[cayugabirds-l] Re: [cayugabirds-l] SFO Trip Report to Braddock Bay Area from Saturday

[Dave Nutter]

Thanks, Sandy, for the report.
A couple additions & clarifications:

At the banding station we discussed the crown colors of two WHITE-THROATED 
SPARROWS, and learned that a single short sequence of reversed genetic material 
is responsible for the two color morphs - white stripes on the crown versus tan 
stripes on the crown. These color differences are unrelated to age or gender. 
The tiny genetic difference seems also to be responsible for a difference in 
temperament. Those with white stripes are more agressive and dominant. The 
other amazing thing is that the two types typically form pairs with the 
opposite type, not their own type.

The two BLUE JAYS had slightly different wing coverts on the primaries. 
Apparently these feathers on the outer wing are late to molt, and birds going 
into their second year have feathers there which are plainer blue, whereas the 
bird which was "after second year" in age had black and blue stripes on those 
outer coverts and I think some white as well. It was pretty subtle, actually, 
and it goes to show how much effort has gone into looking at differences in 
birds' plumage, molt patterns and trying to glean useful information.

Birds on Lake Ontario also included numerous RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS.

On the docks by the former Breakers restaurant on Bayview there was also a 
breeding plumage COMMON TERN. The BONAPARTE'S GULLS were conveniently in 
breeding plumage (black head) and non-breeding plumage (white head with gray 
ear-spot).

The male MUTE SWAN display was the classic posture with wings held up over its 
back, neck in an extreme yet graceful curve, and head pointed somewhat down, in 
what might be considered by people unfamiliar with this species to be a demure 
pose. In fact it is a very aggressive stance which one male took both before 
and after chasing another male from the part of the bay near us.

The owls we sought in Owl Woods would have been either overwintering birds or 
else migrants following a similar path around Lake Ontario as the diurnal 
raptors and seeking conifers for roosting along the way.

Raptors at the hawk watch site included BALD EAGLE, TURKEY VULTURE, and several 
very high SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS.

--Dave Nutter


On May 03, 2015, at 10:51 PM, Sandy Wold  wrote:

> Seven of us carpooled and caravaning up to Braddock Bay Banding station and 
> surrounding spots.  Dave Nutter was our leader, and the following are 
> highlights of that trip, which was yesterday 8am-4pm.
>
> NEAR GAS STATION AT THE JUNCTION OF 318 EAST OF 414
> We saw a GREATER AND LESSER YELLOW LEGS in the same flooded corn field 
> (seasonal pond?).  They stood close to each other a few times; so we got good 
> looks and were able to compare and contrast the two birds nicely.  There were 
> also times when a ROBIN dropped by and a pair of GREEN-WINGED TEALS, so we 
> also got to size these yellow legs as well, relative to the visitors.
>
> BANDING STATION, 10:00 am-11:00am
> We watch the banding of two BLUEJAYS (juvenile one and an older one) plus a 
> WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW.  Around the property, we saw a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK out 
> in the fields, CORMORANT FLOCKS FLYING NORTH, BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, 
> RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS, YELLOW-SHAFTED FLICKER.  At the 
> end of Ontario Road, we saw 3 HORNED GREBES, 6+ WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, 2 
> LONG-TAILED DUCKS, 1 CASPIAN TERN, COMMON LOON.
>
> BAYVIEW AVENUE, BREAKERS, 11:30-12:00
> 2 BONAPARTE GULLS, 3 MUTE SWANS (one displaying), 10+CASPIAN TERNS.
>
> OWL WOODS, 12:15-1pm
> PILEATED WOODPECKER, COOPERS HAWK, YELLOW-SHAFTED FLICKER, AMERICAN KESTREL, 
> 2 BALD EAGLES, TURKEY VULTURE, COWBIRD, BROAD-WINGED HAWK, BARN SWALLOW, 
> PURPLE MARTIN.  No owl's nest found.
>
> BRADDOCK BAY HAWK WATCH SITE, 1:07pm
> 10+ BUFFLEHEAD, 6+ CORMORANT
>
> LOTT FARM, 3:30-4:30 pm
> SAVANNAH SPARROW (near the chain link edge on the grass and up in the chain 
> link near the above-ground cistern) - a first for many of us.  Some of us 
> were getting leg and back cramps from sitting in the back seat for two hours 
> up there and two hours back (never again!).  We did not realize sitting in 
> the back seat would do this!
>
> On our way out, our fearless leader found 2 UPLAND SANDPIPER foraging in the 
> farm field near the main road, between the big white farm building and the 
> main house.  We moved up closer with the cars and got a better look with the 
> scope, but were spooked by something (us?) and went out of sight behind a 
> berm.  Around the same time, we spotted a EASTERN MEADOWLARK in the field.  
> The sun was full and the yellows were incredibly yellow.  
>
>
>
>
>
>
>  * * * * * * * * *
> "Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come ALIVE, for what the 
> world needs is people who have come ALIVE."  - Dr. Howard Thurman, American 
> Theologian, Clergyman and Activist (1900-1981) 
>
> Sandra (Sandy) Wold
> Cayuga Basin Bioregion Map, Author, Originator, Designer, and Publisher, 
> www.sites.google.com/

