[cayugabirds-l] Field Trip this coming Sunday

2021-03-22 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
This coming Sunday, March 28, I will be leading a Cayuga Bird Club field trip. We will meet at Stewart Park, east end, at 8:00 am. Please register in advance with me (suan.y...@gmail.com). There is a limit of six cars. We will drive up the east shore of the lake, stopping at various points along

[cayugabirds-l] Yesterday's Snow Geese

2021-03-22 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
Yesterday afternoon the snow geese hung out on the shore of some houses between Seneca Lake State Park and Wolffy's. Many visitors got to see them, though parking on lawns became a problem which prompted the police to come by to remind people to stay off private property. I was there a couple hour

[cayugabirds-l] 50 Robins

2021-02-15 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
Just had at least 50 American Robins fly into the trees outside my window here in Commonland on East Hill / Six-Mile Creek. They hung out in the trees for about a minute before flying off. 50 is a conservative lower-bound count of what I could see. When they departed, there were small waves flying

[cayugabirds-l] Field Birds

2021-02-08 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
With the sunny weather I decided to take the afternoon off and drive around north of Lansing looking for field birds. With the high snow depth they were pretty easy to encounter, foraging by roadsides and flushing on approach. Those wanting to look for them, just drive slowly along any of the less-

[cayugabirds-l] Cayuga Bird Club Zoom Social Monday 7:30pm

2021-01-30 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
The Cayuga Bird Club will be having its monthly Zoom Social Hour this Monday (February 1) at 7:30pm. This is an informal get-together to see each other and share our sightings or chat about anything we want. All are welcome. Register ahead of time at https://tinyurl.com/cbc202102social Thanks. Su

[cayugabirds-l] Invitation to participate in perceptual expertise study

2021-01-11 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
Hi all, Last month I was contacted by Jim Tanaka, a professor in the Cognition and Brain Sciences program in the Psychology Department at the University of Victoria. His research focuses on visual expertise and perceptual experts, and he is currently working on a project to compare the identificat

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Dryden Lake may be in danger

2021-01-11 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
Has this been reported in any of the local presses? That might be a good place to start increasing awareness. More generally, I'm not finding any web presence at all describing this issue with any authority. Are the homeowners along the lakeshore and nearby aware of this? They would seem most like

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Future of Lott Farm & Basin Upland Sandpipers?

2021-01-10 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
As Cayuga Bird Club president, I'll bring this up for discussion at our next executive committee meeting. It sounds like engaging with the Lotts might be a good first step. Meanwhile, if anyone wants to play an active role in pursuing this further, perhaps with the backing of the bird club, let me

[cayugabirds-l] Hoster-Stahl Gyrfalcon Video

2020-12-20 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
Yesterday morning I drove up to Hoster Road through the most beautiful hoary landscape, arrived to see the gyrfalcon fly from the northernmost rock pile to the lone tree east of Hoster Road, as close to the bird as I'd yet gotten. It eventually took off and flew around back to the eastern edge of t

[cayugabirds-l] CBC Zoom Social Hour

2020-12-04 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
Starting next week, on the first Monday of each month, Cayuga Bird Club will be hosting a Zoom Social Hour. This will be a Zoom meeting where everyone can speak, see each other's faces and just chat informally. Please join us for our first social hour on December 7 at 7:30 pm. Register: https://ti

[cayugabirds-l] Sunday Sandhill Cranes

2020-12-02 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
Here's a video I took of the Sandhill Cranes from the Montezuma Visitor Center last Sunday morning (some of you will have seen this on Facebook): https://youtu.be/U8kAPslmkWE Suan -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/Ca

[cayugabirds-l] Shackham Red Crossbills

2020-11-23 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
Here's a video I took on Saturday of the red crossbill flock at the corner of Shackham and Morgan Hill Roads. https://youtu.be/HJ3KyhCsoxQ Suan -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastB

[cayugabirds-l] Fwd: Dryden Lake dam removal

2020-11-21 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
Hi all, -- Begin Forwarded message - This is a head’s up that the Dryden Conservation Board is considering removing the dam at Dryden Lake. It’s leaking and needs to be repaired/replaced. Somebody said they should just take it out and “free the rivers,” and it’s being considered.

