Here are a few more details of my fine morning at Montezuma -- surprisingly
cool and clear during the time I was there (until 11 AM).
On the drive up in the early morning I stopped to listen for Jay's GRASSHOPPER
SPARROW on Rt. 90 near Lake Rd., having missed them at several stops nearby
last weekend. I was rewarded by 2 singing GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS (one very close
to the road, one further back) exactly where Jay described -- then a third one
singing in the large field just to the north of Lake Rd. on the west side of
Rt. 90. Lots of good habitat around there.
As I entered Montezuma Refuge at 6:30, I was greeted by a calling VIRGINIA RAIL
at the beginning of the entrance rd. Along the Wildlife Drive, lots of song (I
counted 14 WILLOW FLYCATCHERS, 3 CERULEAN WARBLERS, 1 BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO on
the drive), and a few shorebirds at the Flats including LESSER YELLOWLEGS,
SEMIPALMATED PLOVER and SANDPIPERS. The highlight, though, was the only
shorebird at Benning Marsh -- a beautiful male HUDSONIAN GODWIT, which fed,
preened, and slept fairly close to the road.
While I was watching the godwit a commotion of Red-winged Blackbirds across the
road alerted me to 2 AMERICAN BITTERNS, which flushed from the marsh like brown
owls and flew off across the Main Pool.
At Puddler's Marsh on Towpath Rd., the shorebird habitat was excellent and
birds were much closer than last weekend. Among the closest birds were 2
SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS, 2 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, many DUNLIN and SEMIPALMATED
SANDPIPERS, and 2-3 WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS. Further out were many more DUNLIN,
SEMI-SANDPIPERS, LEAST SANDPIPERS, 1 male WILSON'S PHALAROPE, 1 PECTORAL
SANDPIPER, a few more WHITE-RUMPS, and a few SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS and both
YELLOWLEGS. 12 species of shorebirds for the morning.
Also heard 2 more CERULEAN WARBLERS and a YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO along Towpath. 3
TRUMPETER SWANS very close, lots of calling COMMON GALLINULE, MARSH WRENS, and
SWAMP SPARROWS.
An EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE is singing in my backyard at 7:45 PM -- a new migrant for
the year.
KEN
Ken Rosenberg
Conservation Science Program
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
607-254-2412
607-342-4594 (cell)
k...@cornell.edu
On May 28, 2012, at 11:27 AM, Kenneth Victor Rosenberg wrote:
HHUDSONIAN GODWIT at Benning Marsh early. Apparently not relocated. Lots of
shorebirds at Towpath. Excellent viewing.
Sent from my iPhone
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