and have a great view of the rapids. This really promises to be an exciting event with some spectacular birding at that time of year. You can read much more about the conference and even register for it on the BOS web site: http://www.buffaloornithologicalsociety.org/ You can save $10 on the registration fee by registering before October 1st. Everyone is welcome! Good birding! Willie -- Willie D'Anna Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Bobby Kurtz, Rest in Peace
Thanks for posting Bobby's passing to the birding community. Living in Western NY, I have not made it down to Region 10 for birding as often as I would like. And yet, serendipitously I ran into Bobby three times on those rare occasions when I did, which shows how active a birder he was. He was very helpful with lots of good information about where to go to look for birds in the area. He seemed like a bit of a character, certainly someone most people would remember upon meeting. He talked a lot and I liked him and enjoyed birding with him. The last time I saw him he picked out a Western Sandpiper at Jamaica Bay for me and my friends, which was very much appreciated. My condolences to you, Pat and Shai, and to the entire NYC/Long Island birding community. May he rest in peace. Good birding to all, Willie ------ Willie D'Anna Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Say's Phoebe - Yates County
A SAY'S PHOEBE was reported to eBird in Yates County yesterday. The location is a few miles east of Canandaigua Lake. The report is accompanied by photos: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S39568663 Check the map link in the checklist for a more precise location although we know that these links are not always that accurate if the observer does not use a phone's GPS. Most importantly, we do not know if this bird was on private property, though it seems likely, and whether or not it can be viewed from a public road. Does anyone on this list have more information on this report? Lastly, Say's Phoebe is on the state review list and reports to the NYSARC that document this bird would be greatly appreciated: http://nybirds.org/RecordsReporting.htm Good birding! Willie ------ Willie D'Anna Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Bonaparte's and Little Gulls; Forster's Tern
This morning, Dean DiTommaso, Jim Pawlicki, and I did a lake-watch at Fort Niagara State Park. The number of Bonaparte's Gulls passing by, going east to west, was phenomenal. I counted 6600 Bonies and there were probably another 1500-2000 that went by before I started counting. I have been seeing high numbers of Bonies while lake-watching at Golden Hill S.P. this month but the number today was many times greater. At first they were from the shore to a mile or two out, an extremely heavy passage of birds. Before long most of the birds were at a good distance with many fewer near shore but numbers passing were still usually on the order of 50/minute. Among the Bonies, we counted four adult and one second basic LITTLE GULLS. We also had a juvenile PARASITIC JAEGER that seemed to be hanging around well off-shore. There was also a decent variety of other water birds: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S40010496 Curious as to the number of Bonies in the lower Niagara River, I went to Lewiston landing, where there about 700 Bonies. Although I was unable to find a Little Gull here (a preferred feeding area for them), I did have a FORSTER'S TERN that was floating on the water with the many Bonies. I rarely see terns floating on the water. Unlike gulls, it is not a preferred resting mode for them. Good birding! Willie ------ Willie D'Anna Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] FW: [geneseebirds-googlegroup] Anna’s Hummingbird!!!
Hi folks, An apparent Anna's Hummingbird was photographed at a feeding station in Orleans County this morning (read post below). Thanks to Celeste Morien’s photos and the input of Jim Pawlicki, who has lots of recent experience with the species in Southern California, and Andy Guthrie, we believe it is likely to be this species, probably a young female. However, we welcome comments from others who have good experience with Anna's and other western hummers, such as Costa's. Photos are in Celeste Morien's eBird checklist: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S40026549 Good birding! Willie -Original Message- From: Celeste Morien [mailto:celeste.mor...@gmail.com] Sent: Friday, October 20, 2017 2:13 PM To: geneseebirds-googlegr...@geneseo.edu; geneseebird...@geneseo.edu Subject: [geneseebirds-googlegroup] Anna’s Hummingbird!!! Hello Birding Friends, This morning about 8:00, a hummingbird appeared at our backyard feeder. Thinking it wasn’t a Rufous I didn’t consider any other possibilities than Ruby-throated. I got decent photos of the bird about 8:40. Well, about two hours later, Jim Pawlicki saw my photos and said it was an ANNA’S HUMMINGBIRD! Jim, Andy and Willie have been here and carefully checked the photos on the computer and waited for the bird but it has not shown. They’ve left now. I am going to keep a vigil here especially towards evening and early tomorrow morning. If the bird shows I will immediately get the word out. It’s so disappointing that it has not shown! I am happy to have visitors but I’d hate to have people driving long distances only to be disappointed. Celeste Morien Medina, New York celeste.mor...@gmail.com -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Geneseebirds" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to geneseebirds-googlegroup+unsubscr...@geneseo.edu. To post to this group, send email to geneseebirds-googlegr...@geneseo.edu. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/a/geneseo.edu/d/msgid/geneseebirds-googlegroup/55EB428B-CBC6-49CA-BABB-CBCA3AA770C8%40gmail.com. -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Cattle Egrets - Wellsville, Allegany County
There have been several Cattle Egret reports popping up in New York and Ontario the past few days. Besides the three birds seen in Albion in Orleans County yesterday, a remarkable 20 individuals were found in ball fields in Wellsville, Allegany County. This checklist has a photo of only one bird but the observer sent me photos, taken by another birder, that show 14 individuals in one frame: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S40286609 This is a record count, by far, for the Buffalo Region and I wonder if there have been higher counts elsewhere in New York, away from coastal areas (where I know there have been higher counts). And how many more are out there, waiting to be found? Good birding! Willie -- Willie D'Anna Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Say's Phoebe - Orleans County
Vicki Rothman and Kathy DiVito just found a SAY'S PHOEBE south of the Village of Clarendon in Orleans County. The bird was in a horse pasture on New Guinea Rd, not far from the intersection with Upper Holly Rd. Unfortunately, I don't know if the pasture is east or west of New Holly Rd but, as I noted, it is not far from that road. Good luck if you are able to go for it! Willie ------ Willie D'Anna Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Say's Phoebe - Orleans County - not seen again
The SAY'S PHOEBE was not relocated after I texted it out and posted it to the birding listservs on Sunday, in spite of people arriving at the site not long afterward. By the way, Vicki Rothman sent me a diagnostic photo of the bird that she took. Good birding! Willie ------ Willie D'Anna Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Lake Ontario Plain - Orleans and Niagara Counties
Four birders met at Point Breeze on Lake Ontario in central Orleans County for a morning of birding. We hit various spots along the lake from there to Olcott Beach in Niagara County. Lake-watching highlights included a good flight of RED-THROATED LOONS, many Horned and six RED-NECKED GREBES (off of Shadigee), all three scoters, and a surprising 14 KING EIDERS on the water off of Olcott Beach. The eiders soon took flight and headed west. This is the largest flock of this species that I have ever seen in New York, though I have seen more in the western part of Lake Ontario in Ontario, Canada. Eight other KING EIDERS were seen by Andy Guthrie at Hamlin Beach SP today and Greg Lawrence found an adult male at the east spit of Braddock Bay. So, it was quite the day for this species in Western NY. Our other big highlight was a SNOWY OWL at the Circle R Fruit Farm in the Town of Carlton, Orleans County. This owl was on telephone poles right next to the road and also in the nearby orchards. The local Red-tails were not too pleased. At the Yates grasslands on Lakeshore Road in the Town of Yates, there was one ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, two NORTHERN HARRIERS, and a NORTHERN SHRIKE. The shrike was in the same hedge row where we saw one back on October 28. Good birding! Willie, Celeste Morien, Brian Morse, and Corey Callaghan (back briefly from Australia) -- Willie D'Anna Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