Re: [cayugabirds-l] LOON MIGRATION ALERT

2020-11-12 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
At Taughannock this morning 11 loon watchers showed up without prior arrangement. I arrived just before sunrise (6:53am): 6:53-7:08 : 10 southbound 1 northbound 10 on water 7:08-7:23 : 56 southbound 5 northbound 7:23-7:38 : 9 southbound 1 northbound 11 on water 7:38-7:53 : 7 southbound 1 northboun

[cayugabirds-l] Cooper's Hawk

2020-10-09 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
On my evening jog I came upon a Cooper's Hawk in the middle of Terrace View Drive. I initially felt bad when I flushed it carrying a prey to a nearby tree, but soon a car came by which would no doubt have flushed it anyways. Must have been just freshly caught. Prey looked dark and biggish, likely a

[cayugabirds-l] GH Owl Singing

2020-10-05 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
A Great Horned Owl was singing this evening at Six-Mile Creek, repeating the classic sequence of hoots starting around 7pm from the hills south of the second dam reservoir. Let the courting begin, I suppose. Suan -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http

Re: [cayugabirds-l] 62293329826__69A47249-B827-47B1-B6A0-0AE4740529C1.jpeg

2020-09-27 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
On Sun, Sep 27, 2020 at 5:04 PM Jgaffne2 wrote: > > Can anyone help me with this one? Raptor with a facial disk like an owl but clearly not an owl: that would be the Northern Harrier. Suan -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Phalarope off Stewart Park

2020-09-14 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
Pat Martin wrote: > Did you see it well enough to ID it to species? No, I'm not too unfamiliar with their fall plumage, or with distinguishing them in general, honestly. Checking Sibley's now, the thing that made me think peep was the stripe down its wings during flight, which looks like Red-Necke

[cayugabirds-l] Spring Bird Videos

2020-07-14 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
So this spring I started dabbling in the annoyingly time-consuming art of bird videos instead of just photos. I've uploaded a selection to this YouTube playlist. Enjoy! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL82kt6INyDLjPuX_6Xyw4IvAk3PbiWBv- Suan -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.Northea

[cayugabirds-l] Magnolia Cuckoos @ Park South

2020-07-05 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
Somehow I hadn't visited Park Preserve this spring, so I went this morning around 8am, not as early as I'd hoped. I was halfway surprised that the parking lot was empty, but figured everyone probably stayed up late for fireworks or whatever. Magnolia Warblers seemed to be singing from all directio

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Migratory Bird Teaty Act

2020-06-16 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
Lynn Bergmeyer wrote: > I'm all for leaving the nest alone is best. I do have a question though. > I thought house finches were non native? > House finches are native to the west, and were introduced to the east where they have established themselves. Since they're still a native of North America

Re:[cayugabirds-l] Shindagin "Bittern"

2020-06-07 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
Videos from Shindagin Hollow yesterday: Canada Warbler: https://youtu.be/GPuy91ZZhts Mourning Warbler: https://youtu.be/gxwW9fmE_kk The mourning warbler was singing an interesting song ending with a loud "chap chap chap", reminiscent (to me) of Northern Waterthrush. Suan -- Cayugabirds-L L

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Murder most Fowl - Saturday 5/30

2020-06-01 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
Would any local facility be willing to do a necropsy if someone were willing to retrieve the bodies? Suan On Mon, Jun 1, 2020 at 8:29 AM Gary Kohlenberg wrote: > Thanks John and Sue, > > What would the likelihood of botulism be in your opinion? The issues MNWR > had were some years ago and I do

[cayugabirds-l] Lockdown Birding

2020-05-30 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
Hi all, For the Cayuga Bird Club's next newsletter, I thought it might be interesting to collect people's perspectives on birding during the lockdown (and during the strange weather we've had in May). A short paragraph or even a single sentence per person could be interesting. Anything is welcome,

Re:[cayugabirds-l] Hawthorn, with Sound ID Question

2020-05-19 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
A few people were curious to know which bird made the repeated "mip" call from Hawthorn Orchard I recorded and posted last week: http://suan-yong.com/sound/2020-05-15-hawthorn-mips-3.wav Although some have suggested merlin and sharp-shinned, which both definitely do a form of that repetition (a

[cayugabirds-l] OOB Cayuta Bittern (etc)

2020-05-16 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
Decided to drive down to Greensprings and Arnot Forest this morning (pretending SFO was still happening, I guess). The upper part had the usual suspects (Bobolink, Blackburnian, Ovenbirds too shy to pose for video, Towhees, Black-Throated Greens and Blues, Black and White). At the bottom, things fe

