[cayugabirds-l] Montezuma Friday: Glossy Ibis, Red-headed Woodpecker, shorebirds
Hi all, Livia and I took the morning off to check around Montezuma, hoping to find the reported Little Blue Heron. We were unsuccessful in that regard, but had a lot of nice birds. Highlights: --At least three ORCHARD ORIOLES at Myers Point, an adult and a young male chasing each other near the entrance and a third unseen bird singing from Salt Point. --GRASSHOPPER SPARROW singing in the fields on the north side of the southern leg of Lake Road in Ledyard. --Two FORSTER'S TERNS on the breakwall/dock extension at the Frontenac Marina in Union Springs on the way up, and four Sterna, at least two of which were COMMON TERNS on the same breakwall on the way back down. --300+ LEAST SANDPIPERS, 15+ SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, DUNLIN, both YELLOWLEGS, SOLITARY SANDPIPERS at the Visitor Center Pond/Main Pool (which is significantly drawn down at the moment). --A male CAPE MAY WARBLER singing and foraging in the spruces right at the start of the Wildlife Drive. --A gorgeous drake EURASIAN WIGEON in the middle of the Main Pool and several singing WILLOW FLYCATCHERS along the Wildlife Drive, as well as MARSH WRENS and two BLACK TERNS. --A single RED-HEADED WOODPECKER in the deadwood swamp on Mays Point Road, foraging and calling constantly, as well as drumming occasionally. --The singing male PROTHONOTARY WARBLER as well as many CERULEAN WARBLERS in the usual spot along the forested part of Armitage Road west of the metal bridge. --A beautiful adult GLOSSY IBIS foraging in the flooded cornfield on the south side of Carncross Road in Savannah, which took flight a few minutes after we arrived and headed south and out of sight into the horizon, perhaps bound for the Main Pool area. Lots of shorebirds at Carncross as well, including 15+ DUNLIN, a stunning BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, and seven PECTORAL SANDPIPERS. A slightly transitional-plumaged FORSTER'S TERN was sitting with the dozen Caspian Terns in the same field. And probably a few more things I'm forgetting. Livia and I are planning on attempting a Basin Big Day tomorrow, so wish us luck! -- Jay McGowan Macaulay Library Cornell Lab of Ornithology jw...@cornell.edu -- 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/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Montezuma Friday
Scouting for tomorrow’s SFO trip up the lake, I spent the morning with John Confer in the Montezuma complex. Cayuga lake is now ice-free except for a small sheet at the north end off Harris Park. The pools at the MNWR visitor’s center, LARue’s, the main pool, and shorebird flats are flooded with very little shorebird habitat except around the edges. The Mucklands on Rt 31 are about 15% water-covered, with few geese (max 120 Snow Geese), two sets of hunters, but lots of gulls and ducks. Carncross Road is flooded at the east end, and access to Howland Island is through water. Highlights of our trip were: One Purple Martin at the visitor’s center and one Caspian Tern on pool. One Blue-winged Teal flying by on the wildlife drive (none other for the entire day - but hundreds of Green-winged in multiple locations). 15 Greater Yellowlegs seen from the north dike at the E end of the Mucklands. 20 Bonaparte’s Gulls seen from the south dike (nice, new gravel road out to the aqueduct) at the E end of the Mucklands. Two Great Egrets in Knox-Marsellus and two Sandhill Cranes in the corn field just west of East Road along K-M. There were reports of Sandhill Cranes at Carncross Road/Martin’s Tract, but we did not encounter them there. Overall we had large numbers of Green-winged Teal, Mallards, Black Ducks, and Northern Pintail. Fewer numbers of Northern Shovelers, Ring-necked Ducks, and American Wigeon. And a handful of Buffleheads, Gadwall, Redheads, and Wood Ducks. Also a few Common and Hooded Mergansers. Ospreys seemed to be everywhere, with many of the two dozen platforms occupied. The most unexpected bird of the day was a Vesper Sparrow that flew across in front of us near North Spring Pool, then landed just off the side of the road and afforded great, extended views. Good luck to all tomorrow. There is a lot of country there that we did not cover, and it will be interesting to see what all those eyes can discover. Bob McGuire -- 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/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Montezuma Friday November 14, 2014