RE:[nysbirds-l] Terns
The discussion about the terms we should use for terns has seemed interminable. I thought I had determined the best tern terms but it turned out I was wrong. I turned to the sage advice of Shai Mitra, who seems to be able to take turns using any of the tern terms and it does not turn out badly. Like Tim Healy, I thought I had a second summer tern but alas, the term should be first summer. In terms of the terns age, I determined he could not be more than one. So, a one-year-old tern is a first summer tern, even though it turns out it is in its second summer on the calendar. This just makes my head turn and turn and turn. I wish I could be like John Turner, who thinks things have turned for the better. Should I terminate my efforts to apply the proper terminology? Oh how these tern terms torment me! With apologies to all and thanks to Tim, Steve, Joe, Shai, and others for an enlightening discussion. Willie D'Anna Wilson, NY Subject: RE: Nickerson Beach Report. From: JOHN TURNER Date: Tue, 19 Jun 2018 20:37:30 -0400 (EDT) X-Message-Number: 11 Things took a turn for the better today! On Tue, Jun 19, 2018 at 07:20 PM, Long Island Birding wrote: Hello all, To summarize there were 7 tern species seen at Nickerson Beach Today. Sandwich Tern (found by Doug Futuyma) Arctic Tern (found by Adelia Honeywood) Gull-Billed Tern Forster's Tern Roseate Terns Least Terns Common Terns Mike Z. -- NYSbirds-L List Info: Welcome and Basics <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm> Rules and Information <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm> Archives: The Mail Archive <http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html> Surfbirds <http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L> ABA <http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01> Please submit your observations to eBird <http://ebird.org/content/ebird/> ! -- --- END OF DIGEST -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
RE:[nysbirds-l] [GeneseeBirds-L] Western Kingbird - Erie County - Alec Humann
To add to Alec Humann's message below, the Western Kingbird has a strong preference for one isolated tree/bush in the goldenrod field on the north side of the road. Josh Ketry found it yesterday in this tree and it was seen there again today. Look for two mailboxes on the north side of the road with the number 8765 on one of them. The tree/bush was directly north of that, 50 yards or so. The bird may wander widely and disappear for a time but it seems to like this tree and often returns to it. Yesterday afternoon we had not seen it in over an hour of searching when it finally showed up in that tree. It then sat in that tree for a half hour, making only two or three brief short forays down into the goldenrod and then back to the tree. We left it there. One can see this tree from their car but, as Alec noted, be careful! Lots of fast moving traffic! Good birding! Willie -Original Message- From: geneseebirds-l-boun...@geneseo.edu [mailto:geneseebirds-l-boun...@geneseo.edu] On Behalf Of Bird observations from western New York Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2018 6:57 PM To: geneseebird...@geneseo.edu Subject: [GeneseeBirds-L] Western Kingbird - Erie County - Alec Humann Joshua Ketry found a Western Kingbird in southern Erie County at 8765 Genesee Road, Springville, NY yesterday morning. The bird continued through the day today. It has been actively feeding in the goldenrod meadow across the street from this address. The road has a narrow shoulder and traffic travels at a fast speed...please make sure you are all the way over onto the shoulder and be very wary of traffic. Don’t linger with your car door open as the hilly terrain doesn’t always give you enough time to see oncoming traffic! Sent from my iPhone ___ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - geneseebird...@geneseo.edu https://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] FW: [GeneseeBirds-L] FW: Black-bellied Whistling-duck at Tonawanda WMA - Wed evening
The location is in the Town of Alabama, Genesee County. Cayuga Pool overlook is the big overlook on the east side of Rt 77, a couple of miles north of the hamlet of Alabama where Rt 77 and Rt 63 separate when heading north on Rt 77. Read below for more directions. Good luck to all who try. Willie From: geneseebirds-l-boun...@geneseo.edu [mailto:geneseebirds-l-boun...@geneseo.edu] On Behalf Of Mike Morgante Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2010 8:55 PM To: geneseebird...@geneseo.edu Cc: dfsu...@verizon.net Subject: [GeneseeBirds-L] FW: Black-bellied Whistling-duck at Tonawanda WMA - Wed evening I'm forwarding this message for Paul Hess, biologist at Iroquois NWR. He found and photographed a Black-bellied Whistling-Duck at Tonawanda WMA this evening. See directions below. Please take caution on his notes regarding traffic on Rt 77 - it is a dangerous spot. This is a first for Buffalo Ornithological Society study area (NY Kingbird region 1) and I believe a 2nd for New York following birds on Oneida Lake earlier this summer. As there will likely be great interest in re-finding this bird, please post your sightings (even if not found). Mike Morgante Orchard Park, NY mo...@roadrunner.com From: Paul Hess Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2010 8:14 PM To: mo...@roadrunner.com Subject: Whistling-duck Not sure if the birding world is aware of this one yet. I took these pics about 30 minutes ago on Tonawanda WMA. The bird was standing about 30 yds to the west of Rt. 77 in a marshy area between 77 and the dike to Cinnamon Marsh. This area is just northwest of the Cayuga Pool overlook but on the Tonawanda side of the road. The bird stood there while I took the pics from my car. If I had a better camera they could have been great pictures, but you can certainly see what it is. Let me know if you have any questions. Feel free to post on GeneseeBirds or other sites. Remind people that this is a high speed area with limited visibility. Paul -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --___ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - geneseebird...@geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l
[nysbirds-l] Black-bellied Whistling Duck - NOT Seen
Several birders looked for the Genesee County BBWD today. Birders in the earlier part of the morning were successful but later birders were not, despite persistent scanning from multiple vantage points. We left at 7:00 p.m. for an appointment and the others that were still there left at the same time. We were there from 4:00 until 7 and did not hear the bird call though others reported hearing it earlier. It is not hard to imagine that a duck could be hiding in those cattails. However, the cattails are not so thick that no one would see it if it started to move around a little. Given the described behavior of the bird in the morning and yesterday when it was photographed, we were confident that it would eventually come out. Alas, perhaps we left too soon. Or, perhaps it flew to a different spot when no one was looking. There is a lot of appropriate habitat, much of which is not as accessible. DIRECTIONS: The BBWD was on NY 77, in a roadside marsh about 200 yards northwest of the Cayuga Pool Overlook (Iroquois NWR). NY 77 is a north-south highway that travels NW in the area of the refuge. Thus, the reason for the sometimes confusing directions. In any case, if you are heading north on Rt 77, Iroquois NWR and Cayuga Pool overlook are on your right and Tonawanda WMA is on your left. Note that there is an exit for Rt 77 from the NYS Thruway. As reported by Jerry Lazarczyk, the duck was on the Tonawanda refuge side about 40 yards in from the road, just inside the cattails and seemed to be resting/feeding comfortably, watching us watch it. It almost always faced us but occasionally turned to expose its white feathering. There were no leg bands or missing toes. Good birding and stay safe out there. The trucks really move through the area. Willie Willie D'Anna Betsy Potter Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com http://www.betsypottersart.com -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
RE:[nysbirds-l] [GeneseeBirds-L] Black-bellied Whistling Duck - SEEN
Drew Campbell reported seeing the BBWD between 7:30 and 8:00 p.m. Here is his note followed by my earlier post. Note that walking northwest means walking along the road. (There is nowhere else to walk due to all the marsh.) "The bird called a few times and could be seen deep in the rushes. Leave the Cayuga Pool parking lot and travel northwest. Look for a utility pole with 2 guy wires with protective yellow covers and walk 100 feet northwest past this pole then look into the marsh and the duck can be seen from this point." From: geneseebirds-l-boun...@geneseo.edu [mailto:geneseebirds-l-boun...@geneseo.edu] On Behalf Of Willie D'Anna and Betsy Potter Sent: Thursday, August 12, 2010 8:55 PM To: geneseebird...@geneseo.edu; NYSBirds; dfsu...@localnet.com Subject: [GeneseeBirds-L] Black-bellied Whistling Duck - NOT Seen Several birders looked for the Genesee County BBWD today. Birders in the earlier part of the morning were successful but later birders were not, despite persistent scanning from multiple vantage points. We left at 7:00 p.m. for an appointment and the others that were still there left at the same time. We were there from 4:00 until 7 and did not hear the bird call though others reported hearing it earlier. It is not hard to imagine that a duck could be hiding in those cattails. However, the cattails are not so thick that no one would see it if it started to move around a little. Given the described behavior of the bird in the morning and yesterday when it was photographed, we were confident that it would eventually come out. Alas, perhaps we left too soon. Or, perhaps it flew to a different spot when no one was looking. There is a lot of appropriate habitat, much of which is not as accessible. DIRECTIONS: The BBWD was on NY 77, in a roadside marsh about 200 yards northwest of the Cayuga Pool Overlook (Iroquois NWR). NY 77 is a north-south highway that travels NW in the area of the refuge. Thus, the reason for the sometimes confusing directions. In any case, if you are heading north on Rt 77, Iroquois NWR and Cayuga Pool overlook are on your right and Tonawanda WMA is on your left. Note that there is an exit for Rt 77 from the NYS Thruway. As reported by Jerry Lazarczyk, the duck was on the Tonawanda refuge side about 40 yards in from the road, just inside the cattails and seemed to be resting/feeding comfortably, watching us watch it. It almost always faced us but occasionally turned to expose its white feathering. There were no leg bands or missing toes. Good birding and stay safe out there. The trucks really move through the area. Willie -------- Willie D'Anna Betsy Potter Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com http://www.betsypottersart.com -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Black-bellied Whistling Duck - Tonawanda WMA
The bird was present again Friday. However, it continued its frustrating habit of staying hidden for long periods. Early and late in the day seem to be the best times. DIRECTIONS: The BBWD was on NY 77, in a roadside marsh about 200 yards northwest of the Cayuga Pool Overlook (Iroquois NWR). NY 77 is a north-south highway that travels NW in the area of the refuge. Thus, the reason for the sometimes confusing directions. In any case, if you are heading north on Rt 77, Iroquois NWR and Cayuga Pool overlook are on your right and Tonawanda WMA is on your left. Note that there is an exit for Rt 77 from the NYS Thruway. The duck was on the Tonawanda WMA side of the road and likes to stay hidden in the cattails. Good birding and stay safe out there. The trucks really move through the area. Willie Willie D'Anna Betsy Potter Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com http://www.betsypottersart.com -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Black-bellied Whistling Duck - Tonawanda WMA (Genesee County)
The BBWD continues, being seen every day since the initial report on August 11th. John Welte reported that it was in sight this morning for most of the time between 7:50 and 9:00, when he left. I have not heard any other reports for today though I have no reason to think that it is not still there. DIRECTIONS: The BBWD was on NY 77, in a roadside marsh about 200 yards northwest of the Cayuga Pool Overlook (Iroquois NWR). NY 77 is a north-south highway that travels NW in the area of the refuge. Thus, the reason for the sometimes confusing directions. In any case, if you are heading north on Rt 77, Iroquois NWR and Cayuga Pool overlook are on your right and Tonawanda WMA is on your left. Note that there is an exit for Rt 77 from the NYS Thruway. The duck was on the Tonawanda WMA side of the road and likes to stay hidden in the cattails. Good birding and stay safe out there. The trucks really move through the area. Willie Willie D'Anna Betsy Potter Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com http://www.betsypottersart.com -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Black-bellied Whistling-Duck - Tonawanda WMA (Genesee County)
Betsy and I looked from 7:50 to 9:35 a.m. this morning but did not see the BBWD. To give an idea of how difficult this duck can be to see, this now makes 7 and ¾ hours that I have looked for the bird and I have only seen it once for two or three minutes and that was after sunset! I thought we would have a better chance today because it was our first attempt in the morning, but no. I encourage others to continue to post to the lists on whether or not they see the bird. I for one, would still like a better look and many have yet to see it. DIRECTIONS: The BBWD was on NY 77, in a roadside marsh about 200 yards northwest of the Cayuga Pool Overlook (Iroquois NWR). NY 77 is a north-south highway that travels NW in the area of the refuge. Thus, the reason for the sometimes confusing directions. In any case, if you are heading north on Rt 77, Iroquois NWR and Cayuga Pool overlook are on your right and Tonawanda WMA is on your left. Note that there is an exit for Rt 77 from the NYS Thruway. The duck was on the Tonawanda WMA side of the road and likes to stay hidden in the cattails. Good birding and stay safe out there. The trucks really move through the area. Willie Willie D'Anna Betsy Potter Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com http://www.betsypottersart.com -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Black-bellied Whistling-Duck (Genesee County) - Not Seen Saturday
I looked from 7:50 to 8:50 this morning and from 10:30 to 1:15 without any sightings or hearings of the BBWD. Three others also looked at times during the same period and did not have it. If it is there, this is one very frustrating bird. I have to wonder if the use of recordings may have something to do with this bird's behavior. I have not seen anyone play a recording during my 11 hours at the site but I know that others have. Is it possible for a bird to be this intimidated by hearing (but not seeing) another of its own kind that it stays out of sight most of the time? Perhaps this is just speculation by a frustrated whistling-duck searcher. Some things I did see at the location were a family of Common Moorhens, Virginia Rail, Sora, American Bittern, Black-crowned Night-Herons, Bald Eagle, several Osprey, Caspian Tern, and several Bobolinks and Purple Martins overhead. DIRECTIONS: The BBWD was on NY 77, in a roadside marsh about 200 yards northwest of the Cayuga Pool Overlook (Iroquois NWR). NY 77 is a north-south highway that travels NW in the area of the refuge. Thus, the reason for the sometimes confusing directions. In any case, if you are heading north on Rt 77, Iroquois NWR and Cayuga Pool overlook are on your right and Tonawanda WMA is on your left. Note that there is an exit for Rt 77 from the NYS Thruway. The duck was on the Tonawanda WMA side of the road and likes to stay hidden in the cattails. Good birding and stay safe out there. The trucks really move through the area. Willie Willie D'Anna Betsy Potter Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com http://www.betsypottersart.com -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] FW: [GeneseeBirds-L] Black-Bellied Whistling Duck - YES!
