[cayugabirds-l] Myer's, late migrants, Bluegrass Nelson's

[Kenneth Victor Rosenberg]

I started out this morning at Myer's Point. The lake was surprisingly quiet, 
although a small flock of BRANT finally came down the lake about an hour after 
I arrived. A BONAPARTE'S GULL circling around the spit and single female 
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER and GREEN-WINGED TEAL were about the only other water 
birds of interest.

Salt Point was very active, however, especially the fruiting trees and shrubs 
near the tip. Best bird there (eating berries) was a very late female BALTIMORE 
ORIOLE, among the many CEDAR WAXWINGS and ROBINS, 15-20 EASTERN BLUEBIRDS, and 
2 NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRDS. In the shrubs and goldenrods were 2 BLACKPOLL 
WARBLERS, 4 RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, sev. YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, and a mixed 
flock of CHIPPING and FIELD SPARROWS. As I was leaving, I scanned a flock of 
150 or so CANADA GEESE heading south and with them were a group of 4 CACKLING 
GEESE that stayed together but kept separating from the main flock.

Back home in the late morning, I was very surprised to see a RED-EYED VIREO in 
the locust tree in my backyard -- also a WINTER WREN (not in the locust tree).

In the late afternoon, I walked the dog in the fields off Bluegrass Lane, and 
went right to the spot where Tom had found the NELSON'S SPARROW -- in the wet 
area (w some cattails) on the south side of the tall switchgrass field. As I 
approached on the "lane" through the middle of the switchgrass, the NELSON's 
popped up and did the classic Nelson's 1-minute sit (in the bright afternoon 
sun) before flying up and diving back into the grass -- showing off it's 
"sharp" tail feathers in flight. The bright orange face, but blurry, uncrisp 
streaking on the breast suggested the race alterus, which breeds around James 
Bay.

We also flushed a SNIPE along the "lane" through the switchgrass. In the grassy 
field and along the goldenroddy edge of the woods to the east, I saw sev. 
FIELD, and SAVANNAH, 1 WHITE-CROWNED, 1 SWAMP, and many SONG SPARROWS. I was 
surprised that no pipits were flying.

KEN

Ken Rosenberg
Conservation Science Program
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
607-254-2412
607-342-4594 (cell)
k...@cornell.edu


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[cayugabirds-l] SodusBay-Montezuma, Knox Marcellus Purple Martin

[Michael and Joann Tetlow]

 Joann and I birded Sodus Point down to Montezuma this afternoon.  3
Brant on the beach was the only highlight at Sodus Point.  Several groups of
Pied-billed Grebes were scattered around the bay.  A nice flock of 25 Coot
were at the south end of the bay near the Ridge Road Bridge.

 

 We also saw the Hudsonian Godwit at the Montezuma Visitor Center around
3pm.  A Merlin attempted to catch Goldfinches there as well.  3 Wilson's
Snipe and 2 Lesser Yellowlegs were at Benning Marsh as a small mudflat is
developing there. Ring-necks, Pintail, Wigeon and Gadwall numbers are up on
the main pool, but bad light discouraged a Eurasian Wigeon hunt.  Only 3
Great Egrets were left at May's Point.  Dave Wheeler reported a Stilt
Sandpiper and Dunlin at Puddler's Marsh along with the Avocet. 

 At 5pm a group of about 30 Tree Swallows over Knox-Marcellus Marsh
included 1 Barn Swallow and were joined briefly by a presumed female Purple
Martin which flew off high to the SE.  (We don't know the other Martin
species so experts be alert (although everything about it looked like a
Purple Martin).  A probable Bank Swallow did a quick flip that looked to
show the neck band but glided away without a wing beat to be sure.   Mike
Tetlow


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[cayugabirds-l] Montezuma Highlights

[Brad Carlson]

Gary Chapin and I birded Montezuma for half a day today and we had a 
number of nice birds.  We did not have any species that have not been 
reported in recent days or weeks, but if you would like to hear the 
details, then feel free to read on.

We started at the Visitor's 
Center at 7:30am where we spent an hour watching the massive morning 
flight of icterids and waterfowl.  There were at least 10,000 Red-winged
 Blackbirds, Grackles and Starlings lifting out of the marsh as we 
arrived, and this was a loud and impressive sight.  Six (6) NORTHERN 
HARRIERS were swirling amongst the blackbirds making for an exciting 
show.  We had continuous flocks of Canada Geese flying south over the 
refuge, as well as geese lifting off of the Main Pool also heading 
south.  Highlights in these geese flocks were a single GREATER 
WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, CACKLING GOOSE and one of two hybrid SNOW X CANADA 
GEESE that we saw today.  Hundreds of geese landed in the Visitor Center
 impoundment, however the three geese of interest continued south out of
 the refuge.  Two COMMON LOONS flew over heading south, and we scoped 
three BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS in Larues.