[cayugabirds-l] Hawthorn, with Sound ID Question

2020-05-15 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
Walked to the hawthorns and back this morning. Quickly heard and saw a male scarlet tanager en route on Honness Lane, and later had two in the same tree along the recway. On a couple occasions they flew to the trunk of the tree and perched briefly woodpecker style -- too briefly for photos, alas. M

[cayugabirds-l] Mixed Flock

2020-05-12 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
Had my first warbler flock of the season this morning down in Six-Mile Creek, where I don't often go for warblers (because looking up from the bottom of a gorge makes warbler necking that much worse, and because I'd never encountered too many warbler migrants before). The songs included buzzers (No

[cayugabirds-l] Hairy Woodpeckers

2020-05-10 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
So last week I found a Hairy Woodpecker nest hole here in Commonland. It wasn't hard two find, as a pair was constantly and noisily squabbling around it. I got some video which I put together and posted on Facebook, link below. Although some of the behavior is quite clear, others are ambiguous, tho

[cayugabirds-l] Veery

2020-05-05 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
FOY veery in the woods here by Six-Mile Creek, hopping around silently checking out the large tree that fell over the winter, allowing for a great unbinoculared view of its spotless front and reddish upperparts. Also FOY for me Yellow Warbler down near the second dam. Suan -- Cayugabirds-L List

[cayugabirds-l] Ovenbird, etc

2020-05-01 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
Yesterday while jogging before the storm, I flushed a small bird in the woods which looked to have the orange crown of an ovenbird, but couldn't be sure without binoculars. It was near another small bird on the ground pumping its tail, which I assumed was a Louisiana waterthrush. This morning I hea

[cayugabirds-l] Of Unleashed Dogs and Waterthrushes

2020-04-26 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
Despite the drenching rain today, I did my daily jog. Around the trails of six-mile creek I passed two groups with dogs. The first dog came a-leapin' at my thigh, against my wish. The owners said their sorries as they feigned to tend its leash. The second dog, also unleashed, was sniffing as it ro

[cayugabirds-l] Blue-Headed Vireo

2020-04-24 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
Just heard a blue-headed vireo singing quite loudly outside my window. New yard bird for me, and I guess also office bird (lots of new office birds for me this past month :-). A couple days ago I had a pretty close encounter with a blue-headed vireo while jogging the six-mile-creek/south-hill-recw

[cayugabirds-l] Bald Eagle @ Second Dam

2020-04-21 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
Highlight of my evening jog today (through a bit of every seasons, it seems) was an adult bald eagle flying across the second dam reservoir of six-mile creek, my first sighting of this species there. Meanwhile, "my" Louisiana Waterthrushes upstream from the second dam have been reliably singing in

[cayugabirds-l] Share Your Stories (or Poetry, etc.)

2020-04-14 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
Greetings, Since I took over editorship of the Cayuga Bird Club newsletter last fall, the job has largely been on auto-pilot, with plenty of club project and trip reports to fill the pages. For the coming issue(s), however, I anticipate having plenty of space to fill, and am welcoming contribution

[cayugabirds-l] Red-Winged Blackbird busking?

2020-04-03 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
Yesterday morning at the Arboretum, one of the Red-Winged Blackbirds was following each songspread with some begging chips and flutters: https://www.facebook.com/suan.yong/videos/10222776117489508/ Confused young'un? Suan -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/Cayugabird

[cayugabirds-l] Fox Sparrow @ Arboretum

2020-04-02 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
This morning, while photographing blackbird songs (sic) at the arboretum (with Marie), a curious whistling song persisted from behind, which I eventually tracked down as coming from a Fox Sparrow. Couldn't get close enough to get a video, alas. Suan -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.Northea

[cayugabirds-l] Snow Goose island, FOY Sandhill Cranes

2020-03-05 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
Took the afternoon off hoping to find the snow geese at Mucklands, but en route I found a/the massive snow goose island between Dean's Cove and Aurora, so I parked at Dean's Cove hoping to see and video a full eruption which never came to pass, just a couple of "minor tremors". Starting around 4pm

Re: [cayugabirds-l] There male redwings, Mon West Danby area also

2020-02-20 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
Anne Clark wrote: > We had actual females back in a marsh near Binghamton/Endicott as early as > February. Usually females did not show up until late march. I don’t mean > nest, just be seen in flocks and maybe visit the marsh. > Will all second-year males have "turned" by February, or could th