Ack! Looks like I missed it by 15 minutes! See below. Willie From: geneseebirds-l-boun...@geneseo.edu [mailto:geneseebirds-l-boun...@geneseo.edu] On Behalf Of tanager57 Sent: Saturday, August 21, 2010 7:48 PM To: GenesseeBirds Subject: [GeneseeBirds-L] Black-Bellied Whistling Duck - YES! Jim Landau and I capped off a rather quiet day of birding with reasonably good looks at the BBWD in it's usual location at TWMA. It was our third and final attempt of the day to see this bird. The duck was finally spotted around 1:30 PM resting quietly on the back side of a rather open area of marsh, just where the cattail reeds started to get thick. It wasn't an unobstructed view, but the duck was seen well enough to note the key field marks. Jim and I were standing about 20-30 yards west of the first utility pole that is east of the concrete culvert (with the guardrail), looking in a westerly direction. (I hope that's not too confusing!) The duck was resting on a small mound of debris, with the head erect. Gradually, it began to close it's eyes and and start to bring it's head down, but the noise of a passing vehicle would bring it to alert status again. At one point, the duck peered up at passing biplane overhead. Eventually, the duck settled in for a nap and tucked it's head on it's side, occasionally raising it's head from time to time. In the hour or so we watched the bird, it did not move except for it's head. We we left the area about 2:30, it was resting with it's head tucked on it's side. Unfortunately, no other birders we around during this time. Jim Wojewodzki Holland, NY Previously posted directions: The BBWD was on NY 77, in a roadside marsh about 200 yards northwest of the Cayuga Pool Overlook (Iroquois NWR). NY 77 is a north-south highway that travels NW in the area of the refuge. Thus, the reason for the sometimes confusing directions. In any case, if you are heading north on Rt 77, Iroquois NWR and Cayuga Pool overlook are on your right and Tonawanda WMA is on your left. Note that there is an exit for Rt 77 from the NYS Thruway. The duck was on the Tonawanda WMA side of the road and likes to stay hidden in the cattails. Good birding and stay safe out there. The trucks really move through the area. -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --___ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - geneseebird...@geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l
[nysbirds-l] Black-bellied Whistling-Duck - Genesee County - Yes!
I wasn't planning on looking much for the BBWD today. I was on my way to look for the Buff-breasted Sandpiper at the Elba Mucklands (not seen today) and was driving by the spot, so of course I had to take a quick look. After a couple of minutes of carefully scanning the cattails, I found the BBWD. He stayed partially concealed for my entire visit, about 70 minutes, but at least I had decent looks in good light, and managed a few photos. It took me over 11 hours to get the look I desired. It took the birder who drove up and looked in my scope only 30 seconds! The time of my sighting was between 10:30 and 11:40 a.m. DIRECTIONS: The BBWD was on NY 77, in a roadside marsh about 200 yards northwest of the Cayuga Pool Overlook (Iroquois NWR). NY 77 is a north-south highway that travels NW in the area of the refuge. Thus, the reason for the sometimes confusing directions. In any case, if you are heading north on Rt 77, Iroquois NWR and Cayuga Pool overlook are on your right and Tonawanda WMA is on your left. Note that there is an exit for Rt 77 from the NYS Thruway. The duck was on the Tonawanda WMA side of the road and likes to stay hidden in the cattails. Good birding and stay safe out there. The trucks and cars really move through the area. Willie Willie D'Anna Betsy Potter Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com http://www.betsypottersart.com -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Shorebirds at Montezuma NWR
There continues to be lots of shorebirds at Montezuma. The Knox-Marcellus Marsh is a very impressive show, especially for an inland location. Also, the pool next to the Refuge headquarters has prime habitat for shorebirds as well. Saturday, the latter pool held mostly just yellowlegs (a few Greater and many Lesser) with a few Least and 1 White-rumped Sandpipers and some Semi. Plovers. The birds are much closer at this pool than Knox-Marcellus and something special could certainly show up there. Here is the list of shorebirds reported at Knox-Marcellus (we missed the Black-bellied Plovers and Buff-breasted Sandpipers, which may not have been seen after mid-afternoon): Black-bellied Plover American Golden-Plover - 1 (found late in the day from East Road) Semipalmated Plover - many Killdeer - a few Greater Yellowlegs - a few Lesser Yellowlegs - abundant Solitary Sandpiper - I heard of no reports but I suspect one or more were seen Spotted Sandpiper - ditto Semipalmated Sandpiper - many Least Sandpiper - many White-rumped Sandpiper - a few to several Baird's Sandpiper - just a couple Pectoral Sandpiper - a few Stilt Sandpiper - a few to several BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER - 2 Dowitchers - several, probably both species Wilson's Snipe - 2 Wilson's Phalarope - 8 (the observer was cautiously second-guessing himself, as these birds were not seen later) RED-NECKED PHALAROPE - 4 Also, from East Road at the end of the day, we had 7 adult SANDHILL CRANES, five of which were in the northwest corner of Knox-Marcellus. An immature PEREGRINE FALCON harassed the shorebirds at the marsh occasionally, throughout the day. Good shorebirding! Willie -------- Willie D'Anna Betsy Potter Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com http://www.betsypottersart.com -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Waterfowl and Warblers - Buffalo and Niagara Falls
I checked Lake Erie from LaSalle Park in Buffalo today and had some interesting sightings. Divers included 7 AMERICAN COOTS, 2 REDHEADS, 4 GREATER SCAUP, and 52 SURF SCOTERS. Others were 3 NORTHERN SHOVELERS, 1 CASPIAN TERN, and 7 AMERICAN PIPITS. At Goat Island above Niagara Falls, there were 3 adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS, only a small fraction of the number that were seen on Long Island yesterday. Among the 150 or so YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS were 4 PALMS, 1 NASHVILLE, 1 TENNESSEE, 1 BLACKPOLL, and 1 ORANGE-CROWNED. Others were 1 BLUE-HEADED VIREO, and handfuls of JUNCOS, CHIPPYS, and WHITE-THROATS. Good birding! Willie Willie D'Anna Betsy Potter Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com http://www.betsypottersart.com -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Juvenile Ruff at Batavia Wastewater Treatment Plant
Bill Watson found a Ruff at the Batavia WWTP today. A few people got there before the plant closed but no one else other than Bill's companion, Mark, was able to see it. Please note that you must sign in to enter the WWTP grounds. And you must be out a few minutes before 3:00 or you could be locked in (it has happened before and we don't want it to happen again!). The Batavia WWTP is at the end of Industrial Blvd. by Treadeasy Ave, just south of NY Route 33. Good luck if you try! Willie -------- Willie D'Anna Betsy Potter Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com http://www.betsypottersart.com -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Another Cattle Egret - Town of Royalton, Niagara County
