My group joined Bob McGuire's and Bill Baker's group to listen for Woodcock. We were on Whitted Road in a field near Snyder Hill Road. It started sprinkling while we were waiting. Then, it sprinkled harder (rain?). We finally heard 1 or 2 Woodcocks (possibly 3). They did not fly, so the groups did not have the experience of hearing the other sounds the bird makes in flight. On Bob's request, we walked single file into the field. Bob had a large lantern flashlight which he shone on one of the woodcocks. All groups had marvelous views of the bird. Great job, Bob!! The rain didn't matter after that. We are all drip dry after all.
My group went to Laura Stenzler's home. Laura met us in her driveway to greet us and to warn us that salamanders were moving. We quickly became extra cautious about them. When we grouped together underneath her porch, she gave us a scientific explanation of the life of the salamander and why they were moving on the land. Then, she took us to her pond to show them swimming about. She also showed us their egg sacs or sperm or whatever she called it. We then went under her porch to call in Barred Owls. After 10 minutes we heard an owl nearby. We moved into the yard, and heard another owl responding. A few members of the group were lucky to see one of them fly to the front of her house. Success!! Best, Ann -- 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/ --