[cayugabirds-l] GIAC merlins are back

2020-02-17 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
This morning around 9:45, two merlins were calling and interacting in the GIAC field. When I arrived, bird A was calling from the nest tree. Then bird B called from a tree north of the parking lot, and flew to the nest tree where it displaced bird A who flew to an adjacent leafless tree. Not long a

[cayugabirds-l] SSW Hermit Thrush (I assume)

2020-01-19 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
This morning there was a Hermit Thrush at Sherwood Platform, hanging out with two Song Sparrows and some Juncos and Chickadees. It grabbed a few berries from the short tree over the corner of the platform (basically right above me) before flying off. I assume it's a hermit thrush from seasonal expe

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Kestrels & Merlins on the Ithaca Christmas Bird Count

2020-01-04 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
On Sat, Jan 4, 2020 at 12:02 PM Dave Nutter wrote: > Hi All, > > Those of you who are Cayuga Bird Club members may have seen an article in > January’s newsletter that was based on my quick report (below) about the > Ithaca Christmas Bird Count compilation on the evening of January first. I > gave

Re:[cayugabirds-l] Loon Watch

2019-11-10 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
Correction: period five should be: 7:35-7:50: 8 southbound, 3 northbound Suan On Sun, Nov 10, 2019 at 8:06 PM Suan Hsi Yong wrote: > For my first Loon Watch at Taughannock this morning, I had no idea what > turnout to expect. 0 seemed an understandable likelihood. Instead, about 20 &g

[cayugabirds-l] Loon Watch

2019-11-10 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
For my first Loon Watch at Taughannock this morning, I had no idea what turnout to expect. 0 seemed an understandable likelihood. Instead, about 20 people showed up, including some "civilians" who saw this announced in the Ithaca Times calendar. Air temp was around freezing, winds were moderate fr

[cayugabirds-l] SSW grouse and eagle?

2019-09-21 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
During this morning's beginner bird walk around Sapsucker Woods, we flushed a Ruffed Grouse from near "the" giant poison ivy vine. I think this is my first grouse at SSW. Later from Sherwood Platform we heard a couple yelps of a bald eagle coming from the west, though we did not see anything in tr

[cayugabirds-l] Stewart Park Eagle Show

2019-09-14 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
For this morning's Stewart Park bird walk, I wasn't expecting to see much given the strong south winds overnight and line of rain early, and sure enough, the waterfowl and warbler variety was lacking and nonexistent, respectively (just mallards and canada geese and a distant common merganser). But

[cayugabirds-l] Volunteer at Lab of O

2019-08-23 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
Forwarding some Lab announcements I figured would be of interest to local birders... --- Volunteer at the Lab of O Share your love of birds by becoming a volunteer at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology! Volunteers guide our behind-the-scenes building tours, lead youth and family programs, table comm

[cayugabirds-l] More Merlin Videos

2019-07-27 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
Some videos taken of the fledgling Merlins from Thursday morning: Did this young Merlin eat its own feathers? https://www.facebook.com/suan.yong/videos/10220301374582482/ Two young Merlins: https://www.facebook.com/suan.yong/videos/10220301505025743/ Merlin fledglings preening and calling:

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Merlin nest GIAC

2019-07-25 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
On Thu, Jul 25, 2019 at 7:20 AM John Confer wrote: > Hi Suan, > >Thanks for posting that. > >Mammals are rarely captured by Merlin, but not never. Adults often > remove the tail and head before they bring it to nestlings. That has been a > frustration when I tried to identify prey, which

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Merlin nest GIAC

2019-07-23 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
Stopped by GIAC this evening, one merlin (couldn't tell if parent or young) was perched visibly until my attention caused it to hop behind some branches. They can definitely tell who's paying attention and who isn't, like the few dozen parents watching the ongoing basketball game. Anyhow, last Fri

[cayugabirds-l] Field Trip Saturday: Connecticut Hill

2019-06-06 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
Hi All, There will be a CBC field trip this Saturday to Connecticut Hill, co-led by Dave Gislason and myself. Meet at either the Wegman's parking lot at 7:30am (towards the southwest corner by the water) or at 8am at the corners of Connecticut Hill, Boylan, and Lloyd Starks Roads. We plan to finis

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Bird survey from Boise State

2019-05-29 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
On Fri, May 24, 2019 at 4:21 PM Nancy Cusumano wrote: > On birding and bird conservation. Takes a few minutes but worth it. > > > https://boisestate.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8B4hsye6hIsgSkl?fbclid=IwAR0ZijtTTttv2Xx0yT7UhnQEGc3SXbFcvDEsUPNb_ETUBchz8p7QUiIQfJQ > For anyone who saw the survey

[cayugabirds-l] Nighthawk @ Commonland

2019-05-22 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
Just heard a Common Nighthawk buzzing over the woods south of my house in Commonland, over Six-Mile Creek, offering only a brief unbinoculared look at a small dot moving across the cloudy sky. Suan -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.Northeas

[cayugabirds-l] Purple Martins on Cayuga Lake (south end)

2019-05-21 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
>From about 2-3:30pm I was windsurfing from East Shore going west to the piling cluster located about 1/2 mile north of the lighthouse jetties. In that vicinity were several swallows, mostly barn, foraging on the water. I soon noticed that some seemed overweight and dark underneath, and soon found

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Crow relationship .... Union Springs

2019-05-13 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
Re allopreening: strangely I have only ever observed this among some critically endangered Bali Myna at the Hong Kong Aviary: http://suan-yong.com/hong-kong.php?s=Aviary&k=21442 What I found more fascinating than the allopreening was that the bird on the left had the muscular dexterity to lift

Re:[cayugabirds-l] Hawthorn - not Phila V

2019-05-04 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
In case anyone is wondering, photo review of my possible philadelphia vireo turned out to be a northern parula. Suan On Sat, May 4, 2019 at 9:48 AM Suan Yong wrote: > Brief stop at Hawthorn this morning found the trees hopping with Wilson, > blue wing, chestnut, Nashville; poss vireo sweep wit

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Woodcock/Owl Crawl Saturday Evening

2019-04-14 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
Our group went to Dodge Road, where the woodcocks started later than when I scouted, but with enough light to be easily seen. After a few skydances, those with muck boots and binoculars took a few steps into the muddy field where I was able to get my spotlight on the bird on the ground. The owling

[cayugabirds-l] Thermal Woodcocks

2019-04-10 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
Continuing with woodcock week: while scouting for this weekend's field trip, I got the following thermal infrared footage of woodcock courtship and, I believe, mating, followed by a celebratory skydance. Same video on both facebook and youtube (quality may differ between the platforms, not sure):

[cayugabirds-l] Sunday's Woodcock

2019-04-10 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
Thanks to Mark's precise description, I found the woodcock on Sunday and got some videos: https://www.facebook.com/suan.yong/videos/10219404525921826 Suan -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www

[cayugabirds-l] Lesser-Heard Sounds of Spring

2019-03-26 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
Sunday afternoon I sat at Stewart Park looking out at the relative low bird count. Of interest were two American Wigeons foraging "somewhat" close (I was hoping they'd get closer for better photos, though they never did), and 11 Northern Pintails flying back and forth trying to decide whether to la

[cayugabirds-l] Raptorous morning

2019-03-21 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
On my jog to work from Commonland this morning I passed under two different Cooper's Hawks perched high on trees about 100 yards apart. I took the opportunity trying to tease out any nuances of the surrounding calls of Downy Woodpeckers and Carolina Wrens, filing them under "probable alarm calls".

[cayugabirds-l] Hurd Road Barred Owl

2019-03-02 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
While driving westward down Hurd Road towards Ellis Hollow Road, I was surprised to see a Barred Owl up on a tree next to the road, easily identifiable with the naked eye while driving. After I pulled over and exited the car, it flew deeper into the woods, though it perched for some time in a spot

[cayugabirds-l] Second-hand report of possible Lewis's Woodpecker

2019-02-01 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
A non-expert-birder friend thought he saw a Lewis's Woodpecker in the little grove of woods near the inlet, across 13A from Glenside, at 2:30pm this afternoon, fussing around the bottom of the trees. Details are scant, and probably a longshot, but I figure I'd post it in case anyone feels like foll

[cayugabirds-l] Renwick Half-Hardies

2018-12-15 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
A stroll through Renwick Wildwoods today found a yellow-bellied sapsucker, gray catbird, and belted kingfisher among more seasonal birds: brown creeper, northern flicker, golden-crowned kinglet, red-bellied and downy woodpeckers. Suan -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/C