Adding to the great influx of Cattle Egrets to NY and Ontario this weekend, Bob Ensminger discovered this one in a horse pasture on the east side of Gasport Road, just north of Bunker Hill Road. The bird was still there as of 4:00. DIRECTIONS: >From the intersection of NY 78 and NY 93 in Lockport, proceed east on NY 93 (Dysinger Road) about 4 or 5 miles to Akron Road. Turn right to stay on NY 93. In about two more miles, NY 93 turns south but you should continue straight ahead onto Bunker Hill Rd. Very shortly (1/4 mile), turn left onto Gasport Rd. The horse pasture is just north of this intersection on your right. Good luck if you try for this bird! Willie ---- Willie D'Anna Betsy Potter Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com http://www.betsypottersart.com -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] California and Thayer's Gulls - Niagara Falls
Today, Betsy and I tried for the adult CALIFORNIA GULL that was found Saturday at Goat Island by Jim Pawlicki. We went straight to the Three Sisters Islands and found the gull from the bridge between the last two islands. This was somewhere around 2:30. We had a nice study for several minutes until all the gulls flew up in a panic, no doubt flushed by an unseen raptor. It was a couple of minutes later when Andy Guthrie showed up - ouch! Fortunately, Andy persisted and finally saw the bird around 5:00. He also found an adult THAYER'S GULL at the same location, though looking from Goat Island. We were able to get photos of both of these birds. We also had an adult LITTLE GULL at the Whirlpool. Numbers of Bonaparte's Gulls seemed to be less than a thousand from Fort Niagara to above the falls. Good birding! Willie -------- Willie D'Anna Betsy Potter Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com http://www.betsypottersart.com -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Lark Sparrow - Our Yard!!!
Betsy was about to throw seed on the ground under our big spruce tree when she noticed a different bird. After the bird flushed, Betsy threw down the seed and returned to the house. Shortly, a bird was back under the spruce. She picked up the bins and was momentarily uncertain. Then she realized - it was a LARK SPARROW! The bird has been here off and on all day. We have also seen it on the ground under our pole feeders. It seems to prefer white millet but there is sunflower and niger seed as well. As always, birders are welcome here. Your chances of seeing the Lark Sparrow are much better from inside the house. Please send an email to us or phone to let us know about when you will be coming. Afternoon visits are highly preferred. Thanks! By the way, this bird is pretty bright but we are still trying to determine its age. Directions We live at 4777 East Lake Road, Burt, NY 14028. However, this is not accurate on Google maps. So, just use this link: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=4777+East+Lake+Road,+Wilson,+NY+14172&rls=com. microsoft:en-US&oe=utf8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=4777+E+Lake+Rd,+Wilson,+NY+1 4172&gl=us&ei=JkvkTIv9KML6lweip9niDg&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=image&resnum= 1&ved=0CBQQ8gEwAA This is in the Town of Wilson (Niagara County) about halfway between the northern termini of Rt 425 and Rt 78 (roughly three miles from either). There is a common driveway on the north side of Rt 18 (Lake Road) that leads to several homes, including ours. Look for a hanging sign in front of an area of woods and brush with our number on it (4777), on the west side of the driveway. There is a wooden stockade fence to the east of the driveway. After turning into the common driveway, make the first or second left into our driveway. Please park so that you allow at least one way in and out. Good birding! Willie and Betsy Willie D'Anna Betsy Potter Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com http://www.betsypottersart.com -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Lark Sparrow continues
Hi All, The Lark Sparrow was here this morning. Betsy Willie D'Anna Betsy Potter Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com http://www.betsypottersart.com -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Lark Sparrow - Wilson, NY
Although not very cooperative today (only two of eight visitors saw it), the Lark Sparrow did show a few times. A hawk was around this afternoon, which probably had something to do with its longer absences. We have not seen a hawk here in a couple of weeks - bad timing. Hopefully, the Lark Sparrow will return tomorrow. Directions We live at 4777 East Lake Road, Burt, NY 14028. However, this is not accurate on Google maps. So, just use this link: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=4777+East+Lake+Road,+Wilson,+NY+14172&rls=com. microsoft:en-US&oe=utf8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=4777+E+Lake+Rd,+Wilson,+NY+1 4172&gl=us&ei=JkvkTIv9KML6lweip9niDg&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=image&resnum= 1&ved=0CBQQ8gEwAA This is in the Town of Wilson (Niagara County) about halfway between the northern termini of Rt 425 and Rt 78 (roughly three miles from either). There is a common driveway on the north side of Rt 18 (Lake Road) that leads to several homes, including ours. Look for a hanging sign in front of an area of woods and brush with our number on it (4777), on the west side of the driveway. There is a wooden stockade fence to the east of the driveway. After turning into the common driveway, make the first or second left into our driveway. Please park so that you allow at least one way in and out. Good birding! Willie and Betsy Willie D'Anna Betsy Potter Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com http://www.betsypottersart.com -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Lark Sparrow - Town of Wilson
For the third consecutive day, the LARK SPARROW showed up immediately after Betsy threw out some seed early this morning. It was much more cooperative today, with all seven visitors getting to see the bird. Directions We live at 4777 East Lake Road, Burt, NY 14028. However, this is not accurate on Google maps. So, just use this link: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=4777+East+Lake+Road,+Wilson,+NY+14172&rls=com. microsoft:en-US&oe=utf8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=4777+E+Lake+Rd,+Wilson,+NY+1 4172&gl=us&ei=JkvkTIv9KML6lweip9niDg&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=image&resnum= 1&ved=0CBQQ8gEwAA This is in the Town of Wilson (Niagara County) about halfway between the northern termini of Rt 425 and Rt 78 (roughly three miles from either). There is a common driveway on the north side of Rt 18 (Lake Road) that leads to several homes, including ours. Look for a hanging sign in front of an area of woods and brush with our number on it (4777), on the west side of the driveway. There is a wooden stockade fence to the east of the driveway. After turning into the common driveway, make the first or second left into our driveway. Please park so that you allow at least one way in and out. Good birding! Willie and Betsy Willie D'Anna Betsy Potter Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com http://www.betsypottersart.com -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Lark Sparrow, now Prairie Warbler - Our Yard!
It's the Patagonia picnic table effect where birders looking for one rarity discover another. After seeing the LARK SPARROW once, Dave Wheeler looked out the other window and found a PRAIRIE WARBLER! We were unable to identify the bird so we went outside for a closer look. Even then we were uncertain, though based on the general plumage and constant tail-pumping, I was thinking it had to be a PRAIRIE WARBLER. We lost it but spotted it later, again from inside the house, and confirmed the ID. I was able to shoot a couple of digiscoped photos.This is the second latest record in the Buffalo Region. The latest was at Buckhorn Island State Park (Erie County) from 6-14 December 1998. The LARK SPARROW has been successfully seen by all six visitors so far today. I suspect the Prairie Warbler will be much harder to relocate after today but you never know. Directions We live at 4777 East Lake Road, Burt, NY 14028. However, this is not accurate on Google maps. So, just use this link: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=4777+East+Lake+Road,+Wilson,+NY+14172&rls=com. microsoft:en-US&oe=utf8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=4777+E+Lake+Rd,+Wilson,+NY+1 4172&gl=us&ei=JkvkTIv9KML6lweip9niDg&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=image&resnum= 1&ved=0CBQQ8gEwAA This is in the Town of Wilson (Niagara County) about halfway between the northern termini of Rt 425 and Rt 78 (roughly three miles from either). There is a common driveway on the north side of Rt 18 (Lake Road) that leads to several homes, including ours. Look for a hanging sign in front of an area of woods and brush with our number on it (4777), on the west side of the driveway. There is a wooden stockade fence to the east of the driveway. After turning into the common driveway, make the first or second left into our driveway. Please park so that you allow at least one way in and out. Good birding! Willie and Betsy Willie D'Anna Betsy Potter Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com http://www.betsypottersart.com -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Lark Sparrow - Day 6
The Lark Sparrow is here again this Monday morning, along with some steady rain. Yesterday, we had a hawk around for a short period but all 11 visitors got to see the Lark Sparrow. Directions Please email us ahead of time and tell us about when you want to come visit. We live at 4777 East Lake Road, Burt, NY 14028. However, this is not accurate on Google maps. So, just use this link: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=4777+East+Lake+Road,+Wilson,+NY+14172&rls=com. microsoft:en-US&oe=utf8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=4777+E+Lake+Rd,+Wilson,+NY+1 4172&gl=us&ei=JkvkTIv9KML6lweip9niDg&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=image&resnum= 1&ved=0CBQQ8gEwAA This is in the Town of Wilson (Niagara County) about halfway between the northern termini of Rt 425 and Rt 78 (roughly three miles from either). There is a common driveway on the north side of Rt 18 (Lake Road) that leads to several homes, including ours. Look for a hanging sign in front of an area of woods and brush with our number on it (4777), on the west side of the driveway. There is a wooden stockade fence to the east of the driveway. After turning into the common driveway, make the first or second left into our driveway. Please park so that you allow at least one way in and out. Good birding! Willie and Betsy Willie D'Anna Betsy Potter Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com http://www.betsypottersart.com -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Lark Sparrow - Town of Wilson - Day 7
He was here again today. Directions Please email us ahead of time and tell us about when you want to come visit. We live at 4777 East Lake Road, Burt, NY 14028. However, this is not accurate on Google maps. So, just use this link: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=4777+East+Lake+Road,+Wilson,+NY+14172&rls=com. microsoft:en-US&oe=utf8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=4777+E+Lake+Rd,+Wilson,+NY+1 4172&gl=us&ei=JkvkTIv9KML6lweip9niDg&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=image&resnum= 1&ved=0CBQQ8gEwAA This is in the Town of Wilson (Niagara County) about halfway between the northern termini of Rt 425 and Rt 78 (roughly three miles from either). There is a common driveway on the north side of Rt 18 (Lake Road) that leads to several homes, including ours. Look for a hanging sign in front of an area of woods and brush with our number on it (4777), on the west side of the driveway. There is a wooden stockade fence to the east of the driveway. After turning into the common driveway, make the first or second left into our driveway. Please park so that you allow at least one way in and out. Good birding! Willie and Betsy Willie D'Anna Betsy Potter Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com http://www.betsypottersart.com -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Recent Photos
Hi everyone, I have put up 17 of our recent photos on a single web page. All were taken in Niagara County. There are some neat birds here that I think you might appreciate. They include PRAIRIE WARBLER, LARK SPARROW, a lovely leucistic PURPLE FINCH, a leucistic DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, THAYER'S GULL, CALIFORNIA GULL, CATTLE EGRET, and some SHOREBIRDS. Home page: http://www.betsypottersart.com/ Direct link to new photos: http://www.betsypottersart.com/recent_photos.htm I hope you enjoy them. Good birding! Willie Willie D'Anna Betsy Potter Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com http://www.betsypottersart.com -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Lark Sparrow - Day 8
He continues. We will be accepting visitors tomorrow. Just give us an idea of when. Directions Please email us ahead of time and tell us about when you want to come visit. We live at 4777 East Lake Road, Burt, NY 14028. However, this is not accurate on Google maps. So, just use this link: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=4777+East+Lake+Road,+Wilson,+NY+14172&rls=com. microsoft:en-US&oe=utf8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=4777+E+Lake+Rd,+Wilson,+NY+1 4172&gl=us&ei=JkvkTIv9KML6lweip9niDg&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=image&resnum= 1&ved=0CBQQ8gEwAA This is in the Town of Wilson (Niagara County) about halfway between the northern termini of Rt 425 and Rt 78 (roughly three miles from either). There is a common driveway on the north side of Rt 18 (Lake Road) that leads to several homes, including ours. Look for a hanging sign in front of an area of woods and brush with our number on it (4777), on the west side of the driveway. There is a wooden stockade fence to the east of the driveway. After turning into the common driveway, make the first or second left into our driveway. Please park so that you allow at least one way in and out. Good birding! Willie and Betsy Willie D'Anna Betsy Potter Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com http://www.betsypottersart.com -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Lark Sparrow - NOT Seen; Some consolation prizes