[cayugabirds-l] SFO Trip Report to Braddock Bay Area from Saturday

[Sandy Wold]

Seven of us carpooled and caravaning up to Braddock Bay Banding station and
surrounding spots.  Dave Nutter was our leader, and the following are
highlights of that trip, which was yesterday 8am-4pm.

NEAR GAS STATION AT THE JUNCTION OF 318 EAST OF 414
We saw a GREATER AND LESSER YELLOW LEGS in the same flooded corn field
(seasonal pond?).  They stood close to each other a few times; so we got
good looks and were able to compare and contrast the two birds nicely.
There were also times when a ROBIN dropped by and a pair of GREEN-WINGED
TEALS, so we also got to size these yellow legs as well, relative to the
visitors.

BANDING STATION, 10:00 am-11:00am
We watch the banding of two BLUEJAYS (juvenile one and an older one) plus a
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW.  Around the property, we saw a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK
out in the fields, CORMORANT FLOCKS FLYING NORTH, BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER,
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS, YELLOW-SHAFTED FLICKER.  At
the end of Ontario Road, we saw 3 HORNED GREBES, 6+ WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, 2
LONG-TAILED DUCKS, 1 CASPIAN TERN, COMMON LOON.

BAYVIEW AVENUE, BREAKERS, 11:30-12:00
2 BONAPARTE GULLS, 3 MUTE SWANS (one displaying), 10+CASPIAN TERNS.

OWL WOODS, 12:15-1pm
PILEATED WOODPECKER, COOPERS HAWK, YELLOW-SHAFTED FLICKER, AMERICAN
KESTREL, 2 BALD EAGLES, TURKEY VULTURE, COWBIRD, BROAD-WINGED HAWK, BARN
SWALLOW, PURPLE MARTIN.  No owl's nest found.

BRADDOCK BAY HAWK WATCH SITE, 1:07pm
10+ BUFFLEHEAD, 6+ CORMORANT

LOTT FARM, 3:30-4:30 pm
SAVANNAH SPARROW (near the chain link edge on the grass and up in the chain
link near the above-ground cistern) - a first for many of us.  Some of us
were getting leg and back cramps from sitting in the back seat for two
hours up there and two hours back (never again!).  We did not realize
sitting in the back seat would do this!

On our way out, our fearless leader found 2 UPLAND SANDPIPER foraging in
the farm field near the main road, between the big white farm building and
the main house.  We moved up closer with the cars and got a better look
with the scope, but were spooked by something (us?) and went out of sight
behind a berm.  Around the same time, we spotted a EASTERN MEADOWLARK in
the field.  The sun was full and the yellows were incredibly yellow.






 * * * * * * * * *
*"Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come ALIVE, for what
the world needs is people who have come ALIVE."  - Dr. Howard Thurman,
American Theologian, Clergyman and Activist (1900-1981) *

Sandra (Sandy) Wold
Cayuga Basin Bioregion Map, Author, Originator, Designer, and Publisher,
www.sites.google.com/site/cayugabioregionmap/

Interdisciplinary Artist/Educator,
https://www.linkedin.com/pub/sandra-sandy-wold/a7/114/877
NYS Certified Math/Science Teacher and Tutor,
*www.sites.google.com/site/fallcreektutoringservices/home
*

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