[cayugabirds-l] Field Trip Saturday, 6pm

2018-11-02 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
The Cayuga Bird Club is hosting an owling field trip tomorrow (Saturday) from 6-10pm to look and listen for area owls. Co-led by Bob McGuire with his audio playback expertise, and me with my thermal infrared camera, we will meet at the lab parking lot and carpool to various spots heading ultimately

[cayugabirds-l] SSW Rusty Blackbirds, etc

2018-10-21 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
Good variety of birds for this morning's SSW bird walk in the weather that soon turned to sleet. The clumps of ash seeds were hosting flocks of Rusty Blackbirds and Purple Finches (up to ten within a single binocular view) along the Wilson Trail north, just south of Owen's Platform. On the pond amo

[cayugabirds-l] Nighthawk video from yesterday

2018-09-20 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
Here's a video I took yesterday (Wednesday) during lunch at Sherwood Platform, Sapsucker Woods, of the Common Nighthawk: https://www.facebook.com/suan.yong/videos/10217783338833162/?l=8661839843050610780 It shifted positions several times, and each time it did so it would sway back and forth, ei

[cayugabirds-l] Photos of Lawrence's Warbler, Logan Hill, 2 weeks ago

2018-05-28 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
Finally got around to posting photos of the Lawrence's Warbler (Blue x Golden -Winged Warbler) from Logan Hill two weeks ago (13 May 2018), embedded in this eBird checklist: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S45628519 Also from that visit was this eye-level video of a singing Ovenbird: https:/

[cayugabirds-l] Field Trip This Saturday 8am Stewart Park

2018-02-22 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
Hi all, Two days ago I was rollerblading in shorts and T-shirt. Today I'm jogging through an inch of fresh snow. What will the birds make of all this? Let's find out together on a Cayuga Bird Club field trip around the lake: Saturday, February 24, 2018 8:00am - 4:00pm (end time is approximate

[cayugabirds-l] Re: [cayugabirds-l] 5 Ross’s Geese at Stewart Park

2017-12-24 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
A good number of people enjoyed at Stewart Park not just the 5 Ross's Geese, but also two Snow Geese, six Greater White-Fronted Geese (not a-layin'), two Iceland Gulls, at least two Lesser-Black-Backed Gulls, some fly-by Northern Pintails, and a distant Red-Throated Loon. Pretty neat afternoon. A s

[cayugabirds-l] CBC Owling field trip, Saturday 6pm

2017-11-03 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
Tomorrow evening, Bob and I will be leading a field trip to look and listen for owls. Saturday, November 4, 6:00pm, meet at the Cornell Lab parking lot to carpool. Dress warmly (as there will be much standing still in the cold), and bring a headlamp or flashlight. Forecast is calling for a slight c

Re: [cayugabirds-l] radar/migration

2017-07-25 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
If it's during the day in the summertime I think it's probably insects. This site seems to have a good intro: http://www.woodcreeper.com/radar-migration-faq/ For a bunch of links and archives: http://www.pauljhurtado.com/US_Composite_Radar/ Suan On Tue, Jul 25, 2017 at 5:17 PM, Eben McLane

Re: [cayugabirds-l] RUFF location- made easy E-bird!!!

2017-07-12 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
On Wed, Jul 12, 2017 at 12:54 PM, David Wheeler wrote: > I think it's also possible to go one-on-one with someone through GroupMe. > Thus one could direct a question back to the reporter alone rather than a > broadcast message. Not sure how many people know this is possible. > You can do that w

Re: [cayugabirds-l] RUFF location- made easy E-bird!!!

2017-07-11 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
And it doesn't help that Kipp Island isn't even an island (anymore). :-) Suan PS. I posted on Facebook a couple of digiscoped videos of the ruff form Sunday. Should be viewable without a Facebook account: https://www.facebook.com/suan.yong/videos/pcb.1382246361813175/10213924592766922/ https://w

[cayugabirds-l] Fledgling(?) Louisiana Waterthrush(es) @ Mulholland

2017-06-08 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
Jogging through the Mulholland Preserve at Six Mile Creek this morning, I had two encounters with low-flying Louisiana Waterthrushes chipping loudly. Without binoculars, I got to see one close in a tree, looking fully fledged but lacking a tail (which didn't stop it from bobbing), behaving as if it

[cayugabirds-l] Lindsay-Parsons mystery song

2017-06-05 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
Lindsay-Parsons seems to harbor a lot of strange singers. During the Spring Bird Quest on Saturday, May 27, I recorded the following "ascending song", which starts around the 5-second mark in this clip: http://suan-yong.com/sound/lindsay-parsons-2017-05-27.wav What do you think it is? This was

[cayugabirds-l] Empid nest etc, Danby State Forest

2017-05-29 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
On Saturday, after the Spring Bird Quest at Lindsay-Parsons, I drove around and up Michigan Hollow Road in Danby State Forest, and found three nest-builders (Chestnut-Sided, Empidonax sp, and Yellow Warbler). I've posted some videos of the latter two on Facebook: Empid sp: https://www.facebook.c

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Hawthorn Orchard

2017-05-09 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
> On Tue, May 9, 2017 at 10:30 AM, Peter wrote: > I was wondering if anyone can tell me how the warblers have been over at > Hawthorn Orchard. I've read in the Basin Birding Book that it's a good spot > for them. Has anyone birded it yet this year? > > And how would that location compare with S

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Ellis Hollow/George Rd. Comm. Solar Proj. Pub. Hearing Wed April 26, 7 pm--or email comments

2017-04-25 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
FWIW, on Saturday morning I stopped by the Dodge Road spruces and found a Great Horned Owl with my thermal camera (also being barked at by a bunch of crows). It flew off before I could get a photo, but it did later hoot for me once. Suan On Tue, Apr 25, 2017 at 1:37 AM, Sandy Podulka wrote: > D

[cayugabirds-l] Merlin @ Esty & Washington

2017-03-08 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
Just had a merlin sitting on a tree a few houses east of the CFCU on Meadow and Esty, presently shooed by two crows to a spruce tree one block east. My attention from the sidewalk may have contributed to the shooing :-D. Suan -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/Cayugabird

Re: [cayugabirds-l] OOB: Tree swallow migration

2016-09-30 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
I was in Cape May on Monday, and saw a similarly large flock of tree swallows, first gathering, then murmurating like starlings. I did not try to estimate numbers. Here's a lousy iPhone video clip, barely hinting at the scale: https://www.facebook.com/suan.yong/videos/10210920362223036/ Suan

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Please get permission to see Booby from "Townline Road"

2016-09-22 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
On Thu, Sep 22, 2016 at 8:31 AM, Peter wrote: > Folks - a question about the Booby. Is it more easily seen from Lower Lake > Rd. near Seneca Falls (west side of lake) or from the village of Cayuga > (east side of lake). > > Or perhaps it depends on the bird's mood? (smile) > Depends on the sun. T

[cayugabirds-l] "Nola" Waterthrush @ Hawthorn Orchards

2016-06-15 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
This morning as I biked the East Ithaca Recway, just south of Mitchell Street I heard a waterthrush singing from the trees at the NW corner of the Hawthorn Orchard. Its first three notes had the plaintive slur of a Louisiana Waterthrush. This was followed by the choppy ending of a Northern Waterthr

[cayugabirds-l] Connecticut Hill Photos

2016-06-10 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
FYI, I posted some photos from last Saturday's CBC field trip to Connecticut Hill here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.1027965810574567 Thanks, again, to all who came on the trip. Suan -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.North

[cayugabirds-l] MNWR Virginia Rails (Saturday)

2016-05-23 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
On Saturday morning I went to Montezuma where at the start of the wildlife drive (across from Larue's Lagoon) a Virginia Rail was calling. With the help of my thermal infrared camera I was eventually able to get some looks and photos. I also captured some interesting video sequences, at the link be

[cayugabirds-l] Tennessee warbler

2016-05-12 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
New this morning at Hawthorn Orchard was a Tennessee warbler (possibly two), singing rather less incessantly than "normal", along with several Nashvilles, Blackburnian, Black-and-white, Blue-Winged, Magnolia, Yellow, and a quietly singing Canada Warbler first heard by Chris T-H in the ravine. All t

[cayugabirds-l] Downtown Parula

2016-05-09 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
In the apple blossoms of Washington Park, a Northern Parula was singing both songs and foraging low and close enough to be admired with the naked eye (one of those "wish I had my camera with me" moments). Amid the wind-blown movement could be spotted at least three other warbler-like birds just in

[cayugabirds-l] Great Horned Owls @ Jetty Woods

2016-05-07 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
This morning our SFO group went to Jetty Woods to admire the Great Horned Owl and two fledglings reported earlier by Dave Nutter. From the pump station, go past the big puddle about 20 yards, look to the right for a large fallen log right next to the trail. That log log points approximately in the

[cayugabirds-l] Night Flight Infrared

2016-04-16 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
Last night around 11pm, I decided to point my thermal infrared camera to the sky and see if anything would show up. To my surprise, I was able to observe a fairly steady stream of bird movement, some low and bright, others faint and barely discernible amid the noise from the sensor. It was quite ca

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Myers Ospreys, Sat 9 Apr

2016-04-11 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
On that same Saturday, our SFO group started at Myers Point. While at the spit an osprey approached and started hover-fishing Salmon Creek, pretty low and close to us. At one point it started diving, but aborted, denying us what would've been a spectacular sight at naked-eye distance. I have only e

[cayugabirds-l] Ruby

2016-04-11 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
FOY for me ruby-crowned kinglet, singing from the spruce tree outside my house in Commonland, along with a singing pine siskin. Suan -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/Cay

[cayugabirds-l] Dryden Lake: pipit, long-tail

2016-04-03 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
Susan and I semi-co-led SFO groups this morning to Dryden Lake, where we were surprised to see an American PIpit along the Jim Schaug trail south of the park, in the little pond on the south side of the trail. I could not figure out its ID initially until Susan suggested pipit. Photo here: https

[cayugabirds-l] Downy Woodpecker Leg Band

2016-03-28 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
So yesterday at Sapsucker Woods (near Owens Platform) I photographed a male Downy Woodpecker with a metal leg band, with enough resolution to read two sides of the band: http://suan-yong.com/banded/banded.html#dowo The front say "OPEN", the rear -- I initially guessed maybe ABRL (American Bird

[cayugabirds-l] Woodcocks IV: Open Stage

2016-03-27 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
And just when I didn't think I could get a better woodcock video, I got this last night: https://www.facebook.com/suan.yong/videos/10209270510937785 I also put up the original MP4's as recorded by the ThermAppPlus camera here: http://suan-yong.com/woodcock-video/info.html for anyone who may

[cayugabirds-l] Sunday Field Trip Report: Around the Lake

2016-03-14 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
On Sunday I led a CBC full day around-the-lake field trip, joined by 8 others (2 staying only for the morning portion). The birding on the way up the lake was pretty sparse numbers-wise though reasonable species-wise, but mostly at scope distances. Thankfully, our scope-to-participant ratio was qui

[cayugabirds-l] Skydance Video @ Edward Lake Cliffs

2016-03-11 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
This evening I stopped by the Edward Lake Cliffs Preserve in Lansing a little past sunset, and soon heard the twitter of a woodcock skydance in progress. There were at least two, probably three, birds performing. I tried capturing video with my infrared camera, with moderate success (lousy audio, u

[cayugabirds-l] Field Trip This Sunday, 8am

2016-03-10 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
Hi all, Just a reminder that I'll be leading a CBC field trip up the lake this Sunday. Meet at the lab at 8am, which is earlier than you think due to spring ahead! Although scheduled to end at 4pm, I'm aiming to be back earlier than that, unless the snow goose spectacle is still around (are they s

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Yesterday Snowy owls. Seybolt Road and North End of Cayuga lake. probable Common Yellowthroat.

2016-02-04 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
It's Reese Road and Seybolt. To the west about 300 yards away look for some gas pipe installation (or whatever it is). Each time I've seen the bird it's been on that installation. Suan On Thu, Feb 4, 2016 at 6:09 PM, marsha kardon wrote: > I can't find a Freese Rd in Seneca Falls on Google map

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Eastern Phoebe, Arts Quad

2016-02-01 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
Yesterday morning at Sapsucker Woods, the starlings were doing kingbird and wood duck and meadowlark (among others, no doubt). Meanwhile, there was legitimate singing from chickadee, titmouse, cardinal: sounded and felt like spring! Suan On Mon, Feb 1, 2016 at 9:37 AM, cedar Mathers-Winn wrote:

[cayugabirds-l] Wood Duck @ Sapsucker Woods

2015-12-27 Thread Suan Hsi Yong
On this morning's birdy walk (with the rain more bearable than I expected), there was a male wood duck with two mallards at Fuller, seen close from the Owens platform as it slinked behind the reeds. Plenty of activity from jingling tree sparrows, courting mallards, complaining blue jays, made for a

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