On the way up to Montezuma, I had a flock of SNOW BUNTINGS in a field before the Dunkin Donut's in Lansing. Also had a few AMERICAN KESTRELS on wires along route 90. On Wildlife Drive, there are loads of waterfowl now. NORTHERN SHOVELORS, There was raft of RING-NECKED DUCKS at the beginning of the open area of the main pool. Then a little farther down, there were a few aythya rafts of mainly LESSER SCAUP with just a few GREATER SCAUP here and there. Also a few REDHEADS mixed in. Many RUDDY DUCKS, AMERICAN WIGEON, AMERICAN COOTS, GADWALL and still a few PIED-BILLED GREBES mixed in TOO. Several GREEN-WINGED TEAL and one female BUFFLEHEAD too. Didn't find the eared grebe of the last few weeks. There were also at least 200 TUNDRA SWANS in the back of the main pool and a huge raft of mainly aythya ducks. They were so distant I could not tell what species were present but I presume mainly scaup. I also was surprised to find a basic plumage RED-THROATED LOON in the main pool closer to where the carp crossing is. The main pool is loaded and I likely missed some species. Then at Eaton marsh (shorebird flats) the AMERICAN AVOCET continues to put on a show. The bird was close enough to easily see naked eye. Binoculars afforded great views. The scope was basically overkill. I took several photos and recorded a video of the bird actively feeding. https://www.flickr.com/photos/davenicosia/sets/72157649284337901/ In addition, there were several DUNLIN and one GREATER YELLOWLEGS. At Knox-Marcellus Marsh there were many geese. Mostly CANADA and many SNOWS (a few hundred or so) and at least 1 ROSS'S GOOSE. The bird was seen on the north end of the marsh from the parking area. The bird was much smaller than the SNOWS with a tiny bill. There were also quite a few blue phase SNOW GEESE too. TUNDRA SWANS were also present with at least one TRUMPETER identified by sound. I only had 6 SANDHILL CRANES. Earlier the folks at the visitor center said someone counted 60. There were many AMERICAN PIPITS too feeding on the mudflats. I estimated about 30 but this is probably underdone. I also heard a few HORNED LARKS in the cornfield along east road. For a windy and cold day it was awesome. Knox-Marcellus is loaded with geese and waterfowl. I imagine there are other good birds in there that I mised. The lighting was an issue and time was running out for me so I didn't bird this area as thoroughly as I would have liked. Dave Nicosia -- 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/ --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Montezuma Friday evening - Marbled Godwit
The Godwit is still at Knox-Marsellus this morning. Gary Chapin Ticonderoga, NY On Aug 3, 2013, at 12:12 AM, Jay McGowan jw...@cornell.edu wrote: I took Kini Roesler, a visiting recordist from Argentina, up to Montezuma after work today to see what dropped in with the rain and show him some of our birds. Bald Eagles and Black Terns were big highlights for him, as well as what passes for ducks at this time of year. The Wildlife Drive was quiet as usual, as was Tschache. We had a quick look at a Red-headed Woodpecker at Mays Point before moving on to East Road. As we left, I told Kini, now time to find a Marbled Godwit! as I have been seeing reports around the state and he had mentioned that as one of the few shorebirds that he had not seen. No sooner had we set up and scanned through some of the closer shorebirds than I picked out...a MARBLED GODWIT! It was foraging out in the deep water with the yellowlegs, Stilt Sandpipers, and dowitchers, and towered over all of them. Enormous, glowing buff-colored, and with an extremely long, pink bill tipped with black, it is pretty unmistakable, even at the extreme distances involved. After the shorebirds shuffled at one point it ended up in the middle of the gull flock out in the middle of the southern half of Knox-Marsellus. Viewing probably would have been fine or even a little better from Towpath, but the beautiful evening light made us stay at East Road. Photos of this bird, beautiful as it was in the scope, were far from satisfactory, but here are two horrific attempts: https://picasaweb.google.com/37855303614931880/Summer2013#5907739200448814546 https://picasaweb.google.com/37855303614931880/Summer2013#5907739205363375186 Other birds here included a juvenile WILSON'S PHALAROPE, 2 White-rumped Sandpipers, 1 Sandering, 7 Wilson's Snipe, 34 Stilt Sandpipers, ~10 Short-billed Dowitchers, and lots of the usual shorebirds. The AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN continues, sleeping obscured in the bushes for a while before waking up and flying out in to the open water. Van Dyne Spoor Road at dusk was entertaining as always but with no species of particular note. The egret roost seems to have moved farther out to the south of the road and mostly out of view. -- Jay McGowan Macaulay Library Cornell Lab of Ornithology jw...@cornell.edu -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: Welcome and Basics Rules and Information Subscribe, Configuration and Leave Archives: The Mail Archive Surfbirds BirdingOnThe.Net Please submit your observations to eBird! -- -- 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/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Montezuma Friday evening - Marbled Godwit
I took Kini Roesler, a visiting recordist from Argentina, up to Montezuma after work today to see what dropped in with the rain and show him some of our birds. Bald Eagles and Black Terns were big highlights for him, as well as what passes for ducks at this time of year. The Wildlife Drive was quiet as usual, as was Tschache. We had a quick look at a Red-headed Woodpecker at Mays Point before moving on to East Road. As we left, I told Kini, now time to find a Marbled Godwit! as I have been seeing reports around the state and he had mentioned that as one of the few shorebirds that he had not seen. No sooner had we set up and scanned through some of the closer shorebirds than I picked out...a MARBLED GODWIT! It was foraging out in the deep water with the yellowlegs, Stilt Sandpipers, and dowitchers, and towered over all of them. Enormous, glowing buff-colored, and with an extremely long, pink bill tipped with black, it is pretty unmistakable, even at the extreme distances involved. After the shorebirds shuffled at one point it ended up in the middle of the gull flock out in the middle of the southern half of Knox-Marsellus. Viewing probably would have been fine or even a little better from Towpath, but the beautiful evening light made us stay at East Road. Photos of this bird, beautiful as it was in the scope, were far from satisfactory, but here are two horrific attempts: https://picasaweb.google.com/37855303614931880/Summer2013#5907739200448814546 https://picasaweb.google.com/37855303614931880/Summer2013#5907739205363375186 Other birds here included a juvenile WILSON'S PHALAROPE, 2 White-rumped Sandpipers, 1 Sandering, 7 Wilson's Snipe, 34 Stilt Sandpipers, ~10 Short-billed Dowitchers, and lots of the usual shorebirds. The AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN continues, sleeping obscured in the bushes for a while before waking up and flying out in to the open water. Van Dyne Spoor Road at dusk was entertaining as always but with no species of particular note. The egret roost seems to have moved farther out to the south of the road and mostly out of view. -- Jay McGowan Macaulay Library Cornell Lab of Ornithology jw...@cornell.edu -- 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/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Montezuma, Friday Saturday (3/25 3/26)
Hey all, I've been at Montezuma the past couple days; Saturday for a 60+ student SUNY-ESF field trip and Friday for a scouting trip. Both days yielded excellent birding throughout the complex. On Friday, we found the previously reported male EURASIAN WIGEON at Marten's Tract. The bird was in the far pool, almost to the distant sycamores and barely visible at 60x in the scope. We failed to relocate the bird on Saturday though there were still good numbers of wigeon in the far pool. Also on Friday, we found the NORTHERN SHRIKE at Van Dyne Spoor Rd. The bird was seen briefly in the small trees on the north side of the road before flying off to the northeast. No Short-eared Owls were observed at dusk (my 3rd time dipping on them this winter). Saturday, we found an adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL at Tschache Pool visible from the parking area, among the many thousands of Ring-billeds. The bird stood out very well and was easily found. There was also an adult GREAT BLACK-BACKED here. No white-winged gulls were seen there either day, but I did not have the time to scan through the gulls as well as would have been necessary. Friday, we found an EASTERN PHOEBE in the spruce trees lining the Visitor Center road, immediately off of Route 20. On Saturday, we located two distant, calling SANDHILL CRANES flying over the main pool from the observation tower and platform just north of the Visitor Center. Throughout the complex, there are excellent numbers and diversity of all of the expected waterfowl species. The biggest misses were Blue-winged Teal and, somewhat surprisingly, either species of Scaup (are there typically no scaup here in the spring?? - Ring-necks were everywhere). At Knox-Marcellus, we found one individual each of HORNED and PIED-BILLED GREBE (the only grebes that I saw either day). Snow Geese seem to have largely moved out, as I only saw 3 groups flying total between the two days (~600 birds total), and one pair at the Mucklands on our drive out on Saturday. My two day total was 56 species, though we didn't put much effort into locating the common land birds either day. Good birding, Lewis -- Lewis Grove PhD Student, Wildlife Ecology President, Graduate Student Association SUNY College of Environmental Science Forestry 244 Illick Hall, 1 Forestry Drive, Syracuse, NY 13210 Mobile: (814) 880-5667 http://zugunlew.smugmug.com/ -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
