Birded from sunrise to sunset today. My goal was to see shorebirds, the ibis and anything else up around Montezuma. However, I totaled up my species count today and was surprised that I had 111 species!!! I spent little time in woodland habitat except for brief times driving through the woods at Carncross Rd, Howland Island, Van Dyne Sporer rd and listening from my car. In the Montezuma wetlands complex I had 100 species. In the Cayuga Basin, I totaled 107 species for today.
My first stop was Carncross Road Montezuma Wetlands Complex with the hope of getting the GLOSSY IBIS. Thanks to all who have posted on this bird as it was exactly where it has been the last few days...just north of the bridge on Carncross Rd. I got great views and met up with Doug Daniels. https://www.flickr.com/photos/davenicosia/14123526842/in/photostream/ In addition at Carncross, there was 1 adult breeding plumage BONAPARTE'S GULLS, a lot of CASPIAN TERNS, DUNLIN, both species of YELLOWLEGS and KILLDEER. I also heard a SOLITARY SANDPIPER. The shorebird diversity is still down. Aside from the KILLDEER did not find any other plovers today. Howland Island had one singing CERULEAN WARBLER among others including FOY (for me) WOOD THRUSH, and GREAT-CRESTED FLYCATCHER. Marten's Tract was awesome. Saw 1 AMERICAN BITTERN and heard another. Also SORA, VIRGINIA RAIL, many COMMON GALLINULES, CASPIAN TERNS. Heard a BARRED OWL as well. Van Dyne Sporer road was full of waders. The lighting was awful and the shimmer was bad but I did manage to see a GREAT EGRET that Doug Daniels found earlier. There were also many CASPIAN TERNS, and a few HERRING GULLS. There were loads of DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS, GREAT BLUE HERONS, PIED BILLED GREBES, quite a few COMMON GALLINULES, AMERICAN COOT and 5 RUDDY DUCKS including 3 gorgeous breeding males. Wildlife drive had some lingering waterfowl.... many RING-NECKED DUCKS, 4 REDHEADS and 1 CANVASBACK. Tschache Pool had 4 BLACK TERNS, loads of BUFFLEHEAD, several GADWALL, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, RING-NECKED DUCKS and others. May's Point was quiet but did have 2 flyby BLACK TERNS. These birds flew over toward wildlife drive. Probably same birds from Tschache pool?? East Road had 70+ NORTHERN SHOVELERS, 19 RUDDY DUCKS and 1 WILSON'S SNIPE among others. Some select photos.... https://www.flickr.com/photos/davenicosia/sets/72157644500286716/ Dave Nicosia P.S sorry for the double posting earlier today. there is a problem with my yahoo account as the messages are getting blocked. They do show up on the aba website. Not sure if this is coming through on other's emails.... -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --