[nysbirds-l] Shawahgunks

2012-03-12 Thread PeregrineJV 
Andrew, 
 
There has been enough controversial subjects on the list this winter.   
Please do not start by bashing hunters and referring to them as "Morons"
As you probably know, if it were not for the hunters at this  point most 
woodland underbrush habitat would be wiped out.  Nearly all  native 
wildflowers are already extirpated from this region.  Hunters are  the only 
hope right 
now to gain some control over the deer population.. but you  knew that too. 
After all you are a consulting "wildlife  biologist/ecologist"
 
James
 
 
In a message dated 3/12/2012 11:15:36 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
ablock22...@yahoo.com writes:

 
My friend Mark Schwartz reported he saw a flock of 4 Monk Parakeets  in 
Freeport, NY yesterday afternoon.  I went to Shawangunk Grasslands NWR  with my 
friend Scott Perry yesterday late afternoon and saw some good stuff  but no 
owls.  We had 3+ Rough-legged Hawks, 3 Red-tailed Hawks, 8+  Northern 
Harriers, 6+ Eastern Meadowlarks, and many Red-winged  Blackbirds.  There were 
also atleast 100 White-tailed Deer in the newly  churned up areas of the 
refuge.  I hadn't seen that many deer together in  years.  Of course they got 
spooked when some moron hunter went walking  along the edge and back of the 
property.
 
Andrew
 
Andrew v. F. Block
Consulting  Naturalist/Wildlife Biologist
37 Tanglewylde Avenue
Bronxville,  Westchester Co., New York 10708-3131
Phone: 914-337-1229; Cell:  914-319-9701; Fax: 914-771-8036



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[nysbirds-l] Northern Saw-whet Owl/Red-shouldered Hawk/Crossbills etc.

2012-03-12 Thread Joan E. Collins 
3/12/12 Ferd's Bog (Hamilton Co.) 10:30 - 1:30 p.m.

 

It was a bit scary driving Uncas Rd. today, and I suspect the town will
close it soon given the snowy slush and mud (as they did last year).  I
almost turned around.but I kept going.  I used snowshoes so I could leave
the trail and circle the bog.  The beaver dam crossing in snowshoes was also
scary.  With the rapid warm-up, I started to drop through the snow on my
hike out even in snowshoes.  I think I hit the last day to easily hike off
trail.

 

This has been the most unusual (bizarre) winter I can ever recall, and it
seems like "normal" is disappearing.  When I was across the bog, I heard a
Northern Saw-whet Owl tooting!  My first thought was that a birder must be
playing a tape.  But then I thought, no one in their right mind would have
driven down Uncas Rd. today..yeah, I know.  I continued on with my two Gray
Jay companions.  Then, I heard it again.  I scanned for a birder and didn't
see anyone or hear any snow crunching footsteps.  Then, I heard it a 3rd
time, and as I hiked out, it tooted a 4th time!  There were no other
footprints in the snow, no one else signed the register, and there were no
other car tracks down the road!  I've heard Northern Saw-whet Owls give the
scary call note during the day, but I've never heard tooting midday.  I
immediately checked the BNA (Birds of North America) when I got home and the
only reference to this behavior was a saw-whet responding midday to a tape.
But I didn't play any tapes!  The weather was sunny and calm (perfectly
calm).  So, I guess I now know that Northern Saw-whet Owls DO sing during
the day!  Here are some of the 18 species found at the bog:

 

Snow Goose - flocks going overhead

Canada Goose - flocks going overhead

*Northern Saw-whet Owl

Black-backed Woodpecker - 2; male and female at the edge of the bog not far
from the boardwalk

Gray Jay - 2; They were my constant companions today - so much so, that it
felt like I was hiking with my dogs!  I found myself talking to them the
entire hike.  I noticed something about their behavior today that I never
noticed before.  I was feeding them small walnut pieces, and they often
picked up several pieces in their mouth before heading out to cache them.
If the bird picked up 3 pieces, it cached them in 3 different trees, if it
picked up 2 pieces, it cached them in 2 trees, etc.  They are such
remarkable birds.

Boreal Chickadee - several flocks around the bog

Brown Creeper - many singing

Golden-crowned Kinglet - many singing

Purple Finch - many singing

White-winged Crossbill - many with lots of singing around the bog

Pine Siskin - seemingly limitless numbers

 

3/11/12 Long Lake, Newcomb, Minerva (Hamilton & Essex Counties)

 

I spent the morning birding with Mike Bryant and his wife Ray Slyper from
NYC.  Here are some of the 25 species we found:

 

Ruffed Grouse

Red-shouldered Hawk - beautiful views today of the bird on a dead snag in
the sun (across the road from where we found it the day before in Long Lake)

Barred Owl - sang twice late morning in Newcomb!

Song Sparrow - singing in Long Lake

*Common Grackle - 4; first of the season in Newcomb

Purple Finch

Red Crossbill - pair at a marsh along the road in Minerva (scope views)

White-winged Crossbill - singing in Long Lake, Newcomb, and Minerva (scope
views in Newcomb)

Pine Siskin

Evening Grosbeak - Long Lake, Newcomb, and Minerva (scope views in Long
Lake)

 

3/10/12 Long Lake, Newcomb, Minerva (Hamilton & Essex Counties) 5 new inches
of snow overnight

 

I spent the day birding with Anna Hrycin and Josefa Benson of Rochester.
Here are some of the 24 species found:

 

*Red-shouldered Hawk - (Long Lake) first of the season and new early record
for Hamilton Co.

*Killdeer - 1!  First of the season and new early record for Hamilton Co.;
This bird was observed flying low over Long Lake at dawn to the town beach.
It began to vocalize, so we walked over to see it and all you could see was
the top of the bird with the rest buried in all the new snow!  It was
bobbing its head and it looked ridiculous!  I felt very bad for this migrant
that touched down into a world of snow and cold. 

