Hi Caroline,
First, Orchard Oriole is a good bird at Sapsucker Woods, although there have
been other sightings in recent years -- was this a pair of birds that you
encountered?
Both Alder and Willow Flycatchers breed in the shrubby areas behind the Ithaca
airport, and up towards Lansing and West Dryden in general. Caswell Road is
good for both, too. there only a few around so far, but more will be in by the
end of May. It is possible to hear both Alder and Willow calling from the same
spot, with Alders preferring the wetter areas and Willows more in the dryer
shrubs surrounded by grass. There are a couple of breeding spots for Acadian
Flycatcher, and I'm sure these will get posted if someone finds one -- pretty
rare though. Yellow-bellied is strictly a migrant, with most records in late
may and late August. All of these are best found and identified by various
vocalizations, so study up!
KEN
Ken Rosenberg
Director of Conservation Science
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
607-254-2412
607-342-4594 (cell)
k...@cornell.edumailto:k...@cornell.edu
On May 21, 2011, at 2:54 PM, Caroline Manring wrote:
Hello all,
Today at the Lab, at about 10:30am, there were two SPOTTED SANDPIPERS having an
altercation-- stiff wings spread wide, up on their tip-toes, batting and
weaving and going at it with their bills, right on the gravel beach of the
pond.
After one of the sandpipers had been chased into the grass, the one that
remained underwent an attack by a Red-winged Blackbird on the shore-- looked
like the blackbird made some hearty contact, and the sandpiper flew off to the
west. Why would a blackbird have a problem with a sandpiper? Because it moves?
Other highlights for me were PHILADELPHIA VIREO (no song, but a good look, over
on the first East side of the road pond), WILSON'S WARBLER, lots of RED-EYED
VIREO turf fights, more GRAY CATBIRDS apparent than chickadees (!), and an
up-close encounter with a PILEATED WOODPECKER messing around on the ground on
the East trail. Also one Painted Turtle using the West Trail, somewhat
ineffectually, so I moved him/her off to the side near what looked like some
semi-permanent water (what do the turtles do when most of the woods except near
the pond dry up?) and lots of snakes.
Yesterday was BAY-BREASTED WARBLER day, with a total of eight (two were female)
in and about the spruces on the Wilson Trail. Also a TENNESSEE WARBLER singing,
and lots of BLACKPOLL WARBLERS. Also my first really good listen to ORCHARD
ORIOLES, right in the parking lot.
Where are folks finding the Alder Flycatcher? I'd sure like to hear/see him.
Also any of the other flycatchers, other than Least, which I seem to be able to
find no problem. Tips appreciated.
Happy May! And it is! Pesky leaves, coming with June's onset...
Caroline Manring
Ithaca
--
Cayugabirds-L List Info:
Welcome and Basicshttp://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME
Rules and Informationhttp://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES
Subscribe, Configuration and
Leavehttp://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm
Archives:
The Mail
Archivehttp://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
Surfbirdshttp://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds
BirdingOnThe.Nethttp://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html
Please submit your observations to eBirdhttp://ebird.org/content/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/
--