>From here we headed north 
to Martens Track where we located at least four (4) NELSON'S SPARROWS.  
This is a conservative estimate since this was the high count that we 
had in view simultaneously.  I posted a NELSON'S SPARROW photo at my 
Flickr site at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/brad_carlson/  We had one 
male RING-NECKED PHEASANT here and four (4) SANDHILL CRANES flew over 
heading south.  Gary had an AMERICAN TREE SPARROW on the road just 
before the parking lot, while I was photographing the Nelson's 
Sparrows.  A few AMERICAN PIPITS flew overhead here, and we had a couple
 overhead at most stops throughout the day. 

There were seven (7) TRUMPETER SWANS (4 adult and 3 immature) on the north side 
of Savannah Spring Lake Road east of Rt. 89.  

At
 Puddler's Marsh we had the continuing AMERICAN AVOCET, along with three
 DUNLIN, and a handful of GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS.  One BALD EAGLE
 and a couple of dozen TREE SWALLOWS were flying overhead.

We 
only spent a few minutes at May's Point Pool where we had our second 
SNOW X CANADA GOOSE hybrid of the day.  This goose had much less white 
on the front and underside of it than the one we observed flying over 
the Visitor's Center in the early morning.  One LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER 
and numerous YELLOWLEGS were foraging amongst the waterfowl.  There was 
one BALD EAGLE perched here, as well as another overhead.

We left
 Mays Point after a few minutes because we heard that a Hudsonian Godwit
 had arrived at the Visitors Center.  We headed over to the Visitor 
Center, and were able to relocate the HUDSONIAN GODWIT foraging in the 
center of impoundment.  We also relocated what we presume was the first 
SNOW X CANADA GOOSE hybrid that we originally saw fly over in the 
morning.  The hybrid  goose was resting with thousands of Canada Geese 
in the impoundment.  This hybrid had a white head, neck breast and 
belly, and a mantle with similar plumage as a Canada Goose.

All in all, a beautiful Fall day to be out in the field.

Regards,
-Brad Carlson
Honeoye Falls, NY
bradcarls...@hotmail.com


  
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[cayugabirds-l] Mt Pleasant American Pipits

[Marie P Read]

HI all,

There was a flock of American Pipits in the field east of the radio tower and 
adjacent to Mineah Rd. late this afternoon. Visible only when they flew, and 
identified by call.

Marie

Marie Read Wildlife Photography
452 Ringwood Road
Freeville NY  13068 USA

Phone  607-539-6608
e-mail   m...@cornell.edu

http://www.marieread.com

Now on FaceBook
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Marie-Read-Wildlife-Photography/104356136271727

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[cayugabirds-l] tree sparrows

[Nancy W Dickinson]

Of all the birds seen today while walking the dog around our place, the most 
surprising were 3 Tree Sparrows.  Is it really that late in the season?  A 
Towhee is still calling in our woods, and still some White-crowns are hanging 
out.

Nancy Dickinson
Mecklenburg

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[cayugabirds-l] 75 Turkey Vultures

[John and Fritzie Blizzard]

That's how many were in the kettle that flew in over Union Springs Academy at 
4:45 p.m. today. I counted 60 as they approached in a tight group & got on a 
thermal, rapidly rising. Another 15 appeared from the north right behind the 60 
& also got on the thermal. All rose together in quite a tight circle with 
sunshine making their wing tips glisten 'til they were almost out of sight 
before heading southward. 

Mid-morning, 25 TVs were migrating through, more eastward & not as high. I was 
too busy to "look to the skies" very much today. What a beautiful day to be 
outside though. So glad to hear the Aurora loon report, Jay, & GRRR that I was 
stuck here. 

Good news!!!  ... I got my chestnut oak acorns before the deer, mice & 
squirrels did this yr. & planted 50 of them, many already sprouting.  

Fritzie
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[cayugabirds-l] Montezuma godwit, etc.