Black-backed Woodpecker - 1 female in Minerva on the Roosevelt Truck Trail

Boreal Chickadee - 6 (3 groups of 2) along the Roosevelt Truck Trail

Purple Finch

Red Crossbill - heard in Long Lake and along the Roosevelt Truck Trail in
Minerva

White-winged Crossbill - singing at Sabattis Bog and along the Roosevelt
Truck Trail

Evening Grosbeak - several locations

 

A few other older observations:

 

3/7/12 Long Lake, Newcomb, Minerva

 

Amer. Robin

Bohemian Waxwing - ~20 in two berry bushes near the bridge on the west side
of Long Lake.  This is the first time I've found Bohemian Waxwings in Long
Lake.

*Song Sparrow - first of the season and new early record for Hamilton Co.;
singing near the bridge over Long Lake

Red Crossbill - pair gritting near the bridge over Long Lake

 

Sabattis Bog:

[nysbirds-l] Syracuse RBA

2012-03-12 Thread Joseph Brin 
RBA
 
*  New York
*  Syracuse
*  March 12, 2012
*  NYSY 03.12.12 
Hotline: Syracuse Rare bird Alert
Dates(s):
March 05, 2012 - March 12, 2012
to report by e-mail: brinjoseph AT yahoo.com
covering upstate NY counties: Cayuga, Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge
and Montezuma Wetlands Complex (MWC) (just outside Cayuga County),
Onondaga, Oswego, Lewis, Jefferson, Oneida, Herkimer,  Madison & Cortland
compiled:March 12 AT 6:30 p.m. (EST)
compiler: Joseph Brin
Onondaga Audubon Homepage: www.onondagaaudubon.org
 
 
#296 -Monday March 12, 2012
 
 
Greetings! This is the Syracuse Area Rare Bird Alert for the week of 
March 05 , 2012
 
Highlights:
---

WESTERN GREBE (Extralimital)
EURASIAN WIGEON
CACKLING GOOSE
ROSS’S GOOSE
SANDHILL CRANE
SNOWY OWL
NORTHERN SHRIKE
BOHEMIAN WAXWING
GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCH
COMMON REDPOLL



Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge (MNWR) and Montezuma Wetlands Complex (MWC)


 3/7: A CACKLING GOOSE was seen at Tschache Pool.
 3/11: NORTHERN SHRIKES were seen at Marten’s Tract and VanDyne Spoor Road.


Lewis County


 3/8: The GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCH first reported on 3/4 was seen very early 
on 3/8 but was not seen after 7:00 a.m. and has not been reported since.


Derby Hill Hawk Watch


 478 raptors were reported this week. No new migrating species were noted. 
Non-raptor highlights were: 3/4 ROSS’S GOOSE, 3/11 2 SANDHILL CRANES 15 COMMON 
REDPOLLS and 175 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS.


Onondaga County


 3/8: 2 SNOWY OWLS were seen at Hancock Airport.
 3/10: 2 SANDHILL CRANES were seen flying over Beaver Lake Nature Center.
 3/12: An EURASIAN WIGEON was spotted at Three Rivers WMA in the Pond at 
the Bald Eagle nest on 60 Road.


Extralimital


 3/7: A WESTERN GREBE was still present in the Ithaca area on Cayuga Lake. 
This one was seen from East Shore Park.


Migrants reported this week.


3/7: EASTERN MEADOWLARK - Derby Hill
3/8: TREE SWALLOW - Derby Hill
3/8: WILSON’S SNIPE - West Monroe
3/10: AMERICAN WOODCOCK - Three Rivers WMA
3/11: EASTERN PHOEBE - Town of Van Buren


 
End Transcript

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Region 5
Baldwinsville, N.Y.  13027  U.S.A.
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[nysbirds-l] Rockefeller SPP birds

2012-03-12 Thread Andrew Block 
3/12/12 - Rockwood Hall section, Rockefeller S.P.P., Pocantico Hills, NY
 
1 Merlin
1 Cooper's Hawk
1 American Tree Sparrow
1 Brown-headed Cowbird
2 Eastern Meadowlarks
1 Pileated Woodpecker
plus the usuals
 
Andrew

Andrew v. F. Block
Consulting Naturalist/Wildlife Biologist
37 Tanglewylde Avenue
Bronxville, Westchester Co., New York 10708-3131
Phone: 914-337-1229; Cell: 914-319-9701; Fax: 914-771-8036
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[nysbirds-l] Merganser Bonanza

2012-03-12 Thread Rick & Linda Kedenburg 

Goldsmith's Inlet inner pond 3-12-12
About 8:45 this morning at very low tide Linda & I observed RB  
Merganser behavior we cannot recall seeing before.
There was a school of fish trapped in the inlet pond and a group of  
RB Mergansers had them rounded up along the shoreline. About 15  
birds, all working as a group, had a great breakfast of small fish.  
The main hunting group of about 10 birds kept diving and attacking  
the fish. Fish were jumping all over trying to escape. Meanwhile  
about 5 Mergansers would half fly, half skid along the water and land  
with their breasts first, causing big waves around the perimeter of  
the fish school. In this way they kept the fish penned in close to  
the shore. The Mergansers would take turns being the ones on the  
perimeter while others ate in the middle.  Eventually after about 15  
minutes the fish did get out into the middle of the inlet pond and  
the Mergansers stopped their organized tactics and went back to the  
usual individual diving.

It was pretty cool while it lasted. Even Mollie, our dog was watching.

Also seen was a mixed flock of C Wren, Song Sparrow, White-throated  
Sparrow & DE Junco all foraging on the lawn of an unused summer home.
The Mockingbirds were really quite busy chasing each other around as  
well.