He was here for eight days but never showed on the ninth. We did not seem to lose any of the many juncos that the Lark Sparrow associated with. In fact the feeders had the largest number of birds all season. The highlights were 60 PINE SISKINS (up from the more typical 40 of late), a COMMON REDPOLL, and an EVENING GROSBEAK! The latter two were spotted by Tom Connare, some consolation for missing the Lark Sparrow. I should have stayed home instead of going away to try and find birds. By the time I returned, the Redpoll and Grosbeak did not come back. One other interesting bird was a HERMIT THRUSH. This bird loves to push around the juncos under the spruce tree (where the Lark Sparrow fed). It has been here for several days. Other than the typical loons (two species) and grebes (two species), the only bird of note for me was a dark-morph ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK at the power plant landfill in the Town of Somerset, viewed from Hartland Road. When I first spotted it, the hawk just hung in the air, almost motionless for several minutes. It finally moved a little, allowing me to identify it. Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Willie Willie D'Anna Betsy Potter Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com http://www.betsypottersart.com -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Ontario Field Ornithologists Niagara River Field Trip (28 Nov 2010)
Over 82 OFO members and friends enjoyed a day of good weather, gulls and other birds along the Niagara River today. Our main objective was to see gulls, and ten species were found. Most participants got to see all of them well. We started at the Adam Beck Overlook where the following were noted: -California Gull: 1 adult -Thayer's Gull: 1 juvenile and 1 adult -Iceland Gull: at least 2 juveniles and 2 adults -Lesser Black-backed Gull: 2 juveniles and 2 adults Next we visited the Whirlpool where we viewed: -Little Gull: 2 adults -Eastern Screech-Owl: 1 red morph roosting in a red cedar adjacent to the parking lot, spotted by the amazing eyes of Betsy Potter! This owl was the highlight of the day for many. At this point we split the group, with some heading to the Control Gates above the falls and others to Tim Horton's and Thomas Street in Chippawa. An adult Lesser Black-backed Gull was found at the Control Gates and there was a Red-bellied Woodpecker and a Tufted Titmouse at Thomas Street. The groups joined up again and we proceeded to Dufferin Island where we parked and walked to look at the river above the falls. Here we observed: -Little Gull: 1 adult -Lesser Black-backed Gull: 2 adults -Glaucous Gull: 1 juvenile -Tufted Titmouse: 1 Some participants then went on to Fort Erie to look at the Tundra Swans along the river and the Cackling Goose near the Peace Bridge. Others went back to Sir Adam Beck to look at the gulls there again. Trip leaders Willie D'Anna, Betsy Potter and Ron Tozer would like to thank everyone on today's trip for their enthusiasm and participation in locating birds. It was a great group effort. Willie D'Anna, Betsy Potter, and Ron Tozer, OFO Niagara River Trip Co-Leaders ---- Willie D'Anna Betsy Potter Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com http://www.betsypottersart.com -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Niagara River Gulls
Betsy and I birded the river for several hours today. We started at Goat Island on the NY side and had 6 LESSER BLACK-BACKED and 2 ICELAND GULLS. Lots of gulls sitting here. Our next stop was at the power plants on the Ontario side - the Adam Beck overlook. This spot was loaded with gulls. We had at least 10 ICELAND GULLS, two GLAUCOUS (juv. and second winter), and two LESSER BLACK-BACKEDS. We also had an adult gull that looked similar to a California Gull. The bird seemed slightly smaller than the Herring Gulls, the mantle was paler than on a Lesser Black-backed, and there was a lot of black in the wingtips, all field marks for California Gull. However, there was only one small mirror in the wingtips. In addition brief views of the legs gave me the impression that they had both yellow and pink tones. I suspect that this was a Herring X Lesser Black-backed Gull. Only a handful of BONAPARTE'S GULLS were at the Whirlpool (Spanish Aero Car). Above the falls we searched for the reported Slaty-backed Gull and found 3 ICELAND GULLS, one adult HERRING X GLAUCOUS GULL, also known as Nelson's Gull, and a dark-mantled gull that seemed like it might be a candidate for Slaty-backed. This bird was in a feeding flock below the control gates. Unfortunately, it was distant and the snow began coming down in earnest before it flew downriver and out of sight, so our views were inconclusive. I hope everyone had a merry Christmas. Good birding! Willie -------- Willie D'Anna Betsy Potter Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com http://www.betsypottersart.com -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
Re: [nysbirds-l] Trumpeter Swans
I wish to clear up some misconceptions in my friend, John Haas's, recent post. > The article infers that an established breeding population must exist before the species will be accepted by NYSARC. The article John refers to is "Guidelines for the Admission of Exotic Species to the New York State Checklist", available at this link: http://www.nybirds.org/KBsearch/y2007v57n1/y2007v57n1p9-11nysarc.pdf. While John's statement above (after the right arrow) is true, he goes on to imply that the statement means that there must be an established breeding population within NY. The reason for this misinterpretation is unclear to me but, in any case, it is patently NOT true. Eurasian Collared-Dove is an example of an exotic species that NY has accepted based upon established breeding populations in other States. The article above states, on Kingbird p. 9 : "... the admission of a particular exotic species to the New York State Checklist depends further on either the presence of established populations within the state, or on the natural occurrence within the state of individuals derived from an established population elsewhere." And, on Kingbird p. 11: "Established populations of exotic species in neighboring states will be regarded as potential sources of natural dispersants or vagrants to New York State. Such records may be accepted by NYSARC if they are judged to be derived from the established source rather than a non-established population or recently released captive birds." > There could be much discussion about this species, but one thing that is clear from our records is that naturally occurring migrants and vagrants have been arriving from the Ontario population for many years. Some of these birds have remained to start their own breeding populations, which if I read correctly, are on the verge of being established in New York in their own right. For the most part, there is little evidence to suggest that birds from Ontario have remained to nest in NY. If anyone has any evidence of that being the case, we would appreciate hearing about it. The NY breeding population does not seem to be on the verge on becoming established in NY. There are essentially two breeding areas - one in the Perch River WMA in Jefferson County and one in Wayne County. For several years only one or two long-lived pairs have bred in the Perch River area and it is unclear if any cygnets have lived to fledging (the young sometimes have deformities). The origin of these swans is unknown. There are a few nests in Wayne County every year but few young birds have been documented to survive to fledging. These swans are derived from a private reserve in this county, which has breeding Trumpeter Swans. The young and most breeding pairs at the reserve are not pinioned. These breeding swans are not from the Ontario population. > Ontario has met the criteria to declare the species as established and has considered it thus since 2007. I would be interested to know if there are other instances when NYSARC has not accepted another state, province or country's decision on whether or not a species is established. NY has written guidelines for accepting exotic species onto the checklist - see the link above - which are clearly different than the criteria used by the Ontario Bird Records Committee. To repeat what Andy Guthrie has already pointed out, it is true that Ontario has accepted Trumpeter Swan on their list based upon their opinion that the population there is self-sustaining but in the opinion of NYSARC, it is not clear that there has been a long-enough period of self-sufficient breeding success to consider such a long-lived species truly established. Trumpeter Swans can live for 20-30 years, so many of the wild born birds are most likely still only first or second generation. The existing population in Ontario has been supplemented by continued introductions until as recently as 2006, and a large portion of the population has been sustained in winter by supplemental feeding programs. It's not clear how well the population will thrive without these human interventions. I cannot answer John's implied question above but perhaps more salient is that NY is not the only records committee that does not consider Trumpeter Swan to be established outside of the west - New Jersey and Florida are two others. Good birding, Willie D'Anna, NYSARC -Original Message- From: bounce-7622403-3714...@list.cornell.edu [mailto:bounce-7622403-3714...@list.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of vanh...@citlink.net Sent: Thursday, December 30, 2010 5:10 PM To: New York Birds Subject: [nysbirds-l] Trumpeter Swans This is a bit of a late chime in, but here is my opinion on the Trumpeter Swans. I read with interest the discussion of Trumpeter Swans in New York State. It has been ten years since I observed my first Trumpeter Swan in New York, and I have had sever
[nysbirds-l] Waxwing and Fish Crow Photos
On our web site, I put up several photos of both species of waxwings that we saw in the Town of Newfane, Niagara County yesterday. At the bottom of the page, there are also two photos of one of the Rochester Fish Crows. http://www.betsypottersart.com/Recent_photos_1.htm Good birding! Willie Willie D'Anna Betsy Potter Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com http://www.betsypottersart.com -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Slaty-backed Gull, Town of Porter, Niagara County
For the second straight day, I checked fields along Youngstown-Wilson Road (Y-W Rd) on my way home from work today. The first field I checked was on the north side of Y-W Rd, where Braley Road goes off to the southeast. There were several hundred gulls here, including adult and second-cycle GLAUCOUS, 3 adult ICELAND, 1 adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED, and the best, an adult SLATY-BACKED GULL! This was a large gull, equal to the size of the largest Herring Gulls in the field and it showed a relatively short primary extension beyond the end of the tail. It showed a dark gray mantle, about equivalent to a Lesser Black-backed Gull, although I had no comparisons with dark-mantled gulls, and a very broad white tertial crescent as well as a prominent scapular crescent. The tertial and scapular crescents were wider than on all of the Herring Gulls I compared it with. The head and neck looked dingy but not heavily streaked with streaking concentrated on the crown, around the eyes, and on the lower hindneck. By the patchiness of the streaking, I suspect the bird was molting its head and neck feathers. The bill was yellow with a smallish red gonydial spot. The spread outer primaries showed black on the outer webs only and a row of prominent white spots formed by white tongue-tips and white mirrors. These spots appeared to be on all five of the outermost primaries, which would mean that p9 and p10 had white mirrors and p6-p7-p8 had white tongue-tips. The white apical spots on the outer primaries were relatively large. The legs were not usually visible due to the grass and weed growth in the field but when they were, they were seen to be a rich reddish pink. The eyes were pale. I was able to get photos which show most everything except the wing pattern. FINDING THIS BIRD: Over the years we have noticed that many of the gulls that feed at the landfill in the Town of Lewiston like to roost on Lake Ontario. In the spring, when gulls appear in fields much more often than they do in winter or fall, it makes sense that a Slaty-backed Gull would show up here, as the species is known for having a taste for dumps and this field is very near where the gulls like to roost on the lake. Checking in the afternoon will likely improve your chances over the morning but it should be noted that some of the gulls were finding food in this field so they may be there in the morning as well. There are other fields that are quite nearby that should also be checked. One is on the southeast quadrant of Y-W Rd and Porter-Center Rd, perhaps a mile east of here. This field also had lots of gulls this evening but I had little time left to look them over. Nevertheless, I had two first-cycle Iceland and a third-cycle Glaucous here. There were also 41 SNOW GEESE in this field, with Canada Geese - this is my highest personal count for Snow Geese this far west in NY. A third field that had many gulls is about another mile further east along Y-W Rd, on the south side and about halfway between Dickersonville and Ransomville Roads. Good luck if you try for this bird! Willie Willie D'Anna Betsy Potter Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com http://www.betsypottersart.com -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Slaty-backed Gull, Town of Porter, Niagara Co. - Not Seen Today
I looked in the field that had the Slaty-backed Gull yesterday but there were no gulls there today. I also checked the field at the corner of Youngstown-Wilson and Porter-Center Roads, where there were many gulls but only had one dark-mantled gull - an adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED. Two male and one female HOARY REDPOLLS at our feeders today. Good birding! Willie Willie D'Anna Betsy Potter Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com http://www.betsypottersart.com -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Slaty-backed Gull, Hoary Redpoll Photos
For anyone interested, I put up four photos on our web site - two of the Slaty-backed Gull in the Town of Porter from last Wednesday (sorry, no spread wing shots) and one each of two male Hoary Redpolls at our feeders: http://www.betsypottersart.com/Recent_photos_1.htm Good birding! Willie Willie D'Anna Betsy Potter Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com http://www.betsypottersart.com -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Female King Eider - Wilson, Niagara County
Around 4:30 this afternoon I found a female KING EIDER in the channel of the Wilson piers on Lake Ontario. She was closer to the west pier and swam out of the channel as I walked out on the east pier. She refused to lift her head, however, until I started running, which allowed me to finally identify her - just in time as I was running out of pier!. Whether or not she will return to or stay in the channel when there are fishermen on the east pier is questionable (there were none when I was there). She did return to the channel after I left, as I checked from the parking lot. On the west pier were a couple dozen CASPIAN TERNS along with Herring and Ring-billed Gulls, which also took off even before I started running but returned shortly (it's the scope and tripod that scares them). I did not see the small unidentified tern that was reported earlier in the afternoon. Good birding! Willie Willie D'Anna Betsy Potter Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com http://www.betsypottersart.com -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