[Jay McGowan]

Tim Lenz and I birded around Montezuma most of today. Nothing too exciting,
but lots of nice birds around. A molting juvenile HUDSONIAN GODWIT was
feeding in the grass at the Visitor Center pool. The wildlife drive still
had 7 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS and lots of waterfowl on the main pool. The
avocet was still at Puddlers, as well as lots of geese, four Dunlin, and
some nice landbirds, including LINCOLN'S SPARROW and tons of kinglets. Mays
Point had upwards of 10 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS and the Snow x Canada hybrid,
but we were unable to find a white-fronted Goose anywhere on the complex.

On our way down the lake, we stopped at Dean's Cove, where the only bird of
note was an adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL.

Jay McGowan
Ithaca, NY

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[cayugabirds-l] Stewart Park mid-day birds

[Nicholas Sly]

I counted through all the ducks at Stewart Park around noon today. I
didn't have anything really new from what's been reported, so here is
my complete checklist:

Stewart Park, Tompkins, US-NY
Oct 23, 2011 11:30 AM - 1:05 PM
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
27 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  770 - a huge number, everywhere on
the water, in Fall Creek, on the golf course, and overhead. I counted
as methodically as I could by 5s and 10s. I couldn't find any other
goose species among them
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)  12 - all in the pond between Stewart Park and the woods
Gadwall (Anas strepera)  4
American Wigeon (Anas americana)  2
American Black Duck (Anas rubripes)  3
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  92
Redhead (Aythya americana)  1
Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis)  18
Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata)  2
Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus)  1 - far over by the East shore
Common Merganser (Mergus merganser)  6 - most of them in Fall Creek
Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis)  19
Common Loon (Gavia immer)  1 - far out on the lake
Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)  15
Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)  41
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)  4 - a line of four heading south high
over towards campus
American Coot (Fulica americana)  220
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)  40
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus)  65
Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus)  11
Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)  1
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens)  1
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)  1
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)  2
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)  X
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)  1 - Swan Pen
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)  10

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)

Cheers,
Nick

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[cayugabirds-l] Aurora Bay - loons, scoters, Sanderling

[Jay McGowan]

Tim Lenz and I just checked Aurora Bay from the bluffs on our way up the
lake. It was quite active, with 200+ COMMON LOONS being harassed by hundreds
of gulls. We saw at one RED-THROATED LOON flying south over the lake, three
male SURF SCOTERS doing the same, three male (two adult and one immature)
WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS on the lake, a few RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS, a few
scattered dabblers, and a juvenile SANDERLING on the spit at the creek
mouth.

Jay McGowan

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[cayugabirds-l] CBC Trip Saturday

[bob mcguire]

Here is my report on yesterday's (22 October) Cayuga Bird Club trip to  
local hot spots.

Bob McGuire

"We had a great turnout for today's trip! Eight folks joined me to  
check a couple of the local hot spots. And the only reason I can think  
of for that many people is that we did not start until 8 AM. (It was  
still dark at 7:30!) We first drove to Stewart Park to take advantage  
of the warmer temperatures down south. Waterfowl had begun to arrive,  
and we turned up quite a variety: 2 Surf Scoters, 8 Lesser Scaup, a  
pair of Gadwalls, a female Wigeon, a male Pintail, one black Duck,  
both Common and Hooded Mergansers, over 20 Ruddy Ducks, and at least  
that many Pied-billed Grebes. A late Spotted Sandpiper flew by along  
the shore. And then, perhaps the best sighting of the day, a  
glistening dark-brown mink ambled up out of the accumulated flotsam  
along the shore line and slowly devoured a crayfish. Because of all  
the excitement along the shore, we never got to the Swan Pen. But we  
did have several Yellow-rumped Warblers pass through the willows.

Our next stop was back at Sapsucker Woods where we walked the Wilson  
Trail. The variety of birds was small, but we did come across two  
different feeding flocks of some 15 Golden-crowned Kinglets and a  
couple of Ruby-crowneds. In addition to them, Red-bellied Woodpeckers  
seemed to be everywhere.

Finally, we ran over to the Freese Road garden plots to check on  
sparrows. Time was short, and we did not put in much time looking for  
Lincoln's, but we were able to get good looks at Savannah, Field, and  
White-crowned Sparrows. And, while it wasn't much of a look, we did  
get a glimpse of a fleeing Vesper Sparrow." 
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[cayugabirds-l] addendum to my list of Freese birds yesterday

[Meena Haribal]

I forgot to add GREY-CHEECKED THRUSH to my list of birds. There was one bird 
definitely which sat on an open branch for sometimes, but there were three or 
four more around it that vanished behind the shrubbery. They were all on a 
multiflora rose bush.



Meena







Meena Haribal
Ithaca NY 14850
http://haribal.org/
http://meenaharibal.blogspot.com/


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