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[nysbirds-l] Flicker Fun

2012-03-12 Thread Rick & Linda Kedenburg 
Henry's Lane, Peconic  3-12-12
Interesting bird behavior.  In a tree in the woods of Peconic Land  
Trust Property a male and female N Flicker told us it is officially  
Spring no matter what the calendar may say.
The two Flickers on the same branch about 4 feet apart would just  
stare at each other and not move. Then at some unseen signal they  
would both bust forth in a ritualized display of  tail spreading,  
heads & necks up and bobbing along with some vocalization that  
sounded like half clucking and half a pet's squeeze toy. Reminded me  
of seeing films of the Bauer Bird display. They would do this for  
about 5 to 10 seconds and then go back to staring at each other. The  
staring would continue for about 30-60 seconds and then the display  
would begin again. Each time they would get a little closer to each  
other and after about 20 minutes they were right next to each other  
touching during the display. The female then turned around to allow  
the male to mate with her but nothing happened. This lasted another  
10 minutes after which the female fly away. After 5 minutes alone on  
the branch the male flew away. The whole episode lasted over a half  
hour. I took a short video of the display.
Since no actual mating occurred perhaps this sort of pre nuptial  
display goes on for a few days of weeks.  Does anyone have any  
knowledge of N Flicker behavior ?

Well as I like to point out: "All birders are blessed when we can see  
nature and gain an insight into the ebb and flow of life that is  
happening all around us constantly. Much of what humanity cares for,  
or is only aware of, is the self created artificial world around  
them." Rick Kedenburg, © 2012
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[nysbirds-l] Early spring birding "out east"

2012-03-12 Thread ROBERT ADAMO 







Sunday afternoon from ~ noon to ~ 6:15, Tom Moran and I made ~ 12 stops on the 
North Fork, traveling as far east as Orient Beach S.Pk., in pursuit of the 
"great fish hawk"! Heartened by a number of early reports of Ospreys (one even 
from a LIRR commuter on his way to work) we, unfortunately , came up empty re: 
Pandion haliaetus. Highlights during this slow birding day were a total of 5 
Turkey Vultures (groups of 4 and 1), both near L.I. Sound in the Northville 
section of Riverhead, a single, male Wood Duck at the Arshamomaque (Levin) 
Preserve in Southold and the great, "late" March weather we experienced in 
"early" March! 
Cheers,Bob 

  
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Re: [nysbirds-l] Monk Parakeets & Shawangunk Grasslands NWR birds

2012-03-12 Thread John Laver 
Agreed on the gratuitous insult point, it adds nothing to any worthwhile
discussion.

On the other hand, I'm a birder and I always have a current Duck Stamp (and
I know several other birders who do as well), I buy mine at Brigantine.  I
also support the American Littoral Society which measures the health of the
Striped Bass fishery as well as being active in many other coastal
conservation projects - I also know many birders who support ALS too.  So
let's not generalize harshly in the other direction.

But Mr. Wasilco's point is worth thinking about.  If you bird, you probably
use NWR's somewhere, so keep a current Duck Stamp.  It's the right thing to
do.

John Laver





On the other hand, knowledge has progressed since the managing refuges for
maximum game species

On Mon, Mar 12, 2012 at 12:25 PM, Mike Wasilco
wrote:

>  He was probably trying to fill his tags since yesterday was opening day
> of moron season and he heard that was a good spot to go after photographers
> harrassing birds.
>
> Seriously though, you really should not be insulting the very group of
> people who have historically provided the vast majority of funding used to
> protect the area many birders like to frequent.  The National Wildlife
> Refuge system as well as all the state wildlife lands are paid for using
> funds from hunters through license fees, duck stamps and excise taxes on
> guns, ammo and hunting equipment.  Meanwhile birders and all sorts of other
> users benefit from this funding while contributing nothing toward the
> management and acquisition of these sites, yet they feel that they can
> blame hunters for any and all problems.  Hunters have also been the driving
> force behind many of the successful wildlife restoration programs in this
> country after commercial harvest had nearly wiped out many species (turkey,
> deer, waterfowl, bison, etc.).
>
>
> Michael R. Wasilco
> Regional Wildlife Manager
> NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
> Region 8 Bureau of Wildlife
> 6274 East Avon-Lima Road
> Avon, NY  14414
> (585)226-5460
> >>> Andrew Block  3/12/2012 11:15 AM >>>
>  My friend Mark Schwartz reported he saw a flock of 4 Monk Parakeets in
> Freeport, NY yesterday afternoon.  I went to Shawangunk Grasslands NWR with
> my friend Scott Perry yesterday late afternoon and saw some good stuff but
> no owls.  We had 3+ Rough-legged Hawks, 3 Red-tailed Hawks, 8+ Northern
> Harriers, 6+ Eastern Meadowlarks, and many Red-winged Blackbirds.  There
> were also atleast 100 White-tailed Deer in the newly churned up areas of
> the refuge.  I hadn't seen that many deer together in years.  Of course
> they got spooked when some moron hunter went walking along the edge and
> back of the property.
>
> Andrew
>
> *Andrew v. F. Block*
> *Consulting Naturalist/Wildlife Biologist*
> 37 Tanglewylde Avenue
> Bronxville, Westchester Co., New York 10708-3131
> Phone: 914-337-1229; Cell: 914-319-9701; Fax: 914-771-8036
>
> --
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> Rules and Information 
> Subscribe, Configuration and 
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> Subscribe, Configuration and 
> Leave
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> Archive
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>



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*Goals are dreams with deadlines.*

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[nysbirds-l] BirdCallsRadio Archive | James Currie

2012-03-12 Thread Mardi Dickinson 

Birders et al,

BirdCallsRadio archive is now available of March 11 show with our wonderful 
guest James Currie, Host of Nikon's 
Birding Adventures TV
http://birdcallsradio.com/2012/03/12/archive-of-bird-calls-radio-show-with-james-currie-aired-march-11-2012/


Cheers,
Mardi Dickinson
Norwalk, CT
http://kymrygroup.com/










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Re: [nysbirds-l] Monk Parakeets & Shawangunk Grasslands NWR birds

2012-03-12 Thread Mike Wasilco 
He was probably trying to fill his tags since yesterday was opening day of 
moron season and he heard that was a good spot to go after photographers 
harrassing birds.
 
Seriously though, you really should not be insulting the very group of people 
who have historically provided the vast majority of funding used to protect the 
area many birders like to frequent.  The National Wildlife Refuge system as 
well as all the state wildlife lands are paid for using funds from hunters 
through license fees, duck stamps and excise taxes on guns, ammo and hunting 
equipment.  Meanwhile birders and all sorts of other users benefit from this 
funding while contributing nothing toward the management and acquisition of 
these sites, yet they feel that they can blame hunters for any and all 
problems.  Hunters have also been the driving force behind many of the 
successful wildlife restoration programs in this country after commercial 
harvest had nearly wiped out many species (turkey, deer, waterfowl, bison, 
etc.).

 
Michael R. Wasilco
Regional Wildlife Manager
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Region 8 Bureau of Wildlife
6274 East Avon-Lima Road
Avon, NY  14414
(585)226-5460
>>> Andrew Block  3/12/2012 11:15 AM >>>
My friend Mark Schwartz reported he saw a flock of 4 Monk Parakeets in 
Freeport, NY yesterday afternoon.  I went to Shawangunk Grasslands NWR with my 
friend Scott Perry yesterday late afternoon and saw some good stuff but no 
owls.  We had 3+ Rough-legged Hawks, 3 Red-tailed Hawks, 8+ Northern Harriers, 
6+ Eastern Meadowlarks, and many Red-winged Blackbirds.  There were also 
atleast 100 White-tailed Deer in the newly churned up areas of the refuge.  I 
hadn't seen that many deer together in years.  Of course they got spooked when 
some moron hunter went walking along the edge and back of the property.
 
Andrew
 
Andrew v. F. Block
Consulting Naturalist/Wildlife Biologist
37 Tanglewylde Avenue
Bronxville, Westchester Co., New York 10708-3131
Phone: 914-337-1229; Cell: 914-319-9701; Fax: 914-771-8036

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[nysbirds-l] Pelagic from Brooklyn 3-11-12

2012-03-12 Thread Arie Gilbert 
I led a pelagic out of Brooklyn to the "Mud Hole" region yesterday.  
Wind gusts from the south west made birding a bit challenging, but we 
saw some good stuff. Highlights included 10's of thousands of Black 
Scoter and 10's of thousands of Oldsquaw, Gannets, Razorbills, Jaeger 
sp. and Iceland Gull.



Arie Gilbert
No. Babylon, NY

 www.Powerbirder.blogspot.com
 www.qcbirdclub.org


If you are interested in future outings, please email me off-list.


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[nysbirds-l] Monk Parakeets & Shawangunk Grasslands NWR birds

2012-03-12 Thread Andrew Block 
My friend Mark Schwartz reported he saw a flock of 4 Monk Parakeets in 
Freeport, NY yesterday afternoon.  I went to Shawangunk Grasslands NWR with my 
friend Scott Perry yesterday late afternoon and saw some good stuff but no 
owls.  We had 3+ Rough-legged Hawks, 3 Red-tailed Hawks, 8+ Northern Harriers, 
6+ Eastern Meadowlarks, and many Red-winged Blackbirds.  There were also 
atleast 100 White-tailed Deer in the newly churned up areas of the refuge.  I 
hadn't seen that many deer together in years.  Of course they got spooked when 
some moron hunter went walking along the edge and back of the property.
 
Andrew

Andrew v. F. Block
Consulting Naturalist/Wildlife Biologist
37 Tanglewylde Avenue
Bronxville, Westchester Co., New York 10708-3131
Phone: 914-337-1229; Cell: 914-319-9701; Fax: 914-771-8036
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[nysbirds-l] 2009 NYSOA Bird Listings

2012-03-12 Thread Jerry Lazarczyk 
Careena Poth is issuing one last call for listings before the 3/15/12 cutoff 
date for both 2009 and 2011 lists. Jerry LazarczykGrand Island NY
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[nysbirds-l] Eastern Phoebes-Sayville

2012-03-12 Thread Derek Rogers 
Right on cue with ebird's Birdcast Migration Report. It was great to hear 2 
Eastern Phoebes singing this morning as I left my house for work.

Derek Rogers
Sayville



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[nysbirds-l] Sunday waterfowl on Oneida Lake and Pine Siskins

2012-03-12 Thread Mickey Scilingo 
The collection of waterfowl is growing along the north shore of Oneida Lake.  
On Sunday morning, there was a large raft stretched along the shoreline in the 
Phillips Point area.   None were at the Point itself, but starting near the 
last house on the road, they were viewable through the trees along the entrance 
road and down to the open field area just before you reach the end.  Making a 
few stops along the road and scoping through the trees to the lake, I was able 
to identify 14 species:

Canada Goose
Tundra Swan

Gadwall
American Wigeon
American Black Duck
Mallard
Northern Pintail

Canvasback
Redhead
Ring-necked Duck
Greater Scaup
Lesser Scaup

Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye


Also had a single Snow Goose in with a flock of 12 Tundra Swans that flew 
overhead.


Earlier in the morning, I drove some of the roads that run around and through 
Stone Barn State Forest in the town of Vienna in western Oneida County.  In 
this area I came across multiple small and somewhat larger flocks of PINE 
SISKINS, with a few PURPLE FINCHES mixed in.  Along a rather long stretch of 
Elpis Rd, in particular, there were many birds present in the coniferous 
forested sections that seemed to contain mostly White Pine and Eastern Hemlock. 
  Some of these birds were singing and actively chasing each other around, so 
they may stick around for a bit.




Mickey Scilingo
Constantia
Oswego County, NY
mickey.scili...@gte.net
315-679-6299
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[nysbirds-l] Sunday waterfowl on Oneida Lake and Pine Siskins

2012-03-12 Thread Mickey Scilingo 
The collection of waterfowl is growing along the north shore of Oneida Lake.  
On Sunday morning, there was a large raft stretched along the shoreline in the 
Phillips Point area.   None were at the Point itself, but starting near the 
last house on the road, they were viewable through the trees along the entrance 
road and down to the open field area just before you reach the end.  Making a 
few stops along the road and scoping through the trees to the lake, I was able 
to identify 14 species:

Canada Goose
Tundra Swan

Gadwall
American Wigeon
American Black Duck
Mallard
Northern Pintail

Canvasback
Redhead
Ring-necked Duck
Greater Scaup
Lesser Scaup

Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye


Also had a single Snow Goose in with a flock of 12 Tundra Swans that flew 
overhead.


Earlier in the morning, I drove some of the roads that run around and through 
Stone Barn State Forest in the town of Vienna in western Oneida County.  In 
this area I came across multiple small and somewhat larger flocks of PINE 
SISKINS, with a few PURPLE FINCHES mixed in.  Along a rather long stretch of 
Elpis Rd, in particular, there were many birds present in the coniferous 
forested sections that seemed to contain mostly White Pine and Eastern Hemlock. 
  Some of these birds were singing and actively chasing each other around, so 
they may stick around for a bit.




Mickey Scilingo
Constantia
Oswego County, NY
mickey.scili...@gte.net
315-679-6299
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[nysbirds-l] Eastern Phoebes-Sayville

2012-03-12 Thread Derek Rogers 
Right on cue with ebird's Birdcast Migration Report. It was great to hear 2 
Eastern Phoebes singing this morning as I left my house for work.

Derek Rogers
Sayville



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[nysbirds-l] 2009 NYSOA Bird Listings

2012-03-12 Thread Jerry Lazarczyk 
Careena Poth is issuing one last call for listings before the 3/15/12 cutoff 
date for both 2009 and 2011 lists. Jerry LazarczykGrand Island NY
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[nysbirds-l] Monk Parakeets Shawangunk Grasslands NWR birds

2012-03-12 Thread Andrew Block 
My friend Mark Schwartz reported he saw a flock of 4 Monk Parakeets in 
Freeport, NY yesterday afternoon.  I went to Shawangunk Grasslands NWR with my 
friend Scott Perry yesterday late afternoon and saw some good stuff but no 
owls.  We had 3+ Rough-legged Hawks, 3 Red-tailed Hawks, 8+ Northern Harriers, 
6+ Eastern Meadowlarks, and many Red-winged Blackbirds.  There were also 
atleast 100 White-tailed Deer in the newly churned up areas of the refuge.  I 
hadn't seen that many deer together in years.  Of course they got spooked when 
some moron hunter went walking along the edge and back of the property.
 
Andrew

Andrew v. F. Block
Consulting Naturalist/Wildlife Biologist
37 Tanglewylde Avenue
Bronxville, Westchester Co., New York 10708-3131
Phone: 914-337-1229; Cell: 914-319-9701; Fax: 914-771-8036
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Re: [nysbirds-l] Monk Parakeets Shawangunk Grasslands NWR birds

2012-03-12 Thread Mike Wasilco 
He was probably trying to fill his tags since yesterday was opening day of 
moron season and he heard that was a good spot to go after photographers 
harrassing birds.
 
Seriously though, you really should not be insulting the very group of people 
who have historically provided the vast majority of funding used to protect the 
area many birders like to frequent.  The National Wildlife Refuge system as 
well as all the state wildlife lands are paid for using funds from hunters 
through license fees, duck stamps and excise taxes on guns, ammo and hunting 
equipment.  Meanwhile birders and all sorts of other users benefit from this 
funding while contributing nothing toward the management and acquisition of 
these sites, yet they feel that they can blame hunters for any and all 
problems.  Hunters have also been the driving force behind many of the 
successful wildlife restoration programs in this country after commercial 
harvest had nearly wiped out many species (turkey, deer, waterfowl, bison, 
etc.).

 
Michael R. Wasilco
Regional Wildlife Manager
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Region 8 Bureau of Wildlife
6274 East Avon-Lima Road
Avon, NY  14414
(585)226-5460
 Andrew Block ablock22...@yahoo.com 3/12/2012 11:15 AM 
My friend Mark Schwartz reported he saw a flock of 4 Monk Parakeets in 
Freeport, NY yesterday afternoon.  I went to Shawangunk Grasslands NWR with my 
friend Scott Perry yesterday late afternoon and saw some good stuff but no 
owls.  We had 3+ Rough-legged Hawks, 3 Red-tailed Hawks, 8+ Northern Harriers, 
6+ Eastern Meadowlarks, and many Red-winged Blackbirds.  There were also 
atleast 100 White-tailed Deer in the newly churned up areas of the refuge.  I 
hadn't seen that many deer together in years.  Of course they got spooked when 
some moron hunter went walking along the edge and back of the property.
 
Andrew
 
Andrew v. F. Block
Consulting Naturalist/Wildlife Biologist
37 Tanglewylde Avenue
Bronxville, Westchester Co., New York 10708-3131
Phone: 914-337-1229; Cell: 914-319-9701; Fax: 914-771-8036

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[nysbirds-l] BirdCallsRadio Archive | James Currie

2012-03-12 Thread Mardi Dickinson 

Birders et al,

BirdCallsRadio archive is now available of March 11 show with our wonderful 
guest James Currie, Host of Nikon's 
Birding Adventures TV
http://birdcallsradio.com/2012/03/12/archive-of-bird-calls-radio-show-with-james-currie-aired-march-11-2012/


Cheers,
Mardi Dickinson
Norwalk, CT
http://kymrygroup.com/










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Re: [nysbirds-l] Monk Parakeets Shawangunk Grasslands NWR birds

2012-03-12 Thread John Laver 
Agreed on the gratuitous insult point, it adds nothing to any worthwhile
discussion.

On the other hand, I'm a birder and I always have a current Duck Stamp (and
I know several other birders who do as well), I buy mine at Brigantine.  I
also support the American Littoral Society which measures the health of the
Striped Bass fishery as well as being active in many other coastal
conservation projects - I also know many birders who support ALS too.  So
let's not generalize harshly in the other direction.

But Mr. Wasilco's point is worth thinking about.  If you bird, you probably
use NWR's somewhere, so keep a current Duck Stamp.  It's the right thing to
do.

John Laver





On the other hand, knowledge has progressed since the managing refuges for
maximum game species

On Mon, Mar 12, 2012 at 12:25 PM, Mike Wasilco
mrwas...@gw.dec.state.ny.uswrote:

  He was probably trying to fill his tags since yesterday was opening day
 of moron season and he heard that was a good spot to go after photographers
 harrassing birds.

 Seriously though, you really should not be insulting the very group of
 people who have historically provided the vast majority of funding used to
 protect the area many birders like to frequent.  The National Wildlife
 Refuge system as well as all the state wildlife lands are paid for using
 funds from hunters through license fees, duck stamps and excise taxes on
 guns, ammo and hunting equipment.  Meanwhile birders and all sorts of other
 users benefit from this funding while contributing nothing toward the
 management and acquisition of these sites, yet they feel that they can
 blame hunters for any and all problems.  Hunters have also been the driving
 force behind many of the successful wildlife restoration programs in this
 country after commercial harvest had nearly wiped out many species (turkey,
 deer, waterfowl, bison, etc.).


 Michael R. Wasilco
 Regional Wildlife Manager
 NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
 Region 8 Bureau of Wildlife
 6274 East Avon-Lima Road
 Avon, NY  14414
 (585)226-5460
  Andrew Block ablock22...@yahoo.com 3/12/2012 11:15 AM 
  My friend Mark Schwartz reported he saw a flock of 4 Monk Parakeets in
 Freeport, NY yesterday afternoon.  I went to Shawangunk Grasslands NWR with
 my friend Scott Perry yesterday late afternoon and saw some good stuff but
 no owls.  We had 3+ Rough-legged Hawks, 3 Red-tailed Hawks, 8+ Northern
 Harriers, 6+ Eastern Meadowlarks, and many Red-winged Blackbirds.  There
 were also atleast 100 White-tailed Deer in the newly churned up areas of
 the refuge.  I hadn't seen that many deer together in years.  Of course
 they got spooked when some moron hunter went walking along the edge and
 back of the property.

 Andrew

 *Andrew v. F. Block*
 *Consulting Naturalist/Wildlife Biologist*
 37 Tanglewylde Avenue
 Bronxville, Westchester Co., New York 10708-3131
 Phone: 914-337-1229; Cell: 914-319-9701; Fax: 914-771-8036

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[nysbirds-l] Early spring birding out east

2012-03-12 Thread ROBERT ADAMO 







Sunday afternoon from ~ noon to ~ 6:15, Tom Moran and I made ~ 12 stops on the 
North Fork, traveling as far east as Orient Beach S.Pk., in pursuit of the 
great fish hawk! Heartened by a number of early reports of Ospreys (one even 
from a LIRR commuter on his way to work) we, unfortunately , came up empty re: 
Pandion haliaetus. Highlights during this slow birding day were a total of 5 
Turkey Vultures (groups of 4 and 1), both near L.I. Sound in the Northville 
section of Riverhead, a single, male Wood Duck at the Arshamomaque (Levin) 
Preserve in Southold and the great, late March weather we experienced in 
early March! 
Cheers,Bob 

  
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[nysbirds-l] Flicker Fun

2012-03-12 Thread Rick Linda Kedenburg 
Henry's Lane, Peconic  3-12-12
Interesting bird behavior.  In a tree in the woods of Peconic Land  
Trust Property a male and female N Flicker told us it is officially  
Spring no matter what the calendar may say.
The two Flickers on the same branch about 4 feet apart would just  
stare at each other and not move. Then at some unseen signal they  
would both bust forth in a ritualized display of  tail spreading,  
heads  necks up and bobbing along with some vocalization that  
sounded like half clucking and half a pet's squeeze toy. Reminded me  
of seeing films of the Bauer Bird display. They would do this for  
about 5 to 10 seconds and then go back to staring at each other. The  
staring would continue for about 30-60 seconds and then the display  
would begin again. Each time they would get a little closer to each  
other and after about 20 minutes they were right next to each other  
touching during the display. The female then turned around to allow  
the male to mate with her but nothing happened. This lasted another  
10 minutes after which the female fly away. After 5 minutes alone on  
the branch the male flew away. The whole episode lasted over a half  
hour. I took a short video of the display.
Since no actual mating occurred perhaps this sort of pre nuptial  
display goes on for a few days of weeks.  Does anyone have any  
knowledge of N Flicker behavior ?

Well as I like to point out: All birders are blessed when we can see  
nature and gain an insight into the ebb and flow of life that is  
happening all around us constantly. Much of what humanity cares for,  
or is only aware of, is the self created artificial world around  
them. Rick Kedenburg, © 2012
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[nysbirds-l] Merganser Bonanza

2012-03-12 Thread Rick Linda Kedenburg 

Goldsmith's Inlet inner pond 3-12-12
About 8:45 this morning at very low tide Linda  I observed RB  
Merganser behavior we cannot recall seeing before.
There was a school of fish trapped in the inlet pond and a group of  
RB Mergansers had them rounded up along the shoreline. About 15  
birds, all working as a group, had a great breakfast of small fish.  
The main hunting group of about 10 birds kept diving and attacking  
the fish. Fish were jumping all over trying to escape. Meanwhile  
about 5 Mergansers would half fly, half skid along the water and land  
with their breasts first, causing big waves around the perimeter of  
the fish school. In this way they kept the fish penned in close to  
the shore. The Mergansers would take turns being the ones on the  
perimeter while others ate in the middle.  Eventually after about 15  
minutes the fish did get out into the middle of the inlet pond and  
the Mergansers stopped their organized tactics and went back to the  
usual individual diving.

It was pretty cool while it lasted. Even Mollie, our dog was watching.

Also seen was a mixed flock of C Wren, Song Sparrow, White-throated  
Sparrow  DE Junco all foraging on the lawn of an unused summer home.
The Mockingbirds were really quite busy chasing each other around as  
well.


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[nysbirds-l] Rockefeller SPP birds

2012-03-12 Thread Andrew Block 
3/12/12 - Rockwood Hall section, Rockefeller S.P.P., Pocantico Hills, NY
 
1 Merlin
1 Cooper's Hawk
1 American Tree Sparrow
1 Brown-headed Cowbird
2 Eastern Meadowlarks
1 Pileated Woodpecker
plus the usuals
 
Andrew

Andrew v. F. Block
Consulting Naturalist/Wildlife Biologist
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Bronxville, Westchester Co., New York 10708-3131
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[nysbirds-l] Syracuse RBA

2012-03-12 Thread Joseph Brin 
RBA
 
*  New York
*  Syracuse
*  March 12, 2012
*  NYSY 03.12.12 
Hotline: Syracuse Rare bird Alert
Dates(s):
March 05, 2012 - March 12, 2012
to report by e-mail: brinjoseph AT yahoo.com
covering upstate NY counties: Cayuga, Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge
and Montezuma Wetlands Complex (MWC) (just outside Cayuga County),
Onondaga, Oswego, Lewis, Jefferson, Oneida, Herkimer,  Madison  Cortland
compiled:March 12 AT 6:30 p.m. (EST)
compiler: Joseph Brin
Onondaga Audubon Homepage: www.onondagaaudubon.org
 
 
#296 -Monday March 12, 2012
 
 
Greetings! This is the Syracuse Area Rare Bird Alert for the week of 
March 05 , 2012
 
Highlights:
---

WESTERN GREBE (Extralimital)
EURASIAN WIGEON
CACKLING GOOSE
ROSS’S GOOSE
SANDHILL CRANE
SNOWY OWL
NORTHERN SHRIKE
BOHEMIAN WAXWING
GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCH
COMMON REDPOLL



Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge (MNWR) and Montezuma Wetlands Complex (MWC)


 3/7: A CACKLING GOOSE was seen at Tschache Pool.
 3/11: NORTHERN SHRIKES were seen at Marten’s Tract and VanDyne Spoor Road.


Lewis County


 3/8: The GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCH first reported on 3/4 was seen very early 
on 3/8 but was not seen after 7:00 a.m. and has not been reported since.


Derby Hill Hawk Watch


 478 raptors were reported this week. No new migrating species were noted. 
Non-raptor highlights were: 3/4 ROSS’S GOOSE, 3/11 2 SANDHILL CRANES 15 COMMON 
REDPOLLS and 175 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS.


Onondaga County


 3/8: 2 SNOWY OWLS were seen at Hancock Airport.
 3/10: 2 SANDHILL CRANES were seen flying over Beaver Lake Nature Center.
 3/12: An EURASIAN WIGEON was spotted at Three Rivers WMA in the Pond at 
the Bald Eagle nest on 60 Road.


Extralimital


 3/7: A WESTERN GREBE was still present in the Ithaca area on Cayuga Lake. 
This one was seen from East Shore Park.


Migrants reported this week.


3/7: EASTERN MEADOWLARK - Derby Hill
3/8: TREE SWALLOW - Derby Hill
3/8: WILSON’S SNIPE - West Monroe
3/10: AMERICAN WOODCOCK - Three Rivers WMA
3/11: EASTERN PHOEBE - Town of Van Buren


 
End Transcript

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Joseph Brin
Region 5
Baldwinsville, N.Y.  13027  U.S.A.
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[nysbirds-l] Northern Saw-whet Owl/Red-shouldered Hawk/Crossbills etc.

2012-03-12 Thread Joan E. Collins 
3/12/12 Ferd's Bog (Hamilton Co.) 10:30 - 1:30 p.m.

 

It was a bit scary driving Uncas Rd. today, and I suspect the town will
close it soon given the snowy slush and mud (as they did last year).  I
almost turned around.but I kept going.  I used snowshoes so I could leave
the trail and circle the bog.  The beaver dam crossing in snowshoes was also
scary.  With the rapid warm-up, I started to drop through the snow on my
hike out even in snowshoes.  I think I hit the last day to easily hike off
trail.

 

This has been the most unusual (bizarre) winter I can ever recall, and it
seems like normal is disappearing.  When I was across the bog, I heard a
Northern Saw-whet Owl tooting!  My first thought was that a birder must be
playing a tape.  But then I thought, no one in their right mind would have
driven down Uncas Rd. today..yeah, I know.  I continued on with my two Gray
Jay companions.  Then, I heard it again.  I scanned for a birder and didn't
see anyone or hear any snow crunching footsteps.  Then, I heard it a 3rd
time, and as I hiked out, it tooted a 4th time!  There were no other
footprints in the snow, no one else signed the register, and there were no
other car tracks down the road!  I've heard Northern Saw-whet Owls give the
scary call note during the day, but I've never heard tooting midday.  I
immediately checked the BNA (Birds of North America) when I got home and the
only reference to this behavior was a saw-whet responding midday to a tape.
But I didn't play any tapes!  The weather was sunny and calm (perfectly
calm).  So, I guess I now know that Northern Saw-whet Owls DO sing during
the day!  Here are some of the 18 species found at the bog:

 

Snow Goose - flocks going overhead

Canada Goose - flocks going overhead

*Northern Saw-whet Owl

Black-backed Woodpecker - 2; male and female at the edge of the bog not far
from the boardwalk

Gray Jay - 2; They were my constant companions today - so much so, that it
felt like I was hiking with my dogs!  I found myself talking to them the
entire hike.  I noticed something about their behavior today that I never
noticed before.  I was feeding them small walnut pieces, and they often
picked up several pieces in their mouth before heading out to cache them.
If the bird picked up 3 pieces, it cached them in 3 different trees, if it
picked up 2 pieces, it cached them in 2 trees, etc.  They are such
remarkable birds.

Boreal Chickadee - several flocks around the bog

Brown Creeper - many singing

Golden-crowned Kinglet - many singing

Purple Finch - many singing

White-winged Crossbill - many with lots of singing around the bog

Pine Siskin - seemingly limitless numbers

 

3/11/12 Long Lake, Newcomb, Minerva (Hamilton  Essex Counties)

 

I spent the morning birding with Mike Bryant and his wife Ray Slyper from
NYC.  Here are some of the 25 species we found:

 

Ruffed Grouse

Red-shouldered Hawk - beautiful views today of the bird on a dead snag in
the sun (across the road from where we found it the day before in Long Lake)

Barred Owl - sang twice late morning in Newcomb!

Song Sparrow - singing in Long Lake

*Common Grackle - 4; first of the season in Newcomb

Purple Finch

Red Crossbill - pair at a marsh along the road in Minerva (scope views)

White-winged Crossbill - singing in Long Lake, Newcomb, and Minerva (scope
views in Newcomb)

Pine Siskin

Evening Grosbeak - Long Lake, Newcomb, and Minerva (scope views in Long
Lake)

 

3/10/12 Long Lake, Newcomb, Minerva (Hamilton  Essex Counties) 5 new inches
of snow overnight

 

I spent the day birding with Anna Hrycin and Josefa Benson of Rochester.
Here are some of the 24 species found:

 

*Red-shouldered Hawk - (Long Lake) first of the season and new early record
for Hamilton Co.

*Killdeer - 1!  First of the season and new early record for Hamilton Co.;
This bird was observed flying low over Long Lake at dawn to the town beach.
It began to vocalize, so we walked over to see it and all you could see was
the top of the bird with the rest buried in all the new snow!  It was
bobbing its head and it looked ridiculous!  I felt very bad for this migrant
that touched down into a world of snow and cold. 

Black-backed Woodpecker - 1 female in Minerva on the Roosevelt Truck Trail

Boreal Chickadee - 6 (3 groups of 2) along the Roosevelt Truck Trail

Purple Finch

Red Crossbill - heard in Long Lake and along the Roosevelt Truck Trail in
Minerva

White-winged Crossbill - singing at Sabattis Bog and along the Roosevelt
Truck Trail

Evening Grosbeak - several locations

 

A few other older observations:

 

3/7/12 Long Lake, Newcomb, Minerva

 

Amer. Robin

Bohemian Waxwing - ~20 in two berry bushes near the bridge on the west side
of Long Lake.  This is the first time I've found Bohemian Waxwings in Long
Lake.

*Song Sparrow - first of the season and new early record for Hamilton Co.;
singing near the bridge over Long Lake

Red Crossbill - pair gritting near the bridge over Long Lake

 

Sabattis Bog:

[nysbirds-l] Shawahgunks

2012-03-12 Thread PeregrineJV 
Andrew, 
 
There has been enough controversial subjects on the list this winter.   
Please do not start by bashing hunters and referring to them as Morons
As you probably know, if it were not for the hunters at this  point most 
woodland underbrush habitat would be wiped out.  Nearly all  native 
wildflowers are already extirpated from this region.  Hunters are  the only 
hope right 
now to gain some control over the deer population.. but you  knew that too. 
After all you are a consulting wildlife  biologist/ecologist
 
James
 
 
In a message dated 3/12/2012 11:15:36 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
ablock22...@yahoo.com writes:

 
My friend Mark Schwartz reported he saw a flock of 4 Monk Parakeets  in 
Freeport, NY yesterday afternoon.  I went to Shawangunk Grasslands NWR  with my 
friend Scott Perry yesterday late afternoon and saw some good stuff  but no 
owls.  We had 3+ Rough-legged Hawks, 3 Red-tailed Hawks, 8+  Northern 
Harriers, 6+ Eastern Meadowlarks, and many Red-winged  Blackbirds.  There were 
also atleast 100 White-tailed Deer in the newly  churned up areas of the 
refuge.  I hadn't seen that many deer together in  years.  Of course they got 
spooked when some moron hunter went walking  along the edge and back of the 
property.
 
Andrew
 
Andrew v. F. Block
Consulting  Naturalist/Wildlife Biologist
37 Tanglewylde Avenue
Bronxville,  Westchester Co., New York 10708-3131
Phone: 914-337-1229; Cell:  914-319-9701; Fax: 914-771-8036



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